The Poisonous Consort, the Regent's Beloved

"Miss, the item is missing, what should we do?"

Biluo's anxious voice came from inside the room.

"Shh, keep your voice down. We don't know how to explain this to Mother yet."

Su Fuying's tone was unusually guilty, and Biluo comforted her, "Miss, I think this is for the best. Without the token, we can tell Madam the truth. In that case, Miss can only marry into the Crown Prince's residence. Without this, Second Miss cannot compete with you for the position of Crown Princess."

"Hey."

All that could be heard was Su Fuying's soft sigh, "Biluo, you don't understand."

"The Crown Prince was betrothed to the eldest daughter of the Su family since childhood. Recently, my mother and the others have disliked me, and they will find fault with me to remove me from the family genealogy. At that time, there will only be one young lady in the Imperial Academy, so the marriage will fall to Su Wan'er."

Biluo was somewhat shocked, "How could this be? Even if Madam dislikes Miss, she wouldn't possibly expel you from the Su family, would she?"

"Who knows."

The master and servant were talking in the room, neither of them noticing a figure silently leaving through the doorway.

The next day, Su Fuying went to the pharmacy to see patients as usual, but this time she brought something with her.

"What is this?"

Gu Qibai held a small porcelain bottle in his hand, looking it up and down with some doubt.

Su Fuying blinked. "Take a guess."

"Dendrobium, ginseng, Ganoderma lucidum, azurite, tobacco..."

Seeing that Gu Qibai had only smelled it for a moment before listing out the medicinal herbs one by one, the shock in his eyes was undisguised.

Apart from the azure flower, the others were all common tonics, and Gu Qibai had no idea what they were used for.

If taken orally, it could slightly replenish qi and blood; however, he didn't know where this milky white paste could be used externally.

Seeing his confusion, Su Fuying had no choice but to explain, "I named this ointment 'Moisturizing Cream'."

"Moisturizing cream?"

Gu Qibai guessed the general meaning of the name, "Can it moisturize the skin?"

"Of course, although this is a pharmacy, not a cosmetics shop, our products are made from medicinal herbs and have no side effects."

"Are you trying to sell here?"

Su Fuying replied without hesitation, "Of course, otherwise this pharmacy would go out of business sooner or later."

His words were rather blunt, and Gu Qibai awkwardly touched his nose. "So, how much should we price it?"

"The current price is twenty taels per can."

Gu Qibai's eyes widened in disbelief. "How much?"

Twenty taels—only the azurite flower is worth some silver among these medicinal herbs; the other herbs could be bought for half a cartload for twenty taels.

"Yes, just 20 taels for the first three days, then we'll buy 50 taels a jar."

Su Fuying's voice carried a confidence that made Gu Qibai believe her as well.

Before Gu Qibai could speak, he continued, "We won't put it on the shelves yet; we have to wait for the right opportunity!"

"opportunity?"

When Ji Zhiyun was bored, she suddenly received a visiting card from Su Fuying. She held it in her hand and looked at it several times to make sure it was not a prank.

"Was it really delivered by Biluo?"

"Yes, yes, Miss, it really was Biluo who personally delivered it to me." The maid Meimei said helplessly, as her mistress had asked three times already.

A look of joy appeared on Ji Zhiyun's face. She immediately stood up from the stool and instructed the servants, "Quickly, prepare tomorrow's lunch. The ingredients must be of the highest quality."

“Meimei, go and tell my mother not to go out for a stroll tomorrow, but to stay home and help me welcome Princess Yongle.”

Since the last time, Ji Nanqing has gone to Su Fuying to make a scene. She is also a member of the Ji family and is afraid that Su Fuying will dislike her.

So I was too embarrassed to go see Su Fuying again, but I didn't expect Su Fuying to take the initiative to say that she would come to visit me today.

The next morning, the gatekeeper delivered an invitation. Su Fuying took it and, as expected, it was Ren Yinxue's birthday celebration, and she was invited to a banquet.

"Biluo, take this letter to Renhetang and give it to Doctor Gu."

After saying that, he added, "Remember, you must not show your face."

"Yes."

Biluo took it and went to do it.

After tidying up, Su Fuying headed to the Ji residence.

As soon as the carriage stopped, Ji Zhiyun's excited voice could be heard, "Princess Yongle."

"Girls should be more careful."

A woman's voice rang out from the side. Su Fuying lifted the carriage curtain and saw Ji Zhiyun standing at the door, with a woman dressed as a woman gently reprimanding her.

Upon seeing Su Fuying, he immediately stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Princess Yongle."

Su Fuying quickly stepped forward and offered a helping hand, "Mrs. Ji, you're too kind. I just wanted to come and see Miss Ji today."

Madam Ji said gently, "It is my daughter A-Yun's good fortune to have won the favor of Princess Yongle."

The two exchanged pleasantries as they walked into the mansion. Ji Zhiyun, standing to the side, looked dejected, regretting that she should have let her mother go and play by herself.

The reason for asking her to stay was to show respect for Su Fuying, not to have her mother compete with her for Su Fuying.

"Madam Ji, I apologize for the intrusion of your visit today."

Madam Ji quickly waved her hand and said, "Your Highness is too kind. How could it be considered an intrusion?"

Su Fuying smiled and said, "I have prepared a small gift, and I hope you will accept it."

He then took out a small box from his side, and Ji Zhiyun, who was standing next to him, finally couldn't resist and craned her neck to look in this direction.

"Ah Yun, mind your image!"

"Oh dear, Mom, let me see."

It was rare to see Ji Zhiyun acting so girlishly, so Madam Ji finally couldn't bring herself to scold her anymore.

He could only turn to Su Fuying and say, "My daughter is a bit naughty, and I hope the princess will forgive her."

"Not at all, Miss Ji, this is truly your nature."

Seeing that Su Fuying actually spoke up for her, Ji Zhiyun was immediately excited, "See, Mother, even the Princess praised me for being true to my nature."

The atmosphere between the mother and daughter made Su Fuying feel a little envious, as she had no memory of her mother's appearance.

But when he thought of that little brat, his eyes softened a bit.

Then he pulled a white porcelain jar from his sleeve. "This is for you."

Ji Zhiyun stopped immediately, accepting the gift with a delighted expression; she hadn't expected to receive a gift as well.

"what is this?"

When I opened it, I only smelled a light fragrance, but I had never seen this thing before, so I was a little curious.

Su Fuying blinked and said mysteriously, "This stuff is called moisturizing cream. Apply a thin layer to your face after cleansing every morning and evening, and you'll get an unexpected surprise after just one day."

"really?"

Ji Zhiyun was pleasantly surprised and couldn't wait to go back and try it; it smelled so good.

Afterwards, the group strolled around the courtyard, and General Ji returned at lunchtime.

He returned still cursing and swearing, and before he even saw anyone, he heard a loud and energetic voice say, "Damn it, His Majesty and this Regent are fighting openly and secretly in court every day, and it's all because of us lowly officials."

"master!"

Hearing his wife's scolding voice, he quickly recalled what he had done wrong that day.

"Ma'am, what's going on?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than he saw a strange woman standing to the side.

"Who is this?"

Ji Zhiyun was also a little embarrassed. Although she was used to her father's irritable temper, there were guests present today.

He quickly explained, "This is Princess Yongle, Father. Please keep your voice down, or you'll frighten her."