Jiang Caiping wrinkled her delicate nose and said, “She’s quite calculating. But who knows, maybe the First Young Master won’t buy Second Madam’s account.” Saying this, she bit her cherry lips and said, “I thought this time we could find evidence of Jirong using bewitching incense and convict her, but it turned out to be like this. I’m really unwilling to accept it.”

As they quietly left the room, Jirong also arrived outside the Yuxiu Pavilion. She patted her cheeks hard to make herself look more spirited, then stepped forward and said to the servant guarding the gate, “Please trouble this young man to pass word that Jirong has urgent matters and requests to see Madam.”

The servant rolled his eyes and acted as if he hadn’t heard, his two fingers constantly rubbing together. Jirong understood his meaning and quickly took out all the copper coins from her purse and stuffed them into his hand. The latter satisfyingly tucked them into his sleeve and said, “Wait here.”

After a while, the servant came out from inside and said, “Madam is in the flower hall. You can go in.”

Jirong thanked him and entered the flower hall. She saw Wan Shi sitting at the table having a meal, with Zhaixing serving beside her. Jirong quickly curtsied and said, “May Madam have boundless fortune.”

Wan Shi put down her half-eaten lily congee, took the handkerchief Zhaixing handed her and wiped the corners of her mouth, saying, “What brings you here so early?”

“To report to Madam, when this servant was reading through ancestral medical texts these past few days, I saw a beauty and skin-nourishing formula. According to the medical text, long-term use can make one’s skin tender, smooth, white and lustrous, radiant and brilliant. Even a woman of fifty or sixty years can have the rosy, lustrous complexion of a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl. So this servant followed the formula and made this bottle of…” The six words “motherwort facial paste” came to her lips but she swallowed them back, changing to say instead, “this bottle of Celestial Jade Maiden Powder to present to Madam.” This name was undoubtedly more attractive than motherwort facial paste.

Wan Shi glanced at Zhaixing, who understood and took the porcelain bottle from Jirong’s hands and handed it to Wan Shi. The latter looked it over and said, “Since this item is so good, why have I never heard of it?”

“In answer to Madam, this formula is ancestral in this servant’s family. How would others know of it?” Saying this, she ingratiatingly said, “As long as Madam uses the Celestial Jade Maiden Powder mixed with talcum powder and finest rouge to wash her face and hands every morning and evening, this servant believes that within ten days, it will make you beautifully captivating.”

Wan Shi looked at her with a half-smile and said, “Listening to your words, am I already old?”

Although Wan Shi’s voice was gentle and mild, Jirong heard the coldness in it and quickly said, “Madam is not old at all. It’s just that this servant feels that Madam must manage all the large and small affairs of the household, constantly worrying and fretting all day, unlike Third Madam and the others who don’t have to worry about anything. In the long run, this will inevitably damage your beauty.”

These words struck right at Wan Shi’s heart. After Dou Shi’s death, she had become the person in power in the household. Although the feeling of holding great power was good, what came with it was endless worries. When Lin Shi and others were touring gardens and admiring flowers, she was worrying about household affairs. Although there were beauty formulas prescribed by physicians, when she looked in the mirror, she always felt her skin wasn’t as good as before.

Wan Shi examined the unremarkable porcelain bottle in her hand and said doubtfully, “Does this item truly have such miraculous effects?”

“How would this servant dare deceive Madam? If…” She steeled her heart and said, “If there are no effects after ten days, this servant is willing to let Madam dispose of me as she sees fit.”

“Good, then I’ll try it.” After asking clearly how to mix it with talcum powder and rouge, Wan Shi ordered Zhaixing to put away this bottle of Celestial Jade Maiden Powder, then said lightly, “Speak, what do you want to ask of this Madam?”

Seeing that Wan Shi had seen through her thoughts, Jirong no longer concealed anything and knelt down, saying, “I beg Madam to save this servant’s life.”

Her words made Wan Shi furrow her brow in confusion, “Save you? What have you done wrong?”

Jirong said with a worried expression, “Tomorrow is the deadline of one month set by the First Young Master, but this servant still hasn’t been able to formulate the Muscle-Mending Powder.”

Wan Shi was no ordinary person. Upon hearing this, she immediately understood what Jirong was asking for. “You’re worried the First Young Master will blame you, so you brought this Celestial Jade Maiden Powder to ask me to save you?”

“Yes.” As soon as Jirong finished speaking, Wan Shi laughed lightly and said, “You’re quite interesting. First you asked the First Young Master to come plead for you with me, and now you’re asking me to go speak for you with the First Young Master.”

Jirong kowtowed and said, “This servant truly has nowhere else to turn, so I dare to come beg Madam. Please have mercy on me.”

Wan Shi stood up and walked in front of her, looking down and saying, “But have you considered that once I intervene, the First Young Master will know you’re my person? Even if you eventually produce the Muscle-Mending Powder, he won’t trust you anymore. How will you help me then?”

“This…” Being questioned like this, Jirong was also at a loss. Just as she was nervously thinking of a countermeasure, she heard Wan Shi’s voice again, “Tell me the truth, is there any possibility of formulating this Muscle-Mending Powder?”

“Yes!” Jirong quickly said, “Actually, the medicinal powder is almost ready, just lacking a little bit. If the First Young Master could grant a bit more time, this servant will definitely be able to formulate it.”

“Since that’s the case, I’ll help you!” With these words, Wan Shi suddenly pulled out the golden hairpin from her hair and forcefully stabbed it toward Jirong’s arm. The sharp pin tip pierced through the cotton clothing and stabbed deeply into the flesh, and crimson blood immediately flowed down her arm.

Jirong suddenly suffered this severe pain, both pained and panicked. She covered her wound and looked at Wan Shi in terror, “Madam, you… what did this servant do wrong?”

Wan Shi took a handkerchief from Zhaixing’s hand and wiped the blood from the golden hairpin, saying leisurely, “Naturally, it’s as you wished.”

Jirong endured the pain and said, “This servant doesn’t understand Madam’s meaning.”

“You still don’t understand?” After Wan Shi inserted the cleaned golden hairpin back into her hair, she signaled for Jirong to come closer. As Wan Shi whispered in her ear, Jirong showed a look of sudden realization and nodded repeatedly, saying, “This servant understands Madam’s meaning now.”

Wan Shi smiled slightly and said, “You don’t blame me for hurting you?”

Jirong quickly said, “Madam is wholeheartedly thinking for this servant’s sake. How would this servant dare blame Madam? Besides…” She squeezed out a smile, “Trading a small injury for an opportunity is a worthwhile deal.”

Wan Shi nodded satisfyingly, “Very good, go back now. Be careful on the way, don’t let anyone see your injury.”

Jirong rose and took her leave. As she walked out of the Yuxiu Pavilion, she looked back with lingering fear. Although Wan Shi’s method was very effective, when she thought of the ruthless look in Wan Shi’s eyes when she stabbed her with the hairpin, she shuddered. Compared to her, whether in methods or scheming, she was far inferior. There was still much to learn in the future.

One day passed in the blink of an eye. Just as the sky brightened, Wang Fu came on Li Jiancheng’s orders to invite Jirong over. When she arrived, Physician Xu was also there. Before Jirong could bow, Li Jiancheng said urgently, “Where’s the Muscle-Mending Powder? Quickly bring it out!”

Excellent, this damned foot condition could finally be cured. In the future, no one would look at him with strange eyes anymore.

Jirong lowered her gaze and said, “Please forgive this servant, First Young Master. The Muscle-Mending Powder temporarily cannot be given to you.”