Chapter Thirty-Nine: Turning White

Nanny He wept as she pleaded, “Madam, this truly wasn’t my fault. The young lady threatened me with a knife. I even invoked your name, but it did nothing to deter her. Please, madam, you must seek justice for me!”

Yao Ruoshui, seeing that Nanny He still tried to use her as a shield, turned to the nanny behind her and said coldly, “Take her out and give her twenty strokes. Let this serve as a lesson to her. It’s time we replaced the kitchen steward.”

Upon hearing Yao Ruoshui’s words, Nanny He dared not utter another sentence, her face ashen with despair. Yao Ruoshui glanced at the other servants in the kitchen with a chilly snort. It was getting late; she would deal with these worthless servants another day.

Su Lilu returned to her courtyard with Yuxin. She hurried through her meal, bathed, and soon went to rest. After eating her fill, her eyelids grew heavy.

Meanwhile, in Prince Yi’s residence, Yun Yan Yi was reading in his study. The glow of a single candle illuminated a small world. He wore a robe the color of pale moonlight, his hair simply adorned with a jade hairpin. Under the lamplight, the contours of his face were as smooth and fair as jade. A cold wind tapped thrice upon the door. “Your Highness, this servant has something to report.”

“Come in,” Yun Yan Yi replied coolly, his gaze still fixed on his book. With a gentle turn of his hand, he flipped the page.

Leng Feng entered on his knees, holding up two sheets of rice paper. “Your Highness, there is news from the Prime Minister’s residence, delivered by Yuxin.”

At the mention of the Prime Minister’s manor, Yun Yan Yi set his book aside and fixed his attention on the papers in Leng Feng’s hands. He spoke in a gentle tone, “Place them on the table.”

Leng Feng laid the sheets before him, then relayed Su Lilu’s message through Yuxin, word for word. Yun Yan Yi fell silent for a long while after hearing it.

He picked up the list of medicinal ingredients written by Su Lilu. All were rare and costly, beyond the reach of ordinary folk. A faint smile touched his lips. “She certainly knows how to write a list. Does she not fear that I might refuse her?”

After a moment’s hesitation, Leng Feng ventured, “Your Highness, the items Miss Su requests are extremely expensive. Will you truly grant her wish?”

Yun Yan Yi recalled Su Lilu’s words from the previous day. “Since she wishes to use these medicines to better herself, let her have them. I am curious to see just what sort of transformation she seeks.”

Leng Feng looked at him in surprise, unable to keep his thoughts to himself. “Your Highness, you never used to take an interest in such matters.”

Yun Yan Yi cast him a cold glance and replied evenly, “Leng Feng, as you say, that was in the past. Times have changed.”

Leng Feng’s lips twitched, but since the command was given personally, he could only comply. “Understood, Your Highness. I will instruct the shopkeeper to deliver the medicines to Miss Su at once.”

After Leng Feng withdrew, Yun Yan Yi picked up his book again, but half the night passed and he didn’t turn a single page.

The next morning, Su Lilu was delighted to find Yuxin presenting her with the requested herbs and medicines. She sorted through them and found not a single item missing; everything matched her list exactly. “Prince Yi is indeed a man of his word—so generous with his gifts.”

Because she needed to visit the Songhua Courtyard, Su Lilu carefully put the medicines away. Her mind was occupied with her plans; all she wanted was to master the household rules quickly so she could devote herself to studying her precious herbs. The day passed swiftly.

At dusk, Su Lilu returned to her rooms with Liuying. Liuzhu sat there sulking, and even upon Su Lilu’s arrival, her expression did not improve. Su Lilu asked curiously, “Liuzhu, what’s wrong?”

Just then, Yuxin came in carrying a plate of pastries. Seeing Su Lilu return, she smiled gently, “Miss, you must be hungry. I’ve prepared some pastries. Would you like to have some?”

“Mm, I am hungry. Liuzhu, who are you upset with? Tell me, perhaps I can help.” Su Lilu sat down, took a few sips of tea, and beckoned Liuzhu over.

Liuzhu glanced at Yuxin and shook her head dejectedly. “It’s nothing, miss. You must be tired. I’ll go to the kitchen to check on dinner. It’ll be ready soon.”

Su Lilu, preoccupied with her new medicines, didn’t press further. She nodded. “Very well, tend to your tasks. I have matters to handle.”

She went into her inner chamber, set the medicines on the table, and took out her copied prescriptions. Carefully following the formula, she began preparing the concoctions.

Liuzhu set the evening meal on the table. Seeing Su Lilu still absorbed in her work, she called softly, “Miss, dinner is ready.”

“I know, I know. I’ll eat later. I’m busy now.” Su Lilu had no appetite for food; there could be no mistake in mixing these medicines, or she would waste not only precious materials but all her hard work.

An hour later, Su Lilu stretched with a satisfied yawn, gazing at her finished products with a sly smile. “At last, it’s done.”

She had prepared facial cleansers, ointments for masks, and even a special herbal bath. Looking at the jars and bottles lined up before her, she consoled herself, “It’s all worth it. This is the price of beauty.”

“Miss, if you don’t eat soon, your health will suffer,” Liuzhu’s voice reminded her again. Su Lilu rubbed her grumbling stomach, rolled her stiff neck and wrists, and called out, “I’m coming.”

After her meal, she eagerly tested every concoction she’d prepared—cleansing, masking, bathing—meticulously following each step. That evening, a faint fragrance lingered on her skin after the bath.

A few days later, as Su Lilu was dressing before the bronze mirror, she stared in surprise and asked, “Liuying, have I grown much fairer?”

Liuying examined her mistress’s face closely and nodded with delight. “Miss, do you think your new remedies are working?” She had watched Su Lilu apply the ointments for days, never expecting such potent results.

Su Lilu touched her face. Where once her complexion had been so dark as to be sickening, now her skin was as fair as porcelain, giving her the delicate beauty of a young maiden.

Squinting her eyes with joy, Su Lilu said, “Liuying, hurry with my hair. I must go pay my respects to Madam today.”

Liuying’s hands moved more quickly, her own mood buoyed by Su Lilu’s cheerfulness. Even Liuzhu glanced at her in surprise.

When the maid outside reported Su Lilu’s arrival, Su Baizhi looked up and, seeing her, cast a fleeting glance before her gaze returned, lingering on Su Lilu as if she couldn’t look away. Muttering to herself, she said, “How has she suddenly grown so fair?”

“Greetings, Mother,” Su Lilu said, bowing with perfect decorum before taking her seat, second to the right of Yao Ruoshui.

Su Baizhi, seated beside her, now had the chance to observe her closely and found her appearance much changed. Curious, she said, “It’s not been long, but sister—soon I won’t be able to recognize you at all.”