30. Back to the capital
The next morning Yan woke up with his wife safely in his arms. He saw Xie and Rushuang sleeping nearby on the floor. On another sofa Yunchuan was still asleep, next to her on the ground Zihou had already woken up. When Zihou saw Yan was also awake he came to him. "There were no difficulties this night."
"Good, where are Fei Yuan and Shuomo?" Yan noticed the empty spots on the floor.
"Apparently Nian had woken up and Xunan needed some help to settle Nian again. Fei Yuan is keeping vigil over her as Xunan needed to attend to something in the poison garden. Shuomo accompanied her."
"It appears Shuomo knows this miss Yi and her sister quite well."
"Yunchuan knows them as well." Zihou commented, questioningly Yan raised his eyebrow. "We talked a bit more last night when you all had fallen asleep." Yan narrowed his eyes, adding this information to what he already knew of Zihou and Yunchuan. Thinking that there was no real reason not to ask Zihou about Yunchuan, Yan leaned over Su to get closer to Zihou and whispered: "Zihou, what is the relationship between you and Yunchuan?" Immediately Zihou replied: "She is my friend, just my friend." From the corner of his eye Yan saw Xie stir, so he quickly nodded and left it at that for now.
"So how does Yunchuan know miss Yi?" Su asked, opening her eyes. Surprised both men looked at her. "How long have you been awake?" Yan asked. "I heard that Shuomo accompanied someone, I suppose the older miss Yi, as Nian's injuries will require her to rest a long time. So how does the royal family know these two women?"
"They are the daughters of the supplier of herbs to the palace. They met at the palace a few years ago." Zihou told Su. "And I sometimes come here to meet with Xunan." Shuomo had just entered the living space from the garden door. "Fu, how was the last watch"
"There were no problems."
"we have to discuss how we're getting back to the capital." Shuomo stated, keeping the garden door open so Xunan could enter. "Let's do that over breakfast." Yan suggested, extending his hand to help Su. Together they cleaned up the room and arranged the table to eat. Rushuang went to Fei Yuan to bring something to eat and check on Nian. While everyone ate, they decided that Rushuang and Xie would stay with Xunan for a few days more, so Rushuang could help Nian recover further. When she was fit to travel they would come to the capital together. The others would return to the capital during the morning.
It took the rest of the day for Su, Yan, Yunchuan, Shuomo and Zihou to return to the capital, by which time Yunchuan and Su were both very tired, so they retried to their rooms, leaving the men to entertain themselves. Yan helped Su to get settled and then left to join the others. The three men enjoyed the peaceful evening, sharing stories of their countries and getting to know each other a bit better. Though he wouldn't necessarily call Shuomo a friend, Yan did consider him as an equal with whom he could easily spend time. And in time Shuomo might become a friend. Yan did see a closer relationship between Shuomo and Zihou. He knew Zihou did make sure to meet with Shuomo and Yunchuan whenever they came to Liang. And it hadn't escaped Yan's notice that Shuomo had called on Zihou specifically when Yunchuan had gone out exploring on the night before his own wedding. "Tell me Shuomo, how is the search for a husband for Yunchuan progressing?" Yan asked with a smirk, recalling the ill fated engagement between him and Yunchuan. He had been sure the Beirong prince did not wish for a wedding. Beirong had a reputation for solving foreign affairs by the sword or diplomacy, but they had never before used marriage as a means to enhance or consolidate relationships between their and other countries. Before answering Shuomo refilled his wine cup and drank it in one go. "It's not. Yunchuan insists on choosing her husband herself. So far she has dismissed all the candidates I've presented to her…She told me she had someone she likes, but I don't know who. It would help to know who it is, I think." Shuomo was clearly reluctant to speak more about this, so Yan let it rest. After a while they all left to go and sleep.
The next day SU and Yunchuan were rested enough to go and investigate the office of the market supervisor. Yunchuan had asked Su if she could join her and Su couldn't think of a reason why she couldn't so Yunchuan had joined her and Yan. Zihou made it four, with a letter from Shuomo they had easy access to the office. Shuomo had ordered the arrest of the supervisor before they had left on their trip to the shrine. He had also ordered that no on could enter the office of the supervisor yet. SO when Su entered the office it was as it had been when the supervisor got arrested. The search revealed a leather band with short needle sharp studs, which could easily scratch someone. In a cupboard they also found various pots with powder, which they took so Rushuang could find out what kind of powder these were. They then returned to Shuomo's mansion and discussed the case, but there was nothing really new, they had to wait for Rushuang to return so she could test the various powders.
The following days were quiet. Yan and Zihou arranged the return of the dead soldiers to Liang. Su got the report of the soldier that had died after the break in in the poison garden. And Yan arranged the arrival of the Prince Qi carriage to a nearby inn outside the capital. They would travel there, change their clothes and arrive back in the capital with all the trappings necessarily attached to the arrival of Prince Qi from Liang. In the meantime Su noticed that she was getting tired easily ant the end o the day and more nauseous. She still trained every morning with Yan, though he did make the training much less intense, something that Su noticed and commented on. "My dear, you are carrying a child. The only reason I'm letting you continue with your training is because I've been reassured by Rushuang earlier that it isn't bad for the child." As a matter of fact Yan had seen that SU sometimes seemed to forget she was carrying a child. She had after all rushed to a young lady in need while being chased herself. Yan hadn't commented on that, because he believed she had done that on instinct. Su watched Yan a little surprised by his comment, she considered what he'd said. "I'm sorry, you are right." Su stepped up to Yan and handed him her weapon, after which she slipped her hand in his. "I'm sorry. It feels strange to say this, but I think I sometimes forget I'm pregnant. It's just that I don't really feel different, except for the tiredness in the evening and the nausea once in a while. I guess I still have to adjust to me being pregnant." Smiling Yan hugged her close. "Maybe you could talk to the Dowager Empress or one of your sister-in-laws, when we return home." Su nodded, enjoying the hug and warmth of Yan. "Oh, I meant to ask: have you informed the Emperor and Dowager Empress?"
"Of course. Fei Yuan sent out a pigeon with the message the same evening Rushuang told us you're carrying our child."
"So soon?" Yan loosened the hug and looked into Su's eyes: "I do not want to know what the dowager empress would say if I informed her any later. Quite frankly I'm surprised my brother has managed to keep her from sending us a message, so our cover won't be exposed. But I am sure we will receive a summons after the banquet and festivities here in Beirong have been concluded." They walked to the pavilion close to the room where Rushuang had been working previously, they expected Rushuang and Xie to return that afternoon. Captain Liu had made sure some urgent messages had gotten delivered, so Yan and Su were occupied the rest of the morning. Early in the afternoon Rushuang, Xie and Fei Yuan returned and the group of friends gathered in their favorite pavilion for tea and refreshments. "How are Xunan and Nian?" Shuomo asked them first.
"Nian still needs to recover, but her wounds are healing very well. We accompanied them to their home this morning. Xunan sends her regards." Rushuang responded. Shuomo nodded.
"How have things been here?" Xie asked. Su told him that they had searched the office of the supervisor and found a contraption that could explain the wounds on the ministers forearm. "We've also found several pots of powder. Rushuang could you find out what those are?" Rushuang nodded. "The supervisor hasn't said anything." Shuomo added.
"The man that died in the poison garden had stolen a specific poison, which is very hard to get, it isn't sold. That poison does fit the symptoms the minister had. I'll see if it is one of the powders you fond. Xunan kindly let me have a sample. It is a poison that we don't have in t Liang and Xunan told me that is very difficult to grow. They've only managed to do it in the poison garden where we were. They have another poison garden closer to the capital, but this plant won't grow there. I'll start right away. When are we expected in court?"
"Tomorrow, we'll leave for an inn close to the capital where the carriage has been brought to. The following day we'll be welcomed in court." Yan explained.
"We know it isn't the soldier from Liang, for now that's enough." Shuomo said after Rushuang had told them it might not be enough time to confirm the poison or solve the vase. "I'll report to the emperor that the soldier mentioned on the medal has already died long before. It gives us more time to solve the case." Shuomo assured them.