"Yes!" Hongshang said, and with a swift, graceful leap, she flew right out of the garden.
This was the first time Mo Lixia had seen Hongshang use her Qinggong (lightness skill). She was green with envy. I can only blame myself for being too dull, she thought with a sigh. Master taught me for so long, and I didn't even learn the basics.
"Li'er, why do you need those things? We have everything in the manor," Madam Mo said, putting down her spade and using a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from Lixia's brow.
"Oh... we have them?"
"Hehe, Miss, just ask me next time. I know every corner of the storage rooms!" Xiqiu chirped.
"In that case, Xiqiu, go gather some roses and those sweet osmanthus flowers over there. Make sure they are clean; your Miss has a plan."
The Birth of "Snow Cream"
Back in her courtyard, Lixia prepared the beeswax and almond oil. She had been in the Capital for a while and realized she missed her modern skincare. The lead-heavy powders and greasy rouges of this era didn't sit well with her.
She began the process:
Extraction: She crushed the roses and simmered them until the essence was thick and concentrated.
Blending: In a separate pot, she melted the beeswax over a low flame, carefully monitoring the heat.
Mixing: Once melted, she added the sweet almond oil and a fine powder of Bai Zhi (Angelica Dahurica) that Xiqiu had ground earlier.
Completion: She stirred in the rose essence and let the mixture cool.
"Miss, what is this? It smells heavenly!" Xiqiu said, watching intently.
"It's like rouge, but in a cream form," Lixia smiled. "It moisturizes and nourishes the skin."
"Truly?"
"Of course. Here, let me show you." Lixia guided Xiqiu through the process with the osmanthus flowers. In skincare, the control of the "fire" (temperature) was everything.
When Hongshang returned with the supplies, she was shocked to find they were already finished. The three of them tested the balms on their faces.
"Wow, Hongshang! Look at my skin, it's so smooth!" Xiqiu exclaimed.
Lixia packed the cooled cream into small, elegant boxes, labeling them carefully: Rose Balm and Osmanthus Balm. She gave a jar to each of her maids and kept one for herself and one for her sister-in-law.
Later, she presented two jars to her mother and one to Nanny Guirong. The old nanny was moved to tears. "Miss, this old face of mine doesn't need such fine things."
"Take it, Nanny. It's a token of my gratitude for how well you've looked after Mother all these years," Lixia insisted.
Business at the Kirin Pharmacy
That afternoon, Lixia visited the pharmacy. The renovations were complete, and the gold-leafed sign of the Kirin Pharmacy sparkled in the sun. The interior was now a sophisticated reddish-brown wood, giving the shop a high-end feel.
Inside, Mo Yan was busy behind the counter. "Doctor Mo!" he greeted her warmly once the customers left.
"How is business?" Lixia asked, sitting at the consultation desk.
"Much better! I've been introducing the pills you made to everyone. The Ba Xian Guo (Sore Throat Morsels) are selling incredibly fast; we're almost out. I was going to ask Hongshang to tell you we need more."
"So soon?" Lixia was pleasantly surprised. If people liked them this much without marketing, business would explode once word got out. "Are the production tools in the back ready?"
"Yes, the ones left by the Great Physician are all in order."
"Good. I'll make another batch. What about the other medicines?"
Mo Yan scratched his head, his face turning bright red. "A few have sold, but... the ones for the ladies... no one has asked for them yet."
Lixia suppressed a smile. The gynecological suppositories were handmade and contained no preservatives, so they couldn't be kept for long. Her plan was to use them as a promotion—once women knew they worked, she would move to an "appointment-only" system to ensure freshness and privacy.
"Miss," Xiqiu whispered beside her. "Mo Yan is a young man. It's a bit much to ask him to sell feminine products to noblewomen!"
Lixia nodded. Xiqiu was right. To truly tap into the female market, she would eventually need female staff or a more private consultation area.