“My goodness, this girl wouldn’t really send me a sword, would she?”
The first lady asked with wide eyes.
Qing Huai’s mother also felt her breath catch.
She too thought Qing Mulan might actually do such a thing.
“Uh… there is indeed a battle sword, but it is from the master to the lord.”
Tiechui scratched his head and said, “The gifts Miss Mulan prepared for the two ladies are something else.”
“That is a relief.”
Both ladies let out a simultaneous sigh.
As they spoke, the steward came to announce that Han Feng had arrived with the gifts.
“Quick, have them brought in, let me see.”
The two ladies urged at once.
But they held no real expectations in their hearts.
Deep down, they thought much like the doorkeeper, Jinchuan was just a remote mountain area, what good things could Jin Feng and Qing Mulan possibly send?
At most some gold or silver.
The Duke had long received Qing Mulan’s letter and, seeing the solemn expressions on Tiechui and Luo Lan, vaguely guessed something, but did not point it out.
Soon, Han Feng entered the study carrying several boxes wrapped in red cloth.
“What is that smell, so fragrant?”
The first lady sniffed and asked curiously.
“In reply to the lady, this is the scent of scented soap.”
Luo Lan smiled as she opened one of the small wooden boxes.
The faint fragrance that had only been detectable before now wafted strongly as the box opened.
For a moment, both ladies felt as if they had stepped into a perfume shop, the room filled with rich aroma.
“Scented soap? The name sounds familiar, as if I have heard it somewhere.”
The first lady looked thoughtful.
As a woman who rarely left the inner courtyard, her information was always outdated, mostly from other women.
Qing Huai’s mother, who kept closer tabs on Jinchuan, whispered a reminder, “Sister, have you forgotten? A while back, the Zhou family obtained a batch of scented soap.”
“Yes, I remember now. Lady Zhou had a fragrance about her, I asked what sachet she used, and she told me it was scented soap.”
The first lady finally recalled, “Later I sent maids to buy some, but we searched all of Bianjing and found none. Where did Lanlan get it?”
“The scented soap was developed by our master, currently sold only in Guangyuan Prefecture and nearby areas.”
Luo Lan replied with a smile, “The Zhou family’s soap must have come from Guangyuan as well.”
“The scented soap was actually developed by Master Jin?”
The first lady’s eyes widened in shock, then lit up with joy, “Does that mean I will have scented soap from now on?”
Women are naturally drawn to fragrance, otherwise the first lady would not have sent maids across the capital to find it.
When they failed, she had even hinted to Lady Zhou, only to learn she had received just a few boxes.
The first lady had regretted it for days.
Who knew the soap had been made by Jin Feng.
“Huai’er and Master Jin are the closest of friends, sister will never lack for scented soap in future.”
Qing Huai’s mother said with a smile, “If sister wants some, just tell me, I will write to Master Jin, I am sure he will give me some face.”
Given Qing Huai and Jin Feng’s relationship, she had every right to say this.
After being overshadowed by the first lady for years, she now felt a surge of pride.
Her goodwill toward the yet-unmet Jin Feng grew even stronger.
“The second lady speaks too highly, before Luo Lan set out, the master specifically instructed that the lady is the Marquis’s mother, and if I may presume, the master has always regarded the lady as his own elder.”
Luo Lan said with a smile, “If the lady wants scented soap in future, just send a maid to tell Luo Lan.”
Whether Jin Feng had said this or not, Luo Lan’s words delighted Qing Huai’s mother.
“Master Jin is also a noble with limitless prospects, where is the presumption? In fact, Huai’er wrote that though he and Master Jin are not brothers by blood, they have faced life and death together and are as close as real brothers.”
The first lady, standing nearby, looked somewhat uncomfortable.
Though her two sons were the Duke’s legitimate heirs, in merit and ability they were completely outshone by the concubine-born Qing Huai.
Now even Qing Huai’s friend far surpassed the worthless companions her sons brought home.
Her sons’ friends would never be granted audience with the Duke.
Yet today, upon receiving Jin Feng’s calling card, the Duke had the steward cancel prior appointments and see Tiechui’s group immediately.
He not only chose the study but summoned both her and the second lady, clearly not treating Jin Feng as an outsider.
The second lady had noticed this too, which gave her the confidence to speak of Qing Huai treating Jin Feng as a brother.
Luo Lan, chosen by Tang Xiaobei, was no fool.
Pleasing Qing Huai’s mother was necessary, but she dared not slight the first lady.
Seeing the first lady’s discomfort, she quickly smiled and said, “The master has developed twelve fragrances of scented soap, sold as a set of twelve boxes.”
She lifted a tray from the wooden box and presented it first to the first lady, “This is one set, if the lady does not mind, please try it. If there is a fragrance you especially love, tell Luo Lan, and I will have more prepared.”
“Master Jin is thoughtful.”
Only then did the first lady’s expression ease, she smiled and had a maid take the tray.
Luo Lan then presented a set to the second lady.
Both ladies were deeply curious about the soap but could not open it in front of Tiechui and the others, so they kept glancing at the boxes.
After years of marriage, the Duke knew them well and said, “You two return first, I have some official matters to discuss with Master Jin’s people.”
“Then we will not disturb the lord.”
The two ladies, as if granted amnesty, quickly had the soap carried away.
Qing Mulan had already written to the Duke about wanting to present the soap to Consort Qing, but he had thought it unreliable and paid it little mind.
After all, the imperial treasury held every treasure, how could a mere bar of soap catch the eye of the Emperor or Consort?
But seeing the ladies’ reactions now, the Duke wavered.
“Is the scented soap really that remarkable? Mulan praised it to the skies in her letter.”
“My lord, the master and Miss Mulan are so confident not only because of the soap’s appeal to women, but also for another reason.”
Luo Lan smiled as she opened another box, took out a bar of soap, opened the lid, and presented it with both hands to the Duke.
The Duke stared for a moment, then walked to the large box and took out another bar.
He examined it briefly, then had the steward open every bar in the set.
“No wonder Mulan spoke so boldly, worthy of Master Jin. I am certain His Majesty and Consort Qing will love this gift!”
The Duke exclaimed, then told the steward, “Arrange it, send the items to the palace for Consort Qing at the fastest speed!”
