Chapter 4 A fairy descended to earth in front of the Temple of Famous Flowers and Transmitted Sounds!
On this fine, sunny day, Bai Lian accompanied her mother, Changsun Rao'er, to the Chuanyin Temple, a popular temple in the suburbs, to offer incense and pray for blessings, thanking Buddha for protecting her health.
Before setting off, Cuizhu was as excited as ever, and she put all the inspiration she had accumulated into dressing up Bailian.
"It can't be too extravagant, lest it lose the piety of worshipping Buddha, but it must also reflect the nobility and demeanor of the Prime Minister's daughter, and... showcase your beauty to the fullest extent, Miss!" Cuizhu analyzed logically, and Bailian was delighted by her coaxing.
Finally, Cuizhu styled Bailian's hair into an elegant coiled bun, secured only with a translucent white jade hairpin and a few tiny pearl hair ornaments.
The top that Bai Lian was paired with was a plain white open-necked, front-opening robe with lotus pattern and wide sleeves. The fabric was top-quality silk, light and thin yet with its own luster, making her look like a fairy when she walked.
She wore a long, moon-colored dress with a faint turquoise hue at the hem, like the clear ripples of a lotus pond just beginning to bloom under the moon. A light turquoise silk sash was tied around her waist, with glass beads strung on the tassels that twinkled like stars.
Looking at it from left to right, Cuizhu felt that she had accomplished her mission and perfectly balanced all the requirements.
Only then, under her satisfied gaze, was Bai Lian "granted" permission to leave the mansion.
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The sedan chair of the Bai family arrived at the gate of Chuanyin Temple and came to a steady stop. Bai Lian bowed and, supported by her maid, stepped out gracefully. She raised her head and composed herself, standing quietly in front of the temple, looking up slightly at the solemn temple.
A cool spring breeze swept by, stirring her white sleeves. The sash and hem of her dress rippled like waves, making her figure appear even more graceful.
The sunlight was just right, shining on Bai Lian and creating a soft halo around her. Her face was serene and her beauty was unparalleled, like a pure white lotus untouched by the world, or a flawless piece of jade that had been accidentally left behind.
The people who came to offer incense at the mountain gate all held their breath and focused their attention, their eyes involuntarily drawn to the sudden beautiful scenery, and the surroundings fell silent for a moment.
Suddenly, a child's clear, innocent voice rang out from the crowd: "Mommy, look! A fairy has descended to earth in front of Chuanyin Temple!"
Children's words, though innocent, revealed the thoughts of many.
Upon hearing the voice, Bai Lian instinctively turned around and looked in the direction of the sound. She saw a chubby little boy with his hair in a topknot, pointing at her with wide eyes. She couldn't help but smile at the childish words.
This smile was like the first melting of ice and snow, and the sudden blooming of a hundred flowers, instantly warming Bai Lian's originally cold face and captivating the hearts of many.
In the crowd not far away, a man quickly picked up his brush and sketched Bai Lian's current appearance. With just a few strokes, the image of a woman who looked like a banished fairy appeared on the paper.
"Very good, found it. Go and report back." The man lowered the brim of his hat and left the crowd.
From then on, the astonishing beauty of Bai Lian, the eldest daughter of the Bai family, quickly spread among the people of Luoyang.
In the streets and alleys of Luoyang, in teahouses and taverns, everyone was talking about it with great interest: "The Bai family has a daughter whose beauty is unparalleled. When she turned her head in front of Chuanyin Temple, it was as if a banished fairy had descended to earth. She can be called the most beautiful woman in the world."
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As time flows by, years pass by.
The following spring, when the flowers were in full bloom and the grass was lush, Bai Lian, the daughter of the prime minister, arrived at the age of seventeen, carrying with her the fame that captivated Luoyang.
Her daily life is also quietly changing under this fame.
In addition to maintaining her regular daily routine, she began to spend more time in her own garden.
The Bai Mansion's back garden is vast, with winding paths, pavilions, and towers scattered throughout, offering different scenery in each of the four seasons.
Bai Lian often liked to sit on the stone bench by the waterside pavilion, holding her pipa and playing for a long time. The notes flowing from her fingertips were clear and ethereal, sometimes like a mountain stream, sometimes like the sound of pine trees under the moon, often making passing servants stop and linger.
She mostly plays spontaneously, letting her emotions blend into the music. She feels as if she was born with these instruments, and her amnesia seems to have not taken away these skills deeply rooted in her soul.
She also often peruses the classics in her father's study. The contents that her childhood sweetheart once read aloud to her now often bring her new insights.
Of all these books, her favorite was military strategy and miscellaneous knowledge.
She discovered that her comprehension and memory were extraordinary. While she couldn't remember everything she saw, it was common for her to memorize things after seeing them two or three times.
However, she did not easily reveal this talent to others, only occasionally letting it slip by when she discussed politics and history with her father, which always amazed Bai Moyuan.
Compared to her father Bai Moyuan, who loved to discuss current affairs with her, her mother Changsun Rao'er was more concerned about Bai Lian's family affairs and often taught her the principles of managing household affairs and interpersonal relationships.
Bai Lian learned very quickly. Although she had no opportunity to put it into practice, she had already mastered the theoretical principles.
She was meticulous and could often see the crux of a problem. This intelligence made Lady Changsun both proud and secretly worried. With such talent and beauty, she feared that her daughter would have difficulty finding a suitable husband in the future.
And the green bamboo remains the most vibrant and beautiful element in Bai Lian's life.
The relationship between master and servant grew closer with each passing day. Bai Lian felt that such pure enthusiasm and loyalty were rare in this secluded mansion.
She enjoyed this tranquil and elegant life in her boudoir, but often, when she was alone, she would look at her perfect yet slightly unfamiliar face in the mirror and feel a sense of indescribable melancholy.
Amnesia, like a thin veil, severed her connection with the past.
Everything she possessed was undeniably real, yet it seemed to be built on quicksand; she feared she might lose control of it.
She occasionally has bizarre dreams, with blurry figures and scenes that don't resemble the present day. When she wakes up, she can't recall any clear clues.
This hidden emptiness beneath her perfect life, intertwined with her ever-growing, restless talent, made her always examine her own life with a touch of scrutiny.
She is like a famous flower carefully nurtured in a greenhouse, absorbing the best nutrients and blooming with stunning brilliance, but no one knows that her roots are searching for the buried truths beneath the soil.
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