The Jade Beauty Cream was quickly delivered to the Gu Family.
Gu Feiyan was hiding in her room, throwing a tantrum. Hearing footsteps, she snapped, "Get out! Don’t bother me!"
A long, narrow scar marred her left cheek. Though it had scabbed over, the imperial physician had warned that the wound was too deep—even if it healed, the scar would remain.
How could an unmarried young lady like her ever hope to marry with such a ruined face?
"Feiyan, it’s your mother. Open the door first..."
"No! My face is ruined! What’s the point of living? I might as well die!"
Madam Gu panicked and immediately ordered the servants to break the door down.
Fortunately, Gu Feiyan had only spoken in anger. The moment she saw her mother, she threw herself into her arms and burst into tears. "Mother, I don’t want to live anymore! My face will never heal, wuuu..."
Madam Gu quickly soothed her, then had a maid bring out the Jade Beauty Cream. "Look, what’s this?"
Gu Feiyan blinked through her tears. "Jade Beauty Cream?! Didn’t Grandfather and Father say it was impossible to buy anymore?"
This cream was exclusively sold by the Hundred Knowledge Pavilion—only on the first and fifteenth of each month, with a strict limit of one per person.
When the imperial physician declared her face beyond repair, her mother had thought of this ointment. After just two applications, the surrounding scars had visibly faded.
But Chief Physician Zhang had said she’d need an entire jar to fully recover!
For days, the family had pulled strings and called in favors, yet they’d only managed to gather two small boxes. Gu Feiyan had already given up hope!
"Don’t worry. Your good friend Miss Chu the Third sent this. I asked for you—she said her elder sister gave it to her, and her elder sister still has more..."
"Chu Ruoyan?" Gu Feiyan froze, hesitation flickering across her face. "But... I offended her before, and there was that incident with Sister Kanghe. Would she really...?"
"Don’t fret. At worst, we’ll pay more. And if that fails, your grandfather is still here. Surely she wouldn’t dare refuse the Chancellor of Great Xia?"
Yet those words proved prophetic.
In the Gu Family’s study, Chancellor Gu, usually unflappable, frowned deeply. "What? Say that again."
Madam Gu lowered her head. "Father-in-law, I sent someone to request the medicine from that Miss Chu. She refused both silver and gifts, insisting... she would only speak to you in person."
Old Mrs. Gu chimed in, "Just meet her then. Feiyan’s face can’t wait any longer."
Chancellor Gu rebuked her, "What do you know? She’s scheming something by demanding to see me!"
"But what could a sheltered young lady possibly scheme?"
"Foolish woman!" The Chancellor’s expression darkened as he recalled the girl who’d dared to confront the Empress Dowager in court. "I fear her aim involves the Yan Family... No, I cannot see her!"
Madam Gu pleaded, "Father-in-law, but Feiyan—"
"You already have one small box of Jade Beauty Cream. Let Feiyan use it first. Who knows? It might work."
Chancellor Gu’s decision was final.
When the news reached the Bodhi Courtyard, Chu Ruoyan leisurely sipped her tea. "Good."
"Good? Miss, you just lost a box of Jade Beauty Cream for nothing! That’s a hundred gold pieces!" Yulu lamented, clutching her chest—she’d never earn that much in her lifetime!
Chu Ruoyan only smiled. "You can’t catch a wolf without sacrificing a child. Don’t worry, Chancellor Gu will come eventually."
In her dream, she remembered how dearly the Chancellor doted on his granddaughter. After Gu Feiyan married Yan Xiuan, the Vice Minister of War, she’d accidentally blinded Madam Yan in a fit of anger over their discord. In Great Xia, such an act warranted annulment. Yet Chancellor Gu ignored the scandal, directly promoting Yan Xiuan to Vice Minister to appease Madam Yan.
But this very act later forced the Chancellor to resign when his son-in-law fell from grace.
Just then, Nanny Zhou entered. "Miss, the Xie Family of Southpeace County has come to propose marriage."
The Xie Family—likely here for Xie Zhizhou and her cousin’s betrothal.
Remembering Yan Shu’s earlier threats, Chu Ruoyan asked, "Who came from the Xie Family?"
"Old Madam Xie, accompanied by the renowned matchmaker Lady Su, a pair of live geese, gold and silver jewelry... Don’t worry, Miss, it doesn’t seem like they’re here to cause trouble."
Chu Ruoyan relaxed slightly. "Let’s go take a look outside the hall."
Outside the main hall, she unexpectedly ran into Chu Ruolan.
The girl stood on one foot, peeking around a pillar. Chu Ruoyan asked, "Your foot’s healed?"
Chu Ruolan didn’t turn. "Nope."
"Then why are you here?"
"Watching the fun, of course! Who wouldn’t—ah! It’s you!" Chu Ruolan jumped like a startled mouse, scrambling to flee. But Xie Family servants carrying gifts blocked her path, forcing her back with a pitiful look. "E-Elder Sister..."
Chu Ruoyan shook her head and stepped to the doorway.
Inside, Aunt Chu Jing and Old Madam Xie were chatting amiably, with Lady Jiang the Younger also in attendance. The marriage seemed all but settled.
"If the Xie Family has no objections, we’ll set the auspicious date for two days hence. I’ll prepare Ling’er’s birth chart—"
Before she could finish, Old Madam Xie interrupted, "Madam Chu, there seems to be a misunderstanding. This old woman never said we were here for your daughter."
Chu Jing stiffened. Lady Jiang the Younger hurriedly interjected, "Old Madam Xie, didn’t we just agree? The Duke of Chu’s Mansion and your Southpeace County uniting in marriage..."
"Indeed. Hence, this old woman is here to propose to your third young lady—Chu Ruolan."
The words struck like thunder. Lady Jiang the Younger froze; Chu Jing’s face drained of color.
Chu Ruolan pointed at herself. "Me?"
Chu Ruoyan frowned. As expected—Old Madam Xie was here to stir trouble!
The old woman continued, "Madam Chu, perhaps I wasn’t clear earlier. Any young lady from the Duke’s mansion would be marrying beneath her station. But your daughter... though she bears the Xue name, she’s no longer the Marquis Chengen’s legitimate daughter after your annulment. Thus, she and our Zhizhou aren’t well-matched."
Not well-matched.
The phrase slapped Chu Jing across the face—a reminder that her annulment had tainted her daughter’s prospects.
Chu Jing swayed, collapsing into her chair as Lady Jiang the Younger steadied her.
Chu Ruoyan clenched her teeth, ready to intervene, but Chu Ruolan hobbled in first. "What nonsense are you spouting? That’s my cousin! The only mismatch here is your family’s unworthiness!"
Old Madam Xie blinked. "And you are...?"
Chu Ruolan rolled her eyes, ignoring her entirely. "Mother, let me be clear—I won’t marry him! A mere county family isn’t fit to polish Father’s boots, yet they dare come here picking and choosing? Disgusting!"
Chu Ruoyan nearly laughed. Even a shrew had her uses.
Lady Jiang the Younger also regained her composure, speaking coolly, "Old Madam Xie, you’ve misunderstood. Today was always about my niece’s betrothal. If that’s not your intention, then farewell."
Old Madam Xie faltered. Yaozhi’s information was wrong—hadn’t she said Lady Jiang the Younger also favored Zhizhou?
Recovering quickly, the old woman pressed, "Madam Chu, let’s not be hasty. Our Zhizhou just placed third in the imperial exams—his future is boundless! With his recent merit in the Huaishui County case, a promotion is imminent. You mustn’t judge by the present alone!"
The fawning expression now was a stark contrast to the indifferent attitude from moments ago.
Chu Jing felt a sharp pang in her chest, followed by another thunderous voice: "Madam—Madam, it's terrible! The Marquis Chengen and his mother have barged in!"
