Chapter 51: Secrets Behind the Rouge Shop

The woman was startled by the man with the sword, taking a few steps back. Fearing that Princess Ning’an might leave, she quickly said:

“Your Highness, it’s the husband of a commoner who sent me. He said he has something important to discuss with you.”

She had been inquiring around and learned that Princess Ning’an was at the Ministry of Revenue, which is why she waited outside.

In ordinary circumstances, she wouldn’t dare come to such a place.

But her husband insisted this news was significant, and perhaps Princess Ning’an could reward her with silver.

Looking around to ensure there were no outsiders, the woman finally revealed her identity.

“My husband is the head jailer at the Ministry of Justice. He couldn’t come in person today, so he asked me to relay this message.”

Upon hearing that the woman’s husband was the head jailer, Li Ning’an waved for Yuan Ze to step back.

Seeing that the princess seemed to know the woman, Yuan Ze lowered his guard slightly, but he still didn’t let her approach the princess too closely.

The woman stood a few steps away from Princess Ning’an.

Li Ning’an asked, “What is the important news?”

The woman replied, “It’s about that rouge shop.”

After the case was handed over to the Dali Temple, Lord Qiu paid particular attention, first arresting the owner of the rouge shop in the capital for detailed questioning.

But this person didn’t know the specific ingredients.

“I only manage the business of the rouge shop in the capital; I truly have no idea what’s inside,” she said.

The middle-aged woman, without a handkerchief, wiped her tears on her sleeve.

Lord Qiu, methodical in his questioning, said, “There are many influential people in the capital. If something happens, you might not even survive to leave.”

“They can send you here without revealing anything about the situation.”

“What kind of benefits did they offer you to make you work so hard for them?”

Rather than being the owner, she was more like the manager of the branch shop in the capital.

It was clear she was just a hired hand, and knowing nothing about the operation, she still wanted to collect her things and escape.

The woman insisted she was afraid those powerful figures would blame her.

She was merely a hired worker; the money offered by her employer was generous, and working in this women’s business made it easier for her.

As for everything else, she knew nothing.

Further inquiries of the other employees at the rouge shop revealed even less.

One assistant said, “We only work for the owner. We don’t know anything beyond that.”

The victims were discovered in time, and since there were no fatalities, if the rouge shop was willing to compensate them, their release was just a matter of time.

However, the rouge shop could no longer operate.

Li Ning’an found the story lengthy, but since she had nothing else to do, she sought out a nearby teahouse for the jailer’s wife to continue her account.

The jailer’s wife sat down nervously, never imagining she would one day sit with Princess Ning’an.

Seeing her anxiety, Hongxiu poured her a cup of tea.

“You don’t need to be nervous. Our princess just wants to hear an interesting story. If it’s good, the reward will be generous.”

Hongxiu was also curious about the rouge shop.

The jailer’s wife continued, “Once the victim received the silver, they didn’t report it, and Lord Qiu let her go.”

If it were just that, it would merely be a business tactic—adding addictive substances to the rouge.

It wouldn’t have warranted a trip for the jailer’s wife.

But what followed was even more cruel and terrifying.

Taking a sip of tea to soothe her throat, the jailer’s wife felt much more comfortable and continued.

The manager of the rouge shop wouldn’t be able to continue operating. She planned for the victim to withdraw her complaint so that the authorities would no longer pay attention.

She intended to pack her things and head to another district.

But Lord Qiu was laying a trap, having sent people to follow her.

That owner was quite shrewd; upon hearing about trouble in the capital, he had already closed the shop and fled.

The woman hadn’t been able to find him, but they had their secret signals for communication.

In the end, Lord Qiu caught them all in one sweep.

This was a normal course of action in such cases.

But the contents of the case were truly horrifying.

The jailer’s wife covered her chest, appearing frightened.

Though her husband had told her this story yesterday, it still terrified her now.

“Princess, do you know what that rouge is made from?”

Li Ning’an, sensing the woman was still being coy, responded, “Could it be that it has some herbal ingredients?”

Some herbs are indeed toxic and can be addictive, much like that old Daoist’s strategy of using poison to counter poison.

A slight miscalculation in dosage could lead to death.

“It’s baby’s breath; it used to have another name, but no one remembers it now.”

Legend has it that this herb grew in abandoned graves, particularly where infants were buried, flourishing in those places.

It was said that a starving drunkard or someone in despair tried a taste and became addicted.

“Those heartless people initially stole dead infants to cultivate it, but later… they began to…”

As she spoke, the jailer’s wife’s face filled with rage, unable to suppress her feelings even in front of Princess Ning’an.

“Eventually, seeing their profits grow, they started stealing children, bleeding them dry for the crop, and burying the bodies beneath the baby’s breath.”

“Beasts! They’re worse than beasts!”

Li Ning’an slammed her palm on the table.

How could such things happen in this world? How could there be such malicious individuals?

Stealing infants to cultivate that herb, then turning it into rouge for sale.

Li Ning’an felt her anger rising, her eyes blazing. “Who is responsible for this?”

At this moment, the jailer’s wife hesitated. “I only know it’s a powerful person, but I can’t quite remember who.”

Though she said this, her body involuntarily trembled.

It was as if she feared her lie would be exposed.

Li Ning’an understood she was aware of the details. Hongxiu promptly handed her two silver notes.

“Think carefully about how such evildoers are ultimately punished.”

The jailer’s wife wasn’t unwilling to speak; it was just that this person had a significant background.

When her husband had mentioned it yesterday, she had found it hard to believe and even asked, “Should we really tell the princess about this?”

The jailer nodded, “Your husband earns so little throughout the year.”

If not for Princess Ning’an, he wouldn’t have been able to buy this residence.

Even if some prisoners offered him gifts, they could never compare to the generosity of Princess Ning’an.

Those prisoners might respect him on the surface, but behind his back, they likely looked down on him.

Only Princess Ning’an didn’t mind his status and was willing to provide him with opportunities to earn.

“Be cautious; if something feels off, just say you forgot.”

After all, this story was lengthy, and she wasn’t a storyteller, so forgetting parts was nothing to worry about.

But the jailer’s wife, being a woman who managed the household, wasn’t used to such high-pressure situations.

Especially facing someone of Princess Ning’an’s stature, she felt overwhelmed.

In a few days, this news would likely cause an uproar in the city.

It would be better for her to share it first with Princess Ning’an.

The jailer’s wife looked at the two hundred taels of silver on the table and tucked them into her sleeve.

“To be honest, it was Lord Qiu’s meticulous planning and persistent investigation that uncovered this.”

This case involved thousands of infants, and baby’s breath thrived in a shaded mountain. If this were in one location, it would surely cause a massive uproar.

However, the vast territory of the Great Qi meant that losing a few infants in one county or a village with none, along with those abducted or sold off, could indeed account for such a number.

Even the best coroner would struggle to identify the remains buried beneath the baby’s breath.

This rouge business was booming, so where had all the profits gone?

Lord Qiu had investigated that owner and found that there was clearly a hidden hand pulling the strings behind the scenes.

He pursued the matter to its conclusion, identifying the puppet master and preparing a memorial to submit to the emperor.

This case had gone through the hands of numerous officials; he was furious and had discussed it with his friend, the head jailer.

Little did he know that he had inadvertently sold this information to Princess Ning’an.

Had he known, he would have forged his own connections to present it.

Li Ning’an listened as the jailer’s wife mentioned that name.

Baby’s breath is a fictional plant.