Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 126

Chapter 126
As I left the guest hall where Ji-ryong was staying and made my way toward my own room, Hwa-eun hurried to catch up from behind and inquired,
“What are you planning to make, So-ryong?”

I had mentioned I would create something useful, but I hadn’t revealed what it actually was.
I wanted it to be a surprise. Besides, bluntly stating that I was making lipstick so they could kiss freely felt a little too forward.
These kinds of gestures were better made subtly, passed along with a knowing glance.
*‘You understand, don’t you? My intentions. Look after your health and enjoy each other. Until your teeth wear down.’*
That was the sentiment I wished to convey.

I thought about keeping it secret until it was done, but since I required Hwa-eun’s assistance, I chose to confide in her.
It didn’t seem proper to hide things from her anyway.
“Well, I thought I’d prepare a non-toxic balm that’s good for the lips. You know how it is between a man and a woman… certain urges don’t just disappear because you try to ignore them.”
“O-oh, I see. I suppose it is something the two of them might require…”
Blushing, Hwa-eun rubbed her cheek with the back of her hand.
As she continued to follow me, still absently touching her face, she ventured cautiously,
“But, So-ryong… do you actually know how to make something like that?”
“Are you referring to the lip balm?”
“Yes.”

Did I know how to make it? Certainly not. I was only familiar with the components, so I believed I could approximate it.
We were scheduled to depart either the next day or the one after, so I resolved to start immediately.
“Yes, I have a general notion. But I need to gather the materials. Is there somewhere I can obtain medicinal supplies?”
“For medical ingredients, we can acquire them from the Medical Hall within the Martial Alliance. If you request it from Master Zhuge Hu, he will likely provide them.”
“Well, it is for those two, after all. You could also consider it a form of poison prevention…”
That was correct—while not strictly medicine, it did serve a protective purpose.

Though it was fairly late, I opted to approach Master Zhuge Hu at once for approval.
Given that it was for his nephew, I expected he wouldn’t deny me.
“You require medicinal ingredients?”
“Yes. It’s a bit difficult to explain precisely, but… I am preparing something for those two…”
Even as night approached, Master Zhuge Hu remained at his desk, contending with a heap of documents.
When I made my request, he consented without hesitation. Because it was for his nephew, he was eager to assist.
“Medicine? Then by all means, proceed! I’ll write you a note. Bring this to the Medical Hall, present it, and they will furnish you with what you need.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Thank me? You are the one looking after my nephew—I should be thanking you. Here, take this.”

Equipped with his written authorization, I went with Hwa-eun to the Medical Hall.
There, we were met by a familiar figure.
It was Won-gyu, the physician dispatched from the Tang Clan.
“Young miss? What brings you here?”
“Ah, So-ryong is preparing—well, medicine, of a sort.”
“So-ryong? Making medicine?”
Won-gyu tilted his head, appearing doubtful at the notion of me concocting medicine.
But when I gave him the letter from Master Zhuge Hu, his demeanor shifted, and he acquiesced.
“Ah, this is for Ji-ryong? Please inform me what you require, and I will arrange it for you.”

*Let me think… what is used in lipstick again? Ah! Pearls!*
The initial item that occurred to me was pearls.
“Do you have pearls?”
“Pearls?”
“You need pearls, So-ryong?”
“Yes, I require some.”
*Pearl-based lipstick is superior. It gives a lovely shimmer to the lips. Who wouldn’t appreciate that?*
In my former life, pearls were a frequent component in cosmetics.
Foundation, lipstick, BB cream—numerous products incorporated pearl powder.
Blending in pearl powder provided a delicate glow, often referred to as Pearl Bright.
And any product containing pearl powder was instantly regarded as premium. Merely knowing it was included made individuals eager to use it.
A present featuring pearls? There was no finer gift.
“We do have some. One moment, please.”
Pearls had historical use in medicine, so although my request startled Won-gyu, he agreed.
After a brief exchange with someone within, he came back carrying an elaborate medicine box.
—Click.
When he opened it, an assortment of natural pearls in various hues was displayed.
I selected a number of the paler ones, and Won-gyu’s eyes widened.
“S-so many?”
“Is that an issue?”
“No, not at all.”
“Also, I will need a mortar and pestle.”
“Of course, So-ryong.”

*The primary ingredient is secured. Now for the next… ah, that’s the one.*
With the foundation material obtained, I required one additional item.
“Do you have Ji-ryong?”
“Ji-ryong?”
“Ji-ryong?”
“Yes, I need its oil and powder.”
Naturally, I wasn’t referring to the person recuperating in bed—I meant the earth dragon, or more commonly, earthworms.
Earthworm oil and extracts were superb moisturizers, which was why I intended to use them.
Even in my previous life, lipstick frequently included earthworm extracts.
*Since I’m creating this for Ji-ryong (智龍), it’s only appropriate that Ji-ryong (地龍) is included.*
“Certainly, we have some. Just a moment.”
A sizable medicine chest filled with dried earthworms was produced.

The subsequent items I asked for were honey and aromatic herbs.
“I will need some beeswax and a fragrant herb commonly used in sachets. Which scent is most favored in the Central Plains?”
“Hm… Osmanthus, So-ryong. It is often used in women’s sachets.”
*Osmanthus… is that Hwa-eun’s preferred scent?*
Hwa-eun proposed it without delay.
I had acquired fundamental knowledge of perfume crafting from the Tang Clan, so I could identify certain fragrances. Reflecting on it, the gentle scent that always surrounded Hwa-eun was indeed osmanthus.
I elected to honor her preference.
In any case, I was producing a considerable quantity, so I would share some with her as well.
*Well, ahem. I do intend to live a long life, after all.*
“Then, please prepare dried osmanthus.”
“Honey and osmanthus… I cannot imagine what sort of medicine this might be.”

Once all the components were assembled, I requested Won-gyu’s help in preparing it.
I could likely manage it myself, but I still needed to locate one final vital ingredient.
Moreover, he was certain to execute it more skillfully than I could.
“I will describe the method. Could you assist? I haven’t made this before.”
“Pardon? What exactly are you creating?”
“Well… what should it be named? Ah! I know! A medicinal salve!”
Considering it, lipstick closely resembled a therapeutic ointment.
At my words, Won-gyu nodded in comprehension.
“Ah… If it is a medicinal salve, then the ingredients are logical. Earth dragon (earthworm) benefits jaundice, circulation, and cleansing. Pearl powder addresses skin sores, and honey imparts moisture and luster. Osmanthus is useful for resolving blood stagnation… This seems quite sensible.”
“This must be a treatment for bruises,” Won-gyu murmured, nodding to himself.
“But Ji-ryong didn’t appear to have any bruising… Is the salve intended to eliminate lingering toxins from his system?”
He was evidently engrossed in his own deductions, connecting ideas in his mind. Then, a realization seemed to strike him, and he turned to me with a troubled look.
“So-ryong, did you not say this was for Ji-ryong?”
“Yes, why do you ask?”
“There is something that concerns me slightly…”

*What is it? Did I unintentionally include something toxic?*
I was no physician, so I had merely combined ingredients that seemed suitable. But from his expert viewpoint, perhaps something seemed amiss.
I urged him to elaborate, and he scratched his head uneasily.
“Well… honey fortifies the body and… enhances vigor, if you take my meaning… Ahem… Given that they haven’t yet married… And recalling prior events… Ahem.”
*Wait, honey has that property?!*
Now that he mentioned it, this could pose a slight problem.
But Ji-ryong was essentially a lizard in human guise, a disciple of the Water Palace. I chose to rely on his self-control.
Besides, there was no satisfactory alternative to honey.
It was a superb moisturizer, inhibited spoilage, and was among the finest components in cosmetics.
At the very worst, the only consequence would be Master Zhuge Hu’s grandnephew arriving slightly ahead of schedule.
“Well… we must have faith that Ji-ryong will behave honorably. Ahem.”
“R-right… So, how is it made?”
“Ah, yes. Here is the procedure. First, grind the pearls finely and combine with powdered earth dragon. Use a ratio of eight parts pearl to two parts earth dragon powder.
Then, extract the oil from the properly prepared earth dragon and blend it with honey and powdered osmanthus. Use a three-to-seven ratio of oil to honey. The osmanthus powder is merely to mask any disagreeable odor and contribute a pleasing fragrance.
Everything must be ground until no granules are detectable.
I am going to retrieve the final component. Once I have it, you need only incorporate it.”
“Understood! Rely on me! I will labor through the night if necessary!”

Leaving the eager Won-gyu behind, I exited, and Hwa-eun trailed after me, questioning,
“There is still another component you need?”
“Yes, the most crucial one.”
“The most crucial?”
“The coloring for the lip balm.”
“Ah, correct. I entirely forgot about that with all the discussion of grinding pearls.”
I wasn’t acquainted with the exact modern lipstick formula, but I knew it contained scent, moisturizers, and dye.
Won-gyu would manage the mixture, but we needed to secure a suitable pigment.
“Red dyes are not very plentiful. Do you have a specific one in mind? Safflower is out of season, and cinnabar is unsuitable, so you must have another thought.”
Naturally, I had an idea.
It was the first thing that had sprung to mind.
It was the very reason I had conceived of making the lip balm initially.
“Yes, certainly.”
“What is it?”
Hwa-eun inquired warily.
Smiling, I replied,
“Cochineal insects.”
“?”

*Of course, it had to be insects! I am Fabre, after all!*

A Discovery
Throughout this entire process, I came to a realization.
People here were unaware of cochineal insects.
The history of employing them as dye was ancient, so they should have known. But apparently, they weren’t utilized for lip balm.
To be fair, why would they be? Extracting large quantities of red dye from safflower or cinnabar was much simpler than collecting minute beetles individually.
“An insect named cochineal?”
“Yes, though it may go by another name here.”
Cochineal insects were scale insects that inhabited cacti, primarily in South America.
The females possessed a hard, shell-like exterior and produced carminic acid to repel predators—which was vivid red.
The extracted pigment was termed cochineal dye.
If you envision the hue of cactus blossoms or dragon fruit, that is cochineal red.
In my former life, cochineal was utilized extensively—in ham, lipstick, lip balm, candy, jelly…
And the most prevalent instance? Strawberry milk.
Most varieties of strawberry milk contained no real strawberries. Instead, they combined strawberry flavoring with cochineal dye to achieve a pink color.
In other words, strawberry milk is essentially milk tinted with insect dye.
*People are unaware they are consuming bug liquid!*
Now, South American species weren’t readily available here.
But Southeast Asia had its own version.
The South American species was named Dactylopius coccus costa, while the Asian variant was called Kerria lacca or Coccus lacca.
Both species yielded red pigment, with the females being the source.

So, I brought Hwa-eun with me and proceeded to the rear gardens of the Martial Alliance.
By daybreak, just outside the Martial Alliance, we noticed trees with branches that seemed coated in white fuzz, as if decaying.
Hurrying over to examine them, I observed clusters of bumps along the branches.
In Asia, cochineal insects dwelled in colonies, creating blood-red galls on trees. These were known as Blood Red Lac.
I scraped one off and compressed it—vivid red dye trickled out.
With all the lipstick ingredients finally collected, I exclaimed joyfully,
“Found it!”

The Next Morning
Before our departure, I visited Ji-ryong’s guest hall.
I had worked through the night preparing the gift, and Hwa-eun had tested it herself.
The result was excellent.
She must have appreciated it, as she accompanied me with it still on her lips.
I knocked and entered. Only Ji-ryong and Eunbong were present.
After a brief greeting, I went directly to the purpose.
“Here.”
“What is this?”
“Open it.”
The container was not ornate.
It was merely a standard golden medicine jar—the type martial artists carry for ointments.
But when Ji-ryong opened it, Eunbong’s eyes widened.
With a startled expression, she turned to me.
“This is… rouge?”
She was evidently taken aback.
I regarded them both and clarified,
“You agreed to my appeal, so how could I overlook your difficulty?”
“…Our difficulty?”
“This is entirely non-toxic, beneficial for the body, and even has a sweet taste.”
“…”
“…”
Silence.
Eunbong’s neck reddened as she grasped my implication.
I raised two fingers.
“I’ve rescued both of you twice now. You are in my debt.”
It wasn’t as though they required lipstick to kiss.
But for two ardent lovers, this was an ideal present.
Comparable to saving a life, in my opinion.
*Alright, time to go hatch some silkworms.*
I had concluded all my affairs at the Martial Alliance.
Now, it was time to witness my precious silk infants hatch.