Ch 114: Perfume Tasting Banquet
“Princess, this Perfume Tasting Banquet is clearly hosted by Princess Luo Jia for the Crown Princess. Should we still attend?” Ziqing probed.
“Go, why wouldn’t we?” A faint smile curved her lips, yet hidden within was an unignorable resolve.
“Not only will we go, but we will make this Perfume Tasting Banquet the stage for our Ningxiang Pills to shine brilliantly. We will make our scented pills the treasures that noble women in Jingdu’s nobility circle will compete to pursue.”
Hearing this, Ziqing furrowed her brows. Though countless worries filled her heart, fearing that this matter would not go as planned,
gazing at her own Princess’s determined and profound eyes, it finally transformed into a soft reply: “Yes, Princess.”
“Choose a suitable outfit for me. I want to attend the Perfume Tasting Banquet resplendent and with Ningxiang Pills.”
……
Princess’s Mansion.
Perfume Tasting Banquet.
The Princess’s Mansion is elegant and magnificent.
Meng Tingyue lightly stepped with her delicate steps, entering the banquet brimming with flowers.
At this time, numerous noble ladies and noble women, dressed in brocade and fine clothes, had already gathered inside the mansion.
Some admired the flowers among the pavilions and towers, others whispered beside the Bamboo Grove Paths, their brows and eyes smiling, showcasing their elegance.
Among this group of beautiful women, Meng Tingyue’s attire appeared exceptionally low-key. Her clothes were unassuming, yet elegant, perfectly complementing her peaceful temperament.
During this time, quite a few people approached her to chat.
She politely responded to each one.
Just then, a subtle yet clear sound came from the doorway.
Following this, a crisp “Princess Qing has arrived” broke through the air, falling melodiously into everyone’s ears.
Meng Qingjiao, like a fluttering butterfly, appeared, instantly becoming the focus of everyone’s attention.
Her clothes were dazzling and eye-catching, causing everyone to look and praise her.
Meng Qingjiao found this extremely pleasing. Her gaze was soft as she searched for Meng Tingyue among the assembled guests.
Finally, she discovered Meng Tingyue in a quiet corner.
Meng Tingyue’s clothing was simple, yet possessed a unique elegance, forming a stark yet harmonious contrast with the surrounding extravagance.
Seeing Meng Qingjiao wearing a simple and unadorned outfit, a subtle hint of smugness flashed in her eyes. She gracefully strolled to Meng Tingyue, softly calling out, “Elder Sister.”
The word “Elder Sister” was drawn out long and slightly affected, causing Meng Tingyue to involuntarily shiver.
Compared to Meng Qingjiao’s familiarity, Meng Tingyue’s response was exceptionally cold and distant: “Princess Qing.”
Meng Qingjiao noticed Meng Tingyue’s coldness. In her heart, she became even more certain that the poor performance of Ningxiang Pavilion’s business had caused Meng Tingyue’s gloomy mood.
Thus, she lightly moved her lotus steps, elegantly seating herself beside Meng Tingyue. “I heard that Elder Sister opened a shop selling scented ointment in West of the City. It seems the revenue is poor. Is Elder Sister unhappy because of this?”
“The business world is so cruel. Once the quality of goods is mediocre and cannot be recognized by customers, the shop will become deserted and face closure.”
“It just so happens that I also opened a shop selling scented pills today. If Elder Sister’s shop can no longer continue, you can talk to me. I am very willing to teach Elder Sister.”
As soon as these words fell, the Madams around curiously stepped forward, softly asking, “Is that Ningxiang Residence in South of the City opened by Princess Qing?”
“That Ningxiang Residence is indeed a small shop I manage. Madam Zheng, have you also heard of it?” Meng Qingjiao was filled with pride, her face showing just the right amount of surprise.
Upon hearing this, Madam Zheng’s eyes lit up with surprise. She softly said, “Indeed, I have heard of Ningxiang Residence. Unfortunately, when my servant rushed over, all the rare items were already sold out, which made me very regretful.”
After speaking, Madam Zheng pretended to be reproachful, her tone laced with familiarity, “If Princess Qing had mentioned that the shop was yours earlier, how could we have missed such a good opportunity? Princess, why are you so secretive? Could it be that you regard us as outsiders?”
Those around also gathered, chattering.
“To think that this unique shop was opened by Princess Qing! Even though my servant rushed over anxiously, he only managed to bring back one. Princess Qing, you are truly imaginative. How did you come up with the idea of making scented pills that can wash clothes?”
Hearing this, a gentle smile bloomed on Meng Qingjiao’s lips. “It was just a sudden idea, so I wanted to try it out. Unexpectedly, it really worked. Because I was unsure, I didn’t inform everyone in advance.”
“If you are interested, I happen to have some stock from the mansion here, and you can all try them.”
“I’ve already sent people to rush production. I believe that the shop will be restocked in two days. If you like them, you can purchase more at the shop.”
Ziqing brought people to bring out the Ningxiang Pills that had been prepared earlier.
Seeing this, the noble ladies and Madams present all asked their maids to grab some.
Meng Tingyue was thus squeezed out of the encirclement.
Her gaze inadvertently swept over Meng Qingjiao, who was surrounded by people, catching a trace of imperceptible smugness in the other’s eyes.
To this, Meng Tingyue simply smiled faintly, without lingering, and turned gracefully to leave this bustling place.
The Ningxiang Pills are indeed a wonderful item, able to make clothes emit a light and elegant fragrance for a long time, but the strict requirements for raw materials behind them are demanding.
These pills were created specifically to leave a fragrance on clothes and require close-fitting wear. The skin of noble ladies and Madams is as smooth as silk, and any inappropriate material could lead to unpredictable consequences.
In her previous life, when she tested the Ningxiang Pills herself, she experienced skin itching.
After an investigation, she discovered that one of the fragrances in the formula was the problem.
She then replaced that fragrance with a rarer and more expensive one.
This change certainly increased the value of Ningxiang Pills, but in the eyes of the noble ladies and Madams who value refined living, this luxury was a trivial matter.
If Meng Qingjiao used cheap and common materials, she would likely encounter the same problems as in her past life.
Imagine, if Meng Qingjiao had used readily available and inexpensive materials, she would likely have suffered the same fate as in her past life, repeating the same mistakes.
However, judging from the price of the Ningxiang Pills in her shop, it is not difficult to speculate that she probably used the cheaper fragrances.
Her elaborate publicity, bringing out so many Ningxiang Pills, if problems arise later, all these Ningxiang Pills will be wasted.
Furthermore, the Ningxiang Pills she produces later will also face the predicament of unsold goods and no one buying them.
