Rong Ma said, "Master, rest assured. I go to the Confucian Temple every month to give money. A few days ago, I sent a gambler to the Confucian Temple to deliberately induce Master Shen to gamble again. Master Shen beat the gambler out with a broom."
Shen Wei felt a little relieved.
Shen Xiuming's gambling nature almost disappeared, and he focused on preparing for the spring examination.
However, Shen Wei was still worried. Although Shen Xiuming is smart and hardworking, which of the candidates who have participated in the Spring Examination in previous years was not smart and hardworking?
The Spring Examination is to select the more talented person from a group of geniuses.
The noble children of Yanjing were exposed to Confucian classics from an early age; the students of the Imperial Academy studied under the guidance of doctors every day and were exposed to the Spring Examination at an early age.
Reality is always cruel. For many children from noble families, their starting point is the finishing line for students from poor families.
Shen Wei wanted to help her brother again and find a knowledgeable tutor for Shen Xiuming.
"Madame Rong, apart from the doctors in the Imperial College, who is the most learned scholar in Yanjing?" Shen Wei asked.
Rong Mama thought about it carefully and replied, "My Lord, it should be Doctor Yang Xuanji. Doctor Yang is already seventy years old. He was once a senior official in the Ministry of Rites and edited countless ancient books. He retired last year and returned his position to the emperor, retiring to the eastern suburbs of Luoyue Lake. His Majesty, in recognition of his contributions to history editing, gave Doctor Yang a hundred taels of gold and a large house for his retirement."
Shen Wei was thoughtful.
"Doctor" is an official title in the Kingdom of Qing, who was in charge of teaching classics, so he was called "Doctor".
Dr. Yang Xuanji was in charge of three spring examinations and had also guided many candidates. If he could be asked to come out and give guidance to Shen Xiuming, Shen Xiuming's chances of passing the exam would be higher.
Rong Mama guessed what Shen Wei was thinking, so she tactfully reminded Shen Wei: "Master, talented people often have strange tempers. This Doctor Yang was born in a poor family, hates evil, hates oppression by the powerful, and is often excluded by his colleagues when he is an official. Fortunately, he has the protection of the emperor and the prince, so he can successfully beg for his bones and retire."
"He lives in seclusion by the lake. Many dignitaries want to invite him to come out and teach their children. I remember that last year the princess went to Luoyue Lake in person and was willing to pay a thousand taels of gold as a reward to ask Dr. Yang to teach the two young masters. Dr. Yang was unmoved."
If you want to ask Dr. Yang to teach Shen Xiuming, the chance of success is close to zero.
Shen Wei took a sip of the sour citrate water and smiled: "Man proposes, God disposes. As long as you are a human, you have weaknesses - Rong Mama, find out what Dr. Yang's weakness is."
Aunt Rong: "I will definitely live up to your trust."
Aunt Rong left.
Chen Wei continued to look at the account book, and Cai Ping came over jogging: "Master, Yun'er from the princess's mansion is here, saying that the princess wants you to go to the Pear Garden to watch a play tomorrow."
Shen Wei hadn't left the house for a while, so she gladly accepted the invitation: "Okay."
...
...
On the morning of the second day, Chen Wei reluctantly saw Prince Yan off and watched him for a long time under the eaves until his tall figure was no longer in her sight. Then she turned around and went back into the house.
Shen Wei continued to eat.
Madam Rong walked up to Shen Wei with a portrait and said, "Master, I have found out Dr. Yang's weakness."
Aunt Rong handed the portrait to Shen Wei.
When you spread it out, you can see that the portrait depicts a man and a woman. The man was over 70 years old, with gray hair and stern eyes. He was a dignified scholar.
The painting next to him shows an old woman in her sixties with a round face and eyes that still show her former beauty. The only flaw was that there was a burn the size of a baby's fist on the right side of his face.
Rong Ma said: "Dr. Yang is upright and knowledgeable. When he was an official, he was not afraid of the powerful. The court called him a tough old nut to crack. Dr. Yang's weak spot is his wife Luo.
Dr. Yang offended someone in the officialdom and his house was maliciously set on fire. Mrs. Luo braved the fire to rescue him from the flames, suffering a burn on the right side of her face. Mrs. Luo suffered burns on her lower abdomen and lower limbs and was unable to have children, but Dr. Yang stayed with her and never took a concubine. ”
Shen Wei studied the portrait and memorized Luo's face.
After breakfast, the carriage from the princess's mansion also arrived at the gate of Prince Yan's mansion. Shen Wei changed into a plain long dress and walked into the carriage.
The carriage was spacious, and soft light shone through the thin gauze curtains and fell on Shen Wei's bright face.
Chen Wei has a fair face, rosy lips, a beautiful red flower ornament on her forehead, and curved willow-leaf eyebrows. There is no flaw on her face, even her pores are very small.
Zhao Yang looked at Shen Wei's face: "Wei Wei, you are more beautiful and much whiter... What kind of pearl powder is on your face?"
Zhaoyang touched Shen Wei's face curiously, it was slippery.
Looking more closely, there was no white pearl powder on her fingers.
Shen Wei explained, "There is a new rouge shop called Qixiangzhai in Yanjing, which sells a makeup powder called [Jade Face]. I asked my maid to buy a box. This makeup powder is amazing. It can cover blemishes and even out skin tone when applied on the face. After applying it all over the face, apply a layer of pearl powder. The makeup will not come off and will last for a long time."
Yuyan makeup powder is actually the ancient version of liquid foundation. Pearl powder, Shen Wei uses it as a loose powder to set makeup, and the effect is very good.
Zhaoyang immediately became interested: "Weiwei, let's not go to the opera house, take me to that shop and have a look!"
The makeup powder used by the noble ladies in Yanjing nowadays is either lead powder or pearl powder. For example, the makeup powder that Zhaoyang now applies on her face is carefully ground pearl powder mixed with egg white and some fat oil, stirred into a paste, and then applied to the face.
The pearl powder used by Zhaoyang does not last long and does not adhere well to the face. If you move your face too much, the pearl powder on your face will fall off, which is very unsightly.
Zhaoyang has long wanted to switch to a new makeup powder that fits the skin better, but has never found a suitable alternative.
This is what Shen Wei was waiting for, and she immediately took the princess to the rouge shop.
To increase the popularity of the rouge shop, Princess Zhaoyang of Daqing Kingdom was the best spokesperson. Chen Wei had already written a letter in advance to inform Ye Qiu Shuang, asking her to make preparations in advance to welcome the princess.
The carriage drove smoothly all the way and soon arrived at the place where the rouge shop was located.
...
...
Qixiangzhai was recently opened and is located on the edge of the most prosperous neighborhood. In addition to selling expensive "Jade Face" powder, they also sell ordinary rouge and powder.
Business is neither good nor bad.
Customers only bought ordinary rouge and powder, and were reluctant to pay attention to the "Jade Face" which cost as much as fifty taels of silver.
"Greetings to Princess Zhaoyang!"
Ye Qiu Shuang waited for a long time and brought the female shop assistants to greet Zhao Yang. The princess's arrival startled many passers-by, and everyone looked over.
Shen Wei wore a long white veil to cover her face and followed Zhao Yang.
Zhaoyang had a good memory. He recognized Ye Qiushuang and said with a smile, "Shopkeeper Ye, you opened a rouge shop?"
Ye Qiu Shuang readily replied, "I was born in the south of the Yangtze River, where the climate is humid and women's skin is smooth and tender. I came to Yanjing to do business and found that the autumn in Yanjing is dry and the skin becomes rough, so I want to open a rouge shop to sell makeup powder for plump skin."
Ye Qiushuang also applied jade-like makeup powder on her face, making her look fitting, beautiful and dignified. Zhaoyang was overjoyed: "But the Jade Face Makeup Powder? This princess wants to try it!"
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