Xiao Li looked at Ji Cheng who was already seated with Zhao Ming, in anger. He again left her standing like this.

She held onto her dress tightly, leaving it to crumble.

Then she went to her seat, beside Ji Cheng without any expressions.

.....

Whereas Lu shi has already picked up the tray and started distributing to the other consorts, while thinking, ' I can't understand what Miss is thinking. How can she take away the gift that she has given to the Empress Dowager?'

The other Consorts hesitantly took the gifts that Lu shi was distributing. Only Consort Xie Mei and Xiao Li denied the gift.

Xie Mei said to Lu shi who was distributing the gift, " Hah. Now Empress Dowager didn't take the gift, so she is passing on to us. I don't want it. If the mother hasn't taken it, then it isn't worth it." she said arrogantly.

Lu shi looked at her and passed by her without saying anything. She doesn't care if she wanted or not.

Lu shi went to Xue Lang, the Consort, who complimented Zhao Ming before. She was the youngest and innocent of all the consorts.

Xue Lang smiled at Lu shi. Zhao Ming signaled Lu shi to give more boxes to Xue Lang because there were extra as Xiao Li and Xie Mei rejected.

And Xue Lang looked kind-hearted and also supported her earlier. So she felt, that she should give her more.

....

Wen Xu didn't look at the Zhao Ming. She sat straight, her eyes were cold.

She thought, ' Hah. It's better, she gave gifts to others. I don't want her trash gifts.'

At that time, the Consorts opened the gift boxes and started whispering.

Wen Xu heard the noise and turned to look at the other Consorts.

The consorts have opened the gift and was whispering to each other.

Everyone in the hall was curious to know what Zhao Ming has gifted.

At that time, a Consort came forward. It was Jia Shi. The Consort came into the palace after Xiao Li.

She is beautiful and also a princess from the R country. She was the daughter of the concubine's daughter but was very dear to her father.

She was the concubine's daughter, that's why Wen Xu does not favor her as much as she does Xiao Li.

Jia shi does not have a good relationship with Xiao Li. But she does not have a good relationship with Zhao Ming either.

They didn't talk much, that's why they were not close.

...

At that Banquet, not everyone has noticed Zhao Ming's changing expressions but she does.

She was seated beside Wen Xu and she had seen the changing expressions of Zhao Ming.

It was the first time that she has seen Zhao Ming smiling like that.

Seeing this, her lips also curved upwards.

She thought, ' She is much more than she looks.'

....

She stood up from her seat and came to the center. Ji Cheng looked at her and said, " What happened Consort Jia shi?"

She looked at him and asked, " Your majesty, I want to ask her highness about the gift. I don't know about it, so I want to know about it sot that I can use it correctly." she said plainly.

Other consorts also nodded.

Because when they opened the box, they found some red or pink-colored mixture in their boxes.

They thought it would be some kind of medicinal paste, but it does not smell like one.

The smell was very refreshing and the color was also very dark and the mixture was soft.

They were all confused about this, that's why they were asking each other about it.

They all have different kinds of colors. Some have red, pink, orange or some even have brown color( coffee color).

They never seen medicines in these pretty colors.

...

Ji Cheng turned to look at Zhao Ming. She looked at him and nodded.

Then Zhao Ming stood up and carefully went to Jia Shi.

Jia shi saw Zhao Ming coming towards her, though her walk was not as elegant as before, but there was something different in her.

Her face was more beautiful and beaming with confidence. That smile....completed her look.

Zhao Ming smiled at Jia shi and asked her for the box. Jia shi passed her the box.

Zhao Ming took the box and looked at the other consorts.

" I know you must be curious about the gift. So let me tell you about it." she paused and looked at Wen Xu with a smile.

Wen Xu and Xiao Li also looked at her, waiting for her to explain. They rejected her gift without even looking at it.

But now they were curious about it, seeing everyone's reactions.

Zhao Ming continued, " It's not any medicine. It's called lipstick or you can say a lip color? It is a kind of cosmetic that I have made."

Everyone looked at Zhao Ming with surprise, even Ji Cheng was also a little taken aback.

" It is used to apply on lips to give them a color. It will not only colors your lips but also makes them soft and beautiful. "

" I know all the Consorts here are beautiful, but this lipstick will enhance your beauty and give you a sense of confidence," she said gleefully.

For a moment she forgot that she was the Empress, not a marketing manager.

She has studied business and knows how to present the product. At this moment, she looked like, she was giving a presentation.

Everyone opened their boxes once again and looked at it. They were surprised to see something like this. They never expected that there would be something like this.

Then Jia shi asked Zhao Ming, " But we use rose petals and other things to get the tinge of color on our lips. Then why do we need this? "

Zhao Ming looked at her and smiled in acknowledgment, " You're right. You can get color from other things too. But why need this? I am sure, everyone sitting here has this question. Then let me explain. "

She looked at the other people in the hall and said, " You use rose petals or other things to color your lips. But the color will disappear in a few hours or sometimes not even an hour and it was not that impactful."

" But this will sustain the color on your lips for more than 6 hours. And not only that, it will give your lips enough moisture. This will make you look beautiful. "

" Consort Jia shi, look at me, doesn't my lips look better than before? Do you see any change in me? " she said with confidence.

Everyone looked at Zhao Ming and nodded. She was looking beautiful than before.

Jia shi looked at Zhao Ming and said, " You're right, Empress Zhao Ming. This gift will be helpful to us ladies. Thank you so much for the gift."

" I will use it well." she smiled as she said this.

Other consort also joined Jia Shi and thanked Zhao Ming.

Now they have forgotten their enmity with Zhao Ming. They want more of this thing... Lipstick.

They were all happy with their gifts, even Ji Cheng was also happy that they liked her gift.

Zhao Ming looked at everyone and then Jia shi, " It's nothing. I just wanted to make a heartfelt gift for her majesty. She was so beautiful and wanted to gift her something, that will make her more beautiful, but she didn't like my gift. Hope you will like it." she said with a bitter smile.

But Jia shi noticed the sarcasm in her words and flash of evilness in her eyes. She smiled and went to her seat.

Everyone was happy and other ladies in the banquet were looking at the consorts with the envious look.

But the three people were not happy at all.

It was Wen Xu, Xiao Li and Xie Mei.

Wen Xu looked at Zhao

When she heard Zhao Ming's words, she looked at her with regret. If she had known that it was something like this, she wouldn't have rejected it.

Even Xie Mei also rejected it, to curry favor with Xiao Li. But Zhao Ming has gifted something very precious.

There is nothing, like this in the which will make your lips color for a long while.

Everyone was happy besides them.

.