Chapter 173 - 171: Strange Sweet Fragrance (Second Update)

Chapter 173: Chapter 171: Strange Sweet Fragrance (Second Update)

Xu Jing suddenly thought of something and asked, "The Young Madam Jiang couldn’t possibly have only this small amount of jewelry, could she?"

"Of course not."

Jing Dan couldn’t help but show a bit of pride on her face, raising her chin slightly, "Our Young Madam has plenty of jewelry, and there’s even a special storeroom in the estate to store her jewels and accessories.

Every time new designs are released at the jewelry stores in the Western Capital, people personally bring the pieces over for the Young Madam to select. The jewelry in the box are the latest designs that the Young Madam frequently wears these days. The more valuable or outdated pieces, which are not often worn, are put away, and we regularly help the Young Madam to change the jewelry in her box."

Xu Jing couldn’t help but secretly marvel at the extravagance of the lives of the elite in the Western Capital. After thinking for a moment, she asked, "How often do you usually change the jewelry in your Young Madam’s box?"

Jing Dan gave Xu Jing a strange look, not understanding why she asked this, but she replied truthfully, "We change them once a month, always at the beginning of the month."

It’s now early August, according to Jing Dan, they had only recently changed those pieces of jewelry.

With the memories of the original owner, Xu Jing naturally knew how the circle of noble ladies in the Western Capital was madly obsessed with so-called new designs, to the point of being abnormal. If any noble lady showed up wearing outdated jewelry or clothes, they would be mocked and ridiculed endlessly, so much so that they might not dare to go out for half a year.

Back then, although the Xu Family didn’t give the original owner much dowry, the dowry from her mother had long been divided up by them under various excuses. However, the Xu Family did give some, quite a bit actually, but it was all spent by the original owner on buying the latest jewelry and clothes, which eventually led her to be driven out of the Capital City with no way out, so destitute that she couldn’t even afford the rent money.

Therefore, Xu Jing could be sure that even though the thief stole most of the Young Madam Jiang’s hairpins, she would certainly not wear those outdated hairpins.

The most likely scenario is that she would have the stolen jewelry repurchased, or just use these four step-shaking hairpins until new designs are released again.

But given the frenzy for the latest jewelry in the noble ladies’ circle of the Western Capital, many pieces are often sold out shortly after being released, just like many modern luxury brand’s limited editions. Even if retailers do have stock, they claim they don’t, otherwise how can they highlight the uniqueness of those items?

Xu Jing’s eyes grew deeper.

So, after the thief stole Young Madam Jiang’s hairpins and hair accessories, it’s very possible that she only has these four step-shaking hairpins to use. Is there a purpose behind this?

Xu Jing raised her eyes to look at Young Madam Jiang not far away, and said, "I wonder if Young Madam Jiang would mind if I picked up these few step-shaking hairpins to have a look?"

These step-shaking hairpins are certainly not cheap, and Xu Jing, a commoner who had just achieved a moderately prosperous life, dared not touch them recklessly.

Young Madam Jiang was slightly startled, her face involuntarily showing a bit of confusion, and she nodded, "Of course."

Only then did Xu Jing carefully pick up a step-shaking hairpin and examined it closely for a long time. On the surface, these step-shaking hairpins seemed fine.

Thinking about it, she placed the hairpin under her nose and gently sniffed, and her whole body paused for a moment.

The step-shaking hairpin emitted a faint sweet fragrance. It was so subtle that, with the room already heavily scented, Xu Jing had to lean in close to smell it.

She looked up at Jing Dan, who was watching her curiously from the side, and asked, "Does your Young Madam usually use incense? What kind of incense does she use? Can I have a whiff?"

Jing Dan was stupefied by the question, instinctively responding, "Our Young Madam likes the scent of osmanthus, so we usually use osmanthus incense, which is the current scent of this room."

Xu Jing’s eyebrows furrowed.

No, the sweet scent on the step-shaking hairpin is not the same as the scent in the room!

She picked up the hairpin and handed it to Jing Dan, saying, "I just smelled a faint sweet scent on this step-shaking hairpin. Can you sniff and see if your Young Madam has ever used a similar incense?"

Jing Dan was stunned, quickly accepting and smelling it. Her face immediately changed, "This... what is this scent? I don’t think I’ve ever smelled this scent before!"

She said as she hurriedly picked up the other step-shaking hairpins, sniffing them one by one, her expression becoming even more serious.

Each of the step-shaking hairpins carried a similar scent!

Could something toxic have been applied to these?

Seeing Jing Dan’s pale face, Xu Jing guessed what she was thinking and shook her head, "It shouldn’t be poison. The scent on these step-shaking hairpins is very faint. Even if it were poison, the amount would be so small that it would require the wearer to keep them on for a long period, but you said earlier that you change the jewelry every month.

Of course, if the thief applies this method to other jewelry later, it would be hard to say."

Jing Dan’s face turned even more ashen.

Xu Jing continued to ask, "After your Young Madam became ill, surely you haven’t touched these pieces of jewelry, right?"

Jing Dan hurriedly nodded, "Yes, in fact, we weren’t sure if the hairpins were stolen three days ago. It was just three days ago that I happened to notice the second layer of the jewelry box wasn’t closed properly, revealing a small gap. When I opened it, I realized some hairpins were missing!"

Someone who could steal the hairpins and tamper with the remaining step-shaking hairpins...

Xu Jing thoughtfully glanced at everyone present, having a few speculations in her mind.

Unexpectedly, Xu Jing really discovered something they hadn’t noticed, causing Young Madam Jiang to become anxious, "Doctor Xu, wh-what’s going on? Could someone in this house really be trying to... kill me?"

Although she had some negative premonitions earlier, without evidence, she chalked it up to her own illness and overthinking.

Even if someone was indeed plotting against her, she thought it was just some mischief targeted at her. If someone was actually after her life, the severity of the situation would be completely different!

Xu Jing suddenly said, "I think the scent on the step-shaking hairpins is probably not poison. After all, there aren’t many people who can enter Young Madam Jiang’s room and tamper with the hairpins, and this is a long-term job that has to be done at least once a month. Did the thief take advantage of Young Madam Jiang’s illness this time? What about next time? This is too easily discovered."

The person in question is, after all, a lady of the Jiang Family, and the consequences of angering the Jiang Family are known to everyone in the Great Chu.

Xu Jing felt that the mastermind behind the scenes shouldn’t be so foolish.

Zhao Shao Hua couldn’t help but ask, "Then... what about the sweet scent on the step-shaking hairpins?"

Xu Jing suddenly asked, "That painting by Fourth Young Lady, how did Young Madam Jiang come to see it? By then, Young Madam Jiang should have already been ill, right?"

Recently, the incidents around Young Madam Jiang were not limited to the stealing of hairpins.

Xu Jing already felt that having so many things happen at the same time was a bit too coincidental, perhaps these events were interlinked in some way?

Jing Shui immediately gritted her teeth, "Fourth Young Lady proactively brought it to show Young Madam Jiang when she came to visit her. At that moment, we thought it surprising for Fourth Young Lady to visit an ill person voluntarily, something she never did before. Who knew Fourth Young Lady would harbor such malicious intent! At that time, Fourth Young Lady came with Lady Hua, who knows what role that woman played in it!"

Xu Jing glanced at her, nodded, and said, "Can you take me to see the place depicted in the painting?"

Earlier, it was mentioned that Fourth Young Lady’s painting was of a path leading to Lady Huaiyin’s courtyard, where Little Snowball liked to play before.

This request, though puzzling at first, was something they wouldn’t dare underestimate Xu Jing now, and Young Madam Jiang immediately instructed Jing Dan to take Xu Jing there.

Zhao Shao Hua found a casual excuse to follow, linking arms with Xu Jing and whispered, "Doctor Xu, do you truly believe there is a conspiracy against Young Madam Jiang within this estate? If it’s mistaken, Young Madam Jiang and the Marquis Huaiyin’s family might hold it against you."

Xu Jing could hear Zhao Shao Hua expressing concern for her.

If all this turned out to be just her imagination, Young Madam Jiang might think she was deliberately trying to estrange her from her husband’s family. Even though she raised these doubts with good intentions, it could lead to a misunderstanding.