HLnovel Chapter 324 The Rich Woman and the Noblewoman
Chapter 324 The Rich Woman and the Noblewoman
As soon as Hongchang issued his decree, the entire Qing Dynasty became abuzz with excitement.
The young women from all over the country began their preparations.
Their families were even busier, some busy preparing their daughters' travel gear.
Others were busy inquiring about the details and rules of the talent show.
In the capital, officials from the Ministry of Rites were also busy preparing for the selection of officials.
From the registration and screening of candidates to the final selection, every step had to be carefully planned.
This is the Emperor's first imperial concubine selection; if anything goes wrong...
No one can afford to offend that.
The Minister of Rites personally presided over the meeting and convened a group of officials to discuss the matter.
They developed a detailed process and assigned dedicated personnel to receive and settle the young women from various regions.
Meanwhile, Fucha Peiyun and Nian Shilan were not idle either.
They asked Ye'er and Songzhi to collect information on the candidates for the imperial concubines so they could get a better understanding of them beforehand.
Which of the selected ladies-in-waiting must be kept until the final palace selection?
They all need to prepare the list in advance.
Most of these women were daughters of meritorious officials; whether or not they would become imperial concubines was another matter.
They still had to be given the respect they deserved, and those women reserved for the final selection...
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, most will be assigned to members of the royal family.
There were also the sons and grandsons of court officials favored by the emperor; these were all forms of reward and incentive for meritorious officials.
As the audition draws closer, Beijing becomes even more bustling.
As news of the talent show spread, shops in Beijing became bustling with activity.
These young women from various regions were to be brought to the capital.
I'll definitely buy the things needed for the audition then, so I'll naturally make some good preparations.
The shop owners in the capital were extremely excited; this was a golden opportunity to make money.
With so many young women to be selected for the imperial concubine examination, they need to buy headdresses, fabrics, rouge, and jewelry.
Those who enjoy food will surely want to try the local specialties of Kyoto.
This time, the Emperor allowed Han women to participate in the imperial concubine selection, and the Jiangnan region was prosperous.
The young ladies from Jiangnan must be very generous.
The shops in the capital made thorough preparations to welcome these young women.
The newest jewelry, the finest fabrics, the sweetest pastries,
All sorts of shops are pulling out all the stops, ready to make a fortune from this talent show extravaganza.
The new store, meticulously prepared by Guarjia Wenyuan and others, also took this opportunity to open.
The princesses, including Guarjia Wenyuan, all moved to the princess's residence.
He had to go to the Imperial Study every day to study, with maids and eunuchs attending to him.
They no longer need the care of Guarjia Wenyuan and others.
They then sought out Fucha Peiyun, hoping to emulate Feng Ruozhao and the others.
Fucha Peiyun suggested doing something meaningful.
They opened such a small shop
The shop is called "Qiluoxiang".
This shop is quite unique, displaying many novelties that the ladies of the capital had never seen before.
There are face masks and facial cleansers.
There are also various styles of perfumes, lipsticks, and rouge.
These items attracted a lot of attention as soon as they were displayed.
On opening day, the store was bustling with activity, with a constant stream of people coming to visit and make purchases.
The first thing they noticed was the brightly colored, smooth-textured lip rouge.
These lip rouges are different from those of the past; they are not stored in boxes.
Instead, they were tubular, made of wood, metal, and white porcelain.
Their colors are rich and varied, ranging from delicate pink to vibrant red.
It has everything, a dazzling array.
These lip balms are not only alluring in color, but also have a delicate texture. When applied to the lips,
It adds color without drying out the lips.
Applying this lip rouge immediately improved one's blood circulation.
Compared to the crude lip rouge they used before, this lip rouge was worlds apart.
Then there were those exquisite bottles of perfume displayed.
These perfumes have a fresh and pleasant scent, like the first rays of morning sunlight.
It gently sprays onto the tip of your nose, bringing a touch of coolness.
Compared to Western perfumes, they were more in line with the aesthetic tastes of the people in the Qing Dynasty.
These perfumes are neither too strong nor too pungent, so as not to cause discomfort.
It won't be so subtle as to be hard to detect.
Their flavors are just right, giving a fresh and natural feeling.
It felt like being in a sea of flowers, surrounded by the fragrance of various blossoms.
Moreover, these perfumes have a very long-lasting scent.
Even after a busy day, you can still smell that faint fragrance.
This long-lasting fragrance allows you to perceive the perfume's presence without even realizing it.
It adds a touch of elegance and romance to life.
The perfume bottles themselves are also a delightful surprise.
These perfume bottles are exquisitely designed.
Some resemble crystal balls, with delicate patterns carved on them.
It's as if every line contains endless stories;
Some resemble small, exquisite vases, with lifelike floral patterns painted on their surfaces.
These exquisite bottles not only add an artistic touch to the perfumes, but also make them irresistible to customers.
Such perfume bottles are also excellent for collecting.
With such fine lip balm and perfume,
The ladies became even more interested in the face masks and cleansers they had never seen before.
The store has specially trained staff who wear uniforms.
With elegant manners, she patiently explained the usage and effects of the face masks and facial cleansers to the visiting ladies.
The packaging of these face masks and facial cleansers is also very exquisite.
The face mask is made of silk fabric as thin as a cicada's wing.
It was soaked in essence and had a faint herbal scent.
The shop assistants explained that these face masks are made with the finest herbs and natural flower extracts.
It can deeply nourish the skin, making it moisturized and smooth in a short time.
The facial cleanser was packaged in an exquisite ceramic jar.
Upon opening the lid, a refreshing citrus aroma wafts out.
The shop assistants explained and demonstrated on the spot.
Lather the facial cleanser with warm water, gently massage it onto your face in circular motions, and then rinse it off with clean water.
After washing, my skin felt clean and refreshed.
It also had a faint fragrance, which amazed the ladies present.
The ladies were all drawn to the face masks and cleansers, and the staff led them to the experience area on the second floor.
The place was decorated very exquisitely and elegantly, with various soft cushions and comfortable chairs.
Several exquisite landscape paintings hung on the wall.
The landscape in the painting seems to make people forget the hustle and bustle of the world and immerse themselves in a state of tranquility.
Sunlight streamed through the half-open carved wooden window.
The light spilled onto the smooth floor, creating soft patches of light and shadow.
It adds a touch of warmth and elegance to the entire space.
The shop assistants guided the ladies to individual cubicles.
Each cubicle is equipped with a large mirror, an elegant dressing table, and a soft chair.
They thoughtfully prepared a brand new set of face masks and facial cleanser for each lady, as well as some small towels and water.
The staff demonstrated to each lady how to properly use the face masks and facial cleansers.
The ladies were captivated by these novel experiences and began to try them out, following the instructions of the shop assistants.
The moment the face mask was applied, the ladies felt a refreshing sensation.
It was as if all the fatigue had been swept away.
After washing their faces with the facial cleanser, their skin became exceptionally smooth and delicate, making them unable to resist admiring themselves closely in the mirror.
After the experience, the ladies were full of praise for the products and eagerly made purchases.
Such novelty, such thoughtful service
The price was naturally exceptionally high, but the wealthy ladies didn't care.
These noble ladies mostly came from wealthy families and their households were never short of money.
They are naturally generous with these novelties that can make them more beautiful.
As they selected their favorite products, they exchanged their experiences using them, making the store lively and bustling.
Just then, a girl dressed in a light yellow Han Chinese woman's outfit slowly walked into "Qiluoxiang".
Her lower body was clad in a light blue pleated skirt, as light and graceful as a flower blooming in spring.
The folds of her skirt swayed gently with her steps; every movement exuded the unique gentleness and grace of a woman from Jiangnan.
Two maids dressed in simple, elegant attire followed closely behind her.
Although these two maids were not particularly beautiful,
But everyone could immediately see the difference between them and the women of the capital.
It's a unique charm from the Jiangnan region.
When the girl in the pale yellow dress stepped into "Qiluoxiang",
The once lively atmosphere inside the store seemed to quiet down.
The noble ladies all cast curious glances at her, drawn to this woman with her unique charm.
Even the shop assistants couldn't help but stop what they were doing and take a few more glances at this fairy-like girl.
The girl in the pale yellow dress seemed unaware of the stares of the crowd.
With just a faint smile, she slowly walked towards the counter.
She asked softly, "I'm new to the capital, and the shop seems very lively. May I ask what kind of good things you have here?"
The shop assistants snapped out of their daze and immediately went to greet them.
One of the shop assistants answered with a smile:
"Young lady, our shop has all sorts of novel and wonderful beauty products,"
For example, this lip balm comes in a variety of colors and textures;
There are also perfumes with a fresh and pleasant scent that lasts a long time;
There are also face masks and facial cleansers that deeply nourish the skin, leaving it hydrated and smooth.
The girl's gaze fell on the exquisite perfume bottles, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.
She gently picked up a bottle of perfume engraved with a lotus flower pattern, brought it close to her nose, and exclaimed:
"The fragrance is wonderful, it's refreshing and not overpowering, and it makes you feel good."
She then picked up a metal lip balm and gently twisted it open.
Seeing its delicate and smooth texture, I couldn't resist trying it.
After applying it to my lips and looking at myself in the mirror the clerk brought me, I smiled with satisfaction.
"The texture of this lip rouge is indeed as delicate as rumored, and the color is also very beautiful."
When applied to the lips, it makes one look much healthier.
"If you like it, we have many more styles to choose from in our store."
The shop assistant enthusiastically introduced the products.
"These products are all carefully selected and made by us."
"Superior quality, guaranteed to satisfy any girl."
The girl smiled slightly, nodded, and then looked at the face masks and facial cleansers.
She was also very interested in face masks and facial cleansers.
So he picked up another face mask and carefully examined the herbal essence on it.
She asked softly, "Could you explain in detail how to use this face mask and its effects?"
The sales assistant explained the face mask and facial cleanser to the young woman in detail.
After listening to the shop assistant's introduction, the girl's eyes were filled with excitement.
"How many of these face masks and facial cleanser are left? I want to buy more."
Sending these back to Jiangnan, I'm sure my mother and sisters-in-law will love such fine things.
I'll buy more; I can take them back as gifts.
As she spoke, the girl began to select items, pointing to the perfumes and various lip rouges displayed on the counter.
He generously said, "Wrap up all these perfumes and lip balms for me."
Also, please wrap up these face masks and facial cleanser for me.
The shop assistant was delighted to have such a generous and easygoing customer, and her face beamed with smiles.
The shop assistant nodded quickly in response:
"Alright, please wait a moment, young lady, I'll wrap it up carefully for you right away."
The shop assistant quickly started packing, and even called over another shop assistant to help.
The ladies present, seeing this young woman shopping so generously,
I couldn't help but feel a mix of envy and curiosity.
They whispered among themselves, speculating about the girl's identity.
Some speculated that she was the daughter of a wealthy merchant from Jiangnan.
Some people think she might be the legitimate daughter of a certain official from Jiangnan.
Just then, a richly dressed noblewoman walked over.
She had a beautiful face, but there was a hint of arrogance in her eyes.
She walked over to the girl in the pale yellow dress.
He snorted and said, "This young lady certainly has a good interest, making such a grand gesture on her first visit to the capital."
I just wonder which family's daughter my sister is, to be so generous.
Aren't you afraid of being scolded by your elders when you go back home?
The girl in the pale yellow dress smiled slightly, not angry at all.
She raised her head, looked at the noblewoman with gentle eyes, and said:
"Young lady, you're joking. My parents only have one daughter, me. They don't have any older sisters."
And how does the young lady know I'm younger than you?
The noblewoman's expression froze for a moment, then she quickly regained her haughty demeanor.
"Hmph, whether you have an older sister or not, judging from your behavior, you must have never received any proper upbringing."
The girl in the pale yellow dress remained unperturbed; instead, she chuckled softly.
"The young lady is so aggressive that it makes me, a person with no manners, seem more dignified than her."
When I first arrived in the capital, I was simply drawn to this interesting object.
So I thought I'd buy some to give to my elders at home. What's wrong with that?
Has the young lady never shown filial piety to her elders?
The noblewoman was rendered speechless by the girl in the pale yellow dress's rebuttal.
His expression grew increasingly grim, yet he was unwilling to give up.
Her face flushed red, and she raised her hand as if to hit the girl from Jiangnan.
At this moment, the maid behind the noblewoman hurriedly grabbed the noblewoman's sleeve tightly.
He whispered, "Miss, you mustn't!"
There are too many people and too many eyes in this shop. If a fight breaks out, it won't sound good if word gets out.
Besides, this girl doesn't seem like someone to be trifled with, so let's just bear with it."
The noblewoman trembled with anger upon hearing the maid's words.
But he could only barely suppress it, and glared fiercely at the girl in the pale yellow dress.
He snorted coldly, turned and walked away, muttering to himself:
"Hmph, just you wait, I'm not done with this yet!"
The girl in the pale yellow dress watched the noblewoman's departing figure.
He simply smiled faintly, as if nothing had happened.
They continued selecting their favorite items.
Seeing this, the shop assistants quickly surrounded her again and served her warmly.