When Ningyin arrived at Changle Palace, Empress Dowager Zhang was admiring flowers in the garden. The early summer sun was already quite scorching, and the head palace maid Meiying followed closely behind, holding an umbrella for her.
Empress Dowager Zhang loved tending to flowers and plants. Just today, the envoy from the State of Chu brought some precious flowers and plants, which she found so appealing that she couldn't wait to admire them after returning from the Xuanyuan Palace.
"Meiying, I adore this flower. Please have someone take good care of it."
Empress Dowager Zhang cut off a red and white rose with scissors, held it to her nose and smelled it. The delicate fragrance was refreshing, and she closed her eyes in enjoyment.
"Your Majesty, the palace maids who originally tended the flowers and plants in Chang Le Palace have reached the age limit and will be released from the palace next month to get married and have children. I will instruct the Imperial Household Department to select some more capable young girls to come in."
Empress Dowager Zhang nodded upon hearing this. Most of the palace maids in her Chang Le Palace were of marriageable age and it was indeed time to select some new women to enter the palace.
Aside from Mei Ying, whom she found very convenient to use and was reluctant to release, she would release everyone else from the palace when they reached a certain age.
Empress Dowager Zhang liked that the palace maids were all young, energetic, and efficient.
Most importantly, interacting with young people every day will make you feel younger.
"Same as always, only those aged 15 to 18, we don't accept those older."
"Is that so, Your Majesty? This servant will take care of it immediately."
Mei Ying smiled and accepted the order, handing the umbrella to another palace maid before hurriedly leaving.
Just as they left Chang Le Palace, they saw Ning Yin's sedan chair land. Mei Ying quickly bowed to her.
"May Your Highness the Crown Princess enjoy boundless blessings."
Ning Yin nodded slightly, "No need for formalities. I've come to deliver something to my grandmother."
"Yes, Your Majesty will see the Empress Dowager once you enter the garden. I have some other matters to attend to, so I will not accompany you any longer."
Mei Ying was a veteran in the palace, skilled in dealing with people and knowing the Crown Princess's position in the Crown Prince's heart, so she was respectful and polite, never daring to overstep her bounds.
Seeing Ning Yin nod, she took two steps back, then turned and left.
As Ning Yin stepped into Chang Le Palace, she saw Empress Dowager Zhang holding a lot of flowers. She quickly stepped forward to greet Empress Dowager Zhang and offer her greetings.
"Granddaughter-in-law greets Grandmother, may Grandmother be blessed."
Upon hearing the sound, Empress Dowager Zhang turned around slowly and glanced at Ning Yin indifferently.
The person before me was dressed elegantly but not ostentatiously, and his bowing posture was also very standard. He had a slight smile on his face, which was pleasing to the eye.
Empress Dowager Zhang loved beauty but refused to accept aging, and disliked others dressing too flamboyantly in front of her.
Empress Zhang was pleased with Ning Yin's attire today, though she didn't show it on her face.
"Rise. What brings you to my humble abode today?"
Ningyin stood up and instructed Suxin to bring up five boxes of Snow Skin Cream.
"Grandmother, your granddaughter-in-law remembers that you wanted to ask Consort Chen for some more Snow Skin Cream last time, so I worked hard to make some during this period. I thought that skin is prone to sensitivity during the change of seasons, so I sent it to you as soon as it was finished."
After Ning Yin finished speaking, she looked at Empress Dowager Zhang's expression and saw that her expression changed slightly.
She continued, "For example, on a sunny day like today, it's right for you to use an umbrella, but your skin will still be affected by the intense sunlight. So it would be great to use some skin-brightening cream when you get back."
Empress Dowager Zhang, listening to Ning Yin describe the effects of the Snow Skin Cream, couldn't help but turn around and ask, "Is your Snow Skin Cream the same as Consort Chen's? I heard Consort Chen say that this Snow Skin Cream was made by a master and cannot be imitated by ordinary people. Is there anything wrong with your product?"
Empress Dowager Zhang was skeptical, but upon closer inspection, she found that Ningyin and Suxin's skin was indeed as smooth as ice and snow, so delicate it seemed as if water could be squeezed out of it.
Ning Yin knew that there was no point in arguing about the previous skin-brightening cream, so she only needed to prove that her current products were indeed effective.
She took a bottle of snow-white skin cream with the scent of winter plum blossoms from Su Xin's hand and opened it. Empress Zhang couldn't help but sniff the air; the fragrance was exactly the same as that of real winter plum blossoms.
"It smells really good, but I don't know how effective it is."
"Grandmother, as for how effective it is, you can have someone try it. Once it's confirmed to be working well, you can try it yourself."
Ning Yin had a sweet smile and spoke in a soft, gentle voice, which pleased Empress Zhang. She nodded and beckoned a maidservant to come over.
"Xiangling, you should try it."
Xiang Ling bowed and stepped forward. Ning Yin noticed that the skin on her face was peeling and red due to the change of seasons.
"Such skin problems are easy to solve. Just apply it once, and it will be almost completely healed by tomorrow."
As she spoke, she handed the skin-brightening cream to Xiangling.
Xiangling bowed slightly, took the snow skin cream, applied some to her face, and then spread it evenly.
"How about it?""
Empress Dowager Zhang couldn't wait to ask the question.
"Your Majesty, this servant finds the Crown Princess's Snow Skin Cream particularly refreshing and silky smooth on the face, as if the skin can breathe, which is very comfortable."
When Empress Zhang heard her say that, she couldn't help but touch it with her hand, and it really was smooth and delicate.
"Since you are so kind, then I will accept it. However, today is the first day that the Chu princess has entered the palace. You must be tolerant and not encourage Xuan'er to stay in your room all day, understand?"
"Yes, granddaughter-in-law will follow grandmother's teachings."
Ningyin nodded obediently and handed the remaining skin-whitening cream to Xiangling.
"But what's wrong with your belly? You've been taking care of Xuan'er for a while now, why isn't there any sign of pregnancy?"
Empress Dowager Zhang glanced at Ningyin's belly, which showed no movement, and frowned slightly, somewhat displeased.
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
