"If you want to improve beauty and complexion, just eating won’t work, you need to apply it inside and out. Do you have any pearl powder?"

Xin Lin said irritably, knowing full well Master Mo’s intentions.

"How did you know I wanted to use it for... I heard you made the Empress Dowager very happy with that mask of yours..."

Master Mo coughed a few times.

She touched her own dry, withered, and sallow skin. Women dress up for those who appreciate them. Back in the day, she... Alas, her automatic Martial Meridian was gone, and her looks withered rapidly like a flower past its bloom.

She heard from Little Xinzhuo that the Empress Dowager used Xin Lin’s mask and even reduced a few wrinkles, which piqued her interest.

"If there’s no pearl powder, egg white would work too. Also, get some crushed shells of the Spiritual Clam, mix it with egg whites and Golden Honey, and it will moisturize the skin."

Xin Lin glanced at Master Mo’s face.

Master Mo’s complexion was indeed somewhat unusual.

When Xin Lin first met her, she even thought she was wearing a human skin mask. After spending more time together, she learned from Master Mo that she used to be a great beauty, even the Spirit Institute Director was her admirer, but after a serious illness, she ended up like this.

Of course, the authenticity of Master Mo’s words could be ignored. Clever as Xin Lin was, she couldn’t tell how much of what Master Mo said was true or false.

After hearing this, Master Mo happily went to find the herbs.

"Rong Qiu, go over to Qin Mountain and see how Ziyue’s cultivation is coming along."

Xin Lin was worried that the arrival of Long Qingxuan would bring about even greater changes.

As she had expected, after ruling out Xin Lin as a suspect, Long Qingxuan started investigating one by one inside the academy.

Almost every student at Qingtian Academy, including some from A and B Class Academies, were questioned individually.

Zuo Mingshang and Huang Xuerou were no exception.

Fortunately, the two were well-prepared, and managed to get away when they met Long Qingxuan.

But not long after, Long Qingxuan returned to the Imperial Palace once again.

He brought back a few people from Star Academy upon his return.

It turned out that after understanding the situation, he pleaded with Emperor Longteng, repeatedly assuring that the students from Star Academy would not buy or sell opium.

Only then did Emperor Longteng release them.

Mo Wu and the others had been holding a grudge after being imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison for a few days. They immediately told Long Qingxuan about the incident that night, as well as how they were tricked at the School Clinic.

They insisted that the incident that night was related to Xin Lin.

After learning about this, Long Qingxuan remembered the free clinic incident, and doubts that had been dispelled resurfaced. He then visited the School Clinic again with the four from Star Academy. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"Xin Lin, what else do you have to say for yourself? That night, what were you sneakily doing at Qingfeng Slope!"

Mo Wu questioned Xin Lin with a face full of anger.

"What Qingfeng Slope?"

Xin Lin looked bewildered.

"Stop pretending. The effectiveness of your medicine is all because of your two herbs, cuscuta and motherwort, which are all bought from the Alchemy Hall. That night, we got word that Purple Cloud Alchemy Hall was transporting a batch of medicine to Qingfeng Slope, so we went to check it out. That’s where we saw you board a boat. If we hadn’t followed you, how would we have been misunderstood by Emperor Longteng and imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison?"

Mo Wu sneered.

"I’ve never been to any Qingfeng Slope, and the Alchemy Hall has never supplied me with anything. All my herbs are grown by the School Clinic itself. If you don’t believe me, feel free to check outside."

Xin Lin felt very wronged and pouted as she spoke.