Transmigration: From Farmer To Empress-Chapter 2000 - 2008: Spices (5)

The third miss did not move, still speaking softly, "The matter I spoke of is related to what Dad and Mom are currently handling, as it concerns the maiden’s reputation of my older sister and the name of Master Mu, hence it cannot be delayed."

Upon hearing this, I was greatly shocked and said, "How do you mean by this third miss?"

The third Miss of the Dong family glanced at me, her eyes carrying a faint smile, but she did not utter a word.

I knew she was still vexed about my refusal to cooperate with her the previous night, so I said, "I always keep my words, third miss, please speak plainly."

Upon hearing my words, the third miss finally spoke, "This is what happened, just now as I was passing by brother’s study, I saw brother’s little boy, Mao Tai, carrying a package, sneaking into the garden. I noticed his odd demeanor and thought he might have stolen something from brother, so I quietly followed him. Who knew, after he entered the garden, he opened the package in his bosom, and inside was incense, both burned and unburned, which he dumped into the lake."

"When I got there, most of the incense had already been washed away by the lake water, and I only managed to fish out this little bit, so I brought it for Dad and Mom to see."

As the third miss spoke, she took out a small porcelain box from her sleeve. Upon opening it, it revealed some sticky incense inside that had been waterlogged together.

Upon seeing this, Dong Qi’s complexion momentarily flickered awkwardly, but later he regained his composure, exclaiming, "It’s just some worthless incense, what’s all the fuss about? Haven’t spoken about you yet. A daughter’s family sneaking behind a little boy, becoming more and more unprogressive."

While speaking, Princess Zhao Qing was already supporting Dong Wan’er to her feet. She angrily scolded the third miss, saying, "Didn’t I tell you to stay in the courtyard to mourn for your concubine? Why are you coming out here? Matters here are not for you, a girl’s family, to listen to, even Qing’er was sent away by me, quickly go back."

The third miss unhurriedly bowed to Princess Zhao Qing and said, "Mother, don’t rush, I’ll leave after saying this."

She raised the incense box slightly and said, "These incense may appear to be the Pear account fragrance at first glance, but upon closer sniff, you’ll find it has a bit of the Fragrance of Temptation mixed in, albeit in a small quantity. Everyone knows what Fragrance of Temptation is used for, even a small amount is enough to alter someone’s nature. That Mao Tai is brother’s attendant, so he could easily access brother’s study room, I fear that the misunderstanding between Master Mu and my sister is the handiwork of that servant. Otherwise, why would he sneakily dump the unburned incense after Master Mu left? Evidently, a guilty conscience. Father, if you have someone arrest that servant, Mao Tai, you will surely uncover the truth."

The third miss spoke very tactfully, without exposing the crimes of the Dong family, rather she attributed the incident of using incense to confuse me on the little boy’s account. But I’m no fool, how could someone miss such an obvious matter?

No wonder then, that I was swept away at that moment, feeling those hot-blooded feelings towards a woman like Dong Wan’er; it turns out I was under the influence of the Fragrance of Temptation!

So lowly, so shameless!

I had heard about such despicable things in the past but never thought I would fall victim someday, so when my body felt strange at the time, I still thought it was because I’d drunk too much liquor, getting lustful under its influence. Little did I know, I was schemed against, and of all people, by my most trusted friend.

In fact, looking back now, my friend of five years was nothing but a sanctimonious hypocrite!

Upon the conspiracy being exposed, Princess Zhao Qing’s family was embarrassed. Dong Wan’er, who was just now wanting to end it all, calmed down, and said, "Third younger sister, if it really is as you say and there’s Fragrance of Temptation mixed in the incense, how does a boudoir daughter like you know? Could it be, seeing the little boy dump some unwanted incense, you took the opportunity to make much ado, deliberately adding some inappropriate things to those discarded incense, and came here to frame us?"

"Indeed, that’s exactly it."

Princess Zhao Qing targeted directly and said, "Third girl, are you still holding a grudge against me, believing that it was I who caused your concubine’s death and hence pondering revenge? You know that in doing so, you would make Master Mu misunderstand us, your deliberate action is to ruin your sister, and ruin the reputation of our Dong family’s name?"

"I dare not, if Mother and sister suspect that I’ve tampered with the incense, why not let brother light that incense again? Master Mu will surely recognize if it’s brother’s room incense!" The third miss bowed, her gaze calm and composed, responding neither arrogantly nor subserviently.

"This method is good." Before the Dong family could speak, I rushed to say, "Back then, I found the incense unique and wanted to ask Young Master Dong for some, now I will surely recognize it."

Now, I no longer feel inclined to call Dong Qi ’student’ or ’Han Qing (Dong Qi’s courtesy name)’, to me, he is now nothing more than a downright vile person.

Upon my words, the expressions on the Dong family’s faces were not very good, Princess Zhao Qing said, "Master Mu, you say this because you don’t trust us? You would rather believe the words of a concubine’s daughter than not trust us? Is this how you treat your elders, how you treat your friends?"

She tries to leverage the role of elder and friend to constrain me, but of course, I refuse, coldly replying, "This matter relates to my reputation and your daughter’s maiden’s reputation, it’s best to clarify face-to-face, otherwise, if someday someone accuses me of misconduct, not having virtue with wine, wouldn’t I suffer a great loss?"

Dong Qi’s face alternated between red and white, and he shuffled saying, "What a coincidence, during noon when we invited Chong Wen for liquor, all the last bit of incense was burned, there’s none left now."

I continued to sneer, saying, "It certainly is very convenient, I originally wanted to verify it, and if it wasn’t as the third miss said, I would have taken responsibility for my actions and truly married Miss Dong, but since there’s no incense left, it’s a case of dead men tell no tales, this marital affair may no longer be viable."

The third miss said, "If Master Mu trusts me, I can craft some of brother’s room incense, by then, I would prepare a few similar ones, if you can immediately discern which is from brother’s room, it will prove I haven’t falsely accused anyone and also prove your innocence."

"This is very good, I couldn’t have imagined that the young lady had such skills, I’m grateful to you!" Hearing there’s a way to clear my name, I couldn’t be more delighted, feeling immensely grateful to the third miss.

The third miss modestly said, "It’s a small effort, if it can truly reveal the truth, it is worth the hardship."

As we cooperatively conversed, the prince consort Dong became somewhat annoyed, tersely expressing, "Lian’er, what is a daughter’s family meddling in adult matters? Furthermore, what do you know about crafting incense? Go back and mourn for your concubine!"

The third miss laughed and said, "Who says those in mourning cannot craft incense? Father forgets? My maternal grandparents have always been the Capital’s largest perfume shop ’Mi Fangzhai’s’ perfumers, the rouge powder, famous fragrances used by the palace’s ladies, princesses, royal consorts, and duchesses are all crafted by my maternal grandparents. My concubine learned much from being surrounded by it from a young age. I myself learned some from my concubine when I was little, crafting something like Pear account fragrance and Fragrance of Temptation poses no challenge."