Chapter 554
Chapter 554: Chapter 548_1 Chapter 554: Chapter 548_1 “Now that the date has been set, you should go tell Fangcao the good news earlier. It will set her mind at ease since she seems to be sincerely looking forward to spending her life with you. Look, she is busily embroidering her dowry in her room, a good girl indeed. You must treat her well in the future,” Lin Yue said, elevating Fangcao in her speech to diminish Zhang Xiaoyu, not minding saying a few good words about Fangcao. Although she didn’t particularly like Fangcao either, everything is relative, isn’t it? Compared to Zhang Xiaoyu, Lin Yue found Fangcao much more adorable.
Upon hearing Lin Yue’s words, Zhang Qiusheng’s face softened, “Thank you for your grace, Madam. I will tell Fangcao immediately.”
“Wait a moment. Let Xixi accompany you there. It’s all women on that side; it wouldn’t be appropriate for you, a grown man, to go over there rashly. You might offend someone, and the old maids guarding the door won’t let you in.” Lin Yue hastily instructed when she saw Zhang Qiusheng moving to leave. Ever since the incident with Zhang Xiaoyu, the rules had become much stricter. These areas were off-limits to external males to prevent any inappropriate incidents, especially with Eunuch Cui and his entourage staying here recently, the regulations had become even more stringent.
“Thank you, Madam,” Zhang Qiusheng said, bowing once more to Lin Yue before following Xixi.
Once Zhang Qiusheng had left, Lin Yue proceeded to the Soap Making Room as she had initially planned. She walked into a small experimental chamber within the Soap Making Room and was startled to see Liao Ruyan there.
Liao Ruyan seemed like she hadn’t rested for a long time, looking exceptionally haggard with two large dark circles under her eyes and a disheveled appearance. However, her spirit was remarkably high, and her eyes glowed with excitement, resembling the mad scientists Lin Yue had seen in movies.
“Now, Ruyan, how did you end up looking like this? How long have you been cooped up in this room? You can’t work on your projects at the expense of your own wellbeing. Listen to me, put aside these things, go freshen up and rest, then come back to work on this,” Lin Yue said. Noticing that Liao Ruyan didn’t react, she reached out to pull her.
Avoiding Lin Yue’s hand due to her absorption in her work, Liao Ruyan had even forgotten to use her self-reference properly, “Madam, don’t bother about me. I have some final touches to finish. Following your method, I found something to replace what’s called ‘glass’, and combined with what I had figured out before, I actually managed to make essential oils! And they even smell better than the ones you gave me. Here, take a sniff.”
As she spoke, Liao Ruyan handed a small bottle resembling essential oil to Lin Yue. Lin Yue looked at it, dabbed a little on her hand, and sniffed it at her nose. Indeed, it was not bad. In these past several days, Liao Ruyan really had managed to create essential oils, and the fragrance was even more pleasant than the oils Zhao Erhu had brought back from various places.
Lin Yue was also very happy at this moment, her lips parting to reveal a big smile, “Ruyan, you are incredible, I knew you could do it. From now on, we won’t need to buy those expensive oils that cost thirty taels per bottle, which aren’t even as good as yours but sell for such a high price—it’s simply unforgivable! With our homemade essential oils, we not only do not need to buy theirs, but we can also sell ours to them. Let me think about it carefully, when I come up with some fresh ideas, we’ll be making a lot more money.”
“I’ve decided, starting now, our Soap Making Room will also begin to produce essential oils, a huge and abundant amount. We’ll make a big batch for Zhao Erhu to take to the barbaric countries overseas to sell, and earn back many, many times over the three hundred taels of silver I spent in vain.” It seemed she still remembered fondly the three hundred taels of silver Zhao Erhu had spent on essential oils, mainly because she felt that spending such an amount on a few bottles was too extortionate.
When Liao Ruyan heard Lin Yue speak so optimistically, she rolled her eyes in disbelief and couldn’t help but want to take Lin Yue down a peg, “Madam, you think too highly of it. Although the essential oil has been produced, my method of making essential oil requires flower petals to be effective, otherwise it won’t be the same. This season, everywhere is bare, and by the time the warm weather and blooming flowers come, it might be too late as the master plans to leave early.”
When Lin Yue heard this from Liao Ruyan, not only did she not look dejected, she actually smiled even more gleefully, her smile bearing a certain pride, “That’s why I say, I am just too clever, having the foresight to know what’s needed. The seeds of flowering plants that Erhu brought back from the west, I’ve already had Musheng’s wife plant them, along with those bought from the Seed Store. So, you won’t lack the flowers necessary for making essential oils. Although we don’t have them now, they will definitely be ready in time for Erhu’s departure to the sea. As for the dry flowers we have stored up until now, there should be enough in the storehouse.”
Having said this, Liao Ruyan indeed had nothing left to say. She had only spoken out to deflate her Madam’s pride a bit, given that Madam often enjoyed teasing her. However, she had always admired Madam in her heart. She had seen clever women before, but never one like her Madam, who was not only smart but had insight and knew many things. Unlike the women confined to their domestic quarters, no matter how clever they might be, they only knew petty jealousies and craved men’s favor, their thoughts limited to that tiny world of scheming and plotting—what else did they know?
“Yes, Madam is truly wise and resourceful. Since everything has been arranged by Madam, I shall do my utmost to manage things well, ensuring that you make a fortune, bringing all the westerners’ silver home.” This way of calling them ‘westerners’ was also popularized by Lin Yue, as people used to call them barbaric foreigners from barbaric countries.
“While making money is important, you must also take care of yourself. Look at you, as unkempt as a beggar on the streets, if you collapse from exhaustion and it gets out, they will accuse me of overworking my subordinates for the sake of money, and I’ll have been wronged! Besides, if you ruin your health, no amount of silver will be able to buy it back. So go and rest now, no matter what, you can talk about it once you have had enough rest!” Lin Yue saw that Liao Ruyan still seemed determined to stay, concerned that she wouldn’t last, and forcefully ordered her to go rest. Then she had Granny Xu make a nourishing soup for Liao Ruyan to replenish her strength.
Zhao Erhu and his party traveled at a normal pace and arrived in Capital City after more than ten days. Eunuch Cui, being informed, brought Zhao Erhu directly into the Imperial Palace to report to the Emperor.
It was Erhu’s first time entering the palace, but he felt nothing particularly novel. Mainly because his young wife had described the palace to him after her visit, and over the years he had also gained much experience, becoming more composed and calm. There was actually no hint of nervousness on his face.