Ming Dynasty Detective 1546

Chapter 163 A Tacit Understanding (Third Update)

"Whoop whoosh!"

Yan Shifan and Zhao Wenhua jogged to the backyard of Shuiyun Pavilion. The first thing they saw was a maid lying on the ground. As they walked further in, they saw Haiyue examining a book. Yan Xiu had disappeared without a trace.

The two men approached, breathless: "Mingwei! Leader! What happened? Why did you leave in such a hurry?"

"Madam Sun committed suicide out of fear of punishment; her body is in the inner room."

Haiyue gestured to the scroll in her hand: "Luckily, I arrived in time and found the diary. It recorded the secrets of the Liyuan Society, which are simply horrifying!"

Yan Shifan rushed forward, his eyes gleaming as he looked over: "Is she really the 'Winged Fire Serpent'?"

Not to be outdone, Zhao Wenhua glanced at Rilu from the other side: "'Hundred Flowers Wine' was designed by her?"

"Yes and no."

Haiyue said, "Judging from the diary, the 'Liyuan Society' has been researching Southeast Asian witchcraft for more than just one generation."

"The original method was alchemy, which originated from the 'Shenshui Ape' in the Twenty-Eight Mansions. This person was an alchemist who imitated 'Five Stones Powder' and refined a kind of 'Shenshui Ape Powder' that made people restless and excited. However, after taking it for a long time, his pupils turned blue, and he died in madness. The society called it 'possessed by the ape ghost'."

"Later, the 'Ginseng Ape' was not satisfied and passed down the formula. After three generations of 'Ginseng Apes' research and development, the elixir was finally born, named 'White Tiger Star Elixir'."

"It is said that after taking this pill, one can become mentally excited, numb the pain, and have the strength to increase several times even after three days without sleep."

"But erysipelas can never be completely cured. After taking it for several months, one will become emaciated and gradually weaken. It is also extremely addictive. Once you stop taking it, it is like being gnawed by a thousand ants, causing unbearable suffering."

"Because this pill is too potent, the Liyuan Society planned to deliberately leak the formula. These leaked formulas would have relatively weaker effects and would cause far less harm, such as 'Gastrodia Powder' and 'Hundred Flowers Brew'. However, once people get used to these medicinal wines, they will find it difficult to give up 'White Tiger Star Pill' even if they realize something is wrong!"

Yan Shifan and Zhao Wenhua were deeply moved upon hearing this.

Both the imperial physician Li Shaoting's "Gastrodia Powder" and Zhao Wenhua's "Hundred Flowers Wine" were semi-public affairs; they sold medicine and wine without any attempt to conceal it.

Because at that time, there was indeed a lack of understanding about opium-based drugs, so even if people noticed something amiss, they wouldn't be too vigilant.

Moreover, every medicine has some degree of toxicity. Because opium is impure, the addictive effect is not so quick. Compared to the immediate effects of the medicine, for some people suffering from pain, these are already miracle drugs. For example, people in the martial arts world are eager for "Gastrodia Powder" to relieve pain.

It turns out that it wasn't that Li Yuanshe had a good deed; on the contrary, they were plotting against him.

First, use the weaker version of the medicinal wine, then arrange for the most controlling pills!

Yan Shifan felt a chill run down his spine: "No wonder 'Winged Fire Serpent' dared to speak recklessly, claiming that she could control the powerful and influential in the capital without anyone noticing. It turns out she wasn't talking about 'Hundred Flowers Brew,' but the most terrifying 'White Tiger Star Pill'!"

Zhao Wenhua nodded repeatedly: "'Hundred Flowers Wine' is not very addictive, but what Li Yuanshe is seeking is to gradually get the patients in the capital used to the supply of medicine. This move is really too vicious!"

"But isn't this diary entry a bit too complete?"

Yan Shifan looked at the corpse on the bed, then asked with some doubt: "Is this person really the 'Winged Fire Serpent'? Could it be that he deliberately left behind a diary to make the skinned substitute more deceptive?"

"This possibility cannot be ruled out."

Haiyue said, "However, Lady Sun was once the most beautiful woman in the capital, and many people had come into contact with her. Although her appearance is ruined, her features are still preserved. Next, we will have the Embroidered Uniform Guard carefully examine the body and find witnesses to verify it, which will be enough to determine whether she is the real person or not."

Yan Shifan frowned: "Even if it was Granny Sun who died, it doesn't necessarily mean she was the 'Winged Fire Serpent'..."

"Donglou's statement is utterly wrong!"

Zhao Wenhua hurriedly said, "This person is clearly 'Winged Fire Serpent.' If it weren't for the esteemed leader who recognized his true identity, would he have committed suicide out of fear of punishment? If it weren't for the leader's keen insight, how could my Yixin Society have found this deeply hidden diary and uncovered this group of traitors' shocking conspiracy?"

"How dare you speak to me like that?"

Yan Shifan was initially furious, but then his eyes flickered, and he quickly changed his tune: "That's right, that's right, this person is undoubtedly 'Winged Fire Serpent'!"

There's no point in arguing like this. The key is to get the daily log, expose the secrets of the Liyuan Society, and make a great contribution at just the right time!

This time, the investigation began with Zhao Wenhua's Baihua Wine, followed by the discovery of Zhou Shi'an, a senior official in the Ministry of Justice who had given him guidance. Then, Lu Yuan, a captain who had been in contact with Zhou Shi'an, was arrested. Through interrogation, the name and internal structure of the secret society were finally revealed.

Compared to the interrogation of the three illusionists from the Cloud Hidden Society by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, who gritted their teeth and refused to speak, and still do not know the name of that secret society, isn't this a crucial breakthrough?

As for capturing the "Winged Fire Serpent" within a single day, not to mention outsiders, even Yan Shifan thought it was highly unlikely. It would depend not only on ability but also on luck.

Now I'm very lucky.

The death of "Winged Fire Serpent" seemed imminent, but the discovery of the diary was another major find.

If we were to capture one alive and eradicate the Liyuan Society completely, wouldn't the Yixin Society be far too powerful? What would they be able to do afterward? Would His Majesty then stop caring about them as much as before?
Now is the perfect time!
Yan Shifan was unaware that his approach was called "raising bandits to enhance one's own prestige," but he and Zhao Wenhua exchanged a glance, and for the first time, the two, who disliked each other, reached an agreement.

Haiyue glanced at them and immediately knew what the two were thinking.

He wasn't actually worried about being discarded after the usefulness of the organization was over. After all, a secret society like the Liyuan Society couldn't be eradicated simply by finding one or two core members. If it were that easy, according to what Lu Yuan had said before, if a traitor emerged within the Liyuan Society and reported it to the imperial court, wouldn't the secret society have been destroyed long ago?
Despite the calm outside world, the Li Yuan Society continues its operations, at least in pushing forward the "White Tiger Star Pill" process.

'Either that person, while having betrayed the Liyuan Society, also distrusted the imperial court and therefore did not report it to them.'

'Either that person knows that even if they expose him, they won't be able to capture the core figures of the Liyuan Society. As Lu Yuan guessed, the traitor is 'Kang Jinlong' from the Twenty-Eight Constellations. This person may only know a portion of the Twenty-Eight Constellations and knows very little about the Three Enclosures Hall, which is the true decision-making body.'

The same principle applies to catching a live "Winged Fire Serpent".

This person is truly the disfigured Lady Sun. In a state of utter despair, her mouth will be even tighter than that of the three women, including Lady Hong, and in the end, she will gain nothing.

Therefore, Haiyue's gaze fell on the diary, which she found quite amusing.

Who the serious person keeps a diary?

They even wrote down Li Yuanshe's plan regarding "White Tiger Star Pill" in great detail.

That's about all the case files are after the case is solved, maybe with some added explanations of the causes and consequences!

'If the deceased is confirmed to be Lady Sun, then it's almost certainly 'Winged Fire Serpent,' but was this diary written by 'Winged Fire Serpent'? Ha!'

'A traitor to the Liyuan Society... a chivalrous hero from the capital who has a complicated relationship with the courtesan of Shuiyun Pavilion... the mastermind behind the case in Yinwu Village, Guangzhou Prefecture...'

'interesting!'

After the Guangzhou case, the two sides maintained a tacit understanding, and this time was no exception.

However, this relationship will eventually come to an end, especially since Li Yuanshe has come into the court's sights. The next time they meet, they may have to settle their differences!
"Go and inform the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"

Haiyue personally guarded the scene, while Yan Shifan and Zhao Wenhua went to inform the authorities. When Lu Bingfei rushed over and finished reading the diary, he was overjoyed: "I didn't expect we actually caught him! Mingwei has truly broadened my horizons! Pills... pills!"

Muttering to himself, Lu Bing was horrified and disregarded the pitch-black night sky: "This is bad! I must rush to the palace to report this!"

……

Yin hour three quarters.

The Forbidden City was still shrouded in a hazy morning mist.

The alchemy room on the west side of the Qianqing Palace was brightly lit by candlelight.

The charcoal fire beneath the bronze cauldron crackled softly, and a glow shimmered within the furnace.

Zhu Houcong sat cross-legged on a futon, dressed in a plain white Taoist robe, his hair tied up with a jade crown, his face calm, his breathing long and even, as if he had become one with the rising smoke in the hall.

Beside the alchemical cauldron, an old Taoist priest held a whisk and chanted the "Supreme Alchemy Scripture" in a low voice. Two young Taoist boys stood on his left and right, one holding a fan to control the fire and the other holding a jade plate containing cinnabar, mica and other substances.

The medicinal liquid in the cauldron has been fully boiled and is now gleaming with an amber luster.

"This is the Dragon-Tiger Fasting Pill, made from morning dew, pine nuts, Solomon's seal, Atractylodes lancea and other herbs, and prepared by three cycles of fire. Taking it can strengthen the body, prolong life, and help Your Majesty attain the supreme Dao."

As the old Taoist priest explained, Zhu Houcong stared at the elixir flowing in the cauldron, his eyes reflecting the flickering flames.

Right now, he's not thinking about achieving immortality or anything like that.

Instead, she wanted to have a son.

Since ascending the throne, some of his concubines have become pregnant, but one empress and two concubines all gave birth prematurely.

The empress's premature birth was also related to him. She was frightened by it and later fell seriously ill and died. Zhu Houcong was furious at the time, but after a few years, he was filled with regret.

He is not old, but he is already twenty-five years old and has no children.

Emperor Wuzong Zhu Houzhao inherited the throne because he had no sons. Would he also end up like this, letting someone else inherit the country?
Do not!
Therefore, in Zhu Houcong's eyes, cultivating Taoism had two purposes—

To improve physical health! And to give birth to a prince!
After listening to the old Taoist priest describe the effects of the medicine, he slowly raised his hand and traced a circle above the mouth of the cauldron with his fingertips, as if sensing the power of the medicine.

The hall gradually quieted down, with only the occasional spark from the charcoal fire.

"Bring it here!"

Just as the elixir was ready to be taken, hurried footsteps came from outside the hall.

"His Majesty!"

Huang Jin arrived outside the alchemy room, knelt down with a thud, and, not caring about disturbing the cultivators inside, shouted in a shrill voice, "Urgent report from the Northern Garrison!"

(End of this chapter)