tallest building

Chapter 198 Addiction

Wen Mingqian had been to many high-ranking households, but this was the first time he had spoken to Princess Zhao.

"I heard from Fu Nu that the face cream you make is even better than the ones in the palace," said Consort Zhao, calling Liu by her childhood name. "That makes me really want to meet you."

"I am honored by the Princess's kindness; it is my great fortune. However, the Marquis's wife has praised me too much, and I am truly unworthy of such praise," Wen Mingqian said.

"You're being too modest. I know even the Princess admires you," Princess Zhao smiled. "I dislike bitter medicine, but for the past two years I've been getting flaky skin behind my ears and on my eyebrows, especially at night, it's so itchy. They've tried various dietary remedies for me for a long time, but it hasn't helped. Do you have any suggestions?"

"Let me take a closer look," Wen Mingqian said. "It's worth a try. I'll go back and prepare it and send it to your residence."

Here are prepared jade dew and jade cream; the princess may use them morning and evening after applying them to her face without any problem.

After leaving his belongings, Wen Mingqian did not linger and took his leave.

After she left, Princess Zhao said to Lady Liu, "She is indeed a person who knows the rules."

“I observed her carefully for a long time before I dared to mention her to my aunt,” Liu said. “I also inquired about her in detail. She asks almost nothing of people and has a very gentle nature.”

"It's hard to say for sure right now. If she really has no ulterior motives, why would she do these things?" Princess Zhao disagreed. "Let's just wait and see. In any case, we won't take advantage of her."

“Of course, everyone knows what kind of person you are, Aunt,” Liu said. “No matter what, the things she makes are really useful, and that’s the most important thing.”

Wen Mingqian left the Prince Zhao's mansion and unexpectedly encountered Ying Wuchou in front of the Wuqiu Nunnery.

He still had a dark expression and an unfriendly look in his eyes.

Wen Mingqian curtsied to him and was about to go inside when he was stopped.

"Does Your Highness need me for something?" Wen Mingqian asked.

“Yes, something is indeed wrong,” Ying Wuchou said. “What exactly do you want to do?”

"Doesn't Your Highness think you're meddling a bit too much?" Wen Mingqian laughed. "If I remember correctly, you should leave the capital and return to the borderlands."

“That’s why I’m not at ease,” Ying Wuchou said.

"Your Highness doesn't trust me?" Wen Mingqian chuckled. "Do you think a weak woman like me can turn the tide?"

“I know you must have something in mind, and it’s not a small thing.” Ying Wuchou looked at her and said, “The Zhou family’s affairs have caused quite a stir. Everyone thinks that Liu Huanchun has lost his mind and is making baseless accusations. But I know that the eldest mistress of the Zhou family is indeed having an affair with Sang Sanyang.”

Hearing his words, Wen Mingqian was slightly surprised, but quickly calmed down: "Since Your Highness knows so much, you should know that I was unaware of it before. Why are you questioning me about their affair?"

"You didn't know anything about what happened between the two of them, but you knew everything about helping Sang Sanyang and Sang Er, the uncle and nephew, to get revenge. Isn't that right?" Ying Wuchou stared at Wen Mingqian with eyes like a hawk, as if trying to see through her.

Sang Er's biological father, Tan Mingzhi, was an orphan, while the Sang family was extremely wealthy.

Sang's father took pity on Tan Mingzhi, who was orphaned at a young age, and saw that he was ambitious despite his young age, and that he did not forget to study even while herding cattle. Thus, he developed a love for his talent.

Not only did they hire a tutor for him, but they also provided him with financial assistance from time to time.

And so, with the help of the Sang family, Tan Mingzhi passed the imperial examination and became a Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations).

In their area, it is extremely rare for someone to pass the imperial examination at a young age and become a scholar.

In addition, Tan Mingzhi was extremely handsome, and Master Sang had long seen that he was no ordinary person.

After passing the imperial examination and becoming a scholar, he was deeply grateful for Master Sang's kindness and always remembered it in public and private. So, he asked a kind-hearted person to act as matchmaker for him and Miss Sang.

Miss Sang was naturally willing, and her family did not object.

The marriage was a perfect match, and Miss Sang married Tan Mingzhi with a generous dowry.

Tan Mingzhi lived up to expectations and passed the imperial examination as a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial-level imperial examination) three years later.

Sang Er had already been born by this time, but was still an infant.

Tan Mingzhi then went to the capital to take the imperial examination and passed as he wished.

However, he was soon noticed by the daughter of a high-ranking official in Beijing. Tan Mingzhi lied that he was unmarried, and thus a classic "Chen Shimei" drama unfolded.

But he knew that the truth would eventually come out, so after taking office, she pretended to write a letter to the Sang family, inviting them all to come to the capital so that the family could reunite.

The Sang family had no idea of ​​the conspiracy. They happily boarded the boat and headed to the capital.

However, they encountered river bandits halfway there. In the chaos, Sang Sanyang grabbed Sang Er and jumped off the boat, thus escaping with his life. The rest of them were killed on the boat by the river bandits.

At that time, Sang Sanyang had not yet woken up and was taking his niece to Beijing to seek refuge with his brother-in-law.

But when they arrived in the capital, they learned that Tan Mingzhi had already married into another family and become a son-in-law.

It is obvious that the reason for luring the Sang family to the capital was to silence them.

Sang Sanyang couldn't stay in the capital and wanted to do some small business, but he had many misfortunes in those years and ended up in Shuangxi. He met Wen Mingqian when he was almost frozen and starving to death.

Wen Mingqian saved the two of them, the uncle and nephew, and even gave them their initial investment.

In addition, Wen Mingqian also helped Sang Sanyang get rid of Tan Mingzhi, who had already risen to the rank of fifth grade.

Therefore, Sang Sanyang and Sang Er were completely devoted to Wen Mingqian.

After learning all this, Ying Wuchou felt even more that Wen Mingqian was no ordinary person and concluded that she must have a grand scheme.

“Your Highness is capable enough to find out everything, so why ask me?” Wen Mingqian said fearlessly. “Anyway, you won’t believe anything I say. You’ll only believe what you find out yourself, won’t you?”

"Whatever you're plotting, don't even think about the Princess," Ying Wuchou warned her. "My aunt doesn't want to get involved in worldly affairs anymore; she just wants peace and quiet."

“Your Highness, everyone has secrets they can’t tell, and you are no exception, are you?” Wen Mingqian said calmly. “You know the truth about General Zhu Qingshen’s death, don’t you? But you haven’t told the Princess all these years, have you?”

"What else do you know?!" Ying Wuchou's expression suddenly turned extremely terrifying. "I'll say it again: stay away from the Princess. Although I'm about to leave the capital, I will send people to keep an eye on you. You'd better behave yourself, or I won't care about you."

"Your Highness, I would never harm the Princess, you can rest assured. But you mustn't stop me from doing what I'm about to do," Wen Mingqian insisted. "Although you are a prince, the capital is not your territory. Leaving people behind to monitor me will only cause misunderstandings. Don't you think so?"

King Changliu was speechless for a moment; too many people had been wary of him over the years.

He knew that Wen Mingqian was not lying.

"Your Highness, ten years of blossoming beauty, tears in the east wind, a few drops of snail-scented fragrance, dust on the white wall. New sorrows have replaced my romantic nature, I especially hate that the mandarin ducks do not remember me." Wen Mingqian suddenly recited a few lines of poetry, "I have a secret I cannot tell you, but it will not harm you."

After saying this, she gracefully entered the nunnery, leaving Ying Wuchou standing at the door in a daze.