Because Cheng Zhao was still there, Luo Ying came closer and whispered to Ning Yuxi, "Master, I went to investigate the fire in the side hall where the Third Prince rested. At first, I had no clues. Later, I followed your instructions and
I carefully checked the whereabouts of the eldest princess that day and found that she left the banquet early. She said she was going out to change clothes, but I asked the palace maids who were guiding the guests and they didn't see her changing clothes.
"No one knows where the eldest princess has been during this period, but I checked the side hall where the third prince rested, and there are indeed signs of oil on the burned doors and windows."
Ning Yuxi asked, "Do you know what kind of oil it is?"
"I checked it out. It's a hand oil that smells like rosin."
Ning Yuxi nodded in understanding. The wood used for the doors and windows was pine. The smell of pine oil blended with the unique smell of the doors and windows, which most people would not notice.
But Ning Yuxi is not an ordinary person. She has a much more sensitive sense of smell than ordinary people.
But all this only proves that the fire in the side hall was set intentionally by someone, and not from the small kitchen.
Ning Yuxi asked again, "Do you know where that pine scented hand oil comes from? Is it from the Imperial Household Department?"
Luo Ying: "My Lord, this hand oil is indeed from the Imperial Household Department. It is not available outside. The price is not too expensive, but ordinary palace maids cannot afford it. Only those who are favored by the Lord can afford it.
I just sniffed the scent of the princess's favorite maid outside, and it does smell a bit like pine fragrance, but other masters' maids also use this kind of hand oil."
Ning Yuxi nodded. There were many places that used this kind of hand oil. All she had to do was check which places went to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to collect a relatively large amount of this rosin oil before the palace banquet that day.
After all, one or two bottles of oil are not enough to burn down such a large house.
However, to check the account books of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, only the person who manages the harem has this right. Now this right is in the hands of Concubine Xin, Concubine Rong and the Empress Dowager. Ning Yuxi frowned and thought.
Two days later, Ning Yuxi took the fragrant dew that she had made day and night and went to the Empress Dowager's Cining Palace with Cheng Zhao.
After some pleasantries, Ning Yuxi took out the small bottle of perfume and said to the Queen Mother, "Your Majesty, this is a perfume I recently developed. It has a very special scent. I guarantee you've never smelled anything like it before."
As she spoke, she pulled out the cork and gently fanned the fragrance in the bottle toward the Queen Mother.
It is an incomparable fragrance, different from the general strong scent of perfume. It is extremely light and shallow, but the aftertaste is long and far-reaching, making people feel relaxed and happy.
The Queen Mother was immersed in this fragrance with an intoxicated look on her face. After a while, she reluctantly opened her eyes and said, "Concubine Yi, this fragrance dew smells really good."
Ning Yuxi smiled first, and then said distressedly: "The Queen Mother likes it, and I should have given this bottle of fragrance to the Queen Mother, but I spent several days
I only made a thumb-sized bottle, which can only last a few days. Besides, all the raw materials are used up, so it would be difficult to make more."
The Queen Mother saw this and said indifferently, "What's the big deal? The Imperial Household Department has all the ingredients. Just go and get them. Be sure to make more. I really like the taste of this."
Ning Yuxi then smiled: "Yes, I will definitely make more for the Queen Mother."
The Queen Mother also smiled and said, "Very good, Concubine Yi, please stay with Cheng Zhao today to have lunch with me. You haven't been with me for a few days, so you must stay with Cheng Zhao today to accompany me."
As she spoke, the Queen Mother picked up Cheng Zhao and said lovingly, "Little Cheng Zhao, have you missed your grandmother recently?"
Little Chengzhao said in a baby voice, "Think about it, Zhaozhao misses the Empress Dowager the most." After saying that, he kissed the Empress Dowager on the cheek.
The empress dowager couldn't stop smiling. Ever since Princess Yincheng got married, she was really bored every day. The emperor was busy with state affairs and couldn't accompany her all the time. Only Concubine Yi and Concubine Cheng Zhao could visit her frequently.
She didn't like the other concubines very much. All of them came to pay their respects to her with ulterior motives, including the Queen, who also had some selfish motives. Only Concubine Yi and her son really cared about her.
Moreover, she used the medicinal recipes given by Concubine Yi to nourish herself, and she obviously felt that her health was getting better and better. She was also straightforward and unpretentious, making people feel comfortable to get along with.
The three of them had lunch together happily.
It was not until the Empress Dowager took a nap and little Chengzhao also fell asleep at her place that Ning Yuxi planned to go to the Imperial Household Department.
After hearing this, Aunt Yu sent Han Cui, a senior palace maid who had some respect in front of the Queen Mother, to accompany her, because she herself had to take care of the Queen Mother.
Ning Yuxi did not refuse. Although she had the empress dowager's order, it was inevitable that she would have to spend more time talking. With the palace maids around the empress dowager, she wouldn't have to waste so much time talking.
Soon the group arrived at the Imperial Household Department. When the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department heard that Concubine Yi and Han Cui, the Empress Dowager's capable maid, had arrived, he quickly stood up from his chair and went out to greet them in person.
"Oh, what wind brings the Concubine Yi here? Your servant pays respects to the Concubine Yi. How come Miss Han Cui is here too? Miss Han Cui is polite."
Manager Wang first bowed to Ning Yuxi, then politely greeted Han Cui, his old face smiling like a chrysanthemum.
Ning Yuxi smiled and asked people to excuse themselves.
Eunuch Wang continued, "I wonder what instructions Her Majesty the Concubine Yi and Miss Hancui have for you in the Imperial Household Department. I will definitely take care of it for you, Her Majesty."
Ning Yuxi just smiled and said nothing. Now it was up to Han Cui.
Han Cui also understood the situation and said with a smile, "The Queen Mother likes the scented lotion made by Concubine Yi, but the ingredients are hard to come by.
The Empress Dowager specifically asked this servant to accompany Concubine Yi to the Imperial Household Department to search for the materials. The Empress Dowager said that the Imperial Household Department would obey Concubine Yi's orders and would definitely meet her requirements."
When Eunuch Wang heard that they were only looking for some ingredients to make perfumed water, he quickly agreed with a smile, "Yes, yes, this old servant will do whatever the queen asks."
Ning Yuxi took advantage of the Empress Dowager's relationship and successfully obtained the record book of items received by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
She checked quietly and found that many people had received the rosin hand oil before the palace banquet that day. She looked through it and finally found the record of the eldest princess's receipt.
However, the record above was beyond her expectations. She had indeed received it from the eldest princess, but the quantity was only two, which was about the same as the number in other palaces!
Ning Yuxi couldn't help but frown. Could it be that her guess was wrong? What happened that day had nothing to do with the eldest princess?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
