Chapter 43

Chapter 43: Winning Madam’s Favor

Meng Yang’s eyes snapped open: “What? He went to Ping Lan Residence?”

After Qi Shu Xian left, Meng Yang, who had seemed to be sleeping, opened her eyes.

When Meng Yang heard Qing Xing’s report, Meng Yang’s hand clenched tight beneath the quilt, and Meng Yang’s gaze sank into darkness.

Meng Yang had not expected that even after Sheng Zhi Wan acted so viciously, the Heir Apparent would still keep Sheng Zhi Wan in his mind. The moment Qi Shu Xian left Meng Yang, Qi Shu Xian went straight to Ping Lan Residence.

This was not what Meng Yang had imagined.

Shouldn’t Qi Shu Xian hate Sheng Zhi Wan to the bone? Why was Qi Shu Xian still thinking of going to Sheng Zhi Wan?

[No. This couldn’t continue.]

[She was a Transmigrator, the only variable in this world. Since she had come, everything that once belonged to the original story should shift toward her, and revolve around her.]

Brew medicine… yes!

Meng Yang suddenly sat up in bed.

Meng Yang cried out, “Ah!” The sharp movement tugged at Meng Yang’s lower abdomen and sent a stab of pain through it.

Qing Xing hurried to support Meng Yang: “Miss, you’re carrying a child now. The Physician already said yesterday that this pregnancy is unstable. Miss must be careful.”

Meng Yang snapped, “Fine, fine, I know!” Meng Yang had no time to listen to that. Meng Yang urged, “Qing Xing, hurry and help me wash and change. I’m going to see Madam.”

Was it not just brewing medicine?

Even Sheng Zhi Wan, an ancient woman with shallow knowledge, could brew medicine that pleased Madam.

Meng Yang realized she had been wrong before. If Meng Yang wanted Qi Shu Xian to hate Sheng Zhi Wan, Meng Yang should not have spent so much effort on Sheng Zhi Wan herself. Meng Yang should have worked on the other people in Duke Qi Manor.

The Heir Apparent valued filial piety above all.

Sheng Zhi Wan had fallen out with Qi Shu Xian again and again, and it had not only been because of Meng Yang.

Even though that understanding made Meng Yang unwilling, as long as the Duchess accepted Meng Yang and stood on Meng Yang’s side, would Sheng Zhi Wan still be difficult to deal with?

Meng Yang changed her mind mid-sentence: “No, I won’t go see Madam first. I’m going to those Physicians who brew medicine for Madam. And bring all the maids from our courtyard who handle the sweeping and chores!”

That day, Meng Yang threw everything into it for the entire morning.

When the medicine was finally delivered to Wen Xi Courtyard, Qing Xing asked nervously, “Miss, are you sure this will really work?” If even the Physicians could not brew medicine that satisfied Madam, could they, maids who had never brewed medicine before, really do it?

Meng Yang answered with full confidence: “Don’t worry!”

Ancient people did not know what an Assembly Line was.

Medicine brewing in ancient times looked like a technical craft, but in truth, it was simply repetitive work. As long as the work was split into a series of single tasks, and each person mastered the one thing they needed to do, then anyone could brew medicine.

And because each person only handled one specific task, both speed and accuracy could improve. The finished medicine would naturally be more consistent and reliable.

Meng Yang had made them practice three full times today, and only then chose the best batch to send over. There was no way it could fail.

Meng Yang returned to Wei Yang Courtyard brimming with confidence.

Sure enough, that afternoon, the Nanny beside Madam Cui personally came to invite Meng Yang over.

That night, Meng Yang stayed in Wen Xi Courtyard and had dinner together with Madam Cui and Qi Shu Xian.

The entire Duke Qi Manor soon learned that the new Miss Meng had won Madam’s favor. For a time, even the maids serving in Wei Yang Courtyard spoke with their voices a little louder.

…

An Zhi went to fetch coal, but An Zhi returned empty-handed.

The girl who was usually steady had red-rimmed eyes, and her voice sounded muffled: “Princess, the Main Kitchen said they won’t provide Silver Thread Charcoal anymore. If Princess wants charcoal, there is only white coal and black coal.”

Ting Lan asked urgently, “Didn’t the manor just buy a batch before?” That money had even been taken from Princess’s own accounts.

An Zhi frowned: “That coal was rewarded by Madam to Miss Meng this afternoon…” Before An Zhi could finish, Ting Lan spun around and rushed toward the door.

Sheng Zhi Wan stopped Ting Lan: “Stop. Where are you going?”

Ting Lan bit her lip hard: “This servant wants to take the Silver Thread Charcoal back. Why should it be given away? It was bought with Princess’s silver. How can Madam reward it to someone just because Madam feels like it?” And it had been rewarded to Meng Yang, the one who caused Princess’s hand to be injured.

Sheng Zhi Wan said calmly, “Don’t worry. I already said everything they used over these years must be repaid one by one. Add the cost of this Silver Thread Charcoal as well.”

Ting Lan felt a little better, but Ting Lan still asked, “But what will Princess use tonight?”

Sheng Zhi Wan replied, “Isn’t there still some left? It can last most of the night.”

Then Sheng Zhi Wan looked to An Zhi: “Why did Madam reward her?”

An Zhi answered slowly, “Madam said Miss Meng thought of a method that let the Fourth-Rank Maidservants and Servant Women brew medicine with the same quality as what Princess used to make…” An Zhi frowned and explained Meng Yang’s strange method in detail. At the end, An Zhi added, “Miss Meng said this method was called Assembly Line medicine brewing.”

Ting Lan was furious: “This servant doesn’t understand any line or not line! This servant only knows that Princess brewed medicine for Madam for two years, personally, never letting anyone else touch it, and Madam never praised Princess even once!”

Ting Lan continued, voice shaking with anger: “Miss Meng only suggested a method, and Madam praised Miss Meng as clever and filial, then even rewarded Princess’s Silver Thread Charcoal away. Madam knew Princess feared cold the most…”

Sheng Zhi Wan narrowed her eyes.

[Assembly Line… could that also be something from Meng Yang’s mysterious origin?]