tallest building

Chapter 35 Seeking Facial Treatment

Song got up early to help Gong Xu out the door, and then watched as someone led Gong Bao'an to the school.

He advised, "The sky is overcast, it might rain, so bring an extra set of clothes! Just in case."

Gong Bao'an looked at her expectantly and pleaded, "Can I play with Brother Chang'an today after I come back from school?"

With many servants present, Madam Song couldn't say anything else, and only vaguely replied, "If Fourth Young Master isn't busy, that's fine."

Gong Baoan then happily got into the car and left.

When Song returned home, she felt listless and lacked energy.

Granny Yang came in and said, "Young Madam, my second son just came back and said that Chen Youde has already left the city through Antai Gate."

Gong Xu ordered his men to watch Chen Youde leave the capital, and naturally, all the ill-gotten gains he had amassed were recovered.

Madam Song nodded: "Let's go! It will bring peace of mind."

Granny Yang comforted her, "Young Madam, don't be discouraged. This time, that woman surnamed Wen was lucky. If Granny Lu hadn't complained to her, how would she have known about Chen Youde? Otherwise, how would she have had the chance to gossip in front of the master?"

Madam Song frowned, pondered for a moment, and said, "I'm wondering, is this really just a coincidence?"

"What else could it be?" Granny Yang chuckled. "Granny Lu probably didn't dare tell you or the master, firstly because she was afraid you wouldn't believe her, and secondly because she was afraid of being stopped by someone. It must have been when that Wen woman went out that she ran into her."

"Maybe so! But I don't know why, my heart is always fluctuating." Madam Song pressed her chest.

"He must have been frightened yesterday. We should call a doctor to take a look," said Granny Yang. "Fortunately, it was a close call, and Chen Youde didn't say a word he shouldn't have."

Actually, she was terrified yesterday, afraid that Wen Mingqian would hold a grudge.

“Compared to all this, Wen Mingqian’s change in temperament is what worries me more,” said Madam Song with a displeased expression. “She seems to have some backup plan.”

"Young Madam, please don't worry too much. Isn't it said that it's easier to change mountains and rivers than to change one's nature? It seems that she is having a hard time making a living now, so she has naturally learned to compromise. As for how profound her wisdom is, this old servant doesn't believe it."

"In any case, we must be careful from now on and never underestimate our enemies." Madam Song relaxed her brows and forced a smile. "And Bao'er, that child, always wants to play with that wild thing, really..."

Granny Yang was about to persuade her again when Liu Yun came in and said, "Young Madam, the Marquis of Changrong's mansion has sent people. It's Wang Mama, the lady's personal maid, and Yu Nong, the maidservant of the Fourth Miss."

"What are they doing here?" Madam Song asked, somewhat puzzled. "Did they say anything?"

"They only said they were visiting, and even brought some gifts," Liu Yun said. "It seems like they wanted something from me."

"What could they possibly want from me?" Song asked in surprise. "Please come in first! Don't keep them waiting."

Madam Wang and Yu Nong entered with smiles on their faces and greeted Madam Song.

Madam Song greeted them with a beaming smile, asking, "How are your wife, eldest mistress, and young ladies? It's been a long time since I've seen them. I hope you'd like to come and pay your respects, but I haven't had the time."

"Young Madam, you're too kind. But if you have the chance, you really should come visit us. Our Madam says she misses you!" Wang Mama said with a smile. "These are some water shield and dried shrimp they brought back from Jiangnan. Enjoy them while they're fresh!"

As he spoke, he gave a wink to the little maid beside him.

The young maid stepped forward and put down what she was carrying. Madam Song noticed that another young maid was also carrying something, which was clearly much more valuable than the water shield and dried shrimp.

“The young mistress is in charge of the affairs of the whole family, so she must be very busy. We won’t bother her any longer. Please take us to see the second mistress!” Wang Mama formally stated her purpose: “Our mistress sent us here to ask the second mistress for help.”

"What kind of help do you need from the Second Madam?" Song asked blurtly, unable to think of anything Wen Mingqian could do to help the Changrong Marquis's mansion.

"That's right. Last time, when the Second Madam hosted a banquet, she gave my Madam and Miss some face creams and face powders before she left."

"It just so happens that our fourth young lady suffered from tinea capitis a few days ago, and nothing she tried helped. But after using the face powder given by the second madam, her condition improved significantly in just one day and night, and she was completely cured after three days of continuous use," said Yu Nong, the fourth young lady's personal maid. "Our young lady was overjoyed; now she no longer has to worry about not being able to face anyone."

However, we've already used up the medicine, and the lady is worried about a relapse, so she sent us to ask the second lady to give us some more powdered medicine, so we can always have some on hand, just in case we have a relapse and nothing to use.”

"So that's how it is," a pang of jealousy welled up in Madam Song's heart, but on the surface she maintained her usual gentle and compliant demeanor. "Then I'll go with you! I haven't gone to pay my respects to Madam today!"

"Then I'll have to trouble you, young lady," Madam Wang said quickly.

Madam Song and Granny Yang got up and led them toward Lingyue Pavilion.

Zhang Ma was eating melon seeds under the eaves when she saw that Song Shi had brought a lot of people. She spat out a mouthful of melon seed shells and then relaxed her shoulders.

"Old sister, is Madam here? Someone from the Marquis of Changrong's residence has come to visit," Granny Yang said from afar.

"Madam is here! Please invite the guests in!" Zhang Ma said, smiling at Wang Mama and Yu Nong in a very friendly manner.

“We apologize for our intrusion today,” said Madam Wang. “Please forgive us, Madam.”

"You're being too polite. You're honored guests, please come in." When Zhang Ma wasn't being fierce, she was very easygoing. But after Wang Mama and Yu Nong went in, she put on a stern face and stopped Song Shi and Yang Pozi.

“Mama Zhang, I also want to go in and pay my respects to Madam,” said Madam Song. “You can’t stop me, can you?”

"What's good or bad about it?" Zhang Ma sneered. "Madam doesn't need you to pay your respects; she still has to entertain the guests!"

Of course, Madam Song wasn't there to pay her respects to Wen Mingqian; she simply wanted to hear what Wen Mingqian and the people from the Changrong Marquis's residence were saying.

“Old sister, there are guests here. How rude of you to act like this!” Granny Yang said. “It wouldn’t be good if outsiders saw us laughing at us.”

"What joke? Is it the joke that you insisted on barging in even though Madam wouldn't see you?" Zhang Ma said, rolling her dead fish eyes.

"This...this is not true. I have always been respectful to Madam," Song said innocently.

“Yes! Everyone knows that the young mistress is very polite,” Granny Yang quickly chimed in.

“Since that’s the case, Madam still has many scriptures to copy. Young Madam, take them back and copy them. I heard you are literate.” Zhang Ma looked at Song Shi with a malicious smile. “It’s a good thing to get closer to Buddhism. Maybe it will cultivate some compassion.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Gong Chang'an came out of the house, holding a scroll of scriptures in his hand.

Zhang Ma took it and handed it to Yang Pozi, saying, "You can recite it sometimes when you have free time; it's a way to accumulate good karma."

Good luck in September! Starting today, I'll be updating twice a week. Please vote and support me! Wishing you all a bountiful autumn!



(End of this chapter)