The Empress Wants It All: The Empire and Me - Chapter 39.2

Chapter 39.2

Liu Zhenzhen saw a glittering golden seal lying in his palm. The handle was exquisitely carved with three lifelike golden ingots. Her face immediately lit up with joy, and she hurried to take it.

“Master, you actually carry your private seal with you?”

Feng Gu shot her a sidelong glance. “Since I am traveling, I naturally must carry my private seal.”

Gu Yuwan, having a sharp eye, recognized it instantly and said in surprise, “Oh! Could this be the Third-Grade Golden Seal exclusive to the Imperial Bank?”

Feng Gu’s expression was haughty, yet he felt a bit embarrassed to answer and gave a light cough. Liu Zhenzhen immediately understood her master’s thoughts and interjected, “Indeed! This is precisely the Third-Grade Golden Seal of our Longyuan Kingdom’s Imperial Bank. With this seal, one can withdraw fifty thousand taels of silver at once from any branch of the Imperial Bank!”

Lin Yanran’s eyes instantly gleamed with golden light. She immediately walked up to Feng Gu and solemnly cupped her fists. “It turns out Senior is not only a master of medicine but also a rare tycoon of the world. Please forgive this junior’s previous rudeness.”

Her sudden change to such a respectful attitude left Feng Gu stunned. He then reacted and blew his beard in anger. First, he was annoyed that such a talented person was so obsessed with money; second, he was irritated that she was only being respectful because he was wealthy.

He immediately brushed his sleeve, turned his back to her, and said huffily, “Truly a child that cannot be taught!”

Unfazed, Lin Yanran smiled broadly as she took the golden seal from Liu Zhenzhen’s hand and began to admire it. She exclaimed in wonder, “Truly a masterpiece of craftsmanship! These ingots are carved so realistically. With such a seal on your person, Senior, can’t you travel light anywhere? If you need anything, you just go to the bank and withdraw some silver. Tsk tsk, this junior is truly envious!”

Feng Gu pricked up his ears to eavesdrop, and his expression gradually cleared up. Lin Yanran’s words had hit the nail on the head regarding his vanity. He took great pride in this golden seal; it allowed him to travel empty-handed and carefree, and he felt it gave him a great deal of “face” every time he took it out.

Furthermore, this girl’s envy was so apparent it was quite pleasant to hear!

Lin Yanran then asked, “Doctor Liu, how do we use this golden seal?”

Liu Zhenzhen caught her eager expression and thought to herself that there were actually things this girl didn’t know. She turned triumphantly to Gu Yuwan. “Sister Gu, do you have any blank banknotes on you?”

Gu Yuwan nodded. “Naturally. I always keep blank banknotes ready at home, specifically prepared for tycoons like Senior Feng.”

Liu Zhenzhen then spoke smugly to Lin Yanran, “All you need to do is use my master’s golden seal and stamp it onto the blank banknote. However much silver you need, you stamp it onto a note of that denomination.”

Lin Yanran understood immediately; this private seal was like a modern-day check. She smiled instantly. “Doctor Liu, that’s perfect. You just need to stamp a ten-thousand-tael note, and from now on, you are a major shareholder of our pharmaceutical workshop.”

She then turned to Feng Gu. “Senior, regarding your investment share, this junior will take the liberty of gifting you a twenty-thousand-tael share for free. What do you think?”

Feng Gu gave a snort, turned around, and said, “Since you call me ‘Senior,’ do you think I would covet your share money? This private seal can withdraw fifty thousand taels at once. We shall set the shares at fifty thousand taels: thirty thousand for this old man, and twenty thousand for little Zhen’er.”

Liu Zhenzhen hurriedly said, “Master, how can your disciple take your silver?”

Feng Gu glared at her. “You just need to listen to your master.”

Liu Zhenzhen immediately understood his intent. He wanted her to guide Lin Yanran so she wouldn’t always be so obsessed with money and would open her eyes to the top-tier physician standing right in front of her—basically telling her to hurry up and kowtow to become his disciple!

Liu Zhenzhen was nearly moved to laughter by her master’s desperate behavior. She thought: Old man, you finally have a day where you’re being tortured by someone. The grudge of you forcing me to memorize a hundred herbs a day or else forbidding me from eating or sleeping is finally being avenged.

She felt smug inside but remained submissive on the outside. “Master, your disciple understands.”

Fifty thousand taels?!

Tears of excitement almost leaked from the corners of Lin Yanran’s mouth. She immediately walked to Feng Gu and said with a sincere tone, “Senior, this junior said I would gift it to you for free. How can I take your money? Please, Senior, take it back!”

She spoke with such heartfelt emotion and her eyes were so bright they reached the heart. This immediately made Feng Gu feel much better about being “neglected” by his future genius disciple.

He waved his hand magnanimously. “A gift from an elder cannot be refused. It is rare for this old man to encounter a little girl as proficient in medicine as you. Consider this a meeting gift.”

In truth, he had heard everything Gu Yuwan and Liu Zhenzhen said. He knew the background of the Gu family in Phoenix City very well. Since Gu Yuwan said so, the workshop would surely make money. Taking a share was not only a safe bet but also gave him great “face” in front of his future genius disciple. Why wouldn’t he do it?

He was happy, but Lin Yanran was even happier. She decided that as soon as everyone left, she would go to Youqin Mingyue to claim credit.

She said immediately, “Senior has come from afar, and I haven’t been able to give you a proper welcome. Please stay for a few more days, and I will personally cook a table of authentic farm-style dishes for you.”

“Farm-style dishes?” Feng Gu was immediately intrigued by the new term.

“Indeed. Farm-style dishes are the most unique specialty of Phoenix Town; you won’t find them anywhere else. This junior was thinking that Senior must be tired of delicacies, so these crisp, refreshing, and ‘back-to-basics’ farm dishes would be a nice change of pace.”

Lin Yanran praised the farm dishes profusely. Feng Gu was in high spirits, wondering if this girl had finally “seen the light” and was planning to prepare a feast specifically to kowtow and become his disciple.

The more he thought about it, the happier he became. He said reservedly, “There’s no need for it to be too lavish, just as long as the proper etiquette is observed.”

Etiquette? What etiquette? Lin Yanran was completely confused.

However, she had managed to placate him. Just as she was about to return to her room, she noticed Wang Shouchun looking at her with a strange expression. Her heart stirred, and she walked over. “Miss Wang, what do you think of the ‘land-for-shares’ method I mentioned today?”

Wang Shouchun gave her a deep look and said, “The Benefactor’s method has many benefits and is quite ingenious. But there is one point I do not understand; I ask for the Benefactor’s guidance.”

“Speak.”

“Why does the Benefactor want to bind the people of Phoenix Town so tightly to the pharmaceutical workshop?”

Lin Yanran secretly praised her in her heart. Wang Jinghong was right—his sister was indeed exceptionally intelligent. This question cut to the very root. She pondered for a moment before saying, “Balance.”

“Balance?” Wang Shouchun looked thoughtful. Just as Lin Yanran was about to leave, Wang Shouchun’s eyes lit up. She glanced at Liu Zhenzhen and Feng Gu resting in the corridor and lowered her voice: “It is balance, but also a system of checks and balances. So, the two new shareholders were also invited based on this consideration. Benefactor, am I correct?”

So smart. Bringing Liu Zhenzhen and Feng Gu into the fold was exactly about creating a protective umbrella to counter future “mighty dragons” and “local snakes.”

As expected of a daughter from a military family—she understood it instantly.

Lin Yanran nodded with a smile and said, “Miss Wang, my mention of the housekeeper position today was no joke. If you are interested, why not go discuss the details of the land partnerships and the gold-and-silver shares with Miss Gu?”

Wang Shouchun knew immediately that she was being given an opportunity and a test. She blinked, smiling beautifully. “My life belongs to the Benefactor. A mere management position is something I certainly would not refuse.”

Lin Yanran was in high spirits as she turned into the main room. She excitedly pushed aside the door curtain and saw Youqin Mingyue practicing calligraphy at the table.

After Gu Yuwan’s merchant ship arrived, she had sent over high-quality brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. She had even wanted to bring in expensive tables, chairs, antiques, and silks, but Lin Yanran had refused. The room was too small; putting a scholar’s desk in there made it look neither here nor there. It was better to wait until the house was expanded.

“Mingyue—”

Lin Yanran walked quickly to her side and spoke joyfully, “I’ve earned another fifty thousand taels for us! Just now, Doctor Liu and her master both agreed to join our pharmaceutical workshop!”

Us… our pharmaceutical workshop… since when was my relationship with this commoner so close?

These thoughts flashed through Youqin Mingyue’s mind. She didn’t even look up; she held her breath and concentrated, continuing to write the characters in front of her.

Lin Yanran looked over and realized she was writing Buddhist scriptures. She was currently writing the character for “View” (Guan) in the passage: “All conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, or shadows; like dew or a flash of lightning; thus should they be viewed.”

She thought that since the villain had lived two lives, having such realizations wasn’t surprising. She didn’t speak again and stood by the side, watching silently.

She was leaning too close, and her scent began to burrow into Youqin Mingyue’s nose.

Youqin Mingyue suddenly frowned.

She was practicing calligraphy in the afternoon to suppress the burning heat within her body. Ever since her previous life, her restless pheromones had constantly troubled her, becoming a major source of anxiety.

Every Great Physician had told her that she could only find a top-tier Qianyuan to mark her to soothe the restless pheromones.

But she had a temperament that preferred to be broken jade rather than whole tile; she vowed she would never submit. In her previous life, she had literally carved out her own glands to rid herself of the pheromone trouble completely.

She didn’t believe she couldn’t eradicate this bane in this life!

Precisely because of this deep-seated competitive drive, even though she knew Lin Yanran’s proximity would trigger her pheromones, she had still tacitly allowed her to enter. She refused to admit defeat; she refused to lose to those damned pheromones.

However—she had still underestimated the physiological traits of a Kunze. As soon as Lin Yanran arrived, all her efforts were in vain.

Lin Yanran’s body fragrance was winding its way into her nose like threads, churning through her body like a venomous snake. Her control over her body was being stripped away inch by inch. Even the scent of her own medicinal pills couldn’t stop this loss of control!

She gave a sudden violent shudder.

Clatter—

The brush fell onto the high-quality rice paper, immediately leaving an ugly blot of ink, causing the final character “View” to become deformed!

“Mingyue, what’s wrong?” Lin Yanran noticed something was off and asked hurriedly.

Enraged by the sudden failure, Youqin Mingyue clenched her hands around the paper. The snowy white rice paper was crumpled and creased, making that ink blot look even more ugly and piercing—as if it were mocking her failure.

Youqin Mingyue’s eyes turned red instantly. Why, after working so hard, am I still defeated by pheromones? Why am I cursed with this Kunze body? Why must I be marked by a Qianyuan?

Damn it! Damn it all!

She glared at Lin Yanran, her eyes shooting hatred. “Get out!”

Lin Yanran panicked instantly. She saw those crimson eyes—the depths were a bloody red, as if flames were burning within. The fire scorched her own eyes.

“Mingyue, what’s happened? Are you feeling unwell?”

She had no idea what was going on; she only felt that Youqin Mingyue’s rage was too sudden. She didn’t know that from last night until this moment, beneath Youqin Mingyue’s calm surface, her thoughts had already turned a thousand times.

Youqin Mingyue didn’t speak; she just glared with hatred. Lin Yanran’s worry was not faked; her gaze was tense, full of anxiety and concern. But this look suddenly stung her. She realized why her usually restrained self would lose composure like this.

It was because from the moment the Death Guard reported yesterday, every sentence about Lin Yanran had been silently pulling at her emotions. She was certain she didn’t care about this commoner who wore the face of her enemy. Even if she treated her well or risked her life to bring back news of the gold, she would never care for her in the slightest!

But only now did she realize—she did care.

She hated it. She hated this feeling of losing control, and she hated her own impotence even more! And by extension, she hated the commoner in front of her!

Youqin Mingyue stared at her with loathing and spat out a single word: “Leave.”

Lin Yanran was confused and at a loss. She had come in to claim credit, but the villain’s reaction had caught her completely off guard. If she left like this, things would truly be disastrous.

Lin Yanran took a decisive step forward, reached out, and grabbed her upper arms. She spoke in an extremely gentle tone, “Mingyue, no matter what happened, you can tell me. I’ll help you think of a way…” As she gripped her arms, she immediately felt a burning temperature through her clothes.

Something was wrong!

Looking at Youqin Mingyue’s face again, her skin was faintly flushed, and her eyes held a strange red tint. A bewitching, seductive fragrance was beginning to emanate from her body.

Lin Yanran’s voice trembled with shock: “Are you having a pheromone outbreak?”

With Lin Yanran holding her arms, Youqin Mingyue felt her body lose control even further. The cool, rich scent of a Qianyuan was like a hunter’s net closing around her.

She was no lamb to be slaughtered. Without hesitation, she lifted her foot and stomped hard on Lin Yanran’s instep.

“Ugh—”

Lin Yanran gasped in pain and took a step back, her hands involuntarily releasing her arms.

“Mingyue, I’ll help you. Truly.” Lin Yanran spoke hurriedly as she turned to leave. “I’ve gathered all the herbs. I’m going to prepare the medicine for you. Wait for me.”

“Stop—” Youqin Mingyue yelled suddenly.

Lin Yanran stopped and turned back. She found her glaring with even more hatred. She asked through gritted teeth, “Did you tamper with my medicinal pills?”

Lin Yanran felt a chill run through her from that cold, hatred-filled gaze. She even felt a chill on the top of her head—were the Death Guards hiding up there? Would she be sliced in half in the next instant?

Under the threat of death, her IQ reached its peak. She turned back fully to face her and said with unprecedented seriousness, “Mingyue, I did not tamper with your pills. I have been studying them from start to finish, sincerely trying to find a recipe to suppress your pheromones. I have found a formula now. I am going to Doctor Liu’s pharmacy to prepare it immediately. Please give me time. Please believe me!”

Youqin Mingyue stared at her intensely. The heat was burning her body, making her skin redder and redder. The red in her eyes grew more intense, shrouded in bloodlust, revealing a gloomy and terrifying murderous intent.

She did not speak.

Her reason was battling with her violent, murderous emotions. Her will was battling with the rapidly rising heat in her body. The sense of failure after trying her hardest had crushed all her pride.

Everything was falling toward the worst possible outcome.

Lin Yanran grew more and more terrified. She felt a chill permeate the air, like a sky thick with dark clouds before a thunderstorm, ready to fall and crush someone at any moment. She tentatively backed away, step by step, until she reached the door curtain.

Death Guard, don’t come over. Don’t you dare come over!

She turned abruptly and bolted out.

It wasn’t until she rushed out the front door that cold sweat broke through her skin, and a chilly sensation ran down her spine. Her clothes were actually soaked with sweat.

At this moment, she truly understood why Youqin Mingyue became the greatest villain in the book.

Because with just one look, she could kill!