The Eldest Daughter Reborn: She Provoked the Obsessive Crown Prince and Couldn't Escape

"Really?" Upon hearing the woman's words, Fu Zhengzheng suddenly looked up.

Her eyes gleamed, like a wild beast that had caught the scent of food!

"Of course it's true! It's just that my mistress's ointment..." the woman said at the opportune moment.

"Yes, yes, yes!" With the woman's assurance, Fu Zhengzheng hurriedly accepted the reward from Tao Su and agreed to the matter of the ointment.

Ignoring her embarrassment and shame, she made up her mind immediately—

If Fu Luan is willing to give it to her, that would be best; if not...

Even if it means stealing, I must steal this ointment from Fu Luan!

"I wonder what time tomorrow would be convenient for me to come to your residence to collect it?" the woman asked with a bow and a smile.

"Tomorrow...tomorrow???" Fu Zhengzheng exclaimed in surprise;

As if realizing her behavior was inappropriate, she quickly covered her mouth;

But the surprise on her face was something her delicate hands couldn't hide.

Although she had made up her mind, she didn't dare to set the time too close; in case she made a mistake, or...

But the woman—or rather, the "Consort Shu" behind her—clearly didn't have that kind of patience.

Fu Zhengzheng hesitated again: "There's really no time tomorrow; this ointment..."

"These were all made by the women themselves; they couldn't be made by anyone else. The new ointment is still being prepared."

"Could you please grant me some more time, Consort Shu?"

The woman sighed, "I'm just doing my master's bidding..."

"Alright then, I won't make things difficult for you, young lady. Just name a date, so I can report back to you, how about that?"

Fu Zhengzheng was almost in tears; upon hearing this, a smile appeared on her face.

She quickly replied, "Seven...seven days, how about that?"

Seeing the woman frown, she knew this was taking too long, so she changed her mind and said, "Then... five days?"

The woman remained silent; Fu Zhengzheng hardened her heart and said again, "Three days! It can't be any shorter!"

The woman reluctantly nodded, "It's settled then. I'll return to the palace in three days to ask my master's opinion."

"I will not keep you waiting in vain, young lady. If I have not arrived at your residence by sunset today;"

"It means the time you mentioned is right! You can just wait for me to come back in three days to pick up the ointment!"

Fu Zhengzheng nodded quickly. After receiving Fu Zhengzheng's permission, the woman bowed repeatedly and left.

“That’s not right… I don’t think I saw this woman when I went to Consort Shu’s palace last time?” Fu Zhengzheng reviewed the woman’s words and actions just now;

The more she thought about it, the more suspicious it became, and she suddenly became alert; so she sent Taosu to follow them at a distance...

"Don't worry, young lady, this person is indeed from the palace!"

"I followed her to the gate, and she was riding in a palace carriage..." Tao Su said after returning.

Fu Zhengzheng was finally relieved.

She waited until the last ray of sunlight disappeared into the sky, and when the woman did not come again, she knew that the matter was settled!

"Your aunt didn't see it, the second young lady... was overjoyed;

"Do they really think that Granny Chang was sent by Consort Shu, and that they can become a Noble Consort themselves?!"

"She's busy watching porn right now! Nobody can bother her."

"I guess I'll ask my aunt for that ointment tomorrow." As night fell, Tao Su secretly slipped into Fu Luan's room and reported what had happened during the day.

Fu Luan sneered, "Then I'd better prepare the ointment, lest people say I'm 'stingy and illegitimate' even when it comes to ointment!"

"Granny Chang" was the person who came during the day to give Fu Zhengzheng gifts and deliver messages.

Tao Su wasn't lying; she was indeed from the palace, but not sent by Consort Shu...

She was originally Yuanrui's wet nurse, but now she's too old and has no more milk.

Yuan Rui was grateful to her for raising her, so she brought her to the palace.

Although she was called a "nanny," she was actually just someone who enjoyed a life of leisure and didn't have much to do.

Fu Luan went to Yuan Rui to tell her about her plan, and Yuan Rui immediately thought of Granny Chang.

Granny Chang had received Yuan Rui's kindness, so how could she refuse?

Moreover, there are carriages for both ways, so it's not even a matter of "running errands"; it's just a matter of exchanging a few words.

Sure enough, the next morning, right after breakfast, Fu Zhengzheng eagerly came to Fu Luan's courtyard, ostensibly to "pay her respects to her elder sister."

In reality, they always beat around the bush and never reveal the purpose of their visit.

She waited for Fu Luan to ask her directly, and Fu Luan was happy to play dumb, pouring her tea and inviting her to try the latest refreshments.

"Sister, the ointment that we used last time worked very well for Shu Guiyi, but it's almost empty."

“Look…” In the end, Fu Zhengzheng couldn’t hold back any longer.

Seeing that Fu Luan remained silent, she assumed he was in a difficult position; so she steeled herself and spoke again:

"Consort Shu said that she has already chosen a date to introduce me to the Emperor..."

Fu Luan then feigned a smile and said, "In that case, we should thank them properly!"

"I just wonder how much ointment Consort Shu will need this time?"

Fu Zhengzheng thought for a moment and realized that she hadn't agreed on the quantity with the old woman yesterday;

Since she didn't say, one box should be enough. However…

"Shu Guiyi said she wants two boxes first, and if that's not enough... Dear sister, please give me more!"

"I'll take it all with me into the palace at once! That way I won't have to send someone to retrieve it once I'm inside."

"I happen to have a used box from last time, I wonder if it's still there?" Fu Zhengzheng asked quickly.

Seeing that she had taken the bait, Fu Luan didn't hesitate and sent someone to bring over two boxes.

“Of course I kept the box from last time. Would I give something that has been used to the ladies in the palace?”

"These two boxes... are newly made! We don't have any more. This ointment looks ordinary."

"It's quite a hassle to make!" Fu Luan said as she opened the lid in front of Fu Zhengzheng.

The light pink cream, the faint lotus scent... it's exactly the same as last time.

Fu Zhengzheng didn't think too much about why she got the ointment so easily this time; in any case, she secretly kept a box for herself.

The nanny picked up the other box of ointment at the agreed time and told her that "the recommendation is progressing well."

They also gave her a lot of gold and silver jewelry, which made Zhengzheng overjoyed, and she personally presented it to them.

"What has made the Second Miss so happy?" A familiar voice came from behind, startling Zhengzheng so much that she almost dropped the jewelry she had just received.

She turned around and saw Xue Yan.

Thinking of their marriage, Zhengzheng blushed.

Although they haven't even held an engagement banquet yet, Xue Yan is indeed her betrothed.

"No, no... The empress in the palace has a disfigured face;"

“I presented the ointment to the Empress, and she gave me some rewards.”

"Brother Yan, why don't you pick a few things to take to the Xue sisters?" Fu Zhengzheng quickly curtsied and presented the jewelry in her hands to Xue Yan.

If it were someone else, they would definitely think that Zhengzheng's bowing gesture was very affected and pretentious;

But in Xue Yan's eyes, Fu Zhengzheng had her own charm.

"Since it was bestowed upon the Second Miss by the palace, how could my sisters possibly take what belongs to someone else?" Xue Yan said with a smile.

For some reason, Fu Zhengzheng blushed from her face to the roots of her ears, "Although it was a gift from the Empress;

"But they're just some worthless junk, so please don't look down on them, sisters..."