Dormitories

After 2 months, I was able to take time off the shop and focus on myself. The war was still progressing well. The ministry was still busy, but since there was a war, there wasn't much to be done advancing foreign trade (other than with allies). Since there already He translators, and I was just a second rank official, there wasn't too much to be done. It was sufficient for me to come in during my agreed 2 days of the week. I would also visit Luna Marche 2 days a week.

The other 3 days I would do my morning training, then retire to Lunar Palace to read, drink tea, and work on my "secret projects". These days, there were many servants who wanted to work at Luna Marche after hearing of the work there. I was sure no one would be happy to be a servant their whole lives, unless they were loyalists. I was happy to interview them, and if they passed, accept them as employees. It was hard to find the qualities needed in a Luna Marche employee from outside, but easy to find and promote loyal servants.

I was also working on 2 relatively simple products – bath bombs and nail polish. If all went well I would work on essential oils. Having worked on cosmetics, I was sure my employees had some idea of how to go about finding the materials for bath bombs. It also had to be very fragrant. For now, I could only think of handmaking the bath bombs. I listed down the names of many popular bath bombs in the 21st century and what their primary smells/ingredients were, then asked my employees to chip in some ideas of what women liked in this age.

After consolidating and agreeing on a list, we sent out an order for materials to the suppliers and got ready the R&D room. 1 office on the 8th floor had been temporarily converted into an R&D room, and was full of supplies as well as fragrant smells. As all the rooms had a wide window, we usually left the window open so we wouldn't be suffocated by smells. For the nobles looking at the flagship store, it was always a source of amazement to have fragrant, coloured smoke coming out from the window.

Nail polish was a bit easier to screw up but required more complex materials. Again. I made a list of nail polish names and tried to describe the colours. Unfortunately due to the lack of mood boards and search engines, there was nothing close to what I wanted. But I was able to find pigment (albeit very common colours) to mix. It took a lot of trial and error and mixing to find the perfect ratio for shades. I had commissioned a large wooden board to be hung up on the wall and would paint in a shade and label it, along with the mixing ratio and formula whenever I was done. We also created some "transparent" glittery nail polish and neutral tones for the very refined noble ladies who didn't want anything too obvious.

According to Hua Ling, Yu Hui and Gu Wei, no proper women in this era would wear bright "nail polish". Women were only just starting to were rouge and beautiful lipstick and makeup as well, so it could become a trend, but we should separate it into 2 lines so the "refined" noble ladies would also feel comfortable wearing it. The usually punky, bright or bold colours would be our lower range nail polish, available and accessible to the common women who wanted to imitate the trends, and the transparent, glittery or muted pastel shades would be our "higher end" nail polish for the nobles who wanted pretty nails but nothing too striking.

In time, I was also planning to introduce nail art and open nail salons. I figured that the empty building I had purchased and was in the process of refurbishing just next to the flagship building would be good. I got Fei Yan to recruit some new employees to train to be "nail technicians" and trained them on mani-pedi techniques, hand and foot massages, and familiarised themselves with the products. The building was exclusively for nobles, decorated like a spacious palace, and featured the full body lounge chairs used in 21st century nail salons. There would also be a basin of water for washes, scented with the prototype essential oils. Nail polish remover was slightly easier to make – just really strong cleaning alcohol packaged in a pretty bottle. We also commissioned crude, square shaped cotton pads for nail polish remover and essential oils.

With all this going on at the same time, Luna Marche bustled into activity again. It took 1 month before we launched both the bath bombs and nail polish + nail salons. We invited the premium nobles to visit the nail salon to try it out for free and invited them to get some supplies if they wanted their maids to do it at home. Obviously without training or modern knowledge, their maids would do a crappy job and they would come back. Predicting it would be a huge success, I refurbished the entire 4 floor building into a nail salon. As usual, they would be served treats. Also at the start of the month, my facial mist bottles were finally released, to much awe from people who had not seen spray bottles before.

The bath bombs were much quicker on the uptake. Within 2 days, we got mass orders from the noble houses. Predicting this would happen, our entire stockroom was full of nearly a thousand of each product. I also started to make a contract with a well-known delivery company to be Luna Marche couriers. They would wear refined Luna Marche uniforms and identity token as well as a hairpin. Because it had been a hectic few months (that brought in a lot of revenue), I gave everyone who had stayed with us for 6 months a 6-month worth of salary, those who stayed with us 3 months a 3-month worth of salary and those who stayed 1 month a 1-month worth of salary.

I visited the nail salon next door to check on the progress, and most of the nobles seemed very fascinated and satisfied. The nail technicians were skilled, due to me insisting they paint everyone's nails at least twice for their training since nobles were very difficult to please. Thanks to that, everyone in Luna Marche had beautiful nails now and each got a complimentary bottle of nail polish remover and bag of cotton pads.

I scrawled in my notebook in the Plum Pagoda. The Plum Pagoda was a prized centerpiece in the harem grounds, spanning 8 floors. It was made of stone and brick around a central stone column, and covered in lime plaster. Although there were windows on each level, the tower was largely for show only and the different floors were not meant for actual use. This was reflected in how each successive floor was reduced in size. Other than the first 2 floors, there was only a staircase to provide access to the 8th floor, due to the scenic view. Decorative tiles and figures such as flowers, animals and dragons were added to make it look for elegant.

Named so for the surrounding plum trees pruned to about 1 or 2 floors of its height, the Plum Pagoda was fragrant all year round and provided privacy for the occupant. A small paved stone path littered with pink flowers and small purple leaves, winding through the carefully maintained garden was the only route to the entrance.

It was remarkably quiet today, with only the whistling of the wind to be heard. I put my thoughts down for a moment to admire the moment. The pitter-patter of small feet echoed through the pagoda, becoming clearer as time went by.

All of a sudden, a small, round face appeared from the top of the stairway. A rice ball (汤圆 Tāng Yuán) dressed in cobalt blue, miniature imperial He robes scurried to the stone table, barely the height of his forehead and raised his arms to offer a small basket of assorted flowers, struggling to raise the heavy basket above his head. "Your Highness, what did you give me?" I smiled to myself as I accepted the small basket of poorly plucked flowers, clearly taken from the palace gardens.

"Elder Sister! Do you like them? I got you some pretty flowers I saw while walking!" Prince Eiwa asked happily, eager for praise. "Wow... so thoughtful of you! Elder Sister likes them very much!" I made a big show of smelling and examining the flowers before putting the basket on the table. Watching him struggle to get on the seat, then observing that no maidservants had accompanied him up here - no doubt at his request, I gently lifted him by his armpits and put him on the seat.

"Elder Sister, the maids said you were up here again. Do you like it very much?" he asked, leaning on the table. Thinking about how hectic life had gotten recently, I nodded. "Life slows down in Plum Pavilion. I like how quiet it is." "What is life slows down?" "Oh it means not having a lot to do, being able to reflect and enjoy the scenery... instead of having a fixed schedule and being very busy every day."

"Well, that sounds boring!" "Then what kind of life does Your Highness like?" "Hmm... this life is very good. Taking classes is boring, but I get to go outside and talk to everyone!" I nodded in encouragement as Prince Eiwa began to tell me about his day, starting from the words he learnt in class, whether he liked the food, what the maids said... Compared to being stuck in his palace and raised in secrecy in He, he would of course prefer being able to walk around a bit. I heard he hung around the harem a lot.

Being an imperial prince, the other concubines were also happy to chat with him and entertain him. I was worried about when he got older though... what if the other children teased him? Actually, I also knew that the reason he was closest to me was because I spoke (broken) He-go. He was 5 years old now, the age he should enjoy a little independence and being social, but he had been in a foreign country for just over a year, with no one to accompany him.

Did I do the right thing? If I hadn't exposed Yan Huo, Prince Eiwa could have continued to grow up in He, and wouldn't have to come here. I shook my head involuntarily. They had plans for treason. It wasn't like they came in peace. And as far as I knew, Yuan An treated Prince Eiwa well, giving him nearly everything he asked for. The only issue was the language barrier, since his nursemaid had already gone back.

"Elder Sister? Why are you shaking your head?" Prince Eiwa asked. "Oh, I thought there was something in my hair." I smiled awkwardly, running my fingers through my hair to pretend I was trying to get something out. Unfortunately, I only snagged my fingers on one of the numerous hair ornaments stuck in my hair. Looks like I just ruined Qiu Ci and Qiu Le's meticulous hair styling.

"What thing?" a low voice asked from behind me. "Elder Brother!" Prince Eiwa cried as he hopped off his seat. Like a scene from a period drama, Prince Eiwa hugged Lu Qing Yu's leg. Well, whatever he could grab through the thick robes anyway. "Are you doing well, Prince Eiwa?" Lu Qing Yu asked in broken He-go, laughing. He reached down and lifted him up, illiciting squeals of delight.

Slender fingers expertly fixed the snag in my hair, replacing my hair ornament. Having put the excited Prince Eiwa down, Lu Qing Yu now turned his attention to me, smiling gently. At this happy family like scene, my heart skipped a beat. "Elder Brother, again!" a baby voice came from below. "Again?" Lu Qing Yu asked as he lifted Prince Eiwa up.

Many spins later, 2 pairs of gazes rested curiously on my notebook. After much pestering, Prince Eiwa now sat in Lu Qing Yu's lap. Lu Qing Yu rested his chin on the top of his head and pointed to my book. "Are those more ideas for your business?" Lu Qing Yu asked, raising an eyebrow. "Yes, they are." I said bashfully, feeling a little strange now. "What did Elder Brother say?" Prince Eiwa asked. "He asked if the notebook contains ideas. Elder Sister runs a business selling many sorts of things." I translated.

Although Lu Qing Yu made some effort to learn some (proper) He-go from the translators in order to talk with Prince Eiwa, he hadn't gotten much further than basic greetings and phrases at the moment, which was understandable. He had made amazing progress for someone so busy. I was the de facto translator in this Plum Pavilion, labouring without pay. Just kidding.

"Oh." Prince Eiwa lost interest immediately. "What do you think about assigning Prince Eiwa a translator?" "A translator?" "Yuan An has some translators to spare, surely?" "We do, but what if he neglects his Huaxia language lessons?" "The translator can refuse to say anything if its simple to let Prince Eiwa practice. It will just be until he learns enough to hold proper conversations. He must be so lonely not having anyone understand him." "Mhm."

"Elder Sister, what are you saying?" "Your Highness, what about having a translator?" "What's that?" "A translator is an occupation. Someone will accompany you and turn He-go into Huaxia-go and Huaxia-go into He-go. Just like what Elder Sister is doing for Your Highness and Elder Brother now."

"Wow, I'll be able to understand everyone then!" "But it's just until you become fluent enough in Huaxia-go. You still have to work hard in your lessons, understand?" "Eiwa understands. Eiwa will be a good boy!"

After pacifying a rice ball, I still had to convey the message to an ice block. "Prince Eiwa would like a translator." "Really? You aren't just making it up?" "Wow, how can you be skeptical of me?" "Well... I'm not saying you did, but I'm saying no one here knows if you didn't." "You can get a translator to ask him if you want." "Okay, okay. Did you tell him he needs to continue his lessons?" "I did."

All the while, Prince Eiwa could only stare at us curiously. Seeing me look at him, he flashed an adorable smile. "Elder Sister was just getting Elder Brother's approval." "Oh! Elder Brother, you agree, right?" Prince Eiwa rubbed his face on his neck and looked up, trying to look cute. "Hey, where did you learn that?" Lu Qing Yu protested, unable to say no.

The 8th floor of Plum Pavilion was filled with laughter and joy.

After about 6 months of Luna Marche's sensational launch, the staff dormitories were open. An issue a lot of my employees – former servants, slaves or prostitutes faced was lack of proper housing, or safe housing. They often had to live in humiliating or unsafe environments when they got back home.

For this reason, I had spent a lot of time constructing (more like refurbishing) 3 large (but old or abandoned) villas at the outer corners of the city into suitable living quarters. Due to lack of time, I wasn't able to create anything fancy, but I was able to create a decent amount of single rooms (and double rooms), fitted with a bed, cupboard, study table, ample shelves, and and stationery. They also each got a 1-person set of crockery and cutlery. It was 4 persons to 1 toilet, which was already equipped with all the bathing needs.

Each refurbished villa also had a decent amount of trees and flowers, even a couple swings and sitting areas. There was also an equipped communal kitchen where they could make their own meals. For safety and to prevent fighting, the respective bathroom and kitchen items were placed in their own rooms and cupboards and they could take it out when needed. There was also staff to maintain the gardens, and clean up.

Each villa had a large lobby with mail service, and a lounge area and I ensured each room had a window. The 3 villas were painted and decorated in refined, feminine colours and there was security as they were gated residences to protect the women's safety. I got Fei Yan to get everyone who was interested in living there to fill in a form. There would also be building managers to manage the building and resolve any issues as well as supervise the maintenance.

They had to state their marital status, personal details, and fill in a short essay (or interview, if illiterate) as to their reasons for wanting to stay there, which would be kept confidential. Fei Yan had to also judge based on character and make sure the reasons were true. This process took another 1 month. Employees were eligible to live there as long as they were single. However, they had to sign at least a 1-year employee contract. The villas could comfortably house 300 girls, 100 in each villa. As we didn't have 300 girls yet, we had to ensure a decent distribution of occupants.