Xuan Yi held up the sachet in her hands and turned them over in her hands, Sniffing its contents, she frowned.
As an expert in medicine and poisons, Xuan Yi is able to identify any herbs used in the process of making a poison. This means that she can easily figure out the contents of the sachet just by its scent. When she first studied herbs, she learned that some herbs cannot be grown in certain climates due to the unique requirements of each herb. Some need more water, some cannot be exposed to sunlight, some need extreme cold temperatures to bloom, etc. When Xuan Yi started learning from the previous demon lord, she did her homework on herbs that were not available to her when she was alive. There are herbs that cannot be grown in the realm of the living and can only be found in certain areas in the realm of the undead. Herbs with spiritual qi can only be found in the realm of immortal.
Unless Yun Le was able to enter the different realms to gather those special herbs, Xuan Yi cannot comprehend how did the sachet come about. The sachet in Xuan Yi's hands contains a mixture of herbs from the realm of the undead and the realm of the living. Herbs from the realm of the undead have enhanced properties compared to herbs from the realm of the living. The ones inside the sachet are ones that induce illusions.
Making someone see something that is not there, a manipulative drug that confuses victims to believe whatever they are seeing. This sort of poison is normally mixed and brewed into a liquid to be consumed. Xuan Yi shook the sachet slightly and a pleasant light scent wafted into her nose, making Xuan Yi scrunched her nose in distaste.
If the herbs are just cut up and mixed together, its effect is lessened. However, if Young Miss Yun Le has been smelling this scent for a prolonged period of time, it would have an effect on her. Not as serious as when consumed, the poison will occasionally make her see something that is not there but she still has her senses. The illusions would not be as frequent as compared to when the poison is consumed and would not cause much harm to her.
Xuan Yi cocked her head to the side as she pondered. What is the motive?
The origins of this sachet, Xuan Yi shall assume that someone who is not human managed to gather those herbs and make it before giving it to her. But which person would concern themselves with a human? Why would they make the effort to produce this sachet and give it to Yun Le?
Xuan Yi could not comprehend and so, she decided to ask Yun Le. She made sure the room was back in its original form before closing the door behind her. She then deliberately dropped the sachet near the door of Yun Le's inner chambers before going about with her chores.
With servants coming over to clean the place every morning, there is nothing much that needs to be done by Xuan Yi and so she went to tend the small garden that is located near the entrance of Yun Le's courtyard.
Young Miss Yun Le has a hobby which is gardening and she really wants to have a personal garden. She knows her family could not provide her with one and so she made her own personal garden in her courtyard where she would buy seeds and grow them herself. It is small and the number of plants planted in it was not many but it was good enough to keep her happy.
Xuan Yi was watering the plants when she heard approaching footsteps. She hurriedly put down the pot of water and turned around just in time to see Young Master Yun walked into his younger sister's courtyard.
"Xuan Yi greets Young Master Yun," she greeted him.
"Is my sister not back yet?" Yun Qi looked at the servant in front of him and remembered what happened in the main hall and was uncomfortable. She is a very direct person and being with his younger sister for a few months seems to have allowed her to gain some understanding of the current situation that even his father is unaware of. A smart maidservant is sometimes a hindrance but she was not his and he cannot lay a hand on his younger sister's personal maidservant.
"Replying to Young Master, Young Miss Yun Le has not returned from her walk with Young Master Ma yet." Yun Qi frowned a little at the mention of the walk.
No matter how much feelings he has for Young Master Ma, he still loves Yun Le dearly. He could not bear to do anything that would hurt her which is one of the main reasons he held himself back. The other reason is obviously that society does not look well upon cut-sleeves. He would not bring shame to his family who had raised and treated him so well. Young Master Ma has it easier because his household still has another son, his younger brother by another mother. Young Master Ma's mother had passed away when he was young and the current head wife had raised him like her own. He had told Yun Qi that his younger brother has always been better than him in business and it would be reassuring to leave everything to his younger brother. For him, Young Master Ma would throw away everything. This is how much he treasures him and although Yun Qi does not want to admit it, it does make him happy.
But no matter what, it is still hurtful when he sees his younger sister walking away with Young Master Ma. Even if he is trying to reject his feelings for his sister's fiance, he still had some feelings buried in his heart. For Xuan Yi to mention about the walk in the garden, Young Master Yun felt his heart clenched tightly.
Seeing that Young Master Yun is lost in his own thoughts and did not reply, Xuan Yi peered into his eyes and asked.
"Young Master?" Yun Qi snapped out of his thoughts and saw that Xuan Yi has a questioning look on her face. Coughing to cover his embarrassment, he replied to her.
"Nothing, if that is the case then I shall visit again when she is back." Yun Qi wanted to run as fast as possible from this sharp maidservant who seems to be able to decipher his thoughts just by gazing at him. It was unnerving the way she looked at him and it gives him chills.
"Young Master Yun, please wait." Xuan Yi called out.
Yun Qi cried internally at his failed escape before he turned around to face Xuan Yi.
"Why not wait for Young Miss inside? She should be returning soon," Xuan Yi grabbed his arm and forcefully "escorted" him into his younger sister's courtyard. Yun Qi tried to keep his composure as he walked stiffly into the courtyard.
"Why is her grip so strong," Yun Qi grumbled and unknown to him, Xuan Yi heard it and rolled her eyes. She feels that it is not her that is strong, it is him who is weak. Dragging him into the sitting area, she poured some tea for him and shared some light chatter while they waited for Young Miss Yun to return.
Yun Qi suddenly stopped mid-sentence when he spotted something on the floor. He put down his teacup and went over to pick up the sachet that Xuan Yi has thrown onto the floor as bait for Yun Le. Xuan Yi eyed his movements and frowned as she saw the sachet being picked up.
"This is the sachet that Le er was sown for me. This should be her pair," Xuan Yi could hear him mutter softly to himself.
"Young Master, what is that?" Xuan Yi came forward and asked.
"Oh, this sachet should be your young miss's. Give it back to her when she comes back," Yun Qi handed her the sachet before returning to his seat.
"Xuan Yi does not remember Young Miss had a sachet?" Xuan Yi asked, confused.
"About a few months ago, she came to me and showed me her sachet and said that she will make one for me so that we both have a matching pair. She tells me this sachet allows me to sleep better and should be kept inside the pillow. After a few weeks, she personally gave it to me and I have been using it ever since then."
"She made it herself?" Xuan Yi narrowed her eyes at the new information. Yun Qi did not detect any changes in her tone and nodded at her question. Well, this is indeed interesting.