Wei Shuxuan was standing nearby when Xin Zizhao told Wei Wei and Xin Shang to take the captured black - clothed man to the underground secret chamber. After the three of them left the main hall, she sidled up to Xin Zizhao. "Hey, Xin Zizhao, why aren't you going with them?"
"I need to prepare some things for the interrogation. He was sent here with a premeditated plan to kill Eunuch Luo. So he must have received some professional training and might have learned how to deal with being captured."
Having watched many ancient - costumed TV dramas, Wei Shuxuan immediately understood what Xin Zizhao meant. "Do you mean that the black - clothed man might bite his tongue or take poison to commit suicide during the interrogation?"
Seeing Wei Shuxuan's eager look, Xin Zizhao looked at her curiously. "Where do you get all these strange ideas?"
"Did I say something wrong?" Wei Shuxuan tilted her head and looked at Xin Zizhao.
"Not exactly. There is such a possibility, but it only applies to those with backbone."
Wei Shuxuan smiled. "But there are exceptions. There aren't many people with backbone in this world. By the way, what are you going to prepare? I want to go and take a look too!"
"Are you really that curious?" Xin Zizhao leaned his head closer to hers. Wei Shuxuan was startled by the suddenly magnified face in front of her. She turned her head slightly, and the tips of her ears turned a faint pink that was clearly visible.
"...... Is it strange to be curious? So, are you going to let me go and have a look? If you don't, I'll still follow you secretly."
Xin Zizhao couldn't help but find it amusing. "Since you've said so, do I still have a reason to stop you? Follow me this way."
Following Xin Zizhao to a house in the west, Wei Shuxuan looked around suspiciously. She seemed to have never been here before. She usually didn't move around much in Fenghe Hall. Most of the time, she stayed in the eastern courtyard or the main hall. She was really not familiar with the western courtyard.
"Where is this? Why have I never been here?" Wei Shuxuan tugged at Xin Zizhao's sleeve.
"This is the pharmacy I had people build for me. I usually come here to boil medicine or develop some new drugs."
"Hey? How come I didn't know anything about this?"
"You're always running out to investigate cases whenever you're free. How would you know what's in Fenghe Hall?" Xin Zizhao gave Wei Shuxuan another good - natured ribbing.
Following behind Xin Zizhao, Wei Shuxuan made a face at his back. But in her heart, she thought, Humph, what's so great about that? You jerk, Xin Zizhao.
Wei Shuxuan only dared to curse in her heart. She followed Xin Zizhao into the pharmacy. As soon as she entered, she smelled a strong medicinal odor that was a bit pungent. Looking around, there were tall cabinets on three walls. Each drawer had a label on it, presumably for storing medicine.
Apart from the medicine cabinets, there were also some tools for processing medicine, as well as a stove and medicine pots piled in one corner.
"Xin Zizhao, do you use this place all by yourself?" Wei Shuxuan curiously fiddled with a medicine - pounding tool.
"Yes, I'm the only one who uses this place. They don't know anything about medicine. Moreover, I often develop some special drugs in the pharmacy. If they come in casually, I can't guarantee they won't get poisoned."
"Is it really that scary?" Wei Shuxuan couldn't help but sigh again. It seemed that people who studied medicine were really terrifying.
"Yes, so don't touch my things casually."
Seeing that Wei Shuxuan was still fidgeting with his stuff, Xin Zizhao reminded her. After the reminder, Wei Shuxuan quickly withdrew her restless hand.
"What are you going to prepare to take there?" Wei Shuxuan changed the topic and looked at Xin Zizhao.
"Of course, it's the potion I've recently developed."
"Potion? What magical effects does it have?" Wei Shuxuan asked him with a curious look on her face.
"You'll know later."
Xin Zizhao's mysteriousness made Wei Shuxuan even more curious. She couldn't wait to know how Xin Zizhao would interrogate the black - clothed man. She was also curious whether the black - clothed man would be like those in modern TV dramas, biting the poison hidden in his molar and then dying of poisoning.
The underground secret chamber of Fenghe Hall was located in Xin Zizhao's study. By moving a book named Imperial Dragon's National Pharmacopoeia on the bookshelf, one could activate the mechanism leading to the underground secret chamber.
From the study to the underground secret chamber, there was a spiral staircase. The walls on all sides were paved with thick granite. There were no lights in the passage, so they had to rely on a fire - starter.
Up ahead, they could see a secret chamber with a button on it. Just press it.
"My lord."
Xin Shang saluted when he saw Xin Zizhao approaching. Xin Zizhao nodded. "Has this man done anything strange?"
"Reporting to my lord, this man couldn't move his body, so he hasn't done anything else. And when I questioned him, he refused to say a single word."
Xin Zizhao took out a glass bottle with carved patterns on it. Inside was a blue - green liquid. He walked over first, reached out his hand, and forcefully dislocated the black - clothed man's jaw. "Bring a candle."
He took the candle that Xin Shang handed over and lowered his head to carefully examine the black - clothed man's mouth. There didn't seem to be anything hidden inside, so he could finally relax completely.
"You have the right to remain silent. If you do, I'll make you drink this. How about it? The color is very nice, isn't it?" Xin Zizhao lifted the corner of his mouth slightly.
This was the first time Wei Shuxuan realized that Xin Zizhao could be so scheming.
The black - clothed man had never seen such a strangely - colored potion before. He wanted to shake his head, but his body wouldn't allow it. A look of panic flashed in his eyes.
"Actually, this is the first time I've developed this. I've never used it before, and I don't know what the consequences will be. But don't worry, it won't be fatal. How about you be my first test subject?"
While speaking, Xin Zizhao had been observing the black - clothed man's expression. Although the man showed fear, his psychological defense was still strong.
So Xin Zizhao threw the glass bottle in his hand to Xin Shang, who was standing beside him. "Xin Shang, come on, let him have a taste."
Xin Shang caught the glass bottle in one hand. "Yes, my lord. I'll follow your order."
The black - clothed man watched as Xin Shang approached him step by step. The lid of the glass bottle had already been removed.