Upon hearing Song Ruoan's words, Prince Ning nodded, a hint of anticipation flickering in his lingering eyes.
"I will do my best. Of course, I am also confident that if the incense you make is exactly the same as the incense your sister sells."
Hearing the Prince of Ning's assurance, Song Ruoan finally felt at ease.
But then she hurriedly asked, "What if there's another possibility? My sister stole my secret recipe, but because the last ingredient, the Heavenly Flower Condensation Branch, is too precious, she used something cheaper as a substitute to create a similar effect, and then gave it away for free as a gimmick. Could you have discovered that?"
Song Ruoan felt that this was the most likely scenario.
Song Xizhi used the cheapest similar medicinal herb as a substitute and gave it to the person in the end, making everyone grateful to her and thus making Pinxianglou famous.
Prince Ning nodded: "If it is inferior to the superior, then the wood carvings she makes will smell the same as the plants and trees you make, but they will be inferior to your plants and trees."
"As long as the two are compared, it is too obvious which is better or worse. Not only can I tell the difference, but everyone present can probably smell it."
As Prince Ning spoke, he turned his head and glanced at Song Xizhi beside him.
Song Xizhi still wore a calm and composed smile, looking as if he was truly determined to win.
Prince Ning's eyes suddenly narrowed.
Having received the Prince of Ning's assurance, Song Ruo'an finally breathed a sigh of relief. She then instructed her staff to transport all the incense-making tools she had kept in Ruo'an Tower to Pinxiang Tower.
She was also very curious about what method Song Xizhi had used to create the wooden traces while avoiding the extinct Heavenly Flower Condensation Branch, and how it had amazed so many people.
But it doesn't matter, a fake is still a fake.
These days, she has been working day and night on incense research, making rapid progress and even creating her own incense.
Now that she has obtained this last remaining Heavenly Flower Condensation Branch from Prince Ning, as long as she produces the ingredients according to the recipe, the difference between the two will be immediately apparent.
Thinking it over, Song Ruoan then carefully picked up the ingredients from the recipe, washed them, and removed any impurities, using her delicate fingers.
Then came crushing, weighing, followed by grinding, filtering, and mixing...
Her movements were elegant and graceful, flowing like water, as if she had done this a thousand times before.
At the same time, a familiar fragrance gradually wafted from the white porcelain bowl in her hand, making everyone present feel relaxed.
Those who were able to stay at the incense shop were all quite knowledgeable about incense, and many of them had also seen the traces of the wood from the past.
They could all understand that what Song Ruoan was making had the flavor of wood!
He Yunze smelled the familiar fragrance and admired Song Ruoan's busy figure, her clothes fluttering in the wind. He found her beautiful and charming.
Once Ruoan finishes making the incense, it will not only prove what they said.
Furthermore, Song Xizhi's plagiarism plan was a done deal, so there's nothing more to say!
As He Yunze pondered, he turned his gaze toward Song Xizhi, the upward curve of his lips widening even further.
Since Song Xizhi was so unrepentant just now, even if she knelt in front of him later, crying and begging for forgiveness, he would not forgive her at all.
She'll just have to wait until she's completely ruined!
Meanwhile, Prince Ning was also carefully observing Song Ruoan's incense-making movements, occasionally turning his head to look in Song Xizhi's direction.
His eyes held a hint of inquiry.
As time passed, Song Ruoan quickly completed all the previous steps and was about to add the extinct Tianhua Ningzhi to the prepared medicinal powder.
Everyone was focused and holding their breath at that moment.
You must know that this Heavenly Splendor Branch is extremely precious, and they were only able to witness it this time thanks to Prince Ning's provision!
Song Ruo'an claimed that Song Xizhi plagiarized the recipe and produced inferior wooden trays using inferior raw materials.
Song Xizhi himself admitted that he had never used Tianhua Ningzhi...
In that case, what Song Ruoan is creating right now is absolutely unique!
Under everyone's fervent gaze, Song Ruoan's heart became increasingly excited.
She hasn't felt any pressure while blending incense lately; instead, she's genuinely enjoying it.
She finally discovered that she was a perfect match for incense making, and she had fallen in love with this career.
As Song Ruoan thought about it, she held her breath, widened her eyes, and slowly added the juice extracted from the Tianhua Ningzhi branch into the prepared powder.
Finally, stir.
Once, twice.
The powder and liquid mixed together and instantly turned into a fragrant paste.
The moment the two met, Prince Ning, who was standing at the front, suddenly turned his head and looked in the direction of Song Xizhi.
At that very moment, Song Xizhi wore an enigmatic smile.
Prince Ning caught this smile perfectly.
Song Xizhi's expression froze, and her face fell instantly.
In the final step, Song Ruoan placed the fragrant mud over an open flame to heat it, and then, smiling, began to explain to everyone:
"This is the final step in incense making, and the entire process of making incense from herbs and plants is now complete."
"When the fire is being burned, the incense is not yet fully formed, but you can still smell the fragrance of plants and trees."
"Please stay tuned, everyone. Merits and demerits, right and wrong, who is more or less at fault, will all be revealed in this incense!"
Song Ruoan spoke with great confidence, and the previously silent hall erupted in thunderous applause.
It wasn't just because of the faint, pleasant fragrance, but also because of Song Ruoan's elegant perfume-making process; her delicate hands deftly stirred the perfume, making it even more graceful than dancing.
If you say she's a liar? Who would believe that!
"The incense you made already smells wonderful halfway through! It must far surpass the wooden incense made by Song Xizhi!"
"I believe you now. I definitely want to go and buy something when Ruoanlou opens!"
But as soon as they finished speaking, they suddenly felt a foul odor wafting out of their noses.
The stench was faint, like a mixture of fishy and earthy smells, making people feel physically uncomfortable and take a half step back. Some even felt their stomachs churning violently.
"Good heavens! Where is this stench coming from?! How can something smell so bad?!"
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