Chapter 3 Reputation: A Trendsetter in Luoyang
Bai Lian felt that her "illness" was actually recovering quite quickly. Every day when she woke up, her body felt as if it had been refilled with a continuous stream of energy, and her spirits were getting better day by day.
Bai Lian thought to herself, "It's because my memories haven't returned that my parents don't allow me to move around freely."
She was originally a calm and composed person, but she had been a "homebody" for too long. So, when she had just recovered from a serious illness and was allowed to get out of bed and walk around, she asked Cuizhu to take her to truly "get to know" the Bai Mansion where she lived for the first time.
On this day, Cuizhu led Bailian through layers of covered walkways, stopping to tease the birdcages hanging under the corridors. The birds chirped melodiously, making Bailian's heart leap with joy.
Then they stepped together over thresholds adorned with auspicious patterns, each piece of woodwork and stone carving revealing extraordinary craftsmanship and the weight of time.
Inside the gate is a secluded courtyard with winding paths, where strange rocks are arranged and flowers and trees are lush, and every plant and tree is picturesque.
Looking around, Bai Lian saw that the hall next to the courtyard was furnished with rosewood furniture, and the antique shelves displayed exquisite porcelain and antiques. The walls were adorned with calligraphy and paintings by famous artists, and even the air was filled with a faint fragrance of ink.
"I never imagined I grew up in such a prestigious and wealthy family." Bai Lian thought to herself. The exquisite and profound atmosphere of the Bai family made her feel a sense of unease and alienation. She felt more like a guest who had accidentally stumbled in. She could not grow up with the scholarly atmosphere and could only marvel at the beauty and refinement of this place.
She ran her hand over the smooth railing, the cool touch reaching deep into her heart. She felt the emptiness within her about "who I am" was made even more apparent by this extreme worldly wealth.
-
After some time, Cuizhu noticed that she was getting bored staying in the mansion, so she encouraged her to go out for a walk, and promised to make thorough preparations.
So, on a sunny afternoon, Bai Lian, wearing a light gauze hat that reached her waist to cover her face, accompanied by Cui Zhu and two maids, came to the bustling streets of Luoyang, Zhuque Avenue, for the first time.
Through her veil, Bai Lian carefully observed everything around her. She saw carriages and horses bustling about, shops lining the streets, and the shouts of vendors rising and falling. The streets were teeming with people. This was completely different from the tranquil and elegant atmosphere inside the Bai Mansion; everywhere was filled with a vibrant and lively atmosphere.
What attracted Bai Lian's attention most were the women coming and going on the street.
Whether they were ladies leisurely shopping with their maids and servants, or ordinary women dressed simply, they all wore some makeup on their faces, in their hair, and on their clothes, and adorned themselves with fashionable accessories according to their means.
They walked briskly, chatting and laughing, like flowers blooming on the street, radiating vibrant vitality.
Bai Lian subconsciously touched the hem of her plain dress, then felt her unadorned face through the veil. She suddenly felt that she was too elegant and out of place amidst the unrestrained bloom of spring.
So this is what beauty can be—so outwardly displayed, so passionately presented to the world. A subtle longing, one that she herself was not even clearly aware of, quietly began to grow in her heart.
Cuizhu was extremely good at reading people's expressions. Although she couldn't see the young lady's expression under her veil, she noticed the direction in which Bailian's gaze lingered.
She leaned closer to Bai Lian and cautiously complained, "Miss, did you see that? That girl's apricot-yellow Liuxian skirt is fashionable in color, but the material is rather ordinary; and that lady's red-gold hairpin is substantial, but the style is old-fashioned and looks clumsy... Humph, Miss, you are naturally beautiful. If I were to do your makeup, I could make all the women in Luoyang pale in comparison!"
Upon hearing this, Bai Lian glanced at her through her veil, and though she didn't speak, the corners of her lips curved slightly.
It was inappropriate to gossip about others like this, but it stirred a slight ripple in her heart. She began to think that perhaps it wouldn't be a bad idea to let Cuizhu put some thought into this.
Bai Lian was lost in thought about her new idea, so focused on following Cui Zhu forward that she accidentally stepped on a black boot coming straight at her...
"Hey!" the man whose foot was stepped on shouted, clearly in pain.
Bai Lian suddenly raised her head, took a few steps back, and saw that the person opposite her was dressed in black, wearing a black veil, also an outfit that concealed her identity completely.
The man's attendant was about to draw his sword to question him, but upon seeing the ethereal white-clad woman opposite him, he slowly retreated.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't notice and stepped on you, young master." Bai Lian spoke first, bowing slightly.
The tall man in black crossed his arms, tilted his head, and stared at her for a long while before asking, "Whose daughter are you?"
Upon hearing this, Cuizhu became agitated, put her hands on her hips, and stepped forward, shouting, "Whose young master are you? How dare you be so rude! How dare you inquire about my young lady's name so casually?!"
Her voice was so loud that it immediately attracted a crowd of people who wanted to see what was going on.
Bai Lian sighed, feeling somewhat embarrassed. Not wanting to pay any more attention, she grabbed Cui Zhu and hurriedly left.
Unexpectedly, the man behind her shouted in the direction she left, "We'll meet again if fate allows!"
"He's been reading too many storybooks," Bai Lian muttered to herself.
-
The next morning, Bai Lian woke up from her sleep. Before she even opened her eyes, she felt something was off about her face. It seemed like she felt a little more constricted than usual, and her cheeks were itchy.
She got up with some doubt and walked barefoot to the flower-carrying phoenix mirror not far away. With just one glance, she saw herself in the mirror with rouge on her lips, light powder on her cheeks, and her eyebrows and eyes seemed to have been drawn.
She suddenly turned her head and saw that Cuizhu was still holding a small rouge brush in her hand, looking at her with an expectant, excited and slightly apprehensive expression, her eyes shining brightly as if waiting for her evaluation.
"What are you doing? Drawing on my face?" Bai Lian was both amused and exasperated. This girl dared to do this while she was asleep... She wanted to scold her, but seeing Cui Zhu's cautious yet expectant expression, her heart softened. She turned around again, approached the dressing mirror, and examined herself carefully.
This sight surprised her slightly; the makeup was unexpectedly exquisite and appropriate.
The lip color was delicate yet not gaudy, perfectly complementing her complexion; the powder was applied thinly and evenly, without feeling heavy; even more wonderful was the exquisite red lotus-shaped flower between her eyebrows, its color bright and its shape lifelike, as if it were truly blooming on the small light red mole between her eyebrows.
After all, she's a young woman in the prime of her life; how could she not love beauty?
Bai Lian's initial anger at being taken advantage of dissipated almost instantly. Especially after her trip to the market and witnessing firsthand the dazzling array of women's attire, she no longer felt the same aversion to "dressing up" as she had initially.
A smile flickered in her eyes as she turned and took Cuizhu's hand, gently asking, "Where did you learn such excellent and ingenious makeup skills?"
When Cuizhu saw that her mistress not only did not blame her, but instead showed appreciation, she immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
With a blush on her face, she answered somewhat shyly, "When I was little, I loved looking at beautiful women. Whether it was noble ladies I had seen in real life or fairies and goddesses in picture books, as long as I thought they were extremely beautiful, I would pay attention to their makeup, hairstyles, clothing, and accessories."
Over time, Cuizhu memorized all the makeup techniques that she believed were truly worthy of a beautiful woman and could enhance her appearance.
However, she had high standards, and ordinary people didn't inspire her to dress up, nor did she feel they were worthy of her exquisite designs, until she met the young lady...
She felt that the young lady's appearance and temperament were the embodiment of her ideal image, which is why she couldn't help but want to realize those thoughts in her heart through the young lady...
“Last time I accompanied Miss out, I saw how many women on the street dared to dress like that. I felt even more strongly that a true beauty like Miss would be wasting her potential if she didn’t dress up properly!” Cuizhu said indignantly.
These words were sincere and honest, yet also carried a touch of a young girl's cleverness. They flattered Bai Lian just right, making her feel comfortable and her remaining unhappiness vanish.
She looked again at herself in the mirror, who appeared even more radiant and beautiful than usual, and couldn't help but smile. She nodded to Cuizhu, "Your skills are excellent. From now on, you will be in charge of my dressing table."
Unexpectedly, she gained an extra "makeup artist," and Bai Lian was overjoyed.
From then on, Bailian began to have Cuizhu dress her up after she got up. Sometimes, when she was in the mood, she would even give Cuizhu a few pieces of newly acquired silk and satin and let her "play around" with them to see what kind of ornaments or clothes she could make.
At first, Bai Lian only intended to reward and indulge her. Seeing that Cui Zhu was so passionate about this art and had such a discerning eye, she casually gave her some to play with, just to make her happy and as a reward for her careful service.
Who knew that this "play" would actually make Cuizhu famous?
At this time, Bai Lian was recovering from a serious illness and her health was gradually improving. Invitations to gatherings from noble ladies in Luoyang came one after another like willow catkins in spring.
Every time Bai Lian attended these gatherings, her outfits, skillfully styled by Cui Zhu, from her hair and makeup to her clothing and accessories, always caught everyone's eye and made her the center of attention among the daughters of officials.
For example, a seemingly simple jacket might have auspicious lotus vine patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs, with exquisite embroidery; or a long brocade dress, perfectly tailored, shimmering with light as one walks, its fabric unknown; or a cloisonné hairpin, a rare style in Luoyang, adorned with agate for a unique touch, its petal design novel... These garments worn by Bai Lian often became a favorite topic of conversation among the noble ladies of the city.
Over time, with her unique taste and unparalleled beauty, Bai Lian quietly became a fashion trendsetter for noble ladies in Luoyang.
Those young ladies who were secretly competing with each other were all speculating about which reclusive master craftsman the Bai family had invited, whose ingenuity and skill were so outstanding, yet they couldn't find out a single word about it.
So he could only secretly observe and imitate Bai Lian's outfits, but in the end it was just "a poor imitation," and no one could wear her with such a graceful and natural charm.
"Of course!" Cuizhu analyzed it logically after learning about it. "Miss's beauty is not due to the clothes, but to the result of her own beauty, temperament, figure and these just right embellishments complementing each other."
"She's so eloquent," Bai Lian silently applauded in her heart.
-
In a mansion on the outskirts of Luoyang, a man dressed in a black brocade robe sat leisurely in a pavilion. He casually flipped through a stack of portrait albums, but after only a few pages, he impatiently tossed them aside.
"So this is the list of noble ladies of Luoyang that you compiled? Green Willow, you must have been slacking off." He slowly turned to look at the attendant beside him, a hint of displeasure on his handsome face.
The servant named Green Willow shuddered and hurriedly replied, "Your Highness... oh no, Master, the description you provided is 'a woman in white,' which is a rather broad range. These are just the first batch we've gathered..."
"But I told you to find beautiful women dressed in white, not to draw so many people in white!" the man said indignantly. This was too frightening, like looking at some kind of Hundred Ghosts Chart.
Green Willow scratched her head and replied, "Then this servant will go look again!"
"Be quick." The man in black picked up his teacup, his slender fingers slowly stroking it, as if he were thinking.
"But then again, she was so covered up at the time, how did you know she was pretty?" Green Willow's curiosity suddenly surged. When did her master, this iron tree, suddenly bloom and start searching the whole city for a woman? And in such a hurry?
"What do you think?" The man in black gave Green Willow a murderous look, which made her shut her mouth.
Clever as he was, he thought for a moment and realized, "That's right, iron trees are unlikely to bloom. My master probably wants to do it before his younger brother gets married..."
This large-scale search is just an attempt to preemptively strike.
"Which unlucky girl just happened to accidentally step on your precious foot..." Green Willow whispered to herself.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
