Chapter 81

【Placing the thought-transference talisman on the center of the forehead allows one to imprint the thoughts from the mind onto it, providing a means for those unable to speak to communicate their thoughts. Though somewhat redundant, it only costs 5 merit points per use.】

For those who cannot speak, they can choose to gesture with their hands.

For those who can read, it’s even more convenient. They can write it down first, and if that’s not possible, expressing thoughts in the form of drawings is also acceptable.

Unlike Qiao Jiaojiao, who has a lot of thoughts in her mind but happens to be a little baby, gestures are incomprehensible, and she can’t even hold a pen.

【Not redundant at all! Not even a bit! Wow, this thought-transference talisman is tailor-made for me! Most importantly, it’s cheap!】

【Solid! When I get home, I’ll release the methods for making soap, perfume, and lipstick! The only difficulty now is how to let Dad know that these three methods can make big money!】

Mrs. Qiao listened to this quietly, with a slight smile on her lips.

She didn’t expect Jiao Jiao’s merit shop to be so miraculous!

As long as Jiao Jiao can imprint the methods, Husband and Eldest naturally will eagerly follow suit.

Meng Guxue was still waiting for Mrs. Qiao’s feedback.

Mrs. Qiao smiled at Meng Guxue, “Miss Meng, your soap is indeed much better than soapberries.”

Meng Guxue’s eyebrows raised at the words, quickly turning to look at the maid Xiaotao behind her.

Xiaotao, understanding, took out a bulging sachet from her waist.

“Mrs. Qiao, I still have plenty here. If you don’t mind, please take them all.”

“Of course, if you could recommend them to other ladies, that would be even better.”

Mrs. Meng heard the first half of the sentence and felt secretly pleased, thinking that her daughter was quite thoughtful.

But as soon as she heard the second half, her face turned red and then white.

Is… Is this rustic demeanor, the demeanor befitting a young lady from a noble family?

Meng Guxue, however, didn’t think much of it. Who would have trouble with money!

Mrs. Qiao, seeing Meng Guxue so enthusiastic, nodded and accepted the bag of soap with a smile, saying, “Thank you for your kindness, Miss Meng.”

Meng Guxue waved her hand with a smile. She wasn’t worried at all that someone would expose the secret formula of the soap.

Although soap making isn’t that complicated, it’s been refined time and time again to come up with the most suitable formula she learned in the modern era.

These bumpkins who only know how to use soapberries couldn’t possibly produce such good stuff even if they broke their heads!

Mrs. Meng couldn’t bear the embarrassment and quickly grabbed Meng Guxue’s hand to take her leave.

Meng Guxue had hoped to meet other ladies from high-ranking families when she accompanied Mrs. Meng out this time, but unexpectedly ran into Mrs. Qiao instead. It was indeed an unexpected joy.

Now that her purpose has been achieved, she obediently let Mrs. Meng drag her away.

After exiting the hall door, Meng Guxue couldn’t help but glance back.

At this moment, Mrs. Qiao had already taken the initiative to lead Qiao Jiao Jiao back inside. Meng Guxue thought of the scene she saw in her dream, the scene of the Qiao family’s destruction, but felt no ripples in her heart.

For oneself, heaven punishes, earth destroys!

Mrs. Qiao, you do have a good temperament, a good background, and everything else is good.

However, because your Qiao family’s reputation is too loud, your prestige too high, and because you’re standing on the side of the Crown Prince, blocking my path with Shen Lang!

Might makes right. Your Qiao family’s fate of utter destruction can only be blamed on your own inability!

Thinking of this, Meng Guxue slowly withdrew her gaze.

It’s time to go back and study the lipstick.

Although ancient lipstick is already very good, there is still room for improvement.

Mrs. Meng watched as there was no one else around and lowered her voice to reprimand Meng Guxue.

Meng Guxue nodded incessantly, her agreement echoing but seemingly passing through one ear and out the other.

This thrifty woman wasn’t actually bad; on the contrary, she was quite good.

It’s just that she had a narrow vision and always emphasized rules and regulations, which was stifling her!

“Alright, Aunt, I promise I won’t do this next time, okay? Let’s go home quickly, or else Dad will be dragged away by those vixens at home again!”

Mrs. Meng furrowed her brow sharply at her words. “Look at what you’re saying!”

Meng Guxue smirked. “Auntie, can’t I call them auntie?”

Mrs. Meng sighed inwardly. This girl had grown too big; she really couldn’t control her anymore.

Fiddling with strange things all day long, she seemed to have her own ideas, unexpectedly even receiving the emperor’s favor, but why was she becoming even more unruly?

No, before the Dragon Boat Festival banquet, she must quickly teach Xue’er some manners!

Otherwise, embarrassing herself at the banquet could result in losing her head!

With that in mind, Mrs. Meng had nothing more to say and hurriedly pulled Meng Guxue back home.

On the other side, Mrs. Qiao devoutly lit incense, then upon hearing the novice monk say that Qiao Diyi had gone to the back mountain, she strolled over.

Just now, when entering the hall, she had seen Mrs. Meng from afar, so Qiao Diyi actively avoided her.

Qiao Jiaojiao rarely saw such mountain scenery, and she was extremely excited, babbling away.

Seeing Qiao Jiaojiao so happy, Mrs. Qiao stopped and chatted along the way, and Aunt Liu on the side teased, so there was laughter all the way. Suddenly, a few urgent shouts came from not far away.

“Second Miss!”

“Second Miss, where are you!”

“Yuer!”

“Sister!”

Qiao Jiaojiao’s waving hand suddenly paused, turning her head to look in the direction of the voices.

Only to see a group of six or seven people coming out from behind a big tree, each one looking around anxiously.

Qiao Jiaojiao immediately recognized Xiao Qianlan in her lake-green dress.

【It’s Big Sister Xiao from the Xiao family! From the looks of it, it seems like they’re looking for the second miss of the Xiao family!】

Mrs. Qiao immediately went forward.

In fact, the Qiao and Xiao families didn’t have much interaction, not because of any grudges between the two families, but to avoid suspicion.

In the Great Yong Dynasty, there was a well-known saying, “Qiao in the north, Xiao in the south.”

The Qiao family guarded the northern border, defending against the northern nation.

The Xiao family defended the southern border, guarding against the southern Ligu Kingdom.

The two families were the left and right arms of the Great Yong Dynasty.

When the northern nation invaded, burning, killing, and looting in the northern border of the Great Yong Dynasty, Qiao Zhongguo took the lead in the crisis, eventually reaching the capital of the northern nation, gaining great fame.

At the same time, taking advantage of the crisis, the southern Ligu Kingdom also made small-scale disturbances in the southern border, but they were all repelled by General Xiao, Xiao Hongda.

General Xiao’s contributions to the Great Yong Dynasty were no less than those of Qiao Zhongguo, but he did not seek fame.

With such two major military families, one in the north and one in the south, holding military power, if they were to become friendly, the Emperor of Yong would likely lose sleep and appetite.

Now, the southern border was still guarded by the Xiao family, but Qiao Zhongguo had already relinquished all military power and became a civil official.

In this way, the Qiao family didn’t have too much worry. That’s why Mrs. Qiao took the initiative to approach.

Mrs. Qiao had seen Mrs. Xiao a few times at various banquets in previous years, so she recognized her at a glance.

She knew that the second miss of the Xiao family would eventually become her second daughter-in-law. Seeing Mrs. Xiao’s anxious and worried look, she couldn’t help but worry a bit.

“Mrs. Xiao!”