Chapter 41: Chapter 41 – The Appearance, Finally Restored Chapter 41: Chapter 41 – The Appearance, Finally Restored In the early morning, Feng Bailing felt a stifling sensation in her chest and upon inspecting, she saw Feng Xiaoli sleeping in a sprawled “big” character shape, pressing her chubby little legs and arms onto her.
A soft gleam crossed the depths of her eyes, and Feng Bailing tucked the little one back into the quilt, meditated for a moment to regulate her breathing. Only when she felt a slight warmth in her Dantian did she get up.
In front of the copper mirror after a skin massage, Feng Bailing noted that the bumps on her face had all disappeared.
With the bumps fully gone, Feng Bailing could finally see her appearance clearly.
Her hair as black as clouds or a waterfall, skin whiter than snow, an oval face with crescent eyebrows and starry eyes, carrying a charming yet enchanting gaze. Her physique after childbirth not only didn’t go out of shape but seemed even more graceful.
Her looks and aura surpassed Nalan Yan’er, not to mention Feng Xiangxue who had a more modest background.
Feng Bailing put on a veil. It was not yet time to draw attention, especially with a visit to Yuxiu Academy approaching—a gathering place for women where outstanding beauty could bring troubles.
The snow in the yard had been swept clean by the maids, leaving only four different-sized snowmen standing.
Unexpectedly, Feng Bailing saw Dongfang Lianhua practicing the Wuqinxi exercises.
Dressed in a moon-patterned robe, she did not feel the cold at all despite the chilly spring at the year’s end.
After completing a set of Wuqinxi, Dongfang Lianhua’s eyes sparkled, and her breath felt much stronger.
“I see you have almost mastered this Wuqinxi, mother. I have another set of boxing techniques, bought from a traveling merchant. Would you like to see it?” Feng Bailing said with a smile.
Dongfang Lianhua was generally good but overly cautious. In the palace, she was always careful with her words and actions, and even when she married into the Feng Family, she was suppressed for nearly twenty years. Fortunately, like an uncut gem, with proper sculpting, she would shine brilliantly.
Hearing about a new boxing technique to learn, Dongfang Lianhua’s eyes gleamed like a little girl receiving a new cloth doll.
Feng Bailing taught her military boxing—to cultivate her health with Wuqinxi and use military boxing for physical strength and self-defense, planning to gradually uncover the martial arts potential within Dongfang Lianhua.
To prevent Dongfang Lianhua from getting suspicious, Feng Bailing said the boxing manual was bought from a traveling merchant passing by another manor.
After receiving the manual, Dongfang Lianhua gleefully read through it, not forgetting to mimic the movements with her hands.
By the time Feng Xiaoli woke up, Dongfang Lianhua had already mastered a set of military boxing.
Feng Bailing was even more convinced of Dongfang Lianhua’s talent in martial arts.
During breakfast, visitors arrived from the north wing.
“Big sister, I heard you’re taking over the management again, so I’ve brought over the account books from a few shops.”
Feng Zhan Tian is Feng Zhanlian’s younger brother, the beloved youngest son of the elderly lady. After Feng Zhanlian married into the Princess’ Mansion, Feng Zhan Tian and his family came to Chu City to seek refuge.
Although five years younger than Feng Zhanlian and while they were brothers, Feng Zhan Tian was not as presentable, with his small nose and eyes.
Over the years, living in the good environment of Chu City, he grew plump and relied on his clothes and the ability to adapt his conversation to his audience, Feng Zhan Tian was considered a respectable merchant in Chu City.
“Second brother, thank you for your hard work all these years.”
Dongfang Lianhua took over Zhangpu.
Feng Xiaoli was there too, and Feng Zhanlian continuously praised.
“Is this Ah Ling’s child? Ah Ling is truly fortunate, this child has a full and spirited look, clearly one who will lead a blessed life.”
As he spoke, he reached out to touch Feng Xiaoli’s chubby cheek.
Feng Xiaoli, cheeks puffed as she was just enjoying her favorite osmanthus cake, muttered something as he reached out.
Suddenly, a crack sounded, and the wooden stool under Feng Zhan Tian broke, sending him crashing to the ground.
“Second uncle, I was just about to inform you, the west wing is old and in disrepair, the furniture is too ancient and fragile,” Feng Bailing nervously said.
Feng Zhan Tian forcibly smiled, no longer daring to stay, and left with a limp, assisted by a servant.
“Ah Ling, after all, he is your second uncle,” Dongfang Lianhua scolded with a smile.
“Mother, don’t be too quick to acknowledge relations; you live in the west wing and can’t even get a bit of ginseng. Does he consider us as relatives?”
Feng Bailing touched Feng Xiaoli’s forehead; the little one was lively again after the fever had subsided.
But what about her mouth?
While others didn’t notice, Feng Bailing did hear Feng Xiaoli mumble something.
Feng Xiaoli had a clear sense of likes and dislikes.
With those she liked, such as Dugu Wu, she would cling to them, but with those she disliked, she ran faster than anyone.
Remembering the elderly lady’s words from the day before, Dongfang Lianhua’s gaze grew colder.
She picked up the account books that Feng Zhan Tian had brought.
The main income of the Princess’ Mansion depended on the tax from the fief and the shops, especially as all four shops were located on the bustling streets of Chu City. When Dongfang Lianhua first got married, the businesses were thriving.
The most profitable among them was Xinglin Spring, a medicine shop and clinic, followed by a fabric store and two rice shops.
“Xinglin Spring has been losing money?”
Dongfang Lianhua, not very familiar with accounting, soon discovered that Xinglin Spring, the most profitable shop, had a loss of fifty taels of gold last year.
This was not a small amount—to put it in perspective, fifty taels of gold could support a family of four for several generations.
The other shops were barely profitable, and altogether, the four shops of the Princess’ Mansion were operating at a loss for the year.
To cover the shortfall, they had to use the tax from their fief.
“I thought the businesses were doing well.”
Feng Bailing remembered that the shop locations were the best in the city, bustling with traffic. Even without hands-on management and simply renting out spaces, the rental fee alone should bring in a substantial amount.
Xinglin Spring was a time-honored brand, yet it was facing losses, definitely indicating underlying issues.
“They said that there were two incidents of medical disputes last year and the year before, resulting in a death, which cost a lot of silver to settle,” Dongfang Lianhua pinched her brows.
“Hearing is false, seeing is believing. Whether it’s profiting or losing, we shall see for ourselves. I will take Xiaoli to Xinglin Spring to check,” Feng Bailing said, lifting up Feng Xiaoli and heading out to the street with Chun Liu.
Just as the mother and daughters left, Nanny Gui came in, her expression panicked as she handed Dongfang Lianhua a letter.
Dongfang Lianhua opened the letter and glanced through it, her face drained of all color.