As soon as Wei Shuxuan said she wanted to go alone, Ge Zian, Ge Long'an and Wei Wei all disagreed.
"Miss, it's too dangerous for you to go alone. Please let this subordinate go in your place!" Wei Wei advised Wei Shuxuan. If someone really had to sneak into the Samadhi Inn, he hoped it would be him. He would never let Wei Shuxuan do such a dangerous thing alone.
"Xuan'er, let me handle this for you. I'll find the most reliable soldier from our Ge family's private army. You don't have to go. What if you're discovered or recognized and we're not by your side? What will you do then?" Ge Zian didn't even agree to Wei Wei going in Wei Shuxuan's place because Wei Wei needed to protect her.
"That's right, Xuan'er. Godfather will find someone for you. You don't have to go. Just go back to the capital with Wei Wei obediently. Anyway, Zian and I are here. We'll inform you as soon as we get any news."
Actually, Wei Shuxuan felt a bit frustrated. She had just said that casually and hadn't even made a decision yet, but the three of them had started scolding her in a hurry. She didn't even have a chance to defend herself.
"I just said it casually. Why are you all so excited?" Wei Shuxuan looked at them helplessly. "I haven't made a decision yet. I've already told Xin Zizhao that I'll postpone my return to the palace. I want to stay here and observe the Samadhi Inn for a while."
"Xuan'er, you can't joke about this kind of thing. Anyway, we won't agree to you sneaking into the Samadhi Inn alone. Even if we did, would Young Master Xin agree? He'd be worried about you."
"… I know!" Hearing Ge Zian mention Xin Zizhao, Wei Shuxuan had to nod obediently. If she sent Wei Wei, she'd be worried about him getting into trouble, and she'd feel very guilty.
After that, they discussed the Samadhi Inn. Wei Shuxuan began to think the inn was a bit strange. How could the same inn open in three small towns? The border towns weren't very economically developed. Who would have so much money to open so many inns here? Moreover, there were continuous wars here. Not only her but many people wouldn't want to come here. Weren't they afraid of being affected by the chaos?
The strangest thing was that on the first night they arrived in Baolan Town, the night when Situ Yongheng disappeared, they all slept very soundly. It was very strange. But they had been traveling for days and were very tired, so it was normal for them to sleep soundly. No one paid much attention to it.
But now, when they thought about it, Wei Shuxuan really felt something was wrong. As bodyguards, Wei Wei and Xin Shang usually had very light sleep. They shouldn't have been unable to hear any noise. Moreover, Wei Wei's room was next to Situ Yongheng's. It was even more impossible for them to be unaware.
"Wei Wei, do you usually sleep very soundly?" Wei Shuxuan turned to look at Wei Wei.
"No. Since I need to protect the miss's safety at night, I usually don't sleep soundly. Even if I'm asleep, I'll wake up immediately if I hear any noise."
Wei Shuxuan stroked her chin. So, were they drugged that night? It was unlikely that the person drugged them after they fell asleep because Wei Wei and Xin Shang would have easily heard the noise. So, the person who drugged them must have set up the trap before they entered the room. But what method did they use?
Seeing Wei Shuxuan lost in thought, Ge Zian and the others didn't want to disturb her. Ge Zian and Ge Long'an went out to train the soldiers, while Wei Wei stayed in the tent with Wei Shuxuan.
After thinking for a long time, Wei Shuxuan still couldn't figure out how the inn staff had drugged them. She felt a bit frustrated. When she turned around, she found that only she and Wei Wei were left in the tent. Ge Zian and Ge Long'an were gone. "Wei Wei, where are Zian and godfather?"
"General Ge and the old general said they were going to train the Ge family's army, so they left first. Miss, have you figured it out?" Wei Wei looked at Wei Shuxuan curiously.
"Not yet. Let's go back first."
"Okay, miss."
On the way back to the Samadhi Inn, Wei Wei followed behind Wei Shuxuan, always on guard. Wei Shuxuan walked while observing. Suddenly, she saw a stall on the street selling very delicate dolls. She was tempted and ran over to take a look. She picked up a very beautiful doll and examined it carefully. She found a small cotton thread on the doll's head.
"Boss, what's this?" Wei Shuxuan asked the stall owner curiously.
"This is a handmade candle. We've made them in the shapes of various items. The cotton thread inside has been soaked in scented water. When lit, it will emit a faint floral fragrance. Many people come to buy them. Little girl, do you want to buy one?"
The stall owner's words were like a key that instantly unlocked Wei Shuxuan's mind. Wei Shuxuan smiled. "Sure. What scents do you have?"
"We have lavender, jasmine, lily…" The boss introduced them to Wei Shuxuan endlessly.
In the end, Wei Shuxuan bought a lavender-scented and a jasmine-scented candle and returned to the inn. Wei Wei wanted to ask her why she bought these candles.
"Wei Wei, I know you have many questions in your mind. Don't worry. I'll answer you when the time comes. And that time isn't far away."
Looking at the smile on Wei Shuxuan's face, Wei Wei was stunned for a moment and then nodded. He trusted the miss's judgment.
That night, Wei Shuxuan lit a lavender-scented candle. The candle was in the shape of a doll. As it heated up, the colored wax soon began to melt and drip onto the table. The room was filled with the faint fragrance of lavender. Wei Shuxuan watched the flickering flame. It seemed that she already had an answer in her heart.
"Wei Wei, go to the pharmacy and buy some raw materials for making the sleep-inducing powder and some cotton thread. Also, buy some white wax for me."
"Okay, miss."
Although Wei Wei was a bit confused, he still did as Wei Shuxuan asked and bought back all the materials she needed.
So, Wei Shuxuan stayed in the room and started doing an experiment. She put the raw materials for the sleep-inducing powder and the cotton thread into a medicine pot and boiled them together. Then she casually molded a candle with the white wax she had bought.