Chapter 34

Cheng Ruyi looked at the divine medicine she had just finished making, her eyes welling up with tears. She was incredibly sad and sought comfort; what happened to the plan of making a fortune?

The Emperor set me up!

If only he had waited a little longer before announcing it to the world.

Rong Mo couldn’t bear to see his little fiancée so upset. He cleared his throat lightly. “Cousin, the people who can afford this divine medicine are all from wealthy families. They don’t lack money.”

Cheng Ruyi’s eyes lit up. She had been worrying over nothing. What she was selling was a divine medicine—a high-end, top-tier pill. The consumer market was naturally different.

Wealthy families had plenty of silver.

“That’s true! Why didn’t I think of that? Cousin, you didn’t even remind me; you just watched me make a fool of myself. Hmph!” Cheng Ruyi immediately beamed, offering a small pouty complaint.

Rong Mo’s eyes were full of mirth, yet he flirted with her quite seriously: “How could I ever laugh at you? You are my favorite!”

Cheng Ruyi shot him a glance and smiled happily. “Cousin, you’ve learned to be naughty!”

She thought to herself that her “training” over the past few days had been effective. Even someone as cold and aloof as Cousin Rong Mo could now speak sweet nothings. Mm, I must keep up the good work.

Her “Big Sister’s” husband-taming methods were indeed effective.

The corners of Rong Mo’s lips curved upward. With his little fiancée’s earnest “guidance” every night, how could he fail to live up to her expectations?

“It is all thanks to my cousin’s excellent teaching!”

Cheng Ruyi smiled triumphantly, waving her hand in mock humility. “Oh, it was nothing, really!”

After the laughter, Cheng Ruyi began to fret over how to promote the divine medicine to ensure it made a splash and sold for a high price.

“Cousin, how can we make our divine medicine a sensation? Should we find a spokesperson?” Cheng Ruyi’s eyes darted around as she came up with a bright idea.

Back when she and Big Sister marketed this medicine, they had used an ability-user who was notorious for “problems in that department” to do the advertising.

However, men in this ancient era were far too secretive about their ailments. It was bad—very bad. It made it impossible for her to find a spokesperson for the divine medicine.

If only there were someone like Liu Xiahui in this dynasty. Her divine medicine would definitely be an instant hit. Surely such a person existed; should she ask her cousin to dig someone up?

Find a spokesperson?

Hearing this, Rong Mo’s expression nearly crumbled. Though called “divine medicine,” it was essentially that kind of thing. Men valued their dignity above all else; who would buy such a medicine with great fanfare?

Let alone be a spokesperson. Men all hoped for world-renowned fame that would last for eternity, but no one wanted this kind of fame.

But thinking of his little fiancée’s obsession with silver, it seemed someone really was needed to promote it.

“…Why don’t we let Uncle try it first, and then let him promote it?” After much consideration, Rong Mo felt his uncle was the best candidate.

“Cousin is right! Why didn’t I think of Father? This bottle was meant for him anyway. Once he gets a taste of the benefits, he’ll surely promote it with all his might. By then, this ‘Invincible Golden Spear Pill’ will be the unique divine medicine of our Changle Marquis Manor.”

The more Cheng Ruyi spoke, the more excited she became. She could almost see a shimmering mountain of gold running toward her. Her eyes sparkled and her cheeks flushed a bright red, making it impossible for one to look away.

Rong Mo: “…”

He hoped his little fiancée wouldn’t actually try to make his uncle the “spokesperson.” He felt a bit guilty for accidentally throwing his future father-in-law under the bus. But surely… Uncle wouldn’t mind?

With a solution in hand, Cheng Ruyi continued making the “Invincible Golden Spear Pills.” She planned to sneak a bottle to her father that night.

To call it a divine medicine was no exaggeration. If there was a problem, it cured it; if there wasn’t, it strengthened the body.

It truly could strengthen the body. The herbs Cheng Ruyi matured with her wood-type ability were brimming with vitality, and the pills made from the recipe preserved that richness.

Back in the apocalypse, researchers had tested this with scientific instruments: it was safe with no side effects. Not only was it harmless, but it was also invigorating and provided great benefits to the female partner as well. It was beneficial for both parties. No wonder it had sold so explosively, often having a price but no stock.

Perhaps these ancient people would even grow younger the more they used it.

Taking advantage of the time before the Great Calamity, Cheng Ruyi decided to be self-reliant, save up silver, and earn her own dowry.

While Cheng Ruyi prepared her money-making scheme, the Princess Consort of Rong remained unconscious until the following day. When she finally opened her eyes, the events at the temple replayed constantly in her mind. She was despondent, the usual spark in her eyes gone; she looked as though she had aged ten years overnight.

The maid attending her, Dingxiang, had been standing guard. Seeing her wake, Dingxiang respectfully brought over a bronze basin to serve her. Dingxiang was her trusted confidante.

“Where are the Prince, the Heir, and Nanny Zhao? Why is there no one here?” After washing up, the Princess Consort felt a bit more spirited. Noticing only Dingxiang was in the room, she pursed her lips, her face turning ugly.

She was also extremely anxious. After what had happened, she didn’t know how the Prince would treat her. People only saw her glamorous exterior, but no one knew the bitterness in her heart—the constant nightmares and the Prince’s growing distance. Even the Lin family only maintained a superficial relationship with her. She had thought yesterday would be the final ritual.

Man proposes, but Heaven disposes. Her reputation was now foul; no amount of damage control could save it. The Lin family would undoubtedly abandon her. She could only cling tightly to the Prince and her son—her two remaining liferafts.

The Prince was a man who valued old sentiments. As long as he didn’t give up on her, her life wouldn’t be too hard. At this moment, she still didn’t know a Great Calamity was coming; if she did, she wouldn’t be thinking this way.

Dingxiang felt pained seeing the Princess Consort like this. “The Prince is not in the manor. Nanny Zhao and the others were sent back to the Lin family by the Prince.”

She pointedly didn’t mention the Heir, Chu Ran. It wasn’t that she forgot, but rather that since the Princess Consort’s collapse, the Heir couldn’t handle the shock. He had gotten dead drunk and hadn’t woken up yet.

The Princess Consort gave a bitter smile. So Dingxiang was the only confidante left by her side? “The Prince… did he say anything?”

Dingxiang didn’t dare look her in the eye. She lowered her head and whispered, “The Prince said that from now on, Your Highness should stay in the small Buddhist hall to chant and pray.”

The Princess Consort was devastated. Her body swayed, and she gave a tragic smile, her eyes filling with tears and resentment. “Twenty years as husband and wife… and because of one accident, the Prince treats me like this?”

Yes, in her mind, the event at Xiangguo Temple was just an “accident.” It had to be an accident.

Dingxiang remained silent with her head bowed. In truth, the Prince had said much more, but his words were too hurtful, too harsh, and too heartless—damaging to the Princess Consort’s honor—so she didn’t repeat them.

Seeing Dingxiang’s expression, the Princess Consort first smiled bitterly, then suddenly burst into a crazed laughter. She laughed and laughed, eventually dissolving into loud weeping.

An old woman bringing food stopped outside the door. Hearing the sound of crying and laughing from within, she shuddered and quickly turned to leave.

In the past, everyone thought the Princess Consort was gentle, kind, and approachable. After the incident at the temple, thinking back on it only made their skin crawl. For someone to maintain such a flawless disguise for so many years… how deep must her schemes be?

Now, for the Prince to let her stay in the small Buddhist hall instead of divorcing her was already a great mercy, granted for the sake of the Heir. One must know that once a wife in the Royal family provoked “heavenly wrath,” she would usually be divorced or given a length of white silk to end it. The Prince had already done more than enough for her.

Prince of Rong Manor, North Garden

In the Courtyard of the Favored Concubine, Lady Yirou

A beautiful woman with a graceful figure knit her brows, a trace of a cold, satisfied smile in her eyes. “This time the Princess Consort has taken such a fall that she’ll never get up again. We’ve finally fulfilled Grandmother’s promise.”

“Your grandmother’s promise is fulfilled, but what about your future? If only you hadn’t gotten involved with Heir Chu Ran…” A nanny who looked about forty years old looked at the woman with heartache.

Yes, her daughter. Lady Yirou, the Prince’s favored concubine, was this nanny’s daughter.

Lady Yirou gave a faint smile and whispered, “Mother, I don’t regret it. Chu Ran’s position as Heir was stolen to begin with. It’s better that the Prince loathes him. As for the future, we’ll see. Perhaps there will be a turning point.”

The middle-aged nanny felt bitter. Perhaps, but she held no hope. How could the Prince be entirely unaware of the private affairs between her daughter and the Heir? Yet the Prince pretended not to know and let it happen. She truly couldn’t understand this Prince.

“The most dangerous place is the safest place. It hasn’t been easy for us to stay under the Princess Consort’s nose all these years. By the way, my brother should be coming to the capital for the imperial examinations this year, right?” Speaking of her brother, a smile appeared on Lady Yirou’s face.

“Yes, I hope he can pass the Jinshi exam this time. That way, we can be considered to have done right by the Rong family.” The middle-aged nanny smiled slightly and sighed. Then, thinking of something, the smile vanished.

At the mention of the “Rong family,” both mother and daughter fell silent.

Night fell, and the moon hid behind the clouds.

Cheng Ruyi snuck out of her courtyard and headed to the main courtyard. Sensing the area, she found her father hadn’t gone to sleep yet. Ignoring the hesitant page who wanted to stop her, she burst straight in.

“Father, I have something good to give you!”

The Marquis of Changle was startled by her sudden intrusion. “Ahem, Daughter, why are you here at this hour?” He was about to go to bed. When his daughter mentioned “something good,” he immediately thought of that divine medicine she kept talking about. He didn’t feel good at all.

“This is exactly the right time,” Cheng Ruyi said dismissively. She pulled out a white porcelain bottle and shoved it into the Marquis’s hand.

“Father, this is the divine medicine I made. The doctor says there’s no problem with it. You and Mother try it tonight; the effect is great! If you think it’s good, Father, remember to help me promote it.”

Cheng Ruyi never beat around the bush; she was blunt to a fault.

The Marquis was speechless and embarrassed as he took the “divine medicine.” He looked back at his dear wife, only to see her hiding a smile behind her hand. The look she gave him was full of flirtatious charm, and the Marquis’s eyes immediately glazed over.

Rong Susu was truly amused by her daughter’s antics. However, Rong Mo had told her a bit about the medicine; since it was harmless to the body, there was no harm in Ah Yuan using it. Perhaps it would even make their marriage more harmonious.

Rong Susu thought about this with a slight blush.

“Alright, Father, Mother, I’m going back now. I wish you a wonderful night!” Cheng Ruyi gave a sly grin and then vanished.

The Marquis and his wife were left staring at each other.

“Susu, this medicine… it’s our daughter’s gift. We can’t let it go to waste. How about we use it tonight?” The Marquis smiled pleasingly at Rong Susu, eyeing her face which looked even more beautiful under the candlelight.

Their life together was usually harmonious, but an occasional surprise was nice, wasn’t it? Besides, it was their daughter’s gift.

Rong Susu was a person who was very open in front of her husband. She shot him a glance, her eyes full of intoxicating charm. “I didn’t say you couldn’t use it. Daughter said there’s no problem with it, so just take one and see.”

With his wife’s permission, the Marquis happily opened the bottle and poured out a white, round pill with a faint fragrance. One sniff was enough to make one feel refreshed.

The Marquis’s eyes lit up. Good stuff! He hadn’t expected his daughter to be able to make such a pill.

One pill down, the effects were instant.

A night of lingering passion followed. The commotion was quite loud—so loud that almost everyone in the manor knew about it.

Cheng Ruyi, the instigator, had returned straight to her room to sleep after leaving the main courtyard. She had a good night’s rest. When she woke up the next day, she couldn’t wait to find out how her parents had fared with the medicine. She washed up quickly and put on a light green dress with Moxian’s help.

Cheng Ruyi’s dresses were no longer limited to red. She wasn’t the original owner and wasn’t obsessed with that color.

As was her habit, she went to the Bamboo Garden to call for Rong Mo, and they headed to the main courtyard together. Seeing the three shimmering golden artificial mountains in the open space, Cheng Ruyi nodded with satisfaction. Such efficiency! In just over a day, the three mountains were built.

Rong Mo looked at the three “Gold Mountains,” thought of what his fiancée had said, and saw her happy face. His expression was a bit subtle. The Changle Marquis Manor already had enough rumors; one or two more wouldn’t hurt.

With that thought, Rong Mo’s expression became natural.

Walking around the three “Gold Mountains,” Cheng Ruyi clenched her fist and made a confident boast: “Once my divine medicine becomes a hit, Gold Mountains, Silver Mountains, and Jewelry Mountains won’t be a problem. For now, these three are the direction of my efforts.”

Rong Mo: “…”

They had arrived early. When they entered, only the maids and nannies were busy in the hall. Soon, Cheng Yu arrived as well, but he had dark circles under his eyes and yawned repeatedly. He clearly hadn’t slept well.

“Little Yu’er, were you out being a thief last night?” Cheng Ruyi looked at her brother curiously.

Cheng Yu replied listlessly, “Sister, I had an upset stomach yesterday. I was running to the latrine all night.”

Rong Mo frowned slightly. “Did you eat something unclean outside again?”

Cheng Yu shrank his neck and thought about it with a bitter face. He replied uncertainly, “I don’t… think so?”

Cheng Ruyi patted her brother’s head and comforted him. “If you can’t remember, then forget it. Just don’t eat things outside randomly in the future. It’s so hot; you don’t know if things are clean. You’re not like your sister, who has a stomach of iron.”

Cheng Yu: “…” Hearing his sister say that, he felt quite useless.

The corners of Rong Mo’s mouth twitched.

About the time it took for a cup of tea, the Marquis and his wife finally arrived.

Rong Susu was glowing. Her eyes were full of seductive springtime charm, looking incredibly beautiful and moving with every gesture. Beside her, the Marquis was refreshed, looking ten years younger and even more handsome.

As they entered hand-in-hand, they nearly blinded Cheng Ruyi and Rong Mo.

“Father, Mother, you must have slept very well last night?” Seeing them enter, Cheng Ruyi scanned their faces and asked slyly.

The radiant Marquis cleared his throat. He glanced at his beautiful wife, his old face reddening slightly, though he carried a trace of proud restraint: “The divine medicine… everyone who uses it says it’s good!”

Last night, after taking his daughter’s medicine and enjoying himself with his wife, he felt more energetic than when he was young—even more vigorous than a “living dragon.” What was even more wonderful was that afterward, instead of being tired, he felt as if he had taken a tonic.

It wasn’t just him; his wife was the same. It was as if they had found their second spring. They woke up full of spirit and had slept exceptionally comfortably.

Rong Susu smiled, her skin rosy and hydrated. Her eyes rippled with seductive charm as she offered a subtle review. “This divine medicine has a ‘money-filled’ future!”

Cheng Ruyi chuckled, her expression quite proud. It seemed her parents had indeed had a wonderful, passionate night. Her divine medicine was unique; it would be strange if the effect weren’t good. Even ability-users—those powerful men—couldn’t resist its charm. Let alone fragile ancient people; they would surely find it heavenly.

“Father, the effect is good, right? From now on, our manor can rely on selling divine medicine to make a fortune.”

Rong Mo: “…”

“Yes, yes! We must sell the divine medicine!” Thinking of the effect, the Marquis began to get restless again. He nodded repeatedly, smiling like a flower. His eyes flashed with silver symbols, as if he could see a beautiful future where he rolled around in a mountain of gold.

The father and daughter then huddled together, whispering and occasionally letting out triumphant laughter.

In the Marquis’s view, the manor did indeed need a new source of wealth. New kings bring new courtiers; who knew if the new Emperor would punish him after the current one passed away? After all, he had offended far too many officials. The charges might not be large, but they might take the opportunity to strip him of his title. What would happen to his daughter and son then?

The Marquis hadn’t swindled or cheated anyone lately. He didn’t know how his daughter had helped him raise his fighting roosters, but they were incredibly fierce and earned him a sum of money every time. He had thought he’d rely on them.

But the medicine his daughter made was so effective; it would surely be a hit if sold. Wealthy merchants and officials had plenty of wives and concubines—and even more beauties. The demand for such a medicine would be huge, and the silver would pour in. Of course, his social connections would surely improve as well.

“Daughter, Father will help you build the reputation and sell it. We’ll split the silver afterward.” Thinking of the good days ahead, the Marquis generously took charge of everything.

Cheng Ruyi’s eyes darted around, filled with an intense urge for gossip. Her father’s information seemed quite reliable; perhaps there really was a figure like Liu Xiahui. “Does Father have a candidate in mind?”

The Marquis chuckled. He did indeed have someone in mind—a person of extremely noble status. It was best to keep it a secret for now until things were settled. So, he said mysteriously, “I can’t say for now. I’ll tell you later.”

The father and daughter were thinking of completely different things.

“Alright, breakfast is ready. Let’s eat first.” Rong Susu interrupted them with a smile. The two had no choice but to stop, though they were still unsatisfied.

After breakfast, the Marquis rarely changed into his official court robes. Joyfully, he tucked the five bottles of divine medicine his daughter gave him into his clothes and headed for the morning court session.

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