Chapter 15: This is a tremendous business opportunity

Ji Man naturally knew what she was there for, but she still looked surprised and asked, "You actually used it for Snow Madam?"

Dan Zhu nodded and looked at the many boxes on the dressing table before saying, "Madam Sang also knows that my mistress can't use the rouge and powder from outside. When she saw the product you made, she naturally loved it. I wonder if Madam Sang is willing to part with a little more?"

Mu Xu knew that her mistress had made many, and she had only given Dan Zhu a small box, while there were five large sealed boxes. But Ji Man hesitated and furrowed her brow before finally saying to Dan Zhu after a long time, "This thing is quite rare, and I don't have much here either. The ones I'm giving you were secretly given by Mu Xu and didn't inform anyone else."

In other words, there are no free lunches in the world.

Dan Zhu was startled for a moment and then relayed the words of Snow Madam when she was about to leave: "My mistress said that the Reformation Hall is quite desolate. Most likely, Madam Sang doesn't want to stay for long either. The Old Madam is about to return to the marquis's residence, so he probably also wants to let you go, but there's no step down. If you're willing to part with it, my mistress will give you that step, so that Madam Sang can have a more comfortable life."

Ji Man raised her eyebrows. This sickly beauty was quite understanding and knew to use things to exchange with her. What she wanted was to leave the reformation hall quickly. It's not pleasant to be monitored every day, and there was also a rat infestation in her room last night.

But she couldn't be too obvious about her intentions. After hesitating for a while, Ji Man said, "I can give it to you, but I have a request. If you can't meet it, then I can only give you this one box."

Dan Zhu looked at her and said, "Please tell me, Madam Sang."

"As for this snow cream, besides the two of you, no one else should know where it came from. When asked, just say I had someone buy it from outside. Is that okay?" Ji Man said.

Mu Xu didn't understand why. Wasn't it better to show off that the snow cream was made by them and have everyone come asking for it?

But Dan Zhu understood. Nie Sangyu's status is low, and if people knew she could make such a thing, everyone from all the different departments would want it. If she didn’t give it, she'd offend people, but if she gave it, she'd also offend people. Madam Sang was indeed a clever person.

"I will obey, and I will definitely tell my mistress," Dan Zhu replied with a slight bow.

Ji Man smiled and handed a large box to her. "Let your mistress feel at ease using this. This thing is precious and won't harm her body."

Dan Zhu expressed her thanks and quickly returned to the Snow Cedar Courtyard.

Qianleng Xue tasted the sweetness of beauty and wasn't willing to give it up easily. Naturally, she was willing to trade with anything. These past few days, Mo Yuhou had come to her courtyard and praised her complexion. Even though she hadn't worn much makeup, she was very pretty. Even on this particular day, he rested in her courtyard for a while.

Snow Madam was ecstatic, but she didn't forget that all of this was thanks to Nie Sangyu's snow cream. Although that woman had been harsh towards everyone in the past, there wasn't any deep-seated animosity between them. Now that she had done such a big favor for her, Snow Madam naturally spoke kindly of her.

"Marquis, winter is almost here, and the weather is getting colder. The Reformation Hall is simple and can't withstand the cold. Are you still planning on having Sangyu continue living there?" Qianleng Xue asked gently.

Lying beside her, Moyo Hou glanced at her and said, "She had been out of line first and closed up for so many days, so it's appropriate."

"Marquis, I think she's been closed up long enough," Qianleng Xue sighed. "She's so well-behaved now. She didn't make a sound when she was beaten, and I heard that she's already started embroidering handkerchiefs as soon as she started feeling better. My pile of handkerchiefs is piling up."

Mo Yuhou looked at her and chuckled. "You're always soft-hearted. It's fine, if she's truly improved as you say, then let her move out and live in the eastern courtyard."

When he agreed so easily, Qianleng Xue also breathed a sigh of relief. She hadn't guessed wrong. The marquis only needed to give her a step.

However, Nie Sangyu was currently a treasure, and her help was helping herself. The marquis had been living in the Rose Garden for an entire half month, and today, he finally rested here in her courtyard?

Qianleng Xue hugged Ning Yuxuan tightly. This man, unfeeling and making people fall for him, everyone hoped that he would belong only to them.

Ji Man finally obtained amnesty and moved to live in a courtyard to the east. The courtyard didn't have a plaque, but it was a peaceful place. Although it wasn't as simple as the Reformation Hall and didn't have a rat infestation, the courtyard was clean and warm.

Even though Liumama moved with her, she was visibly less vigilant towards her. After all, the restriction had been lifted, and she was now a free person.

Mu Xu was so happy that she cried and laughed. She tidied up the courtyard inside and out, and helped Ji Man sit on a soft mat.

"We've finally come out, master. We won't be confined anymore," Mu Xu said joyfully.

Ji Man reached out and tapped her nose, laughing. "Look at how happy you are. Don't forget our place. We've only escaped from prison. We haven't achieved prosperity yet."

Mu Xu stuck out her tongue, clearly having grown bolder than before, and happily prepared for lunch with a beaming smile on her face.

Qianleng Xue's words carried a bit of weight. She hadn't chosen the wrong treasure. Ji Man rubbed her still-sore and swollen back and thought to herself, she would take it step by step. Even if Nie Sangyu wanted Ning Yuxuan to fall in love with her, she would first cause a chaotic mess for him and reclaim what was owed!

Nie Sangyu finally left the Reformation Hall, Qianleng Xue was favored, and the people in these two courtyards were overjoyed, but the people in the other courtyards weren't very happy.

It was not easy for Nie Sangyu to turn the tables, but she managed to get Snow Aunt to speak for her and was released from the punishment chamber.

Mu Shuiqing was annoyed. She had expected that after a round of family discipline, Nie Sangyu would act even more outrageously, ensuring that she would never rise again. But to her surprise, Nie Sangyu quietly used the Marquis's sympathy, along with Qianlianshu's intervention, to turn the situation around.

What was even more infuriating was that the Marquis had been staying in the Rose Garden all along, maintaining a balance among everyone. No one expected Snow Aunt to suddenly receive favor and keep the Marquis away for several days.

Who wouldn't be envious of such favor? Although the Lady of the house was generous and didn't show her discomfort, she must have felt uneasy in private. It had only been half a month since their marriage, and the Marquis was already absent from her side.

Mu Shuiqing went to the Rose Garden several times, openly and covertly criticizing Snow Aunt. However, to her surprise, Wenwan remained unfazed, only saying that the Marquis should spread his love and favor to more people.

With such a generous Lady of the house, there was nothing more to say. Mu Shuiqing could only sulk and then try to find out how Qianlianshu had managed to attract the Marquis.

As a fellow aunt, Qisi Ling naturally couldn't sit still and visited the Snow Pine Courtyard twice, where she discovered the secret.

"Your complexion has indeed improved a lot," Qisi Ling said gently. "No wonder the Marquis was captivated by you."

Qianlianshu blushed slightly and said softly, "Thanks to Sangyu, she bought back some snowflake ointment from outside, and I used it to achieve this good complexion."

Qisi Ling was taken aback. "Snowflake ointment?"

Qianlianshu smiled discreetly and changed the subject, "The Lady of the house is about to return. Are you prepared, sister? The Lady has just entered the mansion and doesn't yet understand the temperament of the old Lady. Many things still need to be taken care of by you."

Seeing that she didn't want to continue, Qisi Ling didn't press further. After exchanging pleasantries, she instructed her maid, "Go and ask Nie Sangyu about the snowflake ointment."

Song Lan nodded and hurried to the eastern courtyard. However, Ji Man had anticipated that they would find out about it and come looking for her, so she had already taken a box of snowflake ointment to the Rose Garden early in the morning.

She didn't give things to just anyone. She wasn't a philanthropist. She only gave things to people who were useful, such as Qianlianshu and Wenwan.

As the person closest to the Marquis, Wenwan would not lose favor, but she must have felt stifled these past few days. Taking the opportunity to pay her respects, Ji Man presented the snowflake ointment to her.

Wenwan was surprised and, after hearing about the benefits of the ointment, her eyes sparkled. "Is it really this good?"

"You'll see for yourself when you look at Snow Aunt," Ji Man smiled.

With Qianlianshu as a living advertisement, Wenwan easily believed it. After accepting the ointment, she rewarded Ji Man with a pile of items and also allowed her to bring her maids and servants out of the mansion for a stroll when she had free time.

However, after Ji Man left, Wenwan still had a doctor come to check the ointment to ensure it was safe before using it with confidence.

Ji Man had Mu Xu put away the items Wenwan had given her and happily began preparing to leave the mansion.

"Where does the mistress want to go?" Mu Xu asked curiously. "Back to the Nie Residence?"

Ji Man tucked a one hundred taels silver note into her bosom and shook her head. "Why would I go back there? Naturally, I have something to do outside. Didn't you say a few days ago that the rouge from the rouge shop on Zhengde Street is very good?"

Mu Xu nodded, puzzled. "The mistress is already using snowflake ointment. Why do you want to buy rouge?"

Ji Man raised a finger and smiled, "We've told them that we bought the snowflake ointment from outside, so naturally, we have to find a place to sell it. This is a great business opportunity. If we do it well, we won't have to worry about food and drink for the rest of our lives."

Mu Xu widened her eyes and then hurriedly shook her head. "Mistress, you can't do that. Women shouldn't be involved in business, especially someone of your status..."

Ji Man pursed her lips and looked at her. "I didn't say that I would personally go out and handle these things. We'll just make the snowflake ointment and wait to collect the money. Do you understand?"

Mu Xu still shook her head. If they were discovered, it would be a serious matter.

"Don't worry. Look at all the things I've done. Which one wasn't carefully planned?" Ji Man patted Mu Xu's back to reassure her and then remembered the matter of her punishment, adding with a wry smile, "Of course, the family discipline doesn't count."

After hesitating for a while, Mu Xu sighed, "If the mistress really wants to do this, you should go back to the Nie Residence and discuss it with the Eldest Young Master. I still think he's more reliable. If something goes wrong, only family can help family."