Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!

Chapter 708 - 707: Benevolent and Compassionate

"You..." The fake Prince Lan squeezed his voice out from his throat, asking Lu Qing, "What exactly did you make me drink...?"

"To catch a Jade Snowbird, many people must risk their lives for it. For someone like you, it’s not worthwhile." Lu Qing’s voice carried neither anger nor triumph, "And considering that the substance takes one’s life almost instantly, it’s too merciful for you. I certainly wouldn’t make such an unwise choice.

However, I did want you to know what it feels like after consuming the deadly poison of a Jade Snowbird.

Thanks to Zhao Bi and his daughter, I had the misfortune of tasting it a bit back in the day. After my master saved my life, I can say the taste has been etched in my memory, never forgotten.

Therefore, I had my fellow sect members specially concoct such a drug—not life-taking but providing that gut-wrenching, searing sensation—the same as the deadly poison of a real Jade Snowbird."

"You... so vicious!" The fake Prince Lan was tortured by the searing pain, cold sweat streaming down his face.

Lu Qing smiled: "I’m vicious, so you must be the kind-hearted person who took the lives of dozens in my family all at once."

Lin Kun, having listened quietly for a long time, had understood everything clearly. He already hated this impostor who seized the nest of Cuckoos and murdered the real Prince Lan, the Princely Heir, and several young masters. Seeing this scoundrel act so ruthless to others, yet clinging to life when it was his turn, he couldn’t help but clench his fists till they cracked, spitting viciously to one side.

The fake Prince Lan was tortured by the excruciating pain, his forehead veins bulging. At this point, he was both weak and irritable, using his last bit of strength to shout at Lu Qing: "If you’re so brave, just kill me!

If you don’t kill me, you’re failing the dozens of family members of yours that I killed! You coward—"

Lu Qing gestured for him to be silent: "Shh—save your energy. You won’t die anytime soon, oh no, you probably won’t die within two or three months.

All those wicked debts from the crimes you’ve committed, whether against my family or Prince Lan’s family, or even the people of Lan Country—all need to be repaid by you. If I let you die so swiftly, wouldn’t I be letting down the unjust souls who died by your hand?!"

Lu Qing stepped closer to the fake Prince Lan, drew a sharp dagger from his waist, and without the slightest hesitation or wasted motion, severed the tendons in the fake Prince Lan’s hands and feet.

Blood immediately gushed from the wounds as the fake Prince Lan let out a piercing scream, the agony from the corrosive poison within his organs compounded by the physical pain, almost taking his life.

But ironically, none of it could take his life.

He looked at the blood gushing from his wrist, for a moment even wishing for it to flow more fiercely, wishing for release.

But that wish quickly turned to dust.

Zhu Yu also walked forward with Lu Qing, squatted down, and expertly and swiftly stitched up the wounds on the imposter’s hands and feet, applying pressure to stop the bleeding.

"You, just live properly." Zhu Yu beamed at that face she had slapped swollen, "Don’t even think about the good fortune of an easy death."

"Lin Kun." Lu Qing wiped the blood off the dagger with the hem of his robe and reinserted it into his waist, instructing Lin Kun nearby, "Have someone make a wooden frame taller than a person, nail this scoundrel’s hands and feet to the frame, then lock it with iron chains, and add a barrier around it with a fence.

Then place him at the entrance of the Prince Mansion and say that he was the mastermind tempting Prince Lan, causing him to make mistakes repeatedly. Now that Prince Lan has awakened, he intends to start anew, so he will publicly display this criminal.

Have people guard this area daily, ensure the surrounding common folk don’t collectively beat him to death in anger.

Feed him some sugar water and rice gruel daily, as for exposure to wind, sun, and rain, no need to concern yourselves. Just make sure he doesn’t die too easily."

"Understood! Rest assured, sir, I understand perfectly!" Lin Kun felt a sense of relief ever since Lu Qing and Zhu Yu began, one severing tendons and the other stitching wounds. Hearing all of Lu Qing’s arrangements now, a subtle smile appeared on his face.

Even though the Prince Mansion didn’t suffer the same tragic loss of dozens of Lu Qing’s family members, it still faced ruin, with Chang Yu as the sole survivor. The enmity towards this harmful demon was the same, making him wish to skin and dismember the villain, devouring his bones and flesh alive.

Knowing Lu Qing wanted this scoundrel to die an excruciating death, he felt pleased.

After this "farcical" episode, Lin Kun and his original guard brothers quickly took full control of the Prince Lan Mansion.

They drove all the guests of Prince Lan into the farthest courtyard for confinement. The old guards who had remained in the mansion over the years also figured out who were the loyal supporters of the imposter, detaining the original trusted aides.

Not even a fly was allowed to freely exit the Prince Lan Mansion.

The matter of Prince Lan having long been dead and the nest being occupied by an imposter was known only to those within, forbidden to spread outside to avoid unnecessary unrest.

Chang Yu, getting acquainted with the other guards, quickly began to learn and familiarize himself with the various affairs within the mansion.

Though Lin Kun and others nurtured him well, allowing him to read many Holy Books, he was still young and had never experienced many things, sometimes uncertain where to start, frequently consulting Lu Qing for various issues.

Lu Qing was patient with him, answering every query. Fortunately, Chang Yu was intelligent, extrapolating from given information, showing noticeable progress in just a few days, gradually relaxing from his initial nervousness.

Simultaneously, Lu Qing instructed Situ Jing’s troops stationed outside the city to cooperate with the personal soldiers of Prince Lan Mansion, rigorously guarding all passes throughout Lan Country, sealing them off to prevent news of the imposter’s exposure from spreading.

Fortunately, Lan Country had been declining in recent years, frequently losing territories to Bhutan at their borders. The people of Lan Country had little interaction with the outside world, making the blockade relatively easy.

Meanwhile, Lu Qing summoned those prepared to respond within the capital to assist at Prince Lan Mansion, as there were many matters to handle post-removal of the imposter’s trusted allies.

Of course, Lu Qing also didn’t forget to mimic the handwriting of the imposter Prince Lan, sending a reply to the genuine messenger waiting for news outside the capital, allowing them to promptly return to Jin Country with their report.