]Сhарtеr 9: Taking thе Ваit
Uроn hearing this, Fuling’s small fасe scrunсhed up in соnfusiоn. “Whаt dоеs that mеаn, Мiss?”
Jiаng Chuji’s eуes sparkled with а knоwing gleаm.
“Whеthеr I trulу bеcаmе mоre beаutiful bеcаuse of the Gu Wоrm or nоt—based solеly оn yоur wоrd—with Conсubine Zhou’s pеrsоnаlitу, she definitеlу wоuldn’t bеlieve it оutright. She wоuld want to vеrify it further.”
“Аnd to cоnfirm the effeсts оf thе Gu Worm, shе wоuld surely seеk out thе рerson whо originallу sold it tо hеr.”
“Тhen whаt should we dо?” Fuling couldn’t hеlр but аsk. “Does Miss know where Conсubinе Zhou obtained this Gu Wоrm? Whаt if the seller tеlls Сoncubine Zhou that it doesn’t have such effects at all…”
Jiang Chuji actually did know where this Gu Worm came from.
In the original plot, the original host later discovered that she had been poisoned with a Gu Worm by her concubine and went through great difficulty to find the Gu Worm dealer, finally learning the only method to extract the Gu Worm.
However, by that time, the original host had already become obese and bloated, seen as a disgrace by the Jiang family. Even if the Gu Worm were extracted, it would have been of little use.
Jiang Chuji reached out and retrieved the porcelain vial containing the Gu Worm and an envelope from beside the bed.
“Fuling, take this opportunity to leave the manor under the pretext of fetching medicine for me.”
“Find the shop at this address and give these two items to the shopkeeper.”
Fuling took the vial and the letter, though she had no idea what was written inside.
She couldn’t help but worry. “Should I just hand it over directly, Miss? What if the other party refuses to accept our things?”
Jiang Chuji, however, was not concerned. She parted her lips and said, “You only need to leave one message. Tell the shopkeeper that if he wants to earn a thousand taels of silver, he should read what’s written in the letter. He’ll naturally accept it then.”
As evening approached, the lingering glow of the sunset enveloped the entire capital.
A modestly decorated carriage stopped in front of a shop on the southern street. The carriage curtain was lifted, and Concubine Zhou, wearing a bamboo hat, stepped down with Jiang Luowei.
Concubine Zhou entered the shop, lifting her hat to survey the surroundings.
The last time she came here, she had spent fifty taels of silver to purchase that Gu Worm from the shopkeeper named Hu San.
Hu San, with his thick beard, frequently traveled back and forth to the Western Region, dealing in rare and exotic goods. His appearance was rather rugged.
Hu San was busy organizing his merchandise in the shop when he looked up and saw the visitors. Instantly, his face broke into an ingratiating smile. “Ah, it’s the Chancellor’s wife gracing us with your presence. I apologize for not welcoming you properly.”
Concubine Zhou was greatly pleased by the title “Chancellor’s wife,” though she feigned displeasure on her face.
“Hu San, last time I bought that Gu Worm from you. I never expected you to be so bold as to deceive me.”
Hearing this, Hu San panicked. “Madam, why would you say that? How would I dare deceive you?”
Seeing his reaction, Concubine Zhou snorted coldly. “Three months ago, I bought that Western Region Gu Insect here.”
“I used your Gu Worm on someone, but instead of gaining weight and ruining their appearance, they became even slimmer and more beautiful. Isn’t that deceiving me?”
It was exactly as the letter had said!
Hu San’s eyes darted around as he recalled the events of the morning.
A few hours earlier, a young maid had come to his shop, claiming outright that the contents of the letter could earn him a thousand taels of silver.
He hadn’t believed it at first. But when he opened the letter, he saw only two lines written inside.
The first line read: 【If someone from the Chancellor’s Manor comes asking about the Gu Worm, simply say that your previous research was incomplete. Once the Gu Worm enters a person’s body, even if their appetite increases, they will grow thinner and thinner, while their skin and appearance will improve.】The second line read: [The Gu worm in the porcelain bottle was once sold for fifty taels of silver. Now it can be priced at a thousand taels of silver and sold again.]
There was only one of these Western Region Gu Insects, and he had originally acquired it from someone else.
The Gu worm he had once sold for fifty taels of silver had not only returned to his hands, but the other party also claimed he could demand a thousand taels of silver and sell it again?
If he could truly sell it for a thousand taels of silver, he could take the money and flee overnight, never having to worry about food or clothing for the rest of his life.
At this moment, Hu San looked at Concubine Zhou’s angry expression and rubbed his hands together. “Madam, it’s all my fault for not fully understanding this Gu worm before.”
“Once this little worm enters the human body, it increases the host’s appetite, but it also helps break down food, so the host can eat as much as they want without gaining weight, and it even beautifies the skin.”
“Is what you’re saying true?” Jiang Luowei gasped.
So Jiang Chuji’s transformation into a beauty was really because of their Gu worm!
They had actually spent money to use such a good thing on Jiang Chuji, letting her gain such a huge advantage for nothing.
“That is indeed the case,” Hu San hurriedly nodded.
Jiang Luowei immediately asked, “Then do you still have any more of that Gu worm? I want to buy another one!”
Jiang Luowei was already impatient.
If the Gu worm was truly this miraculous, with it, she would never have to diet again. She could eat whatever she wanted and still remain slimmer and more beautiful than anyone else.
Such a wonderful thing—she absolutely had to have it!
Upon hearing this, Hu San immediately put on a troubled expression.
He sighed and said, “…I do have it, but this Gu worm is the only one left in the entire world, and now its miraculous effects have been confirmed.”
“Once word spreads, the noble ladies of the capital will surely flock here, scrambling to buy it. So the price naturally won’t be the same as the fifty taels of silver it once sold for.”
As he spoke, he secretly observed the expressions of Jiang Luowei and Concubine Zhou.
“Mother, no matter how much it costs, I want to buy it.”
Without hesitation, Jiang Luowei immediately grabbed Concubine Zhou’s sleeve, her eyes filled with unmistakable eagerness.
If Jiang Chuji, with her ordinary appearance, could become so beautiful, then if she used the Gu worm, she would surely become the most stunning beauty in the capital.
Seeing her daughter’s determination, Concubine Zhou could only turn to Hu San. “I’ll take the Gu worm. Name your price.”
Hu San shook the porcelain bottle in his hand. “A thousand taels of silver. Is Madam willing to pay?”
A thousand taels of silver!
The previous Gu worm was sold for fifty taels of silver, but now it had become a thousand taels—the price had increased dozens of times!
This Hu San was truly asking for an exorbitant price.
Concubine Zhou gasped, wanting to curse, but seeing her daughter’s resolute expression, she swallowed her anger, thinking she would secure the item first.
Her eyelids flickered as she reached out her hand. “Then it’s a thousand taels of silver. Give me the Gu worm first, and I’ll send someone with the silver notes in a couple of days.”
Hu San chuckled. “That won’t do, Madam. Here, it’s always payment first, then the goods.”
“Besides, after tonight, I plan to spread word of its effects tomorrow. If someone else buys it first…”
“We’ll go back and get the money right now!”
Jiang Luowei couldn’t care about anything else. Fearing the Gu worm might fall into someone else’s hands, she agreed immediately.
Of course, Jiang Luowei knew that her mother was only a concubine and could never have savings of a thousand taels of silver.However, the dowry that Chen Shi brought when she married into the Chancellor’s Manor back then is now entirely in her mother’s hands.
A thousand taels of silver is nothing compared to that dowry.
Sitting in the carriage, Jiang Luowei’s expression took on a hint of fervor.
“Mother, if I also use this Gu Worm, I will surely become so beautiful that I could topple cities and overwhelm nations, completely overshadowing that Jiang Chuji.”
“As long as I win the favor of The Empress and the Crown Prince at my coming-of-age ceremony, I will have the chance to become the Crown Princess, a consort of the future emperor. In the future, would we still need to worry about lacking money?”
At any time, beauty is a woman’s greatest weapon. She must be more beautiful than that useless Jiang Chuji!
Yilan Courtyard. Jiang Chuji was leaning on the bed reading a book when Fuling hurried into the room and exclaimed excitedly, “Miss, it’s done!”