Chapter 43

Chapter 43: Winning Madam’s Favor

“What? He went to Pinglan Residence?” As soon as Qi Shu Xian left, Meng Yang, who had seemed fast asleep, opened her eyes abruptly.

Hearing Qing Xing’s report, her fingers beneath the quilt clenched tightly, eyes darkening with resentment.

[How can he still think of Sheng Zhi Wan, despite all her wickedness!]

Even more, the first thing he did after leaving her own place was rush to Pinglan Residence.

This was not what she had imagined at all!

[Shouldn’t he loathe Sheng Zhi Wan deeply by now? Why would he still want to see her?]

No—this couldn’t continue!

She was a transmigrator, the only unexpected variable in this world. Since she was here, everything must revolve around her.

Brewing decoctions…

That’s right!

Meng Yang abruptly sat up in bed.

“Agh!” The sharp movement sent a stabbing pain through her belly.

Qing Xing hurried to steady her. “Miss, you’re pregnant now! The doctor warned you yesterday—the child is unstable, you must be careful.”

“Alright, I know!” Meng Yang had no patience for these cautions right now. “Quick, Qing Xing, help me dress—I need to see Madam.”

It was only brewing decoctions, after all!

Even Sheng Zhi Wan, a simple-minded woman from ancient times, could brew medicine Madam found acceptable.

She’d gotten it all wrong before. To turn Qi Shu Xian against Sheng Zhi Wan, she shouldn’t have targeted Sheng Zhi Wan herself, but rather the others in Duke Qi’s household.

The Heir Apparent deeply valued filial piety.

The arguments he’d had with Sheng Zhi Wan weren’t solely due to Meng Yang herself.

Though the realization stung her pride, as long as Duke Qi’s Madam favored her and stood by her side, she could easily deal with Sheng Zhi Wan.

“No, don’t go to Madam yet—I must first visit the doctors who usually brew Madam’s medicine. Also, gather the maids responsible for cleaning our courtyard!”

Meng Yang spent the entire morning bustling about.

When finally delivering the medicine to Evening Tide Courtyard, Qing Xing asked anxiously, “Miss, are you sure this will really work?”

If even doctors couldn’t brew medicine Madam liked, could a group of inexperienced maids succeed?

“Don’t worry,” Meng Yang said confidently.

Ancient people had never heard of assembly lines!

Brewing medicine might look complicated, but it was simply a repetitive task divided into straightforward steps. If everyone mastered their own small part, anyone could succeed!

With each person handling a specific task, efficiency and accuracy would naturally improve, ensuring the medicine’s quality.

Meng Yang had already rehearsed three batches today, selecting only the best to send over. Nothing could possibly go wrong.

Thus, Meng Yang returned to Endless Courtyard, brimming with confidence.

Sure enough, that afternoon, Madam Cui’s own nanny personally came to invite her.

By evening, Meng Yang was dining at Evening Tide Courtyard with Madam Cui and Qi Shu Xian.

Before long, the entire Duke Qi mansion knew Meng Yang had won Madam’s favor. Even the voices of maids at Endless Courtyard grew noticeably louder.

…

An Zhi returned empty-handed after going to fetch charcoal.

Her usually calm eyes were slightly red, voice tight with distress. “Princess, the main kitchen said they won’t provide us with Silver Thread charcoal anymore. If we need charcoal, there’s only regular white or black charcoal left.”

“Didn’t our estate just purchase a new batch recently?” Ting Lan asked hurriedly, remembering clearly that the silver for it had come from their Princess’s account.

“Madam has awarded all of it to Miss Meng this afternoon—” An Zhi hadn’t even finished speaking when Ting Lan whirled around angrily, preparing to storm outside.

“Stop!” Sheng Zhi Wan commanded. “Where are you going?”

“I—I’m going to reclaim that charcoal! Why should Madam just give it away? That was bought with your silver, Princess! Especially to Meng Yang, who caused your injury!” Ting Lan bit her lip in frustration.

“Don’t worry,” Sheng Zhi Wan soothed, “I’ve already said, everything they’ve taken from me over these years will be repaid. Remember to add the cost of this charcoal to the ledger as well.”

“But how will Princess get through tonight without charcoal?” Ting Lan asked, still upset.

“Isn’t there still a little left? It should last us half the night.”

Sheng Zhi Wan turned to An Zhi thoughtfully. “Why did Madam favor her so suddenly?”

“…They say Miss Meng came up with a way for even fourth-rank maids and ordinary servants to brew medicine identical to what Princess used to prepare…”

An Zhi frowned, explaining Meng Yang’s strange new method in detail.

Finally, she said, “Miss Meng called it an assembly-line method for decoction brewing.”

“Assembly-line or not, I don’t understand!” Ting Lan snapped bitterly. “All I know is, Princess personally brewed Madam’s medicine for two full years, never once letting others do it, yet Madam never praised you once!”

“But Meng Yang merely suggests some method, and suddenly Madam declares her ‘clever, filial, and courteous’ and awards her your precious Silver Thread charcoal, knowing full well how much Princess suffers in the cold!”

Sheng Zhi Wan’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

Assembly lines…

Could this be another strange method Meng Yang had brought from her mysterious origin?