"Miss, are you sure you want to wear that dress? Every time the Third Prince sees you in it, he turns around and runs..."
This dress was beautiful, a bridal gown gifted to her by Lady Rusue on her sixteenth birthday. It was crafted from the finest, deep-red brocade, with large, vivid peonies blooming across the long, sweeping hem. Golden ribbons hung from the waist with delicate, dangling tassels; the exquisite workmanship was truly captivating. Every year, during the Lantern Festival, the young mistress would don this gown, carrying a lantern to wait for the Third Prince to take her away. Yet, while he always attended the festival, he would inevitably turn on his heel and walk away the moment he spotted her.
"Doesn't he want to marry me? Why would he be afraid of me in my wedding dress? Bring me the comb; I need to doll myself up properly." *I'll paint on a matchmaker's makeup and keep playing the fool. Let's see if he still dares to marry me then.*
Xi Yun'er happily helped her mistress into the scarlet wedding gown. Her mistress was naturally fair and lovely, and in this dress, she looked breathtakingly beautiful. It was a pity that her body could no longer cultivate, and in the eyes of outsiders, she was still just a fool with a betrothal. If not for that, there was no telling how many handsome men would have fallen for her.
In truth, her mistress was well-versed in the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Now that the Third Prince was finally going to marry her, and she was willing to dress up for her future husband, she must have made up her mind. Xi Yun'er watched with relief as her mistress meticulously drew her brows.
But... were these brows a bit too thick? Was the powder on her face applied a bit too heavily? And this dark, dark crimson mouth—not to mention the sheer number of gold and silver hairpins! And while Yun'er didn't mind the red peony in her hair, what was with that green hydrangea? What had happened to her mistress? Was she too excited to see the Third Prince that her mind had become a muddle?
"Miss, wait! Let me help you redo your look..." Seeing Lan Qinghuan about to head out, Xi Yun'er hurriedly called out to her, offering a cautious suggestion.
"Isn't it good? I am naturally beautiful and hard to ignore. I think it looks quite pretty." *Still not horrific enough. This face is too refined; even with deliberate ugliness, it remains too striking. There's something missing.*
"It's pretty, you're always pretty, Miss. But don't you think you look a bit like a matchmaker? All that's missing is a black mole by your mouth." Xi Yun'er pulled Lan Qinghuan toward the vanity, intending to remove the unsightly hydrangea from her hair first.
"Yun'er, don't move. Your idea is excellent... Consider this your reward." She plucked a large gold hairpin from her hair and placed it into Xi Yun'er’s hand. Then, she quickly grabbed an eyebrow pencil and drew a massive black mole right above the corner of her mouth. Before Xi Yun'er could recover, she slipped out of the room.
"Hey, Miss, wait!" *What does this mean?* As a maid, how could she wear such a precious hairpin? This phoenix-head pin was a token left by the royal family to secure the betrothal. Her mistress had always kept it locked away in a jewelry box for fear of dirtying or losing it, and she had only taken it out today because the Third Prince was coming to propose. But now, her mistress had just casually gifted it to her?
*Did she see through my secret feelings? But I’ve never shown that I like the Third Prince.* She knew her place; such thoughts were only for the privacy of her own heart. *No, I must explain this to her. She must have misunderstood.*
Relying on the memories in her mind, Lan Qinghuan sauntered toward the front hall alone. Naturally, she continued to act as crazily as possible, so the servants she passed didn't dare to approach her. The vermilion, carved-wood doors were wide open, and guards with swords stood at the entrance like wooden stakes. Lan Qinghuan halted her impulsive stride and ducked behind a corner to eavesdrop. With her soul and mental strength as a Martial God, no master should be able to detect her.
"Lord Feng Jingxuan, do you truly insist on sending Qinghuan to Fengyu Academy? You know that ever since her illness at age five, it was determined she could no longer cultivate. If you want her to study the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, I can invite tutors to the house..."
*Fengyu Academy is the best academy for women on the Fengxu Continent, but it’s famous for cultivation. I’ve never heard of them having classes for zither, chess, calligraphy, or painting.* Besides, he didn't feel at ease with her out there in that state.
"Head of the Lan Clan, please do not address me as Lord Feng Jingxuan. My Imperial Father will only issue the official decree after I have married Lan Qinghuan. Addressing me this way invites criticism. Furthermore, having her enter Fengyu Academy is also my Father’s decree. Otherwise, do you think Fengyu Academy allows just anyone to enter?"
The look of supreme arrogance on that stunning, bewitching face made the old man want to slap him.
"Third Prince, judging by your tone, you truly dislike our Qinghuan. Why not ask the Emperor to call off this engagement? Given his fondness for you, he would surely agree..." *If you hadn't refused to cancel the engagement, I would have found a talented son-in-law for my beautiful niece long ago. I wouldn't have to be kowtowing to you like this.* He was a fine man, with a face more bewitching than a woman's, but no matter how talented he was, if he didn't know how to cherish his niece, he wasn't worth his time.
"Enough. You outsiders will never understand my Father's thoughts... Who is making such a racket outside? Don't you know I am discussing important matters with the Lan Clan Head?"
Just thinking about the canceled engagement made him angry. His father had always indulged him, granting almost every request—except for this marriage. When he had raised the issue again this year, his father had lost his temper, furious, and issued an ultimatum: he must marry Lan Qinghuan as his primary consort in one month, or lose his promised estate and be forced into government service. He hated administrative chores. By comparison, marrying a fool as a decorative ornament was better than losing his freedom. Still, the thought of marrying that fool was irritating. She used to pester him constantly, and in the future...
*Ugh, it's exhausting.* His tone was naturally sharp. Now, someone was daring to walk right into the line of fire; they clearly didn't value their life.
"Miss! Miss, are you in there? ...Hey, I said let me in!" Xi Yun'er was desperate to return the hairpin. She had asked everyone along the way, and they all said they saw her mistress heading this way. But the guards at the door wouldn't let her in no matter what, so she had to shout at the top of her lungs.
"Hi, little Yun'er! I'm here, come and catch me!"
She had heard enough. If she didn't show herself, Xi Yun'er would suffer. Feng Jingxuan clearly disliked her; he was only marrying her because he dared not disobey his imperial father. If she could act even more wretched, he wouldn't be able to stand it, right? Even if he married her, he wouldn't want to see her face ever again. As for that Fengyu Academy, it might be interesting to take a look...
"Miss, don't run! You'll fall!" Xi Yun'er was startled when her mistress suddenly popped out. *And is she still going to pretend to be a fool? Running around in a long gown, how unseemly! And the Third Prince is right inside!*