Noble Consort Ya took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, but her anger still burned strong. In all these years in the harem, she had always had things her way — when had she ever had to swallow such an insult?

“Noble Consort.” Feng Jiu’er sat behind the desk. “Allow this humble one to say a few words.”

“The status you hold today did not come easily. As for the time you have left, shouldn’t you treat yourself well?”

“You hold high position and great power — letting this humble one die would be no different from crushing an ant.”

“But if this humble one dies, it will do nothing at all to restore your looks.”

“Since you’ve come all this way, why not try our shop’s skills? You might gain something unexpected.”

“Since ancient times, the new generation surpassing the old has always been the same, whether inside the palace or out.”

“As a woman myself, I think nothing matters more than cherishing oneself.”

“Noble Consort, what do you think?”

“Your Highness, why not just try it?” The young palace maid held Noble Consort Ya’s arm, murmuring softly to soothe her.

“Right, right, let me try it first.”

The young palace maid let go of Noble Consort Ya and went to sit beside Feng Jiu’er instead.

“Physician, hello! Take a look at my face.” The young maid patted her own cheek, then lowered her head to pat the back of her hand.

“It’s not just my face — I’ve been sallow and dark-yellow since birth. I don’t suppose my skin can be treated?”

“How much would it cost? I don’t have much money — is there a cheaper way?”

Feng Jiu’er put on a pair of specially made gloves, cupped the young maid’s face, and studied it from side to side.

“Skin that’s naturally dark can be lightened — it’s not impossible.”

She released the maid’s face, took off the gloves, picked up the bamboo pointer beside her, and turned around.

Feng Jiu’er tapped the bamboo pointer against the scroll painting hanging on the wall behind her. “This is a method our shop calls the soaking bath.”

“The soaking bath method is designed specifically for women who need to improve their skin all over the body.”

“Your skin is actually quite good, just a bit dark. We have a special medicinal bath that whitens the skin.”

“However, it isn’t cheap — three taels of silver per soak, one hour each time, once every seven days. In three months the effect will be very noticeable.”

“Ah?” The young maid’s small round mouth fell open. “Three taels a session, four times a month — twelve taels a month?”

“I won’t get treated then.” She stood up shakily and returned to Noble Consort Ya’s side.

“But if you want to test the medicine on the Noble Consort’s face first, you can try it on my face.”

Feng Jiu’er stood and looked toward Noble Consort Ya, waving her hand.

“Noble Consort, please, sit.”

Noble Consort Ya finally stepped forward and sat down.

The young maid hurried over to help remove the veiled hat covering her head.

Noble Consort Ya’s face, covered in red spots, was revealed before Feng Jiu’er’s eyes.

Xiao Yingtao came up beside Feng Jiu’er and studied the face as well.

“It’s not too serious.” Xiao Yingtao looked it over a few times and spoke up.

“Can it be treated?” the young maid asked anxiously, looking at her.

“It can.” Xiao Yingtao nodded, her gaze shifting to Feng Jiu’er.

“Little Feng is the best physician in our shop. The Noble Consort’s status is so distinguished — of course Little Feng should be the one to treat her.”

“How will it be treated?” Noble Consort Ya asked in a low voice.

“Internal regulation combined with external nourishment.” Feng Jiu’er opened a notebook, picked up a brush, and raised her eyes.

“Actually, what matters most is that Your Highness manages to keep her mood settled.”

“What do you mean by that?” Noble Consort Ya frowned.

Feng Jiu’er glanced around and said, “Has Your Highness run into something troubling these past few days? Something weighing on your mind?”

“As the saying goes, cultivating health begins with cultivating the mind. If Your Highness is constantly troubled and frowning, then it’s not just the face — other parts of the body as well…”

“How dare you curse my mistress like that?” The young maid glared at Feng Jiu’er.

“Please trust Little Feng,” Xiao Yingtao cut in, interrupting the maid.

Feng Jiu’er shook her head. “If I’m not mistaken, did Your Highness lose her temper badly a few days ago?”

“Those prone to excess liver-fire fall ill easily — surely the imperial physicians have warned Your Highness of this as well?”

“I suspect Your Highness’s face came into contact with some kind of powder — pollen, perhaps, or some medicinal powder.”

“If it’s simply an ordinary allergy, treatment isn’t difficult. But if Your Highness is also carrying unresolved resentment…”

Noble Consort Ya seemed to recall something, the crease between her brows deepening.

“So it really was that scheme of Noble Lady Xin’s!” She struck the arm of her chair hard.

“I was wondering why she was suddenly so kind that day, inviting me to admire the flowers — turns out she’d tampered with them.”

“That night Your Highness thought something had gone wrong in the imperial kitchens and had several people executed…” The young maid lowered her head, not daring to say more.

Hearing the maid’s words, Feng Jiu’er’s expression didn’t change, but her grip on the brush tightened.

“How will it be treated? I’ll do as you say!” Noble Consort Ya looked at Feng Jiu’er again.

“Internal regulation and external nourishment — internal regulation treats the root, external nourishment treats the surface. Combining the two inside and out will bring out the best results, achieving the ideal effect in the shortest time.”

“This humble one will apply the medicine to Your Highness personally, morning and evening each day, paired with our internal remedy. I guarantee that within seven days, the illness will be cured with the medicine.”

“Once Your Highness has decided, this humble one will write up the prescription.”

“If it’s convenient for you to leave the palace each day, you’re welcome to come to us daily. If you’d rather not go out, this humble one can come into the palace instead.”

“It’s only that this humble one is the shop’s chief physician, so the consultation fee for a house call runs rather high.”

“Within seven days, can you guarantee this palace’s face will be restored to how it was?” Noble Consort Ya asked.

“With the additional care treatments included, it will look even more radiant and lustrous than before,” Feng Jiu’er replied.

“Good.” Noble Consort Ya crooked her finger. “Help this palace put on the veiled hat. We’re going straight into the palace for treatment now.”

“Yes.” The young maid took up the veiled hat and returned to Noble Consort Ya’s side.

“Your Highness means for me to stay in the palace seven days?” Feng Jiu’er turned the brush in her hand.

“Yes.” Noble Consort Ya stood. “Pack up. We leave for the palace at once.”

“Your Highness will need a better arrangement. For this trip into the palace, at least three of us should go — a hundred taels a day each for the other two, two hundred taels a day for me. Four hundred taels a day altogether.”

Feng Jiu’er calculated for a moment. “Seven days comes to two thousand eight hundred taels total.”

“Xiao You, pay her.” Noble Consort Ya waved a hand.

“Yes.” The young maid took out a bank note.

“Be at the palace gate in half an hour. Someone will meet you there.” Noble Consort Ya turned, swept her sleeves, and left.

“Treat me well, and there will be no lack of reward. Fail, and you’ll bear the consequences yourselves!”

The young maid counted out the note and handed it to Feng Jiu’er, then turned and hurried after Noble Consort Ya.

After seeing them off, Xiao Yingtao returned to the room and closed the door.

“Who do you plan to bring in with you?”

“You and Xiao Qiao would be suitable.” Feng Jiu’er withdrew her gaze and lowered her head to begin writing the prescription.

“Seven days from now will also be the day of Prince Ye’s wedding.”

Feng Jiu’er stood and handed the prescription in her hand to Xiao Yingtao.

“You two handle gathering these herbs. I’ll take care of the rest. Go on.”

“All right.” Xiao Yingtao took the prescription, turned, and pushed the door open as she walked out.