Chapter Seven, The Surprise of Consort Zhao
In his memory, Shen Ao was aware of past events. Seeing so many rewards laid out before him, he first fixed his gaze, then quickly shook his head and said, "Aunt, the rewards are too many; Ao'er does not deserve such bounty without merit"
This is also the reason why, during the summer, the concubines often bathe two to three times a day, or even more. Although no one can be certain which concubine the Emperor will choose to spend the night with, it is always prudent to be prepared. After all, aren't the concubines in the palace proud of being favored by the Emperor
Empress Zhao observed Shen Ao's expression with intent. Perhaps other things could deceive, but the eyes usually do not. When she saw that the other party's eyes only held surprise and no hint of greed, she nodded in satisfaction. Little did she know that for Shen Ao, wealth was not the sole purpose of life. With his abilities, making money was not a difficult task; as long as his status and position remained, it would be even simpler. Therefore, this mere two thousand taels of silver truly did not catch his eye. Little did she know that for Shen Ao, wealth was not the sole purpose of life. With his abilities, making money was not a difficult task; as long as his status and position remained, it would be even simpler. Therefore, this mere two thousand taels of silver truly did not catch his eye.
Aunt is naturally beautiful; the praise for the child is merely embellishment, truly undeserving of such commendation
Little did she know that this Shen Ao was no longer the same Shen Ao as before. She merely thought that Shen Ao had grown up, and happily said, "How could one receive rewards without merit? These goat milk soaps must surely be quite expensive, and Ao'er must have put in a lot of effort to acquire them."
Shen Ao quickly got up, and before he could speak, Zhao Fei on the other side had already said first: "Indeed, I have personally used this item once, and the effect is excellent. Ao'er, you are thoughtful."
Thinking of the meal, I also occasionally take a short bath and rest during the day. Since goat milk soap has such wonderful uses, it is better to give it a try. "Alright, then let A'er wait here for a moment."
Empress Zhao's expression changed repeatedly as Caiyue recounted the story, and she could not help but exclaim softly, "Is it really so?"
After bathing and changing clothes, and feeling the subtle elegance of her own fragrance, Cai Yue finally appeared in the main hall. She intended to serve the Empress during her meal first and discuss the matter of the goat milk soap later when there was time. Unexpectedly, the Empress had already caught a whiff of it. Seeing Shen Ao smiling silently, Cai Yue, with a light snort, walked over to Consort Zhao's side and whispered gently. She recounted her earlier feelings once again. Unexpectedly, the Empress had already caught a whiff of it. Seeing Shen Ao smiling silently, Cai Yue, with a light snort, walked over to Consort Zhao's side and whispered gently. She recounted her earlier feelings once again.
Isn't the constant contention merely for the sake of obtaining a bit more of divine grace
Empress Zhao is expressing her gratitude, and Shen Ao does not dare to feel complacent. He knows that whether he can live more freely in the future greatly depends on the support of Empress Zhao. It is said that the relationship between the inner palace and the outer court is inseparable. The common people are also aware of the power of whispered words. In this regard, Shen Ao cannot afford to be the slightest bit careless
Imagine, the Emperor arrives with great joy, only to leave disappointed due to the unpleasant odor emanating from the consort. What kind of feelings would that evoke? What consequences might ensue?
With a slight nod, Empress Zhao, who regarded Shen Ao as her own son, did not stand on ceremony. She rose and followed Cai Yue and the other palace maids to the inner chamber, where a maid had already prepared the bathtub, clean water, and other items.
With the goat milk soap, the already beautiful Consort Zhao became more confident, having greater opportunities to gain the Emperor's favor
As a loyal and valiant duke, Shen Ao enjoyed a high status. However, his monthly salary was only a little over 300 taels of silver. This time, he received a reward equivalent to half a year's salary, which clearly indicates that Empress Zhao was genuinely pleased. It is worth noting that although she often provided assistance to Shen Ao in the past, the usual amount was merely one or two hundred taels, with a maximum of five hundred taels of silver. There was no comparison to the substantial reward he received this time.
As the words fell, Cai Yueno beside her nodded and turned to leave. After a short while, when she returned, a eunuch followed behind her, holding a tray that contained more than twenty gold ingots, amounting to a total of two thousand taels of silver as a reward
Shen Ao's humility naturally brought great joy to Empress Zhao. For some reason, she always had a feeling that the Shen Ao before her seemed to have changed. However, she could not pinpoint exactly how he had changed. It must be said that a woman's intuition can sometimes be quite frightening.
Feeling the benefits of the goat milk soap, Caiyue recalled that Shen Aolai had arrived carrying two large cardboard boxes. She no longer held back and applied it all over her body, soaking for a while. If it weren't for the consideration that Empress Zhao needed someone to take care of her, she might not have gotten up for quite some time due to her comfort.
On scorching summer days, the human body tends to secrete more sweat. If not cleaned properly, it is inevitable that an unpleasant odor will emanate. While this may not be significant among ordinary folk, it becomes a serious issue when it concerns the concubines in the palace, who are always prepared to serve the Emperor.
Not long after, or perhaps the noble Consort Zhao was also thinking of Shen Ao, she returned to the main hall after bathing and changing her clothes for about half an hour. Before she arrived, a subtle and elegant fragrance wafted through the air, not pungent but rather gentle, making it very pleasant to the senses.
Maintaining a close relationship with Empress Zhao is the foundation of his existence, not to mention that this woman has been taking care of him since childhood; for this reason alone, it is worth putting in some effort.
Having experienced it, Caiyue nodded seriously and softly said: "Your Highness, the sun was quite intense this morning, and you must have perspired a little. Why not go take a bath now and see for yourself whether it is true or false?"
Shen Ao, who has always adhered to the principle of doing nothing if not done to the best, does not pursue the best, but rather seeks to achieve better.
Alright, Aor's intentions are known to the aunt. Come, let us appreciate it.
It is evident that Empress Zhao was also taken aback by Caiyue's words
The clever Caiyue understood that the goat milk soap must be a gift from Shen Ao to the Empress. She also intended to play a supportive role. After all, they were all the most trusted individuals of Consort Zhao and should unite and assist one another. More importantly, although Shen Ao often engaged in reckless behavior, he was genuinely sincere towards the Empress and showed great respect for those serving her in the palace. Additionally, Shen Ao was young and handsome, which naturally made everyone harbor no ill feelings towards him; they would always do their best to offer assistance when they could. More importantly, although Shen Ao often engaged in reckless behavior, he was genuinely sincere towards the Empress and showed great respect for those serving her in the palace. Additionally, Shen Ao was young and handsome, which naturally made everyone harbor no ill feelings towards him; they would always do their best to offer assistance when they could
Such a fine item as goat milk soap, not only had Lady Zhao never seen it before, but she had not even heard of it. From this alone, one can be certain that this item must be extremely expensive. The two thousand taels of silver not only reflect Shen Ao's filial piety but also his intention to avoid any loss.
"Everything is up to the aunt." A serene smile appeared on Shen Ao's face at the appropriate moment. His mission on this trip was to promote goat milk soap, and since he had not yet achieved his goal, he certainly would not leave. Moreover, he was also curious to see how Empress Zhao would react after using the goat milk soap