Ghostly Fragrance [COMPLETED] [UNEDITED]

The Empress Dowager Visits

"Fangsu is sick?" The Empress Dowager and Lady Meng both were shocked, "We must prepare to visit the Chen family tomorrow! Servant prepare medicine and tonics that can nourish the body!" The Empress Dowager ordered her loyal servants to retrieve the best medicine and tonic so that she could visit Fangsu.

Lady Meng felt that Fangsu needed much warmer clothes since the Empress Dowager was preparing medicine and tonics. Preparing a gift was a must to win Fangsu over. Whilst the Empress Dowager was preparing her gift, Lady Meng went to a dressmaker shop to make winter clothes that could keep someone warm from the winter cold. Lined with fur that easily warm up when wore. There were three dresses that were make. A beautiful light lavender hanfu with silvery koi fish embroidery with white ripples that was reminiscent of Fangsu's water puppetry show. A light green hanfu with osmanthus embroidery that are scattered giving an illusion that the leaves were coming off the wearer's body. The finally one was a baby blue hanfu with white cloud embroidery so highlight Fangsu's unique features that somewhat resembles an immortal.

The gifts finished at night where Lady Meng carried the gifts in a beautifully wrapped box, "You don't even lend a hand for your poor weak grandmother." Lady Meng acted like a dramatic damsel in distress whilst pretending to lean on the wall for support.

A manly laughed echoed through the streets, "You are by no means a weak woman, grandma." Zhao Hui grabbed the package from his grandmother's hand and escorted her to the palace.

Lady Meng giggled. Both the grandson and grandmother pair chatted throughout the walk to the palace. Upon arriving at the palace, Zhao Hui waved goodbye to his grandmother before disappearing off.

Lady Meng walks with the present in hand until she reached her designated room where she stored the present on one of the shelves.

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In the morning, both the Empress Dowager and Lady Meng in noble clothes so that could visit the Chen Family in incognito, especially since the Empress Dowager was one of the pillars that held the country together, whilst Lady Meng was influential. With such powerhouses visiting an unknown figure of society cause Fangsu to be exposed to the ugly nature of nobles. But by going incognito it can protect both woman from any potential assassins.

They called an undercover carriage to help them load the gifts which were only two boxes, one with medicine and tonics and the other with clothes. They travelled to the isolated street where the Chen Household was located, but when they knocked on the door. No one answered.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Lady Meng knocked the door again, but still no one answered the door. They waited. But before they could knock on the door again, a loud neigh came from inside the Chen household. The front door opened to reveal a beautiful black horse who politely welcomed the two elderly women, "I'm surprised a horse is so well trained and polite like a steward." The Empress Dowager patted the horse, and Lady Meng carried the boxes into the house.

As the door closed. A meow from beneath where a small family of cats sat in front of the Empress Dowager and Lady Meng before leading them through the corridors of the house. The cats stopped in front of the door, scratching it until the door opened to reveal a sickly pale Fangsu who was surprised by the visit by the Empress Dowager and Lady Meng, "Your Majesty! Elder Meng! I'm sorry I was unable to greet you at the front door." Fangsu held her head in pain.

The Empress Dowager and Lady Meng quickly lead Fangsu in the bed, tucking her in like a child, "No worries, your health is the number one priority," The Empress Dowager brought out a medicinal tonic from the box of medicine and carefully fed the medicine to Fangsu who willing drank the bitter tonic.

Lady Meng opened her present to reveal beautifully designed hanfu that would keep the wearer warm, "The weather is getting colder," Lady Meng displayed the craftsmanship of the embroidery, "People say that this year's winter will be the coldest winter." The beautifully embroidery made Fangsu smile as she touched the smooth thread underneath her fingers.

Fangsu's finger moved over the embroidery, "Is this hanfu made from a seamstress called Gui Ying?" That statement caused Lady Meng to be stunned shocked as she nodded, affirming Fangsu's statement.

Lady Meng scratches her nose, "How did you know that? The seamstress' workshop is still relatively new," Questioning Fangsu's ability to identify an individual through the embroidery.

Fangsu smiled as she folded the three hanfu neatly into a pile, "I can recognise Gui Ying's embroidery, since she was once a employee." The beautiful hanfu that was neatly folded was placed on the bedside table, "I should visit her later." Fangsu adjusted the pillow against her back propping herself up. The cats jumped into Fangsu bed, snuggling against the warmth of the bed.

Both the Empress Dowager and Lady Meng took care of Fangsu for the whole day, which caused the entire Imperial to panic due to the disappearance of the Empress Dowager and Lady Meng. However, the Empress Dowager's servant that remained at the Palace reassured the servants of the Emperor of her whereabouts. The reassurance calmed the raging panic but it also spark interest of the Empress Dowager and Lady Meng destination.

The Empress Dowager changed the wet cloth on Fangsu's head, gently caressing Fangsu's head, "Why do you hide your beautiful ash grey hair?" The soft smooth ash grey hair that was in the hands of the Empress Dowager was beautiful and unique, quite unlike the normal hair colour the majority of the population had.

Fangsu looked at her hair that was over her shoulder, "Grandpa worries that I would stand out too much and be outcasted by nobility." As she began braiding it into one big braid, tying it off with a beige ribbon, "Even though I'm from the Chen family, gossips of the masses is much more powerful and damaging than anything else." Fangsu hugged a silk covered pillow, burying her face into the soft fabric.

Lady Meng patted Fangsu's head, "Your grandpa cares for you dearly," Laughing at the sweet child understanding towards her grandpa's actions, "I can imagine what your grandpa would do to your future husband to be," An image of Fangsu wearing a red wedding dress and a grandpa breathing fire holding a sword to chase down the husband to be.

All the three ladies laughed at the image which helped liven up the mood, soon the day was getting dark as the sun dipped into the darkness, revealing the bright moon that shone brilliant pitch-black sky along with the glittering sparkles of the stars. The creaking of doors opening signaled the arrival of Fangsu's grandpa who was surprised by the appearance of the Empress Dowager and Lady Meng in Fangsu's bedroom, "Nuan Ning! Lady Meng! Why are you two here!" Fangsu's grandpa quickly bowed and gave Fangsu a bowl of plain congee with some eggs, fermented bean paste and some pickles.

Fangsu began eating the food, not caring whether she ate in her bed or not. Food is not suppose to be wasted. As Fangsu ate the congee, it made her miss her mother's congee where there was salted duck eggs, pork floss, pork belly, fermented bean paste and some oily bread. It was something Fangsu missed very much. Fangsu didn't realise how much she missed her mother and siblings that it bought tears to her eyes.

Everyone in the room panicked when Fangsu began crying. Both the Empress Dowager and Lady Meng gave Fangsu tissues to wipe the tears away but the tears kept falling. Fangsu's grandpa hugged Fangsu tightly, "Do you miss them?" Rubbing Fangsu's back to comfort her.

However, Fangsu wiped her tears, forcing herself to stop crying, "I just want to be alone right now." Fangsu turned her away from the three adults that were present in the room. All three of them left Fangsu alone in the dark room.