Chapter 224 Attention to Detail

Words : 1435 Updated : Sep 25th, 2025

The sky was as clear as washed, the white clouds like cotton. In front of the Beauty Pavilion. A spacious and luxurious carriage slowly stopped. Three young ladies stepped down from the carriage, with white teeth and moth-like eyebrows, peach-like cheeks and willow-shaped eyes, graceful and elegant, indescribably beautiful. Standing in front of the Beauty Pavilion, Xie Jinyu scanned the pavilion from top to bottom with a critical eye, finding fault like looking for bones in an egg. And concluded with a simple "nothing special." Xie Jinhuan and Xie Jinxiu were eager to enter the Beauty Pavilion. They urged, "Big sister, hurry up." Xie Jinyu gritted her teeth in annoyance. Although she was here. She still couldn’t quite bring herself to lose face. Xie Jinhuan knew she was putting on airs, after all, she’d vowed to break ties with anyone who used things from the Beauty Pavilion. Now that she herself had come, wouldn’t it be awkward if she ran into the noblewomen she’d sworn against? Xie Jinhuan dragged Xie Jinyu into the Beauty Pavilion. As they crossed the threshold, several noblewomen looked over. Xie Jinyu said irritably, "Alright, I’m in now, let go of me." With that, she forcefully shook off Xie Jinhuan’s hand. Xie Jinhuan felt a bit embarrassed. She was helping her save face, yet she was treated like this in return. Xie Jinxiu shot her a look: being good-hearted was mistaken for having a mule’s heart and lungs! Xie Jinyu was the eldest daughter of the Duke Zhen Country Mansion, her biological mother, Princess Nanzhang, was the apple of the Empress Dowager’s eye, backed by Duke Chong’s Mansion, she was the center of attention no matter where she went. And sure enough, seeing her arrival, several noblewomen perusing rouge gathered around, flattering and fawning. Xie Jinyu enjoyed it very much. She browsed the first floor, then took a tour of the second floor. Standing by the window on the second floor, she could see the backyard of the Beauty Pavilion. The scenery was picturesque, with faint sounds of laughter reaching her ears. "Shall we take a stroll in the backyard?" Xie Jinhuan suggested. Xie Jinyu wanted to see the backyard as well. The group descended the stairs, heading straight for the backyard. Then— They were stopped. Xie Jinyu’s face turned purple with anger. The noblewomen were surprised that Xie Jinyu and her group didn’t have discount cards for the Beauty Pavilion, then a girl from the Ministry of Industry Vice Minister Mansion spent thirty taels of silver to buy them access to the backyard, earning plenty of goodwill. Xie Jinyu lifted her skirt and arrogantly entered the backyard. The little maid guarding the door received several intense glares from her maid. Their family’s eldest daughter could visit the Beauty Pavilion, giving face to the Eldest Young Madam, yet entering the backyard still required a fee! Their family’s eldest daughter roamed the Imperial Garden like it was her own garden! Xie Jinhuan couldn’t help but whisper, "There are so many noblewomen in the Capital, just the fees for discount cards and backyard access could pile up to an astonishing amount." "She’s a bandit! Who could be better at extortion?!" Xie Jinyu ground her teeth as she spoke. Xie Jinhuan had nothing more to say. The eldest sister-in-law’s store was indeed somewhat of a scam. Yet everyone knew it was a scam, but still willingly flocked to it altogether. Even though the Emperor lent support to the eldest sister-in-law, everyone gave face by visiting once or twice, but there was no reason to come every few days—the products at the Beauty Pavilion were simply too good. Xie Jinhuan felt a bit regretful. Back when the eldest sister-in-law didn’t have enough money and asked Duke Zhen Country Mansion to lend her some, no one did. If they could own ten to twenty percent of the Beauty Pavilion’s shares, they’d be set for life without worries of food and drink. Alas, it’s too late for regrets now. Xie Jinyu and the others wandered around. They heard someone praise the maids at the Beauty Pavilion for their nimble hands, massaging shoulders and backs, making one feel completely relaxed, especially foot massages done during the day improving sleep at night, though the prices were a bit steep. "What are the prices?" Xie Jinhuan asked. "Two taels of silver per session," a girl replied. "..." "The maids only learned thirty percent of her skills, yet they charge two taels. Eldest Sister-in-law massaged Mrs. Wang’s shoulders for half a month, who knows how much that was worth?" Xie Jinxiu said. "What’s that, didn’t Eldest Sister-in-law also have to massage Mrs. Wang’s feet?" Xie Jinyu mocked. She spoke loudly. Many madams and noblewomen around heard it. Xie Jinhuan hurriedly said, "Eldest Sister-in-law didn’t massage Mrs. Wang’s feet, right?" "That’s because Mrs. Wang’s feet stink, otherwise she would have," Xie Jinyu glared at her. "True," Xie Jinxiu added. "..." Then the news of the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion massaging a servant’s feet spread like wildfire. The gossip was rife. "I’ve never seen someone so unconcerned with being an Eldest Young Madam," a noblewoman whispered. "She’s a bandit, who’s so particular?" Xie Jinyu felt a vague sense of pride. "But doesn’t anyone at Duke Zhen’s Mansion discipline her?" someone curiously asked. "Clearly, they can’t control her." Then, everyone sympathized with the rest of Duke Zhen’s Mansion. The Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion was so unconcerned with her identity as Eldest Young Madam and no one could control her—it must be hell living under the same roof with a female bandit, certainly bullied to death. Also, the girls from Duke Zhen’s Mansion looked upset, as if someone owed them money and hadn’t paid, forced to come here by the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen, truly pitiful... Xie Jinyu: "...!!!" Xie Jinxiu: "...!!!" Xie Jinhuan: "...!!!" The three were nearly bursting with anger. Qihao Hall. The Old Madam sat on the Arhat Couch, looking somewhat fatigued. A maid walked in and said, "Old Madam, the Old Madam of Duke Chong’s Mansion sent a message that she’ll be visiting shortly." The Old Madam’s brows furrowed in barely noticeable contempt. "I see, you may leave." The maid bowed and left. The Old Madam instructed Mrs. Wang, "Prepare the sparrow tongue tea that the Old Madam of Duke Chong favors." Princess Nanzhang walked in and saw the Old Madam rubbing her temples, "Is the Old Madam feeling unwell?" The Old Madam said nothing. Mrs. Wang explained, "Since this morning, the Old Madam’s been having a bit of dizziness. I wanted to get a doctor, but the Old Madam wouldn’t allow it." Princess Nanzhang’s eyes twinkled as she smiled, "I’ve heard from the Imperial Physician that a foot massage can cure dizziness. The Eldest Young Madam has nimble hands; why not let her give the Old Madam a massage?" The Old Madam looked up at Princess Nanzhang. "That could do," the Old Madam agreed. Agarwood Pavilion, inner chamber. Su Jin was flipping through books. But she couldn’t get through more than a couple of pages before tossing them aside and picking up another. Finding a book she wanted to read was proving tricky. She just opened a book to the first page when a maid appeared beyond the bead curtain, "Eldest Young Madam, the Old Madam requests your presence at Qihao Hall." Su Jin raised an eyebrow. What could the Old Madam want her at Qihao Hall for at this hour? Putting the book down, Su Jin rose to her feet. Qihao Hall, inner hall. The Old Madam sat on the Arhat Couch, with a maid massaging her temples. Su Jin entered, bowed, and asked, "Old Madam, what can I do for you?" The Old Madam kept her eyes closed and said nothing. Mrs. Wang turned to Su Jin, "The Old Madam has a headache and invites the Eldest Young Madam to massage her feet." Su Jin: "...!!!" She was actually called to massage feet! They really thought of her as a foot massage maid! The maid brought over a small table and placed the Old Madam’s feet on it. Su Jin’s brows knotted; there was no room for refusal here. Yet she, who had to massage Mrs. Wang’s feet, couldn’t really refuse the Old Madam’s feet. But the feeling between being asked and being obligated was worlds apart. Since she had no reason to refuse, she’d accept it calmly. Hopefully, the Old Madam would find it satisfactory. Su Jin smiled mildly and rolled up her cloud sleeves. "Very well, I will massage your feet, Old Madam."

Chapter 224 Attention to Detail

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