"Miss, to be honest, the ones I mentioned earlier aren't even the best," Xiqiu said, leaning in closer.
"Oh? Then who is the best?" Lixia asked, her curiosity piqued.
"The former Crown Prince, now known as Prince Kang! He is the Emperor's eldest legitimate son and the Empress's only child. The Emperor used to adore him. He was sent to the military for training at twelve and was invincible on the battlefield by fifteen. Miss, you have no idea... back then, the women of the Capital nearly crushed the most popular restaurants just to catch a glimpse of him as he passed!"
Xiqiu pouted as she saw Lixia's skeptical expression. "It's true! He rode alongside our General! He wore black silk robes embroidered with silver dragons, and he had eyes as deep as a calm lake. He was noble, cold, and rarely smiled. People said his skin was as fine as porcelain despite the harsh military life. But two years ago, on the way back to the Capital after a victory, he was betrayed by a close associate..."
"Now, Prince Kang wears a terrifying mask and is confined to a wheelchair. After he lost the use of his legs, the Emperor stripped him of his title as Crown Prince and named him Prince Kang instead. He hasn't left his manor since."
Xiqiu sighed. "Even Miss Beiye Yinman, who used to admire him openly, has turned her gaze toward Prince Su. People say she couldn't accept a crippled husband, regardless of his past glory."
"So, the 'First Talent' is quite practical," Lixia remarked.
"There's more," Hongshang added. "A servant once tried to peek under his mask while he was sleeping. They were found paralyzed with fear the next morning and haven't spoken a word since."
Lixia smiled. She was skeptical of such supernatural claims. In the royal family, brilliance was often a death sentence; Prince Kang's downfall was likely a result of being too dazzling for his rivals' comfort. However, she had more pressing matters than royal gossip.
The Pharmaceutical Lab
"Hongshang, how is the pharmacy coming along?"
"It's almost finished, Miss. A day or two more."
Lixia realized she needed to start preparing her products. In this era, ready-made medicine was rare. Patients had to boil bitter herbs for hours—a process that was labor-intensive and difficult, especially for children. She decided to create Proprietary Chinese Medicines in the form of pills.
Her first project was Ba Xian Guo (Eight-Immortal Fruit), a traditional remedy for soothing itchy throats and clearing phlegm. Since Bergamot wasn't available, she had Hongshang fetch Grapefruit from the market as a substitute. She used her new iron stove to dry the ingredients quickly.
Over the next few days, with her two maids assisting her, Lixia produced over a dozen types of medicine:
Water-Honey Pills: Using high-quality millet and honey as a binder.
Jin Suo Gu Jing Wan (Golden Lock Pills): Her version of a traditional tonic for strengthening the body's essence.
Gynecological Suppositories: A highly innovative product for the time. She used sterilized cotton soaked in herbal decoctions, wrapped in fine gauze, and attached with a small string for easy removal.
Lixia knew that ancient women often suffered in silence from female ailments because they were too embarrassed to see male doctors. Her ready-made treatments would be a godsend for them.
The Cartoon Success
One afternoon, Hongshang returned from the pharmacy with a small parcel. "Miss, Lady Leng asked me to give this to you."
Lixia opened the silk handkerchief. Her eyes lit up with joy. On the fine fabric, Leng Xue had perfectly embroidered the Cartoon A'Mu Lixia had sketched. The lines were delicate, and the character looked lively and incredibly cute.
"My sister-in-law's needlework is truly unparalleled," Lixia laughed. "If we put this on pillows and gowns, we won't have to worry about the competition at all!"