Distress
All eyes were focused on her hands.
Fu Zhi Qiao began, "Does everyone know why our makeup tends to flake off in winter?"
"I know, it's because the skin on my face is too dry," Dong Yunting answered quickly.
Fu Zhi Qiao looked at her with an expression that said, "You're absolutely right," and said, "Madam Sun is right. The reason our makeup flakes off in winter is because our skin is too dry. There are many banquets at the end of the year, and if our makeup doesn't adhere well, wouldn't we embarrass ourselves in front of our relatives and friends..."
When it came to the issue of face, these ladies and noblewomen immediately perked up their ears.
Imagine this: at an important banquet, a group of exquisitely dressed ladies sit together. It's fine if they don't speak, but once they do, their makeup starts to fall off, making the scene incredibly awkward.
Fu Zhiqiao's words resonated with many people.
"Oh, that's right. My face gets so dry in winter, and even applying face cream doesn't really help."
"Especially after being exposed to cold wind, my face became very stiff, and my makeup came off badly."
To prevent the powder from falling off completely, two more layers had to be applied, which made the entire makeup look very heavy, and even made the person look gloomy.
Fu Zhiqiao spoke up at the right time: "So before applying makeup, first apply a layer of almond oil as a base, and slowly massage it until absorbed. After your face is completely moisturized, then apply face powder. This way, the face powder will stick to your face properly and won't come off all day, even if you make a funny face."
She first explained how dry skin can negatively impact makeup application, then described the benefits of almond oil, and finally demonstrated the makeup effect after applying almond oil.
"Mr. Fu, where did you buy this almond oil?" Wang Huizhen originally came to visit, but she was also attracted by what Fu Zhiqiao was saying.
If I used this almond oil as a face mask and moisturizer, I would definitely stand out from the crowd of people wearing thick masks.
Fu Zhi Qiao smiled and said, "This almond oil is homemade. You are all esteemed members of my Fu Yun Pavilion. I will send someone to deliver a portion to your homes later."
They taught makeup techniques and gave gifts, so the ladies were very satisfied with today's makeover.
Fu Zhi Qiao knew that many people came for her makeup skills, but for her, the makeover was just a gimmick to attract these ladies and young women. Her ultimate goal was to keep them spending money at Fu Yun Pavilion.
These noble ladies and wives had money and leisure time, and the style of their dresses, hairstyles, and hairpins... all determined the fashion trends in the capital.
Fu Zhiqiao once again used herself as a living advertisement.
"A good makeup look is one thing, but having good skin is the most important thing. Nobody wants to look radiant after applying makeup only to look dull and lifeless after removing it. Therefore, internal conditioning is also very important. The recipes for our food at Fuyun Pavilion have all been reviewed by the imperial physicians. Not only do they taste delicious, but they also have excellent beauty and nourishing effects!"
Fu Zhi Qiao is beautiful with fair and delicate skin, so her words about beauty and skincare are naturally regarded as wise sayings by the wealthy ladies.
Because many new members had joined, Fu Zhiqiao talked for two whole hours about everything from how to apply face powder and how to draw eyebrows to what kind of clothes to match with the color of lipstick.
Everyone listened intently, not wanting to miss a single word she said.
And so, with practical tips mixed in with a few personal touches, the makeover session gradually came to an end.
"Alright, that concludes today's makeover session. Please do not divulge what we have taught today, as these methods are exclusive secrets known only to members of Fuyun Pavilion. However, it is perfectly fine to teach them to your close friends and family..."
Fu Zhiqiao's mouth was dry from talking.
The ladies, however, were full of energy.
At the end, Fu Zhi Qiao pulled Qiu Qin out and told everyone that they could ask her any makeup questions in the future. "This is Qiu Qin, our new beauty consultant at Fu Yun Ge. She will be stationed at the shop from now on to answer your questions."
After being trained, Qiuqin has become much bolder, and she smiled and gestured to everyone.
"Now that we have a beauty consultant, does that mean you won't be coming to teach anymore, Mr. Fu?" Dong Yunting asked hurriedly. She wanted to get to know Fu Zhiqiao, as she had been deeply impressed by Fu Zhiqiao's talent after the makeover session.
The thought of the beauty-enhancing soups in Fuyun Pavilion and Fu Zhi Qiao's makeup skills and styling methods made Dong Yunting eager to learn more about beauty and skincare. If she could learn more skincare methods from her, becoming beautiful would be a piece of cake.
Dong Yunting's question hit the nail on the head and sparked discussion among others.
Hearing everyone's complaints, Fu Zhiqiao smiled and said, "I'll come again, but not as often. I've already shared all the makeup techniques I have with you. I'll teach you new techniques when I figure them out."
The valued members were appeased.
As she left, Fu Zhiqiao overheard their praise of her: "It was definitely the right decision to come today. This Boss Fu is truly capable."
"Absolutely. If it weren't for her, I would never have imagined that there were so many intricacies involved in choosing lip rouge."
"Oh, Ruyi, thanks to you for introducing me to this place last time. My skin is much smoother after drinking the beauty soup here."
...
Wang Huizhen deliberately stayed until the very end to leave, just so she could have a few words with Fu Zhiqiao.
"Boss Fu."
Fu Zhiqiao smiled slightly: "Mrs. Wei, what advice do you have for me?"
"I wouldn't presume to offer guidance, but if you encounter any difficulties in the future, Mr. Fu, you can come to the Ministry of Works to find me." Wang Huizhen's gaze was fixed on Fu Zhiqiao's face, a hint of expectation appearing in her eyes.
Fu Zhiqiao was taken aback upon hearing this, a hint of hesitation flashing in her eyes. She was certain that this was the first time she had met the wife of the Minister of Works, and she didn't understand why this lady was showing her such great kindness and even implying that she could go to her if she encountered any difficulties.
Although completely confused, Fu Zhiqiao still smiled and expressed her gratitude.
As Fu Zhi Qiao packed her things to leave after the makeover ceremony, a servant approached her, bowed, and said, "Miss Fu, the young master has sent me to fetch you to Wen Yuan Villa!"
Fu Zhi Qiao: "?"
Xie Zhuo had left the capital on business, hadn't he? Before she could speak, she heard the servant say, "The young master is already waiting for you at the villa."
Fu Zhi Qiao was initially skeptical of this stranger, but when he mentioned Wen Yuan Villa, her heart wavered. What if he was telling the truth? What if Xie Zhuo really wanted to see her? She pressed on, asking, "Who are you?"
The servant replied with a smile, "I am the new coachman at Wenyuan Villa. Uncle Ming arranged for me to pick you up."
Fu Zhiqiao then asked, "When did the young master return?"
The servant's smile remained unchanged as he bowed his head and replied, "He returned at noon today. The young master has been traveling a long way and is currently resting in the villa."
Seeing that he knew about Wenyuan Villa outside the city and even knew Uncle Ming, Fu Zhi Qiao gradually lowered her guard against him. She told Qiu Qin to go back first, while she got into the carriage with him.
*
The servant breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Fu Zhiqiao get into the carriage.
As soon as Fu Zhi Qiao got into the carriage, she closed her eyes to rest. Preparing for the makeover event had taken up too much of her energy. The carriage kept swaying after leaving the city, and Fu Zhi Qiao felt something was wrong. The last time she came to Wen Yuan Villa, the road wasn't this bumpy. She couldn't help but ask, "Why haven't we arrived yet?"
The servant remained calm, his expression unchanged, and replied, "Miss Fu, please wait a little longer, we'll be there soon." With that, he tightened the reins, cracked the whip on the horse's rump, and shouted, "Giddy up!"
The carriage was moving even faster than before.
As Fu Zhi Qiao sat in the carriage, the more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. She gently lifted the carriage curtain and narrowed her eyes slightly. Something was wrong! This was not the road to Wen Yuan Villa.
The quiet mountain path was deserted. Fu Zhiqiao suppressed the strange feeling in her heart and used the gap in the curtains to survey the surrounding terrain. There were small paths all around, and it would be difficult for someone who was not very familiar with the terrain to find their way out.
As she was thinking of a solution, the carriage suddenly stopped, accompanied by the rustling of leaves, which then subsided into silence.
"What happened?"
Two breaths later, there was no response.
Fu Zhi Qiao noticed something amiss outside. She abruptly lifted the curtain at the front of the carriage, only to find the driver nowhere to be seen. Not far away, a row of black figures stood...
The visitor is not friendly.
The men in black were all masked and held large knives. They were clearly not ordinary bandits. Fu Zhi Qiao's expression became extremely solemn. She suddenly remembered that the wife of the Minister of Works had said that she could go to her if she encountered any difficulties. She had just said that today and then she was in danger. This was too much of a coincidence. Could it be that she knew something?
Fu Zhi Qiao's brow twitched violently. The servant boy was with these people. They deliberately brought her to this desolate place to take her life.
Before Fu Zhiqiao could think any further, the man in black had already rushed towards her with a knife in hand.
A murderous aura filled the air. The horse seemed to sense something, and it uneasily raised its hoof, gradually becoming agitated.
As the man in black drew closer, Fu Zhiqiao quickly pulled out the pearl hairpin from her hair, stabbed it into the horse's rump, and then swiftly pulled it out.
The horse, in pain, neighed and galloped into the deep forest. Inside the carriage, everything spun around, and the situation ahead was completely obscured. Fu Zhi Qiao endured the jolting in the carriage, bracing herself against the side of the carriage to try to keep herself steady.
The horse, provoked, galloped wildly without any order, and she had no control over its direction.
The horse galloped wildly down a slope, and Fu Zhi Qiao's head hit the carriage wall hard. After the pain subsided, she sat up straight, clutching the back of her head. Her hair had become disheveled from the jolting of the carriage. She hid the beaded hairpin that had just been used to fasten the horse's rump into her sleeve.
The men in black were hot on their heels. Outside the carriage, chaos reigned, but inside, Fu Zhi Qiao was calmer than ever before. She didn't care about the bumps and jolting. She only hoped the horse would run faster, because only the faster the horse ran could she shake off the group of men in black behind her.
A large carriage was being pulled on the horse's back. No matter how fast it was, it couldn't match the speed of the black-clad man's steed. With a mournful cry, the horse, which had been running, suddenly stopped. The black-clad man behind her threw something at her, and the carriage lurched violently. She was thrown out of the carriage.
The moment she landed, her left ankle twisted, and she fell to the ground, rolling twice. She endured the pain and got up before she could see her surroundings clearly.
Faced with a group of strong, burly assassins wielding large knives, Fu Zhi Qiao's heart sank.
There was a forest not far away, and the trees there provided good cover. But the men in black were closing in, forming a semi-encirclement that blocked her escape route. Moreover, her ankle was injured, so she couldn't run away even if she wanted to.
Ahead lies an assassin, behind lies a cliff.
Fu Zhi Qiao stood up despite the pain in her foot. She knew that confronting this group directly would not end well, so finding another way out was the only option.
She absolutely cannot die here.
Hoping to delay as much as possible, Fu Zhi Qiao pulled her hand back into her sleeve, gripped the hairpin hidden inside, and shouted at the group of men in black: "Who are you? If you want money, just name your price."
The leader of the men in black snorted coldly, raised his knife, and charged forward.
If it wasn't for money, then it was for her as a person.
The blade flashed, and Fu Zhi Qiao involuntarily narrowed her eyes. "Wait, can't you let me die knowing why? Who sent you? At least I'll know who my enemies are on my way to the underworld."
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