“This servant learned it from my grandmother,” Yun Shu said.
This time, she wasn’t lying at all. Perfume blending was truly something she had learned from her grandmother, and it was one of her core professional skills.
Without a few tricks up her sleeve, relying solely on sweet talk, sharp observation, and connections, she would never have earned the true regard of the madam.
Lu Jin Yan quite liked the scent of the incense. Though he didn’t say it outright, he gave her a satisfied glance.
At the same time, Yun Shu received a prompt from the System: one hundred Favor Points had been credited.
Yun Shu was pleasantly surprised and smiled as she said to Lu Jin Yan,
“If the Heir Apparent likes this fragrance, this servant will give the incense blend to Qing He so he can use it to scent your clothes in the future.”
Lu Jin Yan acknowledged with a sound.
Immediately after, Yun Shu received another System prompt, this time rewarding her with fifty Favor Points.
Because she had been perceptive and proactive in offering the incense blend, providing a solution.
Hearing this prompt, Yun Shu felt a small thrill of surprise.
It seemed that with Lu Jin Yan, whether in bed or out, as long as she satisfied him and earned his approval, she could gain Favor Points.
To deal with this kind of ascetic, pragmatic, and rigorous leader, she had to conquer him with “professionalism”!
Yun Shu was beginning to understand.
So, when she served the ginseng tea and another hundred Favor Points were credited, Yun Shu was both surprised and not surprised.
What surprised her was that she hadn’t expected the Heir Apparent to be nitpicky or overly critical toward his subordinates’ work, always finding fault or imposing excessively high standards.
When work was done well, even if he didn’t say it aloud, he was satisfied in his heart.
For her, this satisfaction was directly converted into Favor Points.
What didn’t surprise her was that the Heir Apparent’s style was indeed consistent and stable—he wasn’t the kind of leader who was unreasonable, moody, or constantly changing his orders.
In short, this leader was worth dealing with!
Encountering such a good leader at work was even harder than finding a good man.
Sigh, another day convincing herself to believe this was a wonderful world.
After Lu Jin Yan left for court, Yun Shu returned to her servant’s quarters to pack her things and report to Concubine Zhou.
She didn’t need to bring bedding, as most of her belongings were kept at home and not here, so Yun Shu only packed a small bundle to carry.
Lu Liu wasn’t in a hurry to go with her just yet. She still had to report to the young madam, register with the head steward, and go through some procedures and formalities.
Along the way, the servants in the mansion greeted Yun Shu warmly and politely:
“Good morning, Miss Yun Shu!”
“Miss Yun Shu, you’re looking more beautiful than ever!”
Their attitudes already carried a hint of respect, treating her as half a mistress now, no longer just the madam’s head maid.
Yun Shu had successfully made the Heir Apparent favor her for two consecutive nights, completely breaking his usual rules!
Moreover, it was said that the Heir Apparent spent a long time with Yun Shu during his favor.
With such skill in winning favor, even if Yun Shu didn’t conceive a child, she would likely be elevated to concubine status in the future based on the Heir Apparent’s favor.
As for Hong Ling, it was said she had offended the Heir Apparent. Though she still held the title of Chamber Maid, she had no chance of attending the bedchamber anymore!
They had been watching before, trying to curry favor with whoever was better at winning favor. Who would have thought Hong Ling would be completely crushed?
So, for now, everyone looked at Yun Shu with newfound respect, convinced she would definitely become a concubine and possibly even bear a child.
It was right to flatter her!
“Mm, good morning.”
Yun Shu also smiled and greeted them one by one, without any arrogance. Instead, her smile grew even more amiable.
This was precisely why, despite having a seductive figure, her pure face, warm and radiant smile, and generous demeanor ensured that no one gossiped behind her back, calling her a temptress.
Moreover, she would occasionally pause to chat with others, asking them to help her with tasks:
"Manager Wang, it's great to see you. I was just about to ask you to purchase some spices for me."
"Auntie Ruan, the embroidery patterns you gave me last time were so lovely. Do you have any more? I’ll drop by to pick some more when I have time."
By doing this, she was sending a clear message to everyone:
Even though she had gained the Heir Apparent's favor and risen in status, she still needed everyone’s help and would reciprocate in kind.
Upon hearing Yun Shu’s words, the managers all eagerly agreed, as if they had been granted great honor.
To put it plainly, they were all servants before, equal in status. When Yun Shu asked for their help in the past, it was an equal exchange.
But now, Yun Shu asking them for help was a sign of her regard for them—a sign that she hadn’t forgotten their past ties. It represented potential future promotions and protection, making the meaning entirely different.
Two quarters of an hour later, Yun Shu finally arrived at Orchid Fragrance Courtyard, where Concubine Zhou resided.
"Your servant pays respects to the concubine," Yun Shu said as she entered the room, greeting Concubine Zhou with a slight bow instead of kneeling.
To put it bluntly, both the Chamber Maid and the concubine were concubines, differing by at most half a rank in hierarchy.
Concubines held no real authority and did not manage affairs. Their face and status depended entirely on whether they were favored.
Moreover, Yun Shu had previously been the Duchess’s personal maid, and her face and status in the household were no less than Concubine Zhou’s.
Given this, it was reasonable for her not to kneel but only bow when meeting Concubine Zhou.
However, Concubine Zhou was displeased. Seeing Yun Shu not kneel, her face darkened, and she said directly,
"Yun Shu, not kneeling when you see me—does this mean you don’t regard me as a concubine?"
"Concubine, you misunderstand. If I were to kneel, it would actually harm your reputation."
Yun Shu knew Concubine Zhou would likely be unwelcoming and was prepared. Hearing this, she smiled generously, her tone warm and natural.
"When I met you before, I never knelt. Back then, you considered me the Duchess’s person and never said anything about it."
"Now that I am the Heir Apparent’s Chamber Maid and have been favored for two consecutive nights, if you make me kneel as soon as I arrive, people outside will think you’re tormenting me out of jealousy, damaging your reputation."
"If the Heir Apparent hears of it, do you think he’d be pleased? Wouldn’t he think you’re being too petty?"
Concubine Zhou, …
Ahhh, what should I do?
What should I do!
She actually felt Yun Shu’s words made perfect sense!
No, I must quickly think of how to refute her. I can’t let her gain the upper hand.
But when Concubine Zhou faced Yun Shu’s smiling, handsome face, her mind went completely blank, unable to think of anything.
In the end, she could only resort to her trump card.
So, Concubine Zhou pointed a finger at Yun Shu, intending to angrily scold her for daring to lecture her!
However, her personal maid, Peach Blossom, quickly pulled her finger down and coaxed her,
"Concubine, please calm down. What Yun Shu said makes sense. Don’t make the Heir Apparent angry."
Concubine Zhou’s face twitched, and in the end, she could only let out a sarcastic hum.
"Hehe, then I must thank her!"
"You're too kind, Concubine." Yun Shu replied with a smile.
Concubine Zhou, seeing her still eagerly putting herself down, grew even more stifled.
Just then, a maid brought in a bowl of medicinal soup and said to Concubine Zhou,
"Concubine, the medicine is ready. Please drink it while it's hot."
"I've been drinking it for over a year, and I still haven't conceived! This medicine is so bitter—I don't want to drink it anymore!" Concubine Zhou protested with a bitter face.
"Concubine, Madam and Concubine Guo are also drinking this medicine," Peach Blossom quickly urged.
Concubine Zhou glanced at Yun Shu beside her and suddenly had an idea. She immediately said with a smile,
"Yun Shu, this is medicine brewed from the fertility prescription given by the young mistress. Since you are now also a concubine of the Heir Apparent, I cannot treat you poorly. Drink this bowl of fertility soup!"
"Hurry, give the medicinal soup to Yun Shu," Concubine Zhou urged the maid.
Yun Shu glanced at the bowl of dark, bitter medicinal soup and twitched her lips speechlessly.
She had only been reporting to Concubine Zhou for a day, and now she was being invited to drink "milk tea" and participate in the "milk tea socializing" of the office!
Only here, the modern workplace milk tea had been replaced by the fertility soup of the inner chambers—quite distinctive indeed.
[Host, this medicinal soup is problematic. Do not drink it.]
At that moment, the System spoke up.