The tenth day of the twelfth lunar month was deemed most auspicious, and suitable for all endeavors.
The sky was still pitch black when Fuling woke Qin Wan. Though Qin Wan was accustomed to rising early, she couldn’t help but smile wryly at the darkness outside. Qin Shuang was also staying in the Pine Breeze Courtyard. After seeing off Meng Yao and Yue Ning the previous day, the sisters had talked late into the night. Qin Wan felt as if she had just laid down when she was awakened.
In a daze, Qin Wan was assisted by Fuling and Bai Ying as she bathed. Early in the morning, Fuling had filled the bathtub with flower petals. The fragrance was so strong that Qin Wan found it overwhelming, but Fuling insisted, “You’ll be busy all day today, and this scent will fade by evening. Don’t dislike these preparations – Nurse Yu specially sent someone to teach me. This is your wedding day, you must observe all the proper customs!”
Qin Wan could only smile helplessly and let Fuling have her way.
After bathing, Fuling and Ban Xia prepared an elaborate breakfast. Though Qin Wan usually ate sparingly, today the table was laden with dishes. Every pastry bore an auspicious name. Qin Wan reluctantly ate some to prepare for the long day ahead. When she finished breakfast, it was still dark outside.
The wedding dress had been prepared long ago. When Qin Wan sat before the mirror again, Madam Hu arrived with two kind-faced noble ladies. They were the “women of complete fortune” whom Madam Hu had invited for Qin Wan. Both were from prominent families in the capital, but not royal relatives. Therefore, their manner toward the soon-to-be Princess Rui combined warmth with respect. After speaking auspicious words, and seeing the sky beginning to turn blue, they started to dress Qin Wan’s hair and prepare her face.
In the Great Zhou Dynasty, it was traditionally the bride’s mother who dressed her daughter’s hair on her wedding day. But since Qin Wan’s mother had passed away early, Madam Hu took on this role today.
Madam Hu undid Qin Wan’s usual neat bun, letting her silk-like black hair cascade down her back like a waterfall. Taking up a jade comb and fine-toothed comb, Madam Hu began combing while speaking auspicious words: “First stroke for harmony to the end, second stroke for matching brows till gray hair…”
Madam Hu combed exactly ten times. When the final words “tenth stroke for lifelong conjugal bliss” were spoken, the hair-combing ritual was complete. Looking at Qin Wan in the mirror, Madam Hu’s eyes reddened as she said, “When I sent off Yu’er that day, I did the same, feeling so joyful thinking she had found a good match. But who knew… Wan’er, you are like my own daughter. I believe you will have a happier, more blessed life than Yu’er…”
At this moment, melancholy touched Qin Wan’s heart as well. “Aunt Hu…”
Qin Wan meant to comfort Madam Hu, but the latter didn’t wish to say more. She patted Qin Wan’s hand and asked the two fortunate ladies to prepare Qin Wan’s face.
Fuling applied a fragrant hot towel to Qin Wan’s face, followed by a layer of scented cream. Though Qin Wan still felt some pain when the fine cotton threads passed over her cheeks, by the time the facial preparation was complete, both fortunate ladies were stunned by her beauty.
“My lady, I’ve served as fortunate lady for many young ladies in the capital, but none compare to the Young Miss’s beauty. She was already heavenly beautiful, and now… I fear she’ll entrance Prince Rui completely. In my opinion, the Young Miss needs no powder at all…”
Qin Wan was naturally fair-skinned, and now after the facial treatment, her jade-like complexion was even more radiantly white with a hint of pink – a beauty that even the finest powder couldn’t create. The matrons who were supposed to apply her makeup hesitated. Madam Hu looked her over carefully, “Skip the powder, but we still need rouge. This is a wedding day after all. We should define her brows and add some color to her lips, lest she look too pale in the wedding dress.”
Following Madam Hu’s instructions, several matrons responsible for Qin Wan’s makeup surrounded her at once. Qin Wan sat straight, feeling at a loss for the first time in her life. Countless hands worked above her head, applying rouge and powder, and placing golden hairpins and jade ornaments one by one. Soon Qin Wan felt her head was ten pounds heavier. Just as the sky began showing its first light, the matrons exclaimed in unison, “It’s done!”
Qin Wan raised her head in a daze and was startled by her reflection.
The person in the mirror was both herself and yet not herself. Her features had always been delicate, but now after the facial treatment and the application of eye makeup and rouge, her features appeared even more profound. Her already exquisite features seemed almost painted in their perfection. What moved Qin Wan most were her eyes – against the rouge on her cheeks, her usually calm and clear eyes now appeared liquid and luminous, their black and white so distinct they seemed capable of containing all the world’s beauty. Looking at herself this way, an inexplicable feeling welled up in Qin Wan’s heart, and her usual composure gave way to an unfamiliar sense of feminine shyness.
Everyone in the room gathered around, their gazes fixed on Qin Wan, exclaiming in admiration. Qin Shuang held Qin Wan’s hand, her expression both envious and tender, “Heavens, what celestial sister is this? Prince Rui must have accumulated great merit in his previous life to marry such a beautiful princess!”
Everyone in the room laughed. Qin Wan noticed her flushed cheeks, unsure whether from genuine bashfulness or the rouge, as she felt warmth in her cheeks.
Madam Hu joined in the praise, then noting the brightening sky outside, said with a smile, “Alright, alright, we’re not done yet. Fuling, help the Young Miss into her wedding dress quickly. After the dress, we still need to add jewelry. You can admire her once everything is complete…”
At these words, Fuling dared not delay and hurried to help Qin Wan into the inner chamber.
The wedding attire consisted of five layers, from the innermost water-red silk robe to the outermost gown embroidered with peonies, pomegranates, and hundred-sons patterns. Fuling and Bai Ying carefully dressed Qin Wan layer by layer. Qin Wan, already feeling her head was ten pounds heavier, felt herself shrink under the weight once the wedding dress was on. Originally, the dress hadn’t included jewels, but they were added later. In the brightly lit room, Fuling and the others saw how the patterns on the dress’s hem shimmered with five-colored radiance in the lamplight, making Qin Wan appear like an otherworldly immortal draped in starlight. Fuling stared at Qin Wan unblinkingly, both joyful and moved and suddenly began crying silently, which caught Qin Wan off guard. “Why are you crying on such a good day?”
Fuling’s tears fell unceasingly as she laughed through her crying, “You look so beautiful, Miss. I’ve dreamed of this day for so long, thinking it would take forever to come, but it arrived so quickly. Miss is getting married – your parents in the underworld can rest easy now.”
Fuling’s words brought a wave of sadness to Qin Wan’s heart. While the Ninth Miss’s parents might have reunited with her, her own parents’ wrongful deaths remained unredressed… Qin Wan sighed inwardly as she wiped Fuling’s tears, “Isn’t crying said to be inauspicious? No more crying!”
Hearing this, Fuling immediately took a deep breath, looking as if she was trying to force her tears back, “Ah, I won’t cry anymore! This is Miss’s joyous day! Miss is so beautiful! And Prince Rui loves Miss so much! I’m happy! Truly happy!”
Bai Ying watched amusedly from the side, only helping Qin Wan out of the inner chamber once every detail of her wedding dress was properly arranged.
As soon as she emerged, Qin Wan naturally became the focus of everyone’s attention again. While the room was still filled with praise, a servant announced that Meng Yao had arrived!
Qin Wan quickly had someone invite Meng Yao in. When Meng Yao entered and saw Qin Wan in her wedding dress, she too was stunned and delighted. By now the sky was bright, and Madam Hu, not daring to delay, ordered the servants to add Qin Wan’s jewelry. Usually, Qin Wan preferred simplicity and hardly wore any ornaments, but today she had to wear not only a complete set of solid gold and ruby headdresses plus four dragon-and-phoenix-themed hair ornaments, but also matching necklaces, bracelets, waist ornaments, and even anklets.
Qin Wan felt a mix of emotions but had to break from her habits. She held out her hands, letting others arrange everything. Only after the final piece of jade was secured did Fuling and Qin Shuang step back satisfied. Now Qin Wan was fully adorned from head to toe, and everyone couldn’t take their eyes off this Young Miss who had become famous throughout Great Zhou within a year of entering the capital.
This, perhaps, was what it meant to be beauty that could topple a nation – today, Princess Yongci embodied that very essence…