Chapter Five

  Although my heart is extremely depressed, the days still pass one by one. These past few days, my sister has been very busy. Although the Beile master doesn't need to be too tense, after all, there are more than a dozen brothers, plus the crown prince, how can he not be tense? I couldn't help with anything and was instead quite idle, because of my frustration, I didn't want to go anywhere, so I spent my days holed up in my room thinking aimlessly. Sighing for my sister, thinking about myself, what road awaits me after the selection of the imperial concubines? Although I know the general trend of history, an individual's fate is controlled by others and can't be grasped at all.

  Dongyun brought in a bowl of silver ear soup, smiling and saying: "When you were sick, you ran out every day, and no one could stop you. Now that your body is better, you're lying in bed all day." I got up, sat at the table, picked up the soup and drank it. Isn't it said that sorrow should be drowned in food? Dongyun watched me drink the soup, saying: "Tomorrow night is the 10th brother's birthday, has Miss prepared a gift?" I stopped suddenly, thinking, how could I have forgotten this? My heart started to ponder, what should I send? Sister saw my worried look and smiled, saying: "I've already prepared it for you." I thought, how can that count?

  But it's good to have something to think about, at least I'm not so annoyed now, and I'm starting to look forward to tomorrow's feast. Think about it, how many famous historical figures! And they're all gathered together!

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  On the second day, I got up early and told Dongyun to dress me up as beautifully as possible. Then, clothes, accessories, one set at a time, one piece at a time, were tried on and rejected. The room was filled with them on the bed and table. My sister said I was crazy. I thought that if I didn't do this recklessly, I would really go crazy.

  Sister had lunch and then went to work. Winter Cloud and I have been busy since morning, and the whole beauty project was finally completed in the afternoon. Winter Cloud didn't let me off even with my eyelashes and eyelids, it's almost driving me crazy. Because I used to wear light makeup when I was working, compared to that big bag of makeup tools I had back then, this is really too simple. However, after my persistent communication and explanation, Winter Cloud's skilled hands dressed me up, plus this Ma Wei Tai Ye Xi originally a little beauty, a elegant and refined ancient-style beauty appeared. Cui Hui saw me and looked at me for a while, sighed: "Second Miss looks so good!" I smiled shyly and asked: "Do you think so?" Cui Hui laughed: "Now it is!"

  As the sun sets, I have everything ready. The eunuch sent by my sister has arrived just in time. Then, with the eunuch leading the way and two maids following behind me, we set off in a gentle and elegant manner.

  Autumn has arrived, and although it's still a bit hot during the day, the evenings are just right, neither cold nor hot. My sister chose an empty spot by the lake to hold a dinner party. The stage was set up on the lake, and there were a few osmanthus trees planted along the shore, which emitted a faint fragrance that seemed to come from nowhere when the breeze blew across the water.

  When I arrived, my sister was sitting in the pavilion by the lake watching a theatrical performance. She raised her head and saw me, and for a moment she was taken aback, not speaking, only sizing me up with her eyes from top to bottom. Finally, she smiled and sighed: "You're even more beautiful than the people in that painting!" I laughed and said: "Sister, are you praising me or yourself? After all, we look six-tenths alike!" My sister laughed and scolded: "You have a sharp tongue!"

  "I asked, 'Hasn't he arrived yet?' My sister said, 'First, let's talk about the younger brother, and then Grandfather and Ninth Brother will come together. They should be arriving soon.' Before she had even finished speaking, I saw a group of people approaching in the distance. My sister quickly stood up and walked out to greet them, and I followed her. As we were walking, my sister said, 'The two people you haven't met before are Eleventh Brother and Twelfth Brother.' Just as she was saying this, the group arrived, and my sister went forward to pay her respects. I followed after her, and when I stood up, I saw that Eighth Beile, Ninth Brother, and Tenth Brother all looked surprised, but Eleventh Brother and Twelfth Brother, whom I had never met before, looked at me a few times but their expressions remained calm."

  Everyone walked into the attic and sat down, I stood beside my sister, Eighth Brother smiled and said: "Tonight we'll just have some fun, no need for so many rules, sit down!" Only then did I sit down behind my sister. Eleventh Brother smiled and said: "Last time when drinking, Thirteenth Brother escaped, this time he can't be let off!" Tenth Brother excitedly chimed in: "We've been waiting just for him!" Eighth Brother smiled and said: "You can't outdrink that 'Desperate Thirteen'." Everyone burst into laughter.

  Sister smiled and listened for a while, seeing the little eunuch stretching his neck to look inside from outside. She stood up and said: "The lady has arrived, I'll go arrange something." Led me out of the pavilion. Don't know what they were talking about, only heard the shouting voice of the tenth brother behind me, and a room full of laughter. Listening, my heart was filled with emotion, if I could choose, I would rather not know anything and follow silly happiness.