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墨書 Inktalez
Is there anything in this world more terrifying than a ghost?
Rui'er grinned as she glanced at her face in the Copper Mirror. She thought that face was the most frightening thing in the world.
An ordinary face, with the word "poor" written all over it.
Rui'er bit down hard on her teeth, turned to look at the horrifying birthmark on Old Beggar's face, and asked him, "Is this enough?"
"As long as you drink the concoction in front of you and then imagine the life of the person you want to replace while looking into the mirror, you will see a miracle, and your wish will be granted."
Rui'er lowered her head and glanced at the bowl filled with a thick, dark broth. She couldn't tell what it was made from; it was sticky and emitted a pungent, fishy odor. The smell reminded Rui'er of a certain corner in the countryside, of a time when she could smell it on herself.
Rui'er frowned. She had considered that Old Beggar might be trying to harm her. But compared to the countless difficult days ahead, she would rather take a gamble here in the City God Temple. At worst, it would just mean death—something that Poor People fear the least.
Holding her nose, she tilted her head back and gulped down the thick concoction. As it slid down her throat, it brought an unbearable sour taste that Rui'er had to fight hard to keep from vomiting. Finally, she finished drinking it and looked defiantly at Old Beggar. He merely chuckled and asked, "How does it feel? Does it hurt?"
No sooner had Old Beggar finished speaking than Rui'er felt a sharp pain in her abdomen, causing her to clutch her stomach and roll on the ground.
"You... you're harming me!"
"Exchanging someone else's fate isn't that easy. To get what you desire, you must always endure some suffering and pay a price."
"What price?"
Rui'er gritted her teeth, curling up like a shrimp just thrown into boiling water.
"You'll find out soon enough."
The Old Beggar yawned and said, "If you wake up, go home. At the latest, in three months, you will get what you want. Let me remind you, young lady, that your face can be changed, but other things cannot. While there is still time, learn how to be a true sister, not a maid. You are so clever; you should understand what I mean, right?"
Rui'er felt pain and her eyes blurred, so she could only nod instinctively.
When she woke up, it was already dawn. In the City God Temple, she was the only one left.
At first, Rui'er did not notice any changes in herself; she thought the Old Beggar was just teasing her. Every day she thought about how to catch the Old Beggar and give him a good beating. Until one day, she accidentally saw her face in the mirror while grooming herself in Luofu's room and realized that the Old Beggar had not lied. Her face was changing at a subtle speed that was imperceptible to the naked eye.
Her eyes were getting bigger, her nose more pronounced, and even her mouth looked more attractive. Rui'er could see that she was gradually becoming Luofu, while Luofu was slowly becoming her.
The Luo Family rarely visited the Backyard to ensure Luofu could focus on preparing for her marriage. During this time, Luofu had been busy organizing her dowry and spent most of her time in the Embroidered Building, so no one else knew about these changes except for Rui'er.
Rui'er was very excited; she knew her wish would soon come true.
The excitement in Rui'er's eyes could not be hidden. Luofu saw it and thought Rui'er was happy for her upcoming marriage. It wasn't until Luofu finally finished embroidering her wedding dress and tried it on in front of the mirror that she realized her face had changed from what it used to be. The face in the Copper Mirror looked somewhat familiar but she couldn't recall where she had seen it before.
New Year's Eve was approaching, and after the New Year, her future husband’s wedding procession would arrive at Yun Family Gathering. Luofu felt anxious; she knew she absolutely could not greet her future husband with such a face. So she used the excuse of needing fresh air to seek help from her cousin but ended up being introduced to Chang Tai, who was helping to handle the missing persons case from Yun Manor and a mass grave case involving hundreds of people nearby at the Yamen. Chang Tai naturally recommended Luofu to Xing Ruyi.
At present, Xing Ruyi did not know about the transaction between Rui'er and the Old Beggar; she only found the changes happening to Rui'er rather strange.
"Xing Gu Niang," Luofu said, "I heard from Lord Chang that you are well-informed and have encountered many peculiar things. I want to ask if there are people who become uglier as they grow older?"
"There are!" Xing Ruyi replied affirmatively. "Elders often say that some grow beautiful as they age while others who start off ugly may become more attractive over time. Of course, there are also those who remain equally beautiful throughout their lives, but beauty lies in one's bones rather than skin deep. Those children who become uglier as they grow do not actually become ugly; rather, their internal structure changes with age. However, such significant changes usually occur only during growth periods. Since you are already seventeen years old now, your facial bones have long since set; there shouldn't be such drastic changes."
"Could it be that I have some illness without knowing it?"
"There is indeed an illness that can make a woman ugly," Xing Ruyi said as she dipped her finger in tea and wrote two characters on the table: "Spleen Deficiency!"
“Spleen Deficiency?” Luofu frowned. “How can Spleen Deficiency make someone ugly?”
“When the spleen and stomach function improperly, it weakens the body's ability to transport and digest food, leading to insufficient nutrition and reduced blood flow. This results in a poor complexion, especially for women like us. The most obvious symptoms are a yellowish complexion and dull skin.
Next, consider the lips. Medical practitioners often say that the spleen opens to the mouth, and its essence is reflected in the lips and the area around them. If the color of the lips becomes less pronounced, it certainly indicates a decline in spleen and stomach function. Poor lip color can significantly affect a person's beauty.
Finally, there’s the tip of the nose. Under normal circumstances, a person's nose tip should be bright and moist; if it loses its luster, the entire face will appear lifeless. A lifeless beauty is like a wilting flower; even a peony with exquisite color and fragrance will not look good when wilted.”
“Then does that mean I also suffer from Spleen Deficiency?” Luofu wondered. “Is there a Method to remedy this?”
“There is indeed a method, but it requires some time. Spleen Deficiency does not develop overnight, so nourishment will also take a considerable amount of time. Fortunately, you have come to me, Xing Ruyi. I can provide you with an internal nourishment and external adjustment Prescription. While I cannot guarantee miraculous effects, your complexion will definitely improve before you marry.”
“Thank you very much, Miss!”
“No need to be polite. Since you have found me, as a Fox Demon, I will do my utmost.”
Xing Ruyi then walked over to the counter and grabbed some paper and a pen. “Fox Demon will first prescribe two internal dietary remedies for you to drink regularly. After all, eating the same thing repeatedly can become tiresome over time.”
“Red Bean and Job's Tears Drink?”
Luofu approached Xing Ruyi and glanced at the paper.
“Red Bean and Job's Tears Drink: use 30 grams of red beans and 30 grams of Job's tears, simmer them in clean water over low heat for about half an hour. Afterward, pour out the broth and drink it hot or let it cool before drinking. However, given your current condition, Fox Demon still recommends that you drink it while it's warm.”
Upon hearing this, Luofu couldn't help but smile.
“I have noted down Miss Xing's medical advice. But is this Golden Needle Winter Melon Soup also a Prescription for treating Spleen Deficiency? I thought you would prescribe some bitter medicine that would be hard to swallow. To be honest, I am quite afraid of taking medicine; even if honey is placed beside it, I still can't manage.”
"The prescription for treating illnesses includes some medications that are necessary, but there are also some that can be achieved through daily meals. For example, the golden needle mushrooms in this Golden Needle Winter Melon Soup are a highly nutritious ingredient often given to young children to enhance their cognitive development, which is what we often say: the more you eat, the smarter you become. In addition to this, regularly consuming golden needle mushrooms can help resist fatigue and prevent and treat liver diseases as well as gastrointestinal disorders. You may not fully understand this, my dear, but just remember that golden needle mushrooms are good for you.
The Shennong Bencao Jing records that winter melon has the effect of improving complexion and alleviating hunger. If consumed regularly, it can help endure fatigue and relieve irritability. When used to make noodles, it can remove dark spots, moisturize the skin, and promote digestive health.
Soak the golden needle mushrooms in boiling water, then boil them together with shredded winter melon and a pinch of salt before serving."
Xing Ruyi handed the prepared dietary remedy to Luofu, then turned back to the counter and took a green porcelain bottle from the top shelf. The porcelain bottle had a finely drawn label on it with the words "Cold Fragrance Pill" written on it.
"Cold Fragrance Pill? This bottle is fresh and elegant yet seems to carry a hint of pride."
"This Cold Fragrance Pill is made according to ancient recipes. I selected 5 grams each of White Peony, White Lotus, White Hibiscus, and White Plum Blossom pollen, mixed with an appropriate amount of honey. Peony nourishes the liver and blood, generates blood, cools the blood, treats internal heat in the blood, and alleviates irritability; White Hibiscus clears the lungs and cools the blood while dispersing heat and detoxifying; Lotus clears the heart and boosts energy; White Plum Blossom soothes the liver and relieves depression. The combined effects of these four flowers greatly benefit both the liver and lungs. According to medical professionals, a person's liver has a decisive internal influence on skin tone and luster. Additionally, this White Hibiscus powder can be mixed alone with flower nectar for facial application; nourishing from within while treating from outside will yield results within seven days."
Luofu nodded, her previous anxiety finally easing considerably.
After sending Luofu off, Xing Ruyi began to worry again as she looked at the shop across from her. While they were making a fortune daily, she had only managed to attract one customer—who was referred by Brother Chang. Out of respect for Brother Chang, she could only sell at half price, which after much effort only earned her enough for a handful of sunflower seeds.
Before she could sigh again, a voice came from behind her.
"That sister Luo's ailment is not due to Spleen Deficiency but lies in her heart and liver."
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