Chapter 195: Testing for poison with the incense of medicine, the hidden clues begin to emerge
The autumn sun shone obliquely into Shufangzhai, casting a long shadow on the potted asparagus fern on the windowsill. Xiaoyanzi was squatting on the porch, drying the herbs Xiao Jian had sent her. Bay leaves, mint, and wormwood were spread out in a bamboo sieve, their fragrance radiating from the sun, a refreshing yet refreshing aroma. She wore a short ginger-colored jacket, her sleeves rolled up to her forearms. On her exposed wrist, she wore the warm jade gift from Yongqi, which swayed gently as she turned the herbs.
"Princess, are these herbs dried enough? They will wither if you dry them any longer." Mingyue came over with a white porcelain bowl filled with freshly stewed candied pears. The sweet aroma mixed with the medicinal fragrance filled the yard.
Xiaoyanzi stood up, patted the grass debris on her hands, took the porcelain bowl and took a big sip. The pear flesh was stewed until soft and the sweet juice flowed down the corners of her mouth: "Why are you in such a hurry? Xiao Jian said that the mugwort needs to be dried in the sun for three hours before it will be effective." She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and caught a glimpse of Xiaozhuo running in quickly with an oil-paper bag in his hand.
"Princess! Imperial Physician Li has found out!" Little Table ran breathlessly, the oil-paper bag bouncing in his arms. "Wow, boom! There's something mixed in this tranquilizing incense!" Little Mosquito followed behind, adding, "Imperial Physician Li said it's a powder made from 'soft tendon grass.' Smelling a small amount is calming. If you smell it every day, it'll soften even the cracks in your bones!"
Ziwei was threading a needle in front of an embroidery frame. Upon hearing the words, the needle tip trembled and pierced her fingertip, oozing a bead of blood: "Soft muscle grass? Isn't that..." She looked up at Xiaoyanzi, her eyes full of fear - she had seen it in medical books. Although this grass is not fatal, it can make people gradually weak, and if they are not careful, they will suffer a serious illness.
Xiaoyanzi pushed the bamboo sieve under the porch, took the oil-paper package, and opened it. Inside was a small packet of gray-brown powder. She sniffed it closely and, as expected, there was a strange, sweet smell hidden among the incense. "I knew it was bad," she sneered, pouring the powder back into the paper bag. "This Concubine Gao really knows how to choose her things. She kills without shedding blood."
Yongqi came in from outside, still feeling cold. Seeing Xiaoyanzi holding a paper bag, he quickly walked over and asked, "What did Doctor Li say?" He took the paper bag and smelled it, his brows instantly furrowed. "How could you use such a sinister thing! I'll go tell the Emperor right now!"
"Don't go." Xiaoyanzi tugged at his sleeve, her fingertips accidentally brushing against the jade ring on his wrist. The cool touch made her calm down. "This evidence isn't enough. She could just say it was an 'unintentional mistake' or that one of the servants got the spices wrong. We have to wait and see."
Erkang followed in, holding a note. "I just heard from Liu Qing that Madam Li has been frequenting the 'Baicaotang' outside the palace these past few days, buying a lot of blood-activating and blood-stasis-removing ointments. She also asked how to make the wound look like an accidental bump." He handed the note to Xiaoyanzi. "It seems they're not just considering medication, they're also planning more direct measures."
Ziwei felt her fingertips go cold when she heard this, and subconsciously tightened her grip on the embroidery thread in her hand: "What...what do they want to do?"
"What else can we do?" Xiaoyanzi tucked the note into her bosom, turned around, took the silver dart from the weapon rack, and twirled it in her hand. "They simply want us to get 'accidentally injured,' ideally with a broken leg or a bruised head, so we can no longer be an eyesore in front of the Emperor." She looked at Yongqi, a cunning glint in her eyes. "Since they want to wait for an 'accident,' let's give them a 'surprise.'"
Yongqi immediately understood what she meant, and a smile appeared on his lips: "You want to provoke them into a fight?"
"What else?" Xiaoyanzi raised an eyebrow and put the silver dart back into her waist. "We can't be on guard every day, can we? We have to let them know that the people at Shufangzhai are not pushovers." She turned to Xiaodeng and said, "Go, take this calming incense back to Chuxiu Palace and say, 'Thank you, Concubine Gao, for the gift. The imperial physician said I have a special constitution and can't stand strong spices, so I dare not waste it.'"
The little stool was stunned: "Ah? Send it back?"
"Yes, send it back." Xiaoyanzi patted his shoulder. "Remember to go through the main gate so that passersby can see it. Also, tell the palace maid who brings the incense that I'm going to the Imperial Garden to practice sword tomorrow, and ask Concubine Gao to come and give me some guidance when she's free."
Ziwei worriedly held her back and said, "Isn't this too risky? What if they really..."
"Don't worry." Xiaoyanzi held her hand, the warmth of the herbs on her palm. "Xiao Jian taught me 'sound detection'. I can definitely detect someone in the dark. Besides, Yongqi and Guard Zhou are nearby, so they can't touch me." She leaned close to Ziwei's ear and lowered her voice. "We can use this sword practice as an opportunity to expose those hiding in the dark."
Erkang nodded in agreement. "That's a sound idea. I'll have the Fu family's guards set up an ambush around the Imperial Gardens, waiting for them to strike and catching them red-handed." He looked at Yongqi. "Fifth Prince, you guard the rockery and forest to the east; that's the easiest place for people to hide."
Yongqi nodded. "I'll arrange it right away. But Xiaoyanzi, be careful when you practice sword tomorrow, and don't try to be too aggressive." He looked at her, his eyes full of advice, and reached out to smooth down her wind-tangled hair. "I'll place a lantern on the rockery. If you see it flicker three times, retreat to the east."
"I know, you nagging ghost." The little swallow said disdainfully, but her heart was warm. She turned to the little bug and said, "You go with us tomorrow. If you see anyone suspicious, hoot like an owl. That way we can have a signal."
The little bug immediately stretched out its neck and imitated the sound of "Gugu-gu" so well that everyone laughed. The little mosquito clapped his hands and said, "Good boy, boom! This is going to be fun! We just have to wait for the fish to bite!"
The setting sun stained the roof of Shufangzhai a golden red. Ziwei collected the dried herbs into a brocade bag, carefully divided them into portions, and gave two to Xiaoyanzi. "Wear this close to you, and place this next to the incense burner for safekeeping." Xiaoyanzi took the brocade bag, feeling it was heavy with herbs and the two sisters' silent concern.
As Yongqi and Erkang left, dusk was already setting over the horizon. Yongqi glanced back at the lights in Shufangzhai and saw Xiaoyanzi standing in the corridor, waving at him. The hem of her clothes rustled in the evening breeze, like a bird ready to take flight. He tightened his grip on the sword at his waist and made a secret resolution: Tomorrow, no matter what, he would protect her.
In the courtyard, a small stool was watering the crabapple tree, a small table was tidying up the weapons rack, and mosquitoes and insects gathered together to guess how many people would come tomorrow. Moonlight quietly climbed over the wall, gilding the seemingly peaceful night with a cool silver glow. The lights in Shufangzhai burned late into the night. On the window paper, the shadows of two girls huddled together, whispering sweet nothings. Only the faint scent of medicine and laughter could be smelled, gently spreading in the autumn night.
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