Chapter 178: Subtle Interactions
Returning from the Jiangxia Marquis Mansion, Sang Er asked Wen Mingqian, “Mother, does the jade pendant the Grand Princess bestowed upon you have a story? Why did everyone present change their expressions upon seeing it?”
“You wouldn’t know about that, would you?” Wen Mingqian smiled. “Actually, this jade pendant was originally a pair, but His Highness had already given one away to someone.”
“To whom?” Sang Er asked eagerly.
“Prince Changliu,” Wen Mingqian smiled. “His Highness gave him the jade pendant ten years ago.”
“How could it be him?!” Sang Er exclaimed. “Since this jade pendant is a pair, then for His Highness the Grand Princess to bestow it upon you, Mother…”
“So now you understand why those people were so surprised?” Wen Mingqian’s lips remained curved in a smile.
“Mother, could the Grand Princess really intend to matchmake you and Prince Changliu? That brute…” Sang Er firmly believed Wen Mingqian was the best woman in the world, and even though Ying Wuchou was a prince of the imperial family, she felt he wasn’t good enough for Mother Wen.
“I’m not entirely clear about His Highness’s intentions yet, but she probably wants to provoke Prince Changliu,” Wen Mingqian said in a good mood. “He is very wary of me, believing I have ulterior motives, but I intend to leverage his influence.”
Wen Mingqian did not mind Prince Changliu’s hostility towards her, nor did she intend to deliberately dispel it.
She had long ago made up her mind to climb upwards, and naturally, she would need to step on others to get ahead.
And the higher the status and position of those people, the more they could help her climb higher.
Of course, she knew there were risks involved, but if one wanted to achieve something, how could it be done without taking risks?
Indeed, after only two days, the Marchioness of Yunyang sent her family to invite Wen Mingqian to visit her mansion.
Wen Mingqian dressed neatly, bringing along the scented paste she had made, to meet Liu Shi.
Liu Shi was slightly older than Wen Mingqian and was also a woman who greatly valued her appearance.
However, she had not interacted with Wen Mingqian before, not because she hadn’t heard of her abilities, but because she had always been very cautious in her interactions with others, a fact that was widely known.
Everyone knew she was the grand-niece of Princess Consort Zhao, but not the grand-niece of the Empress.
This was because although Princess Consort Zhao was the Empress’s own sister, she had not been raised in their home since childhood.
It was said that her fate clashed with that of the State Grandfather, making it unsuitable for her to be raised at home. She needed to be adopted by a family within five degrees of kinship and only brought back to the main family after reaching thirteen years of age.
Therefore, Princess Consort Zhao became the adopted daughter of the main branch of the Ye family in Yunyang. Liu Shi’s mother was the eldest daughter of the second branch of the Ye family, over ten years older than Princess Consort Zhao, and she doted on and looked after her.
Princess Consort Zhao was very dependent on her and regarded her as a dear elder sister.
Ye Shi later married into the Liu family, and the Liu and Ye families were already related by marriage. Princess Consort Zhao also called Liu Shi’s father “brother,” so Liu Shi was her grand-niece.
Ye Shi passed away early, and before her death, she entrusted her only daughter to Princess Consort Zhao.
Princess Consort Zhao had taken good care of her all these years, and Liu Shi was also discerning and loyal to Princess Consort Zhao.
It was precisely for this reason that she chose her acquaintances based on Princess Consort Zhao’s wishes.
Upon seeing Wen Mingqian, Liu Shi’s face immediately broke into a smile, and she said, “I’ve been thinking of you since we parted yesterday. I must say, even as a woman, I can’t forget you. You truly embody the saying ‘pitiable even to the most hardened heart’.”
“Madam is too kind; Mingqian dares not accept such praise.” Wen Mingqian showed a hint of shyness and apprehension on her face. “I have always known that Madam possesses the most discerning taste and style, and I fear that as a mere mortal, I would be unable to catch your eye.”
“Oh dear, my good sister, please don’t say that. Even the Grand Princess favors you, so what am I to say?” Liu Shi said, pulling Wen Mingqian to sit down. “I am a very straightforward and blunt person. As we are just beginning to interact, you may not understand me well, but please do not take offense if my words are inappropriate.”
Liu Shi’s words were cleverly phrased, setting the stage so that any future unintentional offense could be easily excused.
“How could I? I am already immensely grateful that Madam has condescended to visit me despite my crudeness,” Wen Mingqian said with a smile. “If there is anything I do that is less than perfect, I beg Madam’s forgiveness.”
“There’s no need for pleasantries. Make yourself at home here,” Liu Shi said warmly. “Honestly, I truly admire you from the bottom of my heart. In this world, women who don’t rely on men can hardly survive. But you, not only have you raised your son so well, but you also possess the exquisite skill of making fragrances. You truly bring honor to us women.”
Wen Mingqian looked at Liu Shi. Her words were spoken with genuine emotion, and tears even welled up in her eyes.
Someone less experienced in the world would have been deceived by her, but Wen Mingqian understood, yet she also put on a deeply moved expression. “Since Madam thinks so highly of me, I shall boldly consider you a confidante.”
Both of them feigned sincerity while secretly testing each other.
However, as it was her first visit, Liu Shi couldn’t pry too much.
Wen Mingqian presented the items she had brought for Liu Shi to choose from. Even with all her schemes, Liu Shi couldn’t take her eyes off these items.
Wen Mingqian personally took charge, cleansing Liu Shi’s face and massaging her acupoints. After the treatment, Liu Shi’s complexion was radiant.
She looked in the mirror in disbelief and said, “Mingqian, you truly have remarkable skills. In such a short time, I feel as though I’ve become three to five years younger. I truly can’t do without you now.”
Those words held a good five parts of truth.
“As long as Madam uses these items regularly, within half a year, your skin will be even better,” Wen Mingqian said. “Moreover, you are naturally beautiful.”
“No wonder you look only in your early twenties; you truly have the secret to eternal youth,” Liu Shi said, looking at Wen Mingqian’s delicate, fair complexion. “I truly regret not meeting you sooner.”
Afterward, she kept Wen Mingqian for a meal before sending her back in a carriage from the mansion.
Of course, she didn’t forget to give Wen Mingqian a return gift: a fine white jade bracelet with twisted threads.
“This is my favorite piece of jewelry; I have a pair, one for me to wear and one for you,” Liu Shi said, taking Wen Mingqian’s hand and putting the bracelet on her. “You must visit often from now on.”
When Wen Mingqian returned to Wu Qiu Nunnery, Ao Shuang ran over and said, “Mother, this morning, several people suddenly came looking for you. They were aggressive and didn’t say which family they were from. They left when they saw Madam wasn’t here.”
“This is what I mean by having both advantages and disadvantages,” Wen Mingqian said, glancing at Sang Er. “Liu Shi deliberately sought to befriend me because of it, while these people appeared as if seeking revenge.”
“I wonder which family they were from; we should be cautious,” Sang Er said, a little worried.
“Don’t worry, it won’t escalate,” Wen Mingqian said, unconcerned. “It’s likely some young lady from a prominent family who got jealous.”
There were many in the Capital City who admired Prince Changliu. Flaunting that jade pendant in public would inevitably attract envy.
For ordinary people, nothing was better than a stable life.
But Wen Mingqian was different; she had to stir up trouble to achieve her goals.
