"Sister Yingxue, your face has recovered completely," Su Yuanyuan said sweetly as her eyes swept across Zhang Yingxue's face. "Now, Sister Yingxue is truly as beautiful as a celestial being."
Zhang Yingxue couldn't resist pinching her cheek and said with a smile, "Look at your sweet mouth. You really know how to make me happy. If I'm as beautiful as a celestial being, then you're like a divine maiden. When you come of age, I'm afraid the matchmakers and suitors will break down the doors of the Duke Yong's Mansion!"
"Where is it as exaggerated as what Sister said?" Su Yuanyuan replied modestly.
"If only I were a man. On the day you come of age, I'd be the first to visit your home and marry you!"
"Then why don't you come and be my sister - in - law, Sister! My second and third brothers at home are still unmarried. You can choose whichever you like!"
As they talked, they tickled each other, and the two young girls of similar ages burst into laughter.
Finally stopping their laughter, Zhang Yingxue said seriously, "Speaking of which, I should really thank you for the method you taught me. After using it, I don't need to wear makeup, but my skin is smoother and fairer than before."
"Actually, Sister Yingxue is naturally beautiful. You're charming enough without makeup," Su Yuanyuan complimented Zhang Yingxue again.
"Really?" Zhang Yingxue touched her face and felt her cheeks getting slightly warm.
She thought she was not bad - looking and didn't really want to wear makeup at first. But her older sisters at home always told her that a woman should pay attention to her appearance to find a good husband and a good marriage, so she began to pay so much attention to her face.
This was the first time someone had said that she was naturally beautiful and elegant.
"Makeup is just an embellishment. Only by smiling brightly and holding your head up confidently can you stay young forever," Su Yuanyuan said very seriously.
Take her mother, Lady Mo, for example. The wind, sand, and scorching sun in the northern desert didn't damage her beauty at all. Although she was already the mother of four children and old enough to be a grandmother, she still looked charming. She was no less attractive than the noble ladies in Shengjing City who were used to a life of ease and paid much attention to beauty - keeping.
And her sister - in - law, Wei Linlang. She rarely saw her sister - in - law wearing makeup, but she was so gorgeous that people would never forget her.
Zhang Yingxue tilted her head, thought for a while, and nodded. "You're right. Take the County Mistress Danyang for example. Her appearance is not outstanding, but she always becomes the focus of the crowd whenever she appears because she always thinks she's the most beautiful. I have to learn from her in the future. Anyway, I can't lose in terms of momentum."
The two girls looked at each other and burst into laughter.
Zhang Yingxue held Su Yuanyuan's hand and didn't want to let go.
What should she do if she liked Yuanbao more and more? She really wanted to steal her home and make her her younger sister!
Soon, the yamen runners from the government office arrived. Su Yuanyuan and Zhang Yingxue looked at each other and followed the runners towards the dark workshop.
They almost forgot that they didn't come out today to exchange beauty - keeping tips but to do something big!
After waiting for so many days, they finally found evidence that the "Xiantingluo" perfume shop was passing off inferior goods as high - quality ones. This time, they must make the shop go out of business!
The workshop of the perfume shop was located deep in Jishanfang. Jishanfang was a place where all kinds of people gathered, including merchants, butchers, beggars, and thieves. It was obvious that opening the workshop here was intended to take advantage of the convenience of Jishanfang to engage in such shady business.
Zhang Yingxue had sent people to watch the workshop for some time and had already understood their details and patterns.
Today was the day when they were making a new batch of goods.
Early in the morning, the clerk of the perfume shop entered the workshop with the purchase list and began to check and load the goods they needed this time. Completely absorbed in their work, they didn't know that Zhang Yingxue and Su Yuanyuan were leading the yamen runners towards them step by step.
When the people from the government office broke through the gate of the workshop, the wind carried the smell from the workshop to Zhang Yingxue and Su Yuanyuan.
The stench in the air made Zhang Yingxue vomit on the spot.
Since Su Yuanyuan was protected by Xiao Ba, she couldn't smell any stench at all, so her face remained unchanged from beginning to end. This made Zhang Yingxue's maid look at her in surprise several times.
Almost without any accident, after the yamen runners rushed into the workshop, they arrested all the people inside on the spot.
When the clerk of the perfume shop was pressed to the ground, the formula with the red seal of the perfume shop and Su Qingyu's private seal fluttered to the ground. The evidence was conclusive, and no matter how much these people cried and pleaded, they couldn't shirk their responsibility.
"How dare you use the fat of dead pigs as high - grade fat to make rouge cream for sale! Who gave you the courage to pass off inferior goods as high - quality ones! Do you think the laws of the Great Chu are just for show?! Arrest them all and wait for further punishment!" the leader of the yamen runners shouted angrily.
The workshop immediately became filled with wailing.
"Sir, please have mercy on us. We were forced to do this, sir!"
"I don't want to go to the government office. I don't want to go to jail. Sir, please spare me. I have old and young in my family waiting for me to earn money to support them..."
Seeing that several people were trying to take advantage of the chaos to escape, the leader of the yamen runners drew out his saber with a clang and chopped off a nearby pillar.
"The evidence is conclusive. Let's see who dares to escape!"
Seeing the shining blade and the broken pillar, the workshop immediately fell silent. No one dared to cause any more trouble, and they all obediently surrendered.
After all the people were arrested and taken away, the leader of the yamen runners bowed to Zhang Yingxue and Su Yuanyuan who had retreated outside the door and said,
"Thank you two young ladies for exposing this matter. Please rest assured that the government office will seriously handle this case and give you two young ladies justice."
One of these two was the daughter of the Minister of Justice, and the other was the daughter of the Duke Yong. No one could afford to offend them. Even the government office didn't dare to handle this matter carelessly.
Zhang Yingxue nodded slightly to the leader of the yamen runners. "Thank you, sir. We'll wait for good news at home."
After leaving Jishanfang, Zhang Yingxue and Su Yuanyuan took a carriage to the "Xiantingluo Perfume Shop".
Since the workshop was destroyed and the evidence of passing off inferior goods as high - quality ones was conclusive, the shopkeeper, accountant, and clerks of the perfume shop were all taken back to the government office and locked up in jail. The once - open shop was forced to close its doors, and a seal and a notice were posted at the door.
People loved to watch the excitement. Seeing the perfume shop being sealed by the government office, they immediately gathered around to watch.
The notice from the government office clearly stated the perfume shop's act of passing off inferior goods as high - quality ones. Within two hours, the news that the "Xiantingluo Perfume Shop" had used inferior ingredients to make makeup and deceived customers spread throughout Shengjing.