"I just like Yun Ying, and I won’t marry anyone else except Yun Ying!"
The Grand Princess looked helplessly at her daughter, spoiled from a young age, wanting whatever she desired, leading to this current headache for her.
"The Duchess of Duke Zhen Country doesn’t like Yun Ying. If you marry him, she will definitely target you. Although you are my daughter, after marriage, you will indeed live in the Duke Zhen Country Mansion." The Grand Princess reasoned with Bao Ping.
"If she doesn’t like me, so be it. I’ll do what I should. How can she still harass me?" Bao Ping was unconcerned.
"If Yun Ying had you in his heart and treated you well, a Duchess would be insignificant. But Yun Ying has clearly rejected you, Bao Ping. Even if you were to marry him through means, you wouldn’t be happy." The Grand Princess spoke earnestly.
She was the Grand Princess, and she was accustomed to doing things her way.
So, whatever she did, others only dared to gossip in private; no one had the courage to challenge her in person.
But Bao Ping couldn’t do that. Her Commandery Princess title was a favor she shamelessly asked her brother, the Emperor, for.
It sounded nice, but in reality, it was useless.
Instead, because of her reputation as someone with a mother like hers and a useless former Prince Consort father, she had no advantage in terms of family background.
In other words, she was not the daughter-in-law candidate that elite families desired.
So, those she chose for her were those she could manage, not someone set to inherit the family business and support a clan.
Yun Ying, an illegitimate son, with just this status, Bao Ping was more than enough match.
But because the Duke Zhen Country only had one sickly illegitimate son, his status couldn’t be measured merely by his status as an illegitimate son.
He was acknowledged, and the Duke Zhen Country applied for his title as a Princely Heir.
Everything changed after that.
"Mother..." Bao Ping looked at the Grand Princess with teary eyes, "But it can’t be that country girl Zhao Xiaohua."
"I assure you, that country girl could never marry Yun Ying," said the Grand Princess.
"Then promise me, mother, don’t let her have an easy time. She has bullied me several times," Bao Ping said.
"Alright, alright," the Grand Princess agreed repeatedly, "I certainly won’t let her have an easy time!"
Only then did Bao Ping smile through her tears, "Mother, you’re the best."
"Shall I pick a groom for you then?" the Grand Princess asked.
Bao Ping shook her head, "Mother, I want to accompany you for a few more years."
"Yes, you are still young. It’s not too late to talk about a match in a couple of years," the Grand Princess replied.
Bao Ping thought, as long as she didn’t get engaged, and Yun Ying didn’t either, there was hope. After all, she just liked Yun Ying, and she believed marrying him would make her very happy.
People’s hearts can change, can’t they?
Yun Ying doesn’t like her now, but who can say what the future holds?
The calming incense sold at the Hundred Herbs Hall had an issue.
A junior officer from the Five Cities Military Department bought it for his grandmother, who, after using it, fell asleep and couldn’t wake up.
They called in doctors to check, but couldn’t find any illness.
Acupuncture, medicine, nothing woke her up.
So the junior officer caused a scene at the Hundred Herbs Hall.
Demanding an explanation from them.
Lu Luoxing had the resident doctor at the Hundred Herbs Hall check his grandmother’s pulse, but nothing was found.
Zhao Xiaohua also couldn’t find anything wrong.
They examined the remaining calming incense, and there was no discrepancy in the ingredients.
Zhao Xiaohua ground the remaining calming incense into powder, mixed it with water, and drank it in front of the junior officer, without any adverse effects.
There was nothing wrong with the calming incense’s ingredients.
The junior officer also brought a crowd to testify that his grandmother was in good health before.
The two parties were at an impasse.
Over the following two to three days, more people came forward, with similar symptoms in their households after using the calming incense. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩~𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢~𝔫𝔢𝔱
It’s not that everyone who used the calming incense had this issue.
But with six or seven families , it was enough to get the Government’s attention.
If not for Lu Luoxing’s mediation, not only would the Hundred Herbs Hall be forced to close, but Zhao Xiaohua would also be arrested.
Even though they’re hanging on now, if these people don’t wake up, they won’t last long.
Du Ruyi investigated those involved, but those who remained asleep had no connections, didn’t know each other, and hadn’t met secretly or taken any silver to frame anyone.
Lu Luoxing originally thought this was Lu Tiannan’s resentment against Zhao Xiaohua.
But after the incident, the Hundred Herbs Hall would be implicated as well.
Moreover, despite their efforts, they found no trace of Lu Tiannan’s involvement.
In fact, Lu Tiannan’s father and Lu Tiannan visited the Hundred Herbs Hall, inquiring if Lu Luoxing needed help.
They were determined not to let the Hundred-year-old foundation of the Hundred Herbs Hall be destroyed.
Yun Ying, upon hearing the matter, also conducted a secret investigation, but unfortunately found nothing useful.
It’s as if these people really just fell asleep after using the calming incense.
The Government has issued a final ultimatum; if the issue isn’t resolved soon, to appease the public, Zhao Xiaohua will be arrested, and the Hundred Herbs Hall will be ordered to close.
Madam Zhao was so worried she considered entering the palace to seek an audience with Emperor Jing.
If Xiaohua is caught, her reputation would be ruined, and what about marriage proposals in the future?
After days of traveling, at last, the city gate was in sight.
Truly the Capital City, the gate was majestic, unlike any Prefecture could compare.
Once Zhao Ting was sent back, she still needed to hurriedly return to Qingzhou Prefecture; she had been gone for so many days, Dahe and Xiaohua must be worried sick.
She wondered how Dahe’s examination went?
If she affected Dahe’s exam by her delay, she’d regret it immensely.
The guards at the city gate stopped Meng Yao and the carriage for a routine inquiry and, after checking the travel pass, allowed them entry.
Zhao Ting gave directions, and Meng Yao quickly drove to the entrance of the Zhao Mansion.
Meng Yao went up to knock on the door, and someone quickly peeked out.
This woman he’d never seen before, and she was dusty all over. He had worked at the gatehouse for a long time and didn’t recall any relatives from the Zhao Family.
"I’ve brought Zhao Ting back," Meng Yao said.
"The master has returned?" The door opener looked overjoyed.
"He’s lying in the carriage, quite weak. Please, young sir, find a soft sedan chair," Meng Yao requested.
"Ah, ah, yes, certainly." The gatekeeper hurriedly went to find someone, also informing the old lady that the master had returned.
"Now that I’ve brought you back, you stay here and I’ll be off," Meng Yao said.
"Even if you return, there’s no rush, right?" Zhao Ting said ’weakly,’ "Besides, I’ve reported your contribution. What if there’s a reward? You said you wanted to build capital for Dahe, and a reward from His Majesty is not just given at random."
Meng Yao was convinced by Zhao Ting.
"Besides, you’re my savior," Zhao Ting added, "You should at least come inside for a bit, right?"
Get her through the door first, then see.