NOVPUBShen Roujia did not show much emotion, merely waving her hand for everyone to clean up and leave.
Gu Zhi glanced at Shen Roujia. “Is there something wrong with these flowers?”
Shen Roujia lightly sniffed them, then spoke with a tight-lipped smile, “The problem lies with these flowers.”
When Shen Roujia arrived here, she had not paid attention to the surroundings or the arrangements.
Gu Zhi picked up a flower and was about to sniff it.
“It smells quite nice…”
Shen Roujia hurriedly stopped her. “Don’t smell it!”
She knocked the flower from her hand. “These small orchids are similar to mandrakes; both have hallucinogenic effects.”
Gu Zhi felt a chill. “Why would Aunt Hua bring such things here?”
Shen Roujia rolled her eyes. “No, it’s very likely she doesn’t even know.”
Gu Zhi’s gaze fell on the now empty flower pot, noticing deep marks underneath it.
This indicated that the flowers had been there for quite some time.
It was impossible that they had been placed after Shen Roujia and Gu Zhi arrived.
Shen Roujia had also noticed this, which is why she was so certain.
“Sigh, old debts are hard to clear…”
Night fell.
The moon was bright but the stars were sparse, and the insects and birds were silent.
Shen Roujia and Gu Zhi pretended to be unaware and quietly went to sleep.
When a light footstep sounded outside the door, Gu Zhi suddenly opened her eyes and handed Shen Roujia a handkerchief.
She took it and immediately covered her mouth.
No wonder…
The person behind this mischief had used the subtle effects of the small orchids to make everyone in the residence smell them daily.
Thus, they could easily use incense to catalyze the effects on this full moon night.
Shen Roujia and Gu Zhi exchanged a glance, got up, and prepared to confront this mastermind.
Shen Roujia now understood why the residence was so quiet at night.
For years, they had inhaled the scent of these small orchids, falling into deep dreams, whether nightmares or sweet dreams, unable to wake until dawn.
This person’s cunning plan was truly frightening.
Gu Zhi led Shen Roujia, leaping over the rooftop, lying flat on the eaves, holding their breath.
Looking up, the full moon seemed to be partially covered by a cloud, appearing somewhat incomplete.
Before Shen Roujia could retract her gaze, fragmented qin music came from the room below.
Shen Roujia immediately recognized it as the half-piece Hua Zui had played before.
She widened her eyes and looked at Gu Zhi.
Gu Zhi signaled her to remain calm.
They quietly moved, gently lifting two tiles.
The room was pitch dark, but the sound of the qin was amplified.
The second half of the piece gradually played out.
Listening to the mournful and weeping notes, it seemed to tell the struggle of lovers who couldn’t be together in their final moments.
Shen Roujia pressed her lips, forcing herself to listen to the entire piece.
Inside, the person stopped plucking the strings.
A soft laugh was heard.
“Rarely someone appreciates.”
Hearing the slightly hoarse voice, Shen Roujia’s heart tightened.
This person was silent, not even breathing audibly.
Gu Zhi, with her superior martial arts skills, couldn’t hide beside her and still got discovered.
Gu Zhi gently held Shen Roujia by the waist, and they lightly flipped to the ground.
The lights in the qin room were lit one by one.
A slender figure gradually emerged in the dim candlelight.
Shen Roujia tentatively asked, “Is the esteemed senior Hong Xiao inside?”
