TPGA - 69

Chapter 69: The Enchanting Fragrance

Zhang Chenyue wiped her tears and sobbed, “Sister, believe me—I truly didn’t mean to neglect pleading for you. It’s just that…”

“That’s enough. Do you think I don’t know your character?” Ji Rong smiled kindly. “It was such a sudden situation—it’s understandable that you were scared. Don’t worry; I’ll talk to her.”

“That’s good.” A flicker of something unreadable passed through Zhang Chenyue’s eyes. “I heard that you visited Qingchun Garden. Did you manage to persuade the Eldest Master, which led the Second Lady to change her mind?”

Ji Rong replied softly, “I was so desperate that I decided to take a chance and visit Qingchun Garden, hoping to appeal to the Eldest Master. Fortunately, he is kind and approachable. Once he learned that Chunxiu was being deliberately targeted and framed, he agreed to help.”

“The Eldest Master is truly admirable, and you’re so fortunate to have caught his attention—it’s enviable,” Zhang Chenyue remarked.

Ji Rong chuckled. “What’s there to envy? If I’ve gained his favor, it’s the same as if all of us have. We’re inseparable.”

A hint of jealousy and greed flashed across Zhang Chenyue’s eyes, but she quickly masked it with a smile. “Sister speaks wisely.”

Meanwhile, news of these developments reached Yunyi and the others. Jiang Caiping was the most indignant, pacing back and forth in the room. Yunyi sat in her chair, exasperated, and said, “Caiping, can you stop pacing? You’re making me dizzy.”

“No!” Jiang Caiping huffed, puffing out her cheeks. “Who knows what the Second Lady was thinking? First, she ordered Chunxiu to leave the mansion, then suddenly decided to let her stay in the firewood shed. How can she keep changing her mind like this?”

“I heard that Ji Rong went to Qingchun Garden, and afterward, Wang Fu was seen heading to Yuxiu Pavilion. It seems Ji Rong managed to persuade the Eldest Master, which is why Chunxiu gets to stay.”

Jiang Caiping clenched her fists in frustration. “Everyone says the Eldest Master is difficult to please, yet Ji Rong somehow managed to win him over. Who knows what kind of bewitching charm she used on him!” Stomping her foot angrily, she added, “Just when Feng Chunxiu was about to be kicked out of the governor’s mansion, she was dragged back in. It’s infuriating!”

Seeing that Yunyi remained silent, Jiang Caiping walked over to the table and said, “Sister, won’t you say something?”

“It’s already done. No matter how unwilling we are, there’s nothing we can do about it now. Are you planning to go beg the Second Lady? Not only would she likely refuse to see us, but even if she did, you yourself said that her constant changes undermine her authority. Do you think she’d reverse her decision a third time?”

Jiang Caiping slumped into a chair, deflated. “So, according to you, we have no choice but to let Chunxiu stay in the mansion?”

Yunyi narrowed her eyes slightly and said calmly, “Rather than obsessing over Chunxiu, why not focus on Ji Rong? She’s far more capable than Chunxiu—she even managed to sway the Eldest Master.”

“You’re right,” Jiang Caiping said thoughtfully. Suddenly, she exclaimed, “Sister, do you think Ji Rong might have used some kind of enchanting fragrance to make the Eldest Master do her bidding?”

“Enchanting fragrance?” Yunyi couldn’t help but laugh, pointing at Jiang Caiping’s forehead. “What on earth are you thinking? Why not just say knockout powder, wushi san, or some exotic medicine from the Western Regions?”

Jiang Caiping shrugged dismissively. “Aside from the exotic medicines, who’s to say Ji Rong doesn’t have the rest?”

Yunyi shook her head. “Ji Rong is just a weak woman. How could she possibly have such things? You’re talking nonsense.”

Jiang Caiping’s eyes widened in surprise. “But Sister, you’ve forgotten—Ji Rong’s ancestors ran a clinic. Up until her grandfather’s time, the Ji family clinic was quite renowned. It wouldn’t be strange if she had access to those kinds of medicines.”

Yunyi hadn’t heard this from Meixue before, but it seemed Jiang Caiping had mentioned it privately. Her thoughts raced, and she lightly slapped her forehead, feigning realization. “Ah, yes, yes! Look at me—I completely forgot about that.”

Jiang Caiping, with her simple and straightforward nature, didn’t think too deeply about it but became increasingly fixated on the idea of this so-called “fragrance.” The more she talked about it, the more plausible it seemed, to the point where she even began muttering about searching Ji Rong’s quarters at some point.

“Just think about it—don’t actually go through with it,” Yunyi warned. “If she catches you and reports it to Nanny Yang, even I won’t be able to defend you.”

Jiang Caiping bit her slender finger and said, “But what if Ji Rong really used fragrance to bewitch the Eldest Master? She’ll definitely take advantage of this situation in the future. What will we do then? Unless, Sister, you can persuade the Second Master to side with us—that might give us some leverage.”

“You’re thinking far ahead,” Yunyi replied, “but there’s no such thing as fragrance. It’s all just made up by storytellers.”

Jiang Caiping protested, “If that’s true, then why does the Eldest Master allow her to freely take medicine from the pharmacy? I heard that even precious items like ginseng and lingzhi—Ji Rong has taken several pieces of those!”

Yunyi frowned. “What did you say? Ji Rong can freely take medicine from the pharmacy?”

“Yes, I overheard someone mention it earlier today. Just in the past half month, the medicines Ji Rong has taken are worth dozens of taels—and some even say it might already be over a hundred taels. No one knows what she’s using them for.”

“Half a month ago…” Yunyi pondered for a moment, then said firmly, “Isn’t that right after Ji Rong first went to Qingchun Garden?”

Jiang Caiping nodded. “Yes, Sister. Besides using fragrance, what other explanation could there be for the Eldest Master treating Ji Rong so favorably without any apparent reason?”

Yunyi ignored her question and instead lowered her gaze in deep thought. Half a month ago was when Mo Ping bit Li Jiancheng. Since Ji Rong knows medicine, her visit to Li Jiancheng at that time was likely under the pretense of treating his wound while secretly ingratiating herself. However, given Li Jiancheng’s capricious and dark temperament, he wasn’t someone easily swayed. So why…

“Caiping, besides ginseng and lingzhi, what other medicines did Ji Rong take?”

Jiang Caiping thought for a moment and said, “I think they also mentioned something called chuanshan long. Why do you ask?”

In the imperial pharmacy, every kind of medicinal herb existed, especially those with nourishing and tonic properties. From a young age, Yunyi had heard of many and consumed quite a few, but she had never heard of chuanshan long. Judging by its name, its effects were likely not related to nourishment or strengthening the body. This meant that Ji Rong’s use of ginseng and lingzhi wasn’t for consumption—they were probably ingredients for compounding medicine.

Since Li Jiancheng allowed Ji Rong unrestricted access to the pharmacy’s resources, the medicine she was preparing must have a close connection to him. Could it be for treating the bite wound?

But… just a few days ago, when she encountered Li Shimin, he mentioned that Li Jiancheng’s leg injury had improved significantly. Once the new flesh grew stronger, he would be able to walk again. Moreover, with the renowned Physician Xu taking care of him, why would Ji Rong still need to compound medicine?