Wang Qingyao wandered around Qiu Ju's room for a long time, finally stopping in front of the chest where her clothes were packed.
She stared fixedly at the chest for a long time, making Qiu Ju's heart pound with anxiety, almost leaping out of her mouth.
"Mis... Miss?" she asked, forcing a smile and cautiously approaching. "What... what is it?"
"Oh, nothing," Wang Qingyao glanced at her sideways and even bared her teeth in a smile. "I just feel that clothes packed in a chest tend to wrinkle. You're lacking a wardrobe here."
Qiu Ju was stunned, her hair standing on end from the smile. "Ah... it's fine, a chest is enough." She grumbled inwardly, wondering why Miss was suddenly concerned about her clothes wrinkling.
Wang Qingyao returned to the main house. Qiu Ju saw her to the door and only breathed a sigh of relief after Wang Qingyao entered the main house and closed the door.
"Miss, did you find anything?" Yin Zhu asked in a low voice.
"Nothing," Wang Qingyao said. "But whatever you do, don't touch that face powder."
Her tone was grave, and Yin Zhu and Zhi Zi's faces changed.
"Aunt... Miss," Yin Zhu stammered, "Didn't you say you didn't find anything?"
"Just in case."
Just then, the sound of flapping wings came from outside. Lightning had returned.
Zhi Zi took down the letter and handed it to Wang Qingyao. Wang Qingyao smiled upon reading it. Xiao Yun was a sensible person who valued his life. He asked her not to write for the time being. He also mentioned that the eighth day of the fourth month was Buddha's birthday, and he would pick her up then to attend the Bathing Buddha Dharma Assembly at the Great Xiangguo Temple.
Wang Qingyao learned from Nian Momo that the eighth day of the fourth month was the birthday of Buddha Shakyamuni. The ten major Zen monasteries in Duanjing would hold grand Bathing Buddha Dharma Assemblies on this day. The temples would also brew sweet medicinal water for the believers who attended the ceremony, called "Buddha Bathing Water."
Ancient customs were truly interesting.
The Bathing Buddha Dharma Assembly sounded quite grand, so Wang Qingyao gave Yin Zhu, Zhi Zi, and Nian Momo the day off as well, letting them go and have fun.
Zhi Zi was worried about leaving Qiu Ju alone and said, "I won't go. I'll stay and guard the house."
"It's fine," Wang Qingyao said. "Ask Qiu Ju to go along too, and lock up the main house and the courtyard gate."
Zhi Zi pondered for a moment and nodded.
After the lights were out, Wang Qingyao tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
A large luminous pearl hung by her bed, emitting a soft glow like moonlight, quietly illuminating her pensive little face.
She had seen a box of face powder in Qiu Ju's chest.
It was a pale green porcelain box with an embossed pumpkin shape, inscribed with four small characters: "Tian Rong Shui Se."
It was exactly the same as the one Rui Huang had sent.
Qiu Ju was a third-rank maid in the Cold Fragrance Courtyard, earning only five hundred cash per month.
She could not afford such expensive makeup.
Using rouge and powder from "Hua Xiang Rong" would have been the most she could manage.
Therefore, this box of face powder definitely did not belong to her.
It was also unlikely to be a gift from someone else; if it were a gift, she wouldn't have hidden it so secretly.
Thus, only one possibility remained.
Someone had given her face powder, the same face powder as in Wang Qingyao's makeup box. If she had swapped them, no one would have noticed.
Wang Qingyao blinked. In the Wang family, only Bai Shi and her daughters wished her ill.
Was it Bai Shi or Wang Qinglin? Or both?
Why would they swap the face powder?
Rui Huang must have added something to the face powder sent by Wang Zijing...
Face powder was applied to the face. Whatever was added, it couldn't be anything good.
Wang Qingyao rolled over, thinking she needed to find a doctor to ask about it tomorrow.
The next day, she took the box of face powder to a pharmacy. The elderly doctor on duty examined it carefully, his expression grave.
"Miss, this face powder should not be used. It contains 'Dian Feng San'."
"Dian Feng San?"
"It was formerly used by women for whitening, but its side effects were too severe, so it's no longer used."
"What side effects?"
"You cannot be exposed to the sun. After three to five days of use, your facial skin will peel when exposed to sunlight, leaving patches of dark and light skin."
Wang Qingyao clicked her tongue. This was an attempt to disfigure her!
Upon returning, Yin Zhu came over with a smile. "Miss, we were too suspicious. I quietly made some inquiries just now. The eldest young master's courtyard does have a maid named Rui Huang, and the face powder was indeed a gift from the eldest young master. Not only you, but the eldest young lady, the third young lady, and the fourth young lady have all received a box!"
She looked relieved.
See, the person behind this was so meticulous, considering even such small details.
If Wang Qingyao had not consulted a doctor, she might have let down her guard at this point.
She took out the face powder and told the three women in the room what the doctor had said. Yin Zhu looked incredulous. "Why would the eldest young master want to harm Miss?"
Nian Momo glanced at her. "Foolish. It's not the eldest young master who wants to harm Miss, but someone using the eldest young master's hand. However..."
Nian Momo frowned slightly. She also suspected Bai Shi and her daughters. But Wang Zijing was Bai Shi's only son, capable and promising. If Bai Shi were rational, she wouldn't drag him into the disputes of the inner court.
Wang Qingyao also considered this. Unless this was Wang Qinglin's idea.
The box of face powder was put away. Wang Qingyao instructed everyone to act as if nothing had happened and not to reveal anything.
Soon, it was the eighth day of the fourth month, Buddha's birthday.
On this day, not only the young ladies of the Wang family were going to the temple, but Bai Shi and Old Madam Wang would also accompany them.
Three carriages were parked at the west corner gate. Bai Shi saw Wang Qingyao with her three servants and said with a forced smile, "Yao Yao is also going out? What a coincidence, there are only three usable carriages left in the house. I'm afraid you won't all fit."
Bai Shi and Old Madam Wang took one carriage, the three young ladies from the main branch took another, and the third carriage was for the servants.
Indeed, there was no room for Wang Qingyao and her group.
Wang Qingyao did not argue. "It's alright, I'll ride in the carriage from the Prince of Ding'an's mansion."
Old Madam Wang, who had been feigning ignorance, looked over. "The Prince of Ding'an is coming to pick you up?"
"Yes," Wang Qingyao replied respectfully. "We've already arranged it."
The old lady nodded with satisfaction. Although this granddaughter was considered somewhat inauspicious, she was quite adept at charming men. Prince of Ding'an, a prince who had seen countless beauties, was so infatuated with her that he never forgot to bring her along wherever he went.
Wang Qinglin's cool gaze swept over Wang Qingyao's face, and a smile played on her lips. "Second sister's skin seems whiter than before. You look even more beautiful."
Wang Qingyao smiled sweetly. "Thanks to the face powder my eldest brother gave me. Products from 'Tian Rong Shui Se' are indeed better than others."
"Naturally," Wang Qingzhen stroked her cheek and said, "Don't you think about the price?"
She then looked at Wang Qinglin. "Eldest sister, do you think my skin has improved compared to before?"
Wang Qinglin pretended to look closely. "It seems to have become much smoother and more tender."
"Right?" Wang Qingzhen said joyfully. "I think so too."
The smile on Wang Qinglin's lips grew wider. She suppressed it with all her might to keep from laughing out loud.
It seemed Wang Qingyao was already using that box of face powder!
She exchanged a glance with Bai Shi, and both saw a smile in each other's eyes.