The maid's road to success

Qi You held the half-copied scripture in her arms, her eyes red, and asked the maid to open her own private room, tidying up Li Changan's yard from inside to outside. She found the best decorations in the warehouse, and asked the seamstress to make the curtains quickly, which made Mrs. Qi feel very distressed.

"Mom, my cousin is from our family and he is the one I will marry in the future. If you are reluctant to give him good things, then I will give him my own things and I will make ends meet. If anyone in the yard dares to disrespect him, I will sell them myself. If dad scolds him, I will go to dad. Anyway, I have chosen my cousin, so don't look at others anymore. I will not marry anyone but my cousin. If you bully my cousin behind my back, I will not take medicine for you. Anyway, you don't wish me well, only my cousin is sincere to me."

Mrs. Qi was almost furious when she saw her daughter's look. She had once asked Li Changan to do something to You'er, but now he had turned around and even contradicted her for Li Changan.

Mrs. Qi was so angry that her eyes turned black, but she couldn't get angry at her own daughter, so she was helped by the maids back to her own yard and lay down.

Qi You is no longer the person who simply believed Mrs. Qi's request that Li Changan be nice to her. She feels that her cousin is very pitiful and needs her protection to live a good life in the Qi family. The first thing she does when she wakes up every day is to ask about her cousin's food, clothing, housing and transportation.

Li Changan was also happy to hand over all his affairs in the Qi Mansion to her. Qi You became more proactive. Qi Yangchuan and Madam Qi originally thought that their daughter was too good to Li Changan, and it was not a good thing to be too sad.

After all, they wanted Li Changan to always be good to Qi You unconditionally and take good care of Qi You's food, clothing, housing and transportation. Now the situation has turned around, which makes them feel a little sad.

But during this period, Qi You's spirits have improved a little, and he is not as listless as before, and he has no interest in many things.

Now he looks lively, like a young child, full of energy.

"Forget it, let her go. Originally, I was training Chang An to be her husband. Now the two children are sad, and You'er is happy. I can take care of other things."

Qi Yangchuan put his arm around his wife's shoulders and watched his daughter lying on the table doing the accounts. He had never seen a daughter like this before.

"Li Changan better stay nice to You'er, otherwise I'll make him suffer a fate worse than death."

Mrs. Qi cried in Qi Yangchuan's arms with red eyes. Having raised her daughter for fifteen years, she dreamed of letting You'er get married and have children like other girls, and take care of her husband and children. Although she only had the energy to meddle in other people's affairs now, it was all for that ungrateful little bastard Li Changan.

"Don't worry, I've got you."

Qi Yangchuan looked at his daughter with a ferocious look in his eyes. No matter whether Li Changan really liked You'er or had other purposes, if he made You'er sad, she should not blame him as a cruel uncle. After all, how could a nephew compare to You'er, who was doted on by him and his wife.

Li Changan is now considered a real half-master in the Qi family. He will not be watched or restricted no matter what he does. Even Qi Yangchuan will not deliberately control his travel.

Now he can start the first step, which is to win over the students in the academy. He used Qi You to hang his works in Nian'en Temple, and recently a lot of discussions and topics have accumulated.

It also succeeded in making the Qi family temporarily relax their supervision over themselves.

He took advantage of Qi You's sympathy and successfully replaced the people around him who were most likely to inform on him, including Madam Qi and Qi Yangchuan. In order to prevent Qi Yangchuan from realizing his true intentions, he still kept two of them.

Who would have thought that he was a young man, a top scholar in the imperial examination, and most of the dozen people serving him were people that Qi Yangchuan and Madam Qi wanted to control him with. Only one person, who he brought with him from the Li family since childhood, was truly loyal to him.

Now there is one more. Among the first batch of children trained in Xishan, although they were trained for more than three months, they are loyal to An Zizhong. An Zizhong also gave him some of the relief drugs of Wuxin Powder they took, so that the Black Hawk could listen to him. Li Changan named him Li Zhan after his servant.

Li Da, Li Zhan, and in the future together with Li Hong and Li Tu, he, Li Chang'an, will surely be able to achieve great things, and no one can control his future.

A group of usable personnel have been trained from the first wave of Black Hawks in Xishan. They can recognize simple words and have practiced enough martial arts to protect themselves. They also remember many prescriptions for medicines and poisons, recognize basic words, and can read people's expressions.

An Zizhong asked Li Changan to find a way to place these four people in Qi's mansion.

Qi Yangchuan will take up his post at the Censorate in Kyoto in June. People in the Censorate can monitor all officials and know more privacy than other people.

Li Changan planned to set up a large number of shops and manpower in the place he established in Kyoto, and to place some Black Hawks in various corners of Kyoto in advance.

Besides, Qi Yangchuan would not let Li Changan get in touch with too many things in the court. An Zizhong also felt that it would be too conspicuous, which would be bad. These servants and maids were actually more convenient than Li Changan.

An Wenniang had no idea what An Zizhong had done. She only knew that he had been in front of Li Changan a lot recently, and she roughly guessed that An Zizhong might have teamed up with Li Changan.

After receiving Xibei's letter, her heart finally settled down and she was no longer worried. Her task was to take good care of An Zizhong.

An Zizhong is very busy, and An Wenniang takes care of his food, clothing, housing and transportation.

During this period, Simian contacted An Wen Niang once, and An Wen Niang found out that her best sister in the brothel was Qi Yangchuan's favorite courtesan. Now, after spending some money, she also got in touch with Qi Yangchuan.

When Qi Yangchuan went to Kyoto to take up his post, she would follow him to Kyoto and open a Zhiyuxuan. In Gongzhou, Qi Yangchuan was the highest official, so Zhiyuxuan was good enough to rely on a gentle and considerate woman to accompany him for tea and chat.

When they arrived in Kyoto, Qi Yangchuan was only a fifth-rank official, which meant nothing in Kyoto. Even if he could open a shop with some influence, he could not protect the girls in the shop after all. So he asked her if she had any better suggestions.

An Wen's mother had no idea. When she mentioned letting Simian open a shop before, she couldn't find anyone else. Zhiyuxuan only contributed part of the money, made some suggestions, and found two children for Simian to take care of her in her old age.

An Wenniang felt that An Zizhong should be able to help.

"You, when did you find out that the outdated Hua Niang has opened a shop? I was saying that Zhiyuxuan is so strange, vulgar yet elegant. It turns out that it was your idea."

An Wenniang had never thought of keeping the secret from An Zizhong. She just wanted to have a business that was independent of them. Even if it was exposed in the future, she would at least have a chance to escape with the fourth young master.

"If we go to Kyoto, we can still run the business the same way we are doing now. I will write you a letter, and you can give it to her. Tell her to go to Liuye Lane to find Eunuch Cheng when she gets to Kyoto. Eunuch Cheng will help her."

An Wenniang opened her eyes wide? Eunuch Cheng? Wasn't that the first-class eunuch beside the Empress Dowager? An Zizhong could actually contact Eunuch Cheng, so why did the Huaiyuan Marquisate end in such a tragic way?

"What are you thinking? I was replaced because of the help of Eunuch Cheng. When he was young, Eunuch Cheng received great kindness from his grandmother. When the Huaiyuan Marquisate was in trouble, he also persuaded the Empress Dowager. Duke Cheng'en and the Queen were too cruel. They couldn't wait to execute us before they even investigated the matter thoroughly. The people from the Ministry of Justice replaced me, and it was Eunuch Cheng who found someone to take me out of Kyoto safely and send me to the charity hall. It was also his credit that our ancestors were exiled instead of being sent to the Jiaofangsi."

An Zizhong couldn't help but think of the scene at that time. He closed his eyes in pain, and after a while he calmed down and came back to normal and talked to An Wenniang.

"After all, we are a great family that has been immersed in Kyoto for many years. If the Queen's family had not disregarded their reputation and face and violently lynched the Huaiyuan Marquis Mansion, it would not have been so tragic. However, we still have manpower that can be used. The ancestor gave me a list, but I am still considering whether these people are really useful."

An Wen's mother nodded, pulled him to sit down, and poured him a cup of warm water to help him calm down.

"I'm fine, don't bother. An Qing has recently made a new love potion. When a woman takes the pills, she will have a faint fragrance. There is also another kind of potion made of flower petals, which can be put in a sachet for a man to wear. The man will be particularly fond of the woman who has taken the potion. If the woman is reliable, let her use it and let Qi Yangchuan be devoted to her. It will also be easier for Chang An to handle things."

In Qi Yangchuan's heart, he only cares about Madam Qi and the two children. The other women are just for show. There are only two or three concubines in the family. Simian's sister is no longer a courtesan, but she can still talk to Qi Yangchuan. She must have some means. It would be even better if she could make Qi Yangchuan listen to her.

An Wenniang and An Zizhong discussed it carefully and went to find Simian with their love and letters.

Nan Yu from Xishan set out again to deliver medicine to Liangzhou. One portion of the medicine was taken by An Wenniang for Simian, one portion was sent to Liangzhou to help Wang control Hu Yan, and the remaining two portions were kept for the time being to avoid future use.

An Wenniang entered the backyard of Zhiyuxuan from the small door in the back alley. Simian took her into the room and closed the door before asking her why she was there.

"This is a letter of introduction. Go to Kyoto and find Cheng Gonggong in Liuye Lane. He will take care of you. Here is a list. Please do your best to find these girls, buy them and settle them down. Don't worry about the money."

An Wenniang handed Simian two letters and a pearl ring. On the other letter were the names and portraits of the maids Bihe, Chunxiu and Chunlu.

"They should be in the Music Bureau or sold to a brothel. I specifically asked you to redeem them so that they can't be exposed. You have to find a way to prevent others from noticing. Their identities are embarrassing and I'm afraid they will cause you trouble. I can't tell you the specific reason."

Simian knew that this girl had too many mysteries from the beginning, and she had never thought of digging into the truth. Her goal was Jiao Lang. As long as she could watch Jiao Lang in Kyoto, nothing else mattered.

An Wenniang took out two kinds of medicine, one was lingering love and the other was red heart jade lotus.

"Li Sanjiao has a serious headache. This medicine can relieve his headache a lot. This medicine is prepared for Jin Yue, whom you mentioned. It can make Qi Yangchuan completely devoted to her and obey her. But I don't know if Jin Yue can be trusted?"

Holding the Red Heart Jade Lotus, Simian stood up excitedly. Jiao Lang actually had a headache, and this medicine could cure it. Could it be that this little girl lied to her in order to get her to do a good job? But thinking about it made it seem impossible.

When she arrives in Kyoto, she will be able to see Jiao Lang, and then she will know whether Jiao Lang is feeling unwell. The medicine is in her hands, and it is her business whether to use it or not.

The little girl in front of him made Simian even more surprised that she had so many medicines.

"Jin Yue and I have a good relationship, but I can't strictly guarantee that I can really let her do things for us. After all, if Qi Yangchuan really loves her, there is no guarantee that she won't have other ideas. You'd better have some medicine to control her as well."

An Wenniang nodded and said that she would send it to her later. After returning, she told An Zizhong about their conversation.

"Let An Huang deliver it. Avoid contact with Simian. She is a hard-hearted person. Jin Yue is her best sister and she also suggested that you control it with drugs. If it wasn't for Li Sanjiao, she wouldn't have done anything for you. What a coincidence."

An Huang first gave Wuxin Powder to Simian, and Simian then found a way to feed it to Jinyue.

At first Simian thought that this love drug was so effective, so all she had to do was find women that high-ranking officials liked, give them the pills, and then make purses out of the flower petals filled with the pills and give them to the men, so she could control them.

But when she actually opened the medicine, she realized why it didn't work.

First of all, this pill tastes terrible and has a strong odor. Most people don’t have the courage to take such a smelly medicine. The smell of the petals containing the pills is also very abrupt. It not only has a fragrance, but also a hint of fox smell.

Jin Yue frowned, gritted her teeth and swallowed the medicine while pinching her nose.

"Ugh~"

Jin Yue had never tasted such a disgusting taste. It was even stinkier than those toilets, bitter and astringent, and had a greasy feeling.

Seeing Jin Yue crying in pain, Simian walked up to her, covered her mouth, rubbed her back a few times, and then poured some water into her mouth before letting her swallow it.

Jin Yue lay on the table, retching with tears in her eyes.

"Si Mian, I don't want to take this medicine a second time."

Simian thought to herself that it was you who heard that this medicine could make Qi Yangchuan fall in love with you, so you insisted on taking it, and now you say this.

But she didn't dare to say anything else. Half an hour later, Jin Yue suddenly felt a sharp pain in her abdomen and rolled on the ground in pain. Simian thought that there was something wrong with An Wenniang's medicine.

When I was anxious and didn't know what to do, I suddenly saw that Jin Yue's clothes were stained black by sweat.

Finally, she stopped rolling around. Simian helped Jinyue to change into clean clothes and take a flower petal bath. After Jinyue was clean, Simian realized the magic of this medicine.

After taking this medicine, a woman's skin will become delicate and emit the same scent as the petals with the pills sandwiched between them.

The flower petals are now in the purse in Simian's hand, and a trace of fragrance comes into her nose. Originally, she smelled a faint floral and foxy scent in the purse, but now when she stands in front of Jin Yue, only the fragrance is left. She feels comfortable and wants to get close to Jin Yue. Being closer to her, she feels relaxed and happy.

Simian reacted in time and handed the purse to her.

"Jin Yue, this is a good thing. I can't help but want to touch you while holding the purse. Hurry up and give it to Lord Qi. Once the pills are taken, the effect of this purse will only last for three days. Today has already wasted a day."

Jin Yue nodded, pursed her purse, and planned to meet Qi Yangchuan tonight. She asked someone to deliver a letter to the Qi Mansion, but unexpectedly Qi Yangchuan did not come out. Instead, a woman stood at the door and scolded her.

Jin Yue gritted her teeth, clenched the purse in her hand, and made up her mind.

She had a good impression of Qi Yangchuan. Once, when a wealthy man invited Qi Yangchuan to a banquet, she was the one who accompanied him. Qi Yangchuan accepted her, but the interest was only there for a while before he gave up.

Later, as he got older and didn't want to receive customers anymore, he and Simian redeemed themselves from the brothel and lived together.

I met Qi Yangchuan by chance. It happened that his wife had not recovered well after giving birth to a legitimate son, so it was inconvenient for her to have sex. He was afraid that his wife would be sad if he found a concubine in the mansion, so he got together with me again. Who would not like the superior who is in charge of a state? Many women admire strong men.

After all, Jin Yue was a famous courtesan in the brothel. Even if she had stopped working there, her skills were still there. She was more open-minded in bed than other women, which made Qi Yangchuan visit her occasionally when he was interested.

After Zhiyuxuan opened, she helped Simian to manage it. Later, she successfully delivered one thousand taels to Qi Yangchuan, and he also helped to protect Zhiyuxuan.

But Jin Yue just couldn't accept it. That Madam Qi was born better than her, and she was fortunate to grow up with Qi Yangchuan, which was why they had a deep relationship. Nothing else could compare to her. She was not as beautiful as her, not as versatile as her, and not as talented as her.

Everyone in Gongzhou said that Madam Qi was jealous and petty, but she was lucky enough to marry Qi Yangchuan, who treated her like a treasure. She had to bear the humiliation today.

But she would not be humiliated by a woman in vain. Sooner or later, she would get her face back.

I was hesitant before because Simian found this medicine and said it was to help her get Qi Yangchuan's favor, but in fact, Simian was afraid that she wanted Qi Yangchuan to do something.

There is no need to hesitate now. Qi Yangchuan clearly allowed Madam Qi to humiliate him in the mansion, so she is not cruel.