He Yu stared at the box before receiving it. Then he sat down on the chair. He pressed the hollow part on the bottom lightly and the remaining hollow parts retreated inside slightly and the supposedly beautiful but random pattern broke out in curves and square shaped blocks, all scattered like a puzzle.
Qin Yan and Lingxi watched intently but before they knew it, He Yu had clicked the curves and squares back in the correct position, a phoenix pattern.
His hands were quick and fast that Lingxi could not comprehend how he did it so quickly.
The box, on the other hand opened itself naturally and the token appeared.
Lingxi was really impressed, "wow! Impressive!" while Qin Yan's face remained indifferent but there was a sense of respect in his eyes.
"How did you that so easily? Weren't you worried you would make a mistake?" Lingxi asked.
He Yu closed the box back, "Fan Jingchan's works are actually very easy to solve. It only appears impossible that's why people think hard. His greatest skill isn't his works but his mind"
"So it's just a mind game", Lingxi realized.
She smiled and sat next to him.
Peering into his face, she said, "so like-minded people understand each other better, right?"
"Anyone with basic understanding could have solved it", He Yu responded.
*******
"The poison is called 'dust sleep'", Fu Jiu had researched and found the name of the poison. "Dust sleep? That's quite a funny name?" Lv Chi commented with his arms folded.
"The poison hardly leaves traces and causes temporary paralysis, hence the name 'dust sleep'", Fu Jiu explained.
"It does make some sense then"
"Where can this poison be found?" He Rui asked.
"That's the tricky part. His Majesty had banned this medicine after an overdose had killed one of his favorite consorts back then. So they can hardly be found anywhere", Fu Jiu answered.
"If this poison was banned, that means no decent pharmacy would sell it. We have a lead", Liu ying said turning to look at He Rui with a sense of fulfillment.
"Not necessarily. Smart criminals would rather hide within reputable places", He Rui said.
Liu ying couldn't help but glare. She understood that he was stating a possibility but couldn't help feeling it was directed at her.
"So next, we are going to find out which pharmacy or shady business dealer is selling this poison", Lv Chi pointed out the next course of action.
"We also have to investigate the people that came in and out of the mansion within those three days and maybe, earlier", Lu Qian added.
"In that case, how about we split into two groups? Group one goes to investigate the poison and group two goes on to investigate the people that visited the mansion", Lv Chi suggested.
"I'll investigate the poison", Liu ying and He Rui said the same time.
They stared at each other.
"Then it's settled. His Highness and Miss Liu will investigate the poison while the three of us investigate the visitors", Lv Chi concluded.
"Why should I go with you? Shouldn't I investigate the poison with His Highness?" Fu Jiu asked.
"The poison is hard to find but identifying the symptoms of those who have come in contact with it is harder "
"Makes sense", Fu Jiu nodded.
"How about this - the first group to solve their mission wins?" Lv Chi said.
"Can you be serious for once?" Lu Qian asked.
[Grand Prince Residence]
The evening breeze was cool and clear. Lingxi was sitting and admiring the view outside the room from her new favorite position - the window.
"I'm hungry", she announced loudly distracting He Yu who was quietly reading.
He set his brush down, "didn't you say you weren't hungry earlier?"
"Well, I'm hungry now"
"There's a curfew in the residence; the chef won't be able to cook for you"
"Who said anything about cooking?" Lingxi asked walking up to him.
She sat next to him and held his arm, "how about we go out and have get something to eat?" she suggested.
He Yu faced her, "it's late. Are you sure you want to eat out?"
"It's precisely because it is late that I want to eat out", she answered and began tugging his arm, "Your Highness, please, let's eat out", she begged with a puppy face.
He Yu couldn't stand it anymore, "fine. Let's go", he agreed.
She smiled in victory.
********
Lingxi hopped happily in the market with He Yan following behind her with his usual steady pace. He was holding some boxes of pastries she had bought earlier. They strolled down to a food stall and she ordered two bowls of noodles.
"Two bowl of noodles, please", she ordered.
"Coming right up", the stall owner said as he rushed off to make the noodles.
He soon came back with the freshly made noodles.
"Enjoy your meal", he said.
Lingxi picked up her chopsticks, "I heard from Nanny Zhao that this was the best noodle shop in the capital", she said and proceeded to taste them.
Her eyes gleamed, "delicious!"
He Yu watched her eat. Although she wasn't eating ravenously, she was still a bit different from other noble ladies.
"Aren't you eating?" she asked on noticing him.
"I'm not hungry"
"Oh", Lingxi realized.
She took his bowl and poured the noodles into her bowl and started eating it.
"You sure have an appetite", He Yu commented.
"There are many troubles in this world. We need to have enough energy to face them, right?" she replied.
He Yu watched her in thought.
"What are you thinking about?" she asked him.
"Nothing", he responded.
"Then, can I ask you a question?"
He thought for a while, "go on".
"I married Your Highness because of admiration and love. Why did Your Highness marry me?"
He remembered the day in the forest and was silent for a while before answering, "It was my father's wish"
"You are willing to marry me because it was your father's wish? From what I think of you, I can't help but think you are lying" she said staring straight into his eyes.
He Yu stared right back with the same calm smile of his, "then I can't help but also think Your Highness is lying".
Lingxi blinked, "You should not question my love for you"
"Then why are you questioning my intentions? Or did Your Highness wish I had defied the Imperial decree?"
"I just don't believe someone should constrain themselves to the wishes of someone they have never met, especially someone like you", she paused for a while, "apart from that, after you met me, did you have any other reason?"
"No", He Yu shook his head.
"Then why did you teach me archery, pick me up, let me do whatever I want and even accompany out?" her voice sounded wronged.
"Because you are my wife", he answered.
There was a short moment of silence.
"As long as you are my wife, you are my responsibility. It is my duty to take care of you", he explained truthfully.
Lingxi was silent. She stared at him for a while and continued eating.
"As for another reason I married you, it's probably because I found you...." he thought for the right word, "....cute"
Lingxi almost choked, "cute? We barely met thrice before marriage, when did you find me cute?"
As far As she was concerned, this was the first time someone described her with that word. She was a reputable noble lady who had always been elegant. How did a perceptive grand prince like He Yu come up with such a description?
"On the first day we met when you made Miss Li fall into the water, I found you cute", he said.
Lingxi's mind flashed back to when Li Min had tried pushing her into the lake and she turned her scheme against her. She scratched her head finding a headache. He must have already seen her smile that day. Although she wasn't worried, she was cautious.
"I won't allow myself to be bullied", she defended herself, "I'll avenge every insult. Your Highness does not find that petty but cute?" she asked.
"It isn't being petty, just a bit childish", He Yu answered calmly.
Lingxi paused and was in thought for a while before peering into his eyes, "Your Highness, have we met before?"