The Heroine Fell Deeply For Her [Quick Transmigration] 124p2

Chapter 124: Taken Home by the Princess Part 12 (2)

After the meal, Qin Yang changed her clothes and led Tao Ning to the retreat’s prison.

This retreat also had a place for punishment, and although the tools weren’t numerous, no one wanted to end up there.

Those who entered, even if they survived, would be severely injured, perhaps permanently disabled, or die from their injuries.

An Ning had never been here. She was a law-abiding citizen, never even shortchanged on her allowance, let alone commit a crime that would land her here.

Entering the prison, descending the stairs, a chilling air, different from the cold mountain wind outside, washed over them, sending shivers down their spines.

The other maids were left at the entrance, only a few guards accompanying them, Qin Yang leading the way.

Tao Ning and Cui Hong followed, Cui Hong, having spent almost the entire day here yesterday, unfazed.

As the Grand Historian of the princess’s residence, her duties weren’t limited to serving and managing household affairs.

Passing by a cell, a figure inside stirred, suddenly rushing towards them, slamming her hands against the wooden bars.

The woman cried, “Grand Historian! I’ve been wrongly accused! I grew up in the princess’s residence, Her Highness has always been kind to me, how could I harm her…”

He Yue, crying, suddenly realized something was wrong, lifting her tear-filled eyes to see a young woman in a maid’s uniform standing before her.

Looking closely, she recognized the person and said through gritted teeth, “It’s you! How could it be you…”

Before she could finish, He Yue saw Qin Yang standing behind Tao Ning, and her tears flowed freely: “Your Highness, I’ve been wrongly accused! You saved me, raised me, I’m eternally grateful, I’ve always been loyal, I would never betray you!”

Qin Yang remained silent, looking at Cui Hong, who reported truthfully, “The sachet was retrieved, and there was still some incense inside. The imperial physicians confirmed it was harmless, and the formula copied by He Yue, according to them, promotes calmness and focus when worn regularly.”

He Yue’s eyes lit up, looking at Qin Yang expectantly.

Cui Hong continued calmly, “The physicians also said it’s a new formula created by He Yue, they haven’t seen it before, so they couldn’t be certain.”

Qin Yang remained unmoved: “There’s still something she’s hiding, interrogate her further.”

He Yue clutched the bars, shaking her head: “Your Highness, I really didn’t…”

Qin Yang: “When did you create this formula? Don’t try to deceive me, that was the first time I smelled that scent.”

“…” He Yue recalled, “About a month ago, I came up with a new formula and started experimenting.”

“Because the results weren’t satisfactory, I didn’t dare present it to Your Highness, I kept improving it, so… so when it was finally perfected two days ago, I couldn’t wait to use it, everything is recorded.”

A guard presented He Yue’s notebook, found in her room.

Qin Yang took it and flipped through it. She didn’t understand the incense formulas, but the dates did indicate He Yue had been working on it, finally completing it two days ago.

A head leaned closer, not too close, but close enough to peek at the formulas, almost craning her neck.

It wasn’t a laughing matter, but Qin Yang chuckled softly, the unexpected sound echoing in the dimly lit prison, adding to the chilling atmosphere.

He Yue shuddered, forgetting her tears.

Qin Yang asked, “Do you want to see it?”

Tao Ning did want to see it, but with so many people present, she pretended: “Your Highness, may I?”

Only the princess could judge her acting, but since she didn’t say anything, it must have been convincing.

Qin Yang handed her the notebook: “Go ahead.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.” Tao Ning’s politeness didn’t last long. She took the notebook and carefully examined it.

Only Qin Yang remained calm, the others finding this absurd, thinking the princess was too trusting.

A mere cleaning maid, even if skilled in archery, didn’t mean she also understood incense formulas and investigations.

He Yue was anxious, unwilling to entrust her life to someone she had a conflict with: “Your Highness, she’s not a physician, how could she understand such intricacies?”

She wanted to say that An Ning’s words weren’t trustworthy.

Tao Ning, ignoring the accusation, continued reading, then closed the notebook.

Several gazes immediately fell on her, waiting to hear what she had to say.

Qin Yang asked, “Did you find anything? You won’t be punished for being wrong.”

Tao Ning pondered for a moment: “Your Highness, according to the records, the incense formula you used yesterday was indeed developed a month ago and perfected two days ago.”

He Yue nodded repeatedly.

Qin Yang and Cui Hong didn’t object either. The records matched, with He Yue’s daily notes, it wouldn’t have been easy to forge them in such a short time.

Then, Tao Ning turned to He Yue: “In your previous records, every formula was carefully considered, and after completion, you always waited for a while before presenting it to the princess.”

He Yue licked her dry lips and nodded: “Indeed.”

Tao Ning asked, “Why didn’t you wait this time, using a formula that was just finalized two days ago?”

He Yue: “Because it was a beautiful spring day, and this formula was fitting for the occasion, so I wanted to present it to Your Highness.”

Tao Ning asked, “You always asked for the princess’s permission before presenting a new formula, offering a sample for her to smell first. Why didn’t you do that this time, using it directly?”

Tapping the notebook, Tao Ning’s voice lowered slightly: “Her Highness just said it was the first time she smelled that scent, but your record states ‘presented and approved.’ This contradicts Her Highness’s statement.”

This was something Cui Hong hadn’t considered. Although she was the Grand Historian, she wasn’t always by the princess’s side and didn’t know if the princess had seen the formula.

Tao Ning continued, “Why did you claim Her Highness had seen it? And even falsify the record, which could be used as evidence? What are your intentions?”

After a moment of silence, He Yue stammered, “Her Highness is busy, she must have forgotten…”

Tao Ning nodded: “That’s possible. Then tell me, who was with you when you presented the incense to the princess? Who was present? What time was it?”

He Yue: “It was…”

She trailed off, speechless.

This was her first offense, and having grown up in the princess’s residence, with Cui Hong watching over her, she still held onto a sliver of hope.

In the original world line, the princess remained unconscious for a month after being injured. Xie Baiyi, puzzled, couldn’t understand how she survived the “Thousand Crimson Blooms” poison.

Tao Ning had a theory. The princess, already carrying traces of another poison, had inadvertently used it to counteract the “Thousand Crimson Blooms,” saving her life.

But it only saved her life, not her health, leaving her weaker than before.

When the princess inquired about the incident after waking up, she received two pieces of news: first, her command of the city guard had been revoked; second, the incense-making maid had accidentally drowned.

The maid’s incense formula wasn’t poisonous, and the formula itself existed. The princess, having been unconscious for a month, couldn’t remember if she had smelled the new incense, and even if she did, the lead was gone, making it a cold case.

He Yue’s forehead was covered in sweat.

Tao Ning: “If you don’t remember this either, then describe the room’s decorations, what Her Highness was wearing, perhaps it will jog her memory.”

He Yue remained silent, speechless.

Cui Hong sighed softly, and Qin Yang turned to leave.

Tao Ning: “You said you remembered Her Highness’s kindness every month, why not every moment? Your heart isn’t sincere.”

He Yue choked, glaring at her, and as Qin Yang was leaving, she couldn’t help but shout, “An Ning! If I’m wrongly accused and executed, I won’t let you go! I’ll haunt you every night!”

Tao Ning, her back to her, waved dismissively, just like on their first meeting: “I know how to catch ghosts, bring it on, let’s see who wins.”

He Yue: “…”

Leaving the cell, the crying gradually faded, only the rustling of fine fabric echoing in the long corridor.

In the silence, Qin Yang said, “A month ago, His Majesty mentioned wanting to visit the retreat, and a few days later, the date was set.”

But He Yue claimed she started working on the formula a month ago, which coincided with the date Qin Yang and the emperor decided on for the visit.

He Yue was skilled in incense making, with a habit of recording all her ideas, her room filled with stacks of notebooks.

But she had also said that while making incense was easy, inspiration was rare, requiring countless trials.

Her previous formula was completed just three days before the new one. Only three days, and she already had a new, almost finalized formula, never recorded before.

And she couldn’t wait to use it on her after just a month.

There were no such coincidences in the world.

Tao Ning said, “Your Highness, since she dared to do this, it means she’s prepared to face the consequences. She claims she’s innocent, yet she can’t explain herself, so what she’s hiding must be more serious than we thought.”

Qin Yang paused. Tao Ning had indeed voiced her thoughts.

Qin Yang said, “Cui Hong, keep an eye on her, make sure she doesn’t die.”