Shen Xihe returned to the manor and discovered that Xie Yunhuai had already been waiting at the Princess Manor for quite some time.
"Your Highness, Doctor Qi has been here for half an hour," Biyu informed her.
"I was slightly delayed at the palace. What brings Doctor Qi to see me?" Shen Xihe inquired softly.
Xie Yunhuai was the first person Shen Xihe had accepted without any ulterior motives, regarding him as a genuine friend. Their relationship was devoid of romantic feelings, simply comfortable and natural in their interactions.
"I came to retrieve the Bone Shedding Pill. I've found a method to allow you to take it again, though I need a small amount for examination," Xie Yunhuai explained. Almost the moment Shen Xihe obtained the pill, Xiao Huayong had sent him a letter.
Xiao Huayong urged him to collect it early, fearing that if Shen Xihe gifted away the Tianshan Snow Lotus first, she might become suspicious upon detecting snow lotus in the medicinal decoction he prepared. Xie Yunhuai didn't understand why Xiao Huayong went through such great trouble to obtain the snow lotus only to conceal it from Shen Xihe, nor did he wish to probe further.
"Can I truly take the Bone Shedding Pill again?" This had been a lingering concern for Shen Xihe.
"I'm about eighty percent confident," Xie Yunhuai dared not make absolute promises.
Eighty percent was already enough to delight Shen Xihe. She instructed Biyu to give Xie Yunhuai all the remaining Bone Shedding Pills: "Please take them, Doctor Qi. If you cannot succeed, keeping them would be useless to me anyway."
Originally, after learning she couldn't take the pills herself, she had considered sending the remainder to Xiao Huayong. Knowing her life would be short, she hoped for his longevity, intending to secure a promise from him to leave a retreat path for the Northwest.
But given the choice to live herself, she naturally preferred to survive.
After handing over the pills to Xie Yunhuai, Shen Xihe suddenly asked, "Doctor Qi, is there a medicine that can induce false pregnancy symptoms, capable of deceiving even the physicians at the Imperial Hospital?"
Upon hearing about false pregnancy medicine, Xie Yunhuai's brow twitched. "Why would you need such medicine, Your Highness?"
"To administer a slight lesson to certain Golden Branches and Jade Leaves," Shen Xihe replied euphemistically.
Anyone Shen Xihe referred to as Golden Branches and Jade Leaves must be imperial princesses. Needing to deceive the Imperial Hospital indicated this was no ordinary matter.
"I heard of such a concoction during my earlier travels but never prepared it myself. If you require it, I can attempt to formulate it upon my return," Xie Yunhuai said without questioning Shen Xihe's motives against the princess. Shen Xihe was his friend; the princess meant nothing to him.
Born into wealth, Xie Yunhuai lacked the common person's deep reverence for the royal family.
After collecting the medicine, Xie Yunhuai returned home just as Tianyuan's messenger delivered the Tianshan Snow Lotus. From then on, he secluded himself, refusing visitors, and devoted all his attention to studying the previously drafted formula.
Having seen off Xie Yunhuai, Shen Xihe returned to her chambers, brought out a pot of orchids, and immersed herself in her incense room. There, she crafted a blended fragrance using orchids as the primary ingredient.
"What an elegant scent," Hongyu, serving as Shen Xihe's assistant, was the first to notice the aroma and found it quite pleasing.
"Do you like it?" Shen Xihe asked with a faint smile.
"Yes," Hongyu nodded.
Shen Xihe handed it to her. "Why not burn it tonight to accompany your sleep?"
"Thank you for the reward, Your Highness." Hongyu happily took the incense burner, proudly raising her eyebrows at Ziyu before returning to her room.
"Your Highness..." Ziyu looked at Shen Xihe with eager eyes, knowing her mistress never showed favoritism.
"You like it too?" Shen Xihe said, handing her a portion as well. "Very well, you shall use it tonight too."
After speaking, Shen Xihe lifted her gaze to Biyu, who had grown considerably more perceptive under her guidance over the past few months.The princess's energy was already limited these days. Unless there was a specific need, she wouldn't suddenly concoct new incense. The fragrant spices at Living-Alone Pavilion were all prepared by purchased Fragrance Artisans, with Shen Xihe offering only occasional guidance at most.
Where would urgently needed incense be used? Aside from preparing fragrances for the Crown Prince, Lady Xue, and Worldly Son Bu, whenever the princess specially concocted incense, it was always meant to torment someone. This brought to mind the events that had transpired in the palace today.
Biyu shook her head with a smile. "This servant wouldn't dare take what others cherish."
Shen Xihe gave her an approving glance.
The answer was revealed early the next morning. While Shen Xihe and Biyu appeared refreshed and energetic, Hongyu and Ziyu both had dark circles under their eyes and looked utterly listless.
Shen Xihe observed the two struggling to stay awake. "Not bad."
The effect was even better than she had anticipated.
Ziyu felt deeply wronged. "Princess..." Though not particularly clever, she wasn't foolish either. The fact that only she and Hongyu in the entire residence had slept poorly was undoubtedly due to that incense.
"Orchid fragrance is subtle and elegant, but excessive inhalation can cause insomnia. What you're experiencing are merely the mildest symptoms," Shen Xihe explained. "If burned for several more nights, it would lead to loss of appetite and nausea." After speaking, she instructed, "You're off duty today. I won't be leaving the residence, so both of you light some tranquilizing incense and get proper rest."
"Yes," Ziyu and Hongyu promptly responded before hurrying back to their rooms to catch up on sleep.
Shen Xihe had specifically chosen these two to test the incense because it had been hastily prepared. She had previously theorized about such effects, but this being the first preparation, she wasn't sure if it would work on everyone. She had taken some and found a willing maid to test it for five consecutive days. By the fifth day, the maid began showing symptoms of nausea.
Coincidentally, Xie Yunhuai visited that day, personally delivering the false pregnancy medicine to Shen Xihe. "Princess, after taking this medicine, false pregnancy symptoms will appear within seven days. You needn't worry about the Imperial Hospital."
Xie Yunhuai wasn't entirely confident whether someone at the Imperial Hospital might detect the truth, but then again, that person had come yesterday.
Xiao Huayong had returned to the capital, and Kyoto was soon to witness another storm. He had come to inquire about the progress of Shen Xihe's medicinal decoction.
Xie Yunhuai mentioned this matter briefly. If Xiao Huayong wished it, the Imperial Hospital would maintain consistent statements. This wasn't because the Imperial Hospital was filled with Xiao Huayong's people, but because several highly respected officials there had compromising information held against them by him.
"Your Highness, have you truly lost the ability to distinguish colors?" Tianyuan, having just learned this news, felt tears suddenly welling up in his eyes.
"Stop those tears," Xiao Huayong ordered with a frown. Had Tianyuan not been his personal attendant, he wouldn't have informed him, fearing Tianyuan might not know how to respond appropriately in unexpected situations.
"Your Highness already finds this subordinate bothersome." Tianyuan wiped his eyes.
"The autumn grain will be transported to the capital in a few days, delivered by local escorts. If you'd like—"
"No, no! This subordinate doesn't want to!" Tianyuan immediately straightened up, any trace of tears completely gone from his eyes. The slight redness that remained looked more like he had rubbed them himself.
"Tomorrow, bring Youyou some fresh delicacies." They had agreed that upon his return to the capital, he would send her food boxes.
"Yes, this subordinate has noted it." Tianyuan nodded. "The Fourth Princess—"
"What she intends to do leaves no room for others to interfere." Xiao Huayong would have liked to make a display and stand up for her, but she had no need for it.
Yet the thought that she had sought Xie Yunhuai's assistance left him with a lingering discomfort, and even looking at Xie Yunhuai had become somewhat irritating.
If not for the fact that his Youyou still needed Xie Yunhuai for her medicinal decoctions, he would have long since found a way to have him sent far away from the capital.Suddenly sensing his master's unusual mood, Tianyuan quickly withdrew to carry out His Highness's orders.
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