Emperor Mingkang was in a foul mood, so he summoned Minister of Justice Kou Xingze to ask about the case’s progress. Upon hearing it still wasn’t concluded, he directly cursed Kou Xingze, Bloody.

Kou Xingze’s face turned green from the scolding. Returning to his office, he vented his rage on his subordinates, who in turn had their faces turn equally green. They could only pull themselves together and work harder.

Jiang Shiran accompanied Jiang Tang into the palace to visit Princess Zhenzhen, telling her about the outside events. She said indignantly: “I don’t know what dog shit luck Li Zhao had—her engagement with Marquis Guanjun is settled.”

Upon hearing this, Princess Zhenzhen felt her heart ease, but then a faint bitterness spread through her chest.

Marquis Guanjun was truly as capable as she had thought.

This man she had encountered in her prime years was indeed exceptional.

“Zhenzhen?” Noticing Princess Zhenzhen’s distraction, Jiang Shiran called out.

Princess Zhenzhen snapped back to attention and smiled slightly at Jiang Shiran: “The outside world is much livelier than the palace.”

Jiang Shiran bit her lip in dissatisfaction: “I’m talking to you about Li Zhao and Marquis Guanjun’s engagement.”

Princess Zhenzhen felt somewhat annoyed.

Compared to the Eighth Princess, she would rather see Miss Li and Marquis Guanjun become a loving couple who achieve their happy ending. But since her romantic yearning had come to nothing, why did her friend have to repeatedly bring up this matter to upset her?

“Let’s not talk about them anymore. How they are has nothing to do with us.” Princess Zhenzhen didn’t want to lose her temper with Jiang Shiran, so she changed the subject. “It’s almost the end of the year. Your Thirteenth Brother should be returning soon, right?”

At the mention of Jiang Yuanchao, Jiang Shiran’s eyes immediately brightened. She smiled with pursed lips: “Yes, Father said Thirteenth Brother will return soon. When he left, Thirteenth Brother promised to bring back some special trinkets from the south. I’ll bring some for you when the time comes.”

Princess Zhenzhen forced a smile: “Thank you.”

Perhaps she was being too petty, but why did hearing these words make her want to roll her eyes?

She didn’t care for trinkets brought by her friend’s fiancé. Hmph, she was a princess—what trinkets hadn’t she seen!

Princess Zhenzhen grumbled inwardly, unusually silent.

Jiang Shiran suddenly clapped her hands: “Zhenzhen, it’s time to wash off the ointment on your face and see the results. Seven days have passed.”

Princess Zhenzhen raised her hand to touch her cheek, but didn’t respond.

Jiang Shiran tugged at Princess Zhenzhen’s arm: “Zhenzhen, what’s wrong with you today?”

“I—” Princess Zhenzhen opened her mouth, then sighed: “I’m somewhat afraid to look.”

These past few days, when changing the ointment, she never dared to look in the mirror, fearing she’d find no change and fall into despair.

Would her face… really get better?

Jiang Shiran didn’t understand Princess Zhenzhen’s conflicted feelings and said dismissively, “What’s there to be afraid of? Avoiding it won’t help—your face will be what it is regardless.”

Princess Zhenzhen: “…” How did she deal with such a friend she wanted to cut ties with?

Despite her complaints, she couldn’t keep putting off checking her face’s condition. Under Jiang Shiran’s urging, Princess Zhenzhen signaled for a palace maid to bring water to cleanse her face.

Clear water washed away the ointment on her face. Covering her palm-sized face with her slender fingers, Princess Zhenzhen remained motionless for a long time.

“Zhenzhen, let go of your hands.” Jiang Shiran pushed Princess Zhenzhen to sit in front of the vanity mirror.

She wanted to see how effective Li Zhao’s ointment was. If she were deceiving Zhenzhen, she would mock her thoroughly!

Princess Zhenzhen slowly loosened her hands, eyes still closed, not daring to look in the mirror. But she heard Jiang Shiran’s exclamation in her ear.

Princess Zhenzhen’s heart sank. Without thinking further, she suddenly opened her eyes and looked into the vanity mirror.

The young lady in the mirror had picturesque features and natural beauty. Those layers of ugly scabs had faded away, revealing new skin that could be broken by a breath, appearing even fairer and tender than before.

Princess Zhenzhen opened her eyes wide in disbelief, staring at the vanity mirror in a daze, tears streaming down her face.

“Zhenzhen, your face is healed!” Jiang Shiran vigorously shook Princess Zhenzhen’s arm.

But Princess Zhenzhen did not react, like a clay statue.

“Zhenzhen, what’s wrong with you?”

Princess Zhenzhen blinked, suddenly covered her face, and burst into loud sobs.

She cried very loudly, completely abandoning her usual cautiousness, as if trying to cry out her very internal organs.

Noble Consort Li happened to arrive at Princess Zhenzhen’s bedchamber door. Hearing the crying, her face immediately turned pale. She lifted her skirt and hurried in, seeing Princess Zhenzhen bent over crying and Jiang Shiran standing helplessly beside her. Completely panicked, she rushed over and embraced Princess Zhenzhen.

“Zhenzhen, tell Mother Consort what happened?”

Princess Zhenzhen covered her face, nearly crying herself breathless.

Noble Consort Li was extremely worried. She wanted to pry Princess Zhenzhen’s hands away, but didn’t dare use too much force. She could only hold Princess Zhenzhen tightly: “Did something go wrong with the ointment? I knew a young girl wouldn’t be reliable! Zhenzhen, don’t cry. Mother Consort will immediately summon Miss Li into the palace so you can vent your anger properly!”

Jiang Shiran, on the side, silently rolled her eyes.

Even though she knew that Li Zhao had become Marquis Guanjun’s fiancée and was no longer a soft persimmon to be bullied at will, this consort was still confused.

But then again, what brains could a woman of dancer origins have?

“Someone come—” Noble Consort Li called out loudly.

Only then did Princess Zhenzhen let go and embrace Noble Consort Li’s arm: “Mother Consort, don’t call—”

Noble Consort Li’s beautiful eyes widened, her voice rising: “Zhenzhen, your face—”

Princess Zhenzhen cried and laughed, nodding continuously: “Mother Consort, my face is healed, completely healed…” By the end, she was sobbing again.

“Heavens!” Noble Consort Li looked like she’d seen a ghost. Gone was her usual graceful demeanor of a delicate flower reflected in water. She sat down hard on the wool-carpeted floor: “That ointment is truly miraculous!”

Mother and daughter looked at each other, crying then laughing, laughing then crying. Finally, Princess Zhenzhen was the first to regain her composure. She took a handkerchief to wipe her tears: “My face is healed. I want to first tell Imperial Grandmother, then personally thank Miss Li.”

“Yes, yes, of course.” Noble Consort Li was still excited, speaking incoherently.

For her, her daughter’s face was too important.

She only had this one princess. The Emperor was single-mindedly focused on cultivation, and after his future ascension, she was counting on her daughter to find a good son-in-law to support her.

Princess Zhenzhen cleansed her face again and applied makeup, deliberately choosing a pomegranate-red five-bat cloud-embracing jacket paired with a snow-blue floral skirt.

With the year’s end approaching, elderly people favored auspicious colors. Empress Dowager Yang was no exception—she liked seeing younger generations dressed festively. Princess Zhenzhen knew this well.

At this moment, Empress Dowager Yang was receiving a guest in her inner chamber. The guest had a somewhat special status—it was Master Wumei, who had moved away from Sparse Shadow Nunnery.

When she heard Princess Zhenzhen had come to pay respects, Empress Dowager Yang glanced at Master Wumei and calmly instructed Lai Xi: “Tell the Ninth Princess that this dowager is receiving a guest. Have her come back later.”

Just as Lai Xi was about to relay the message, Master Wumei suddenly spoke: “Zhenzhen and this poor nun have some karmic connection. Let her come in.”

Empress Dowager Yang nodded. When she saw Princess Zhenzhen enter with her restored appearance, she couldn’t help but be greatly shocked.