To verify Bai Sheng's conjecture about her parents' remains, Lu Ye directly procured two human corpses. One had been murdered, and the other shared the same cause of death as her parents.
He placed the two corpses in the most remote corner of the spatial dimension and observed their changes.
If the corpse that starved to death truly became fresher, he would remove it from the spatial dimension to see if its condition deteriorated. If it worsened, it would indicate that his parents could not leave the spatial dimension.
If neither corpse showed any change, it would suggest that a blood connection with Bai Sheng was necessary for any transformation to occur. After all, they were unaware of precisely when her parents' changes began; perhaps it was from the moment Bai Sheng became pregnant.
After the fourth uncle entered the spatial dimension, everyone at home began asking where he had gone. The house felt much emptier without the presence of the beloved fourth uncle.
The third uncle informed the family that they had found a renowned physician specializing in treating intellectual disabilities and had sent their fourth uncle for treatment.
Everyone was finally put at ease.
Seeing that everyone in the mansion was busy with their own affairs, Mei Fei also wished to become a useful person.
She decided to resume her long-lost蛊术 (gu shu - sorcery/witchcraft involving insects) and study medicine with Bai Sheng.
One day, as they were refining蛊药 (gu yao - medicinal preparations using insects) in the alchemy room in the rear courtyard, Xiao Gu suddenly rushed in with news: Princess Xin Yao had sent a maidservant to see Bai Sheng.
Bai Sheng and Mei Fei exchanged a confused glance. Mei Fei immediately donned her long veiled hat.
"Why is Princess Xin Yao's maidservant looking for me? Did she say what it was about?" Bai Sheng asked Xiao Gu.
Xiao Gu respectfully replied, "She didn't say explicitly, only that she had important matters to discuss with Madam, and it seemed she brought many gifts."
Bai Sheng nodded. "Xiao Gu, please have the palace maid wait in the reception hall of the front courtyard. I will be there shortly."
"Yes, Madam," Xiao Gu replied respectfully and turned to leave.
"Xin Yao must have a favor to ask of you," Mei Fei asserted. "Xin Yao is arrogant and haughty. For her to send a maidservant to meet a commoner of lower status, and with gifts, she must need something from you."
Bai Sheng frowned slightly. "I don't seem to have any leverage over her, do I?"
"We'll find out if we go," Mei Fei chuckled.
"Aunt Qing, are you planning to accompany me?" Bai Sheng raised an eyebrow.
Mei Fei nodded. "Of course. As long as I wear my veiled hat and don't speak, that maidservant definitely won't recognize me. Moreover, if Xin Yao has any tricks up her sleeve, I can help you."
Bai Sheng smiled, her eyes narrowed. "Alright, let's go and meet that maidservant together."
In the reception hall, Lu Qin sat composedly in a chair, leisurely sipping tea.
Bai Sheng and Mei Fei entered, with A Qiu following behind them.
Upon seeing Bai Sheng, Lu Qin immediately stood up and bowed to her. "Greetings, Manager Bai. I am Lu Qin, Princess Xin Yao's personal maidservant."
"Welcome, Miss Lu Qin, to my humble abode. May I know the purpose of your visit?" Bai Sheng returned the bow and then sat down on the main seats, one on each side of Mei Fei.
A Qiu stood behind Bai Sheng.
Lu Qin smiled. "Manager Bai, my mistress asked me to apologize to you on her behalf. Due to the malicious instigation and framing by Zhou Yanran and Dong Xue Rou, my mistress mistakenly apprehended you. I hope Manager Bai will be magnanimous and not hold a grudge against my mistress."
Bai Sheng smiled faintly. "Miss Lu Qin, you jest. I am not angry with the Princess. After all, the Princess was also a victim, and she holds a noble status. I, a mere commoner, would not dare to harbor resentment towards the Princess. Today, Miss Lu Qin, your visit to my humble abode is likely not just for an apology, is it?"
"Manager Bai is indeed quick-witted. Then Lu Qin will be direct. This time, the Princess has ordered me to come primarily to request Manager Bai's help in treating her face. If Manager Bai can heal my mistress's face, my mistress will surely reward you generously."
"Treating her face?" Bai Sheng was slightly taken aback. "Miss Lu Qin, is there some misunderstanding? I am merely knowledgeable in medicine, not skilled in plastic surgery. May I ask where you heard such false rumors?"
Lu Qin lowered her gaze, her lips twitching slightly. "To be frank, one of my mistress's other maidservants was shopping at 'Hong Fen Jia Ren' and discovered that the courtesan who had been disfigured by the Dong family had miraculously recovered her appearance."
"Which courtesan? And how would the Princess know that the courtesan was working at my establishment?" Bai Sheng asked with suspicion. Perhaps Xin Yao had overheard her conversation with Qin Qi Shu Hua outside the Dali Temple that day, and had therefore sent people to follow them.
A flicker of embarrassment crossed Lu Qin's face, which she quickly concealed. "It was the courtesan with the child. As she came from the Dong family, and my mistress used to visit the Dong family often, the maidservant remembered the woman's appearance."
"Oh, I see," Bai Sheng said, as if suddenly understanding. "However, the Princess might be overestimating me. Actually, I don't know how to treat faces. I merely used a rare medicinal paste that I obtained by chance. That paste has run out, and I have no more. Therefore, I apologize, Miss Lu Qin, I cannot help the Princess."
Lu Qin stared intently at Bai Sheng, her tone tinged with displeasure and threat. "Manager Bai, I believe you are aware of my mistress's temperament. She rarely begs others so humbly. If you anger her, I cannot guarantee what desperate actions she might take."
Bai Sheng smiled wryly. "Thank you for your concern, Miss Lu Qin. Even if your mistress intends to take my head, I still do not know how to treat faces. The Princess is of noble birth; I, a mere common wife, would not dare to tamper with her esteemed face. I apologize for making Miss Lu Qin's trip in vain today."
Seeing Bai Sheng's resolute attitude, devoid of any timidity, Lu Qin knew that her mission would not succeed today. However, she did not wish to offend Bai Sheng, as she was the Princess's only hope for healing her face.
The Princess's face was beyond the help of even the most skilled imperial physicians in the palace, leaving them with no choice but to seek assistance from this woman.
Lu Qin stood up, bowed to Bai Sheng, and spread her palms, pointing to the gifts on the table. She smiled. "Thank you for your hospitality today, Manager Bai. These are the finest silks and satins from the palace, along with a hundred-year-old ginseng and five hundred taels of silver. Please accept them as a token of our meeting."
Bai Sheng smiled and politely declined. "I cannot accept gifts without earning them. Such valuable tokens of introduction are beyond my capacity to accept. I trouble Miss Lu Qin to take them back."
With that, Bai Sheng gave A Qiu a look. A Qiu picked up the gift boxes and respectfully returned them to Lu Qin.
Lu Qin, carrying the gift boxes, bowed slightly to Bai Sheng, said, "Farewell," and left the house.
After Lu Qin left the Lu residence, Mei Fei looked at Bai Sheng and gave her a thumbs-up, smiling and praising, "Xiao Sheng, you are indeed strong. The first commoner in history to dare refuse Princess Xin Yao."
"The second," Bai Sheng replied with a hint of pride.
"Oh, who else?" Mei Fei asked with a look of keen interest.