Yun Chunfeng’s previously smug face immediately fell.
This made Xiao Ya giggle with delight.
Uncle’s face-changing act was so amusing.
Jiang Xingyan gave an awkward light cough. The words were already spoken; spilled water could not be retrieved.
Now, even if she tried to send him back, he absolutely wouldn’t leave.
Besides, the Huo Army was originally his. It was good for him to go back and see it.
However, judging by their carriage, it seemed they had come from the direction of the inner palace. She wondered what they had been doing there.
Afraid their Young Miss would misunderstand, Xiafeng and Dongyang hurriedly switched from that carriage to this one.
Huo Ci also wanted to follow, but he forced himself to hold back and sat back down.
A’yan had finally shown him a slightly better attitude; he shouldn’t get too close again and risk annoying her.
Huo Ci lowered his head, a gentle tenderness soaking his heart.
Perhaps A’yan still cared for him after all.
See, she didn’t send him back, did she?
Dongyang, being impatient, hurriedly explained the moment she got in the carriage: “Young Miss, please don’t misunderstand! We absolutely haven’t betrayed you.”
Jiang Xingyan couldn’t help but chuckle.
Xiafeng helplessly poked Dongyang’s forehead. “Look how flustered you are. You’ll scare the Young Miss.”
She cleared her throat and began recounting from the day Huo Ci took the initiative to offer to resolve the shop’s troubles…
——-
On the day of Yisi, the very day of the Beginning of Summer.
Huo Ci had sent a message in advance to Su Sheng, requesting an audience with Her Majesty the Empress.
Su Sheng privately thought this General’s Lady must want to enter the palace to inquire about General Huo’s situation.
After reporting to Xiao Ao, he received permission for “Jiang Xingyan” to enter the palace at 3:45 PM to pay her respects to the Empress.
Huo Ci had dressed early in Jiang Xingyan’s first-rank ordained Lady’s ceremonial robes. The crimson python robe set off his skin, making it appear whiter than snow, his eyes and brows like a painting.
His thick, seaweed-like black hair was combed into a neat chignon, not a single stray hair in sight.
The majestic and luxurious pheasant-feather crown was properly donned, its brilliance matching the pendant on the ornamental chest scarf.
Looking again at the reflection, the beautiful eyes shimmered, the feather-like eyebrows were dashingly elegant, the bearing dignified and noble, refined and stately.
The cinnabar mole on the brow bone of his right eye was like rouge perfectly placed, possessing its own unique, delicate charm.
It stunned Huo Ci.
His A’yan was originally this breathtakingly beautiful.
If only she were a bit fuller…
This thought poured over Huo Ci like a bucket of cold water.
When he first saw Jiang Xingyan, her cheeks were round and utterly adorable.
What had worn her down to her current thin and gaunt appearance?
It was him. It was his mother.
Thinking of this, he dared not look at Jiang Xingyan’s reflection any longer.
“General, everything is ready.”
Huo Ci hurriedly shook off his despondent mood.
He wanted to make amends to A’yan, and he would start by making himself useful to her!
The carriage slowly made its way toward the palace.
The entire capital was centered around the imperial city, divided into four main avenues: Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, White Tiger, and Azure Dragon.
The busiest market streets and shops were all on Vermilion Bird Avenue.
“Whoa!”
Wang Qi reined in the carriage.
Ahead, a noisy crowd had gathered in several circles, all seeming to point and gossip at the largest rouge and powder shop among Jiang Xingyan’s stores.
“General, it seems someone is causing trouble in front of the shop up ahead.”
“Go ask what’s happening.”
Wang Qi agreed and got off the carriage, calling out loudly, “Make way! The proprietor of our shop is here!”
The onlookers immediately parted a small path.
Wang Qi walked into the crowd to see a woman with a face full of sores, holding a box of fragrant powder, wailing and crying: “Your ‘Falling Sunset Glow’ actually sold me this filthy stuff! Everyone, look what it’s done to my face!
If you don’t give me an answer today, I’ll dash my brains out right in front of your shop!”
“The proprietor of Falling Sunset Glow must give us an answer today!”
“Exactly! Your things are so expensive, how could using them make a face rot completely? Is there no justice?”
“Have you no conscience, eaten by dogs? Refund the money! Close the shop!”
“Report it to the authorities! Let the magistrates throw these heartless profiteers in jail!”
Wang Qi, quick-eyed and swift-handed, snatched the exquisite wooden box from the woman’s hand and held it high.
“What a coincidence! Our proprietor is on her way to the palace to pay respects to Her Majesty the Empress and happened to pass by. She will personally see to this matter.
All you good folks, neighbors, and elders, please bear witness here today.
If this truly is a product from our Falling Sunset Glow, we will close our shop and cease business!”
The common folk, never ones to shy away from drama, immediately joined in the clamor: “Deal!”
Huo Ci gracefully stepped out of the carriage, supported on either side by Xiafeng and Dongyang.
Seeing the ceremonial robes and crown, the people knelt in respect: “We pay our respects to the ordained Lady.”
“There is no need for such formalities. Please rise quickly.”
Huo Ci walked step by step with dignified grace, astonishing the surrounding crowd who stared wide-eyed and open-mouthed.
“This Lady is truly as beautiful as a heavenly fairy!”
“Look at the forehead ornament on her brow, so beautiful. I’ve never seen such a style before.”
“She’s going to the palace to see the Empress. How could she possibly sell counterfeits?”
Huo Ci walked gracefully up to the woman. He took out from his sleeve a box of fragrant powder that looked almost identical.
“Everyone, please look. This is Falling Sunset Glow’s fragrant powder.”
He opened the lid, and an invigorating, heart-soothing fragrance instantly wafted out.
The crowd took deep breaths: “Wow, that smells wonderful.”
“That woman was holding hers for so long, and a lot spilled out. Why didn’t we smell any fragrance?”
Huo Ci closed the lid and turned the box over. The bottom was surrounded by carved patterns, each flower slender and distinct.
Right in the center, three large characters were engraved in the ‘Slender Gold’ style: Falling Sunset Glow.
Wang Qi timely turned the woman’s box over as well. The bottom had no engraving or carving whatsoever; it was completely blank.
The truth was immediately apparent.
“No awareness that you bought a fake? And you dare come shout in front of the genuine seller?”
“Shouldn’t we report her to the authorities and have her arrested?”
“If the proprietor hadn’t arrived just in time, we would have been fooled by her!”
The crowd was incensed.
Huo Ci gave a slight nod, and everyone quieted down instantly.
“Regarding recent events, I prefer not to say much. The clear are self-evident, and I trust in your discerning judgment.”
With a glance from him, Wang Qi took out a large ingot of silver and handed it to the woman, who was now trembling on the ground.
“Take this to treat your face. However, it’s likely just a common heat-toxin condition; any ordinary physician should be able to cure it.
Just remember next time not to be penny-wise and pound-foolish.”
Huo Ci added with a faint smile: “If any of you experience discomfort from using any product from any of our shops, you may bring the item to the shop to seek redress.
I guarantee not only a refund but also that a physician will be provided.”
With that, he boarded the carriage and departed.
Among the crowd, many who had bought cheap imitations guiltily glanced around.
“There’s a reason their shop’s prices are higher!”
“The proprietor is magnanimous! I must try their products today!”
“I just caught a glimpse earlier; the carriage had pastries from Thousand Mountains Su.
I simply must go buy a few today to taste how delicious imperial pastries really are.”
“I’m going too!”
While everyone was distracted, the woman with the ruined face had long since scrambled up and run off.
She looked left and right, finally arriving at the corner of an alley. Only then did she swipe a hand over her face. The originally horrifying sores instantly disappeared.
Looking again, who could it be if not Chunxue?