This method was something she had mulled over for a long time before deciding on it. If the two of them cooperated well, it would be foolproof.
It was Lin Yuwei's first time doing such a thing, and she immediately became nervous.
"It's alright, I'm here for everything," Feng Jin said, patting Lin Yuwei's hand to comfort her. Then, she pulled Lin Yuwei to sit down and gestured with her eyes for Lin Yuwei to begin.
After much mental preparation, it all crumbled when it was time to perform. Lin Yuwei stammered slightly, "Sister, my... my facial... fine lines..."
Feng Jin was stunned. She wasn't as good as before the rehearsal? At the critical moment, she had to rely on herself. "The fine lines on your face have faded quite a bit, especially around your eyes, which are now as smooth as before. You must continue using the skin-nourishing lotion I gave you."
With Feng Jin's guidance, Lin Yuwei's situation improved considerably. Their back-and-forth banter attracted the attention of many around them.
Some of the beauty-conscious women couldn't hold back and gathered around, "Your Highness, what is this skin-nourishing lotion you were just talking about?"
"It's nothing, just what Sister Feng Jin gave me..."
"Yuwei!" Feng Jin quickly interrupted, giving Lin Yuwei a meaningful look.
Lin Yuwei immediately understood and tried to smooth things over, "Actually, it's nothing much, just chatting casually with my sister."
The more they tried to hide it, the more curiosity it stirred.
"Good sister, don't be so secretive. If you have something good, you should share it with us elder sisters."
"Yes, sister, you've already given it to the Princess Consort, so don't be stingy with us."
"Sister, please tell us quickly so we can see it."
Humans were truly fickle creatures. They had looked down on and mocked her before, but now they were calling her "sister" and addressing her so familiarly, speaking whatever came to their minds.
Feng Jin concealed her expression, a smile on her lips. "Actually, it's not a secret. It's just... it's just that I'm worried if this is revealed, it might be exploited by those with ulterior motives, and that would be terrible."
"Sister, you tell us first. With everyone here, no one will be able to bully you."
"Princess Wang is right, good sister. Just tell us the truth, we sisters are here for you."
These women were all of noble status. The one in the blue dress was the Princess Consort of Prince Jin, who was Emperor Xuanwen's only living brother. The one in the pink embroidered dress was the eldest daughter of Prince Pingyang, and nearby was the Duke of Qin...
Any one of them was an influential figure. Feng Jin had come today precisely to build good relationships with them.
What could quickly bridge the gap between women? It was the pursuit of greater beauty, which was precisely Feng Jin's forte.
"Ladies, as you know, I was previously framed by my sister for selling fake medicine that caused a death. Although I was blessed by heaven to clear my name and get justice, I was still worried about causing further trouble, so I have been extremely cautious."
Feng Jin spoke with great grievance. As her emotions intensified, she even managed to shed a couple of tears to add to the effect.
The women present had all experienced the machinations of the inner court and had become shrewd observers. They immediately understood who Feng Jin was referring to.
"Since all of you sisters have pleaded so earnestly today, it would be ungrateful of me not to agree."
After a pause, having whetted everyone's appetite, Feng Jin began, "Actually, the Princess Consort of Prince Jing uses my own developed skin-nourishing lotion, which is why her skin is so good."
"Yes, it's the skin-nourishing lotion that Sister Feng Jin gave me. I've been using it, and the fine lines around my eyes have disappeared."
Lin Yuwei's acting skills were on point as she eagerly demonstrated.
"Yes, her skin looks much better than mine."
"I'm the same age as the Princess Consort, and fine lines have already appeared around my eyes."
Seeing that the mood was properly set, Feng Jin continued, "If you want it, I have plenty. You can rest assured that this skin-nourishing lotion is genuine. I'm currently pregnant and have been using it, and I haven't developed any spots on my face."
Skin blemishes during pregnancy were common; eight out of ten pregnant women developed them.
Several women present felt insecure because of the spots they had developed during their pregnancies. Every time they went out, they had to apply a thick layer of powder to conceal them.
However, they couldn't hide the blemishes with makeup every day. When their husbands saw their spotted faces late at night, many felt disgusted, and it was not uncommon for this to affect their marital relations.
"For those who have developed blemishes during pregnancy, this skin-nourishing lotion can also remove them completely. For those with healthy skin, applying it to the face after cleansing daily will make the skin increasingly better, as smooth as a peeled egg."
Feng Jin's words greatly moved everyone present, and many flocked around her, eager to get their hands on the skin-nourishing lotion.
"You all want it? I can't produce that much at once. How about this: give me some time, and I'll develop it and deliver it to your respective residences one by one."
What Feng Jin wanted was to build good relationships with them gradually and then win them over one by one to obtain valuable information.
"In two days, I'm attending my sister's banquet for her marriage to the Third Prince. Are any of you sisters going?" Feng Jin asked, smiling, as she looked at everyone.
"Sister, please don't think I'm being blunt, but your sister was willing to be a concubine just to marry into the royal family. No wonder Prime Minister Feng was so angry that he demoted Madam Sun to concubine and demoted Feng Ruoyan from嫡 to 庶. If I had such a shameless daughter, I wouldn't be able to live in this world."
The speaker was the wife of the Duke of Wen, whose maternal family was the Cuihe Jiang clan. As a woman from a noble family, she spoke with great authority and directly confronted anyone she disliked without hesitation.
"Sister Jiang is correct. Although I still harbor resentment and hatred for my sister's previous schemes against me, as a sister, I should go to help her get ready for her wedding according to custom. Now that I am married into the Ling family, even if I resent her, I must go for the sake of the Ling family."
Feng Jin tried her best to portray herself as virtuous and dignified, as if she were about to erect a monument to her own chastity.
However, this maneuver earned Feng Jin a great deal of goodwill, and everyone's perception of her instantly changed.
"My dear sisters, our Feng family has very few members in the capital, and I have no brothers. I implore all of you to attend my sister's wedding to show your support and, in a way, uphold the honor of the Feng family."
"Sister, please rest assured. I will definitely be there on that day."
"I'll go and show my support too."