“Who would have thought, Sister Lin, that you’re actually the young proprietor of this place?”
“Yes. My adoptive mother is skilled in medicine and also developed cosmetics and beauty products on the side. Since they’re made with great care, we limit sales to sixty-six items a day.”
Zhang Hanyan felt rather disappointed that she hadn’t managed to buy any of the limited-edition face powder today.
“That’s exactly the problem. A lazybones like me who sleeps in can never get any of the treasures from this shop. Can you save me a box tomorrow?”
“There’s no need to wait until tomorrow. My adoptive mother happened to have the shopkeeper set aside a full set for me—powder, rouge, everything. I’ll give each of you one.”
Zhang Hanyan and Feng Shu were naturally delighted to receive the items they had wanted.
Feng Shu said, “Is your adoptive mother here? We should pay our respects to her.” Given their relationship with Lin Qianqian, it was only proper to greet her elder.
“My adoptive mother isn’t at the shop. She loves traveling and has been journeying around the world for several years now.”
Her adoptive father and mother were truly a perfect match. Both loved exploring beautiful landscapes far and wide.
However, Lin Qianqian still received letters from them every month, along with local delicacies and all sorts of interesting trinkets from their travels.
Lin Qianqian called over the female shopkeeper.
“Miss Feng and Miss Zhang are my friends. From now on, whenever they or their friends come to shop here, they’ll receive a thirty-percent discount.”
Qingcheng Cosmetics Shop not only limited purchases to one box per customer per day, but had never offered discounts before. Even princesses received no special treatment.
Zhang Hanyan laughed.
“No wonder I heard magpies chirping outside the gate when I left home today. Good things were bound to happen—great things!”
Being eligible for a permanent thirty-percent discount was incredible.
It wasn’t even about saving money. The real point was how impressive it sounded when she told other people.
The three girls were chatting happily when a man and a woman entered the shop.
The woman was dressed rather revealingly, wearing a bright red dudou beneath an almost transparent layer of red gauze.
The man was extremely fat, his face coated with a thick layer of powder. Many scholars in Great Yan liked wearing face powder, which was why scholars were often called “fair-faced scholars.”
The woman in red spoke in a coquettish tone.
“Young Master Wang, I heard the face powder here is the best in all of Great Yan. You simply must buy some for me.”
“Of course, of course.”
After recognizing the man, Feng Shu immediately turned to Lin Qianqian.
“Sister Lin, may I hide in the back courtyard for a while?”
“Certainly.”
Lin Qianqian instructed an attendant to escort Feng Shu to the back, but before she could leave, the man spotted her.
“Well, if it isn’t Miss Feng. What a coincidence.”
Since she had already been seen, there was no point hiding anymore.
Lin Qianqian became curious about the man’s identity and why Feng Shu seemed so wary of him.
Zhang Hanyan explained,
“That fat fellow is Wang Qing, the eldest grandson of the Prime Minister’s residence. He’s used to bullying people and has been pestering Sister Feng for ages. It’s so annoying.”
So he was the Prime Minister’s eldest grandson—Wang Shi’s beloved nephew.
No wonder he looked greasy and unpleasant.
Ever since discovering that Wang Shi had not been involved in Jiang Shi’s disappearance, Lin Qianqian had begun suspecting that the mastermind might have been the Prime Minister himself.
After all, only with Jiang Shi gone could his disgraceful daughter secure a future for herself.
Lin Qianqian had long wanted an opportunity to get closer to the Prime Minister’s household.
As far as business was concerned, every visitor was a customer.
The female shopkeeper stepped forward politely.
“Esteemed guests, our cosmetics are sold in limited quantities each day. If you wish to purchase them, please come earlier tomorrow and queue up. At present, we only have cold cream, hair oil, and similar products available. Feel free to browse.”
The woman in red clung to Wang Qing’s arm and pouted.
“No, I don’t want ordinary things. I want the limited-edition cosmetics. I want them today.”
“Fine, fine, little darling. I’ll get them for you.”
Qingcheng Cosmetics Shop treated its customers very well. Tables and chairs were provided, and every guest was served a cup of floral tea.
When an attendant brought tea to Wang Qing, he immediately hurled the cup to the floor.
Crash!
The elegant white porcelain cup painted with red plum blossoms shattered into pieces, and scalding tea splashed onto the attendant’s feet.
“Listen up! I’m the Prime Minister’s own grandson! Today, you will give me one box of your limited-edition cosmetics. No—one box is too little. Give me six boxes. Sixes bring good fortune.”
Lin Qianqian thought to herself: This is outright banditry. Has Wang Qing read too many storybooks and started imitating the villains?
Coincidentally, she felt like playing the role of the hero and eliminating a menace to society.
“Wang Qing, is it? Apologize to my employee immediately. Compensate him for his injuries and pay for the cup you broke.”
Wang Qing sneered.
“No one has ever dared threaten me. My grandfather is the Prime Minister—second only to the Emperor. I don’t want your cosmetics anymore. Starting today, this entire shop belongs to me.”
Feng Shu stepped forward.
“Wang Qing, don’t do anything reckless.”
Wang Qing looked at her lecherously.
“If I don’t cause trouble, will you agree to marry me? Last month, my father sent matchmakers to your residence. Why did your family refuse?”
Zhang Hanyan stepped in front of Feng Shu.
“Wang Qing, a toad dreaming of swan meat!”
“I insist on eating that swan today. What can you do about it?”
Seeing that the shop was filled only with women, Wang Qing lost all restraint.
“Men, seize them!”
The servants he had brought were all strong, burly men. In an instant, they blocked the maids and older servants accompanying Feng Shu and Zhang Hanyan.
Grinning obscenely, Wang Qing reached toward Feng Shu.
“Miss Feng, just submit to me. I swear that once I marry you, I’ll never visit brothels again.”
No one had expected him to be so bold as to commit such outrageous acts in broad daylight.
Zhang Hanyan thought regretfully: If only Sister Lin had brought her lightning-struck wood today. Then Wang Qing could experience the joy of crawling around twisted and possessed.
“Sister Lin, didn’t you bring the lightning-struck wood today?”
“I didn’t.”
Zhang Hanyan sighed.
Without the lightning-struck wood or a bow and arrows, how were they supposed to deal with Wang Qing? And he had brought four powerful bodyguards with him.
Meanwhile, they were just a group of young ladies accompanied by maids and older servants. They had no chance in a fight.
Feng Shu said anxiously,
“Sister Lin, Sister Hanyan, leave now. Don’t let me drag you into this.”
Wang Qing laughed.
“Do you think I’m an idiot? Why would I let you run off and report this? None of you are leaving today. Once I’ve had my fun, I’ll let you go.”
His gaze shifted from Feng Shu to Zhang Hanyan.
“The one in pink must be your cousin. Fiery personality. I like her too.”
As he spoke, he changed direction and reached toward Zhang Hanyan’s face.
Hongdou shook her head helplessly.
If you insist on courting death, no one can stop you.
Lin Qianqian squeezed Zhang Hanyan’s trembling hand.
“As the young proprietor of Qingcheng Cosmetics Shop, it’s my responsibility to ensure my customers’ safety. Don’t worry. Even without weapons, I can deal with this bastard.”
She raised her hand and slapped Wang Qing to the ground.
She did it through a handkerchief, mainly because she didn’t want to dirty her hand.