Shuse Jinjia

The next day.

Xie Zhaotang felt sore all over before he even got out of bed; he was exhausted from yesterday.

She got up, washed up, and changed into a dress with fitted sleeves for easy movement. When she came out into the courtyard, Xie Linzhu had not yet arrived.

After waiting for a while, Chu Liu finally arrived with Xie Linzhu, who was dressed in her finest attire.

Xie Zhaotang thought to himself, "Is this a real mission to help or just a show?"

She didn't try to persuade her and got into the carriage with Xie Linzhu.

As soon as Xie Linzhu got into the carriage, she asked, "Xie Zhaotang, you went to Prince Chen's residence yesterday. I heard that Miss Pei and Miss Pei were there. Did Young Master Xu go?"

Xie Zhaotang shook his head: "I didn't go."

Xie Linzhu then asked, "Did Miss Sun go?"

Xie Zhaotang honestly shook his head again.

Xie Linzhu thought for a moment and then asked, "I heard that His Highness the Crown Prince and the Second Prince went to the fire scene yesterday. Will they go again today?"

Xie Zhaotang shook his head: "I don't know."

Xie Linzhu glared at her angrily: "How come you don't know anything? You have a chance to meet His Highness the Crown Prince and you don't even know how to say a word for your father. You're such a pig, all you do is eat..."

Xie Zhaotang smiled sheepishly and didn't reply.

Her gaze fell on Xie Linzhu's face, where she had even more acne, which no amount of makeup could completely cover.

Her gaze then fell upon You Qing beside her. You Qing's face was smooth, but she had also applied a light layer of powder, making her appear even more beautiful than Xie Linzhu.

Xie Zhaotang was very familiar with the scent of this face powder, because it was specially made for Xie Linzhu. She had set a trap for Chu Liu to use it in order to kill two birds with one stone and take revenge on Chu Liu as well.

"What kind of powder is Sister Chu Liu wearing? It smells so good, it smells wonderful."

Xie Zhaotang, with a hint of envy, added fuel to the fire: "Your face powder smells even better than Third Sister's. Is it very expensive?"

Chu Liu was taken aback, instinctively glanced at Xie Linzhu, and quickly said, "Fourth Miss is joking. How could my perfume be better than Third Miss's? My perfume is very cheap, only five hundred coins a box."

"Really? Third sister, why don't you try using the same face powder as Sister Chu Liu? Smell it, doesn't it smell better than the face powder you use? I see that Sister Chu Liu's face is very smooth and supple after using this."

Xie Linzhu then turned to Youqing and stared at her smooth face.

Upon closer inspection, his complexion appeared rather unpleasant.

Chu Liu was terrified. She served Xie Linzhu and knew all too well that the Third Miss was jealous. If she saw that her skin was better than Xie Linzhu's, how could she possibly have a good ending?

"Fourth Sister is right. Chu Liu, your face powder is cheap, but it does smell better than mine. When we get back, take me to buy a box to try."

Xie Linzhu looked at it for a while before speaking calmly.

Aunt Xia sat in a corner, silently watching this scene unfold.

Two days ago, Xie Zhaotang asked Xie Shou to help her find a peddler and gave him a few boxes of face powder, asking him to carry them to the road that Chu Liu must take when leaving the mansion to sell.

The face powder that Chu Liu used was the one Xie Zhaotang gave to the peddler.

Aunt Xia didn't know Xie Zhaotang's intentions before, but now, after hearing the conversation between the three, she suddenly remembered that Xie Zhaotang had been stung by a bee.

Is the Fourth Sister seeking revenge?

These words were meant to entice Xie Linzhu to buy face powder.

When the carriage arrived at the southern part of the city, it was no longer as congested as yesterday, but there were still many people, including soldiers cleaning up the fire scene and civilians whose homes had been burned down.

They came to see if they could find any items that hadn't been burned after the fire was extinguished.

Since the carriage couldn't pass, Xie Zhaotang got off and led them to the temporary medical station.

The burned patients were all placed in the sheds set up next to them. Xie Zhaotang noticed that there were many more ladies and young women coming to provide disaster relief today. Several families set up stoves and cooked porridge on the spot.

Judging from this, there are quite a few who want to impress the Emperor and the Crown Prince.

Xie Linzhu was annoyed at the sight and muttered to Xie Zhaotang, "Xie Zhaotang, why didn't you remind my mother to come and distribute porridge? There are so many people here now, there won't be any room left if we come any later!"

"No, I have to go back and tell my mother."

She hurriedly took Chu Liu back.

Xie Zhaotang smiled faintly and said to Aunt Xia, "Aunt Xia, go and tell Xie Shou to let that peddler sell the face powder later. He doesn't need to come over again after he sells it today!"

Those boxes of face powder weren't actually a big problem. Xie Zhaotang simply added some medicine that clashed with Ruyi Ointment, based on Xie Linzhu's habits.

Xie Linzhu initially experienced no problems when applying face powder, but after applying it for a period of time and accumulating a certain amount, her acne would not heal, but would ooze pus and ulcerate, causing unbearable pain.

She continued to use Ruyi Ointment to reduce the swelling, but it only made it worse and left acne scars.

When she goes to see a doctor later and finds out that the face powder and the auspicious ointment are incompatible, she will only blame Chu Liu...

Xie Zhaotang didn't intend to kill Xie Linzhu; he simply wanted them to experience the pain that Xie Linzhu and Chu Liu had inflicted on the original owner of this body...

Some women value their face more than their lives. If Xie Linzhu were disfigured, it would be more unbearable for her than being killed!

Xie Zhaotang didn't want to implicate anyone, so the peddler specifically instructed Xie Shou to find someone from out of town to handle the matter. After the peddler finished, he would be given ten taels of silver for travel expenses, and then he could go home.

Seeing that Xie Zhaotang had considered everything carefully, Aunt Xia didn't try to dissuade him and agreed to go take care of the matter.

When Xie Zhaotang went to the shed, he saw several pots set up at the entrance, where medicinal juices were being boiled.

Li Qin and Dong Jie arrived early and were helping to brew the medicine.

Upon seeing Xie Zhaotang arrive, Li Qin quickly asked her to help her brew the medicine, saying...

"Tangtang, many of the injured had oozing wounds and fevers last night. Chief Physician Luo came over early this morning and was furious. He ordered the doctors to clean and change the dressings for the injured again. You two aren't used to doing these things, so you can stay here and brew the medicine. I'll go help."

"Oh, right, the soldiers will bring over some clean bandages in a bit. Steam them again and bring them over to me..."

As soon as Li Qin left, Pei Song brought two soldiers with a basket of bandages. Seeing that Li Qin was not there, Pei Song said to Xie Zhaotang.

"Fourth Miss, the young marquis has put me in charge of your area. If you need anything, just let me know and I'll get it for you."

Xie Zhaotang glanced at the bandages and called out to Pei Song.

"Brother Pei, could you get us some linen strips? Most of these injured people have burns. This bandage is too thick and not breathable. Linen is breathable and will be more effective for wound healing."

Pei Song frowned: "Changing the bandages requires Chief Luo's consent. I'll go ask him, and if he agrees, I'll get them for you."

Pei Song went to find Headmaster Luo. Xie Zhaotang was busy putting the wrapping cloths from the basket into the steamer when she heard someone call out from behind, "Fourth Miss, what are you doing here?"

Xie Zhaotang turned around and saw Xu Muyuan walking over with several young officials.

None of them were wearing official robes; they were all dressed in neat and tidy attire.

Seemingly noticing Xie Zhaotang's confusion, Xu Muyuan explained, "This morning at court, the Emperor said the disaster situation in the southern city is severe and asked us all to come and help. Fourth Miss, are you brewing medicine? How can we help?"

He turned to his other colleagues and introduced, "This is Lord Xie's daughter..."

"Fourth Miss, these are all my colleagues from the Hanlin Academy..."

Xie Zhaotang looked at the group of people. Most of those who could enter the Hanlin Academy were among the top three, with promising careers. Even if she didn't choose a husband from among them, it wouldn't hurt to befriend them...