“Since we don’t know each other, it’s not too late to get to know each other now.” An Xinya’s eyes darted around as she looked at the young ladies from prominent families who had stopped to watch.
"Oh?" Jiang Hua raised an eyebrow with interest: "Are you sure you want to say this here?"
“Your mother was divorced by my father because of her indiscretions, Jiang Hua. Your short-lived mother is dead, how dare you return to the capital?”
Upon hearing An Xinya's words, the young ladies from prominent families around them gasped in surprise and looked at Jiang Hua like onlookers.
"Smack!"
A crisp slap, the sound of a hand landing on a face, suddenly rang out. Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and discovered that An Xinya's fair right cheek had a handprint on it.
"Miss," the maid called out, bewildered, glancing at Jiang Hua with a hint of fear.
"Jiang Hua, how dare you hit me!" An Xinya covered her face, the pain making her furious. No one had ever dared to hit her like this before. How dare Jiang Hua, this woman!
Her mother had told her since she was little that she was the only legitimate eldest daughter of the Duke of Anguo's mansion. A few days ago, when several young ladies from noble families came to visit, they mentioned that a girl who looked very similar to the short-lived eldest daughter of the Jiang family had appeared in the capital.
She was still skeptical, but after seeing her today, all she had to do was lose her family and be all alone. What was there to be afraid of? She never expected that this woman was no better than her mother, daring to hit her.
“I don’t like hearing a single word you’ve said, because every single one of them is a lie.” Jiang Hua took the handkerchief that Shuanghua handed her and wiped the hand that had just slapped An Xinya’s face.
"Back then, An Yuanliang married into our Jiang family. How did he become a Duke? Everyone in the capital, from your mother's generation, knows that." Jiang Hua looked at An Xinya with a mocking smile:
"Back then, everyone in the capital knew that before my mother's body was even cold, An Yuanliang had already brought your mother back from the brothel."
"If you dare to do it, you dare to admit it. This is common knowledge. The reason why others haven't said it to you is only because of the Duke's Mansion and the First Prince behind you."
"I'm just giving you a friendly reminder about what you should and shouldn't say. Next time, I can't guarantee I won't hold back."
"What did you say, Miss An?"
"Jiang Hua, how dare you slander our Duke Anguo's mansion! I will not let you get away with this!"
The young ladies from prominent families on both sides were gossiping amongst themselves. An Xinya felt embarrassed to stay at Qionghua Tower any longer, so she glared at Jiang Hua and quickly left.
"Miss Jiang is indeed a remarkable woman." Manager Hua sighed as he watched An Xinya walk away, relieved that he no longer had to deal with the eldest daughter of the Duke of Anguo's mansion.
"Manager Hua, you're amazing. If it weren't for you overseeing Qionghua Restaurant, my monthly commission wouldn't be increasing every year."
"No, no!"
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Manager Hua led Jiang Hua to a private room on the second floor. The room was also furnished with many exquisite cosmetics for guests to choose from.
"How's business at Qionghua Restaurant lately?"
"It's a bit worse than last month. The Ye family has also started selling rouge. Although it's not as good as ours, it's cheaper. Some customers look at the quality, while others look at the price," said Manager Hua.
After saying this, he gave a few instructions to wait for the girl at the door. Soon after, the girl brought over a tray with several boxes of rouge and face powder on it.
"Miss Jiang, look, this is the rouge and face powder sold by the Ye family. I had someone buy it for me, thinking I'd take some time to figure it out."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Hua casually picked up a box of rouge, opened it, and applied it to her fingertip. She noticed that it was different from the ones produced in her own factory; it was too rough. If she could improve it, she could sell it at a low price in her shop.
"Bring me a brush and ink," Jiang Hua said to Shopkeeper Hua, putting down the rouge in her hand.
"Alright, Miss Jiang." Manager Hua got up briskly and walked out.
Fifteen minutes later, Jiang Hua wrote down several improved rouge recipes, handed them to Manager Hua, and explained them to her.
"Is it really possible?" Manager Hua immediately picked up the several prescriptions written by Jiang Hua. Although she couldn't understand them, she thought her boss should be able to.
"Then I'll speak to my master right away," Manager Hua said impatiently.
"You go ahead and get busy, I'll wander around a bit more."
Shopkeeper Hua nodded and took the prescription downstairs.
...
The next day, Granny Jiang had already prepared a carriage and was waiting at the gate of the mansion.
The three boarded the carriage and drove all the way to the palace gate. Once inside the palace gate, they had to disembark.
"Jiang Hua, what are you doing here!"
As soon as Jiang Hua got off the carriage, she saw An Xinya also getting off the carriage. Clearly, An Xinya was also surprised to see her there.
Looking at her face, I wondered if I had gone too far yesterday. The handprint had faded in just one night.
“Miss An, Miss Jiang was invited by Her Majesty the Empress,” a palace maid stepped forward to explain.
The palace maid was the same one who had been in the side hall that day, and she still treated Jiang Hua with the same disdainful attitude she had shown that day.
"So that's how it is, I knew it!" An Xinya seemed to have completely forgotten that Jiang Hua had hit her yesterday. She glanced at Jiang Hua disdainfully, then took out a bag of silver from her sleeve and handed it to the palace maid in a fawning manner.
"Auntie, do you know why Her Majesty summoned me to the palace today? Also, is the First Prince here?" When she mentioned the First Prince, a shy blush appeared on An Xinya's face.
Then, the two walked and talked, completely leaving Jiang Hua and the others behind.
"Miss, what should we do now?" Shuanghua looked at An Xinya and the palace maid as they walked away, feeling somewhat helpless.
"Wait, let someone lead the way first, otherwise we'll head back home."
Jiang Hua turned around and got back into the carriage, which was filled with pastries and tea prepared by Granny Jiang.
Before long, the palace maid from before suddenly called out from outside the carriage.
"Miss Jiang, please don't joke with us. It's getting late. We can't afford to be blamed by the Empress." The palace maid bowed respectfully and stepped forward to persuade her.
“I thought there would be another palace servant to lead the way, which is why you took Miss An away first.” Jiang Hua glanced at her indifferently before slowly following her.
It took half an hour to walk around the magnificent palace gates before we arrived at Empress Su's Phoenix Palace.
Upon entering the palace, one hears An Xinya's silvery laughter. As one walks closer, one sees Empress Su affectionately holding An Xinya's hand and talking to her, the two acting like mother and daughter.
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