This approach was something she had pondered for a long time before deciding on. As long as the two of them coordinated well, it would be foolproof.
Lin Yuwei was doing something like this for the first time and immediately became nervous.
"It's alright, I've got everything under control," Feng Jin reassured her, patting Lin Yuwei's hand. Then, she pulled her down and gestured for Lin Yuwei to begin.
After a long period of mental preparation, it all crumbled as soon as they were to perform. Lin Yuwei stammered slightly, "Sister, my... my fine lines on my face..."
Feng Jin was stunned. How was this worse than their rehearsal? She had to rely on herself at this critical moment. "The fine lines on your face have faded quite a bit, especially around your eyes, which are as smooth as they were when you were young. You must continue using the skin nourishment water I gave you."
With Feng Jin's guidance, Lin Yuwei's performance improved significantly. Their back-and-forth attracted the attention of many around them.
Some of the more beauty-conscious women couldn't resist and gathered around, "Your Highness, what is this skin nourishment water you were just talking about?"
"It's nothing, just something Sister Feng Jin gave me..."
"Yuwei!" Feng Jin quickly interrupted, giving Lin Yuwei a meaningful look.
Lin Yuwei immediately understood and tried to smooth things over, "Actually, it's nothing. We were just chatting casually."
The more they tried to conceal it, the more it piqued people's curiosity.
"Dear sister, don't be so secretive. If you have something good, you should share it with your sisters."
"Yes, sister, you've already given it to Princess Consort, don't be stingy with us."
"Sister, please tell us quickly so we can see it too."
Humans are truly fickle creatures. Not long ago, they were looking down on her and mocking her, but now they were calling her "sister" and "dear sister," saying whatever came to their minds.
Feng Jin concealed her expression, smiling faintly. "Actually, this isn't a secret. It's just that... I'm worried that if I reveal it, it might be exploited by those with ill intentions, and that would be terrible."
"Sister, you tell us first. With everyone here, no one will dare to bully you."
"Princess Wang is right. My dear sister, just tell us the truth. We sisters are here for you."
These women were all of no small standing. The one in the blue long dress was the Princess Consort of Prince Jin, who was Emperor Xuanwen's only surviving brother. The one in the pink peony embroidered long dress was the legitimate eldest daughter of Prince Pingyang, and nearby was the Duke of Qin...
Any one of them was an extraordinary figure. Feng Jin had come precisely to build good relationships with them.
The quickest way for women to bond was by discussing how to make themselves more beautiful, which happened to be Feng Jin's forte.
"Ladies, as you know, I was framed by my sister for selling counterfeit medicine that caused death. Although I was protected by heaven and my name was cleared, I was still worried about causing further trouble, so I've been cautious."
Feng Jin spoke with utmost grievance, and as her emotions deepened, she even managed to squeeze out a couple of tears to embellish her words.
The women present had all experienced their share of domestic strife and had become shrewd. They instantly understood who Feng Jin was referring to.
"Since all of you sisters are begging so earnestly today, if I refuse, I would seem ungrateful."
Pausing, and having whetted everyone's appetite, Feng Jin finally began, "Actually, Princess Consort Jing's skin is so good because she uses the skin nourishment water I developed."
"Yes, it's the skin nourishment water that Sister Feng Jin gave me. I've been using it, and the fine lines at the corners of my eyes have disappeared."
Lin Yuwei's acting skills kicked in, and she eagerly demonstrated.
"Yes, it looks much better than my skin."
"I'm the same age as Princess Jing, and I already have fine lines at the corners of my eyes."
Seeing that the atmosphere was just right, Feng Jin continued, "If you want it, I have plenty more. You can rest assured that this skin nourishment water is absolutely genuine. I've been using it throughout my pregnancy, and I haven't developed any spots on my face."
It was common for pregnant women to develop spots. Out of every eight pregnant women, one would develop spots.
Several women present felt self-conscious about the spots they had developed during pregnancy, and had to apply thick layers of powder every day when going out to conceal them.
However, the spots couldn't be covered with powder every day. When their husbands saw the spotted faces at night, many felt disgusted, and it was not uncommon for this to affect their marital relationship.
"For those of you who have developed spots during pregnancy, you can also use the skin nourishment water. It can effectively remove all the spots. For those with healthy skin, applying the skin nourishment water after cleansing every day will make your skin increasingly better, as smooth as a peeled egg."
Feng Jin's words greatly moved everyone present, and many gathered around her, begging for the skin nourishment water.
"You all want it, but I can't produce that much at once. How about this: give me some time, and once I've developed enough, I'll deliver it to your residences one by one."
What Feng Jin wanted was to gradually build good relationships with them and then win them over one by one to obtain useful information.
"In a couple of days, I'll be attending the banquet for my sister's marriage to the Third Prince. Are any of you sisters going?" Feng Jin asked, smiling as she looked at them.
"Sister, don't blame me for being blunt, but your sister was willing to be a concubine just to marry into the royal family. No wonder Prime Minister Feng was so enraged that he demoted Madam Sun to a concubine and demoted Feng Ruoyan from嫡 to庶. If I had such a shameless daughter, I wouldn't be able to show my face in this world."
The speaker was the wife of Duke Wen, whose maternal family was the Cuihe Jiang clan. As a woman from a noble family, her words carried weight. She directly rebuked anyone she disliked without any mercy.
"Sister Jiang speaks the truth. Although I still harbor resentment and hatred for my sister's previous frame-up, as a sister, it is customary for me to help my sister dress on her wedding day. Now that I am married into the Ling family, even with my resentment, I must go for the sake of the Ling family."
Feng Jin tried her best to portray herself as virtuous and proper, almost to the point of erecting a monument for herself.
However, this maneuver also earned Feng Jin considerable goodwill, and everyone's perception of her instantly changed.
"My dear sisters, our Feng family has very few members in the capital. I have no brothers at home. I ask all of you sisters to attend my sister's wedding to show your support and uphold the honor of the Feng family."
"Sister, don't worry, I will definitely be there that day."
"I'll go show my support too."