Chapter 39: Changrong Manor
On the sixteenth day, Wen Mingqian finished her grooming and, seeing that the time was almost right, set out for the Changrong Marquis Mansion with Granny Zhu.
As expected, upon arriving at the entrance, Mama Wang was already waiting with several people.
Judging by their attire, it was clear that although they were servants in the mansion, they held positions of some importance.
“Madam has arrived, please come in quickly! Ever since I returned that day, our Madam, the First Madam, and the Fourth Miss have been constantly talking about you. We’ve finally managed to welcome you.” Mama Wang said as she solicitously ushered Wen Mingqian inside.
She wasn’t exaggerating, as the Marchioness Changrong had been very fond of beauty since she was young.
People are like this; what they care about, they naturally long for.
When Wen Mingqian arrived at the inner chambers, there were many maids and servants outside the main house of Madam Yu, the Marchioness Changrong.
Yunong, the Fourth Miss’s maid, rushed forward with a smile, taking Wen Mingqian’s hand and saying, “Madam, please come in quickly. The weather today is a bit hot! Come inside.”
Wen Mingqian entered the room and met with Madam Yu, the First Madam Fang Shi, and the Fourth Miss Zhong Meier. Maids served tea.
“Madam Gong Er, I truly feel apologetic for troubling you over our matters.” Madam Yu’s attitude was very cordial. She was originally a person who handled matters flawlessly, and even more so now that she had something to ask of Wen Mingqian.
“Madam is too kind. Others might not trust me.” Wen Mingqian’s demeanor was also very humble. “Please just call me Mingqian.”
Madam Yu was many years older than Wen Mingqian, holding a senior position in the family hierarchy.
“Good, good! We are old family friends, so there’s no need for such politeness; we should be more intimate.” Madam Yu said, “Mei’er, if it weren’t for the medicated powder Wen Mingqian sent, you would still be shut up in your room worrying!”
Zhong Meier was only fourteen years old, but she had already grown into a graceful and beautiful young lady.
From the bottom of her heart, she was very grateful to Wen Mingqian. The first time they met, she found her exceptionally beautiful, which further enhanced her good impression.
“Mei’er thanks Madam Gong Er,” Zhong Meier bowed deeply to Wen Mingqian, “my gratitude is boundless.”
“Fourth Miss is too polite,” Wen Mingqian replied with a smile, returning the bow. “It’s just a small matter, not worth mentioning.”
“To you, it may be a small matter, but to us, it’s a huge one!” said Fang Shi, the First Madam of the Zhong family. “I’m not boasting, but my Fourth Sister here has talent, virtue, and beauty. The only issue was her skin. Now it’s all good, and this hidden worry has been resolved.”
Zhong Meier was Madam Yu’s youngest child and her only daughter. Although she had three elder sisters, they were all born to concubines. As the only legitimate daughter of the Zhong family, she was naturally doted upon.
At her age, she should be looking for a marriage prospect, but because of this flaw, Zhong Meier’s marriage prospects had been quite unfavorable.
After all, families with daughters want them to marry into higher-ranking families. The Zhong family’s own status was quite high, and they wanted to reach even higher.
However, families with a higher status than theirs were not just ordinarily picky.
When choosing a daughter-in-law, they required “virtue, speech, appearance, and skill” to be first-class. Zhong Meier’s facial skin had flaws, which would inevitably lead to some disdain.
The Zhong family had naturally tried many methods to treat it, but unfortunately, they had never found the right approach. In fact, due to excessive use of medication, it had only worsened.
“This is my first time meeting Fourth Miss; she truly looks like a flower,” Wen Mingqian praised without reservation in front of the Zhong family members. “She truly makes one’s heart overflow with affection.”
While sipping tea, they chatted about everyday matters. When Wen Mingqian felt the time was right, she steered the conversation to the main topic: “Fourth Miss, may I have a closer look at your face?”
“Mei’er, come here quickly,” Fang Shi promptly pulled her sister-in-law in front of Wen Mingqian.
Wen Mingqian examined her carefully and then inquired about Fourth Miss Zhong’s usual diet and daily routine, saying, “I will go back and prepare the ingredients, which will take about half a month.
For the next half month, please use this bottle of Jade Dew that I brought. It will always keep your complexion moisturized and prevent dryness and itching.
Fourth Miss, remember not to be exposed to the sun. Have dinner early, avoid sweets, and avoid raw and cold foods.”
“Thank you for your advice, Madam,” Zhong Meier nodded with a slight smile. “I will certainly follow it.”
“Fourth Miss is too polite. From now on, please call me Sister Wen. I would also like to call you by your given name directly; is that permissible?” Wen Mingqian asked with a smile.
Zhong Meier was very pleased to hear this and took Wen Mingqian’s hand, calling her “Sister.”
Fang Shi quickly added, “Then I’ll call you Sister-in-law! I wonder about Sister-in-law’s tastes. I’ve already instructed the kitchen to prepare some of their specialty dishes. Please have lunch at our mansion; otherwise, we would be truly remiss.”
Madam Yu and Zhong Meier also enthusiastically invited her to stay for lunch.
Seeing that she couldn’t refuse, Wen Mingqian smiled and accepted, “They say food from another kitchen smells better. Today, I am truly fortunate to have such a treat.
I will first examine Madam and prepare a prescription, and then I will see the First Madam.”
Having seen the most important person, Fourth Miss, it was natural to attend to these two next.
“Mingqian, the sachets you had Mama Wang and the others bring back last time were greatly liked by us. They are far superior to the scented biscuits and sachets sold on the market.” Madam Yu was wearing a sachet given by Wen Mingqian at that moment.
“Madam is too generous. These are just things I made casually. If you like the scent, I will tell your attendants the ingredients later. If the scent fades, they can simply refill it.” Wen Mingqian didn’t care about these minor details, as her true abilities were not something that could be easily learned.
“Who would have thought that during your years of pure cultivation, you would acquire such an extraordinary skill?” Madam Yu said. “Who did you learn it from?”
“Madam, you know that Shuangxi is located in the borderlands, where there are many exiled and banished people,” Wen Mingqian did not shy away. “There are also many who accompany and care for them, mostly out of gratitude for their former masters’ kindness or out of past affection, voluntarily following them.”
“Yes, yes! Those who were exiled were once civil and military officials, noble ladies, and official consorts,” Madam Yu sighed twice. “But one day they fell, and became criminals!”
Families whose wealth does not last are everywhere; everyone harbors such a hidden worry. Seeing the fate of others, how can one not lament?
“In the borderlands, I had nothing else to do but pure cultivation, and I did meet some people. Among them was a Madam who accompanied an exile named Zhang to Shuangxi. She opened a small yarn shop there, selling needles and threads, as well as rouge and powder.
I often went to her place to buy things, and as I went more often, we became familiar. Over time, we found our conversations agreeable, and gradually we developed a friendship.
Perhaps seeing that I had nothing to do, she offered to teach me how to make sachets and face cream. At first, I wasn’t very interested, just doing it for fun to pass the time.
But as I learned, I found the knowledge within it to be quite profound and worthy of serious study. Unfortunately, after learning, I only managed to grasp a few superficial aspects of my Master’s skills.”
“What is your Master’s name?” Madam Yu asked eagerly upon hearing this.
“She calls herself Zou Jiuniang, a native of Xijing,” Wen Mingqian replied.
“I’ve never heard of this Zou Jiuniang, but the things you make are so effective that it reminds me of Liu Qiniang, who was once famous in the Capital City. She suddenly disappeared afterward, which truly left us feeling regretful for quite some time,” Madam Yu said. “We still miss her! Could they be the same person?”
