When Wu Caiwei and Lin Shuisheng arrived, the onlookers had already dispersed. Only a few shop assistants were cleaning up the mess.
"Our products are definitely fine; I personally oversaw every step of their creation," Lin Shuisheng’s perpetually stoic face showed a rare expression of self-blame.
"I believe you. What we need to do now is understand the specific situation and find out why the other party's face was disfigured. Only by knowing ourselves and our enemy can we win every battle!" Wu Caiwei watched as passersby pointed and whispered, realizing that no matter what, their business would be affected this time.
They tried to inquire from nearby people about where the disfigured woman lived. However, everyone shook their heads, claiming not to know her. In the vast sea of people, finding one person was like searching for a needle in a haystack. Wu Caiwei thought that if she didn't show up again, they would just have to accept their misfortune.
The next day, the rouge shop opened as usual. As expected, after yesterday's disturbance, not a single customer had come in even after half the day, which was highly unusual. Su Dan Novel Network.
Unexpectedly, the woman reappeared. "Some merchants are truly desperate for money. My face has been ruined by you, yet you're still doing business." Disregarding the frightened stares of the crowd, the woman exposed her face, which was covered in numerous pustules.
"Young lady, please speak cautiously. It's not yet confirmed whether your face was disfigured by our products. Everything requires evidence," Wu Caiwei, seeing the growing crowd of onlookers, tried to calm herself and find a flaw.
"I knew you wouldn't admit it. When I bought it, you praised it highly, but now that there's a problem, you're quick to distance yourselves, saying you didn't sell it. Everyone, please take a good look; you shouldn't buy anything from this shop." The woman spoke indignantly to the crowd behind her: "My face is a cautionary tale."
Seeing her face, someone couldn't help but vomit. The crowd dispersed.
"I firmly believe our products are fine. We haven't been in business for just a day or two. If there were problems, they would have surfaced long ago. Why don't you show us the rouge you used? See if it's from our shop," Wu Caiwei argued logically.
"I knew you wouldn't admit it. I won't talk to you further. To prevent you from harming others, I will smash your shop every time you open it. Come on, smash it for me!" As soon as she finished speaking, four burly men emerged from the crowd. Before Wu Caiwei could react, they grabbed items and began to smash.
Lin Shuisheng wanted to intervene, but Wu Caiwei subtly shook her head at him and gestured with her mouth towards the distance.
At that moment, the prefect arrived with a large contingent of yamen runners. "In broad daylight, you bring people to vandalize a shop. Do you have any regard for the law?" the prefect's stern voice boomed. The yamen runners stepped forward and apprehended the five individuals.
"Your Honor, they have disfigured my face like this and refuse to admit it. I beg you to seek justice for me." The disfigured woman was stunned to see the officials arrive and quickly cried out.
"Your Honor, I believe my products are not at fault. I beg you to investigate the truth and clear my name. Of course, if it is not my shop's product, I also beg you to compensate me for the losses from the damage to my shop," Wu Caiwei retorted.
"You can bring any issues to me, rather than taking matters into your own hands by bringing people here. Today, we will settle the losses on the spot. If it is indeed not caused by your shop's products, I will certainly rule for her to compensate you." The disfigured woman's body stiffened upon hearing the prefect mention compensation.
Subsequently, both Wu Caiwei and the woman were brought to the main hall. Through the prefect's questioning, it was revealed that the woman lived in Taohua Village on the outskirts of the capital. Those four burly men were her brothers. One of her brothers, who worked in the city, had bought her a box of rouge from this shop as a gift. To her dismay, her face had become like this after applying it.
As soon as this was said, one of the brothers' spines seemed to shrink an inch, his eyes turning red. Had they wrongly accused them? Was their product truly faulty? Wu Caiwei couldn't help but doubt.
At the prefect's request, the woman produced the rouge she had bought from Wu Caiwei's shop. The physician hired by the authorities was already waiting and quickly took it.
The physician examined and smelled it carefully. "If I'm not mistaken, the rouge should have been mixed with 'Zui Ren Cao' (Intoxicating Grass). This herb has no other effect but to completely ruin a woman's beauty, and it is incurable."
As soon as he finished speaking, a wave of crying erupted. The brothers and the woman were all in tears.
"Shopkeeper Liu has truly caused immense harm. How could such a thing be put into rouge? My sister's life is ruined! Please seek justice for us, Your Honor." One of the brothers cried as he spoke.
"May I take a look? I made this rouge myself, and I also have some knowledge of medicine," Wu Caiwei asked the prefect sincerely.
"Of course. Hand it to her," the prefect nodded slightly to his secretary.
Wu Caiwei looked at the box of rouge. It was indeed as the elder physician had stated, mixed with Zui Ren Cao. What could be done? Ordinary villagers wouldn't recognize this herb. Although Zui Ren Cao was usually used in rouge, its toxicity was quite high. However, when combined with mountain pineapple, it was not only harmless but would also make a woman's complexion radiant. Could it be Shuisheng's mistake?
Wu Caiwei looked at Lin Shuisheng, whose face was etched with worry in the crowd, and then at the woman, who, despite her tears, remained remarkably calm. Suddenly, her heart jolted. Something was wrong. No woman who knew her face had been disfigured could be this composed, let alone allow her hideous appearance to be scrutinized. But where was the problem?
She couldn't help but take out the box of rouge again, sniff it, and rub a tiny bit between her fingers to taste it.
"Your Honor, Shopkeeper Liu is just stalling for time. What will my sister do with her life? She is already engaged, but when they heard she was disfigured, they are thinking of breaking off the engagement," another brother said impatiently, seeing Wu Caiwei slowly examining the rouge.
"Liu Feixue, do you have anything to say in your defense?" the prefect asked as a formality.
Seeing Liu Feixue's long silence, Lin Shuisheng couldn't help but speak up, "Reporting to Your Honor, although the shop belongs to our esteemed owner, I am in charge of all its affairs. This is known to everyone. If anyone is to be punished, punish me."
Suddenly, Wu Caiwei's eyes lit up. Seeing that the prefect was about to summon Lin Shuisheng, she quickly said, "Your Honor, I've thought of it! This appears to be Zui Ren Cao, but in reality, it's Rong Yan. Zui Ren Cao tastes bitter, while Rong Yan tastes sweet."
"Oh? Let me try it too," the elder physician said, quickly stepping forward, regretting his oversight.
Upon tasting it, he confirmed Wu Caiwei's words. He reported, "Reporting to Your Honor, it is indeed as she said. This is not Zui Ren Cao, but Rong Yan. Although Rong Yan makes this young lady's face look terrifying now, after a while, once scabs form, her skin will become smoother and more rosy, possessing nourishing and beautifying effects. However, this substance is very rare; I have only seen it once in the Western Regions."
The prefect was uncertain about what the two had said. He then dispatched people to invite several renowned physicians from the capital to identify it. The results confirmed it was Rong Yan.
"Bold Madam Wang, why did you lie?" the prefect's stern voice echoed once more.