Chapter 6, Double Dimples

The Empress Dowager let out a soft "hmm," and her expression slightly brightened

She walked briskly to Wenchang's side. Upon seeing her approach, Wenchang's eyes filled with tears, which he struggled to hold back, biting his lip in silence. However, the Empress Dowager spoke lightly: "Today is the princess's birthday, and she has come to the Longevity Palace to express her gratitude. Does the noble consort think that the princess should not kneel before me to show her thanks?"

A room full of women immediately directed their gazes, filled with jealousy, resentment, amusement, or deep restraint, towards the entrance of the hall

Beside the queen, He Jingyao, the second daughter of the Deputy Chief of the Privy Council He Anxian, who was conferred the title of Yao Fei, gazed intently at her newly painted nails adorned with the pearls from the tribute of the Kingdom of Beihai, as if she could not get enough of the shimmering polish. With a cold smile, she remarked: "How strange it is, since it is a double beauty mark, why is only one side painted? Is it that the attempt to paint a tiger has instead resulted in a dog?"

After a considerable time, the esteemed Consort Rui finally entered, her long skirt trailing on the ground, her hair styled in a delicate cloud-like bun, and a light application of powder on her face. She walked in gracefully, seemingly offering a gentle smile to everyone, yet her gaze from the corners of her eyes included no one.

The queen, however, could hardly conceal her deep-seated jealousy; her usually graceful countenance was filled with a fierce expression. Facing the woman who constantly threatened her position, a threat to which she felt utterly powerless, she could barely suppress her voice laden with hatred.

The eunuch who came to present the award wore a false smile, speaking in a high-pitched voice: "Your Majesty, the Empress has said that due to the recent resurgence of hostilities with Northern Wei, the soldiers at the front are enduring great hardships, and the military supplies are substantial. The palace should also economize in order to demonstrate our shared suffering. These pairs of jade cups and gold spoons, it is likely that the Princess will never need them in her lifetime. It would be better to help the Princess save them for military supplies, which would also be a token of the Princess's goodwill. Given the Princess's deep favor from the Emperor and her understanding of righteousness, she would surely be willing to do so."

In a room of exquisite grandeur, only the noble Consort Rui is dressed in light garments of thin gauze, with a lazy makeup of peach blossoms, her hair styled in a simple bun without pearls or jade. A pale silk ribbon hangs down, while the golden gauze on her arms flutters in the wind, appearing ethereal like an immortal

Qin Changge, however, had already turned to the princess who was still kneeling on the ground, as if he had just noticed her. His expression changed, and he stood up in surprise, exclaiming: "Isn't this Princess Wenchang? How could the princess be kneeling here?"

I have heard that in the distant land there is a "double beauty mark". Beneath the eyebrows and above the beauty marks, a touch of vermilion adds a delicate red hue, further accentuating the woman's enchanting gaze and graceful demeanor. Today, I have some leisure time and have learned to create it. How does it look?

It was still not enough; the eunuch, with a sinister smile, urged her to go to the Changshou Palace where the Empress Dowager resided to express her gratitude. Knowing full well that this would lead to another round of humiliation, Wenchang had no choice but to hurriedly change her clothes and head to the Changshou Palace

The palace concubines exchanged glances, none daring to speak

That sentence, "Anyway, I am old now, so I no longer need to use the double eyelids," sounds exactly like the earlier decree given to the princess in front of the two empresses, which stated, "The princess will not need this for the rest of her life; it is better to help her save it." It truly sounds sarcastic.

The picture book, with Qin Changge covering her face with a simple fan, smiled faintly

When Qin Changge smiled gently, she said, "Not to mention being a princess, anyone here would kneel upon seeing you. You embody the virtues of a mother to the world, and even the Son of Heaven observes the etiquette of a son, paying his respects to you daily. How much more so for us?"

In the Hall of Longevity, the concubines were adorned with pearls and emeralds, gathered together in a splendid assembly. The Empress and the Dowager Empress, dressed in their finest attire, sat gracefully in the upper seats. The princess stepped forward to express her gratitude, while the two women leisurely sipped their tea, not even lifting their eyelids. The princess, feeling awkward and perplexed, knelt in place, unsure of what to do. At that moment, a palace maid came to report that the esteemed Guifei had arrived

Qin Changge was not the least bit annoyed, merely smiling.

Upon her utterance, everyone changed color. Qin Changge, at the age of twenty, although slightly older than the other consorts, is considerably younger than the Empress Dowager and the Empress. When she claims to be "old and bookish," is she not mocking the two palaces for their "agedness"?

Why is the imperial concubine dressed in such an unusual manner today

This is acceptable, but what is most peculiar is that at this moment, a scarlet mole has appeared, resembling a tear.

However, Qin Changge slowly circled around the hall, gazing at the concubines who were seated calmly, and said with a smile: "Sisters, I suddenly remembered a small matter that I do not quite understand. Could you please enlighten me on this?"

Wenchang lay prostrate on the ground, listening to these heart-wrenching words, feeling completely numb and stiff, oblivious to pain or discomfort, yet could only bury his face deeply in the dust, trembling with a voice filled with sorrow and humiliation to express his gratitude.

That is a makeup style suitable only for young women who have not yet reached the age of maturity. Anyway, I am old now and no longer need to apply such beauty marks. Applying it on one side can still be considered a touch of novelty