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墨書 Inktalez
As New Year's Eve approaches, Yun Family Gathering shakes off the gloom of recent days and becomes increasingly lively, especially those shops selling rice and grains. Customers come in waves, and even the nearby stalls selling pork and lamb are thriving.
Seeing the bustling atmosphere of other people's shops and then glancing at her own quiet store, Xing Ruyi feels less inclined to do business. She takes a sip of hot tea, nudges the fox beside her, and asks, "What do you think? Should we switch to selling rice and grains? This Yun Family Gathering isn't Divine Capital Luoyang; as the year-end approaches, everyone is buying food and drinks. Our Rouge and Face Powder is just not appealing."
"What's wrong? Are you envious?"
The fox asks with a sideways glance, its eyes filled with amusement.
"Yes! I am envious. Not only envious but also feeling quite jealous. During this festive season, while other shops are making money, our Ruyi Rouge shop hasn't seen a single customer for several days. Watching all that white silver flow into others' pockets makes me feel more than just envy; it pains my heart."
"That's quite pitiful!"
The fox smirks, intending to comfort the Fox Demon but can't help laughing when it meets her sorrowful gaze.
"How about we just close the shop? Out of sight, out of mind. If we close the door, you won't have to see others thriving."
Xing Ruyi wrinkles her nose. "Are you trying to deceive yourself?"
"No! I'm just treating the symptoms," the fox replies, lightly raising its tail to close half of the open door instantly. "My wife is at least a shopkeeper; she shouldn't have to personally handle these business matters. Even if we switch to selling rice and grains, we should wait until Li Mao returns from Luoyang. Besides, you need to take care of your health; if you're worried every day, how can I be at ease?"
Xing Ruyi sticks out her tongue, retracting her gaze from outside and putting down her teacup. She leans closer to the fox and asks, "When will Deer Lady arrive? To be honest, while my cooking skills are decent, handling New Year preparations requires her expertise. In previous years, it was just you and me celebrating together; although it was warm, it felt a bit lonely. This year will be different; not only do we have Li Mao and Deer Lady, but also Brother Chang and Yin Yuan. We need to prepare more food and drinks. You know what? Ever since Grandpa and Grandma passed away, I haven't experienced such a lively New Year's Eve in a long time."
"Don't be so hopeless!" Seeing Xing Ruyi's eyes redden, the fox reaches out to pinch her cheek. "I promise you that every New Year's Eve from now on will be more lively than this one."
"Really?"
Xing Ruyi lifts her face to ask, and upon seeing the fox nodding, her eyes grow even redder.
Not wanting to cry in front of the fox, she quickly lowers her head, planning to discreetly wipe away her tears when she notices another pair of feet outside the door.
The hemline of the Aqua Blue dress gently swayed with the breeze. Beneath the hemline were a pair of white-soled, black-topped embroidered shoes adorned with numerous hibiscus flowers, showcasing meticulous craftsmanship. Following the hemline upward, one could see an Azure Blue Silk Cloak; the fabric was only of average quality, but the style was newly fashionable. Further up was a veil that revealed only a pair of standard Dan Feng Eyes.
As their gazes met, the other person hurriedly lowered their head and offered a slight bow.
"Excuse me, is this shop still open for customers today?"
"Yes, we are open... we are open."
Finally having a customer, Xing Ruyi was naturally very enthusiastic. Ignoring her still-red eyes, she welcomed the girl: "Please come in! May I ask if you are looking to purchase Rouge, Face Powder, or perhaps some common Skincare Products? If none of those appeal to you, that's alright too; I also have an exclusive Bathing Formula that is guaranteed to be more effective than any Floral Bath or Milk Bath. It is made entirely from plant extracts, contains no preservatives, is easy to use, and poses no harm to the body. You will fall in love with it after just one use."
Xing Ruyi's series of sales pitches not only failed to impress the girl but left her momentarily stunned. The girl raised her beautiful eyes and looked at Xing Ruyi with a hint of embarrassment. After hesitating for a moment, she softly replied, "You spoke too quickly just now; I didn't catch everything."
Xing Ruyi felt embarrassed herself.
She turned around, hoping to find some comfort from the fox, but instead saw the fox smiling unabashedly. Feeling a pang in her heart, she shot him an eye roll. The fox noticed and pressed his lips together before making an excuse to check on Yin Yuan and got up to head to the backyard.
"Who is that—"
"That's my Husband!"
"You’re married?"
Luofu looked at Xing Ruyi again; her hairstyle and makeup were typical of an unmarried woman, leaving him somewhat puzzled.
"Oh, not yet; I will marry after the New Year."
Xing Ruyi smiled shyly and led Luofu to a table where she took a new teacup and poured a cup of hot tea for him.
"My parents passed away early, and there is only one adoptive brother in my family. He, like me, has lost his parents and only has a few distant relatives. Therefore, there weren't many formalities in the past. Anyway, I have determined that I will marry no one but him, and he has also decided that he will marry no one but me. As for the opinions of others, I don't pay much attention to them."
"Luofu envies the girl's carefree attitude."
Luofu glanced at Xing Ruyi, and there was indeed an unmistakable envy in her eyes.
"It's not so much carefree; it's just that with our background, there aren't many formalities," Xing Ruyi said, also glancing at the veil on Luofu's face. "Although my Ruyi Cosmetic Shop is not large, we have a complete range of Rouge and Face Powder. I wonder what you would like to buy? The Fox Demon here can easily make some recommendations for you."
"Rest assured, my shop has a rule that is different from others: we only sell what is suitable for our customers and will never push sales indiscriminately. You can see for yourself that everything on my shelves is clearly priced and honest. Whether it's this branch at the Yun Family Gathering or the main store in Divine Capital Luoyang, the ingredients, effects, and prices are all the same."
"To be honest, before coming here, Luofu inquired about your Ruyi Cosmetic Shop and learned that your shop is different from others. It can solve problems that others cannot address, relieve worries that others cannot dispel, and treat ailments that others cannot cure."
Luofu gently lifted her veil. There was nothing unusual about her face; it just appeared quite ordinary compared to her striking eyes. Additionally, her skin was rough with large pores and uneven tone. However, these issues could be improved significantly with regular care over time.
"The girl's face—"
Xing Ruyi lowered her gaze, intending to speak but noticed Luofu's hands partially hidden in her sleeves. Compared to her face, those hands were much more beautiful; not only were the fingers delicate as jade, but even the skin condition was markedly different from her face.
It was like painting a portrait of a beauty; you meticulously depicted everything but lost patience when it came to detailing her features, resulting in a disjointed appearance.
"You noticed it too? My face does not match my hands at all. This is because this face is not mine."
Luofu spoke softly, but the more indifferent her tone was, the stranger the whole situation sounded.
Xing Ruyi was not unfamiliar with changing faces. The former General's Wife Mu Xi had once used someone else's face as her own. However, Luofu clearly seemed like an ordinary woman; she had neither Mu Xi's spell nor her abilities. Moreover, if one were to change their face, they should seek a more beautiful one rather than the plain face before her.
After finishing that sentence, Luofu carefully observed Xing Ruyi's expression. Seeing that she was merely slightly astonished without showing disbelief eased her mind a little as she continued: "I heard your name from a gentleman with the surname Chang and know that you possess abilities that common people do not have. Therefore, I can only come to you for help in uncovering the reason behind this change of face. Like you, after the New Year, I will be getting married. If I still have this face by then, I fear my husband may despise me."
“Lord Chang!”
Listen carefully, as this name is one of the key points.
In the Golden Tang Dynasty, Xing Ruyi only knows one person with the surname Chang, and that is Chang Tai. However, Luofu clearly did not travel all the way from the Rouge Shop to here. So, the question arises: how did Luofu come to know Chang Tai, and how did she learn about herself from Chang Tai?
Luofu did not notice the confusion in Xing Ruyi's eyes; she merely lowered her head and muttered to herself.
“Yes, Lord Chang. He is like you, young lady, coming from the Rouge Shop. He is an acquaintance of yours and is currently assisting in my cousin's Yamen. It was my cousin who introduced Luofu to this Lord Chang, and it was also this Lord Chang who mentioned you to Luofu. That is why I took the liberty to come today. As for that gentleman, his full name should be Chang Tai.”
Indeed, Brother Chang!
Xing Ruyi shook her head and said to Luofu, “That’s right, I am acquainted with the Lord Chang you mentioned. Since he introduced you to me, as a Fox Demon, I will certainly do my best to help you find out the reason for your changing appearance. However, may I ask when exactly did your face start changing?”
“I can’t pinpoint an exact time,” Luofu replied, touching her face. “It seems my face didn’t change all at once; rather, it changed little by little. By the time I noticed something was wrong, it was already too late.”
“Even the most bizarre occurrences leave traces behind. Please think carefully again about when you first noticed something was off with your face.”
“Does dreaming count?” Luofu suddenly lifted her head and looked into Xing Ruyi's eyes as she asked. “Recently, I keep having a recurring dream where a voice keeps telling me: Remember, do not look in the mirror before Chen Time!”
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