Upon hearing this, Sui Axi bowed deeply: "Before this, Axi received grace from the Princess. During these days at the Princess Manor, I observed the Princess's far-sighted actions and profound capabilities. If the Princess minds my previous actions, Axi has nothing to say in defense."
"You had the intention to pledge yourself to me, yet still chose to treat the Sixth Prince—showing deep loyalty and righteousness." Shen Xihe nodded. "But though you hid in the herb garden, some have seen you. If investigated in the future..."
After speaking, Shen Xihe gazed at him with calm eyes.
Sui Axi untied his belt. Biyu's expression changed: "How dare you!"
Ignoring Biyu, Sui Axi pulled open his garment, revealing a fresh burn on his chest: "People may look alike. Axi only had a coin-sized black mole here, which was recorded in the Imperial Hospital's files. I have now destroyed it.
Axi knows some burn treatment methods that can heal it without leaving scars, making the mole disappear as if it never existed."
Shen Xihe smiled with satisfaction, then added: "I'm not short of capable people around me. You've met Doctor Qi, and I have a senior maid studying medicine under Old Man with White Hair who will return soon. Give me a reason to keep you."
Sui Axi confidently raised his head: "Princess, in pulse diagnosis and prescription, I dare not compare with Doctor Qi. In treating illnesses and saving lives, I dare not compete with Old Man with White Hair's distinguished disciple. But my unique acupuncture skills are beyond what either of them can surpass."
After a pause, Sui Axi continued: "Axi also possesses another unique skill."
"Unique skill?" Shen Xihe asked curiously.
"Bone manipulation technique."
Shen Xihe showed slight surprise: "The face-altering bone manipulation technique?"
"Yes." Sui Axi answered firmly.
Though her expression remained unchanged, Shen Xihe felt quite unsettled inside.
She had long heard of a bone manipulation method that could make two completely dissimilar people appear identical, or permanently change someone's appearance into another's without using human skin masks.
However, the face-altering process was lengthy and painful, though once completed, it would be no different from normal and wouldn't damage fundamental bones.
"From today onward, you shall follow me. Whatever you need, just ask Biyu." Shen Xihe accepted Sui Axi. "I don't expect you to solve all my troubles, but I will not tolerate the slightest betrayal."
"This subordinate will pledge undying loyalty to the Princess." Sui Axi kowtowed again.
As soon as the palace investigation began, the Crown Prince received word that Shen Xihe was investigating the various palaces' fragrant spices. Xiao Huayong naturally provided covert assistance, so Shen Xihe quickly obtained a report on spice usage across the palaces.
The Three-Even Fried Fragrance wasn't exclusive to one palace—only three places had it: Princess Anling's residence, the Empress Dowager's Buddhist shrine, and the bedchamber of Liang Zhaorong, birth mother of the Prince of Dai.
"This type of incense ball has never appeared in the Empress Dowager's palace," Mo Yuan added.
Shen Xihe nodded. Such items were mostly favored by women and young ladies. Someone of the Empress Dowager's age wouldn't care for such things.
Between Princess Anling and Liang Zhaorong, she only had some past conflict with Liang Zhaorong. This conflict dated back to Noble Consort Rong's chrysanthemum banquet, when the Princess Consort of Dai had confronted Liang Danpu, who tried to provoke discord between her and the Princess Consort of Dai. After Shen Xihe saw through this, she severely punished Liang Danpu.
Afterward, the Liang family never mentioned the matter, and Liang Zhaorong seemed unbothered—at least during palace encounters, she showed no displeasure when exchanging greetings. Not only was Liang Zhaorong one of the Nine Concubines, she also had a son enfeoffed as Prince of Dai and was raising the Twelfth Prince, Xiao Changgeng."This item bears no mark of palace manufacture; it appears to be from outside the palace." Shen Xihe stared at a scratch on its surface. "Test Liang Danpu."
Liang Danpu accompanied Lady Liang to Xiangguo Temple for incense offerings every fifteenth day of the month. Master Xuqing happened to owe Shen Xihe a favor, so she straightforwardly requested a discreet meeting with Miss Liang, assuring him it would cause no harm or danger. Xuqing, confirming Shen Xihe meant no ill will toward Liang Danpu, facilitated the arrangement. Thus, Shen Xihe easily met Liang Danpu alone. Before Liang could react, she had inhaled a large amount of Bewitching Incense and became disoriented.
"Does Miss Liang harbor any resentment toward Zhaoning County Princess?" Biyu asked softly.
Liang Danpu's face twisted fiercely: "Shen Xihe, I hate her!" Of course, Liang Danpu despised Shen Xihe—not only for publicly humiliating her but, more importantly, because after the Hibiscus Garden chrysanthemum banquet, the Prince of Dai explicitly rejected Liang Zhaorong's proposal to take her as a secondary consort.
Though the Liang family wasn't prominent, she was a legitimate daughter, with an aunt holding a position among the Nine Concubines in the palace and a cousin who was a prince. She should have had an excellent marriage. Her aunt had hinted at arranging for her to enter the Prince of Dai's residence as a secondary consort.
The Princess Consort of Dai and the Prince had been married for five or six years without producing an heir. If she could bear the eldest son, wouldn't the household eventually be under her control? So what if she was a secondary consort? With her aunt's backing and the Liang family's influence, her cousin couldn't treat her poorly.
Persuaded, she set her sights on entering the Prince of Dai's residence. But after the chrysanthemum banquet, the Prince refused, and she was severely punished by Shen Xihe. Rumors spread that she lacked propriety and was morally deficient. Not only did promising sons of officials withdraw interest, but even illegitimate sons from noble families refused to marry her.
Those willing to marry her were unsavory characters. Her marriage prospects were utterly ruined.
"Have you thought of seeking revenge?" Biyu pressed.
"Yes." Liang Danpu replied loudly, her face contorted in a bizarre smile. "I must take revenge on her!"
"How would you seek revenge?" Biyu guided.
Liang Danpu thought for a long while, then shook her head: "I will think of a way."
Shen Xihe listened, observing the malice on her face, and knew Liang had likely spent much time scheming against her. However, unable to get close and mindful of the precedent set by the Second Miss Rong, she had neither acted nor succeeded, leaving her filled with resentment and frustration.
"Did you gift the lotus root-patterned incense ball to Consort Liang?"
"Yes." Liang Danpu nodded dazedly. "It contained my blended Three-Even incense, to curry favor with my aunt.""
"Was the incense ball unique in any way?"
Liang Danpu shook her head groggily: "It had a scratch."
Biyu glanced at Shen Xihe and pressed further: "How did the scratch occur? Where is it?"
"The scratch was caused by a careless palace maid. Because it was my gift, my aunt specifically mentioned it to me. It's on..." Liang Danpu's vision blurred. "On the lotus pod..."
Before she could finish, she succumbed to the Bewitching Incense and fainted.
Shen Xihe examined the scratch on the lotus pod, her lips curling slowly into a smile, a cold glint flashing across her soft lips.
"Light some Tranquilizing Incense for her." Shen Xihe instructed and stepped out of the room. Two novice monks stood guard outside. She said, "Miss Liang is somewhat fatigued and should wake in about half an hour."Shen Xihe came and went from the Xiangguo Temple without anyone's knowledge. The next day, she entered the palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. After sitting briefly, she took her leave. As she was exiting the palace, she happened to encounter Liang Zhaorong, who often took walks outside.
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