“What kind of shop?” Consort Ya took a silk cloth and wiped her hands, tired from striking.

“I heard it’s a shop focused on beauty and wellness for women,” the young maid continued.

“Ever since you ate that dish you shouldn’t have, Noble Consort, your face has been getting better and worse. This servant thinks it might be worth a try.”

The young maid hadn’t been in the palace long, but she had a real talent for serving people—and for saying just the right things to please her mistress.

The key thing was, her skin was noticeably darker than most, so standing next to her, anyone would look younger and more beautiful by comparison.

For now, this young maid remained fairly favored by Consort Ya.

“Beauty and wellness?” Consort Ya stood and touched her own face.

“Yes.” The young maid nodded vigorously.

“I heard their miracle water does wonders for a woman’s complexion.”

“And I also heard…” the young maid knelt forward another step.

“Noble Consort, I heard that Attendant Xin has been there too, though I’m not sure if it’s true.”

“But if you’re not at ease, Noble Consort, you could take this servant along to try it first.”

The young maid touched her own darker-than-normal face and gave a little laugh.

“This face of mine, being able to help test things for you, Noble Consort—that’s fortune earned over a hundred lifetimes.”

Consort Ya looked at the young maid, the corner of her mouth curling, brows knitting slightly.

“You’re saying Attendant Xin went there too?”

“Reporting to the Noble Consort, that’s just what this servant heard.”

“Get up,” Consort Ya said, sweeping her gaze over everyone on the floor. “Help me freshen up—I’m going out for a walk today.”

“Yes.” Five or six maids bowed in unison and stood.

The capital of the Feng Clan was truly a bustling place.

Crossing the main street and turning into the small alleys, there were still plenty of people coming and going.

As the saying goes, fine wine needs no bush—a month ago, a new shop had opened in a small alley off the bustling main street.

The little shop was located at the very end of the alley.

It used to be a spot few people ventured into.

But because of the shop that had opened a month ago, more and more people had started coming down this alley.

The little shop had a rather novel name: the Wellness House.

Word was the shop had been open a month, but it was only recently that business had really started picking up.

Consort Ya got down from her carriage outside the main street and walked into the alley on foot.

She wore a veiled hat, covering herself completely, leaving no gap exposed.

Though it was only early morning, the deeper into the alley they went, the more crowded it became.

The young maid held tightly onto Consort Ya’s hand, terrified anyone might bump into her.

“Noble Consort, please bear with it a little longer, we’re almost there,” she said, offering the occasional word of comfort.

The young maid led them past the crowd without joining the line, continuing to pull Consort Ya forward.

“An extra ten taels of silver gets you the VIP passage—we can go straight in.”

Finally, the young maid brought Consort Ya to the shop’s entrance.

There really weren’t many people in the VIP passage—only four or five ahead of them.

The young maid leaned close to Consort Ya and whispered, “Noble Consort, shall we wait, or go straight in?”

“Let’s wait,” Consort Ya said, her voice so soft it was barely audible.

“All right.” The young maid nodded.

At the entrance of the Wellness House, guards stood on both sides, and on the right, six large characters were written clearly: “Men Strictly Forbidden.”

Soon, the people ahead of them went in, and the young maid, having paid the ten taels, led Consort Ya through the door as well.

Upon entering, many people could be seen seated on both sides.

Two rows of wooden tubs lined either side of the main hall.

Various women sat inside the tubs, each barefoot, soaking their feet.

Further inside, special wooden chairs were placed along both sides.

Guests sat in the chairs with their feet propped up on a platform built into them.

Women dressed in matching dark gray robes, their heads wrapped in cloth of the same color, crouched on low stools beside them, massaging the guests’ feet.

Some guests looked like they were thoroughly enjoying it; others grimaced, seeming to endure some kind of discomfort.

A woman dressed in reddish-brown clothing, her hair likewise wrapped in a matching cloth, came forward to greet them.

“Welcome! How may I help you?” the woman asked with a smile.

The young maid leaned close to the woman and said quietly, “Our mistress’s identity is rather special. May we speak somewhere private?”

As she spoke, the young maid slipped the woman another ten taels of silver.

Everyone present, whether enjoying themselves or busy at work, paid no mind to what was happening.

The woman took the silver and waved a hand: “Please, this way!”

Such a pleasant voice—it was unmistakably Xiao Yingtao’s.

Though at this moment, Xiao Yingtao’s face looked nothing like it used to.

Xiao Yingtao led the two of them into a room, where Feng Jiu’er, likewise dressed in reddish-brown clothing with a disguised face, was already waiting.

“What’s going on?” she asked, looking up as she heard someone enter.

“Little Feng, this young lady says their mistress holds a distinguished position,” Xiao Yingtao said, waving a hand.

“You didn’t tell them our shop has a confidentiality agreement?” Feng Jiu’er closed the medical text she’d been reading and stood.

“Besides, even if you don’t reveal your identity, we might not necessarily be able to guess it.”

Feng Jiu’er approached Consort Ya and studied her for a moment.

“What happened to your face? Did you come specifically to have me look at it?”

“Physician, are you a physician?” the young maid asked, turning to Feng Jiu’er.

“I don’t treat illnesses,” Feng Jiu’er said, shaking her head.

“Then can you fix our mistress’s face?” the young maid asked with a smile.

“You really are impressive, telling our mistress had a problem even through the veil.”

“Our mistress ate something a few days ago without realizing what it was, and her face has looked like this ever since. We’ve tried many remedies, but it’s only gotten worse.”

The young maid turned and respectfully took Consort Ya’s hand, leaning close to her. “Your Highness, let her take a look, they say they have a confidentiality agreement.”

Consort Ya pulled her hand back from the young maid’s grip and swept her gaze over Feng Jiu’er from behind the veil.

“I ask you—did the palace’s Attendant Xin come here for a consultation as well?”

As she spoke, she turned her head toward the young maid.

The young maid hurriedly pulled a portrait from her waist.

Before she could even unfold it, Feng Jiu’er turned and started to walk back.

“If the two of you aren’t here for our wellness services, you may leave now.”

“Insolence!” Consort Ya glared at the back of Feng Jiu’er’s head. “How dare you take my words so lightly?”

“You’re a lady of the palace, aren’t you?” Xiao Yingtao said gently.

“Our shop has its own rules. Even if you’re a lady of the palace, we can’t break our confidentiality with other customers, can we?”

“Your Highness, we’re all women here—who doesn’t want to be beautiful?”

“Knowing our skills are good, that we can help restore one’s complexion, it’s only natural people come seeking us out.”

“What if one day you truly need our beauty techniques, and you wouldn’t want us spreading word that you’d been here?”

“We’re all women who love beauty—why cause each other trouble?”

“Noble Consort, please don’t be angry,” the young maid said, gently stroking the back of Consort Ya’s hand.

“Let her examine you first, your face is what matters most.”