Records of the Cattle and Horses of Chang'an

Chapter 486: Shocked to the Bone

These were sharpened by Old Fan for Yingzi when he had nothing to do. They are sharp at both ends. With her skill level, she can hurt people, but it is impossible for her to kill them.

If those people dare to bully her aunt tomorrow, then she will hide and secretly show them how powerful she is!

The next morning, Jiang Shangxian got up, washed her face, and put on the clothes she had chosen earlier. Runzhen even did her best to dress her up.

This was her first time showing up in Qingzhou, and it was also the first time that Runzhen and the others were to be put to good use. Not only Xiao Jiang was nervous, but even the servants like her were nervous as well.

The five maids who were chosen to go with us today all woke up earlier than the roosters, and were waving rolling pins in the yard to warm up in advance.

The son-in-law reminded her that his wife was a little soft-hearted, and they, the old women, had to stand up and protect her!

Runzhen was a little hesitant to make a decision in the face of the dazzling array of jewelry. Clothes were easier to choose, as they were made in Chang'an.

Chang'an was the center of the world at that time. The most fashionable makeup, clothing styles, and fabric usage all started to become popular in Chang'an. No matter how well-informed other places were, they would still be later than Chang'an.

In addition to the usual steps of applying powder, spreading fat, drawing eyebrows, drawing eyeliner, and adding red lipstick, the slanting red and the upper curve of the face are directly replaced with pearls.

Pearl makeup was not popular at that time. Jiang Shangxian chose pearl makeup because he wanted to shock people when he appeared.

This is not the time to keep a low profile. Regardless of whether it is the Hongmen Banquet or not, she will be the focus of everyone's attention today. If she dresses low-key, she will only be looked down upon.

Even modern girls can’t help but search for tutorials to learn any new and beautiful makeup they see, so the makeup at this time will not be bad either.

If she could use this novel and beautiful pearl makeup to block out some of the dispensable people who didn't matter to her whether they caused trouble or not, Jiang Shangxian felt that today's flower show would be much easier.

At least it shouldn't be like what Zhao Yue said, where he would be left on the bench.

She would be thankful if she could just sit on the bench!

Although Zhao Yue and Cui Shuhua both said that it was okay to have them around, at such banquets married women and unmarried girls would usually play separately. She planned to stay with the two elders, but there was no guarantee that something unexpected would happen.

Runzhen applied the pearls as she instructed and couldn't help but say, "Mrs. Madam, your idea is really clever. I have never seen anyone else apply pearls on their face. It is unique and beautiful."

However, she was a little puzzled when she saw Jiang Shangxian's dazzling array of jewelry. She originally thought that her future master was not rich, but she didn't expect that there were so many jewelry, and most of them were rich and gorgeous styles that she had never seen even in her previous master's house.

Runzhen gestured with this, then with that. It was difficult, too difficult. "Auntie, aren't these jewels a little too gorgeous?"

Jiang Shangxian pointed to a silver crown with flying butterflies and said, "Let's use that one, and add some flower hairpins around it."

"Yes."

Runzhen, who was suffering from a bout of indecisiveness, breathed a sigh of relief. Although it was just a silver crown, the flying butterfly on it was extremely lifelike and intricately crafted. The crown was also inlaid with numerous pearls, all round, uniform in size, and lustrous. Just looking at them, one could tell it was a good item. He couldn't help but sigh, "The craftsman who made this is truly talented. I wonder how much effort he put into it."

Yingzi was still young and had little interest in these things. She pointed at a hairpin beside her and showed it off: "Doesn't this hairpin look more real? Each flower is so small, with clear veins, and the stamens inside are made of real gold and gemstones. Before she left, Wu Niang from the Jiangxia County Prince's Mansion specially brought this for our aunt, saying it was something from the palace. She shamelessly asked for two boxes, kept one box for herself, and gave the other box full of things to our aunt. I don't believe Qingzhou also has this thing!"

In fact, this is what Li Xueyan brought on the day when Jinyang came to find Jiang Shangxian to bring bad luck. She also brought a golden crown, which is more exquisite than this silver crown. She will wear it next time when she wears something more colorful.

Runzhen put on the hair crown and took up the box to examine it carefully. He couldn't help but exclaim, "It's indeed worthy of being made by the palace craftsmen. Even such small flowers are so exquisitely crafted. Madam, you chose these two things very well. I'm sure those people will be staring at you."

This sounds funny but it is true. The trend of the Tang Dynasty started from Chang'an City, and the trend of Chang'an City started from the Daming Palace. The box of flower hairpins that Li Xueyan gave was just right.

She reached out and put on the armlet Jinyang had given her, smiling as she said, "If I dress too extravagantly today, I'm afraid people will say I'm going to wear all the finery I need to get a good marriage. But if I dress poorly, I'm afraid they'll say I'm from a humble background and that even if I get a good marriage, I'm not presentable enough."

Today she wore a red-colored and green-plum-colored blouse with a floral pattern, a blue tulle skirt with twelve rips that reached her chest, and a cape the color of pepper. The colors of her outfit were refreshing and bright, and matched perfectly with the silver hair crown and delicate flower hairpin.

If it follows the bright colors that young ladies like nowadays, this pearl makeup will not be pure and beautiful enough.

It is just right now, elegant and noble. Jiang Shangxian has been thinking about this outfit so much that her head hurts. She guarantees that her outfit will be different from others today.

Everyone loves beauty, and naturally some people will imitate beautiful makeup and clothes. She is not afraid of others imitating her, but she is afraid that they will not learn: "Yingzi, go and see if Jiulang's carriage has arrived?"

"Yes!"

Jiang Shangxian smiled encouragingly at himself in the mirror, "Runzhen, tell them to hide their rolling pins securely, or they'll drop them while walking and make a fool of themselves."

"Yes!"

It was the first time Jiang Wangri had seen his sister dressed like this. His eyes narrowed into lines from smiling. "Sister, you usually wear pink, but you look really good like this today. If my brother-in-law sees this, he'll probably turn me into a black mackerel."

He learned the term "catching black carp" from Jiang Shangxian.

In the past, Jiang Shangxian always dressed casually even when he went out with Cui Bianxu. Old Madam Xia often said that young ladies should dress up well.

Jiang Shangxian always said that it was good enough if it was too exaggerated. If it was too exaggerated, Xiao Cui would easily catch a black carp.

She rubbed her brother's head, her whole body full of energy, like a female general about to go to war: "Sister, today I am going to give Qingzhou's fashion world a shock!"

The word fashion was beyond Jiang Wangri's comprehension, but it didn't matter. Even if the sister boy didn't understand, he could still flatter her: "Sister, I will definitely shock them to pieces today!"

Xiao Jiang, who was walking out with high spirits, stumbled and almost tripped over the threshold: "You stay at home and read books today. You are not allowed to go anywhere!"

Who taught him to use idioms like this!