Half an hour later, a carriage appeared at the gates of the imperial palace.
Guards blocked their way.
“Who goes there?” A guard eyed the driver — coarse hemp clothing, a scar covering his face.
Before the driver could answer, Xiao You, the young palace maid, hurried out from inside.
“These are Noble Consort Ya’s guests. Do not treat them with disrespect!” The maid swept the guards with a glance.
“Yes!” The two guards nodded in unison and stepped back.
The maid looked at the male driver and frowned. “Didn’t Her Highness arrange for three women?”
Feng Jiu’er lifted the curtain and poked her head out.
“This is our driver. Tell Her Highness she only needs to arrange his food and lodging — he won’t be showing his face.”
The maid frowned but ultimately nodded.
“Come in quickly, then. Don’t keep Her Highness waiting.”
The maid led them through the palace gate and climbed into the carriage waiting off to the side herself.
The two carriages, one behind the other, made their way toward the rear palace.
Inside the doors of the Ya Fragrance Hall, Noble Consort Ya paced back and forth restlessly.
Within seven days, he would surely return — her face could not wait any longer.
Noble Consort Ya had lost count of how many times she’d looked up when she finally saw two carriages arriving outside.
She walked forward a few steps, paused, then continued and stepped away from the hall entrance.
The young maid got down from the carriage and rushed inside.
“Your Highness, there’s an extra driver with us. Physician Little Feng says we only need to see to his food and lodging.”
Noble Consort Ya glanced at the scar-faced driver and waved her hand dismissively, her face full of distaste.
“Take him away!”
Who would like someone with a scarred face?
Indeed — and it was for that very reason that Feng Jiu’er had stuck a scar onto Jian Yi’s face.
He was too handsome; he might cause trouble in the capital, so there was nothing for it but to make him look ugly.
It wasn’t only Jian Yi — everyone who had ever come from the Feng Clan had been made up in disguise.
The human-skin masks and individual scars Feng Jiu’er developed used specially made materials for the features and everything else.
A month of sun and rain wouldn’t cause any problems.
Jian Yi was led away. Feng Jiu’er, Xiao Yingtao, and Qiao Mu walked into the Ya Fragrance Hall.
Feng Jiu’er had opened a health and wellness parlor in the capital for one purpose — so that one day she could walk through the palace gates in the open, with nothing to hide.
To avoid arousing suspicion, Feng Jiang’s people in the capital had opened the shopfront in advance, exactly as Feng Jiu’er intended.
Only once Feng Jiu’er and the others arrived did the shop truly begin operating.
Noble Consort Ya being drugged by Noble Lady Xin hadn’t been Feng Jiu’er’s doing — but the drug Noble Lady Xin used had passed through the hands of Feng Jiu’er’s own informants.
So today, hearing that Noble Consort Ya had had people from the imperial kitchens killed, Feng Jiu’er felt a knot form in her chest.
Feng Jiu’er, expressionless, looked at the venomous-hearted Noble Consort Ya and asked flatly, “When shall we begin?”
“Right now will do.” Noble Consort Ya turned and walked further inside.
There was no one else in the hall — it seemed Noble Consort Ya had sent everyone else away.
The three of them shouldered their medicine chests and followed the figure ahead, walking deeper inside.
Soon, the young maid caught up with them.
They passed through an especially spacious hall and left through the back door.
The palace hall was already large enough, but the rear garden was even larger — courtyard after courtyard, with no end in sight.
It made anyone seeing it for the first time sigh — these favored consorts truly lived a life of excess.
Whatever they wanted, they had. The moment they were displeased, they could have anyone’s head cut off, just like that.
They passed through a courtyard bursting with brilliant flowers, and ahead appeared a pavilion, curtains hanging all around it.
Sheer gauze drifted in the breeze, set against a backdrop of flowers in every color — the whole scene looked like something out of a fairyland.
Noble Consort Ya casually lifted the gauze curtain in front of her and stepped into the pavilion.
Feng Jiu’er, Qiao Mu, and Xiao Yingtao followed her in — the pavilion was larger than the home of an ordinary commoner.
“Let’s begin.” Noble Consort Ya extended her hand.
The young maid moved past the three of them, came to Noble Consort Ya’s side, and took her hand.
She led Noble Consort Ya to sit on the couch in the center, then immediately knelt before her and helped remove her boots.
Noble Consort Ya slowly lay back on the couch. The young maid picked up a fan and sat beside her, fanning her.
“Physician, come quickly and take a look at Her Highness.” The maid looked up and urged.
Feng Jiu’er set down the medicine chest from her shoulder and walked over, twisting slightly under its weight.
She placed the chest on the ground and sat down on the low stool beside the couch.
“Have someone prepare the bathwater. It will be needed in about half an hour.”
“Soaking in the bath promotes blood circulation and slows aging. Combined with our special medicinal packets, the effect will be even more noticeable.”
“Today we’ll only charge for labor. The cost of all the medicines will be settled each day.”
Feng Jiu’er leaned forward and studied Noble Consort Ya’s face.
“This humble one is about to begin the treatment. Is Your Highness ready?”
“Begin!” Noble Consort Ya said impatiently.
“As long as it actually works, money is no object! Remember your promise — within seven days, this palace’s face must look better than before.”
“Otherwise, this palace will make things very unpleasant for you!”
Noble Consort Ya gave a cold snort and closed her eyes.
Feng Jiu’er said nothing, leaned in, and carefully lifted the gauze veil from Noble Consort Ya’s face.
“These next few days, Your Highness had best not cover her face with gauze.”
“Simply don’t leave the hall. Even the finest gauze does the skin no good once it touches Your Highness’s face.”
“Very well, this humble one will remind Her Highness,” the maid murmured, still fanning.
As she carefully examined the skin, Feng Jiu’er said, “Bring a basin of hot water. The bath tub you prepared — when will it be ready?”
“Your Highness,” the maid said, still fanning, “let me go fetch Sister Lian to help.”
“Good!” Noble Consort Ya nodded.
The maid stood, stepped back a few paces, turned, and left.
Feng Jiu’er didn’t begin right away — she observed for a while longer, then opened the medicine chest and sorted out what she’d need.
Once the maid had brought the hot water and Feng Jiu’er had washed Noble Consort Ya’s face, she began applying the medicine and massaging.
Layer after layer went onto the face, washed off, then reapplied.
At first Noble Consort Ya had complaints, but Feng Jiu’er said nothing — it was always the maid who soothed her.
Later, Qiao Mu and Xiao Yingtao each took a side, massaging the woman lying on the couch.
As the massage went on, Noble Consort Ya drifted, quite comfortably, into sleep.
The young maid kept fanning her.
The courtyard was utterly quiet — quiet enough to hear a needle drop.
Before the midday meal, Noble Consort Ya emerged from the bath, changed into a beautiful gown, and sat before the mirror in her bedchamber, her expression considerably more cheerful.
“Xiao You, is this palace’s face not much improved?” Noble Consort Ya kept touching her own face, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.
“It really is!” the maid said, standing to the side, just as excited.
“Noble Consort, this humble one has said it many times already — Your Highness’s face really is half healed.”
“If Your Highness doesn’t believe it, this humble one can call everyone in to see for themselves. Would that be all right?”
“No need!” Noble Consort Ya waved her hand. “This palace trusts her own eyes.”
She set down the mirror and stood up.
“It’s not just my face — this palace feels her whole body has loosened up.”
“I never imagined this wellness parlor’s medicine would actually work.”