After the spring rain, all things came back to life.
More peddlers appeared on the street. Occasionally, there were flower - selling ladies hawking in the alleys.
Biyu called one of the ladies over. At first, she just wanted to buy a few flowers for novelty. But when she asked the price and found it was quite affordable, she decided to buy the whole basket.
When she carried the flower basket back to Zhuqing Courtyard, all the little maids gathered around when they saw it.
Biyu smiled and handed the flowers to them, asking them to divide them among themselves. She picked out a few well - bloomed ones and lifted the curtain to enter Fu Zhen's bedroom.
Fu Zhen was reading a book. When she looked up, she saw the flowers Biyu was holding in front of her. She smiled immediately: "These flowers are really in full bloom and they even smell nice."
Cuihuan brought over a vase: "Although they are not rare flowers, they are in season and full of rustic charm. It's quite suitable to put them in the room."
Fu Zhen nodded: "Then put them beside my dressing box. I'll feel much happier when I see them while dressing every day."
Cuihuan put the flowers there and then opened the dressing box. She turned around and said, "Miss, the rouge you usually use is running out. Since the weather is fine today, why don't you go to Luhua Pavilion to pick some? You can use it when we go on a spring outing in a few days."
The results of the imperial examination would not be announced for another half a month. Seeing that it had been sunny for several days, Lady Bai decided that they would go on a spring outing to the countryside manor three days later. There was a peach orchard in the manor and the peach trees were in full bloom, which was a perfect place for a spring outing.
Hearing this, Fu Zhen put down her book: "That's good. It rained constantly before and everywhere was damp. It felt as if I was getting moldy too. It's just the right time to go out and have a stroll."
Biyu came up eagerly: "I heard that Yongchun Restaurant has a new snack called peach - blossom cake. It's made of fresh peach blossoms. It leaves a lingering fragrance in your mouth. After Miss picks the rouge, if you'd like to try it, we can go to Yongchun Restaurant and sit for a while."
"I think it's not Miss who wants to eat, but you, the glutton!" Cuihuan came over and teased her.
Fu Zhen also laughed. She changed into her outdoor clothes following Cuihuan's help: "It sounds really good. Picking rouge won't take long. We can just go to Yongchun Restaurant to kill some time."
She had only been in the capital for a few months and had no friends around. Staying in the marquis's mansion all day was really boring. It was better to sit outside for a while.
"Miss is the best!" Biyu wrinkled her nose at Cuihuan and said happily, "I'll go to the gatehouse and ask them to prepare the carriage!"
With that, she ran out excitedly.
Fu Zhen shook her head and smiled. While tying the ribbon for her, Cuihuan looked at Fu Zhen's face: "Biyu is always like this. She still looks so childish."
"She is lively while you are steady. No wonder you two can be good friends," Fu Zhen said, "Biyu has made progress. There's no need to force her to be as steady as you."
Biyu was really frightened after the incident with Hemiao. Since then, she had served Fu Zhen loyally. From the incident in the Taoist temple, Fu Zhen could see Biyu's loyalty and intelligence. After that, she treated Biyu as well as Cuihuan.
Cuihuan didn't mind at all. She was broad - minded: "It's a great blessing for her to serve Miss well."
When they arrived at Luhua Pavilion, the same woman as last time greeted them: "Madam, are you here to look at the jewelry again?"
Fu Zhen was surprised: "You still remember me?"
The woman smiled: "Of course. I don't have any other special skills, but I have a good memory. That's why the boss asked me to receive customers here."
"Who is your boss?" Fu Zhen was quite curious about this boss who had never shown up.
The woman smiled and invited them in. She quickly served them tea: "Our boss has ordered that we are not allowed to disclose his information privately. So I'm afraid I can't answer your question, Madam."
Fu Zhen nodded in understanding and didn't force it. She changed the topic: "I'm here to look at the rouge today. Please bring out all the rouge that has been selling well recently. I'd like to take a look first."
"Sure, Madam. Please wait a moment." With that, the woman stepped back.
"This boss is really mysterious. There are rumors in the capital that the boss is a playboy. Otherwise, how could he sell the jewelry, hairpins, rouge and dresses for women so well?" Biyu said.
Fu Zhen took a sip of tea. Hearing this, she tilted her head: "Who says the one doing business must be a man? I think with such ingenuity, it must be a female boss. After all, only women know what women like best."
Biyu seemed to understand but also seemed confused. She said rather regretfully: "It would be great if it was really a female boss. I can tell that Miss loves the jewelry here. I think you two could get along well."
"There's no need to force this," Fu Zhen said with a smile, shaking her head. She knew that Biyu thought she was lonely because she had no close female friends. "Friends are easy to find, but bosom friends are hard to come by. Just wait patiently."
As they were talking, the woman came over with a box: "Madam, take a look. Do you like any of them?"
"Recently, the peach blossoms are in full bloom. Ladies in the capital all like to do the peach - blossom makeup. Draw some flower petals with rouge on the eyebrows and corners of the eyes. It's both appropriate and beautiful. Madam might as well give it a try?"
"It sounds really novel. But my two maids are not very dexterous. I wonder if you can do this makeup?" Fu Zhen looked at the woman and asked.
The woman quickly said: "This makeup is actually not very difficult. Madam, please wait a moment. I'll wash my hands and come back to do the makeup for you."
"I can also do this makeup. Why don't I do it for Madam?"
A sudden female voice made everyone in the room stunned. Fu Zhen looked up and saw a white - dressed woman wearing a veil hat standing at the door. She had a graceful figure and was holding several unopened boxes of rouge in her hand.
The woman immediately stood up. After a quick glance, she smiled: "What a coincidence! This is our makeup artist from Luhua Pavilion. She usually doesn't come to the store very often. But we happened to meet her today. If Madam doesn't mind, let her do the makeup. Her skills are much better than mine!"
Fu Zhen sized her up imperceptibly. She couldn't see the woman's face clearly through the veil hanging from the hat, but judging from her figure, she could vaguely imagine what she looked like. She must be extremely beautiful.
These thoughts flashed through her mind. In a blink of an eye, Fu Zhen smiled: "It would be my honor then."
True to her name, the makeup artist was very skillful. Fu Zhen only felt a cool sensation on her face. A few strokes were made on her eyebrows and corners of the eyes. When she opened her eyes again, she saw her own gorgeous - looking self in the mirror.
She was stunned for a moment. She couldn't help but touch her face gently, but she didn't dare to press too hard for fear of ruining the makeup.
"Is Madam satisfied?" The woman's voice was as clear as the spring water in the mountains, pleasant to the ear.
"It's really beautiful," Fu Zhen turned to look at her and exclaimed, "Madam's skills are really amazing. I've never seen such a beautiful makeup before."
The woman laughed softly and said gently: "It's not the makeup. It's you who are beautiful."
With that, she stood up: "I'm fated to meet Madam. I'll give these boxes of rouge to you."
"Hey—" Before Fu Zhen could say anything more, the woman left cleanly. Her skirt brushed against the threshold, just like the floating clouds in the sky.
Fu Zhen stared blankly at her back. After a long while, she lowered her head and smiled: "What a free - spirited lady!"