The female anchor turned into the dean of an ancient academy

Chapter 277 The Queen Mother's First Beauty Treatment

The members of the Qiming Group each displayed their talents, like farmers sowing seeds, spreading the seeds of rumor to every corner of the city. Some members disguised themselves as idle tea drinkers in teahouses and taverns, tea bowls in one hand, fans in the other, seemingly casually chatting with their neighbors while quietly spreading shocking stories about Concubine Shu.

"Hey, have you heard? The Concubine Shu is so cruel! A few days ago, a palace maid accidentally broke her teacup. Guess what? The palace maid was beaten to death!" A team member lowered his voice in a mysterious manner, arousing the curiosity of the people around him.

"Is it true? So cruel?" another "tea drinker" asked cooperatively.

"It's absolutely true! My cousin's aunt's niece works in the palace and saw it with her own eyes!" The team member assured confidently, spitting heavily.

Some team members dressed up as small vendors walking around the streets, shouting and selling goods while "inadvertently" revealing the "secrets" of Concubine Shu.

"Fresh fruits and vegetables! Just picked from the palace. This kind of honeydew melon is the favorite of Concubine Shu!" The hawker's shouting attracted many customers.

"This melon is so expensive. Can Concubine Shu afford to eat it every day?" an aunt asked curiously.

"Hey, you don't know, the cost of one meal for Concubine Shu is enough for us ordinary people to eat for a year! I heard that she uses milk to bathe and uses morning dew to wash her face!" The peddler vividly described Concubine Shu's extravagant life, and everyone was stunned.

Some members of the group even went wild, fabricating all sorts of bizarre rumors. They claimed that Concubine Shu used infant placentas to maintain eternal youth, a terrifying claim; that her pet dogs were dressed in silk and satin, fed delicacies from land and sea, and even had dedicated servants to tend them; and that Concubine Shu was secretly collaborating with foreign officials and plotting a rebellion, intent on overthrowing the imperial power.

In addition, the Qiming Group also arranged for some members to play storytellers on the streets of the city, and compiled Shufei's "crimes" into wonderful storytelling, which attracted a large number of listeners.

"Speaking of the Empress Shufei, she was originally a woman of humble origin, but she used her beauty and means to seduce the emperor and became a phoenix. But instead of being grateful for the emperor's grace, she even intensified her oppression of the people and exploited the villagers. Her crimes are truly heinous!" The storyteller narrated the story passionately, and the onlookers were filled with righteous indignation and wished to tear the Empress Shufei into pieces.

Other team members transformed themselves into "informed people" on the streets, spreading all kinds of gossip in a mysterious manner.

"Have you heard? To consolidate her own position, Consort Shu secretly persecuted the other concubines, even resorting to witchcraft!"

"Is this true? This is so scary!"

"A distant relative of mine works in the palace and heard Concubine Shu curse the other concubines with his own ears. What she said was terrifying!"

These rumors were carefully compiled and spread by the members of the Qiming Group. They spread rapidly like a virus and penetrated every corner of the city. Various versions of rumors emerged one after another, and it was difficult to distinguish the truth from the false, which made people's disgust towards Concubine Shu deepen.

The wind was howling and the grass was trembling. Cen Jiexiao and Chen Zigui's plan was progressing step by step, wrapping Shufei like a spider web. Just as the net was about to close, an imperial decree sounded like thunder in Cen Jiexiao's ears.

Empress Dowager Li, the woman who lived in seclusion but controlled the harem and even the court, suddenly summoned her.

The moment the imperial edict arrived, Cen Jiexiao's heart trembled, a chill running down her spine. She gripped the bright yellow silk cloth, feeling the chill in her fingertips. Was this sudden summons a blessing or a curse? What was Empress Dowager Li up to? She was baffled.

"This...what's the matter that the Queen Mother summoned me suddenly?" Cen Jiexiao muttered to herself, frowning and feeling uneasy.

She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. Now that things had come to this, she could only deal with the situation head-on.

After a quick wash and dressing, Cen Jiexiao deliberately changed into a simple and elegant dress, trying to appear understated and reserved. She carefully examined herself in the bronze mirror, ensuring that every detail was impeccable. Only then, with trepidation, did she embark on the long journey to Fengling Palace.

Fengling Palace was resplendent with gold and jade, carved beams and painted buildings, and filled with fragrant aromas. However, beneath this luxurious appearance, a suffocating sense of oppression permeated the air.

Cen Jiexiao entered the palace and saw Empress Dowager Li reclining on a phoenix couch, her magnificent phoenix robe accentuating her elegant demeanor. Her bright red nails tapped the armrests, creating a crisp sound. Her shrewd eyes, sharp as a hawk's, scrutinized Cen Jiexiao, sending a chill down her spine.

"I heard that Miss Cen has become a prominent figure in the Great Zhou recently. I have also read the article in the newspaper. Her writing is sharp and her insights are unique. The young people are truly formidable." Empress Dowager Li spoke slowly. Her voice did not express any emotion, but carried an invisible pressure.

Cen Jiexiao groaned inwardly. Wasn't it obvious that the Queen Mother's words were full of hidden meanings, a veiled attack on someone else's mind? She knew full well that serving the emperor was like living with a tiger, and dared not neglect him in the slightest. She quickly replied, "Your Majesty, you are too kind. I am but a commoner, and the articles I wrote are just folk tales, meant to make you laugh."

"A folk tale? The face of the fox spirit in this story is somewhat similar to that of some people." Empress Dowager Li chuckled with a hint of sarcasm in her tone.

Cen Jiexiao's heart tightened. This old witch was indeed coming for Concubine Shu! She pretended to be calm and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, you are joking. The vixen I wrote about is just a fictional image and cannot be taken seriously."

Unexpectedly, Empress Dowager Li did not pursue the matter further. Instead, she changed the subject and asked, "Miss Cen, I have heard that you are quite knowledgeable about the art of maintaining youthful appearance. Could you please enlighten me on a few points?"

Cen Jiexiao was stunned. What was going on? She had originally thought this was a Hongmen Feast and was prepared to deal with all kinds of difficulties, but she didn't expect Empress Dowager Li to be so polite to her.

Despite her skepticism, Cen Jiexiao patiently explained modern skincare concepts and some simple maintenance techniques to the Empress Dowager. She discussed everything from cleansing, moisturizing, and sun protection to dietary adjustments, and even mentioned modern medical aesthetics technology, leaving the Empress Dowager Li stunned.

Empress Dowager Li, after all, had been in charge of the harem for years. She'd seen it all. Palace secrets and anecdotes were as commonplace to her as the daily grind of ordinary folks. While novel, the skincare concepts Cen Jiexiao described weren't entirely incomprehensible. She inquired, curiously, "I understand the concept of 'cleaning'; washing your face daily with plain water is enough. But what does 'moisturizing' mean?"

Cen Jiexiao explained, "Moisturizing means keeping your skin hydrated, just like a flower after a spring rain."