The Heroine Fell Deeply For Her [Quick Transmigration] 127p1

Chapter 127: Taken Home by the Princess Part 15(1)

In Mingdong Courtyard, a guard, having finished his meal, picked his teeth, stretched, and prepared to find a place for a nap.

It was raining outside, perfect for sleeping.

Thinking about how great it was to have a superior who respected working hours, he walked towards the gate, where a slender figure emerged from the rain.

Guard: “…” That looks like Miss An.

Damn it, I’m so tired I’m hallucinating.

Entering the courtyard, Tao Ning saw someone standing under the eaves, lost in thought. Dressed in black, a sword at their waist, their hair tied up high, a heroic figure, vaguely familiar.

She quickened her pace, recognizing the person’s face: “Guard Li, you’re still here? Perfect, do you know where His Majesty’s clothes from the day of the princess’s assassination attempt are kept?”

Guard Li: “…Yes.”

Tao Ning nodded: “Please retrieve them for me.”

Guard Li was assigned by the princess to assist Tao Ning in the investigation, to intervene if anyone gave her trouble, and to use her authority to facilitate access, ensuring nothing hindered the investigation.

Tao Ning closed her umbrella, having borrowed it from a passing maid when the rain started.

Seeing the guard still standing there, she asked, puzzled, “Guard Li?”

Guard Li, mourning the loss of her nap time, said with an impassive face, “…Nothing.”

Superiors who make you work overtime are the worst.

She had no choice but to retrieve the requested items.

The emperor’s clothes were of special significance and couldn’t be discarded or handled carelessly. Possessing imperial robes without authorization was a capital offense.

On the day of the princess’s assassination attempt, worried the emperor might also be targeted, they had sealed his clothes. After the physicians confirmed they were non-toxic, they were stored separately, to be returned to the palace and kept by the Bureau of Clothing.

Tao Ning returned to the room, not touching the box of ground herbs, instead taking out a piece of paper, pondering for a moment before picking up the brush and ink.

When Guard Li returned, brushing the raindrops from her shoulders as she entered, she saw Tao Ning writing at the desk.

Hearing the noise, Tao Ning didn’t look up: “Guard Li, you’re back. Please take this prescription to Cunqing Hall. If they don’t have the ingredients, check the kitchen.”

This was strange, what kind of ingredient wouldn’t be available at the Imperial Hospital but would be found in the kitchen?

“Okay.” Guard Li took the paper, silently cursing her superior, then glanced down, her eyes widening slightly.

Unexpectedly, Miss An has beautiful handwriting.

She was about to leave when Tao Ning called out, “Wait, Guard Li, not yet.”

Guard Li immediately stopped, her hand on the hilt of her sword, standing guard.

Tao Ning opened the wooden box Guard Li brought, revealing a neatly folded set of robes, a faint fragrance wafting from them.

Beneath the blue robe was an exquisitely crafted sachet, with signs of having been opened, probably examined by the physicians.

But the physicians only confirmed it was non-toxic, unable to identify the ingredients, as they weren’t experts in incense, and the formula was said to be kept in the palace.

Retrieving it from the palace would take days, by then it would be too late, so Tao Ning decided to recreate it herself.

This fragrance was different from Qin Yang’s, more solemn and deep, promoting calmness and focus.

Suitable for Chongxi’s easily agitated and anxious nature.

Tao Ning picked up the sachet, about the size of her palm, embroidered with a dragon pattern, a design exclusive to the emperor, with a blue tassel, matching the robe.

Incense was considered elegant, a common practice among officials, scholars, and merchants, a symbol of status.

The princess’s clothes were always scented by maids before she wore them, and the emperor was no different, his clothes infused with fragrance.

The original world line mentioned Chongxi, describing him as timid and sensitive, haunted by childhood nightmares, which seemed accurate.

He had no significant achievements in his life, his death both mysterious and simple.

It was recorded that he died suddenly in his sleep, a quiet death. Everyone knew Chongxi had a habit of waking up from nightmares, even killing people in his sleep, sometimes even banging his head against the wall in his frenzy, so this death wasn’t unusual for him.

But with a skilled poisoner by his side, Tao Ning suspected he had been poisoned by Xie Baiyi.

Thinking this, she brought the sachet to her nose, sniffing it carefully.

Then she sniffed the sleeve of the robe, confirming it was the same incense, and decisively opened the sachet, pouring out the contents.

Ground herbs, their colors similar, mixed together, were difficult to distinguish.

Tao Ning took out a piece of paper, writing as she thought, but hesitated over a few ingredients, tapping the pen against her head.

She took out another piece of paper, writing down the uncertain ingredients.

This formula was more complex than Qin Yang’s, and not being an expert, it was normal for her to have some difficulty identifying them.

Guard Li, although puzzled by Tao Ning’s focus on the seemingly harmless incense instead of interrogating the suspects, remained silent and loyal, standing guard.

Suddenly, her ears twitched, hearing a sound from outside. She glanced at Tao Ning, who was deep in thought, and left the room.

Soon, she returned, announcing, “Miss An, a palace maid named Shi Qing requests an audience with you.”

Tao Ning snapped back to attention: “Ah, let her in.”

Shi Qing had been to Mingdong Courtyard before, but this was the first time under such heavy guard. The two guards at the gate alone were intimidating, almost making her speechless.

After stammering her request, another female guard, also carrying a sword, appeared, addressed as Guard Li by the other two.

Guard Li glanced at the token in her hand, listened to her request, and led her inside.

Walking further in, Shi Qing wondered if An Ning was really here. As she stood nervously at the door, Guard Li’s cold voice sounded.

“Come in.”

It was a large but sparsely furnished room, with a few tables and chairs and a wooden shelf holding a few items.

A solemn, deep fragrance filled the room, and Shi Qing couldn’t help but sniff the air, her brows furrowing slightly.

She slowly raised her eyes, her gaze landing on the figure standing behind the desk. Seeing the familiar face, she relaxed slightly.

It was impossible not to be nervous, the swords looked so heavy, yet they carried them so casually, their gazes sharp.

“Shi Qing, you’re here. How’s Rou Rou?” Tao Ning put down her brush, poured two cups of tea, and handed one to Shi Qing. “The tea is simple, and a bit cold, please don’t mind.”

“I don’t mind, I’m thirsty.” Shi Qing walked over, took the tea with both hands, and took a sip. It was indeed cold, with a slight bitterness from the tea leaves.

Tao Ning, seemingly unaware of the bitterness, finished her tea in one gulp.

Shi Qing glanced at the items on the table, then replied softly to Tao Ning’s question, “The physician has seen her, and Rou Rou is asleep after taking the medicine… It’s not missing Xun Xiang Zi, but Fenghuang Teng.”

The room fell silent. Realizing what she had just said, Shi Qing stopped, her heart pounding.

Tao Ning’s mind was still focused on deciphering the incense formula, and hearing this, her eyes lit up, as if seeing a savior: “Can you identify the remaining ingredients?”

Shi Qing, under her gaze, felt both nervous and eager, her fair cheeks flushing slightly, and she nodded: “I… I think I can.”

Her adoptive mother had been a physician in the palace, later leaving the Imperial Hospital due to palace intrigue. Disillusioned, she refused to acknowledge her former position, claiming to be just a herbalist, with no real skills.

In her later years, she adopted the abandoned Shi Qing, seeing her talent, and unwilling for her knowledge to be lost, she passed on everything she knew, then peacefully passed away one day.

Tao Ning, figuring that someone who knew herbs must be literate, eagerly pushed the incense formula towards her: “Then can you help me complete it? I can only identify most of the ingredients, the remaining few are unclear, the person who created this formula is quite skilled.”

Shi Qing looked at the formula, her eyes lighting up, then she asked, puzzled, “You wrote this? How do you know about herbs and incense now?”

Tao Ning: “…”

In her haste, she had almost forgotten this was someone she knew, and it wasn’t easy to explain.

Shi Qing’s clear, innocent eyes were fixed on her, and Guard Li by the door also looked over.

520, coming online, realized the situation was dire: [Oh no, we’re about to be exposed, what do we do?]

Tao Ning coughed lightly: “Since we’ve come this far, I won’t hide it from you. During my illness, it wasn’t just a fever, my soul ascended to the celestial realm.”

“There was an immortal grandmother there, who, seeing my talent, taught me a few things. When I woke up, I found a celestial book in my mind, and after reading it, I suddenly knew everything.”

Shi Qing: “…”

She stared blankly, then said, “I… I see.”

Guard Li: “…”

She turned to look at the rain, wondering if walking through it would also grant her a celestial martial arts manual.

520, seeing their identical bewildered expressions, knew Tao Ning could get away with anything as long as the princess wasn’t around.

Tao Ning rolled up her sleeves, ground the ink, dipped the brush in it, and handed it to Shi Qing: “So, can you help me?”

Shi Qing, flattered, took the brush without realizing it.

When she came to her senses, her hand was already touching the fragrant herbs.

With Shi Qing’s expertise, the incense formula was quickly restored, copied onto two separate sheets of paper.

Tao Ning blew on the ink to dry it, then handed the two sheets to Guard Li, along with a few instructions.

Guard Li, not even glancing at the writing, asked, puzzled, “Mice? You need mice? I’ll have someone check the kitchen.”

So that’s why Miss An had told her to check the kitchen if the physicians didn’t have it. Cunqing Hall might not have mice, but the kitchen definitely did.

Tao Ning: “Thank you, Guard Li.”

Guard Li shook her head, saying coldly, “It’s nothing.”

She went to fetch the herbs herself, leaving the other tasks to her subordinates, who, upon hearing the order to catch mice, also looked puzzled.

Subordinate, scratching his head: “You’re saying… Miss An wants us to catch mice? As many as possible?”

Guard Li, her expression unreadable, waved her hand: “Go.”

Subordinate: “…Yes.”

With all the ingredients gathered, Shi Qing, confused, stood there mixing the incense, listening to the squeaking mice nearby.

She didn’t understand why she was being kept as an assistant, helping Tao Ning recreate the formula.

The incense formula contained several herbs and spices, the exact proportions known only to its creator, so they had to experiment.

By the time they were done, the rain outside had stopped.

The terrified, squeaking mice were finally put to use, huddled together in fear as they were carried out.

Tao Ning felt it was too messy to test the incense inside, so she had the two cages of mice taken outside.

Shi Qing witnessed the scene, initially puzzled, then turning away, unable to bear the sight.

It was a bloody and brutal scene.

“As I expected.” Tao Ning clapped her hands, stood up, and said to Shi Qing, “Thanks to your help, I’ll definitely recommend you for a reward later.”

Shi Qing blushed, waving her hands repeatedly: “I only helped a little, no need for a reward.”

Tao Ning, however, said, “You’re talented, you shouldn’t be confined here, it would be a waste.”

Looking at the sky, she continued, “It’s getting late, you should go back. I’ve already sent someone to inform Steward Tang, you won’t be punished.”

The slender figure, lifting her skirt, disappeared out the door like a fleeting shadow.

Guard Li, her hand on the hilt of her sword, quickly followed. She knew An Ning was a skilled archer, but she wasn’t carrying a bow and arrow now, and if attacked, she would be defenseless.

Two more guards followed, one carrying a bulging cloth bag.

Shi Qing, left behind, stared blankly ahead.