The next day, in a side hall of Yanxi Palace, the morning light shone through the carved window lattices, casting a golden halo.
Wang Xifeng had already gotten up and was dressed neatly. Her dark purple jacket made her skin look as white as snow, and the hair ornaments in her hair swayed gently with her movements, making a soft, crisp sound.
Last night, Xiao Hong stayed with the palace maids.
She lived with Daiyu and talked to her about Baoyu. She wondered if Daiyu still had the same feelings for Baoyu as she did when they were children.
She stood in front of the bronze mirror, adjusting her clothes one last time, her fingertips trembling slightly.
It's so much better in the palace. The food and supplies are all the best. I don't know what Yuan Chun was thinking, trying to seduce the Emperor. Doesn't she know how old she is? Anyone who works for the Empress like her would have a bright future.
Ha, how ignorant!
"Are you really content to stop here?" she whispered to herself in the mirror. The woman in the mirror had beautiful features and her eyes shone brightly, as if she could already see a bright future ahead.
Xiao Hong tiptoed in and whispered, "Grandma, a maid from the Empress's side has come to ask you to come over."
Wang Xifeng took a deep breath, suppressing her excitement, and said calmly, "I understand, I'll go right away."
She stepped out of the room, her steps light yet steady.
As she walked through the long corridor, her gaze swept over the carved beams and painted rafters within the palace walls, and she thought to herself, "I never thought that I, Wang Xifeng, would one day enter the palace."
Inside the main hall of Kunning Palace, Lin Yun sat gracefully on a soft couch, holding a cup of tea in her hands, the aroma of which wafted gently.
Her expression was calm, her gaze deep and unfathomable, revealing no emotion whatsoever.
Daiyu stood by, a hint of worry in her eyes, but she quickly concealed it.
As soon as Wang Xifeng entered the room, she knelt down respectfully and performed a grand salute: "This humble woman, Wang, greets Your Majesty the Empress. Long live Your Majesty!"
Lin Yun raised her hand and said gently, "Get up and sit down to talk."
Wang Xifeng thanked the emperor and got up, carefully sitting on the embroidered stool beside her, her hands folded on her knees, her posture respectful, but out of the corner of her eye she was secretly observing Lin Yun's expression.
Lin Yun put down her teacup, looked directly at Wang Xifeng, and slowly said, "Yesterday you said you were willing to serve me. After thinking about it, I have a job that suits you."
Wang Xifeng's heart tightened, and she quickly bowed: "Your Majesty, please give your orders, and this humble woman will do her utmost!"
Lin Yun smiled slightly, took out a few sheets of paper from her sleeve, and handed them to the palace maid beside her: "These are some soap recipes, please take a look."
The palace maid presented the prescription to Wang Xifeng.
Wang Xifeng took the paper with both hands, and the moment her fingertips touched it, her heart suddenly raced.
She looked down closely, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, which was then replaced by ecstasy.
These recipes are probably unique secrets of the Qing Dynasty, priceless!
She suppressed her excitement, but her voice still trembled slightly: "Your Majesty, this...this is for a common woman?"
Lin Yun nodded calmly: "That's right. I'll give you another five thousand taels of silver as capital. As for how well you can achieve it, that's entirely up to you."
She admired Wang Xifeng's abilities and believed that this small matter would not be difficult for her.
Upon hearing this, Wang Xifeng could hardly contain her joy and immediately knelt down and kowtowed: "Your Majesty's great kindness is something I will never forget! I will certainly live up to Your Majesty's expectations!"
Her forehead rested on the cold floor tiles, her devotion palpable.
Lin Yun watched her prostrate figure, a meaningful look flashing in her eyes.
She took a sip of tea and said slowly, "Get up. Let me make this clear from the start: this is a tough job. If you do it well, I might speak on your behalf to the Emperor if anything happens in the future; but if you outwardly comply but inwardly defy me and engage in petty theft..."
Her tone suddenly turned cold, "Then don't blame me for being ruthless."
Wang Xifeng trembled and quickly looked up, meeting Lin Yun's sharp gaze.
That gaze seemed to penetrate her thoughts, leaving her nowhere to hide.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly replied, "Your Majesty, you can rest assured, I would never dare to deceive you in the slightest!"
Lin Yun stared at her for a moment, then suddenly smiled and said, "Alright, I believe you."
Wang Xifeng breathed a sigh of relief, but a layer of cold sweat had already seeped out on her back.
She gritted her teeth inwardly: "Her Majesty the Empress seems to be able to see through people's hearts; I must be extremely careful in my future actions..."
Daiyu stood aside, silently observing the interaction between the two.
Seeing the greed and ambition flash in Wang Xifeng's eyes, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.
But since the Empress had already made her decision, she couldn't say anything more and just sighed softly.
Lin Yun took in Daiyu's reaction and understood what was going on.
She turned to Wang Xifeng and said, "You should set off back today and get your business up and running as soon as possible. I'll be waiting for your good news."
Wang Xifeng quickly agreed: "Yes, I will go back and make the preparations right away, and I will not let Your Majesty down!"
Lin Yun waved her hand: "Go ahead."
Wang Xifeng kowtowed again, stood up and retreated, only turning away at the palace gate.
Stepping out of Kunning Palace, Wang Xifeng let out a long sigh of relief.
Clutching the prescription and silver notes tightly in his hand, his eyes were full of self-satisfaction.
She murmured to herself, "With these, what great things can't we accomplish?"
Her steps became lighter and lighter, as if she could already see the mountains of gold and silver in the future.
Inside the hall, Lin Yun gazed in the direction Wang Xifeng had left, a slight smile playing on her lips. She whispered to Daiyu, "Yu'er, do you think she can do it?"
Daiyu pondered for a moment, then said softly, "Sister Feng is shrewd and capable, but... her ambition is too great. I am worried that she will go astray."
Lin Yun chuckled lightly: "It doesn't matter. What I want is her ambition. As for her making mistakes..."
Her gaze suddenly turned cold. "Then she's courting death."
Daiyu's heart trembled, and she dared not say another word.
Lin Yun patted her hand and softened her tone: "Alright, you should go and rest too."
Daiyu curtsied and withdrew, but her heart remained unsettled for a long time, unsure whether it was for the Jia family or for Fengjie.
Wang Xifeng returned to her temporary residence and immediately closed the door to carefully study the prescription.
Her fingers lightly traced the words on the paper, her eyes gleaming with greed: "These prescriptions are enough to make me incredibly wealthy!"
She carefully put the prescription away and hid it in her purse. She then took out the banknotes and counted them repeatedly, afraid that one would be missing.
Xiao Hong brought in tea, but seeing her focused expression, she didn't dare to disturb her. Just as she was about to leave, Wang Xifeng stopped her: "Go prepare the carriage. We're going back to Jinling first thing tomorrow morning!"
Xiao Hong was taken aback: "Grandma, won't you stay a few more days?"
Wang Xifeng sneered: "What's there to keep? With these, why would we be afraid of not having wealth and honor?"
A ruthless glint flashed in her eyes, "Those people from the Jia family will have to kneel and beg me sooner or later!"
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