When Yi Qing saw the visiting card from Lady Jia, she didn't think much of it. She assumed it was all about her mother. It was her first time meeting Lady Jia today, and she found there were quite a few interesting things in the capital.
She was a doctor, most proficient in the four diagnostic methods of traditional Chinese medicine, with inspection being the first. She could tell everyone's physical condition at a glance.
"It's nothing," Yi Qing said, then started to act coquettishly. "Mother was willing to draw a sword for Brother Bai. Why can't she do the same for me?"
"That's because they sent their bodyguards to drive Brother Bai away..." Di Shi immediately got anxious.
"Those bodyguards are just lackeys. It would be beneath Mother's dignity to fight them. She should fight the master. Then see if those dogs would still dare to act so arrogantly," Yi Qing said crossly.
"After all, they are noble ladies in the capital."
"Don't be fooled by their airs. Everyone has their own hard - to - tell miseries. Take Lady Xie for example. If the Lu family hadn't protected her dignity, she would surely have become the laughingstock of the capital as a concubine. She only has the face. She hasn't been able to enter the Lu family for years. Without the support of the Lu family, how could her life be good?"
"Really?" Di Shi was a bit skeptical.
"Mother, just wait and see." Yi Qing was determined to correct her mother's mindset.
After lunch, the two went to Rongyan Hall to pick out some things for Di Shi. Di Shi left first, while Yi Qing stayed to discuss the operation of Rongyan Hall with Lu Youming.
Since its opening, Rongyan Hall had been facing one problem after another. Fortunately, Lu Youming was smart and capable, which was why it had achieved its current scale.
"Madam, there are already shops in the market imitating our Rongyan Hall. They even hired our pharmaceutical masters with a large sum of money," Lu Youming said worriedly.
"Which shop?" Yi Qing wondered who was so shameless.
"The Jia family," Lu Youming said angrily. "That Lady Jia is a sly person. Relying on her status, she has been eyeing our Rongyan Hall a lot since Madam and the General had trouble. Fortunately, the eight - dragon gold bell bestowed by the Emperor made those people behave a bit."
Yi Qing didn't expect the gold bell to have such a function. "We'll settle this score slowly. I plan to turn the former princess's garden into a workshop," she said as she took out the plan and showed it to Lu Youming.
Lu Youming was surprised after taking a look. "Recruit women to work?"
"What's wrong with that?" Yi Qing was curious why Lu Youming would care about this.
"It's not that there's anything wrong, but most women are illiterate and don't recognize medicinal materials. This might waste time."
"It's okay. I'll go to the workshop regularly to teach them."
Yi Qing had previously planned to open a medical clinic, but it was ruined by Xiao Jinghan. With her current status, showing up in public would surely lead to a lot of gossip. Moreover, she alone couldn't change much. So she decided to open a place specifically to train female doctors. Then it would be convenient for women all over the world to see a doctor.
"That's great," Lu Youming didn't think there was anything wrong with this idea.
They went to the garden to take a look. The houses there were already sufficient. They just needed to move the things from the neighboring yard and buy a little more, then they could start soon.
Yi Qing planned to make several copper pots and start producing flower water and hydrosol. In the future, she wanted to build an empire of beauty and skincare.
Song Zhiyu and Mo Dengxian were sitting opposite each other. They had been worried all day, but there was no movement from Lord Xu.
Jiang Xun came back to report that the wound on Mo Kong's body had been discovered. With Xu Maozhi's ability, he couldn't have failed to discover the real cause of Mo Kong's death. This matter should be resolved soon.
Xu Maozhi's literary talent was inferior to Song Zhiyu's, but he was good at solving cases and his analytical ability was better than Song Zhiyu's. Song Zhiyu had always known this.
Moreover, Xu Maozhi was an upright person and would not help them cover up this matter.
Song Zhiyu originally wanted to use Lady Xiao as a way out, but Lady Xiao simply ignored him. He thought this matter couldn't continue, but unexpectedly, there was no change.
"No matter whether this matter succeeds or not, Brother Song will be implicated," Mo Dengxian said worriedly, looking at Song Zhiyu.
"If I were afraid of being implicated, I wouldn't have done this. To be honest, when I agreed to this, I was already prepared to die," Song Zhiyu said freely.
Mo Dengxian nodded. "We shouldn't be afraid of death. We only hope to live meaningfully."
"I'm just sorry for your younger brother."
Mo Dengxian shook his head. "If it weren't for Brother Song, he would have died in vain. It's just that those powerful and wealthy people are heartless. Even if the truth comes out, they won't be punished." As he said this, he clenched his fists tightly, the veins on his hands bulging, and his body trembled slightly.
"Maybe... they will be," Song Zhiyu said uncertainly.
Although he didn't know why things had turned out this way, it was a good thing after all. Moreover, he felt that although Lady Xiao didn't want to talk to him, she didn't directly reveal the truth, which meant she was helping him.
Yi Qing had been busy outside all day. When she got home, she lay down on the lounge chair and felt completely comfortable.
"Madam, the Empress Dowager wants you to enter the palace tomorrow," Jushuang brought over the tea.
"What's the matter?" Yi Qing wondered why she felt like she had just been to the palace.
"The maid who came didn't say. She just didn't look very happy."
"Did she give you a hard time?" Yi Qing wanted to ask which maid it was so that she could teach her a lesson later.
"No," Jushuang shook her head. "She seemed quite worried about this matter."
Yi Qing tilted her head and thought for a while. The only bad thing for her today should be that she had mocked Lady Xie and Lady Jia. But it couldn't be that fast, could it?
"Okay, I see," Yi Qing didn't care. "You go and do your work. Ruohong..."
Jushuang left, and Ruohong came over to pay respects.
"The Prince said there are more of you. Where are the others?" Yi Qing asked.
"They are all in the capital. They can be summoned at any time if needed."
"Send two people to sneak into the Jia family and keep an eye on them, especially Lady Jia. If she takes medicine, bring back the dregs," Yi Qing ordered.
"Yes," Ruohong didn't ask why.
Xiao Jinghan came back very late. Yi Qing immediately went over to be attentive. She served him tea and massaged his shoulders, which made Xiao Jinghan quite surprised.
"Come on, what do you want?" Xiao Jinghan held back his smile.
"How does the Emperor plan to deal with the matter of the eldest princess?" Yi Qing asked.
"This matter should have been dealt with a year ago. Now it has cooled down and the aftermath has been handled. Based on the principle of not airing family dirty laundry in public, the Emperor may keep the eldest princess's status."
Yi Qing thought these people were really something. They tried to cover up everything until it rotted and festered, and finally it couldn't be cured. "I met Lady Xie and Lady Jia when I went out today. We had a little argument."
"Did you get bullied?" Xiao Jinghan turned around and held Yi Qing's hand.
"No," Yi Qing sat down in Xiao Jinghan's arms. "Just as I got home, Jushuang said the Empress Dowager wanted to see me. I thought about it again and again. It's very likely that the Empress Dowager wants to see me because of this matter."
"As long as you're okay, don't care about them," Xiao Jinghan said, seeing how obedient Yi Qing was.
"What if I've offended them all?" Yi Qing asked tentatively.
Xiao Jinghan lowered his head and sized up Yi Qing.
"What?" Yi Qing felt uncomfortable being stared at by Xiao Jinghan. She thought she hadn't said anything wrong.