Chapter 123 Have You Thought About What You Want in the Future?…

Chapter 123 Have You Ever Thought About Your Future?

Bai Xiuming’s arrival didn't disrupt A Chan’s plans in the slightest. She closed the shop early, bundled herself and Chen Hui tightly, and headed to the woodshed with hammers to smash stones.

While whole pieces of black firestone could be used, they were too rough and less effective. They needed to be processed to become more stable and enhance their potency.

Black firestone resembled pebbles, but was entirely black and not very hard—a few hammer strikes could shatter it.

After Chen Hui smashed the black firestone, A Chan ground the smaller fragments into powder. She collected the powder, mixed it with mermaid oil and cedarwood shavings, and lit it.

A whole piece of black firestone was fire-resistant, but the powdered form, when mixed with mermaid oil, became highly combustible.

After burning for most of the day, the powder turned from black to light gray. The manual stated this ash had superior water-absorbing properties compared to the powder and was more targeted, having no effect on the flesh of living creatures.

To verify this, A Chan brought out a live chicken recently delivered from the estate, sprinkling ash on its feet. The chicken clucked, shook its feet, and continued pecking at the vegetable leaves.

Next, she took a piece of chopped chicken meat and a small portion of beast flesh bought from the hunting shop, sprinkling ash on both.

The two pieces of meat gradually shriveled—the chicken meat at a slower pace, while the beast flesh, being more reactive, dried faster.

After this quick test, A Chan poured the prepared juice of the sand pear tree into the ash. Sand pear juice dispersed easily but was also readily absorbed by human skin. Stirring with a silver hairpin, the two substances interacted and soon solidified into a translucent, amber-like substance.

This "amber" still needed to be steeped in mermaid oil and heated for a day to fully integrate the black firestone ash and sand pear juice.

Once the "amber" was processed, it would be ground into powder again and blended into fragrant powder, thus completing her specially crafted incense.

After processing, the incense powder would burn like ordinary incense to regular folks. But if someone had another’s skin on their face, they had only themselves to blame.

Making the incense powder took three days in total. To be safe, A Chan prepared four portions.

On the fourth morning, frost coated the streets, and the usual flow of pedestrians was significantly reduced. Those out early were either workers heading to their jobs or vendors busy setting up their stalls.

Occasionally, someone hurried past, bundled up in their coats as if to keep warm.

Lately, Chen Hui had still been drinking beast blood, but its effects on her were no longer as intense as before. She no longer slept through the entire night, often waking by dawn.

The change in temperature didn’t affect her at all. She splashed her face with well water, tidied up, and when the time was nearly dawn, she went to the front to open the shop.

The night before, A Chan had mentioned craving sugar cakes from the Zhang family in Yongping Lane. Chen Hui had planned to buy some for her while she was awake early, but as soon as she stepped out, she saw someone standing outside.

It was a woman with an unfamiliar face, but Chen Hui didn’t rely on looks to recognize people.

She approached the woman and said softly, "Master Yu?"

"You can recognize me?" Master Yu spoke, her voice completely different from before.

Chen Hui thought to herself, *no wonder she’s called "Master Yu"—she truly has unique skills.*

"I’m not like most people. I don’t rely on sight," Chen Hui explained.

Master Yu nodded, then said apologetically, "I’m sorry for coming so early. I just couldn’t sleep."

She had arrived right after curfew ended.

"It’s no trouble at all," Chen Hui replied calmly. "A Chan won’t wake up anytime soon. Have you had breakfast yet, Master Yu?"

"Not yet."

"Perfect. I was just about to go to Yongping Lane to buy sugar cakes. Would you like to join me?" Chen Hui suggested, not wanting to leave her waiting outside.

She added, "The sugar cakes there have a crispy shell and a fragrant filling. Paired with a bowl of spicy broth, they’re quite delicious."

Master Yu, who had no appetite earlier, found herself feeling hungry at the description.

After a brief hesitation, she nodded. "Alright."

So, she went with Chen Hui to buy the sugar cakes and had a bowl of spicy broth beside the shop. The soup was spicy, chasing away the chill.

After they finished eating, Chen Hui carried the sugar cakes as they walked back together.

By then, the sky was growing lighter—dawn was approaching.

Walking through the bustling streets, Master Yu’s unease faded.

When they returned to Changping Lane, Chen Hui led Master Yu into the shop and went to the backyard.

She knocked on A Chan’s door and waited until she heard a groggy voice answer, "Hui Niang, I’m not awake yet."

"Get up. Didn’t you say you wanted sugar cakes? If you don’t get up now, they’ll be cold."

"It’s fine. I’m not picky." Late risers weren’t picky eaters.

Chen Hui gave a soft laugh and stopped teasing her. "Master Yu is here, waiting for you outside."

The room fell silent for a moment before A Chan’s voice came through, much clearer now. "Help me keep our guest company first. I’ll be right out."

A Chan sat on her tiger-skin rug, dressing herself, still snug and warm.

After a quick wash in her room, she went to the front.

The shop wasn’t open yet, and with the sky still dim, the shop was dimly lit. Master Yu, now with a different face, sat in a chair. At first glance, A Chan almost didn’t recognize her.

"Master Yu?" A Chan approached, eyeing the stranger in surprise.

Master Yu stood and said, "I thought it’d be wiser to appear here with a different face."

When A Chan had first proposed the plan, Master Yu had been filled with excitement, but afterward, she worried—if she were discovered, it wouldn’t matter for her, but she didn’t want to implicate A Chan.

"Master Yu is very thorough."

A Chan knew why she had come so early and skipped the pleasantries. Instead, she went behind the counter and pulled out three small porcelain jars of sealed fragrant powder from the cabinet below.

Master Yu stood and took the bottles, about to open one when A Chan stopped her.

"This fragrant powder has no effect on ordinary people, but it’s best if you don’t touch it directly. If it works on her, it’ll work on you too."

Seeing Master Yu lower her hand, A Chan continued, "Use these three portions over three separate occasions. The first two can be at any time—just simply burn them normally. But the third should be used one to two hours before the palace banquet begins."

Master Yu listened carefully, nodding along, without mentioning how demanding the instructions were.

A Chan had already handled the hardest part. If she couldn’t manage the rest, how could she talk about revenge?

"What will happen after using the fragrant powder?" Master Yu asked.

"The first two times, she’ll probably just feel some itchiness on her face. After the third time, that layer of skin will die off." A Chan smiled, imagining the scene. "Her face will fall off."

Master Yu laughed too, but her smile gradually faded. Her heart ached, but she could no longer shed tears.

Over a decade had passed, and in the end, the ones helping her were near-strangers who owed her nothing.

She stood up and bowed formally to A Chan. "Thank you for coming to my aid, miss. May I know your name?"

A Chan accepted her gesture before replying, "My name is Ji Chan, but you can call me A Chan."

"A Chan," Master Yu murmured the name twice before introducing herself. "My original name was Bai Yuan, but that name was taken from me. Later, I was given the name Yu An, which I thought meant 'peace in what remains of my life.' Now, I realize it might have been meant as a reminder for me to stay obedient in my remaining life."

"Regardless of its meaning, it really isn’t a good name," A Chan said bluntly. "Have you ever considered changing it?"

Master Yu was momentarily puzzled. "Change it?"

A Chan rephrased her question for clarity. "After the Fake County Princess is exposed, have you thought about your future?"

"My future?" Master Yu drifted into thought. She had indeed considered it.

She once imagined that after she had her revenge, she would leave the capital and start anew in a place where no one knew her.

She was no longer the County Princess she once was. She had ways to earn a living and had saved up plenty of silver. Her life wouldn’t be too difficult.

But could she truly leave the capital?

After causing such an uproar at the Emperor’s birthday banquet, how could His Majesty not launch a thorough investigation?

Master Yu snapped out of her reverie and said to A Chan, "To be honest, I’ve even imagined the moment when the truth comes out—when I’m brought before the Emperor, and my parents and eldest brother see my faceless self. His Majesty might take mercy on me and spare me. I might even be welcomed back as my parents’ daughter. But I... am no longer Bai Yuan. Nothing can go back to the way it was."

A Chan pondered this. Master Yu’s speculation was plausible. At the same time, she detected a cold detachment in Master Yu’s words.

"You don’t want to be found and taken back?"

"No, I don’t," Master Yu answered without hesitation. "I only want to see my enemies die horribly. I don’t want to face my former family, hear their thoughts, or let anyone know what I’ve become."

"Then choose a new name for yourself and a face you prefer," A Chan suggested.

Master Yu touched her face. "But even if I leave the city, they’ll find me."

She never doubted the Bright Mirror Bureau’s capabilities. They would eventually trace everything back to her, and this face that can be removed at any time would be undeniable evidence. She could never fool them.

"Don’t worry, I can help you evade them. After the final dose of incense powder, if you don’t want to be found, come to me."

"But that would get you in trouble," Master Yu said hesitantly.

A Chan shook her head. "As long as they can’t find you, you won’t get me in trouble."

She twisted the ring on her finger absently. With or without Master Yu, Bai Xiuming would eventually point the finger at her.

But suspicion alone wasn’t proof—unless that man captured and subjected her to torture.

Perhaps it was A Chan’s confident tone that dispelled Master Yu’s doubts.

"Alright," she agreed.

A Chan smiled faintly and continued casually, "Recently, I overheard customers saying how chilly it’s been, and they’ve started using hand warmers early. Coincidentally, the incense powder I gave you can be used inside a hand warmer."

Master Yu was momentarily stunned before understanding dawned on her.

Her eyes reflected complex emotions. "I truly don’t know how to thank you enough."

Using the incense powder on Han Xiaotong wouldn’t be difficult for the first two times—the hard part will be the final dose. Yet A Chan had already worked out a solution for her.

"I’m just throwing out ideas. Whether this succeeds depends entirely on you."

"It will work."