The Wife of a Loyal Servant - Chapter 21

Ling Yu rushed into the county town bubbling with excitement—only to realize she had absolutely no idea where Miss Yang lived.

She frowned, thought for a moment, then suddenly brightened.

Huichuntang! The medicine apprentice would definitely know!

After getting directions from the apprentice and following them to a side alley off East Street, she asked a few more passersby. At last, on a back street in front of a small courtyard home, she spotted Miss Yang.

Delighted, she quickened her pace. But after a few steps, she noticed a man in indigo robes standing beside Miss Yang. His face looked younger than she remembered… yet not unfamiliar at all.

Liang Fang? The head of the Liang family? She blinked in surprise. She hadn’t expected to run into the future wealthy merchant here. The very man who’d created the Jade Complexion Cream in her previous life.

“If you’re not satisfied with the price, young lady, we can continue discussing it. I truly am sincere about buying your formula.”

“I already told you—no, no, and still no! I wouldn’t sell it even if you piled silver to the ceiling! Why are you so annoying!”

“Given your situation, this formula won’t do you any good. You might as well sell it to me,” Liang Fang pressed.

“No! I said I’m not selling, and that’s final!”

“Miss—”

“Sister, why are you still here? Hurry, hurry—we’ll be too late!” Ling Yu watched their back-and-forth quietly for a moment, bit her lip, and suddenly dashed forward, dragging Miss Yang away.

Miss Yang froze for half a second, but after another glance at the ever-persistent Liang Fang, she didn’t say a word and followed Ling Yu.

“Miss—Miss!” Liang Fang ran after them for a few steps, staring helplessly as the pair bolted away.

Ling Yu didn’t slow down until she was sure Liang Fang wasn’t chasing them.

“Wh-who are you?” Miss Yang panted, wiping the fine sweat off her forehead.

“You don’t remember me? Last time at Huichuntang, you gave me a box of Jade Complexion Cream!” Ling Yu said with a smile.

“Oh! Now that you say it, I remember! Hey, you still haven’t paid me back!” Miss Yang perked up immediately.

After all, that was the only box of Jade Complexion Cream she had ever managed to sell, and she hadn’t gotten a single coin from it. She’d been mentally clutching that grudge like a family heirloom.

“That’s true. How much do you want? I’ll pay you now.”

“One tael? Eight hundred coins? Five hundred? Three hundred?” Miss Yang started boldly, then kept lowering the number as she saw Ling Yu’s stunned face. Still seeing shock, she finally gritted her teeth and said, “Fine, fine—just toss me a few dozen coins, alright? At least enough for a proper meal. I haven’t eaten in two days!”

And right on cue, a loud ‘gurgle-gurgle’ answered for her, making her cheeks flare bright red.

Ling Yu’s mouth fell slightly open, disbelief filling her eyes. A few dozen coins? Enough to buy her a full meal? If she hadn’t tested that Jade Complexion Cream herself and confirmed it actually worked, she wouldn’t have believed she could buy it for mere pocket change.

After all, in her previous life, the stuff sold for hundreds of taels!

In fact, before coming to find Miss Yang, she hadn’t completely shaken off her doubts. In her past life, the Jade Cream had been concocted by Liang Fang. So how did it end up belonging to this completely unknown Miss Yang in this life?

Then she’d seen Liang Fang pestering the girl just now, trying so hard to buy her formula, and a chilling thought struck her.

Could it be that in her last life… he also got the formula from Miss Yang? And yet he had the gall to claim it as his own?

But none of that mattered to her anymore.

Upon hearing Miss Yang say she hadn’t eaten for two days and remembering her own plans, she immediately pulled her into the nearest restaurant and grandly ordered a full table of dishes. Watching Miss Yang devour everything like a starving ghost, she almost dropped her jaw.

Finally, Miss Yang set down her chopsticks in satisfaction, downed a bowl of tea, wiped her mouth, and said, “Then we’ll call it even!”

Ling Yu attentively refilled her tea. “My name is Ling Yu. May I ask your name, sister?”

“My name is Yang Suwen.” After eating and drinking her fill, Yang Suwen finally showed a bit of a lady’s reserve.

“Suwen?* Just hearing that name tells me you’re a renowned physician,” Ling Yu praised without batting an eye.

(*TL’s note: 素 (sù): plain, simple, pure, unadorned; also can imply sincerity or modesty. 问 (wèn): to ask, inquire. Put together, 素问 has the meaning “Pure Inquiry,” “Sincere Question,” “Honest Seeker,” or “Simple Asking.”)

Yang Suwen looked a little embarrassed by the praise. “I wouldn’t dare call myself a renowned physician. My medical skills are mediocre. I’m only somewhat skilled in cosmetics.”

“It’s not just a slight improvement. It’s a complete success! Since using your Jade Complexion Cream, my face is so fair and smooth—look, look…”

“Really? Let me see. Sister, your skin looks very good—fair and smooth. Is it truly the effect of my Jade Complexion Cream?” Receiving such affirmation for the first time, Yang Suwen perked up, leaned in, cupped Ling Yu’s face, and examined it from all angles as if verifying the results.

“Of course, would I lie to you? That’s why I said you’re truly amazing, sister!” Ling Yu nodded vigorously.

After exchanging compliments, Ling Yu finally revealed her purpose. “Actually, I came to see you today to discuss a collaboration.”

“A collaboration?” Yang Suwen’s expression changed, and she immediately grew alert. “Could it be that you, like that man surnamed Liang, are trying to steal my formula?”

“No, no, no, you’ve misunderstood! I have absolutely no interest in your formula. I just want to collaborate. You continue researching and developing the Jade Complexion Cream or anything else, and I’ll handle selling it. We’ll split the profits. What do you think?” Ling Yu quickly waved her hand.

Yang Suwen frowned and scrutinized her for a long while. After a moment, she slapped her thigh. “Fine, I agree!”

What? She agreed just like that? Without asking further questions? Even if she didn’t investigate her ancestors, shouldn’t she at least find out her background?

Ling Yu was unusually stunned. After thinking for a moment, she earnestly advised, “Sister Yang, you really can’t do this! How can you trust people so easily? You should at least find out who they are and what their purpose is!”

With such a lack of common sense, no wonder her formula was stolen in her past life.

Yang Suwen chuckled. “Sister, you’re so funny. You don’t even want my formula, and you treated me to a full meal. You look like a good person. Why should I waste my breath asking unnecessary questions?”

Ling Yu fell silent, that actually… makes sense. Her own sister always said she had a face that could fool the world.

Even so, achieving her goal this easily felt unreal.

“But Sister Yu, I’m penniless right now. I can’t even afford the ingredients, so I can’t make the Jade Complexion Cream,” Yang Suwen said, shrugging.

“No problem, no problem! You handle the technique, and I’ll handle the money!” Ling Yu replied boldly with a wave of her hand.

“Sister, you’re too kind—my greatest benefactor!” Yang Suwen grabbed her hand, squeezing out a few grateful tears.

Ling Yu suddenly felt as though she had just walked into a trap.

This girl really was the creator of the Jade Complexion Cream… right?

Yang Suwen was the daughter of Doctor Yang, the former owner of Huichuntang. Her mother died when she was young, and after the shop changed hands, Doctor Yang also passed away soon after from illness, leaving only her and an old servant, Cheng Bo.

Ling Yu followed Yang Suwen home, where they discussed their cooperation in detail. Perhaps because she hadn’t invested any money, Yang Suwen, feeling a bit guilty, brought out all the formulas she had developed over the years—scar-fading, skin-revitalizing, whitening, and blemish-removing, quite a few.

Ling Yu was so shocked she couldn’t speak for a long while. After witnessing the effectiveness of the Jade Complexion Cream, she naturally trusted Yang Suwen’s abilities. If these formulas worked just as well, the profits they could generate would be simply unimaginable.

Just imagining money pouring in filled her with enthusiasm.

After discussing repeatedly, the two decided to rent a shop. They even had a name ready, Liufang Hall, and its signature product would be the Jade Complexion Cream.

However, when Yang Suwen saw the price Ling Yu had set for the Jade Complexion Cream, she hesitated for a long moment. “Isn’t five taels too expensive?”

“You don’t understand. Once the Jade Complexion Cream proves its effectiveness, they’ll gladly spend a fortune. Never underestimate a woman’s love for beauty. Besides, people have a universal flaw. Cheap things aren’t good, and good things aren’t cheap. The most expensive is always the best,” Ling Yu said confidently.

In her opinion, five taels was still far too cheap!

“Just focus on preparing the Jade Complexion Cream. I’ll handle the rest. And don’t go out unnecessarily these days, avoid that man surnamed Liang,” Ling Yu reminded her worriedly.

“Don’t worry, I’m not stupid. Besides, he’s just passing through. He might leave any day now.”

Before leaving, Ling Yu handed all her silver to Yang Suwen and hurried home, her heart full of excitement.

This collaboration with Yang Suwen couldn’t rely on the two of them alone; after all, there were many matters they couldn’t conveniently handle. She also planned to find a strong backer in the county town to ensure that no one would dare target them in the future.

But for now, the most important task was securing the shop.

***

Meanwhile, in Chengjia Village, Wu Liren, Song Chao, and Tang Jinyuan were urging Cheng Shaotang to join them in seeking refuge with Prince Qi.

“We’ve all thought it through,” Song Chao said frankly. “We survived this ordeal entirely thanks to His Highness Prince Qi. We’re eternally grateful. Since we’ve lost our jobs anyway, and now that Prince Qi hasn’t abandoned us, why not go and join him? First, we can repay his kindness, and second, we’ll have jobs to make a living. What’s not to like?”

“Brother Song is right,” Tang Jinyuan added. “That’s what I was thinking too. Brother Cheng, why don’t you come along? That way, we brothers can work together again. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

“Shaotang, what do you think? These medicines were sent by Mr. Yan. They work remarkably well for your injuries. The two of them recovered faster because they used them. Mr. Yan says that if we’re interested in seeking refuge with His Highness Prince Qi, he’s willing to introduce us.” Seeing that Cheng Shaotang remained silent, Wu Liren finally spoke slowly.

“This time, it’s because Prince Qi left the capital to assume his fief, and he didn’t bring many men with him. That’s why he recruited guards from among the common people. Normally, anyone who could become a guard in a prince’s residence was selected from the palace. People like us would never get such a chance.

“Furthermore, although you didn’t intend it, you did end up offending those two nobles. Entering Prince Qi’s residence is also a chance to secure a stable life. Besides, Prince Qi is benevolent, generous, and upright—truly the kind of ruler worth following. A wise bird chooses a strong tree to perch on. With such a heaven-sent opportunity, what are you still hesitating for?”

Cheng Shaotang’s thick brows knitted tightly. Facing the three expectant faces before him, he stayed silent for a long while before sighing. “I understand what you’re saying, but after going through such an undeserved calamity, I’ve grown truly fearful of anything related to the imperial family and nobles.”

“However, His Highness Prince Qi has shown us great kindness, and he is in need of men right now. If I make excuses, it would be unbecoming of a true man.

“In that case, I will join the three of you—”

“Wait!!”

Just as he was about to voice his agreement, someone abruptly cut him off. The four of them looked up to see Ling Yu rushing inside.

“Sister-in-law?”

“Xiao Yu?”

“Sister-in-law?”

Ling Yu drew a deep breath, barely pressing down her panic. She gave the three a respectful curtsy before speaking. “I heard everything you just said. I have something to say, though I’m not sure if I should.”

Of course, that was merely polite phrasing; whether she should say it or not, she had to say it anyway. So before the four could speak, she continued, “As the saying goes, don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Chief Escort Wu was right; intentional or not, you’ve already offended those two noble lords. If all of you rush to join Prince Qi now and they bear a grudge, wouldn’t that wipe you out in one go?”

“Xiao Yu!” Hearing the hint of disrespect toward the two nobles, Cheng Shaotang hurried to stop her.

But Ling Yu ignored him and was about to continue when Song Chao cut her off. “Women are short-sighted. By your reasoning, should a true man not repay kindness?”

“Besides, a true man of the jianghu shouldn’t cling to life or fear death!”

Ling Yu immediately recognized him as the “brothers are limbs, women are clothes” fellow, and, hearing this again, she cursed him inwardly. If he wasn’t afraid of death, he could go by himself—why drag her man along!

Cheng Shaotang frowned as well. “Go take care of other matters first. Whatever you want to say, we’ll talk another day.”