On her wedding night, she went into exile with her pharmacy arsenal

Chapter 2168 Odor

Huo Changxu pondered for a moment, then glanced at the crowd in the front hall: "Take a booklet and register all the people who have come to return goods. Write down their names and addresses clearly, without missing a single one."

Although the waiter was somewhat confused, seeing Huo Changxu's serious expression, he didn't dare to ask any more questions and quickly nodded in agreement: "I'll take care of it right away."

Huo Changxu decided to stay in the shop to help out. He personally refunded customers' money, patiently listened to everyone's complaints, and would occasionally ask when the incense was bought and where it was stored at home. But after asking around, he still couldn't get any answers.

They were busy until sunset, when people gradually left the shop. The sachets and boxes on the counter were piled high, and the returned goods in the back warehouse were almost reaching the threshold.

Huo Changxu had just breathed a sigh of relief when Huo Zhongmao came in from outside. His long robe was covered in dust, indicating that he had been traveling a long way.

"Brother Huo," Huo Changxu greeted him, offering a cup of hot tea, "How is the situation with the Qian family?"

Huo Zhongmao took the tea, drank it all in one gulp, and sighed heavily: "Exactly the same as here!"

He wiped the sweat from his forehead, his tone full of confusion: "Manager Qian said that since this morning, customers have been coming to return goods, saying that his incense has a bad smell, but when he smells it, and when the shop assistants smell it, it's no different from usual."

We searched through the entire warehouse and smelled everything; nothing seemed wrong. But when we let other people smell it, they all said it smelled terrible!

Huo Changxu took out the register of customers who returned goods and spread it out on the table: "I had the shop assistant register the addresses of the people returning goods. Take a look."

The two huddled together and carefully examined the booklet.

The addresses listed were varied, ranging from those living in the east and west of the city to merchants in the south and farmers in the north, with no discernible pattern.

After reading it, Huo Zhongmao frowned and looked at Huo Changxu with concern: "Second Young Master, something is very wrong with this. It doesn't seem like ordinary spices have gone bad. Should we write to the Prince and Princess to tell them?"

I had a feeling that something was amiss; I feared someone was pulling strings behind the scenes.

Huo Changxu gently stroked the edge of the booklet with his fingers, pondering for a long time.

My elder brother and sister-in-law are in Rongzhou. They have just quelled the Liu family's troubles there, and everything is in need of rebuilding. They also have to be wary of enemies lurking in the shadows. It must be full of difficulties and dangers.

He didn't want to bother them with these things anymore, lest they be distracted.

“No need for now,” Huo Changxu raised his eyes, his tone calm. “Let’s wait and investigate ourselves first.”

My elder brother and sister-in-law are already busy enough outside; we'll handle these trivial matters ourselves if we can.”

Huo Zhongmao thought about it and agreed, nodding, "Alright, I'll go see Manager Qian again tomorrow and see if I can find any clues."

"I'll take this booklet back and take a closer look. Maybe I'll find something I missed. I'll return it after I'm done." Huo Changxu carefully put the booklet away and tucked it into his pocket.

By the time we left the spice shop, it was completely dark, and a few lanterns were lit up in the streets and alleys of Youcheng.

Upon returning to the Prince's Mansion, he did not go back to his own courtyard. Ever since his elder brother and sister-in-law went to Rongzhou, he had been visiting the First Madam's courtyard every day to pay his respects and had at least one meal with his mother each day.

Just as they reached the entrance of the Prince's Mansion, they ran into Zhang Mama, who was by their mother's side.

Granny Zhang was carrying a food box. When she saw Huo Changxu, her face immediately lit up with a smile, and she said in a friendly tone, "Second Young Master is back. Madam will be having dinner soon, and she specially ordered the kitchen to prepare your favorite chestnut chicken and lotus seed soup, just waiting for you to come over."

Huo Changxu smiled and agreed, then followed Zhang Mama to the First Madam's courtyard.

As soon as you enter the courtyard, you can see the dim candlelight shining through the window of the main room, and you can vaguely see the figure of the First Madam reclining on the soft couch.

He tiptoed in, lifted the curtain and went inside, where he saw the First Madam resting her head on her hand, her eyes slightly lowered, as if she were dozing off.

Upon hearing the noise, the doctor slowly opened his eyes, a hint of weariness in them.

Huo Changxu walked quickly to the soft couch and asked with concern, "Mother, are you tired today? Why are you sleepy so early?"

At this time of day, you would usually be tending to the flowers and plants in the yard.

The First Madam waved her hand, her voice tinged with languor. She then yawned, her eyes glistening with moisture. "It's nothing. Perhaps I didn't sleep well during my midday nap and I'm not feeling very energetic."

"Bring the food here."

Huo Changxu looked at the dark circles under his mother's eyes and the overwhelming weariness in her eyes, and his heart suddenly skipped a beat.

I inexplicably recalled the uncontrollable yawns of my classmates at the academy, and the strange returns at the spice shop... Could all of this really just be a coincidence?

As he was thinking, the First Madam suddenly covered her nose.

"What do you smell like? Did you go shovel latrines?"

Huo Changxu: "..."

“I helped out at Brother Zhongmao’s spice shop, so I could make some with fragrance.”

Huo Changxu raised his arm and sniffed himself: "Where do I smell bad?"

The First Madam waved her hands repeatedly: "I don't care, it just stinks. Go take a bath first, hurry up."

Helpless, Huo Changxu had no choice but to leave first. Once in the courtyard, he instructed the maid, "Go and get some incense from the spice shop and light it for Mother."

"Yes."

Huo Changxu returned to the courtyard, took a quick bath, changed his clothes, and went back to the First Madam's courtyard, where he listened to her speak.

"What kind of incense is this? It smells awful. Take it away right now."

Huo Changxu's eyes sharpened.

……

Yan Ruyu had been quite tired these past few days. Now that Wu Ping'an had been found and the trial of the Liu family's case was nearing its end, the arrival of Qi Dongqiang and An Cizhou brought her a sense of relief.

I wanted to sleep in this morning.

But this wish was not fulfilled.

I was woken up early this morning by a call from the abbot.

She answered the phone in a daze, initially paying no attention, thinking that the abbot was just talking about mundane matters.

"Ruyu, when are you coming back?"

Yan Ruyu closed her eyes and calculated: "It'll be soon, probably in about a week."

Although things here are mostly sorted out, it will still take time to clean up the mess, not to mention the horses that were sent out and whose whereabouts are still unknown.

The abbot remained silent for a moment.

The silence made Yan Ruyu realize that something was wrong.

"What? You have something to say? If so, just say it."

The abbot pondered for a moment and said, "I don't know if this counts."

"Stop being so fussy, just say it," Yan Ruyu urged.

The abbot stopped rambling and said directly, "This is what happened. I met the second young master early this morning. He looked worried, so I asked him what was wrong. He said something strange had happened."

Yan Ruyu opened her eyes: "What strange thing? Has something happened to Changxu?"

Logically, this shouldn't be the case. Before she and Huo Changhe left, they arranged for secret guards to protect Huo Changxu and the First Madam.