Chapter 18

“Hahaha! The old lady seems to be in a great mood! Qing girl reminds me of myself when I was young!”

The Old Madam burst into hearty laughter as she walked over.

Xia Qingqing was momentarily stunned.

She had just taken down more than ten strong men, and apart from Xiao Suo, no one else in the back courtyard or woodshed had seen it. How did the Old Madam know?

And not only did she know about the stolen cloak, but she even gave Qingqing an invitation to the palace’s chrysanthemum banquet. The Old Madam wasn’t simple at all!

Muttering to herself, Xia Qingqing stuffed the invitation into her backpack.

In fact, the Old Madam had secretly arranged for someone to monitor Xia Qingqing. This person remained deeply hidden, unnoticed even by the Xia household.

Following the matriarch’s instructions, they were only to observe, not intervene, and report Xia Qingqing’s every move to her.

Upon receiving these reports, the Old Madam felt both heartache and admiration for this little girl. Alone in the Xia household, she faced challenges and dangers, yet she fought back with bravery and wit, unafraid of anything.

The Old Madam grew fonder of her and decided to continue testing her.

After some thought, Xia Qingqing slapped her forehead and grinned.

“That’s right! I should use the chrysanthemum banquet to introduce my skincare products to those noble ladies and wealthy young misses. Oh my! Heaven must have taken pity on my poverty and shown me a path to fortune! Hahaha!”

Xia Qingqing couldn’t help laughing out loud.

“Qingqing, come here. I’ve got some silver for you!”

Doctor Sun appeared, handing her several 100-tael silver notes and five taels of loose silver.

“How’s the skincare product?”

Xia Qingqing carefully tucked the notes and silver into her clothes.

“Excellent! Absolutely amazing! My wife and daughter just used it for a short while, and the spots on their faces have faded significantly. It smells fresh and pleasant too. Hurry back and make more—I want our Xinglin Hall to not only treat illnesses and sell medicine but also enter the skincare market!”

Doctor Sun beamed, looking at Xia Qingqing as if she were a lucky charm.

“Alright, I’ll buy more herbs. We’re running out of what’s left at home!”

With the positive feedback, Xia Qingqing’s confidence soared.

“The herbs are already prepared for you by the apprentices. Just go to the counter and pick them up. Don’t bother paying. Consider this a partnership—we’ll split the earnings 30-70. I’ll take 30, you 70. How about that?”

Doctor Sun proposed enthusiastically.

“Uncle Sun, let’s split it 50-50. Without you providing the best herbs and sales channels, I wouldn’t be able to earn silver so quickly!”

Xia Qingqing gestured with her fingers to emphasize her point.

“You cheeky girl! Your father said you’re a once-in-a-century genius in pharmaceuticals. Even with the same herbs, your creations have unmatched effectiveness. Giving you just 30% is already me taking advantage! Stop fussing and take the herbs home to make more. I’m worried we won’t have enough to sell soon!”

Doctor Sun waved her off with urgency.

“Alright then! Thank you, Grandpa Sun and Uncle Sun, for believing in me. I’ll do my best!”

Xia Qingqing clasped her hands together and bowed deeply towards the backyard and Doctor Sun.

She picked up her backpack and headed to the front counter, where several large packages of herbs were already wrapped and waiting.

Stuffing them into her backpack, she left the hall, brimming with joy.

Back at the Xia estate, she scaled the wall and slipped into the backyard.

From her lodging, she heard the loud, commanding voice of Lin, the housekeeper.

“Where’s the Sixth Miss? Where could she have hidden? The Madam is summoning her to the main house. Did she run away, or is she deliberately avoiding me?”

“Madam Lin, the Sixth Miss is playing in the bamboo grove, catching bugs. She said she doesn’t like to be disturbed while she’s catching bugs.”

Xiao Suo lied to cover for her.

“What? A young miss catching bugs? What kind of strange hobby is that? Other young ladies play the zither, study, or paint. At the very least, they learn some needlework. The Sixth Miss is truly one of a kind!”

Lin’s mouth twitched. Thinking back to the poison bugs in the guardhouse, she now suspected they were the work of the Sixth Miss. She must have quite the deft hands!

Xia Qingqing set down her backpack and quickly caught a green bamboo viper hanging from a branch. Playing with it, she strolled over.

“Madam Lin, you’re here!”

“Hiss!”

Lin’s eyes landed on the vivid green snake in Xia Qingqing’s hand, and she stepped back in fright.

“Greetings, Sixth Miss!”

“Madam Lin, what brings you here?”

With an innocent expression, Xia Qingqing stared at her.

“Six… Sixth Miss, please don’t come so close. The Madam is inviting several young ladies to the palace banquet tonight and wants you to go to the main house to pick a gown. Fourth Miss is there choosing hers too!”

Lin kept her distance as she replied.

“I’m also attending the banquet?”

“Yes, yes! Fourth Miss is going, so naturally, the Sixth Miss can’t be left out!”

“Oh, alright then. Let’s go!”

Xia Qingqing walked ahead.

“Sixth Miss, could you please put the snake down? It’s terrifying!”

Lin called out, pointing to the snake in Xia Qingqing’s hand. If she brought that into the main house, it would surely scare the Madam to death.

“Oh, look at me! I got so caught up playing with it!”

Xia Qingqing set the bamboo viper back on a branch and watched it slither away.

“Little Green, I’ll come back to play with you later. Bye-bye!”

Lin’s hair stood on end.

The Sixth Miss wasn’t ordinary at all. No wonder everyone looked pale when her name was mentioned. Next time there’s a message for her, I’ll make someone else deliver it!

Smiling, Xia Qingqing headed for the main house, with Lin trailing behind, her round frame practically rolling along.

Once they were out of sight, Xiao Suo picked up the backpack left on the ground and hurried back to the yard.

“Madam, the Sixth Miss has arrived!”

A maid informed Yan Meili.

“Let her in.”

Ever since Xia Qingqing’s near-drowning incident, Yan Meili hadn’t seen this neglected daughter for days.

Xia Qingqing stepped over the threshold and entered the hall, her gaze falling on the stunningly beautiful woman seated in the main chair.

The eldest miss, Xia Jinlan, bore a striking resemblance to her—radiant and alluring. No wonder her scumbag father forgot about his first wife.

Yan Meili was the epitome of a wealthy, beautiful woman. Which man wouldn’t be smitten by such a heavenly blessing?

“Greetings, Mother!”

Xia Qingqing bowed respectfully.

Yan Meili scrutinized her carefully. Compared to their first meeting, the girl seemed much more spirited. Her voice was loud and clear, with none of the timidness she used to display. She felt like a completely different person.

“Rise.”

Yan Meili gestured lightly.

Xia Qingqing straightened, her bangs still covering most of her forehead. Standing tall and poised, she exuded a charm that made it hard to look away.

“Your father decided that since Xia Shuixian is going to the palace, he might as well take all the young ladies from the household.

“I know you don’t have a single decent gown to your name, so I had Jin Xiufang send over a few ready-made dresses. You and Xia Shuixian can pick one each. If any adjustments are needed, they can be made right away to avoid any embarrassment tonight.

“Also, let them take your measurements so Jin Xiufang can make you a few more gowns. We don’t want another last-minute rush like today if you need to attend future banquets.”

Yan Meili explained calmly, sipping her tea.

Let’s see how long you can stand. If you faint or make a fool of yourself, I’ll finally have a reason to put you down.