Chapter 126 Making Her Lose Face
"She said...she said you took all the money in the manor to subsidize Ci'an Hall, even deducting the servants' monthly wages. She also said that last time a little maid broke a bowl, you punished her by making her kneel for a whole day and night." Chun Tao became more and more angry as she spoke: "Those words are all made up! When have you ever mistreated your servants, Master?"
Ye Wanning wasn't angry; instead, she calmed down and said, "Go and have the guards investigate who Zhang Ma has been in contact with recently."
The secret guards were extremely efficient, and brought back the news in the afternoon: Zhang Ma had recently secretly met with Liu's niece and even accepted fifty taels of silver from her. The words she spoke were taught to her by Liu's niece, with the aim of ruining Ye Wanning's reputation and displeasing General Pei.
Not only that, the secret guards also discovered that Zhang Ma had been secretly taking things from the mansion for the past six months, including three bolts of silk, and she had also stolen ginseng from the storeroom and sold it for money.
Ye Wanning summoned all the servants to the courtyard. Zhang Ma stood in the middle, trying to feign innocence: "Madam, has something you wish to discuss with us?"
"It's nothing, I just wanted to explain something to everyone." Ye Wanning took out the account book that her guards had found: "Some people say that I, Ye Wanning, mistreat my servants and withhold their monthly wages. Tell me, have you ever received less than your monthly wages? When have I ever let you go hungry?"
The servants quickly shook their heads. Uncle Li, who was in charge of buying groceries, stepped forward: "Madam treats us very well. She pays our monthly wages on time, and we get bonuses during holidays. Last time my mother was sick, Madam even gave us money for her medical expenses."
“Yes!” said the maid Ling’er. “Last time I broke a bowl, Madam didn’t punish me at all. She even said it was fine as long as I wasn’t burned. Zhang Ma was lying!”
Zhang Ma's face turned pale, and she still tried to argue, "You...you were all bribed by Madam!"
"Whether I bribed them or not, you know perfectly well." Ye Wanning opened the brocade box, inside were scraps of silk that Zhang Ma had stolen and a receipt for selling ginseng: "This is evidence of you stealing things from the manor, and proof that you received money from Liu's niece. Are you still going to try to deny it?"
Upon seeing the contents of the brocade box, Zhang Ma's legs went weak, and she knelt down, tears streaming down her face. "Madam, spare me! Miss Liu forced me! She made me say this, or she'd sell my family to another place! I had no choice!"
General Pei had just returned from outside when he heard her words, and his beard bristled with anger: "Liu Shi has already been sent to the family temple, and her niece still dares to cause trouble! Zhang Ma, you traitorous wretch, the General's mansion will not tolerate you!"
He roared at the guards, "Drag Zhang Ma out and never let her set foot in the General's Mansion again!"
The guards dragged Zhang Ma away; she was still crying and begging for mercy, but no one sympathized with her. After Zhang Ma was dragged away, General Pei looked at Ye Wanning, filled with remorse: "I'm sorry you had to suffer, good child. It was my fault for not managing the people in the manor properly."
"Father, please don't say that." Ye Wanning helped him sit down. "That's all in the past, it won't happen again."
Pei Zhi returned from the military camp and, after hearing what had happened, pulled Ye Wanning into his arms: "If any servants dare to spread rumors again, don't investigate yourself. Just tell me, and I'll handle it. It'll save you the trouble."
Ye Wanning leaned against him and nodded: "I understand, but we were able to uncover the truth this time thanks to the secret guards."
"The secret guards were also sent by me." Pei Zhi pinched her cheek. "From now on, whether inside or outside the manor, no one can bully you."
The Empress Dowager has been having trouble sleeping lately, tossing and turning at night. The Imperial Hospital has prescribed many medications, but none of them have been effective. Upon hearing this, Ye Wanning decided to develop a calming incense using mild fragrances that would help with sleep without any side effects.
She found her mother Su Wan's manuscript, which recorded all the prescriptions: Western Region benzoin, agarwood, and lavender, which must be steamed over water for three sticks of incense to fully bring out their medicinal properties.
Ye Wanning made the calming incense several times before finally getting the flavor just right, and then sent it to the palace to present to the Empress Dowager. After using it for two days, the Empress Dowager indeed slept much more soundly, and specially sent some snacks to Ye Wanning, saying she wanted to reward her handsomely.
Ye Wanning originally thought the matter would be over, but a few days later, news came from the palace that the Princess's niece, Li Yanran, had made a calming incense, and the Empress Dowager was very satisfied and wanted to reward her with one hundred taels of gold.
Chun Tao jumped up: "That Li Yanran is so shameless! It was clearly you who made the calming incense, how dare she say she made it herself!"
Ye Wanning remained calm and even smiled, "Since she dares to steal the credit, then I'll make her lose face in front of the Empress Dowager."
The next day, Ye Wanning was invited to the palace. In the Empress Dowager's Chang Le Palace, Li Yanran, holding a packet of calming incense, proudly told the ministers' wives, "I spent half a month figuring out the recipe for this calming incense. It uses only the finest ingredients, and even the Empress Dowager praised it."
Ye Wanning walked in, smiling, and said, "Miss Li is truly amazing. I wonder if this calming incense uses benzoin from the Western Regions?"
Li Yanran was taken aback, then nodded: "Yes...yes, it's benzoin from the Western Regions."
"Does Miss Li know how benzoin is processed? Is it simply ground into powder, or is there some special procedure involved?"
Li Yanran's face turned pale, and she stammered, "It's...it's just ground into powder, what else can it be?" The ladies around her also noticed something was wrong and began to whisper among themselves.
Ye Wanning took out her mother's manuscript and spread it out for the Empress Dowager to see: "Your Majesty, this is my mother's research manuscript on benzoin. It says: 'Soak benzoin in warm water for half an hour, then steam it with three sticks of incense to purify it and remove impurities, thus achieving its sleep-aiding effect. If it is ground into powder, not only will it be ineffective, but it will also have a burnt smell.'"
She then took out her experimental records, which detailed the daily dosage, preparation time, and incense test results: "To formulate a suitable calming incense, I experimented eight times. The first time, I steamed two sticks of incense, and the flavor was too weak; the third time, I didn't soak the benzoin, and the flavor was too bitter. It wasn't until the eighth time that I successfully formulated the calming incense as it is now."
The Empress Dowager picked up the calming incense, smelled it, and then looked at the manuscript. Her expression darkened. "Li Yanran, what else do you have to say?"
Li Yanran knelt down with a thud, tears streaming down her face, and said, "Your Majesty, please spare me! It was the Eldest Princess who told me to say that. She said it would please Your Majesty. I didn't mean to steal credit!"
The Empress Dowager was furious: "The Eldest Princess is becoming increasingly outrageous! Guards, take Li Yanran back to the Eldest Princess's residence so the Eldest Princess can discipline her properly!"
After Li Yanran was dragged out, the Empress Dowager looked at Ye Wanning, her tone much more amiable: "Good child, you've been wronged. This calming incense is your achievement; I reward you with one hundred taels of gold and bestow upon you a plaque inscribed with 'Benevolent Heart Saving the World.'"
Ye Wanning thanked the Empress Dowager, and as soon as she stepped out, Pei Zhi greeted her with a smile, "I knew Wanning's hard work wouldn't be taken away."
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