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If the poison was concealed in incense or artifacts, besides the food box and plate originally belonging to the owner, it could only be among the artifacts in Lin Yangyang's room.
As for the human body, Lin Zhiqing's mind immediately conjured up Biluo's face.
On the day of the incident, besides the owner and Xiao Cui, only Biluo had come into contact with Lin Yangyang.
If Biluo had hidden the poison on herself, slipping it to them unnoticed when the original owner and Lin Yangyang weren't paying attention, then the original owner would become the prime suspect after the incident.
On the contrary, Biluo could use excuses like calling for someone to take the poison away afterward and destroy the evidence.
Thinking this through, Lin Zhiqing slapped her hand, quickly catching everyone's attention.
Lin Zhiqing briefly outlined her speculation. Lu Nan Yue was the first to agree, "Zhiqing makes sense. Let's first check this room and then interrogate that Biluo."
"No." Lin Zhiqing shook her head. "That would be too time-consuming."
She looked at Jiang Liuyun and Lin Shian, "Please, Prince Jiang, go with my cousin to search for clues on Biluo."
"I, Nan Yue, and Lu Huai will stay here to inspect artifacts and other suspicious items." Lin Zhiqing quickly assigned the tasks.
Jiang Liuyun readily agreed, and Lin Shian silently nodded in agreement.
Seeing the two leave the courtyard, Lin Zhiqing turned back to observe the furnishings inside the room.
"Zhiqing, I'll first check if your cousin's usual incense and cosmetics are problematic." Lu Nan Yue greeted her.
"Hmm." Lin Zhiqing nodded and began examining the tea set, tables, chairs, and other items.
Lu Huai quietly observed the flower vases, paintings, and other decorative objects.
After searching around, Lin Zhiqing found nothing suspicious.
The entire room retained the state it was in when Lin Yangyang was poisoned.
The chairs and tables were in disarray, and the dishes and teacups on the table were scattered.
Logically, traces of poison should be easiest to find on these cups and plates.
But there was nothing unusual about this collection.
Lin Zhiqing scanned the other furnishings in the room and carefully reconsidered if she had overlooked anything.
The next moment, Lu Nan Yue's voice came from the inner chamber, "The incense and cosmetics are fine."
"What about the candles?" Lin Zhiqing asked while bending down to examine the food box that originally held golden corn cakes.
"Ordinary candles, nothing wrong with them." Lu Nan Yue shook her head.
"Let's look around some more." After checking the food box, Lin Zhiqing crouched down to inspect places often overlooked, like the underside of the table.
Moving the stool, her first notice was the brown carpet.
The carpet looked expensive, made of an unknown animal's hair, with gold thread embroidery.
However, the downside was that some segments of the gold thread seemed stained.
Lin Zhiqing touched the stained gold thread with a handkerchief.
Her actions quickly drew Lu Nan Yue's attention, "Zhiqing, did you find something?"
Lin Zhiqing stepped back to allow Lu Nan Yue to see the stain.
"This should be the mark of accidentally spilled tea." Lu Nan Yue shook her head and turned to check from the screen in the inner chamber.
Accidentally spilled tea...
Lin Zhiqing observed it and denied the idea in her mind.
If tea was accidentally spilled, the amount, force, and direction would be uncontrollable.
In other words, the stains left by the tea should also be uneven?
Looking at the carpet, Lin Zhiqing traced the stained gold thread and noticed a few fainter water droplet-like stains in the same direction.
As the distance increased, the stains gradually became smaller until they disappeared.
Lin Zhiqing furrowed her brows and stood up, following the direction where the stains vanished.
A transparent lattice red-brown antique stand at the corner of the wall suddenly caught her eye.
Before she could approach it, Lu Huai and Lu Nan Yue appeared together in front of the antique stand.
The lowest level of the antique stand displayed a jade bottle entirely green. The rest of the space was occupied by small weapons and decorations like gemstone-inlaid daggers.
Lu Nan Yue wasn't interested in the weapons but found the antique stand exquisite. She touched it and heard Lu Huai's voice,
"Never expected the Lin family to appear impoverished on the surface but secretly possess such an antique stand made entirely of rhinoceros leather lacquer."
"Indeed, a dead camel is taller than a living horse." He casually picked up the jade bottle on the antique stand and examined it.
"You're talking nonsense." Lu Nan Yue glared at Lu Huai, then turned to Lin Zhiqing nearby, "Zhiqing, this guy only knows mathematics all day and speaks without filter. Don't take it to heart."
Lin Zhiqing naturally ignored it. After all, he was talking about the Lin family, which had no relation to her.
Her focus was already drawn to the antique stand. She looked at Lu Huai, "Did you say this was rhinoceros lacquer?"
Lu Huai's eyes widened slightly, somewhat surprised, "You don't know rhinoceros lacquer?"
Seeing Lin Zhiqing nod, his gaze returned to the antique stand, "I only read about rhinoceros lacquer products in Xiushi Lu. I never expected to see the real thing here."
"According to Xiushi Lu, rhinoceros lacquer, or xi pi, has patterns like patches of clouds, round flowers, and pine scales. Recently, there are also cylinder-faced ones, valuing smoothness."
Lu Nan Yue hated listening to lengthy explanations. She shook her head and turned to leave.
Lu Huai didn't even glance at Lu Nan Yue but placed the jade bottle back on the stand,
"The production of rhinoceros lacquer uses the lacquer liquid from Zhongnan Mountain. The lacquer liquid required for such an antique stand would take over thirty people working tirelessly for three days to collect."
"The Lin family is indeed a noble household. I wonder where they acquired such a precious item." Lu Huai casually glanced at Lin Zhiqing.
But Lin Zhiqing's thoughts were no longer on Lu Huai.
The lacquer liquid from Zhongnan Mountain...
These words circled in her mind. She withdrew her gaze from the high part of the antique stand and thoughtfully stroked her chin.
Seeing her expression, Lu Huai slightly squinted his eyes and was about to ask when he heard a series of footsteps approaching.
Everyone followed the direction of the door. Next, Lin Shian's baby-like face appeared first.
His nostrils flared, his lips tight, and his expression wasn't good.
Such an expression likely indicated anger!
Lin Zhiqing felt a foreboding sense. She was about to open her mouth and ask what happened when Jiang Liuyun appeared, one step behind Lin Shian.
His dark face carried no smile,
"Qing'er, Biluo is dead."