Zhu Qingyu had tried to persuade her more than once, but every time, Zhang Ruohua would nod enthusiastically and then resolutely refuse to change.
Zhang Ruohua was now in charge of the household affairs, managing the family's food, clothing, and daily expenses. She dressed herself beautifully every day and couldn't stand seeing the people around her looking drab. It hurt her eyes just to see them walk past her. If her sister-in-law didn't like wearing new clothes, it meant the new clothes weren't made well, so they had to be remade. It wasn't as if the family lacked money. Clothes cost only a few coins, and they could always make something her sister-in-law liked.
Now that she had finally managed to get her sister-in-law out of those dull, grey cotton clothes, Zhang Ruohua felt completely refreshed.
She simply couldn't understand how her sister-in-law, who was so beautiful, could wear those ugly cotton clothes all day and wear a plain wooden hairpin without a single carving. Her taste was truly questionable. Even the best looks couldn't withstand such a waste of natural beauty. But she was too embarrassed to say it out loud, afraid of hurting her sister-in-law's feelings.
Zhang Ruohua circled her beautiful sister-in-law, her eyes full of awe and great satisfaction:
"This Song brocade fabric looks plain, but it's actually so bright and gorgeous when worn. Sister-in-law, you look so beautiful dressed like this. When Second Brother comes back in a few days, you should wear this outfit to pick him up. He will definitely love it. I also bought some new rouge and powder; they're all new imports from foreign merchants. There are a few colors that suit you perfectly. I'll send them over, and you must remember to use them."
It wasn't just Zhang Ruohua who was amazed. On the day Zhang Shen returned to Yangzhou, he saw Zhu Qingyu waiting for him at the docks and stood frozen on the spot. He even forgot to disembark, staring intently at Zhu Qingyu for a long time without being able to say a single word.
Zhu Qingyu felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze and adjusted the heavy gold hairpin by her ear:
"Why are you looking at me like that? Does it look a bit strange? Third Sister insisted on helping me dress up before I left, and I couldn't bear to refuse her good intentions. It's just that there are way too many hair accessories. I haven't dared to look down the whole way here, afraid I might accidentally lose one."
Zhang Shen stepped off the boat, unable to hide the awe on his face. He took her hand, a wide smile on his face:
"How could it be strange? You dressed up so beautifully to see me, like a fairy descending to the mortal realm. I am truly quite flattered."
Perhaps because Zhang Ruohua had been bedridden for many years, once she was freed from her restrictions, she was like a caged bird soaring into the sky. Whenever she did something, she tended to go a bit overboard, preferring a heavily layered, dazzling, and extravagant style.
The heavy jewelry covering her head made her scalp ache, especially the solid gold hairpin inlaid with gems and wrapped in pearls by her ear. Perhaps because it was heavy, or perhaps because it wasn't secured properly in the rush to leave, Zhu Qingyu kept feeling like it was slipping, and she couldn't help but reach up to adjust it.
Seeing this, Zhang Shen quickly stopped, took the gold hairpin off for her, and found a new position to put it back in, saying:
"Is your hair not done properly? Later, I'll find you two maids who are skilled at doing hair, just to do yours."
Adjusting his wife's hairpins wasn't something Zhang Shen was good at either, so he took his time. The pedestrians coming and going at the docks frequently looked over at the couple. Two groups of people even got so distracted watching them that they bumped into each other head-on, blaming each other for not looking where they were going, and actually started arguing right there.
Zhu Qingyu felt even more awkward:
"Let's put it on in the carriage. Everyone is looking at us."
Zhang Shen turned a deaf ear to the squabbles around them, carefully securing the gold hairpin for his wife, and replied:
"They aren't looking at us; they are looking at you. But we should head back. I'm a very petty person. Even I rarely get to see you like this, so I'm somewhat reluctant to let others look at you."
...
In a private room on the second floor of the Qinyun Pavilion, Gu Zhao, sitting by the window, watched the entire scene from beginning to end. He couldn't tear his eyes away until the deeply affectionate young couple had gotten into their carriage.
Every time he had seen her before, she had looked completely unadorned. He had assumed she naturally preferred simplicity and disliked dressing up, but little did he know that a woman only dresses up for the one who pleases her. Only in front of her own husband was she willing to spend such time and effort. Adorned with pearls and jade, her beauty was exceptionally radiant and breathtaking.
"Lord Vice Minister, Yiyi offers you a toast."
A woman's soft, delicate voice sounded by his ear. Gu Zhao withdrew his gaze and looked to his side.
The Imperial Envoy had been assassinated in Yangzhou. The person ordered by the Emperor to investigate the case was the Emperor's cousin, and the person who was stabbed was the Emperor's brother-in-law. Naturally, the local officials couldn't escape the blame.
Prefect Liu of Yangzhou and Governor Gao, the Viceroy of Liangjiang and Governor of Jiangsu, had been trembling with fear and walking on thin ice these past few days, terrified of angering the Emperor and losing their heads. The banquet they had set up today was precisely to apologize to the Lord Vice Minister.
During the banquet, Prefect Liu's adopted daughter, Liu Yiyi, was serving as a companion.
While Liu Yiyi offered the toast, Prefect Liu urged him to drink:
"Lord Vice Minister, this is the Nu'er Hong wine that my humble household prepared for Yiyi. I make bold to ask Your Lordship to taste and evaluate it."
Hosting a banquet with the Nu'er Hong wine traditionally meant for a daughter's wedding, and using the girl's boudoir name to accompany the wine—it was hard to say whether Prefect Liu was asking him to evaluate the wine or the person.
Liu Yiyi was sixteen years old and very beautiful. Her every movement was that of a noble young lady, yet she possessed a bit more coquettish charm than typical noble ladies.
Gu Zhao cast a casual glance at her but didn't say a word, nor did he touch a drop of the wine.
Unsure of Lord Gu's attitude, Liu Yiyi looked at Prefect Liu. Seeing him nod, she moved a little closer to Gu Zhao and raised her cup for another toast:
"Yiyi will drink first to show respect. Please, Your Lordship, do me the honor of evaluating it."
After downing the full cup of wine, the beauty seemed overwhelmed by the alcohol. Her cheeks flushed crimson, her eyes were full of affection, and she looked as if she had something to say but hesitated.
Gu Zhao looked at her again. When he was the chief judge for the Yan family's case, he had heard about the local industries in Yangzhou. They would specifically pick out beautiful girls from the age of a few years old, spend ten years specially training them, and then select the best ones to present to him. Every smile, every frown, every movement was both innocent and seductive. She was indeed a rare beauty.
But beautiful as she was, it seemed something was missing.
Otherwise, why would he remain completely unmoved and feel no stirrings of the heart when facing such a beauty?
What exactly was missing?
Unconsciously, an image floated into Gu Zhao's mind: a pair of hands in a clinic, covered in blood yet incredibly steady; those eyes in the cramped pharmacy, harboring a hint of anger; and that seemingly respectful smile at the door of the medical hall, which was actually full of false politeness, just relieved to finally send the trouble out the door.
Clearly, if taken individually, none of these traits should have had anything to do with a beauty. Gu Zhao didn't know why he would suddenly think of these things for no reason.
This inexplicability even made Gu Zhao feel a little suffocated and frustrated.
The Lord Vice Minister remained silent for a little too long. The concubine had intentions, but the lord had no heart. What should have been a romantic and ambiguous scene suddenly turned cold. Beside him, Liu Yiyi was already struggling to maintain her smile.
Under the expectant gazes of everyone at the banquet, Gu Zhao finally picked up the wine cup beside his hand. Before it even reached his lips, he took a shallow sniff, put it back down, and said:
"Mediocre. Take it away."
It was unknown whether this "mediocre" referred to the wine, or the person.
