Tang Dynasty Prison Administration

Chapter 121: The Collection of Fragrance

When Pei Yinnu saw it, her face lit up with joy. She smiled and bowed to Cui Lingyu, saying, "Thank you, Sister Lingyu, this floral hairpin is so exquisite!"

Cui Lingyu said, "Lingyu will light this for Sister Yinnu, so that Sister Lingyu can see if Sister Yinnu can surpass Xi Shi!"

Pei Yinnu nodded repeatedly and replied, "Sister Lingyu, please come with me to the side room in the back courtyard!"

Cui Lingyu bowed to Madam Pei and said softly, "Aunt Pei, please forgive me as I'm going to the back room with my sister Yin Nu!"

Madam Pei smiled and nodded, without saying anything more.

Su Wenze watched as the two men and Cui Bi and the other two went to the back room. Su Wenze bowed to Madam Pei and said, "Madam Pei, there is still repair work to be done in the prison, so I will take my leave now. Otherwise, if the women start talking, who knows how long it will take!"

Madam Pei nodded in agreement and said, "Young Master Su is a man of great talent and highly regarded by the Emperor. Since there is work to be done, go and get busy. Don't delay the work and incur the Emperor's wrath!"

Su Wen bowed and said, "Thank you for your understanding, Madam Pei. I will take my leave now!"

Madam Pei smiled and nodded, then glanced at the steward, who quickly stepped forward and bowed to Su Wen, saying, "Minister Su, please!"

Su Wen nodded and turned to leave.

......

The backyard wing room.

Cui Lingyu was applying floral decorations to Pei Yinnu, which took quite some time. After she finished, Pei Yinnu looked at herself in the bronze mirror and exclaimed with delight, "Sister Lingyu, you have such good taste! These floral decorations are so beautiful!"

Cui Lingyu smiled and said, "I'm glad you like it, Sister Yin Nu!"

"I love so much!"

Cui Lingyu walked to Pei Yinnu's side and looked at her reflection in the bronze mirror, saying, "I wonder if Sister Yinnu has a beloved young man, or if Uncle Pei has chosen a future husband for you?"

Pei Yinnu shook her head and said, "The Zheng family of Xingyang did send someone last month, but Father said the child wasn't good-looking, so nothing came of it. I'm quite envious of Sister Lingyu. The Emperor has bestowed a marriage upon you, and I just saw your future husband. He's very handsome. I heard from Father and Mother that the Emperor has had him establish a new department called the Prison Warden's Office. He has a bright future ahead of him!"

Cui Lingyu smiled and said, "We sisters don't discuss politics in this boudoir. Sister Yin Nu, I wonder if anything interesting has happened in Chang'an lately?"

Pei Yinnu said, "I didn't see anything particularly interesting, but recently a book called Ningxiang Collection has been published in Chang'an. Have you read it, Sister Lingyu?"

Cui Lingyu shook her head: "The Ningxiang Collection, what's it about?"

Pei Yinnu whispered in Cui Lingyu's ear, and Cui Lingyu smiled somewhat embarrassedly, saying, "Sister Yinnu, you're too old to be reading these kinds of books?"

Pei Yinnu said, "It's just for looking, no one will know. But the author writes really well, and there are illustrations too. Sister Lingyu, would you like to take a look?"

Cui Lingyu shook her head and said, "I won't look. What if my future husband sees it? That wouldn't be good!"

Pei Yinnu smiled, and Cui Lingyu continued, "By the way, does Sister Yinnu know that Sister Li Xinyue died last night?"

Upon hearing this, Pei Yinnu was quite surprised and said, "Sister Li Xinyue is dead? How is that possible? I just saw her the day before yesterday. She had always been in good health. How could she suddenly die?"

Cui Lingyu shook her head: "I don't know either, but I heard from my Su Lang that the cause of death might be asphyxiation due to poisoning!"

Upon hearing the word "poisoning," Pei Yinnu's face turned serious, her brows furrowed. She quickly walked to the dressing table to the side, pulled out a drawer, and took out a small brocade box, saying, "Could she have ingested too much of this Azure Dragon Powder?"

Cui Lingyu asked, "Azure Dragon Powder?"

Pei Yinnu said, "This is it. Recently, many women in Chang'an have been eating it. It's said that this powder can improve one's skin, keep one young, and also keep one in a good mood!"

Cui Lingyu walked up to the small brocade box and looked at it, then looked at Pei Yinnu and asked, "Is this really okay?"

Pei Yinnu shook his head: "I don't know, but many people in Chang'an are taking it, and this Azure Dragon Powder has another effect..."

As she spoke, Pei Yinnu whispered something in Cui Lingyu's ear. Upon hearing this, Cui Lingyu's eyes widened immediately, and she exclaimed, "Sister Yinnu, you don't have a husband, why would you take this kind of thing?"

Pei Yinnu blushed slightly and whispered, "I just wanted to give it a try!"

Cui Lingyu asked, "Did it work?"

Pei Yinnu nodded: "Yes, but when the Azure Dragon Powder was sold, the merchant said that it should only be taken once a day, because it is slightly poisonous. If taken in excess, it can easily cause over-excitement, leading to suffocation and death!"

"So, Sister Lingyu, do you think it's possible that Sister Li Xinyue died from an overdose?"

Cui Lingyu nodded and said, "Perhaps!"

At this point, Cui Lingyu whispered in Pei Yinnu's ear, "Could I have some of this? I'm intrigued by what you said, and I'd like to try it too!"

Pei Yinnu smiled slightly and said, "Of course, but Sister Lingyu, this Azure Dragon Powder would be even better paired with the Fragrance Gathering!"

As she spoke, Pei Yinnu handed the embroidered box on the dressing table to Cui Lingyu, and then took a copy of Ningxiang Collection from the bookshelf on the side and gave it to Cui Lingyu.

After accepting the items, Cui Lingyu said softly, "Thank you, Sister Yin Nu!"

Then, Cui Lingyu added, "Seeing how impatient Yin Nu is, how about I find you a future husband?"

Upon hearing this, Pei Yinnu was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Then I hope Sister Lingyu can find me a handsome man who is also skilled in martial arts. Yinnu especially likes men who practice martial arts, and he looks very..."

Pei Yinnu smiled but didn't continue. Cui Lingyu, however, smiled slightly and said, "Alright, alright, alright!"

Cui Lingyu glanced out the window and said softly, "It's getting late, Sister Yin Nu, I'll head back now. You can wait for me to find you a good future husband!"

Pei Yinnu bowed to Cui Lingyu and said, "Then thank you very much, Sister Lingyu!"

After smiling, Cui Lingyu bowed and said goodbye to Pei Yinnu.

......

Back at the mansion.

Upon seeing Cui Lingyu and Cui Bi return one after the other, Su Wen immediately went up to them and asked, "Lingyu, how did it go? Did you find any clues?"

Cui Lingyu took the Ningxiang Collection from Cui Bi and handed it to Su Wen, saying, "Recently, many women in Chang'an City have been reading this book!"

Su Wen glanced at the book, frowned, and said, "It's *Ningxiang Collection* again. This book seems to be quite popular in Chang'an!"

As Su Wen was about to read it, Cui Lingyu reached out and closed the book, saying, "Su Lang, wait until you're alone to read it. This isn't some proper book!"

Cui Lingyu then took out a brocade box from her sleeve and handed it to Su Wen, saying, "Pei Yinnu said that quite a few people in Chang'an are consuming this Azure Dragon Powder. She believes that Li Xinyue may have died from overdosing on this drug!"