Chapter 220: Is the Second Son a Cut‑Sleeve?

The paste in the jar was milky white, with a delicate texture; taking a bit and applying it to the face, the fragrant paste quickly melted on the skin, as if it were entirely absorbed, and instantly the skin felt finer and smoother than before.

She looked at the beauty cream on the table with surprise and murmured, "This beauty cream is truly divine, its effect is several times better than the most coveted Jade Face Cream in Jingcheng—no, it's hundreds of times better!"

Early the next morning, Li Yunxi was woken by an extremely foul smell.

"What's going on? Why is it so stinky?"

"Ah!"

The servant who came to attend her saw her face and immediately tipped the water basin, spilling it onto the ground.

"Miss, your… your face…"

"Face?" Li Yunxi hurried to the bronze mirror.

"Ah! My face… what… what is this!" She only then realized that the foul odor she smelled was emanating from her own face.

At that moment, Li Yunxi's face was covered with a thick layer of black mud, its smell barely less than that of a latrine.

"Ugh…"

She couldn't stop dry heaving, and after washing her face five times the black sludge was finally clean.

"Miss…" The maid stared at her face; Li Yunxi's gaze fell on the bronze mirror, and when she saw herself clearly in it, she involuntarily inhaled sharply.

She lunged to the bronze mirror, incredulously reaching out to touch her own face.

She exclaimed in surprise, "Is this my face? Is this really my face?"

"Miss, your skin has become so white!"

The girl's visage in the bronze mirror was fair and delicate, like a piece of fine milky white jade, warm, smooth, and shimmering with a luminous sheen.

"Oh my God! This is not a beauty cream; it's clearly a heavenly elixir!" Li Yunxi said excitedly, "I must tell my sisters about the effects of this beauty cream."

Li Yunxi need say nothing; just standing there is enough to drive the ladies who know her crazy.

After all, who wouldn't want a flawless face and skin?

In just half a day, the beauty cream had already spread like wildfire among Jingcheng's high officials and nobles.

Chi Nan Yi was not surprised when she learned the news; Li Yunxi's excitement was as she had expected, and the cream's explosive popularity unfolded just as she had predicted.

At that moment, Ji Bai came over, whispering, "Miss, the fengshui map has already been delivered to Prince Li's residence; Yun Shui said the Prince has been in the camp these two days and hasn't returned. When the Prince comes back, he will inform you."

"Understood."

Since Mo Junyan left the Chi Family last time, he hasn't appeared again.

He looks just like a boyfriend who confesses and then disappears, a scumbag.

At that moment, the street rang with the sound of drums and gongs; a eunuch accompanied by imperial guards stopped at the shop's doorway, the scene as grand as the first time a plaque was presented.

The Eastern House of the World's First Manor, Southern First Young Master, receives an imperial decree.

"Receive decree?"

Chi Nan Yi slightly raised an eyebrow and hurried outside.

The junior eunuch, seeing her emerge, beamed with smiles and earnestly said, "Southern First Young Master, please receive the decree!"

"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Southern First Young Master, for rescuing disaster victims, showing compassion, not shying from danger, administering medicine to cure illness, and cherishing benevolence and righteousness, I am greatly pleased. I hereby grant the following rewards: a thousand taels of silver, a hundred bolts of brocade, a pair of jade discs, and a proclamation to the realm so that all may know my commendation of virtue and concern for the people's merit. So be it."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your great grace."

Chi Nan Yi took the imperial edict, silently pursed her lips, thinking the Emperor was too stingy—only awarding a thousand taels of silver, without even granting a residence.

"Southern First Young Master, besides these gifts, there is something even more important."

"What?" Hearing him say that, Chi Nan Yi's eyes lit up; she knew that the Emperor, being the ruler of a nation, could not possibly be so petty.

The eunuch turned aside, and at the rear of the procession a soft sedan chair could be seen.

"Young Master, the Emperor said he wishes to see you and invite you into the Palace!"

"Enter the Palace?"

"Exactly, this is the greatest favor! Ordinary people never get to see the Emperor's face even once in their lifetime."

Chi Nan Yi's mouth twitched a few times.

"The greatest favor?"

"Can't this favor be converted into cash? Like a thousand taels of gold or something."

Chi Nan Yi rode the soft sedan chair to the Palace gate.

"Young Master, you will be disembarked here."

As she stepped out of the sedan chair, she met Meng Hui, who was just about to leave the Palace.

Their eyes met, and Meng Hui felt a heavy weight in his heart.

"How could you…"

As Meng Hui began to speak, the junior eunuch laughed and said, "Minister Meng, are you acquainted with Southern First Young Master?"

"Mm."

"Minister, Southern First Young Master probably doesn't have time to catch up with you; the Emperor is still waiting!"

Meng Hui looked at Chi Nan Yi, his expression extremely displeased.

Now his dantian was in her palm, fearing she would reveal the fengshui map matter.

Chi Nan Yi stepped up to him, lowered her voice, and said, "Minister, rest assured, those words cannot be spoken; I understand clearly."

After speaking, she brushed Meng Hui's shoulder and walked toward the Palace.

Meng Hui clenched his fists, veins bulging on his forehead, and, seething with anger, turned and left.

At this moment in the Imperial Study, two figures—one standing, one seated—were present; the Emperor glanced at Xie Yuwei and then at Mo Junyan.

"What are you still lingering here for?"

Xie Yuwei, hearing the words, thought the Emperor was speaking to him and was about to resign and leave, when a lazy voice came from beside him.

"Son, I've had some free time lately and just wanted to bask in the sun here with Father the Emperor, is that not allowed?"

"Sunbathing outside, is this Imperial Study the place where you sunbathe?"

"Mo Junyan heard the words, slowly opened his eyes, his gaze fell on Xie Yuwei, and the Emperor, seeing his stare, furrowed his brows: \"What are you looking at? \""

"Nothing."

"Mo Junyan did not move his eyes; in his mind the words that Old Chi had told him the day before resurfaced."

"\"Xie Yuwei is steady-tempered, exceptionally talented, capable and responsible. If Yi Er could marry him, she would surely have a lifetime of stability. Prince holds deep affection and great duty toward Yi Er; I am grateful, but concerning Yi Er's lifelong happiness, I hope Prince can understand that you are truly not the best choice. \""

"Xie Yuwei."

"Is Old Chi blind?"

"Xie Yuwei felt the killing aura falling on him grow heavier, and couldn't help but cough softly a few times."

"Mo Junyan, seeing that he could not even withstand a trace of his own pressure, let out a cold laugh, and then slowly closed his eyes."

"Can even such a waste be worthy of Yi Er?"

"The Emperor took in the whole scene, his heart shocked."

"Why does the second brother's gaze keep lingering on Xie Yuwei?"

"Was Xie Yuwei's cough just now... because he was shy?"

"Could it be that the second brother and he..."

"Is the second brother a cut-sleeve?"

"No wonder!"

"No wonder that over all these years, the second brother has never taken a liking to any woman! And today, the uncharacteristic lord himself came to the Imperial Study; previously I wanted to see him once, and had to send someone specially to invite him. I truly don't know who is the father and who is the son."

"In the blink of an eye, the thought that Mo Junyan was a cut-sleeve had already been planted in his mind."

"At that moment, Li Gonggong walked in."

"\"Emperor, Southern First Young Master has arrived. \""