The Heroine Fell Deeply For Her [Quick Transmigration] 127p2

Chapter 127: Taken Home by the Princess Part 15(2)

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.

Tao Ning was planning to interrogate the prisoners in the dungeon, convinced there must be a connection between He Yue and Steward Chen.

But she remembered that on the day of the incident in the rain garden, when Steward Chen came to pay his respects to the princess, everyone had noticed his improper curtsy, their expressions varied.

But He Yue hadn’t reacted, just like the other maids, stifling a laugh and exchanging amused glances.

Either He Yue was a skilled actress, or she simply didn’t know Steward Chen.

As for Chongxi… he wouldn’t put the attracting fragrance on himself, while others might risk it, he wouldn’t dare.

Tao Ning, wondering if something was amiss today, was summoned by one of Chongxi’s eunuchs halfway to the dungeon.

Thinking that she shouldn’t talk about it during the day, she was brought to the familiar Yongqing Palace, where she found Qin Yang was also present.

Her slightly annoyed expression brightened instantly, then turned cloudy after hearing the reason for the summons.

Chongxi, sitting on the throne, saw her arrive and asked curiously, “I heard you caught a bunch of mice? What does the tiger’s rampage have to do with mice?”

Qin Yang was also curious. She had been in the study, supervising the emperor’s review of memorials, when someone reported that An Ning from Mingdong Courtyard had requested mice.

Chongxi, immediately intrigued, threw down his brush and summoned Tao Ning.

The two curious individuals, together, decided to hear her explanation, and Tao Ning found herself here.

After ordering others around for days, now it was her turn to be summoned, and for such a trivial reason.

Tao Ning thought, Since you asked: “Your Majesty, I used the mice to test the attracting fragrance.”

Chongxi’s face was full of confusion: “Attracting fragrance?”

Tao Ning recounted the scene, her words vivid and engaging, making Chongxi and the eunuchs behind him look pale.

Qin Yang’s expression also turned subtle, as if witnessing it firsthand.

Fifteen minutes later, Chongxi couldn’t help but drink a cup of tea, ordering the incense burners in the palace to be extinguished and the windows opened for ventilation.

After the scent dissipated, Chongxi asked, “You’re saying the mice who smelled the attracting fragrance attacked the mice who were exposed to the incense from Her Highness’s sachet, fighting to the death? Where did this attracting fragrance come from?”

Qin Yang’s brows furrowed as she recalled the events before the tiger’s rampage. She remembered that the tiger had gone berserk after His Majesty fed it.

Her position at the time had been downwind, and the fragrance on her would have drifted towards the cage.

Tao Ning asked, “Your Majesty, where did the incense you used that day come from?”

“The formula… was presented by that traitor Bai Yixie, the physicians also approved it, so I used it.” Chongxi’s face paled as he finally realized what was wrong. “Don’t tell me you’re saying the attracting fragrance was… on me?”

Tao Ning’s answer was a blow: “Yes.”

Chongxi: “Those incompetent physicians said it was harmless, that it promoted sleep and calmness, they were clearly trying to kill me!”

After the incident, Qin Yang had ordered all of Chongxi’s belongings, including his incense, to be replaced.

And Bai Yixie was his former attendant, responsible for his writing materials. If it weren’t for this, Chongxi wouldn’t have been so terrified, wanting to flee back to the capital immediately.

Because the incense formula he used was presented by Bai Yixie, and he had thought it was quite good, even the physicians approved it.

Who would have thought it was almost deadly?

Chongxi, terrified, insisted on returning to the capital immediately.

But Qin Yang, thinking he was just trying to avoid his lessons, gave him a cold look and made him continue reviewing memorials.

Tao Ning, after finishing her story about the mice, watched as Qin Yang gently but firmly made Chongxi return to his desk.

After reading a few lines, Chongxi remembered the person standing below and told her to continue her investigation, to find the mastermind quickly.

The mastermind was already in the ice cellar, but she could still expose his accomplices.

Tao Ning bowed and left.

She hadn’t gone far when she was called back. Turning around, she saw Qin Yang emerge from behind the maid who had called out to her.

Tao Ning was puzzled: “Your Highness, do you have any instructions?”

She had thought Qin Yang would be lecturing Chongxi for a long time, but she came out so quickly.

Qin Yang glanced back, and the maids all withdrew. A playful smile appeared on her usually cool and composed face: “Come here.”

In Tao Ning’s mind, Princess Qin Yang rarely smiled, and even then, it was a faint, distant smile, or a forced one. Seeing this playful and lively smile for the first time, her mind went blank.

Then she thought, It’s quite beautiful.

Although stunned, her feet still moved, walking towards Qin Yang, the scent of sandalwood enveloping her.

Qin Yang said, “You didn’t return to Linlang Palace for lunch, so I tried this, and Cui Hong also thought it was quite good.”

As if by magic, Qin Yang pulled a package of pastries from her wide sleeve.

This was the first time Qin Yang had done such a thing. The princess, raised in luxury, always served by others, felt a rare sense of embarrassment.

She had even dismissed everyone for this.

Seeing Tao Ning not moving, Qin Yang urged, “Take it.”

Tao Ning took the package, which was quite heavy.

Qin Yang’s expression seemed to be one of satisfaction, then she remembered something else, pulling another package from a hidden pocket in her other sleeve, a faint fruity aroma wafting from it.

Tao Ning: “…”

Your Highness, how many more surprises do you have?

Qin Yang said, “These are dried apricots from Yongning Palace. His Majesty said they were delicious and wanted the cook who made them to be brought back to the capital. Try them and see if you like them.”

Tao Ning, her hands full, asked, puzzled, “Why didn’t Your Highness eat them?”

Qin Yang paused, then smiled: “I already did.”

The princess, having emptied her sleeves, clasped her hands in front of her: “It’s getting late, I have to go back now.”

“Farewell, Your Highness.”

Tao Ning, holding the pastries and the dried apricots, walked away with a serious expression, then returned with a bright smile.

The retreat had prepared a lot of food for the emperor’s visit, and these were Qin Yang’s portion, which she didn’t like and gave to Tao Ning.

No one would have guessed that the noble princess’s sleeves held not embroidered handkerchiefs, but pastries and dried apricots.