Once Aran returned to her room, she slipped into a state of self-hypnosis, treating everything that had happened that day as a dream. By the time she woke from her slumber, it was the next morning.
Aran climbed out of bed, feeling weak all over. Hearing movement outside, she stepped forward to open the door.
The maids who had been waiting for a long time stepped forward to greet her. Leading them was a first-class maid named Yinxia. She and the others behind her bowed slightly, holding trays. "Greetings, Miss Ran. The Prince has arranged for us to assist you in getting ready."
The trays contained fine silks and satins, rouge and powder, and an assortment of jewelry.
Seeing that Gu Ranran remained silent, Yinxia stepped forward. "Does Miss dislike these styles? The Prince has ordered that if you do not like them, you may go to the inner treasury to make your own selections. As for your clothing, the seamstresses are still working on new pieces now that they have been informed of your measurements. The Prince also gave instructions for Guanju Courtyard to be bestowed upon you as your residence."
Guanju Courtyard was the closest place to Chenyang Courtyard, separated only by a high wall. In truth, Chu Hengyuan had wanted Aran to live within Chenyang Courtyard itself; there were many rooms in Chenyang Pavilion, including the quarters meant for the future mistress of the house. But he had wondered, would Aran be willing?
"Take these away and tell the Prince that I have no need for these things," Aran said. She had no idea what Chu Hengyuan was planning now.
Yinxia and the others knelt on the ground. "Miss, please spare us! The Prince said that if you do not accept these things, it would mean we have been inattentive in our duties, and we would be cast out of the estate." To be cast out of the estate meant being sold into a brothel.
"Miss, we beg you, we are all daughters of decent families. We do not wish to be ruined," the maid Yinshuang pleaded.
"Miss, have mercy. My parents are elderly, and my brother fell and broke his leg while working. My sister-in-law abandoned him because he lost his ability to labor, leaving behind two children. Now my whole family depends on my salary from the Prince's Estate to survive. If I am sold, I fear my family will not be able to go on," Yinling begged, kneeling. "Miss, I implore you, I will work like an ox or a horse for you."
Seeing them all pleading, Aran’s heart softened. "Everyone, stand up."
Aran thought of herself. If her parents had been a little softer back then, would she be living a different life now? If Chu Hengyuan had been a little softer toward her, would she have had to end her brief life?
"Thank you, Miss, for your mercy." Yinxia and the others rose and stepped forward to help Aran wash and dress.
Once she was finished, Aran looked at herself in the bronze mirror, as if she had been completely transformed. "Is this me?"
Yinshuang smiled. "Miss has excellent natural beauty; your lips are red without rouge, and your brows are dark without ink. I only applied a few light touches and changed your hairstyle, and you already surpass the noble ladies of the Capital. If you allowed me to use all this rouge and take a stroll through the city, I fear the Capital would be abuzz with rumors of a fairy descending to earth."
"Yinshuang, enough with the chatter," Aran said, shaking her head.
"Miss, please choose which outfit you would like to wear," Yinling said, stepping forward. On the trays were three ready-made outfits bought from the Duobao Pavilion in the city, tailored to Aran’s measurements: one crimson, one goose-yellow, and one plain white.
The crimson was too flashy, and the plain white reminded her too much of Murong Qingyan, so she pointed to the goose-yellow one. "That one will do."
It was an ivory-colored bodice dress with a goose-yellow overcoat, the hem of which was embroidered with a delicate camellia pattern. She paired it with a pair of satin shoes embroidered with flowers and birds.
Aran had never dressed like this before. When she went on missions, she always wore tight-sleeved tunics and riding boots for ease of movement, and upon returning to the estate, she would wear the standard uniforms provided to all.
Is Chu Hengyuan trying to curry favor with me to obtain my forgiveness?