Hidden edge

As dusk fell, the lights in the Lan courtyard began to light up.

Fu Yu quietly entered the inner room and placed a neatly copied list and a small bag of silver ingots on the rosewood desk in front of Lu Qinglan. "Miss, this is the preliminary list compiled according to your instructions. The silver was exchanged for two inconspicuous gold hairpins, totaling one hundred and twenty taels."

Lu Qinglan put down the booklet in his hand that looked like "Rules for Women," but actually contained "Guiguzi" under its cover, and took a closer look at the list. Fu Yu's handwriting was beautiful, and the record was quite detailed: the wife of Qian Po, the purchasing woman in the outer courtyard, had a gambling son who frequently embezzled public funds; the taciturn old groom in the stables was actually the descendant of the "Wind Chaser," a master renowned in the capital thirty years prior, now living in hiding due to his enemies' pursuit; there was a maid named Chun Xing in the laundry room, who was nimble and skillful, but because her ailing mother was often deprived of her wages by the housekeeper...

Behind each name lies a desire, a weakness, a hidden talent, and a rein for control. In her previous life, confined by her status as a lady from a wealthy family, she disdained these "lower-class" matters. Now, it seems, she was narrow-minded. Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. These insignificant people, if used well, are like drops of water that can penetrate any pore.

"Well done." Lu Qinglan nodded and put the list away. "As for Mrs. Qian, find an opportunity to let her 'accidentally' get some extra benefits, but you must have something to hold against her son. Old groom... don't bother her for now. Just have the kitchen send some wine and food occasionally as a token of your gratitude. Chun Xing, next time she's deducted money, if you 'happen' to pass by, seek justice for her, but don't mention me."

A hint of understanding flashed in Fu Yu's eyes, and she responded respectfully: "Yes, I understand." The young lady wanted to use both kindness and force, and take it step by step.

"How is Third Sister doing?" Lu Qinglan asked again.

Fu Yu frowned slightly. "The Third Young Miss did have a cough a few days ago. We called in the court physician, who said it was just a common cold and prescribed some medicine. But as instructed by the Young Miss, I noticed that the person who prepared the medicine was the distant niece of Nanny Wang, who is by Concubine Zhou's side. The medicine residue... I secretly checked it and found that there seemed to be slight discrepancies with several of the herbs on the prescription. There was also some coptis root, which is known for its cold properties."

Lu Qinglan's eyes darkened. As expected! Qingyu's premature death in her previous life was probably no accident. Madam Zhou, relying on her father's favor, had long regarded her mother, Lady Wang, who managed some of the household affairs, as a thorn in her side, and was even more jealous of her, the eldest legitimate daughter. Although Qingyu was born out of wedlock, her father had personally watched her grow up, and he held her in deep affection. If Qingyu died young, it would not only stigmatize her mother for her lax management of the household, but would also provoke her father's wrath, allowing Madam Zhou to seize power and even... make further plans for her own five-year-old son, Lu Wenbin.

What a vicious heart! He didn't even spare an eight-year-old child.

"Find out who replaced the medicine, and make sure the evidence is irrefutable." Lu Qinglan's voice was a little colder. "Also, secretly send the fifty-year-old ginseng from my storeroom to Qingyu. Have Madam Li, who is by her side, cut it into thin slices and swallow it orally every day to strengthen her body. Remember, this must be kept absolutely secret. If anyone asks, just say it's Madam Li's personal property."

"Yes." Fu Yu understood what she meant. The young lady wanted to secretly protect the third young lady and at the same time catch Aunt Zhou by the tail.

After finishing these, Lu Qinglan walked to the desk, spread out the rice paper, pondered for a moment, and then picked up her brush and dipped it in ink. She wasn't writing poetry or needlework, but a seemingly chaotic and chaotic diagram of relationships, centered around the Seventh Prince, Xiao Jingche, and radiating outward to the various factions within the court and the influential women in the imperial harems. Among them, she lightly circled several names with a red pen: Old Lady Gu, mother of Prime Minister Gu Zhao, a devoted Buddhist and upright woman; Wei Linlang, sister of General Wei Zheng of the Northern Frontier, a forthright woman, skilled in riding and shooting, and disdaining the trappings of the boudoir; and several powerful princes and princesses from the imperial clan...

In her previous life, she had spent countless efforts to win over these people for Xiao Jingche, only to end up serving them well. In this life, she had to firmly grasp these connections within her own grasp. Moreover, her methods had to change. It was no longer a simple exchange of benefits, but rather a need to cater to their interests and, more importantly... make them want something from her.

Just as she was concentrating, the maid outside the door announced: "Miss, Sister Feicui from the Madam's room is here."

Lu Qinglan quickly put away the relationship diagram and replaced it with a copy of the Book of Songs. Then he said, "Please come in."

Feicui, the maidservant beside Wang, came in with a smile and bowed, saying, "Miss, Madam has sent me a message saying that the Duke of Fuguo's mansion is hosting a flower viewing banquet tomorrow and has sent an invitation. Madam would like you to go with her tomorrow so that you can mingle more with the young ladies from the other mansions."

A flower-viewing banquet? Lu Qinglan's mind fluttered. The Fuguogong Mansion was the late Empress Yuan's maternal family. Though not as prominent as before, it still held considerable influence among the nobles. More importantly, she remembered that, at this flower-viewing banquet in her previous life, something had happened that involved Gu Zhao...

"Thank you for your trouble, mother. I will be there on time tomorrow." Lu Qinglan responded gently.

Feicui smiled and said, "Madam also said that you should dress brightly. After all, you are now the future princess and represent the reputation of the Lu family." There was a subtle flattery in her words.

Lu Qinglan simply smiled faintly, remaining silent. Face? She no longer needed to rely on fancy clothes and accessories to maintain her appearance.

After the jade was removed, Lu Qinglan walked to the dressing table, his eyes swept across the dazzling jewelry, and finally stopped on a hairpin made of plain silver inlaid with lavender pearls. The pearls were not big, but the luster was extremely warm and restrained.

"Wear this one tomorrow," she said softly.

Fu Yu hesitated: "Miss, isn't this a bit too plain? After all..."

"After all, I'm the future prince's consort. I need to be dignified and reserved, not show off." Lu Qinglan interrupted her, his tone calm but unquestionable, "Go and prepare."

The next day, the garden of the Prince of Fuguo's mansion was filled with colorful flowers and a faint fragrance.

The capital's distinguished ladies and noblewomen gathered, their jewelry jingling and their clothes elegantly dressed. Lu Qinglan, along with her mother, Wang, immediately attracted many glances. There was curiosity, scrutiny, envy, and even subtle jealousy.

Today she was wearing a moon-white skirt embroidered with light green orchid patterns, and a soft smoke-blue silk vest the color of rain-soaked sky. There was only a purple pearl and silver hairpin in her hair. There was no extra decoration on her body, but it made her temperament more cold and her face like jade more prominent. Among the group of noble ladies who were vying for beauty, she had a kind of elegant air that was out of place.

While Wang was chatting with the ladies she knew, Lu Qinglan followed quietly behind her, being courteous and well-mannered, but not saying much. She was observing.

She saw Lin Wanru—the concubine with whom she had fought for half her life in her previous life—now chatting and laughing with several daughters of military families. She was dressed in a fiery red riding regalia, bright and flamboyant, her eyes gleaming with the pride and vitality of someone untouched by worldly experience. At this moment, she hadn't yet been tempered by the expectations of her family or the oppression of the harem.

She also spotted Su Yueming. She sat in an unassuming corner, wearing a half-worn aqua dress. She lowered her head, stroking the tassels at the hem of her skirt, a look of desolation and resignation. The Su family was now in decline, and she felt neglected in such an occasion.

Lu Qinglan's gaze passed over her without lingering. This person was more than intelligent, but his nature had been seen through in his previous life and could no longer be used.

"Sister Lu's outfit today is so fresh and refined." A voice sounded beside her, with some sincere admiration.

Lu Qinglan turned around and saw Wei Linlang from the Zhenbei General's Mansion. She was wearing a neat goose yellow outfit and no makeup, but she had a unique heroic air.

"Sister Wei, you're too kind." Lu Qinglan smiled faintly in return, "Sister, this outfit is truly dashing and moving."

Wei Linlang's eyes lit up, as if she had found a kindred spirit. "They all think I don't look like a lady dressed like this. Sister Lu really has good taste! Wearing those silk dresses all day long makes me have to be so careful even when I walk. It's so boring."

Lu Qinglan smiled. "Every inch has its own merits. Boudoirs have their own elegance, and horseback archery has its own pleasure. Why force uniformity? I've heard that my sister is an excellent horseman. I'd love to see her if I have the chance."

Wei Linlang was even more delighted when she heard this. She took Lu Qinglan's hand and started chatting with him, from horse racing to the scenery of the frontier, with no ulterior motives in her words.

Lu Qinglan listened patiently, occasionally interjecting with remarks that were always quoting classics and hitting the nail on the head, leaving Wei Linlang in awe. "Sister Lu, you've even read The Art of War? And you can even apply it to horsemanship? That's amazing!"

As they were talking and laughing, they suddenly heard a commotion coming from the front, accompanied by a woman's scream.

"Oh no! Madam Gu fainted!"

Madam Gu? Lu Qinglan's heart moved. Here she comes!

A gray-haired, plainly dressed old lady was lying on the ground, her face pale and her breathing rapid. The wife of the Duke of Fuguo was extremely anxious and kept urging people to call the imperial physician.

Everyone present was in a panic. Some suggested carrying them away, some suggested pinching their philtrum, and the whole place was in chaos.

Lu Qinglan pushed through the crowd, stepped forward quickly, and said in a deep voice: "Ladies and young ladies, please spread out a little to let the old lady breathe." Her voice was not loud, but she had a convincing calmness.

She squatted down, carefully observed Mrs. Gu's complexion, felt her breathing, and gently lifted her eyelids to check.

"Miss Lu, what are you doing..." The wife of the Duke of Fuguo hesitated.

"My grandmother had a similar illness, and Qinglan has some knowledge of medicine," Lu Qinglan explained briefly, her finger already resting on Madam Gu's wrist. In her previous life, she wielded the Phoenix Seal, and to maintain balance between the various factions, she dabbled in medicine, toxicology, and even various other arts. While not a complete master, she was far superior to these women in the inner chambers in handling emergencies.

The pulse was stringy, slippery and rapid, and combined with the symptoms... she had already made a judgment in her mind.

"Madam, do you suffer from phlegm and fluid? Did you eat anything sweet today?" Lu Qinglan looked up and asked the nanny beside Madam Gu who had already been frightened silly.

The maid nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, yes! The old lady suffered from an illness in her early years, and she usually needs to take expectorant and asthma-relieving medicine. Today... today, the Duke's Mansion's dim sum is exquisite, and the old lady used half an extra piece of Poria cocos cake..."

"Phlegm congestion and qi stagnation," Lu Qinglan concluded. She quickly glanced around, her gaze settling on a Ru kiln tea set on a stone table in a pavilion not far away.

"Fuyu, get the teapot! I want it cold!" She then turned to Madam Gu's maid, "Madam, please hug Madam Gu from behind. Make fists with both hands, press against her abdomen above the navel, and thrust inward and upward quickly!"

This was a first aid method recorded in the Golden Chamber Essentials, used for airway obstruction by foreign bodies, and also miraculously effective for this symptom of phlegm congestion. Everyone present had never seen this method before, and they all looked at each other in bewilderment.

Madam Gu's nanny was even more hesitant: "This...is this possible?"

"Do as I say!" Lu Qinglan's tone was firm and unyielding. The calmness and confidence in her eyes made the nanny obey involuntarily.

Once, twice...

Just as everyone was holding their breath, Madam Gu coughed suddenly and coughed up a mouthful of thick phlegm. Her breathing immediately became much smoother and her complexion gradually recovered.

At that moment, the imperial physician arrived breathlessly. After a brief examination, he breathed a sigh of relief: "Fortunately, the treatment was timely and appropriate, otherwise the old lady's phlegm blocked her airway and she would be in danger! I wonder which expert saved her just now?"

Everyone's eyes were focused on the future princess who was wearing a moon-white dress and had a calm expression.

The wife of the Duke of Fuguo expressed her gratitude repeatedly, and Madam Gu's nanny was even more grateful and shed tears.

Madam Gu slowly regained consciousness, her gaze falling on Lu Qinglan. She asked weakly, "Which girl saved me?"

"Madam, this is the eldest daughter of the Hanlin Lu family, Miss Lu Qinglan." The nanny said hurriedly.

Madam Gu gave Lu Qinglan a deep look, her gaze cloudy yet sharp, as if she could see through her. "Miss Lu... Very good, very good. I'll take note."

Lu Qinglan bowed and said humbly, "Old Madam, you are too kind. It's just a small favor. I hope you are safe and sound."

She was calm and composed, neither boastful nor fawning.

Wei Linlang's eyes lit up as she watched, her face brimming with admiration. Meanwhile, Lin Wanru, in the crowd, gazed upon Lu Qinglan, the enchanted moon, with a complex expression of surprise and a subtle hint of... disappointment. She had practiced martial arts since childhood and considered herself as good as any man, but in that situation, she was completely at a loss as to how to react. The future consort of the Seventh Prince seemed... different from the elegant ladies she had imagined, devoted only to the pleasures of the wind and the moon.

During the second half of the flower viewing banquet, Lu Qinglan became the center of attention. Many ladies approached her, their words filled with genuine respect. Wang's face also lit up, and her gaze toward her daughter was filled with inquiry and deep thought.

On the carriage back home, Wang couldn't help but ask, "Qinglan, when did you learn medical theory? I didn't even know it."

Lu Qinglan had already prepared an explanation. She lowered her eyes and said, "My daughter was browsing the medical books in my father's study in her spare time. I came across this by chance and didn't study it in depth. Today, out of desperation, I took a risk and tried it. Fortunately, it didn't lead to any serious mistakes."

Wang was skeptical, but her daughter had indeed earned enough face for the Lu family today, so she didn't want to delve into it. She only reminded her: "You need to be more cautious in your future actions. But... it is indeed a good thing for you and the Lu family to have the favor of Old Madam Gu today." Gu Zhao was an important official in the court, and his mother had a very high prestige among the ladies of the court. This favor was worth a thousand gold.

Lu Qinglan nodded silently, but his heart was as clear as a mirror.

Today's action was to save people, to gain fame, and to... plant a seed in Gu Zhao's heart. She wanted to let these key figures in the future know that the Seventh Prince's Consort Lu Qinglan was more than just a beautiful decoration.

When we returned to Lan Courtyard, it was already late at night.

Fu Yu couldn't hide her excitement as she removed her makeup. "Miss, you were amazing today! Now the whole capital knows that our Lu family's eldest daughter is not only beautiful, but also has a keen mind, is well versed in medical knowledge, and remains calm in times of crisis!"

Lu Qinglan looked in the mirror at her face, which looked even more beautiful after she took off her hairpins and rings, and a faint curve appeared at the corner of her mouth.

This is just the beginning.

Reputation is a double-edged sword. Used well, it can be the best amulet and stepping stone.

She picked up the relationship chart she had written during the day and gently drew a check mark next to the names "Gu Zhao" and "Wei Linlang".

The next step is to really start planning the economy. Without money, everything is just castles in the air.

She needs a pair of hands that can walk freely in the city.