The Crown Prince was somewhat flattered. To him, his grandfather and the others had always been very busy people, traveling around all year round, and rarely returning to the palace.
Unexpectedly, his grandmother was so kind and gentle. He replied with great spirit, "Your grandson will follow your grandmother's teachings."
"Your Majesty, I have carefully prepared some beauty creams, and I brought them here especially for you to try." Meng Zhelan held a small box in both hands.
Recently, she discovered a sea of flowers in her villa, filled with various flowers that are beneficial to the skin. So she tried using these flowers to make some skin-nourishing and wrinkle-reducing creams.
However, as she approached the pavilion, she was surprised to find that in addition to the Emperor Emeritus and the Empress Dowager, His Highness the Crown Prince was also present.
Meng Zhelan was startled and immediately composed herself, bowing her head and saying, "Meng Zhelan greets Your Highness the Crown Prince, wishing Your Highness a long and healthy life."
The crown prince looked up and saw the person who had arrived, a hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes.
He smiled slightly and said in a gentle and refined manner, "So it is Doctor Meng. I have long admired your name. Your medical skills and talent are already well-known in the capital. It is truly an honor to meet you today."
Hearing the Crown Prince's praise, Meng Zhelan felt pressured, but she respectfully replied, "Your Highness is too kind. I only have a little knowledge of medicine, please forgive my ignorance, I really don't deserve such praise."
"What the Crown Prince says is absolutely right, Lan'er, there's no need for such modesty. As the saying goes, 'Peach and plum trees do not speak, yet a path is formed beneath them.' Your achievements are evident to all." The Empress Dowager was extremely satisfied with her.
The atmosphere became quite awkward. Meng Zhelan wanted to leave, but she couldn't bring herself to do so. Fortunately, the Empress Dowager noticed her unease and said, "Lan'er, go back to your room and let me try this beauty cream."
After saying that, she pulled Meng Zhelan away, leaving the two grandmother and grandson looking at each other. The Emperor Emeritus then said, "Well, Your Highness, let's go fishing. I just found a few fishing rods."
The Crown Prince was very excited. If he could gain the favor of his grandfather, it would be of great benefit to him. At the very least, some of the court officials would lean towards him.
The retired emperor was unaware of his inner thoughts; he simply believed that as a grandfather, Jingyuan should pay more attention to his grandson, which would greatly benefit the dynasty.
On the banks of the lotus pond, two figures sat quietly, their fishing rods neatly arranged.
The retired emperor didn't have many hobbies, but his greatest passion was fishing.
He gripped the newly acquired fishing rod tightly, savoring its unique texture and craftsmanship.
This fishing rod is made of the finest materials, polished and refined countless times, resulting in a smooth and comfortable feel. Gently shaking the rod, feeling its elasticity and resilience, it's as if you're holding an indescribable power. It then begins to slowly recount its past.
“Your Highness, those in positions of power are actually quite similar to fishermen. They are both pursuing their own goals and waiting for their harvest. However, those in positions of power have grander goals, greater responsibilities, and face greater pressure and challenges.”
The retired emperor thought of his father, the man who once ruled the world. He, too, had once sat by the lake, fishing rod in hand, quietly waiting for a fish to bite.
However, as time went by, his father became increasingly busy and exhausted, and eventually left this world. He suddenly realized that being in a position of power was not much different from being a fisherman.
The Crown Prince replied respectfully and cautiously, "My grandfather's teachings are profound and thought-provoking. I will keep them in mind and reflect upon them constantly."
Meanwhile, the Empress Dowager returned to her bedroom, filled with anticipation, eager to try the newly acquired beauty cream.
Meng Zhelan gently opened the exquisite porcelain bottle, and a refreshing jasmine fragrance immediately filled the air, making people feel relaxed and happy.
She took out an appropriate amount of the beauty cream, its texture delicate and smooth, like silken satin. She gently applied it to the Empress Dowager's face, and her skin felt instantly nourished, as if it had been revitalized.
The Empress Dowager smiled with satisfaction and praised, "Lan'er, you are truly clever and intelligent, with a heart of gold. This beauty cream is so outstanding; if it were launched on the market, it would surely be a great success."
Meng Zhelan felt a little embarrassed by the Empress Dowager's praise. A thought struck her, and she realized that the Empress Dowager's words were indeed true. They had not yet ventured into the cosmetics industry, and this was an excellent opportunity.
So Meng Zhelan mustered her courage and proposed a collaboration to the Empress Dowager: "Empress Dowager, why don't you join us in this business? With your participation, I believe no one will dare to cause trouble."
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager feigned anger and laughed, "You little rascal, you're quite the schemer, actually plotting against me."
However, a hint of interest flashed in her eyes. "However, this idea is quite interesting. I've been wanting to see what kind of monsters and demons there are in Kyoto and how they deal with them."
The two women looked at each other and smiled; they were like close friends who transcended age and class.
Meanwhile, their other close friend, who lives far away in Yuncheng, is quite troubled lately.
Ever since he met Master Huang that day, he has been visiting Li Xi every day to invite her to go out and play.
At first, Li Xi accompanied him with great interest, but gradually, she began to feel bored.
Seeing that Li Xi was a man, Master Huang became increasingly unrestrained in his words and actions, even uttering wild remarks and making indecent jokes.
If this were in her past life, Li Xi would definitely have slapped him hard across the face without hesitation.
However, since she is now a young man, if she shows too much resistance, it might arouse Master Huang's suspicion.
Therefore, Li Xi decided to change her strategy and try to steer the conversation towards business. She showed great interest in the situation in Huangshi Town, expressed admiration for Master Huang's power, and hinted that she also wanted to get involved.
Master Huang looked at her with some surprise and asked in confusion, "Oh? Didn't Young Master Li already follow Master Feng? Why are you still interested in small places like ours?"
Li Xi sighed, feigning difficulty, and replied, "Alas, Brother Huang, you don't understand. Although I follow Brother Feng, I always think that I need to have some resources of my own and can't always rely on him. After all, I still need to get married in the future, and I need to have some confidence."
Upon hearing this, Master Huang raised an eyebrow with ill intent. "Hmm, what Young Master Li said is absolutely right. A person's greatest support is still himself."
“Brother Huang is truly a kindred spirit. What you said is exactly what I was thinking. However, I am only good at spending money, and I don’t know much about doing business. I wonder if you have any good ideas, Brother Huang…” Li Xi was afraid that he would not take the bait, so he asked Chen Quan to take out a large stack of silver notes.
"How is it? Is a few hundred thousand taels enough? If not, I can have my family send some more." She observed Master Huang's reaction.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com