Ji Qingwu sat before the bronze mirror, her expression serene as she let Lan Zhi do as she pleased, generously giving her free rein.

The drowsiness instantly vanished from Lan Zhi’s mind.

She had once studied under a specialized makeup and hair teacher in the teaching room, and she had long been frustrated by the lack of opportunity to showcase her talent.

Just then, Ji Qingwu rested her chin on her hand and called softly, "Lan Zhi."

Lan Zhi tensed, clutching the wooden comb. "Fifth Missy, you promised to let me have free rein."

Ji Qingwu smiled at her. "I just wanted to remind you—make the makeup a bit more dramatic and glamorous."

Lan Zhi relaxed, but then grew suspicious. Usually, Fifth Missy disliked wearing makeup or powder. Today was completely out of character.

But this was a rare opportunity to style her as she wished, so Lan Zhi replied cheerfully, "It’s true! The jewelry Mrs. Qiao sent over needs a glamorous look to match. That’s the only way it will look its best."

"The goal is to look alluring and bewitching." Ji Qingwu tilted her head. "Can you manage that?"

"Of course." Lan Zhi answered without hesitation, not finding it challenging in the least. Her eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Fifth Missy, I’ve wanted to do this for ages! With your natural beauty, any style would suit you."

Ji Qingwu sat listlessly before the makeup box, like a doll being posed, complying with her maid’s every request.

It took a full four hours to complete the look.

Lan Zhi picked up the set of hair ornaments from Mrs. Qiao and chose a gilt filigree phoenix hairpin, intricately detailed with kingfisher feathers and dangling, spinning pearls, and carefully placed it in her hair.

She then added a turquoise forehead pendant inlaid with golden beads, along with red gold tassel earrings set with teardrop-shaped red coral.

Ji Qingwu gave her head a gentle shake. JINGLE JANGLE. The ornaments chimed crisply.

Her head, now laden with jewels, was even more extravagantly adorned than the last time Mrs. Qiao had styled her.

Whether or not she looked alluring, she couldn’t yet tell.

What she did know was that her neck was straining under the weight.

Lan Zhi bustled about, helping her change into a crabapple-red, cinched-waist gown made of gold-threaded Yao Guang Duan.

Once she had it on, the long gown flowed down her sides like water.

Lan Zhi was so excited she forgot her manners, pulling Ji Qingwu to stand before the long bronze mirror near the screen.

Her full reflection came into view. Ji Qingwu stared at the stranger in the mirror. She blinked, and her lovely eyes shifted with a soul-stealing allure.

She started to raise a hand to her cheek but was immediately blocked by a stern-looking Lan Zhi.

"Don’t move, you’ll smudge the makeup!"

Ji Qingwu could only lower her hand and survey the gown with her eyes.

She had never worn such a vibrant color. The wrapped bodice and wide sleeves were both dazzling and bewitching.

But she took a breath and asked hesitantly, "Lan Zhi, is this waist-cincher a little too tight?"

"Fifth Missy, turn around."

At her words, Ji Qingwu gracefully turned halfway around.

The jade belt cinching her waist was adorned with silver tassels. The slightest movement sent the tassels swaying, drawing all eyes to her slender, graceful waist.

Lan Zhi grinned like a giddy child, immensely proud of her own handiwork.

"Not tight, not tight at all! It’s just right, absolutely perfect."

Ji Qingwu was amused by her maid’s reaction. ’Looks like my plan will go off without a hitch.’

*

The midday sun was intense and dazzling.

The streets were bustling and crowded with people, creating a lively scene.

A luxuriously decorated carriage slowly pulled to a stop before the crowd, attracting many gazes.

From a few steps away, passersby could smell the alluring fragrance wafting from the carriage.

"I wonder which family’s young miss this is, going out with such pomp and circumstance," a curious voice said.

"That carriage looks familiar. Is it from the Ji Family in the south of the city?" another person added.

"I wonder if it’s the Ji Family’s Fourth Miss or the Fifth Missy? I heard that the Fourth Miss is stunningly beautiful, once as famous as Princess Consort Wei from the palace. They were called the Twin Beauties of Lin’an. Since they’re sisters, the Fifth Missy can’t be bad either."

While they were gossiping, a woman stepped down from the carriage. She wore an autumn-green brocade dress and had a pleasant, girl-next-door air about her, but she was far from a true beauty.

The man said with disappointment, "That’s the Fifth Missy? She’s just so-so. In my opinion, she’s not even as pretty as Yu Niang who sells flatbread on the street corner."

Another man teased, "Your wife was so angry with you she took the kid and went back to her mother’s house. You’re still going to Yu Niang’s for bread? Aren’t you afraid your wife will never come back to you?"

The first man said, "Yu Niang is just too beautiful. Even a young miss from the Ji Family can’t compare."

Lan Zhi got out of the carriage first and set up the step stool.

She stood respectfully by the side of the carriage and said deferentially, "Fifth Missy."

A slender, delicate hand lifted the curtain, revealing a glimpse of a snow-white wrist. The surrounding crowd instantly fell silent.

The sheer fabric quickly veiled the fair wrist again. The woman inside the carriage descended with slow, deliberate movements, each step as if an enchanting lotus were blooming from the ground.

Murmurs of amazement rose from the crowd, standing out clearly against the bustling noise of the street.

Ji Qingwu rested a hand on Lan Zhi’s arm, calmly accepting the crowd’s stares. Her every expression, from a slight frown to a gentle smile, was utterly captivating.

The man who had just said she couldn’t compare to Yu Niang was now staring blankly. After she left, he was mocked by those around him for a long time.

Ji Qingwu ostentatiously walked up and down the street.

She and Lan Zhi visited every shop on the street that sold women’s goods.

She didn’t buy a single thing, yet the shopkeepers all greeted her with enthusiasm.

Because wherever she went, men with ulterior motives were sure to follow. They would enter the shops hoping to strike up a conversation, and among them were plenty of wealthy young masters.

After Ji Qingwu left a cosmetics shop, the owner even insisted on giving her a box of lip rouge made from rose petal juice.

Lan Zhi asked, "Fifth Missy, that shopkeeper doesn’t even know you. Why would he give you something for free?"

Ji Qingwu’s eyes twinkled. "He gives me this one box, and for all the customers who come in after, he can say it’s the same one I use. This brand of lip rouge will sell much better."

"Fifth Missy, why did you accept it then? It’s not like the Ji Mansion can’t afford a box of lip rouge."

Ji Qingwu said, "Lan Zhi, are you thinking I seem greedy for this small trifle, and that it will give me an undignified reputation?"

Lan Zhi thought her action was improper but didn’t dare to say it so bluntly.

She stammered, "Fifth Missy, you already know that. Why would you still do it?"

As Lan Zhi spoke, she had a flash of insight. "Miss... you dressed this way on purpose today... it was all for..."

Ji Qingwu raised an index finger to her lips. "Shh."

She nodded and said with a smile, "I’m doing it precisely for that ’undignified’ reputation."

"Tomorrow, we’re going somewhere else."

*

「North City, Wei Mansion.」

Madam Wei sat in the main hall. Her face was gaunt and her hair was silver, but her bun was impeccably neat, adorned with a few exquisite golden flower hairpins, exuding an air of nobility.

In the morning, her daughters-in-law and grandchildren had come one after another to pay their respects. The roomful of people had just dispersed, and the hall had only been quiet for a short while.

The air was filled with the faint scent of incense. Madam Wei was resting with her eyes closed.

The matron at the door stepped forward lightly and whispered in her ear, "Old Madam, the General has returned."

Madam Wei’s eyes snapped open, laced with anger.