The dark clouds over the Eastern Palace had never dispersed.

Emperor Yong’an’s side had shown no reaction, making it impossible to fathom the emperor’s thoughts.

When it came time to change her dressing, the Crown Princess rushed to her vanity mirror and saw that vicious wound on her left cheek. She went mad, sweeping all the dazzling array of rouge and powder off the vanity table, collapsing into hysterical tears.

Nanny Gui had already driven everyone else out. She held the Crown Princess and gently comforted her: “Crown Princess, you must pull yourself together. Even if it’s for the little master, you must pull yourself together.”

The Crown Princess stared blankly, tears falling: “Pull myself together? My face is ruined—tell me how I should pull myself together? No woman with a disfigured face can become Crown Princess or even Empress—”

Nanny Gui quickly covered the Crown Princess’s mouth: “Crown Princess, watch your words!”

Under normal circumstances, the Crown Princess would never say such deadly words. She had truly lost her rationality now.

This was hardly surprising—how important was appearance to a woman, let alone one in the Crown Princess’s position.

“Watch my words?” The Crown Princess laughed bitterly. “Nanny, with how I look now, does it matter whether I watch my words or not?”

Nanny Gui consoled her: “Crown Princess, His Majesty’s side hasn’t said anything. Imperial Noble Consort Xiao doesn’t like to involve herself in these matters. Even if the Crown Prince is somewhat dissatisfied with you, there’s nothing he can do. You mustn’t give up on yourself.”

The Crown Princess shook her head listlessly: “The Crown Prince can do nothing now because I’m the Crown Princess personally designated by Father Emperor. But what about later?”

When the Crown Prince ascended to the dragon throne and became the Great Zhou’s most exalted man, would he still tolerate a disfigured woman as his Empress?

Even if the Crown Prince tolerated it, the court officials would protest.

If the mother of a nation had damaged appearance, how could she preside over major ceremonies? How could she receive congratulations from all nations?

Wouldn’t that become a laughingstock throughout the realm?

That damned slave Cuihong—doing this was even more vicious than taking her life!

This was making her watch helplessly as she lost everything.

“Crown Princess, your greatest difficulty right now is your damaged appearance. If the scar could be removed, the trouble would be resolved immediately.”

The Crown Princess being jealous and scheming against a concubine would at most incur the Crown Prince’s displeasure—it would never reach the point of divorce.

If the Crown Prince really tried to do that, the assembled officials wouldn’t agree either.

But damaged appearance was different—this was a deadly matter that affected the Great Zhou’s dignity.

The Crown Princess raised her face and stared fixedly at Nanny Gui: “The imperial physicians said the golden hairpin stabbed too deep, scraping away flesh and blood. The scar can’t be removed.”

“Isn’t there still the Divine Physician?”

The Crown Princess froze, murmuring: “Divine Physician?”

“Yes, Crown Princess. Everyone says the Divine Physician can bring the dead back to life and restore flesh to bones. Surely removing a scar would be no trouble.”

The Crown Princess’s eyes gradually brightened. She gripped Nanny Gui’s hand forcefully: “You’re right, I must request the Divine Physician!”

That the Divine Physician was difficult to summon was well known throughout the capital.

The Crown Princess held no hope for Wei Qiang and found a way to send word to her natal family.

The Crown Princess’s natal family was a prominent clan from Beihe, with her father currently serving as Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial.

Upon receiving the news, Madam Qiao cried until her eyes swelled. The very next morning she went to the capital’s outskirts to request the Divine Physician, and was refused with almost no suspense.

The second day she went again and was refused again.

After three consecutive days of this, Madam Qiao couldn’t bear it anymore. She pulled Minister Qiao aside, tearfully pleading: “Master, you must think of a solution. Otherwise what will Yuan’niang do?”

These three days, Minister Qiao hadn’t been idle either. He had tried every means to investigate the Divine Physician’s preferences.

After investigating this way and that, his inquiries led to Luo Sheng.

“Madam, I’ve investigated and found that in all of the capital, only one person has successfully summoned the Divine Physician twice.”

“Who?”

“Grand Marshal Luo’s treasured daughter, Miss Luo.”

Once was summoning the Divine Physician to revive Grand Marshal Luo, and once was helping the Heir of Prince Pingnan summon the Divine Physician to remove an arrow and treat Prince Pingnan’s injury.

If one was determined to investigate these two matters, they weren’t difficult to discover.

Madam Qiao was stunned: “That Miss Luo who once kicked Yuan’niang and Er’niang into a ditch?”

“That’s her.”

“But isn’t Miss Luo only capable of reckless behavior?” Madam Qiao was somewhat skeptical.

Minister Qiao sighed: “Reckless behavior and summoning the Divine Physician don’t conflict. Who knows how Miss Luo gained the Divine Physician’s favor? Actually, it’s not just these two times. Supposedly when the Divine Physician previously went to Prince Kaiyang’s manor, that was also due to Miss Luo’s efforts, though this matter isn’t confirmed.”

As for Wei Qiang asking Luo Sheng for help, that hadn’t spread yet, so Minister Qiao hadn’t heard about it.

Listening, Madam Qiao’s expression changed continuously. Finally she said resentfully: “She really did stumble into dog-shit luck.”

Birth, aging, illness, and death—no one in the world could avoid them. Holding a connection to the Divine Physician meant Miss Luo was no longer simply that Miss Luo.

“Didn’t Miss Luo open a wine shop? Tonight, take Er’niang to dine there and find an opportunity to ask her for help.”

Madam Qiao nodded.

Madams had their own circles too. That Miss Luo had opened a wine shop on Qingxing Street that only opened in the evenings—she had heard about this long ago.

It was just that remembering the harm Miss Luo had brought to her two daughters years ago, combined with relying on her status as the Crown Prince’s mother-in-law, she had been unwilling to patronize the establishment.

Who would have thought she’d still have to go once.

“By the way, bring plenty of silver.” Minister Qiao seemed to remember something and reminded her.

Madam Qiao’s expression shifted slightly: “Has Master been there?”

Minister Qiao’s expression turned stern: “I haven’t been. I’ve just heard it’s very expensive.”

He certainly couldn’t tell the truth, otherwise if Madam asked where the money came from, how could he answer?

The money for keeping his mistress couldn’t be cut off.

Truthfully, if he visited that Youjian Wine Shop a few more times, he wouldn’t be able to afford keeping his mistress anymore…

Madam Qiao arrived early at Youjian Wine Shop with Second Miss Qiao.

The wine shop had just opened.

“Honored guest, please come in.” Hong Dou glanced over and vaguely felt the young lady accompanying this madam looked somewhat familiar.

“Do you have private rooms?” Madam Qiao asked.

“A private room happens to be available. Please follow me, honored guest.” Hong Dou led the mother and daughter into the private room and fluently recited a string of dish names and prices. “What would you like to eat, honored guest?”

Eat what? Who could eat anything after hearing these prices!

Madam Qiao suppressed her shock and casually ordered a few dishes, then tucked a plain silk purse filled with broken silver into Hong Dou’s hand: “Could you please ask Miss Luo to come speak with me?”

Hong Dou clutched the purse, smiling: “And who might you be?”

“I am the wife of the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial.” Madam Qiao said with restraint.

Hong Dou blinked, looking at that familiar-seeming young lady, suddenly understanding: “You’re the Crown Princess’s younger sister, Second Miss Qiao?”

Second Miss Qiao kept a taut expression and didn’t respond.

This lowly maid hadn’t recognized her, but she could never forget.

That year when Luo Sheng had kicked her into the ditch, in her panic she had grabbed a clump of grass on the bank—it was this lowly maid who had swung a dagger to cut that grass away.

She and her elder sister had become drowned rats, yet in the end they didn’t even receive an apology. The matter just ended inconclusively.

Later, her elder sister became Crown Princess, and she was no longer an ordinary noble daughter.

But Mother said that precisely because her elder sister had become Crown Princess, she needed to be even more careful in word and deed, lest she cause trouble for her elder sister.

From that time on, whenever Luo Sheng appeared at any occasion, she would avoid her from afar.

There was no help for it—seeing this master and servant pair made her feel disgusted and enraged, wishing she could take revenge for what happened back then.