"Yes." Jing Lai replied, "This is the fragrance given by the second young lady of the Fu Mansion, said to aid sleep and calm the spirit. The old madam knows you often suffer from insomnia, so she specially had it sent for you to try."
"It's indeed more pleasant than the previous scents." Xiao Chengyu inhaled the elegant fragrance and thought of the young lady he met during the day.
That second young lady does not match the fragrance of this moment.
The scent smells gentle and refreshing, like wildflowers in the wind, inconspicuous yet vibrant.
But the young lady during the day was more like jasmine needing to be nurtured indoors.
Delicate and passionate.
Xiao Chengyu took out the scented ball from his pouch and sniffed it a few times, suppressing the bothersome tickle in his throat.
When he lay on the bed and closed his eyes, he unexpectedly fell asleep without realizing it.
In his twenty-three years of life, it's rare to fall asleep so quickly.
Xiao Chengyu slept well through the night, while on Xiao Fengxing's side, Chang Tai reported: "Second Master, the news just came that Chen Yuan'an presented a fine horse to the Second Prince today, receiving his praise and being promoted by him."
"What!" Xiao Fengxing was so furious he almost coughed up blood again.
Unexpectedly, he was preempted by that scoundrel Chen Yuan'an!
No matter how fine the horse, how can it compare to the sweat-steeds?
If he had obtained that steed today and presented it to the Second Prince, Chen Yuan'an would have had no opportunity to shine!
Even in direct comparison, Chen Yuan'an could be completely overshadowed!
Careful plans were all ruined by Fu Shinian!
Unfortunately, Fu Shinian didn't know that the reduced fortune value had taken effect here.
And Xiao Fengxing didn't know that at this moment, just outside his bedroom wall corner, a faint black mist had appeared.
The next day, Xiao Chengyu got up full of energy.
"Marquis, you slept well last night, you look much better," Jing Lai said in surprise.
The old madam also heard of this matter, and when Xiao Chengyu came to pay his respects, she carefully examined his face: "I heard you slept well last night?"
"Yes." Xiao Chengyu smiled slightly.
"It seems the fragrance from the second young lady of the Fu Mansion indeed works. If you burn it every night, you should be able to rest well." The old madam hurriedly called Nanny Wang, "Quickly, prepare some gifts to send to the Fu Mansion to thank the second young lady."
"Yes." Nanny Wang thought for a moment and asked in a low voice, "Should I shamelessly ask the second young lady for more? The fragrance she sent yesterday might only last for a few uses."
"If possible, that would be best." When would the old madam ever ask for anything?
Besides, the marquis mansion has everything.
But for Xiao Chengyu, the old madam was willing to go all out.
"It might not necessarily be due to the fragrance." Xiao Chengyu lowered his eyes, "Perhaps I just happened to sleep well last night."
"Why didn't it happen before? It just happened overnight after changing the scent." The old madam believed the fragrance from Fu Shinian worked well.
"In that case, Jing Lai, bring the bamboo brush I recently acquired." Xiao Chengyu said, "Mother gave a gift in appreciation; this bamboo brush can be used for exchanging with the second young lady's fragrance."
The brush is valuable, exchanging it for the fragrance is a fair deal for the second young lady.
The old madam nodded, thinking it was good.
After paying respects to the old madam, Xiao Chengyu went to his duties.
Fu Mansion.
Madam Fu prepared gifts and was ready to take Fu Mingzhu to the Marquis Changping's estate to visit Xiao Fengxing.
The steward came to report, saying Nanny Wang from the old madam's side had arrived.
Madam Fu quickly had her big maid Ting Qin invite Nanny Wang in.
"Greetings, Madam." Nanny Wang saluted Madam Fu.
"I was just planning to take Mingzhu to the marquis estate to visit Second Master." Madam Fu said with a smile, "How timely you came, Nanny Wang. What instructions does the old madam have?"
"The old madam specially sent me to thank the second young lady." Nanny Wang said with a smile, "The old madam thanks the second young lady for the calming fragrance; it was very effective."
"This is the old madam's appreciation, thanking the second young lady." Nanny Wang presented the thank-you gift, "The marquis also thanks the second young lady for the fragrance, giving a bamboo brush."
"It's just some fragrance, the old madam needn't be so courteous." Madam Fu thought to herself, other things might be fine, but the bamboo brush is precious, Marquis Changping was too generous.
Fu Shinian boldly asked, "Did the marquis find it helpful?"
If it were another woman, Nanny Wang would suspect ulterior motives towards Marquis Changping.
But Fu Shinian appeared innocent and cherubic, conducting herself with decorum.
Yesterday in the garden, how she protected her older sister and the family reputation, the old madam had learned from the maids, improving her impression of Fu Shinian.
Coming from Fu Shinian, Nanny Wang didn't think otherwise and nodded with a smile, "Yes, the marquis often has insomnia, and yesterday he used the scent sent by the second young lady and had a rare good night's sleep."
"In that case, I have some more ready here, Nanny please take them back." Fu Shinian said, "The cough-relieving scented ball given to the marquis yesterday, Miss Xiao also said the marquis found it helpful, so I have handed them to my mother to take to the marquis estate later. There's also a list inside, detailing the method to make the scented ball."
"I usually enjoy dabbling in this, moderately counting as half a doctor, but not truly proficient." Fu Shinian said with an embarrassed smile, "Nanny can show the list to the doctor, to see what can be added or reduced for bettering the marquis's health."
"This... How can it be proper..." Nanny Wang originally planned to ask for some scented balls and incense, never expecting everything would be given so freely, including the method.
In bigger terms, this kind of formula can be regarded as a unique secret formula, how could it be handed over lightly.
"What's the difference?" Fu Shinian said generously, "I enjoy researching these, and if it can be helpful, that would be great, things are valuable when they're useful."
Nanny Wang originally felt the marquis's brush seemed a bit too precious compared to Fu Shinian's fragrance.
But now, handing over the secret formula freely, the marquis's brush seemed less significant.
This is not a matter a servant can casually express gratitude for.
Thus, Nanny Wang said, "Forgive my impertinence, would the second young lady like to visit the marquis estate today? Your mind is valuable, if I only take back these items, the old madam will surely scold me for not understanding etiquette."
"This..." Fu Shinian looked to Madam Fu.
Madam Fu then said, "You may go together then."
Nanny Wang hurriedly returned to the marquis estate to share Fu Shinian's intentions with the old madam.
"The second young lady of the Fu family is indeed generous, more so than expected, and coincidentally, Madam Fu planned to bring the eldest young lady to visit the second master, so I took the liberty of inviting the second young lady to accompany them." Nanny Wang said in a low voice, "It'd be more appropriate for you to speak with her directly, old madam."
"You've done right." The old madam nodded, "Unexpectedly, the second young lady of the Fu family is composed and gracious, the Fu family has raised a commendable child."
As Madam Fu led Fu Shinian and Fu Mingzhu into the marquis estate, at the back door of the marquis estate, Lin Qingqing was wearing a cape, her hood covering her face, discreetly led in by Chang Tai through the back door.