CHAPTER 194: CHAPTER 194 BLESSINGS

Duke Zhen Country Mansion, Qihao Hall.

Su Jin slept a bit late last night and stayed in bed a bit longer in the morning.

She greeted everyone two moments later than usual, with a faint blue under her eyes.

When she entered the room, everyone’s gaze circled around her.

The Old Madam was fiddling with the Buddha beads and said, "Why are you late? Didn’t sleep well last night?"

Su Jin looked indifferent and didn’t speak.

If she said she was in a good mood, no one would believe it.

If she said she was in a bad mood, she’d be inviting ridicule.

The Third Madam laughed and said, "Beauty Pavilion has such a large investment, and the business is so poor, it’s inevitable for the Eldest Young Madam to lose sleep."

The Second Madam put down her teacup and said, "We haven’t seen the Eldest Young Madam’s shop, but Mrs. Wang used its products, and not only did her complexion improve, but she also seemed younger. This is evident to everyone. With such a good shop, a poor business is truly inexplicable."

Su Jin raised her eyebrows slightly.

Was the Second Madam standing up for her?

Thinking of how Xie Jinhuan reached out to take the discount card yesterday, it seemed the Second Household wasn’t as opposed to her.

The Third Madam looked at Su Jin and said, "It’s a pity for the Eldest Young Madam to close down Beauty Pavilion after putting so much effort into it."

Su Jin looked at her and said, "Is Third Aunt going to help me?"

"It’s the Duke Mansion helping you," the Third Madam said.

So kind-hearted?

Why doesn’t she believe it?

If they truly wished Beauty Pavilion success, why weren’t stories about Mrs. Wang becoming younger through her hands, like a bandit’s hands, spread outside the mansion?

Su Jin looked at the Third Madam and said, "How will the Duke Mansion help me? What compensation do you want?"

"We’re all family, talking about compensation is too aloof," the Third Madam laughed.

"We just want thirty percent of your Beauty Pavilion shares."

"...."

The Third Madam’s claim of not being aloof left Su Jin dazed, sizzling with an aroma of grilled meat.

Beauty Pavilion—

Chu Shun and his group held fifty percent of the shares.

She held fifty percent alone.

If she gave them thirty percent.

She would only have twenty percent left.

If she truly agreed, wouldn’t all their hard work become their gain?

Such beautiful things don’t exist in the human world, they must be sought from the heavens.

Su Jin didn’t speak, not knowing how to decline their "kindness."

But the Third Madam didn’t give her a chance to escape.

"Won’t the Eldest Young Madam agree?" the Third Madam asked.

Su Jin looked at the Third Madam with a face full of emotion and said, "At a time like this when Third Aunt and the Duke Mansion are willing to help me, I’m so touched that I don’t know what to say."

A satisfied smile flashed in the Third Madam’s eyes.

She knew how to assess the situation.

Giving up some profit is far better than closing Beauty Pavilion and becoming a laughingstock.

Just as she was feeling delighted, Su Jin continued, "How about this, I’ll accept Third Aunt’s kindness, just as long as the sun rises from the west."

The maids, "...."

The smile on the Third Madam’s face cracked, her fair face turned livid.

"Is the Eldest Young Madam treating Duke Zhen Mansion’s goodwill as donkey’s liver?" the Third Madam said coldly.

"Goodwill?" Su Jin murmured.

"When did exploiting a crisis become called goodwill?"

"To be honest, I have at least a hundred and eighty such kind gestures, why would I need yours?" Su Jin sneered.

"...."

Xie Jinxiu saw her mother being confronted, glared at Su Jin and said, "Offending the Empress Dowager and Princess Shouning, let’s see who would use Beauty Pavilion’s products!"

"Without help from the Duke Mansion, your Beauty Pavilion will certainly close down!"

"Hmph! Who needs your help? As long as you’re not dragging us down, the Beauty Pavilion of my young lady will definitely be bustling!" Xingxing said with her neck raised.

"Counting money till cramps!" Xingxing added.

"...."

Su Jin was speechless.

Wasn’t this maid’s memory quite good?

How did she get it wrong?

"It’s actually hand cramps," Su Jin corrected.

"Young lady, if you sit for too long, your foot cramps too, and your hands would cramp even more," Xingxing grinned.

"...."

This is the upgraded version of counting money till hand cramps.

Xie Jinyu sneered repeatedly.

Beauty Pavilion is about to close down, imagining so much is truly a fool’s dream!

At this time, the Second Master and Third Master walked in from outside.

Both had cheerful expressions.

Seeing them, the Third Madam laughed and said, "Master seems in such a good mood, did something delightful happen at court?"

The Third Master held two brocade boxes and laughed, "These are bestowed by the Emperor to the officials; this one is for the Duke. Among the entire court, only the Duke and my elder brother are absent, yet the gift still included them."

"The Emperor has the Duke and the Eldest Master in mind, it’s truly a blessing for our Duke Zhen Country Mansion," the Old Madam said joyfully.

The Third Master presented the gift.

The Old Madam opened the brocade box with her own hands.

As soon as the brocade box was opened, Mrs. Wang glimpsed two lusterous soaps.

She couldn’t help but twitch the corners of her mouth.

The Old Madam smiled and said, "What is this? It doesn’t look like jade."

"What was it called again?" The Third Master couldn’t recall for a moment.

He looked towards the Second Master.

The Second Master hadn’t yet received the inquiring glance from the Third Master when another crisp voice sounded.

"It’s soap," Xingxing said cheerfully.

"Yes, it’s soap," the Third Master said.

"...."

After speaking, the Third Master felt something was off.

The soap bestowed by the Emperor, which he didn’t recognize, how did this bandit maid know about it?

The Third Master looked at Xingxing, "How did you know?"

"Of course I know, because it’s from my young lady as a tribute to the Emperor," Xingxing’s face lit up.

Second Madam, "...!!!"

Third Madam, "...!!!"

Old Madam, "...!!!"

Xie Jinxiu felt rage rushing to her chest, angrily threw the soap she held onto the ground.

The soap bounced a few times, hit the table’s corner, and stopped.

Xingxing looked at her and said, "You’re doomed, that soap is from my young lady’s shop, yet it’s bestowed by the Emperor. You broke it with such force and disrespect for the Emperor’s intent, beware the Emperor finds out and punishes you."

"You!" Xie Jinxiu was so angry her face turned purple.

Xingxing stood behind Su Jin with her snow-white neck raised high.

"I accidentally kicked the Purple Jade Bracelet, and the eldest girl went to complain to the Empress Dowager. You kicked the soap my young lady gave to the Emperor, which was bestowed upon the Duke Mansion—we certainly won’t cover for you!" Xingxing said.

This bandit maid!

She desperately wanted to end her now!

Xie Jinxiu shook with rage.

"My young lady just slipped!" Xie Jinxiu’s maid shouted.

Xingxing snorted lightly, "You’re blind, but my young lady and I aren’t."

The maid, "...."

Xie Jinxiu’s lungs were about to explode.

She had to grit her teeth and obediently pick up the soap and place it back in the brocade box.

That humiliation made her bite her lips so hard that there was almost a taste of blood in her mouth.

Xingxing looked at Su Jin, unable to contain her joy, "Young lady, since the Emperor gifted soap to civil and military officials, they surely will use it, right?"

"They might be reluctant to use it," Su Jin said earnestly.

"...."