To stun everyone at the Yue Jun Prince's conservatory banquet, He Rufang had also made ample preparations herself.
Besides diligent training, she had also put great effort into her skincare.
These were things she had been accustomed to since childhood, and now with the financial support of the Ding'an Prince's manor, she was even more adept.
Wang Qingyao was generous with her, and He Rufang did not hide anything.
She shared her years of beauty secrets with Wang Qingyao.
"...There's a kind of mud from the sea that you can apply to your face to cleanse it of impurities."
"It's not about slathering things onto your face. You need to cleanse it first so that your skin can absorb nutrients."
"...There's a kind of 'Immortal Jade Maiden Powder,' I wonder if Her Majesty has heard of it? They say it can preserve youth. However, it's troublesome to make. You have to collect the entire motherwort plant on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, without any soil. Dry it, pound it into a fine powder, and sieve it. Then, add flour and water, mix well, shape it into medicinal balls the size of an egg, and then dry them again..."
He Rufang had also spent a lot of money and effort maintaining her beauty since she was young.
However, Wang Qingyao, being a transmigrator, knew no less than she did.
Wang Qingyao listened with a smile, pretending she was hearing it for the first time.
"To tell Her Majesty the truth, please don't blame me for overstepping," He Rufang said cautiously. "Your Majesty's appearance is not lacking. Even though you cannot see now, your eyes are still lively and do not affect your beauty at all."
She paused here, carefully observing Wang Qingyao's expression.
Some people, when their eyes are blind, cannot bear to hear even a word about it.
Wang Qingyao's expression remained unchanged, so she continued with relief: "The Prince is deeply devoted to Your Majesty, and I believe it's not solely based on your looks. It's just that it's a disadvantage for Your Majesty to be unable to see. If you have someone you can trust, why not let the Prince take another concubine..."
She lowered her voice: "It's best if it's one of your own maids. Your Majesty holds her contract, so she wouldn't dare to disobey you... I think the one named Zhizi by Your Majesty's side is quite suitable. She's ordinary in appearance, quiet, and loyal to Your Majesty..."
He Rufang deliberately lowered her voice so that Zhizi and Yinzhu, who were guarding the door, couldn't hear what she was saying inside.
However, Zhenzhu, who practiced martial arts and had sharp hearing, heard quite a bit.
Upon hearing this, she glanced at Zhizi and pursed her lips.
Wang Qingyao took a sip of chrysanthemum tea and said indifferently, "Miss He has indeed overstepped."
He Rufang was startled, her face filled with embarrassment.
These past few days, she had thought she was very close to Wang Qingyao, but she never expected her to be so unyielding when it came to matters of conjugal relations.
Her face was flushed with embarrassment, and she couldn't utter a word.
Fortunately, the servants were all outside the door, and they didn't know what she was saying inside, so she wasn't too humiliated.
Seeing her like this, Wang Qingyao's expression softened: "Don't mention this matter again in the future. I have my own plans."
He Rufang mumbled, "Mm."
He Rufang didn't quite understand Wang Qingyao either. She was blind, and not a peerless beauty; where did her confidence come from?
Yes, confidence.
He Rufang had never seen a blind person who was so unlike a blind person as Wang Qingyao.
She exuded an aura of confidence and gentleness, and she didn't seem to worry at all that Prince Ding'an would dislike her.
Were the noble ladies of Duanjing all this confident?
After this incident, He Rufang no longer dared to speak carelessly in front of Wang Qingyao.
She vaguely understood that even if she were adopted as a goddaughter by the Old Imperial Concubine in the future, there would still be a difference between her and the true masters of the Ding'an Prince's manor.
But she didn't care.
Not everyone could latch onto a powerful figure like the Ding'an Prince's manor.
In the blink of an eye, it was time for the Yue Jun Prince's conservatory banquet.
Logically, since Wang Qingyao was blind, most invitations were no longer sent to her.
However, the Seventh Prince had inquired with Xiao Yun beforehand. Xiao Yun said it was fine, and only then did the Seventh Prince personally invite Wang Qingyao again.
The Seventh Prince and Wang Qingyao got along well. Wang Qingyao smiled and agreed: "Little Seven, you don't need to worry about me. Although I can't see, I always have someone attending to me."
The scale of the Yue Jun Prince's manor was slightly smaller than that of the princes of the three imperial sons of Consort Wei.
However, although the crown prince had already been established, the Seventh Prince's status had risen with the Empress Chen's favor, and it was still uncertain who would ultimately ascend the throne.
Therefore, on this day, countless people came to congratulate Yue Jun Prince on his housewarming, like fish in a river.
The carriages in front of the Yue Jun Prince's manor stretched for miles, and the long alley was completely blocked by various carriages.
Wang Qingyao arrived late.
She wanted He Rufang to amaze everyone, so she naturally waited until most people had arrived.
Seeing the alley filled with carriages now, she regretted it.
The carriages couldn't get through, and they had to stop far away. Walking this distance, she didn't know if He Rufang's dignified demeanor could be maintained.
She turned to look at He Rufang, whose expression was also not good.
Most women in ancient times rarely left their homes and participated in physical activities, so their physical condition was worrying.
While they were hesitating, Jintiao suddenly appeared from somewhere.
"Princess Consort, the Prince asked me to wait here for you. The carriages are blocking the road here, so I'll take you another way, through the back door."
Xiao Yun had made arrangements in advance.
Wang Qingyao said with a half-smile, "The Prince is truly something. Having an imperial guard like you lead the way, isn't that a waste of talent?"
Jintiao glanced at Yinzhu with a cheerful grin: "No, no, I just like leading the way."
The others: "..."
Yinzhu's face turned red with embarrassment.
Jintiao had the carriage driver follow him, driving along another road to the back door.
Two four-person sedan chairs were also prepared at the back door. Servants carried Wang Qingyao and He Rufang to the second gate.
After alighting from the sedan chairs, He Rufang immediately went to help Wang Qingyao.
Wang Qingyao squeezed her hand: "Are you ready?"
He Rufang nodded: "I'm ready."
It was evident that she was a little nervous.
"Don't be nervous," Wang Qingyao said. "This is nothing. These are small matters. In the future, there will be many banquets of this caliber."