On the tenth day of the twelfth lunar month, an auspicious date favorable for all endeavors.
While the sky was still pitch black, Qin Guan was roused by Fuling. Though Qin Guan was naturally an early riser, she couldn't help but smile wryly at the darkness outside. Qin Shuang was also staying at Pine Breeze Courtyard. Having bid farewell to Meng Yao and Yue Ning the day before, the two sisters had stayed up late talking, and Qin Guan felt as if she had just laid down when she was called to rise.
In a drowsy state, Qin Guan was bathed by Fuling and Baiying. Early in the morning, Fuling scattered the bathtub full of petals, their fragrance so rich it made Qin Guan feel almost choked. Yet Fuling insisted earnestly, "You'll be toiling all day today, and this scent will fade by evening. Don't dislike these preparations—Granny Yu specially sent someone to teach me. Today is your wedding; no matter what, you mustn't be careless!"
Qin Guan listened with a resigned smile, silently allowing Fuling to have her way.
After the bath, Fuling and Ban Xia prepared an exquisite breakfast. Though Qin Guan usually ate lightly in the morning, today the table was laden with delicacies, each pastry bearing a name symbolizing good fortune and happiness. Feeling helpless, Qin Guan forced herself to eat a little to sustain her through the long day ahead. By the time she finished, the sky outside remained dark.
The Wedding Dress had long been prepared. As Qin Guan sat before the dressing mirror once more, Hu Shi arrived. Accompanied by two amiable noblewomen—both chosen by Hu Shi as "complete blessing attendants" for Qin Guan—they were prominent figures in the capital, though not of royal lineage. Thus, their demeanor toward Qin Guan, who was soon to become the princess consort of Prince Rui, was both warm and respectfully deferential. After offering a stream of auspicious blessings, they began to comb Qin Guan's hair and perform the facial threading ritual as the horizon started to tinge with blue.
In the Great Zhou dynasty, it was customary for the bride's mother to comb her hair on the wedding day. However, Qin Guan's mother had passed away long ago, so Hu Shi took on the role instead.
Hu Shi gently loosened the simple chignon Qin Guan had worn, letting her satiny black hair cascade like a waterfall down her back. Picking up a jade comb and fine-toothed pin, Hu Shi recited blessings as she combed: "First comb to the end, second comb to hair as fine as brows, third comb to children and grandchildren filling the halls…"
Hu Shi combed ten times in total, concluding with, "Tenth comb to husband and wife growing old together." With this, the hair-combing ritual was complete. Gazing at Qin Guan's reflection in the mirror, Hu Shi's eyes reddened slightly as she said, "When I sent off Yu'er that day, I did the same as your aunt. My heart was full of joy, thinking Yu'er had found a wonderful match, but who could have known… Guan'er, you are like my own daughter. I believe you will live a life far happier and more fulfilled than Yu'er…"
At this moment, a touch of melancholy crept into Qin Guan's heart. "Aunt…"
Though Qin Guan intended to comfort Hu Shi, the latter clearly wished to say no more. Patting Qin Guan's hand, she invited the two blessing attendants to begin the facial threading.
Fuling applied a fragrant, warm cloth to Qin Guan's face and carefully smoothed a layer of scented cream over her skin. Yet, when the fine cotton thread passed over her cheeks, Qin Guan still felt a stinging pain. Once the threading was done, the two attendants' eyes shone with astonishment.
"Madam, I've served as a blessing attendant for many young ladies in the capital, but I've never seen one with such peerless beauty as the princess." She already possesses celestial grace, and now… I fear she might captivate Prince Rui's very soul. In my opinion, the郡主 doesn't need a speck of powder on her face at all…"Qin Guan was naturally fair-skinned, and after having her face threaded, her jade-like complexion became even more radiant with a delicate pink glow. Such skin could not be achieved even with the finest cosmetics. The Momma originally tasked with applying Qin Guan's makeup hesitated. Hu Shi looked her over left and right. "No need for powder, but rouge is still necessary. After all, today is the grand wedding. Her brows should be lightly defined, and a touch of rouge and lip color applied, so she doesn’t appear too pale when wearing the Wedding Dress."
Following Hu Shi’s instructions, several mothers responsible for dressing Qin Guan swarmed around her at once. Qin Guan sat up straight, feeling utterly disoriented for the first time in her life. Countless hands fussed over her head, applying rouge and powder, adorning her with golden hairpins and jade hairpins, one after another landing on her face and head. In no time, Qin Guan felt as though her head had gained ten pounds in weight. It wasn’t until the first light of dawn tinged the sky that the several Mommas declared in unison, "Done!"
Dazedly, Qin Guan lifted her head and caught sight of the person in the mirror, startling even herself.
The reflection was her, yet not entirely her. She had always possessed delicate features, but now, with her face threaded, her brows and eyes defined, and rouge applied, her entire contour appeared more profound. Her already exquisite features seemed painted on, flawless and perfect. What moved Qin Guan most were her eyes—against the backdrop of the rouge on her cheeks, her typically calm and clear eyes now glistened with a tender, captivating light, so distinct in their black and white contrast that they seemed capable of holding all the beautiful scenery in the world. Gazing at this version of herself, an inexplicable emotion surged in Qin Guan’s heart, and amidst her composure, a subtle sense of delicate shyness emerged.
Everyone in the room gathered around, their eyes fixed on Qin Guan, clicking their tongues in admiration. Qin Shuang held Qin Guan’s hand, both envious and affectionate. "Heavens, what celestial sister is this? Prince Rui must have performed great deeds in his past life to marry such a beautiful princess consort!"
The room erupted in laughter. Qin Guan looked at her slightly flushed cheeks, unsure whether it was genuine shyness or the effect of the rouge, but she felt a warmth spreading across them.
Hu Shi also offered a few praises and, noticing the brightening sky outside, said with a laugh, "Alright, alright, it’s not over yet. Fuling, you and the others quickly help the princess consort into her Wedding Dress. Once the dress is on, there’s still jewelry to add. You can admire her after everything is properly adorned…"
Hearing this, Fuling dared not delay and promptly escorted Qin Guan into the inner chamber.
The Wedding Apparel consisted of five layers, from the innermost watery-red gauze garment to the outermost robe embroidered with peonies, symbols of wealth, and pomegranate bursting with hundreds of seeds. Fuling and Baiying meticulously dressed Qin Guan layer by layer. Qin Guan already felt her head weighed down by ten pounds, and once the Wedding Dress was on, she instantly felt as though she had been pressed down, becoming shorter. The dress had not originally been adorned with gemstones, but they were eventually added. Under the brightly lit room, Fuling and the others saw the patterns on the dress’s hem shimmering with a kaleidoscope of colors under the light, making Qin Guan appear as if she were an immortal from beyond the mortal realm, draped in starlight. Fuling stared unblinkingly at Qin Guan, both overjoyed and deeply moved, and without a word, began to shed tears. This took Qin Guan completely by surprise. "Why are you crying when everything is fine?"Fuling’s tears fell ceaselessly, her sobs mingled with laughter. “This servant thinks the young lady looks beautiful. I’ve been dreaming of this day for so, so long. I thought it would take ages to come true, yet here it is, arriving so swiftly. The young lady is getting married! If the late master and mistress knew of this in the underworld, they would rest in peace.”
Fuling’s words stirred a pang of sorrow in Qin Guan’s heart. Perhaps Ninth Miss’s parents had already reunited with her in the afterlife, yet her own parents remained wronged, their grievances unresolved… Qin Guan sighed inwardly, wiping Fuling’s tears as she chided gently, “Didn’t you say crying brings bad luck? Stop it now!”
Hearing this, Fuling immediately took a deep breath, visibly forcing her tears back. “Ah, this servant won’t cry anymore! Today is the young lady’s joyous day! You look so beautiful! And Prince Rui dotes on you so! This servant is just… overjoyed! Truly overjoyed!”
Baiying watched with amusement, and only after ensuring every part of Qin Guan’s Wedding Apparel was perfectly arranged did she support Qin Guan out of the inner chamber.
Once outside, Qin Guan naturally became the center of attention again. The room buzzed with continuous praise when a servant announced from outside: “Meng Yao has arrived!”
Qin Guan promptly asked for Meng Yao to be invited in. Upon entering and seeing Qin Guan in her Wedding Apparel, Meng Yao couldn’t help but express another wave of awe and delight. By now, the sky outside had brightened fully. Not daring to delay, Hu Shi ordered the attendants to adorn Qin Guan with jewelry. Usually, Qin Guan preferred simplicity and rarely wore ornaments, but today, not only was her head adorned with a full set of pure gold and ruby Jewelry Set plus four “dragon and phoenix heralding prosperity” hairpins, she also had to wear matching necklaces, bracelets, waist pendants, and even anklets.
Overwhelmed with mixed emotions, Qin Guan had no choice but to comply with the customs. She spread her arms and allowed herself to be adorned. Only after the final Jade Pendant was fastened did Fuling and Qin Shuang step back, satisfied. By then, Qin Guan was fully armed from head to toe, and everyone present couldn’t take their eyes off this County Princess who, within a year of arriving in the capital, had become renowned throughout the Great Zhou.
What did it mean to be devastatingly beautiful? Perhaps today, Yongci County Princess embodied that very definition.
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