"Madam, be careful!"
At Xiangman Garden, Long Yue, supported by the maid Ning Xiang, slowly walked in, and a young attendant hurried to greet her.
Upon seeing Long Yue dressed elegantly and appropriately, he knew she was a wealthy noblewoman, so he was very attentive.
"Oh my, isn’t this Mrs. Li? Please co in! Why are you dawdling here, quickly prepare so snacks and tea for Mrs. Li?"
As Long Yue entered, a female voice scolded from inside, followed by a fragrant breeze.
A woman in a bright red dress walked out with a dignified stride.
She was the owner of Xiangman Garden, with the shopkeeper managing accounts and overseeing operations at the back, while she handled various ladies at the front, occasionally flirting with a few young gentlen fond of incense and powder.
These were business strategies; sotis being proper wasn’t enough to ensure business.
Of course, with Long Yue, she had to maintain propriety.
Not to ntion that Long Yue had long been a regular here who deserved respect, but also because of her current status: the legitimate wife of the Imperial Envoy. Who dared to neglect her?
Lest they be impeached and not even know how they died!
"It’s such an honor for Mrs. Li to visit our little shop!" The lady boss approached, bowed to Long Yue, and said with a smile, "A new batch of goods arrived recently with top-quality i Hua Xiang; would you like to see it, Madam?"
"Sure!"
The boss went in personally and ca out holding a tray with several small porcelain bottles on it.
The bottles had red labels indicating their type.
Beibing i, Qian Li Xue, Cang Yinghong...
Long Yue looked at the various jars, picked one up, and took a sniff.
The fragrance was fresh and elegant, refreshing her spirits.
Not bad!
"Wrap them all up for !"
Ten bottles of each kind; this had been the rule for years, and the lady boss repeatedly agreed.
Later, she handed a delicate brocade box to Long Yue.
"Thank you!"
"Mrs. Li, you’re too kind; I’m flattered by your words!"
After exchanging pleasantries, Long Yue exited Xiangman Garden.
The weather was gradually warming; even the midday sun felt sowhat scorching. Long Yue raised her hand to shield herself, thinking how pleasant it would be to enjoy the fresh, elegant aroma of i Hua incense at this mont.
Long Yue yawned, sat in the carriage, and fiddled with a golden ball in her hand, a sachet bought from the last temple fair.
She thought for a while, had Ning Xiang put a bit of Beibing i inside, lit it, and reclined on a soft pillow for a nap.
"Madam, Madam... we’ve arrived ho!"
After so ti, in a daze, Long Yue felt soone pushing her while constantly calling "Madam."
Who is it?
Long Yue confusedly opened her eyes, seeing a worried little face.
"Madam, are you... are you alright? If it weren’t for your breathing, I would have thought..."
Ning Xiang hesitated.
The words almost crossed a taboo; how could one say such things about their master? But she was really anxious!
Long Yue felt her mind a bit foggy, unable to sort things out, looked at the little maid in front, and said blankly: "You... who are you..."
That bewildered deanor showed she didn’t recognize the person before her.
Instantly, Ning Xiang’s tears welled up, "Madam, you, you don’t rember ?"
Oh no, sothing big has happened. Madam took a nap and forgot who I am?
Ning Xiang was scared pale, stumbled, and was about to run inside when Long Yue suddenly rembered who she was and said quickly: "Ning Xiang!"
Ning Xiang stopped, turned back, and cried tears of joy: "Madam..."
"You silly girl, crying like a ghost, what’s the aning of it? So unlucky, hold back your tears!"
"Madam, I, uh..."
Ning Xiang laughed through her tears.
It’s still the Madam she’s familiar with, unchanged!
But why didn’t she recognize herself just now? Hmm, it must be the Madam playing a joke on her!
Ning Xiang’s and Cao Xiao’s personalities were sowhat similar—optimistic; once sothing passes, they let it go and don’t dwell on it.
But Long Yue wasn’t like that.
Her past life was too miserable; she was persecuted to the point where she didn’t even know how she died. It took Pang Shuangyue’s flaunting to make her understand. Experiencing such ordeals made her suspicious by nature.
She frowned slightly; she had only taken a nap, so why did she almost develop amnesia and fail to recognize people?
If Ning Xiang’s tearful appearance hadn’t touched her heart, she might really have forgotten.
No, sothing isn’t right about this.
Long Yue squinted her eyes and entered the mansion accompanied by Ning Xiang.
"Little Yue’er, why do you look so pale?"
Cao Yin was practicing with a knife in the courtyard, and upon seeing Long Yue enter with furrowed brows and a pale face, he asked, thinking of her pregnancy, with rare concern.
"Grandpa, I’m fine; just the sun outside is a bit intense, making sleepy."
"Oh, then go rest quickly, uh, Ning Xiang, take Madam inside to rest!"
Ning Xiang responded repeatedly, supporting Long Yue into the house.
She prepared the bedding, helped Long Yue off with her outer garnts, and then lit so calming incense.
This incense wasn’t i Hua; Mai Hua was sowhat invigorating and not suitable.
Long Yue lay on the bed, unable to fall asleep, and suddenly waved to Ning Xiang: "Ning Xiang, go, quickly call my master, I’m feeling unwell."
Ning Xiang’s face changed, and she hurried out.
After she left, Long Yue quickly got up to check the golden ball sachet she carried with her.
She hadn’t felt so sleepy before, and the only difference was the incense she lit in her sachet this ti.
However, she’d been using the incense from Xiangman Garden all along, and there was never a problem.
So what on earth was going on?
Long Yue placed the sachet on the table and got up to go outside the room.
The air outside was nice, at least she didn’t feel dizzy and muddle-headed anymore.
"Yue’er! Why are you outside? I bought your favorite stead buns!"
Li Qingmu returned from court, carrying a lunchbox. Seeing his young wife, he gave her a hug.
Long Yue shook her head: "I’m feeling a bit dizzy, out to get so fresh air."
Li Qingmu’s pupils shrank slightly: "Why is this happening? I’ll go find Mr. Duanmu!"
"Ning Xiang has already gone."
"Good!"
Half an hour later, Duanmu Nan arrived.
Upon seeing Long Yue’s complexion, his expression changed slightly: "Yue’er, did you touch sothing you shouldn’t have?"
Long Yue was stunned. Thinking it over, it was probably the sachet; could it be that?
Without further ado, she quickly took the sachet over, "Master, take a look at this; I just wore it today and started feeling dizzy, and easily forgetting things!"
Duanmu Nan took the sachet, and after just a slight sniff, his expression turned grim.
"Yue’er, there’s poison in this incense!"
"What poison?" Li Qingmu’s pupils contracted, a murderous look flashed in his eyes. Daring to poison Yue’er’s sachet—it demanded that the culprit, once found, be punished severely!
"It’s a very special poison, targeting pregnant won. Initially, it only causes dizziness, drowsiness, and mory loss, but gradually it will harm both mother and child, eventually leading to a difficult birth..."
Duanmu Nan said this while giving Long Yue a deep look.
Fortunately, it was discovered in ti. A mont too late, the consequences would have been unimaginable!
Yet, even so, a cold sweat broke out on him!
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