CHAPTER 393: AFTER MODIFICATION: CHAPTER 393 LOSING FACE

The young maid Xique carried the food box back to Qingqiu Garden, and as she passed the garden, she happened to see Mrs. Li approaching.

She hurriedly greeted her, "Mrs. Li, where are you headed?"

Mrs. Li’s face turned stern, "Do I need to inform you where I’m going?"

"... I didn’t mean it that way," the young maid quickly said.

"The Eldest Young Madam’s maid gave me quite a bit of pastry, so I thought of sharing it with you and Madam," the young maid explained.

Mrs. Li glanced at the food box, a trace of disdain in her eyes.

Just a bit of pastry and she’s so satisfied, how unambitious.

Mrs. Li said apathetically, "Don’t wander around unnecessarily."

With that advice, Mrs. Li walked away.

The young maid kept watching her, her little brows furrowing.

What’s with Mrs. Li today?

Her temper is so harsh, it’s like her eyes are on top of her head.

Shaking her head, the young maid looked at the food box and joyfully returned to Qingqiu Garden.

Agarwood Pavilion, backyard.

Inside the bamboo house.

Xingxing carried a bundle back, eagerly opening it up.

Inside were two sets of dresses.

One was Su Jin’s, a light turquoise dress embroidered with iris flowers, the embroidery exquisite and lifelike.

"So beautiful," Xingxing praised.

Su Jin stroked the patterns on the dress, the stitches fine, making it hard to part with.

Xingxing eagerly took out her set of dress, as a maid, her dress was not allowed to have too many patterns, nor could it be a luxurious one; Lady Chi made her a dress without overstepping, but there were osmanthus blossoms embroidered on the cuffs, collar, and waist.

The osmanthus was small, not obvious from afar, but noticeably delicate upon closer inspection.

The two of them changed into their clothes, increasingly pleased with how they looked.

Qihao Hall, side courtyard.

Princess Nanzhang sat on a small couch, letting the Imperial Physician examine her hand.

The wound healed well, but it was itchy, making her unable to resist scratching it. Having no choice, she summoned the Imperial Physician to the mansion again.

Mrs. Wang watched from the side, and the Imperial Physician advised, "Commandery Princess, it’s best not to cover the ointment with silk after application; the wound can itch without ventilation."

These were things Princess Nanzhang understood, but the itching was unbearable.

Moreover, she had been having nightmares these past few nights.

The physician knew she was frightened and went aside to prescribe some soothing medicine.

Mrs. Wang bowed and withdrew.

Just as Mrs. Wang was leaving, she bumped into Mrs. Li.

Mrs. Wang’s brows furrowed ever so slightly.

Mrs. Li had left not long ago, why was she here to see Princess Nanzhang again?

A maid was sweeping the corridor, and Mrs. Wang gave her a knowing look.

Inside, Princess Nanzhang was feeling agitated, and Mrs. Li entered with an ointment in hand, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.

Did she get it so quickly?

Thinking that there were few people in Qingqiu Garden, apart from Lady Chi, there was only Mrs. Li and a maid. If they failed at this, then they would truly be useless.

Mrs. Zhao took the ointment and showed it to Princess Nanzhang.

However, as soon as the ointment was opened, Mrs. Zhao’s expression changed, "Why is the ointment light pink?"

The ointment she gave Mrs. Zhao was white.

One glance and you could tell the ointment had been swapped.

If word got out that the main house mistress was stealing from a concubine, it would be scandalous.

But neither she nor the Commandery Princess had instructed Mrs. Li to steal the ointment; she stole it to please the Commandery Princess herself, so if anything happened, she would take the blame.

It was obvious from Mrs. Li’s demeanor that she didn’t regard Lady Chi.

Actually, Mrs. Zhao was unaware that Mrs. Li had mixed some rouge into the white ointment, making the mixed ointment a light pink.

Princess Nanzhang sniffed the ointment, the fragrance fresh and elegant; clearly, it was top-quality ointment.

The smile in her eyes was cold as frost.

The Imperial Physician approached, and Princess Nanzhang handed the ointment back to Mrs. Zhao.

Mrs. Zhao then took it to show the Imperial Physician.

The Imperial Physician praised the ointment lavishly.

After the Imperial Physician left, Princess Nanzhang instructed Mrs. Zhao to reward Mrs. Li with five taels of silver.

Mrs. Li couldn’t stop smiling from ear to ear.

After Mrs. Li withdrew, Princess Nanzhang washed off the Bihun Ointment from her hand and applied the newly acquired ointment.

Not long after applying, the itch subsided.

"The Eldest Young Master is quite devoted to Lady Chi, willing to let her use such good ointment," Princess Nanzhang sneered.

If they disregarded her as the main house mistress, then there was no need for her to hold back.

...

The Old Madam felt unwell from the cold, leaning against the large pillow with her eyes closed in rest.

Mrs. Wang approached and asked, "Old Madam, would you like the Imperial Physician to check your pulse again?"

"There’s no need," the Old Madam waved her off.

Mrs. Wang said nothing more.

Outside, Hongxiu entered and whispered something in Mrs. Wang’s ear.

The Old Madam saw and said, "What’s something I shouldn’t hear?"

Mrs. Wang waved her hand, indicating the maids to withdraw.

The Old Madam slightly furrowed her brows.

Mrs. Wang looked at her and said, "Just now, when I left the side courtyard, I happened to see Mrs. Li from Lady Chi’s side going to see Princess Nanzhang. She went twice today, so I told the maid to keep an eye on her."

"What happened with Lady Chi?" the Old Madam asked.

Mrs. Wang hesitated.

The Old Madam glanced at her, "Speak directly."

Mrs. Wang then said, "The new ointment Lady Chi received works wonders on scar removal, the scars on her face improved after using the ointment, and Mrs. Li switched Lady Chi’s ointment...."

Switched it for whom was obvious.

The prestigious Commandery Princess, also the main mistress of the Duke Zhen Country Mansion, commanding servants to steal a concubine’s ointment, was truly beneath her dignity.

The Old Madam’s brow twitched, "The ointment in Lady Chi’s possession was given by the Eldest Young Master?"

If it was easy to purchase, Princess Nanzhang wouldn’t have resorted to such disgraceful actions.

The Old Madam recalled how she punished Su Jin to write five hundred family rules, where she claimed she had ointment to atone for her mistakes.

But to them, the best scar-removing ointment was the Bihun Ointment, so they paid her no attention.

Unexpectedly, she truly had such a remedy.

She gave such excellent ointment to Lady Chi to hit them where it hurt.

The Old Madam turned the Buddha beads in her hand and said, "It’s been ages since I’ve had your porridge."

"I’ll prepare it right away," Mrs. Wang quickly replied.

After Mrs. Wang retired, the Old Madam sent Hongxiu away and called Lv Xiu over.

Approaching the bead curtain, Hongxiu turned her head for one last look.

She was already the Old Madam’s most trusted maid, so why did the Old Madam instruct Lv Xiu instead of her?

Moreover, the Old Madam didn’t even let Mrs. Wang know.

Hongxiu was brought up by Mrs. Wang herself, and because they had ventured together under the Eldest Young Madam, their relationship was closer.

Hongxiu respected the Old Madam, but she preferred Mrs. Wang.

When Lv Xiu came out, she gave Hongxiu a smug look, and Hongxiu felt uncomfortable; she then went to find Mrs. Wang.

"After the Old Madam sent you away, she also dismissed me, only instructing Lv Xiu," Hongxiu said.

Mrs. Wang’s gaze dimmed a little, her eyes growing moist.

She remained as loyal as ever to the Old Madam.

But the Old Madam no longer trusted her as she once did.