The promotional flyers for "Red Powder Beauty" were stacked several feet high.
Bai Sheng had everyone in the household who wasn't busy go out to distribute the flyers, and she borrowed Lu Yun's street gang for assistance.
Bai Sheng instructed the distributors that simply handing out flyers to everyone wasn't effective. They needed to target customers precisely and select recipients carefully to achieve the desired promotional impact.
For example, maids and wet nurses from wealthy households who were out on errands, noblewomen shopping on the street, and young ladies waiting in carriages were all key targets for distribution.
Additionally, Bai Sheng placed a stack of flyers at Wen Zhi Mo's jewelry store. Ladies and young ladies who frequented jewelry stores were generally well-off, making them ideal customers for "Red Powder Beauty."
Although the shop owner had returned to Tasha County on business, the shop assistants knew of the owner's relationship with Bai Sheng and were very enthusiastic in their assistance.
Besides the jewelry store, the entertainment venue run by the neighboring Wei brothers was also an important promotional spot.
Those who frequented the entertainment venue were usually wealthy and influential "gentlemen." If these gentlemen brought flyers home to their mothers, wives, or daughters, it would be highly beneficial.
Furthermore, several flyers were posted at fruit shops and grain stores.
For the major brothels in the capital, Bai Sheng planned to offer door-to-door delivery services and sent dedicated personnel to contact their proprietors.
While the primary target customers for "Red Powder Beauty" were the noble ladies of the capital, brothels represented a significant consumer force. They had a considerable demand for cosmetics, skincare products, and medicines, and were willing to spend money.
However, to prevent women from the brothels from encountering noble ladies at the shop and causing friction, Bai Sheng decided to offer direct delivery.
In addition to brothels, major restaurants, high-end opera houses, and teahouses were also excellent promotional points.
With only three days left until the opening of "Red Powder Beauty," it was imperative to build substantial buzz.
Before the grand opening, Bai Sheng needed to visit the Imperial Palace to see Concubine Mei.
Concubine Mei had heard that she had returned to the capital days ago and had invited her several times. It was only today that Bai Sheng had the time to make the visit.
Knowing Concubine Mei's fondness for durians, Bai Sheng brought a large basket of them.
Eunuch Zhu personally came to greet her, accompanied by three palace maids.
This time, Concubine Mei insisted that Bai Sheng bring the four little ones to the palace. Prince Yu had written to her, informing her that he had become the godfather to Bai Sheng's four children, and that his four godchildren were incredibly adorable.
If her son had godchildren, then she would have god-grandchildren! And if these god-grandchildren were so cute, Concubine Mei was overjoyed. She instructed Eunuch Zhu that, no matter what, Bai Sheng's four little ones must be brought along this time.
For this purpose, she also had Eunuch Zhu bring three palace maids, so that Bai Sheng wouldn't be overwhelmed trying to manage all four children alone.
Carriages were not allowed within the Imperial Palace. The distance from the palace gate to Concubine Mei's Yong'an Palace was quite long. Fearing that the four little ones wouldn't be able to walk that far, and that the palace maids wouldn't be able to carry them for that long, Bai Sheng decided to bring her newly made baby carriage.
This baby carriage was made of wood from her spatial dimension. It had four seats side-by-side and sixteen wooden wheels. Although simple, it was sturdy and functional.
Upon entering the palace gates, Bai Sheng placed the four little ones in the baby carriage.
Eunuch Zhu and the three palace maids were already smitten by the four children and were vying to push the baby carriage.
Along the way, many passing concubines, palace maids, and eunuchs couldn't help but stare at the four little ones. Despite their best efforts to conceal it, their admiration for the children was evident in their eyes.
Fearing that the four little ones might offend some noble lady, Bai Sheng urged Eunuch Zhu to push the baby carriage as fast as possible.
Indeed, Eunuch Zhu ended up securing the opportunity to push the baby carriage. As he was considered half a man, his strength was naturally greater than that of the palace maids.
As they reached the public thoroughfare in the inner palace, two sedan chairs approached from the opposite direction, followed by a large group of palace maids and eunuchs, indicating a significant entourage.
Eunuch Zhu quietly informed Bai Sheng, "It's the Empress and Princess Xin Yao. Miss Bai, quickly kneel down with me."
"Little ones, quickly lie down and pretend to be asleep!" Bai Sheng whispered to the four children, then bowed her head and knelt by the roadside with Eunuch Zhu and the three palace maids.
The four little ones immediately closed their eyes and "slept" in a wobbly manner. Almost a year old, they could only call out "Mama," but they understood Bai Sheng perfectly.
However, even with such low-key behavior from mother and children, they still attracted the Empress's attention.
She glanced at the four little ones who were sound asleep, then scanned Bai Sheng from head to toe, before looking at Eunuch Zhu, who was kneeling on the ground, with a mocking gaze. Her voice was lazy and arrogant, "Eunuch Zhu, who are they?"
Eunuch Zhu bowed his head and replied respectfully, "They are the physician and her children, invited by Concubine Mei."
The Empress let out a disdainful snort, "Eunuch Zhu, go back and tell your master not to bring just any idle individuals into the palace, lest they dirty the imperial grounds."
"Yes, Your Majesty the Empress is right to reprimand. Concubine Mei has not been feeling well recently, which is why she invited an external physician."
The Empress curled her lips in distaste, then waved her hand, signaling for the sedan chairs to proceed.
Princess Xin Yao, seated in the rear sedan chair, kept her gaze fixed on Bai Sheng.
Could Eunuch Zhu be lying? This woman looked about her age, with a foxy demeanor. How could she possibly be a physician?
However, no matter what the ugly Concubine Mei did, she couldn't achieve anything significant. Over the years, the Emperor had changed his favored concubines one after another, but none had ever set foot in Yong'an Palace.
Feigning ignorance of Xin Yao's probing gaze, Bai Sheng waited until the sedan chairs had moved further away before rising with Eunuch Zhu.
Only then did the four little ones "shoo-shoo-shoo" open their bright, limpid eyes, becoming instantly lively.
They remembered what their mother had told them: if they entered this place called the Imperial Palace and encountered someone their mother disliked, she would have them pretend to sleep to avoid trouble.
It turned out that those two women just now were the people their mother disliked.
If Mother didn't like them, they wouldn't like them either.
Everyone continued their journey towards Yong'an Palace.
After Hua Hua and her brothers chattered with some "aah" and "eeh" sounds, a few birds on the lush old trees by the roadside flapped their wings and flew away.
They flew to the sky above the Empress's and Princess Xin Yao's sedan chairs, mustered all their strength, and deposited a large mass of bird droppings directly onto the heads of the Empress and Princess Xin Yao before making a swift escape.
Shortly thereafter, screams from the Empress and Princess Xin Yao suddenly echoed from behind Bai Sheng's group.
When the Empress and Xin Yao angrily looked up at the sky, there was only vast, azure blue with fluffy white clouds, and not a shadow of any birds.
The four little ones giggled uncontrollably.
Concubine Mei and Zi Qiu were already waiting at the entrance of Yong'an Palace.
Upon seeing the four little ones, they immediately rushed over, completely disregarding their imperial bearing.
Zi Qiu had initially intended to advise them, but after his gaze fell upon the four little ones, he immediately stopped speaking and joined Concubine Mei in her rush.
"Greetings, Concubine Mei," Bai Sheng said, bending slightly in a curtsy.
"Xiao Sheng, there's no need for such formality." Concubine Mei spoke to Bai Sheng, but her gaze remained fixed on the four little ones.