Afterwards, it was a few days of calm, until one day, when Hong Liu’er returned from outside and handed the newly received letter to Prince Lan, who was still hosting guests in the inner residence. At that mont, Zhu Yu also arrived with Lu Qing and others, holding a delicate little wooden box in her hands.
Prince Lan was initially reading the letter with so disinterest in its contents, but as soon as he saw Zhu Yu approaching with the box, his spirits lifted.
"Your Highness!" Zhu Yu walked to the front of the hall, bowed respectfully, and held the wooden box above her head, "The truth-revealing pill you asked to make is ready."
"Oh?" Prince Lan’s eyes lit up, and he motioned to her with a wave, "Bring it to my desk."
Zhu Yu quickly stepped forward, stood firm before Prince Lan’s desk, and, with a solemn air, shook her sleeves and gently placed the wooden box on the table, as if presenting a rare treasure.
Prince Lan watched her serious deanor, with a hint of doubt in his eyes, as if pondering whether she truly brought such a miraculous treasure or was rely bluffing.
He opened the wooden box. Inside, there was no decoration, just a single dark brown pill, seemingly ordinary, with no unique fragrance detectable.
"This is what you call the truth-revealing pill?" He glanced doubtfully at Zhu Yu and then at the contents of the box, "Just one pill?"
"Precisely." Zhu Yu nodded solemnly, "The ingredients needed for this pill are rare, and the process permits no mistakes.
I know you’ve been concerned, fearing you’d wait too long, so I made one to let you verify whether I was telling the truth or bluffing."
"I see, makes sense." Prince Lan nodded, accepting Zhu Yu’s explanation. He picked up the pill and slled it, detecting nothing special, so he summoned a servant nearby, "Go, find soone willing to take the dicine in the side courtyard."
"Your Highness, wait!" Zhu Yu quickly spoke up to stop him.
"What do you want to say?" Prince Lan looked at her curiously.
"Your Highness, how can you ask your own guests to test the dicine for you?" Zhu Yu shook her head in confusion, "Think about it, your guests have lived in your Prince Mansion for years, haven’t they?
Doesn’t that an they’ve always been under your watchful eye?
As the wise ruler of Lan Country, you are unparalleled in your intelligence. What could they possibly hide from you, being right in your sight every day?
To you, they are like clear water, transparent ice, incapable of concealing even a tiny thought. Giving them such a precious pill to consu would tell you only what you already know. Even if it proved true, the pill’s value would be sowhat wasted!
In my humble opinion, you should find soone whose true thoughts you can’t discern or who might know sothing you’re unaware of. If they take this pill and reveal everything, wouldn’t it prove the pill’s authenticity and ensure its proper use, instead of it being wasted?"
"What you say makes sense." Prince Lan pondered, nodding slowly, casting a glance at Zhu Yu, "How about... you take it?"
Lin Kun, Chang Yu, and others waiting below couldn’t help but tense upon hearing this, instinctively looking at Zhu Yu.
Zhu Yu remained calm, only slightly surprised, then smiled, "Your Highness, do you want to take the pill and reveal the formula?
Indeed, even I would speak truthfully under this mystical truth-revealing pill passed down from my master. But if you did this, you could obtain the pill’s formula, yet it would alert those you truly wish to test, and they’d avoid you altogether.
Moreover, countless people possess secret techniques and formulas, often hidden away, reluctant to reveal themselves easily.
You, Your Highness, are renowned for valuing talents, attracting many to serve under you. However, should you extort the formula from by such ans, those observing from outside might beco wary, hesitant to co forth, even staying far away.
I believe with your broad mind and vision, Your Highness, you would naturally realize this as a jest, wouldn’t you?"
"Hahaha, you are quite perceptive, young man. Indeed, I was joking with you." Prince Lan laughed, using Zhu Yu’s explanation as a fitting excuse.
Initially, he genuinely intended to have Zhu Yu test the pill, hoping to confirm its efficacy and acquire the formula.
Yet Zhu Yu’s words also served as a wake-up call, making him aware that this wasn’t a long-term plan.
Prince Lan’s gaze moved over the courtyard attendees, Zhu Yu’s words echoing in his mind.
"Soone whose thoughts cannot be discerned..."
"Who would tell you everything freely..."
His vision shifted and finally rested on Hong Liu’er, standing aside, waiting for further instructions.
"Hong Liu’er, you returned swiftly from retrieving the letter. Where did you et the ssenger?" Prince Lan asked suddenly after a mont’s contemplation.
Hong Liu’er, initially spacing out, thinking it unrelated, was startled by the question but responded, "Your Highness, the ssenger t about seven or eight miles outside the capital. After handing the letter, I rushed back. He is currently resting outside the city, waiting for your reply to return it."
"Oh?" Prince Lan’s brows moved slightly, "Have they been coming this close lately?"
"Your Highness, recently they’ve been nearing the capital, due to frequent activities by Jie Country, and Jin Country tightening border security, preferring these safer routes." Hong Liu’er replied honestly.
"Since he willingly ventured so far and isn’t in a rush after delivering the letter, it seems he’s quite interested in our capital affairs." Prince Lan mused, "In that case, I mustn’t be inhospitable.
Hong Liu’er, take a few people and bring that ssenger over, tell him Prince Lan invites him to a feast at the mansion."
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