"Mingyan Fragrance? What's that?"

"I heard it's a spice from the southern border that was sent to the palace as tribute; it's very precious."

"If it was meant to be tribute to the palace, how could it be poisonous?"

…

After hearing Su Muxi's words, the crowd couldn't help but whisper among themselves.

While carefully wiping her hands, Su Muxi observed Bai Mengying's complexion and kindly explained to everyone, "This Mingyan Fragrance is indeed a good thing. I saw it in the Empress Dowager's palace a few years ago."

"If this spice is mixed with other spices and burned, it can not only make people feel happy, but also prolong their life if they smell it for a long time."

"If mixed with rouge and applied to the face, it can make the skin white and smooth, and has the effect of beautifying and nourishing the skin."

"However, everything follows the principle of mutual generation and restraint. Although Mingyanxiang is good, it cannot be used with ginseng. If you use rouge mixed with Mingyanxiang and then take ginseng, and you do not take heat-clearing and detoxifying medicine in time, your face will become rotten."

Upon hearing this, Qiao Ziming suddenly realized what was happening and said to Su Muxi, "Granny Wu is your person!"

After she used Shengyantang's rouge that day, Granny Wu suddenly brought her a cup of ginseng tea.

She didn't want to drink it at first, because whenever she saw ginseng, she couldn't help but think of Su Muxi.

But then Granny Wu said, "Miss, what is your status? Do you think you can't afford ginseng tea just because you're away from Su Muxi?! This old servant only prepared ginseng tea because I couldn't bear to see you being wronged!"

At the time, she was only angry after hearing what Granny Wu said, and without thinking too much, she immediately drank the ginseng tea. As a result, her face began to itch not long after, and after just a few light scratches, it started to fester...

Granny Wu was the nanny who had watched her grow up since she was a child, and was her mother's confidante. She never expected that she would harm her along with Su Muxi!

Su Muxi couldn't help but sneer again: "Tch! Qiao Zixi, do you have to be so stupid? Everyone just said that this Mingyan Fragrance is a spice that was presented to the palace by the Southern Frontier. Do you think a mere female physician like me can obtain it so easily?"

Even if I could obtain it, I wouldn't use such precious spices against you, because I could concoct a hundred kinds of poisons to deal with you; there's no need to waste Bright Beauty Incense!

At this point, Su Muxi bent down slightly and leaned closer to Qiao Zixi, a rare smile appearing on her face, and said softly, "So, think about it again."

Qiao Zixi stared blankly at Su Muxi, her lips trembling for a long time, as if she didn't even have the strength to speak.

Just then, Bai Mengying stepped out from the crowd, looked at Qiao Zixi with a worried expression, and then rebuked Su Muxi: "Miss Su! Now is not the time to talk about these things. Since you know how to treat Xi'er's face, why don't you treat her quickly?!"

"Yes! You need to heal my face quickly!"

Qiao Zixi no longer cared who had harmed her; all she wanted now was for her face to return to normal.

That way, she wouldn't be disliked or hated, and Pei Yuan could like her as much as before!

"I can't cure it."

Su Muxi said calmly.

"...Impossible! You can definitely cure him!"

Qiao Zixi didn't believe it, so she hurriedly used all her strength to crawl at Su Muxi's feet.

"Sister-in-law, I was wrong, please forgive me? I know you are kind-hearted and soft-hearted. It's all my fault for being young and naive, and I was misled by others, which led me to misunderstand you. Please, please help me. I promise I will never go against you again. As long as my face can be healed, I will do anything you ask!"

"Waaah...please..."

Qiao Zixi cried and begged, her face terrifying yet pitiful.

But Su Muxi showed no mercy whatsoever.

Qiao Zixi always used her young age as an excuse, but apart from Jiang Shi, who would really treat her as a child?

If she were to investigate, she might be able to help Qiao Zixi restore her appearance. But she doesn't owe Qiao Zixi anything, and Qiao Zixi is targeting and slandering her in various ways. So why should she help Qiao Zixi?

"I'm not your sister-in-law, and besides, I can't fix your face!"

Su Muxi spoke again, and after she finished speaking, she glanced at Qiao Zixi and then said, "But the person who harmed you behind your back might have the antidote."

"Miss Su, you said it's incurable without even examining me. I think you just don't want to be treated!"

Bai Mengying spoke sternly, seemingly standing up for Qiao Zixi.

Su Muxi knew that Bai Mengying was nervous and didn't want Qiao Zixi to think things through calmly, so she kept steering the conversation toward her.

"I can tell at a glance that Lord Li is indulging in excessive pleasure. Miss Qiao's face is so badly rotten, how could I not see it? I really can't help you. I can only hope that the person who wants to harm Miss Qiao can find a way."

After Su Muxi finished speaking, she couldn't help but sigh in a fake manner.

"Sigh! I wonder who would be so vicious. Only a little bit of that Bright Beauty Incense is needed, but they used so much. They're so willing to spend so much. How jealous must they be of Miss Qiao's beauty?"

Upon hearing this, Qiao Zixi suddenly looked up at Bai Mengying.

"It's you?"

"It's you, isn't it?"

"It's you!"

It only took Qiao Zixi a short while to go from doubt to certainty.

After much thought, the only person who could possess Mingyanxiang and be jealous of her beauty is Bai Mengying!

"So it really was you who designed the slashing on my face when I was six! Just because the envoy from Northern Yan praised me but not you?! Hah!"

"How could I have trusted you so much! I even thought my father was lying to me!"

"Why this time?! Why are you doing this to me! Why?!"

Qiao Zixi appeared deranged and spoke incoherently.

But everyone understood.

The fact that Qiao Zixi scratched her face when she was six years old was not an accident, but rather the work of Princess Chang Le.

Marquis Anyang was aware of this matter and had told Qiao Zixi about it, but Qiao Zixi simply didn't believe him...

Bai Mengying hurriedly spoke up in defense, "Xi'er, what are you saying! When have I ever harmed you! Don't listen to others trying to sow discord!"

But once Qiao Zixi has made up her mind, she won't listen to anyone's explanation.

Just as she had a prejudice against Su Muxi before, she now feels the same way about Bai Mengying.

"Is it because when I went to Huguo Temple last time, Pei Yuan fell in love with me at first sight, but he didn't come to see you? Is that why? Is that it!"

Qiao Zixi continued talking to herself, becoming more and more agitated and increasingly erratic as she spoke.

Seeing this, Su Muxi went forward to help Qiao Zixi up, saying, "Get up first."

But she quietly picked up a silver needle with her fingertips and subtly pricked Qiao Zixi.

Qiao Zixi, who had been feeling weak, suddenly regained her strength.

He shoved Su Muxi aside and grabbed Bai Mengying by the neck.