Dad, open the door. I'll bring your mistress back for you.

"Of course it's because my exclusive secret recipe is so effective. Even if the price increases fivefold, or even tenfold, there will still be people lining up to buy it." Shen Jingwan said proudly.

"Secret recipe? Arsenic?" Shen Chuning asked.

A trace of panic flashed in Shen Jingwan's eyes, "Sister, I don't understand what you are talking about."

"Xiaojiu, what do you mean by arsenic? Is it the arsenic I understand?" Mrs. Shen asked in surprise, covering her mouth.

"Second Aunt, it's the arsenic sold in the pharmacy that can kill people."

"What does this mean?" asked Mrs. Shen.

"Grandmother, Huarong Pavilion's rouge and powder are often out of stock, and for the past six months, arsenic has also been out of stock in various drugstores in the capital. I've had people check, and they've found that when arsenic is out of stock, Huarong Pavilion's rouge and powder will also be out of stock."

"Is this a coincidence? How can arsenic be linked to rouge and powder? Could it be that someone is smearing poison on their face?" asked Old Madam Shen.

Shen Jingwan breathed a sigh of relief. "Grandma, I may not understand what hunger marketing is. Our Huarong Pavilion's products are good, and everyone knows that, but we can't just raise the price out of thin air. Only when more people buy and the supply is less can we justify a price increase. Sister, you can go and see which ladies in the capital don't have three or five jars of Huarong Pavilion's rouge and powder in their hands."

"It's okay if you don't understand. Wan'er can teach you. Take your Wanbaoxuan for example. Ordinary mass-produced jewelry will definitely not sell for a high price. If you release a limited edition, only one of each style, or only one set of the same series, it will definitely cause a frenzy of buying. Then, if you say it's worth three hundred taels, it will be worth three hundred taels. If you say it's worth three thousand taels, it will be worth three thousand taels."

Old Madam Shen said with relief: "Wan'er is right. It seems that Wan'er has a talent for business. Aning, you should learn more from Wan'er."

"But after others use the rouge and powder from Huarong Pavilion, as soon as they stop using it or switch to other rouge and powder, they will get red rashes on their faces." Shen Chuning continued.

Shen Jingwan was completely relieved at this moment. She felt that Shen Chuning had no substantial evidence and was just speculating. "Sister, there's a saying that goes, 'It's easy to go from frugality to luxury, but it's hard to go from luxury to frugality. You're used to eating delicacies from land and sea, so how can you still be willing to eat coarse vegetables? The same goes for rouge and powder. If you use good ones and then use bad ones, your face will naturally not adapt."

"Sister, you haven't used the rouge and powder from Huarong Pavilion yet, right? If you can't buy them, Wan'er can give you a few boxes."

Shen Chuning snorted coldly, "No need."

Madam Shen said, "What Wan'er prepared is called skin care products, right?"

Shen Jingwan nodded.

"That skin care product is really good. It makes your face smooth and tender, and it also makes your skin whiter. Xiaojiu, you have to learn to accept new things." Old Madam Shen reminded Shen Chuning.

"Regarding what you said about the rash that occurs after stopping use, if I use the Huarong Pavilion products again, will the rash get worse or get better?"

Shen Chuning whispered, "The rash will go away after you use it again."

"Doesn't this further prove that the food from our Huarong Pavilion is effective? The rash is simply because your skin is used to delicacies and isn't used to simple food."

"But……"

"There are not so many buts, Xiaojiu, you need to change your temper. Grandmother has said before that you are too strong-willed, but now you look so unwilling to lose that it's really ugly." Old Madam Shen was a little impatient.

Second Madam Shen also tugged at Shen Chuning's sleeve, telling her to speak less and not talk back to the old lady.

Shen Jingwan's eyes were filled with tears again, and she said aggrievedly, "Grandma, my sister just doesn't believe Wan'er. She insists that Wan'er mixed arsenic into her rouge and powder."

Madam Shen said distressedly, "Wan'er, don't cry. Grandmother believes you."

Shen Jingwan shook her head, a tear falling. "No, Wan'er wants to prove her innocence. Since my sister said Wan'er mixed arsenic into her rouge and powder, then please ask Grandmother to call the court doctor. The court doctor handles all kinds of medicinal herbs every day, and he will definitely be able to tell if there is arsenic at a glance."

After saying that, he told Fuzi to go to Huarong Pavilion and get one of each kind of rouge and powder.

"Wait a minute, Fuzi is your maid, who knows if she will make trouble, and Birui should go."

Shen Chuning stopped her and said that it was through Fuzi that she learned about Shen Jingwan's purchase of a large amount of arsenic, but she didn't know where the arsenic was used.

In order to prevent Shen Jingwan from suspecting Fuzi, she had to stand against Fuzi and get rid of him first.

"Bi Rui is my sister's maid. Who knows if she will poison my rouge and powder to frame me?"

"Alright, stop arguing." Madam Shen slapped the table. "To be fair, let's let Madam Gui go to Huarong Pavilion to get it. Do you two agree?"

Shen Chujing and Shen Jingwan nodded at the same time, then snorted and ignored each other.

About half an hour later, Nanny Gui came into Songhe Hall with a wooden box in her arms, followed by the court physician Doctor Chen.

Nanny Gui opened the box and placed more than a dozen bottles and jars on the table in order. "Madam, except for the two items that have been sold, the rest are all here."

Madam Shen pointed to the pile of bottles and jars and said, "Doctor Chen, please take a look at the contents of these jars to see if there is anything wrong with them."

Doctor Chen opened the jars one by one, held them up to his nose and smelled them, then picked a few more jars, pinched out a small handful, rubbed it with two fingers, and observed it carefully.

"These jars contain rouge and powder used by women. Since they contain a lot of spices and have a complex composition, there's nothing wrong with the smell, and it should feel fine to the touch."

"Doctor Chen, could arsenic be added to it?" Shen Chuning asked.

Doctor Chen frowned and took out a silver needle from the medicine box. He tried it in each jar and then held it up to look at it. However, the silver needle was still shiny and showed no signs of discoloration.

Shen Chuning looked at the silver needle, then at the contents of the jar. "No, this jar is all powdered. It's no surprise that I can't measure it. Aunt Gui, could you please get me a bowl of water?"

Nanny Gui looked at Old Madam Shen, and when she nodded, she brought a bowl of water and placed it in front of Shen Chuning.

Shen Chuning poured the water into the jar and stirred it evenly. "Doctor Chen, please."

Doctor Chen repeated the same action again, but the silver needle still did not change color at all.

"It shouldn't be like this." Shen Chuning muttered with a frown.

"That's enough. How long are you going to make trouble?" Mrs. Shen scolded.

With Madam Shen's permission, Nanny Gui came to collect the things on the table.

Shen Chuning looked at Aunt Gui's face. She had just gone out for two runs and had sweated a lot even in winter. Now that the sweat had dissipated, her face was shiny.

"I understand." Shen Chuning suddenly shouted.