After drawing the designs for clothing and accessories, Lu Qingwan also caused some trouble in Feng Xiwu’s garden. In a hurry, before leaving the capital, she made several lipsticks and bottles of perfume.
She then used the medicinal herbs and equipment from her spatial laboratory to create face cream and eyebrow pencils.
When Li Jin saw the items, he was bewildered, "Wangfei, what are these things?"
"Just wait, you'll know soon enough."
Lu Qingyan lined up her secret weapons on the table and looked towards the inner room, "Zhi Qiu, you can come out now."
With a rustling sound, a slender woman emerged, dressed in a red skirt embroidered with golden ruyi patterns and pleats, layered over a light pink silk bodice.
A crescent white cloak embroidered with silver thread patterns was worn over it. The sleeves were short and wide, revealing a touch of red, adding a playful charm.
Her hair was styled into an agile, capable, yet elegant snake bun, adorned with only a short gold hairpin shaped like a butterfly, which was not cumbersome.
Lu Qingwan beckoned to her, "Come and sit."
Zhi Qiu was so scared she shook her head, "This servant dares not!"
"Sit!"
Lu Qingwan forcefully pulled her over and pushed her onto the chair. "From now on, you are my model. I want you to showcase the various poses of ladies wearing my clothes. If you are hesitant and delay my making money, I will deduct all your monthly silver, do you understand?"
Perhaps it was because servants often followed their masters, but these maids, after following Lu Qingwan for a short time, had contracted her money-grubbing attribute.
Upon hearing that her monthly silver would be deducted, Zhi Qiu was no longer afraid and even replied with full confidence, "This servant understands, Wangfei!"
Her voice was crisp and loud, as if she were shouting.
Lu Qingwan was satisfied. "That's right. You few, come and watch."
The maids dared not be negligent. Their eyes widened as they watched Lu Qingwan meticulously apply the items she had concocted onto Zhi Qiu's face.
Then, Zhi Qiu's naturally sallow complexion turned fair and creamy, her lips were red as if holding a cherry, and with the naturally shaped eyebrows Lu Qingwan had perfected, the little maid instantly transformed into a great beauty.
Man Chun stared in amazement, "Wangfei, your hands... are too magical!"
"This is the charm of makeup!"
Lu Qingwan didn't need to ask. From their astonished and dazed expressions, she had already received a satisfactory answer.
"Man Chun, you are in charge of styling. For the next few days, I will put on makeup every morning. You come and watch, and then practice styling, hair arrangements, and matching clothes and makeup yourself. Li Xia and the rest of you, don't be idle either. I don't need so many people to serve me. Once Li Jin's shops are open, you will first act as makeup artists and bring up a new batch of trainees for me."
These maids entered the prince's manor under the guise of dowry maids, but their masters, Lu Qingwan and Feng Xiwu, were so independent that they had no use for them.
Hearing that they could also learn such magical makeup skills, they were overjoyed. They replied in unison, "Yes, Wangfei!"
Lu Qingwan casually handed the order form to Li Jin. "Here are the formulas for the lipstick and eyebrow pencils, along with the specific production process. The subsequent matters are up to you. As for the clothing styles and hairstyles, find more skilled embroiderers and those good at hairstyling. My personal energy is limited, and there will be a day when I run out of ideas. Prepare in advance."
Li Jin held the order form in his hands, feeling as if he were holding not just a few pieces of paper, but a treasure trove that could generate infinite wealth for him. He happily agreed to all of Lu Qingwan's requests and even pushed his luck further, "Wangfei, may I borrow Miss Zhi Qiu to visit the Fancheng?"
Lu Qingwan herself was shrewd and understood his intention immediately. "You want her to advertise for your shops and attract some popularity first?"
Li Jin didn't understand the term 'advertise,' but he understood 'attract popularity,' and he nodded profusely, "Exactly!"
"Since you're going to do it, do it well." Lu Qingwan handed him a booklet. "Find a storyteller to go with you. Otherwise, if Zhi Qiu just sits there under everyone's gaze, you might not feel awkward, but I would feel embarrassed for her."
She then asked Zhi Qiu, "Can you play music?"
Zhi Qiu timidly nodded, "I can only play a little pipa, not expertly."
"That's enough." This was even better than Lu Qingwan had imagined. She then looked at Li Jin, "Do I need to teach you how to do the rest?"
Li Jin shook his head as if his head would fall off, "No, no, no!"
However, "Wangfei, is this storybook not finished?" He flipped through it roughly. The supernatural elements in the story were quite interesting, but the last story ended abruptly, clearly unfinished!
"I don't have time right now." Lu Qingwan wished she had three heads and six arms. "Have them read it. Isn't there a saying, 'For the next chapter, listen to the next episode'? Let them write the next episode, and perhaps I'll finish the grand finale."
Li Jin's focus had already shifted significantly, "This storybook was written by you, Wangfei?" How could this be so shocking!
"I am not the original creator, I am merely a cultural transporter." Fearing she might reveal too much, Lu Qingwan directly shooed them away. "Alright, the Prince will be back soon, you all should leave quickly!"
Lu Qingwan was now the unquestioned authority in the prince's manor. Hearing this, they hastily withdrew. After leaving the room, they belatedly realized why they had to leave when the Prince returned, as if they had been stealing something.
They scratched their heads, their minds filled with confusion, and as they exited Wutong Yuan, they bumped directly into Feng Xiwu, who was returning from court.
The group scrambled to greet Feng Xiwu, but his gaze fell precisely on the figure lurking suspiciously behind the door. He waved his hand and entered the room directly, finding Lu Qingwan leaning against the doorframe, looking at him with a puzzled expression.
Feng Xiwu looked at her suspiciously, "What? Is there something on my face?"
Lu Qingwan cautiously asked, "Just now, when they greeted you, did you notice anything different?"
Feng Xiwu's tone was odd, "I didn't pay much attention. Did someone displease you? I will punish them for you, don't let it make you angry and harm your health."
"You're going to make me so angry I die!" Lu Qingwan angrily placed her hands on her hips. "Zhi Qiu, I dressed her up so beautifully and so conspicuously, and you didn't notice anything at all?"
Feng Xiwu's face darkened. "My Wangfei is right here, why would I notice another woman?" This wretched woman, after everything they had been through, still thought of giving him other women. Should he not have pitied her? He had held back since their wedding night because she was young and afraid of intimacy. Truly, his sincere feelings had been fed to the dogs!
Lu Qingwan: ...
She had to admit, this scoundrel of a man could always strike a decisive blow from unexpected angles.