How Deep the Crimson Leaves Run: Chapter 24, Discovery

In the east wing, an elderly man placed three fingers of his right hand on Wang Chengjian’s wrist to check his pulse. "Please, sir, stick out your tongue," he requested.

Wang Chengjian complied. The old man, Physician Sun, used the light of an oil lamp to carefully examine the color of the tongue coating. After observing for a moment, he turned to Wang Chengjian and Dong Xinwu, who was waiting anxiously behind him. "The patient's blood flow is agitated, yet the overall pulse remains steady, which does not align with the characteristics of a potent poison. In my professional opinion, it is likely that a drug similar to a knockout powder was administered."

Dong Xinwu nodded. Since being poisoned, Wang Chengjian and the others had experienced only dizziness and physical weakness without any other symptoms; they had already suspected it was the type of emergency drug often carried by those in the underworld.

Wang Shihan couldn't help but heave a heavy sigh. Meeting Dong Xinwu’s questioning gaze, she explained, "That lecher lied, claiming my parents had been poisoned. He lured me into opening the door by promising the antidote, and I nearly lost my life."

"The young lady is fortunate," Dong Xinwu replied. "Heaven looks after those who are kind."

Physician Sun returned to his desk, scribbled a prescription, and handed it to Dong Xinwu. "The knockout powder will only leave the victim unconscious and weak for a limited time. If left alone, the effects will dissipate within an hour or two. I have written a prescription for a sedative tonic, should you feel it necessary to have it filled."

After a moment's thought, Dong Xinwu gestured for a constable to accompany the physician to a nearby pharmacy.

In the main courtyard, smoke still drifted in the air. Although the flames had been extinguished, the scorching heat was stifling. Gu Yu pointed to the window lattice. "When I entered, the fire had already started on the doors and windows, but it was particularly intense on the lattice."

Zhou Wei walked on his tiptoes, trying to find clean spots to step, and slowly moved to the lattice. His sharp gaze scanned every corner. Suddenly, he stopped and pried off a piece of the partially charred wood. It felt wet and sticky to the touch. He brought it to his nose and sniffed; the scent was both familiar and strange. After a moment, realization dawned: naphtha. This substance, native to the Western Regions, was widely used on the battlefield for its powerful incendiary properties. In the capital, it was rarely seen outside of the Imperial Guard. Naphtha had another distinct characteristic: it could not be extinguished by water.

When Zhou Wei had first heard Gu Yu’s description, he had been puzzled, but the residue on the lattice confirmed the use of naphtha. With this in mind, he suddenly had a new theory about the door latch that had ignited spontaneously. Just then, two constables arrived carrying the heavy latch, wrapped in cloth. Gu Yu, unaware of what had happened at the gate, looked at Zhou Wei in confusion. Zhou Wei smiled. "Let me show you a magic trick."

He carefully unwrapped the cloth to reveal the latch. Gu Yu’s expression grew even more confused. Ignoring him, Zhou Wei unbuckled his belt, held one end, and handed the other to Gu Yu. The two pulled the belt taut, positioning it horizontally across the latch. Zhou Wei signaled the constables to step back and said to Gu Yu, "Pull it tight."

As they exerted force, the belt snapped taut. Zhou Wei moved it slowly up and down, rubbing it against the latch like a saw. After a few motions, with a sudden *pop*, the belt burst into flames. Sparks showered onto the latch, and it erupted into an even larger fire. Most eerily, the outer flames burned with a bright, blinding white light. Gu Yu stared, dumbfounded, unable to fathom the mystery behind it.

Seeing the intense curiosity in Gu Yu’s eyes, Zhou Wei teased the constables, "You have to admire the young; even after being beaten so severely and suffering such heavy injuries, all he cares about is a piece of burnt wood."

The constables chuckled good-naturedly, and Gu Yu scratched his head in embarrassment. Zhou Wei’s expression turned serious. "This is phosphorus fire. It has an extremely low ignition point, near the temperature of a human body. As the temperature drops at night, it won't ignite on its own, but the heat from a hand touching it is enough to set it off." The constables stirred with unease. Zhou Wei looked up at them. "Like the naphtha, this isn't something you see every day. It’s unstable, yet its destructive power is immense, typically reserved for military use or the battlefield."

Gu Yu asked, "But we saw both tonight at the Wang estate. Where did Tang Haiqiu get the channels to purchase such prohibited items?"

Zhou Wei replied, "Furthermore, these two items weren't necessarily prepared in advance by Tang Haiqiu. This confirms the theory that there is an informant within the estate. Do you have any suspects?"

This question was directed at Gu Yu. Just as he was about to answer, a voice came from outside the wall: "Master Zhou, we have a new discovery here!" Zhou Wei immediately led his men through the moon gate and circled the wall until they reached the base. Two constables were dragging two figures dressed as servants—whom Gu Yu recognized as Niu Er and Li Fu. The constables slapped the men’s faces, but they remained unconscious. Zhou Wei ordered, "Bring water."

A constable fetched a full bucket, and Zhou Wei doused them. The icy water jolted them awake with gasps and coughing. The constable reported, "We were searching the grounds for suspicious items when we found these two already unconscious, with blood on them. It seems they were attacked."

Gu Yu looked at the two men, who were crouched on the ground coughing violently, and asked, "Where were they injured?"

The constable paused, then answered honestly, "This one has a head wound," pointing to Niu Er, then gesturing to Li Fu, "and this one has a wound on his forehead."

Zhou Wei squatted before them. Once their breathing steadied, Niu Er rolled his eyes, scanning the area. "What happened?" He sniffed the air. "What is that smell?"

Zhou Wei observed their expressions and explained, "The main house caught fire and was burned to the ground. Your young mistress was attacked by Tang Haiqiu and nearly lost her life, though one of the guards died by his blade. You two are very lucky to have survived in one piece."

Li Fu seemed to ignore the implication in Zhou Wei’s words. He said calmly, "Before the fire started, we were attacked by the culprit. He attacked Brother Niu from behind first, right?" He turned to Niu Er, who rubbed the back of his head, wincing in pain as he struggled to recall. "You were the one who sounded the alarm. As soon as I turned around, I was struck. That fellow was simply too fast..."

Li Fu cut in, "Exactly. After he struck you, he closed in on me quickly. Unfortunately, I was no match for him either, and he knocked me unconscious."

Zhou Wei’s scrutinizing gaze swept over them, but he found no flaws in their account. He ordered his men to take them away for medical treatment, then turned back to see Gu Yu staring at the base of the wall, lost in thought.