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Ruyi Cosmetic Shop
"Do you like this as well, miss?"
Yunxi lowered her head to take a closer look at the Agarwood Bracelet in her hand, noticing that one of the beads had developed several fine cracks. A wave of sadness washed over her.
"This Agarwood Bracelet was given to me by my husband when we got married. I have worn it on my wrist all these years, but I never expected to accidentally cause these cracks today. I wonder if this bead can be repaired; if not, when my husband returns, I won't know how to explain it to him."
"No matter how precious a bracelet is, it is still just an inanimate object. In life, one cannot be overly concerned about everything. If Young Master Luo were to be upset over this matter, it would reflect poorly on his character." Xing Ruyi said, slightly tilting her face as she carefully examined the cracked agarwood beads. "The Fox Demon may not understand these things, but I have heard from others that this Agarwood Bracelet is made from agarwood and comes in two types: one for decorative purposes and the other as prayer beads. This type of agarwood emits a pleasant fragrance but is extremely rare, which makes it expensive. Although the Fox Demon has heard of it before, I have only seen this particular bracelet in your hand."
"I see! If I hadn't heard you mention it, Yunxi would not have known about such knowledge. My husband’s Agarwood Bracelet has an elegant aura and a subtle fragrance that is refreshing and suits me very well. Moreover, this agarwood gathers a thousand years of spiritual energy, allowing me to carry it with me for some good fortune. It's just a pity that Yunxi's luck is thin."
"You are merely experiencing a moment of misfortune."
"Thank you for your kind words; I hope it is just a temporary misfortune. Once this moment passes, I will be able to see the moon clearly after the clouds disperse." Yunxi revealed a faint smile and noticed that Xing Ruyi was still staring at the Agarwood Bracelet on her wrist. After hesitating for a moment, she took it off. "Would you like to take a look?"
Xing Ruyi smiled awkwardly and accepted the Agarwood Bracelet.
Although Xing Ruyi did not own an Agarwood Bracelet herself, she had collected quite a few good pieces of agarwood at Rouge Shop. The fine agarwood felt oily and cool to the touch, and since it comes from nature, each bead has its own unique pattern.
As the Young Lady of the Luo Family, although Yunxi's bracelet was not of the highest quality, it was still a rare gem. The natural scent had a rich and serene quality; however, amidst the agarwood fragrance, Xing Ruyi detected two other scents.
One of them was similar to the fragrance that Yunxi carried with her—a scent commonly used by women from rouge and face powder. This scent had hints of orchid and blended well with the original aroma of agarwood without feeling out of place. However, the other scent seemed somewhat suspicious if found within these agarwood beads.
"May I ask you one more question, madam? Is this Agarwood Bracelet truly a gift from your husband?"
"Of course!" Yunxi nodded. "I remember very clearly. On our wedding night, when my husband lifted my bridal veil, he presented me with this string of beads as a meeting gift on our wedding day. I found it interesting and felt that he put great thought into it; thus, I wore it on my wrist immediately and have only just taken it off today."
Seeing that Xing Ruyi's expression had changed, Yunxi felt a slight heaviness in her heart and asked, "You have been looking at this string of beads since earlier; now your face seems somewhat troubled. Could it be that there is something wrong with this bracelet... No! That can't be possible. My husband has always cherished me greatly and would never give me a problematic Agarwood Bracelet."
"Fox Demon never doubted Young Master Luo. This bracelet went through many processes, from polishing to threading, and finally to Young Master Luo's hands. If someone tampered with it at any point, it is indeed possible. That is why Fox Demon had to confirm with you, Madam, whether this Agarwood Bracelet was personally given by Young Master Luo and from whom it was purchased."
Upon hearing the phrase "tampered with," Yunxi's expression turned exceptionally grim. When Xing Ruyi asked her from whom her husband acquired the bracelet, she could only look at her with a pair of bewildered eyes. After a long pause, she shook her head, saying, "Yunxi does not know!"
"Madam, you have been married to Young Master for so long; have you never asked him why he gifted you an Agarwood Bracelet on your wedding night? Where did this bracelet come from?"
Seeing her mistress's confused expression, the maid Xuan also became anxious.
"I truly have never asked!"
Yunxi's voice involuntarily rose, tinged with a hint of tremor. It was evident that she was quite shocked and struggling to accept this reality.
"It’s just a bracelet; I thought it was my husband's heartfelt gesture. Who would have thought that such a bracelet could hide unspeakable secrets? If Ruyi hadn't mentioned it today, I would have remained in the dark until my dying day."
"My dear Madam!" Xuan exclaimed anxiously, "You truly fit the saying of those scholars on the street—being sold out and still counting the money for others."
After Xuan finished speaking, she pointed at the bracelet in Xing Ruyi's hand: "Ruyi, you just stirred up such a big fuss, leaving my mistress in a state of anxiety without telling us what secret lies within this Agarwood Bracelet. If it were just a trivial secret that made our mistress so worried and guessing endlessly, that wouldn't be right."
"Can Fox Demon open this broken bead?"
Xing Ruyi pointed at the cracked agarwood bead.
Yunxi bit her lip and nodded in agreement.
Xing Ruyi removed the silver hairpin from her head and carefully pried open the bead. Only then did Yunxi and Xuan notice that there was something else wrapped inside the cracked bead.
"What is this? The core of the agarwood?"
"Just now, this Agarwood Bracelet was crafted by skilled artisans using genuine Agarwood. I have never heard of an Agarwood bracelet containing a core. If it truly exists, wouldn't the price be even more exorbitant?" Xing Ruyi pinched the object embedded in the beads. "You should have heard of this item, Madam. It is called Musk, which is also recorded in the Shennong Bencao Jing. Its properties are pungent and warm. It enters the heart, spleen, and liver meridians, can open the orifices, invigorate blood circulation, disperse masses, and relieve pain. It can be made into a fragrance or used as medicine."
"I have indeed heard of Musk, but how could it possibly be embedded in the Agarwood Bracelet? Is it to enhance the fragrance of the bracelet?" Yunxi asked.
"The fragrance of Agarwood does not blend with that of Musk; there is no point in combining them. As you know, Fox Demon runs a Rouge Shop, meaning she relies on her eyes and nose for her livelihood. Her sense of smell is more sensitive than that of ordinary women. The reason she kept staring at the bracelet on your hand was because she detected a scent other than that of the Agarwood."
"I see. I thought you liked this Agarwood Bracelet and were just admiring it," Yunxi said, her eyes slightly red. "Is there any way to remove this Musk from the Agarwood Bracelet?"
"Musk can be used as medicine and has effects such as opening the orifices to awaken the mind, invigorating blood circulation, relieving pain, and inducing labor. For common people, it is considered a valuable medicinal material and is quite rare. Additionally, Musk has another characteristic: it can quickly penetrate muscles and bone marrow to fully exert its medicinal properties. If a pregnant woman ingests it or has prolonged exposure, it could lead to miscarriage; for ordinary women, long-term exposure could treat infertility."
"Infertility!"
This time, not only did Yunxi's complexion change, but even Xuan's face turned pale instantly.
"Ruyi, can you confirm that this item is indeed Musk?"
"If you do not believe me, you can have Xuan take this item to any pharmacy in town to verify whether Fox Demon's judgment is incorrect," Xing Ruyi said as she took out a Silk Handkerchief and scraped the Musk particles onto it with a hairpin before handing it to Xuan. "Thank you for your trouble, Xuan."
Xuan glanced at Yunxi.
Yunxi bit her lip and nodded at her.
After a tea's worth of time, Xuan returned, tightly clutching the Silk Handkerchief with an even worse expression than when she left.
"Was that thing really Musk?"
Xuan was Yunxi's personal maidservant and had been brought along from her Maternal Family as part of her dowry since she was young. Just by looking at her distressed face, Yunxi knew that everything Xing Ruyi had said earlier was correct.
"Madam..." As soon as Xuan saw Yunxi, she knelt down, her eyes turning red as she began to cry. Holding a silk handkerchief, she leaned on Yunxi's knees and sobbed, "Madam, why would Young Master want to harm you?"
Yunxi looked at Xuan, tears silently streaming down her face. Deep down, she was also questioning herself. Why did her husband give her the Agarwood Bracelet on their wedding night? Did he know that this bracelet contained Musk? Was he intentionally trying to harm her?
Yunxi's heart was in turmoil. Xing Ruyi, standing nearby, watched and was unsure whether it was good or bad to reveal everything in front of Yunxi. At that moment, she knew she shouldn't say much, but if she remained silent, she felt guilty.
Fortunately, the medicine for Yunxi had already been prepared. She took a deep breath, arranged the medicine, and placed it in front of Yunxi.
"Madam needs to take care of herself right now. As for the Agarwood Bracelet, it would be better to wait until Young Master Luo returns to inquire about it in detail. Once we understand the origins of this bracelet, we will know who tampered with it and who intended to harm you."
Yunxi raised her eyes to look at Xing Ruyi and then glanced at the medicines meant for treating cold conditions in the palace. Suddenly, she smiled sadly.
"Does Ruyi think there is still a need for Yunxi to take this medicine?"
"What Madam is thinking, the Fox Demon probably has an idea. Whatever doubts Madam has in her heart, the Fox Demon can also guess. However, the Fox Demon wants to add that until the truth is revealed by the White Fox, Madam's speculations are just speculations. In the Fox Demon's view, this matter may not necessarily involve Young Master Luo. He is an ordinary man and may not pay much attention to things from a Daughter's family. Therefore, it is very likely that someone else gave him this bracelet and instructed him to present it to you."
Yunxi's eyes suddenly brightened but then dimmed again.
"Even if it was given by that person, did he not consider that person's intention in having him bring this Agarwood Bracelet to me?"
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