Everyone owed Feng Jin a favor, so they naturally agreed to attend Feng Ruoyan's wedding banquet.
A smug smile played on Feng Jin's lips. Feng Ruoyan had always been arrogant, often boasting that she would marry the Third Prince as his main consort. Today, however, she was to be a mere concubine. No amount of thick skin could endure such humiliation.
Especially having to force a smile at someone she once looked down upon, Feng Jin eagerly anticipated Feng Ruoyan's wedding day.
She needed to go back and prepare a wedding gift for Feng Ruoyan that wouldn't embarrass her.
In the Ling family's treasury, Feng Jin sifted through piles of gold, silver, and jewelry, but couldn't find anything suitable. More importantly, each item was priceless, and she was truly reluctant to give any of them away.
After much deliberation, Feng Jin decided to give up. She'd just buy something cheap and matching from the street; no need to waste these treasures.
With her decision made, Feng Jin instructed Cai Qing to casually buy something presentable from the street as a congratulatory gift.
Meanwhile, Feng Jin returned to her room to accelerate the production of her skin-nourishing lotion. This lotion was her secret weapon for infiltrating the capital's noblewomen's circle, and she had to handle it carefully.
The medical clinic's business was gradually settling into a groove, no longer requiring her constant attention. Therefore, she had been pondering whether to open a cosmetics store. The cosmetics in Dong Chu were quite inferior, practically trash.
Not only did they offer no skin-nourishing benefits, but prolonged use could even worsen the skin, leading to blemishes and dullness. Furthermore, those powders were all made with heavy metals. Prolonged use would inevitably lead to heavy metal poisoning and death.
In contrast, her skincare products and powders were all extracted from pure plants and infused with various precious traditional Chinese medicinal herbs, combining skincare and nourishment.
Anyone who used it once would fall in love with it, and once launched, it was sure to take the entire cosmetics industry by storm.
Feng Jin took out the specially made three-dimensional plum blossom glass bottles and filled them with the skin-nourishing lotion. The bottles instantly appeared crystal clear, emitting a soft pink glow.
"Young Madam, I've bought the items," Cai Qing entered, cradling a half-meter-long brocade box, which she quickly placed on the table, panting from exertion.
"Why is it so big?"
What kind of thing would be contained in such a large box? How much did it cost!
"Didn't Cai Qing tell you to buy something cheap? Why did you bring back such a large item?"
Her hard-earned money was gone just like that.
"Young Madam, the shop owner gave this brocade box for free. Inside are a pair of peony bowls, adorned with the motif of 'Mandarin Ducks and Phoenixes in Harmony.' This was the owner's last prized possession, sold at a bargain. I felt it was quite suitable, so I bought it. And it was super cheap, only ten taels of silver."
Upon hearing the price, Feng Jin's heart bloomed with joy. She eagerly glanced at the brocade box and picked up one of the bowls to examine it closely. The craftsmanship was quite fine, but the style was a bit dated, clearly an old item from years ago, which explained the bargain price.
However, gifting this to Feng Ruoyan was considered showing her respect. Feng Jin contentedly closed the brocade box and said, "Cai Qing, put the items away properly. Tomorrow, we'll take them to offer our congratulations."
"Yes, Young Madam. I'll put them away now." Cai Qing carried the items and walked out.
"What's that smell?" Ling Mohan returned from the military camp and detected a rich yet not pungent fragrance in the room.
The scent was pleasant, but it was the first time he had ever encountered it.
"This is the skin-nourishing lotion I've developed. Its effects for whitening and reducing blemishes are unparalleled. Would you like a bottle to try?"
Ling Mohan glanced over. It was merely a woman's item; why would he, a grown man, use such a thing?
"No, thank you. I never use these things."
In his opinion, smearing all sorts of concoctions on one's face was a futile effort that only wasted time. He could complete a set of sword techniques or read another chapter of military strategy in that time.
Moreover, there was no precedent for a grown man using such items; it would likely be mocked if word got out.
"No wonder your skin is so rough. Haven't you seen how tanned you've become? If it weren't for the lamp lit at night, I wouldn't be able to see you."
Ling Mohan's complexion wasn't actually too dark; it was a medium tone. However, when compared to those young pretty boys, he was considerably darker.
"You say I'm dark?" Ling Mohan exclaimed in disbelief, raising his voice in question. "This is a healthy complexion. Shallow people like you simply don't understand."
Ling Mohan had always considered his appearance to be of the highest caliber, and no woman who saw him could avert her gaze. Yet, in Feng Jin's eyes, he had become worthless.
"Your complexion is indeed a bit dark," Feng Jin said sincerely, without a hint of pretense.
Ling Mohan snorted and said impatiently, "That's because you don't know how to appreciate it."
With that, he abruptly stood up and walked towards the door. "There are still some matters at the military camp."
With a 'bang,' the door was shut tightly, indicating the man's current anger.
When Cai Qing returned and was about to greet Ling Mohan, a sudden chill swept past her. The words at the tip of her tongue remained unspoken.
Why was the Young General so peculiar today? He had just returned with a smile, but now he was leaving in a furious mood.
"Young Madam, why did the Young General leave with such a cold expression?"
Feng Jin snorted, casually remarking, "Who knows what possessed him? He left, and no one stopped him."
Clearly, he was the one who was dark-skinned, yet he was so proud that he couldn't bear to be told, and now he was throwing a tantrum for whom?
Cai Qing blinked slightly. What exactly had happened? She had only been gone for a short while, and it seemed like the whole world had changed. This was too strange.
"Don't worry about him. Quickly finish packing these bottles."
Once they were done, they had to hurry and send them over to test their effectiveness.
"Young Madam, those ladies and madams, they all mocked you before. Why do you need to try to appease them? And this skin-nourishing lotion, such a wonderful item, giving it away for free, I even feel pained by it."
The Young Madam had been busy making the skin-nourishing lotion all day, working hard to make it and then sending it to them. In Cai Qing's opinion, it wasn't worth it at all.
Feng Jin glanced at Cai Qing. This little maid was now standing up for her. She really hadn't doted on her in vain.
"I am casting a long line to catch a big fish. If they like it this time, they'll have to pay to buy it if they want more. These bottles are just for them to experience it for free."
She was no saint, and she wouldn't be generous with her offerings. She wouldn't do business at a loss.