Resplendent – Chapter 518

Chapter 518 – Princess Consort Rong

“See, you didn’t tell me! You don’t treat me like a friend at all!” Shangguan Fei pretended to be annoyed when she saw Gu Ye still hesitating. “If you’re going to be so distant with me, how am I supposed to have the nerve to ask you for medicine in the future?”

Seeing her so straightforward, Gu Ye finally opened up. She explained her plan to build a pharmaceutical factory and that she had her eye on the manor from Princess Consort Rong’s dowry. She just wanted Prince Tai to inquire. Whether it worked out or not, it was ultimately up to the Princess Consort.

Hearing this,Prince Tai straightened his slouched shoulders and pounded his chest, confidently saying, “Don’t worry. It’s just a manor. Mother adores me; if I ask, it’s done in a single word. Besides, Gu Pharmaceuticals opening a factory in the capital is a great thing. With Mother’s temperament, she certainly won’t be stingy over a little manor.”

Gu Ye smiled to herself, feeling reassured. “Actually, I just wanted Sister Fei and brother-in-law to help ask. If Princess Consort really can’t part with it, I can look for another place…”

“No need. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure this gets done!” Prince Tai said, taking full responsibility.

In Gu Ye’s mind, Prince Tai had always been a bit unreliable; she only believed half of what he said. Her gaze turned to Shangguan Fei.

Shangguan Fei nodded at her and seconded, “Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn’t mess this up.”

Only then did Gu Ye relax. She had been worried that Prince Tai’s mischievous streak might jeopardize the mother-son bond with the Princess Consort, putting Sister Fei in a difficult position. As the saying goes, everything has its vanquisher. Prince Tai could still listen to Sister Fei when it mattered.

Shangguan Fei and Prince Tai stayed in the manor only briefly before leaving. Prince Tai took Gu Ye’s matters very seriously as his future ‘happiness’ depended entirely on her medicines. Not a single coin was paid for the special new medicine she had made for him this time. Partly it was out of respect for his wife, and partly it was because of that manor.

The couple left the Duke’s Manor and went straight back to Prince Rong’s Manor. When Princess Consort Rong heard that her son had returned from the manor in the outskirts, she quickly invited them into the courtyard.

Having not seen her youngest son for more than half a month, the Princess Consort reluctantly let go of his hand, scrutinizing him from head to toe with reddened eyes. “You’ve darkened… and slimmed down…”

Prince Tai hurriedly rolled up his sleeves, flexing the tiny muscles on his arms, and said with a smile, “Mother, look! I’m stronger now. I’ve been following the doctor’s orders every day: running, climbing mountains, and eating a balanced diet. My waist isn’t weak, my legs aren’t soft, I’m full of energy. If you don’t believe me, I can run a lap around this garden for you, without changing color or losing breath…”

“Really? So that means the medicine worked!” Prince Tai was the Princess Consort’s youngest son, conceived when she was in her thirties. She had always cherished him as she would her own eyes, never speaking harsh words to him, which was why he had been spoiled into the most infamous playboy in the capital.

Princess Consort Rong had long passed the age of fifty, yet thanks to careful upkeep, her hair was completely black with no strands of white, and her face only bore a few fine lines at the corners of her eyes. She looked at least ten years younger than her actual age.

Prince Tai smiled and said, “How could the pills from Gu Pharmaceutical not work? But recently, the medicine hasn’t been helping my condition much. That’s why I came back today.”

“What? They’re not working anymore? But it was working quite well at first. Oh dear, oh dear… what should we do now?” The medicine for her youngest son was expensive, but its effects had been obvious. 

Since Princess Consort Rong had brought a substantial dowry, she never skimped on his medicine. Yet hearing him say this suddenly made her anxious. “Could it be that the batch we bought this time was adulterated?”

Prince Tai hurriedly shook his head. “Impossible! Do you know from whom this medicine came from?”

“Who? In the capital, it’s only Jimin Pharmacy and Baicao Pharmacy that sell Gu Pharmaceutical pills. I’ve heard that the owner of Tongren Pharmacy brought lavish gifts to visit the Gu family in Yan City every time, only to return empty-handed. Gu’s medicine is truly hard to get.” The Princess Consort touched her own face.

Lately, whenever she went out, many noblewomen commented on her rosy complexion and excellent health, saying she looked younger. She knew this was all thanks to the Jade Dew Beauty Pills. Unfortunately, there were only three days’ worth left, and even if she queued to buy more, she didn’t know when her turn would come.

“Mother, if Gu Pharmaceuticals could open a factory in the capital and expand production three or fivefold, their medicine output would increase exponentially. Then we in the capital would truly benefit! No more relying on trips to Yan City to get medicine!” Prince Tai moved behind the Princess Consort and dutifully began massaging her shoulders.

Princess Consort Rong laughed at his fanciful idea. “The Gu factory is running perfectly well in Yan City. Why would they expand to the capital? You, always dreaming up wild ideas!”

Prince Tai saw his mother reaching for her teacup and quickly handed it to her, attending to her more carefully than a maid would. “Why is that impossible? The pharmacist behind Gu Pharmaceutical also came to the capital this time to take part in the Great Pharmacists Convention’s assessment. She only just obtained her seventh-level pharmacist qualification the day before yesterday. She’ll continue on to the eighth and ninth-level assessments in the future.”

“Even if she passes Level 9, she’d still have to return to Yan City! Her home and the factory she worked so hard to establish is all there. No one would abandon a fledgling factory and put in all that effort to develop it in the capital. If she comes, it’ll be years later at the earliest.” Princess Consort Rong, though somewhat confused when it came to raising her youngest son, was otherwise quite sharp.

Prince Tai chuckled smugly. “You probably didn’t realize that the pharmacist of Gu Pharmaceutical is an adopted child of the Gu family. She came to the capital and found her biological parents. Do you think she’d go back?”

“Really? What a coincidence! They say pharmacists throw themselves into their work, focus entirely on their craft, and are pure of heart. Could she really be fooled into returning?” The fame of Gu Pharmaceutical had long spread throughout the capital. Surely no one would exploit the pharmacist’s origins to fabricate a scene of reunion. 

Having Gu Pharmaceutical under one’s control would be an enormous advantage. Princess Consort Rong couldn’t help but start scheming.

“Mother, if you knew who the pharmacist’s real parents are, you wouldn’t think that way!” Prince Tai laughed slyly, clearly pleased with himself. “Take a guess, who adopted this pharmacist?”

“Let me guess? It must be someone we know. Could it be a prominent family in the capital? Hmph… but even then, there’s no way to prevent false claims. After all, there are plenty of fallen aristocratic families in the capital. In order to maintain their face and honor, they might cook up all sorts of schemes.” Princess Consort Rong held great disdain for such pretentious acts by certain noble families.