Jian Wei let out a soft chuckle, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he looked at Lian Yan. "That was not in my mind until you mentioned it," he began, his voice a low rumble that filled the space between them. "You were smart a minute ago, but you overthought it." He paused, his gaze never leaving hers, as if he was trying to convey a sense of reassurance, a silent message that she had nothing to fear.
Lian Yan's brows furrowed slightly, her eyes reflecting a hint of confusion. She had let her thoughts run wild, her imagination conjuring up scenarios that were far from the truth. But how could she have known? She barely knew Jian Wei, and mind-reading was not one of her talents.
"I was going to see if we can use a bit of makeup," Jian Wei continued, his voice steady and calm. "And find a way to make you a little different from what the current officers and posters of you are." His words hung in the air, a simple solution to a problem that had seemed insurmountable just moments ago.
Lian Yan, however, was not convinced. She crossed her arms over her chest, her gaze never wavering from his. "How are you going to make me look different with just makeup and such?" she asked, her voice tinged with a hint of skepticism. She had seen the posters, the drawings of her face that were scattered throughout the town. How could a bit of makeup change that?
Jian Wei's lips curled into a smile, his eyes reflecting a hint of amusement. "Well, it isn't exactly going to be me," he admitted, his voice tinged with a hint of humor. "It is going to be some ladies who work for me." As if on cue, the door to the room opened, and three courtesans entered, their presence filling the space with a sense of elegance and grace.
Lian Yan's eyes widened slightly, her brows furrowing in surprise. She had not expected this, had not anticipated the arrival of these women who were strangers to her. Before she could react, she felt hands gently pulling her up from her seat, guiding her towards the courtesans. She stood there, her heart pounding in her chest, her gaze flickering between the women and Jian Wei.
One of the courtesans, a woman with eyes that sparkled like stars, looked at her with a sense of admiration. "Oh, she is quite beautiful," she said, her voice a soft melody that echoed in the room. She turned to Jian Wei, her gaze never leaving Lian Yan. "Is this the lady who is going to personally work for you?"
In the quietude of the chamber, the resonance of her words lingered, casting a palpable stillness over the room for awhile. The two courtesans, poised with an air of elegance, cradled a sizable, ornate box between them. Its contents were a mystery, perhaps holding a few select items or a trove of treasures meant to transform and adorn.
"Yes, this is the beautiful lady who will be working with me," he declared, his voice carrying a tone of finality. "I require all of you to bestow upon her a new look. Nothing too lackluster or antiquated. She simply needs to appear... different." A faint smile graced his lips as Jian Wei exited the room, leaving the three ladies to their task of reinvention.
For a moment, the four women remained in silent contemplation. The courtesans exchanged knowing glances, their eyes alight with excitement and purpose. Lian Yan, however, stood amidst them, her uncertainty a stark contrast to their confidence. "Umm... how exactly are we going to do this?" she ventured, her voice a soft tremor in the quiet room.
"Oh! Well, let us begin!" exclaimed the courtesan whose eyes sparkled like distant stars, her enthusiasm breaking the stillness. She moved with grace and purpose, setting the box down and lifting its lid to reveal an array of cosmetics and tools.
The courtesans gathered around Lian Yan, their movements a symphony of practiced ease. With delicate brushes and finely ground powders, they set to work, their touches light and precise. They spoke in hushed tones, their words a soothing melody that began to ease Lian Yan's apprehension.
One of the courtesans, her hands steady and sure, took a fine brush dipped in a light brown pigment. With careful strokes, she began to dust freckles across the bridge of Lian Yan's nose, each one a tiny fleck that added a touch of innocence and charm to her appearance. The courtesan stepped back occasionally, her head tilting as she assessed her work, ensuring each freckle was perfectly placed.
Another courtesan, her fingers nimble and deft, took a darker pigment and a thinner brush. She leaned in close, her breath warm against Lian Yan's skin as she concentrated on her task. With a gentle touch, she painted a small, delicate beauty mark at the corner of Lian Yan's lower lip. The mark was subtle, yet striking, adding an allure that was both mysterious and captivating.
As they worked, the courtesans shared stories and laughter, their camaraderie a comforting presence. Yet, now, they wanted to know exactly how their boss met Lian Yan.
"How did you even meet the Boss?" One decided to ask.
Lian Yan did not think that they would want to include her in this. "Umm… well… he was running away from some officials and… he decided to use me as away to escape." Obviously, she was not going to try and explain that situation where they ended up being brought to a kiss.
The three ladies would laugh out before one spoke up. "That is how he usually escapes the officials that are chasing after him when he does some sort of theft or so."
Lian Yan, her initial nervousness now replaced with a bit of anger there as it seems like she assumed he would kiss every woman now to make his escape. Yet, she questioned about why she was upset about it. There was no reason to be. They were not a couple. Just two strangers that met and are trying to work out a deal. Why was she upset?
When they finally stepped back, their work complete, the courtesans admired their handiwork with satisfied smiles. Lian Yan opened her eyes, her reflection in the bronze mirror a revelation. The freckles and beauty mark had indeed given her a new look, one that was both familiar and excitingly different.
"Perfect," the courtesan with eyes that sparkled like distant stars declared, her voice a gentle whisper of satisfaction. "You look absolutely radiant." They would say when she wasn't supposed to look like she was grabbing any attention.
Lian Yan turned her gaze to the bronze mirror, her reflection a revelation that slowly unfurled before her. The anger she had harbored towards Jian Wei began to dissipate, replaced by a sense of wonder and curiosity. The woman staring back at her was a stranger, yet familiar. She no longer bore the unmistakable mark of the Prime Minister's eldest daughter. Instead, she appeared as though she could be any common woman, her features unremarkable, her presence unassuming. It was a transformation that rendered her invisible in the best possible way, a cloak of anonymity that she found strangely liberating.
"I like this," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper, yet carrying a weight of sincerity that resonated in the quiet room. "I like it a lot." Her words were a heartfelt confession to the three women who had worked their magic on her, their skills and artistry evident in every stroke and touch.
There was a soft knock on the door, a gentle rap that echoed through the chamber. "Is everything finished in there?" Jian Wei's voice, patient and inquiring, drifted in from the other side. It struck Lian Yan then, how much time had passed. The day had slipped away, consumed by the meticulous application of powders and pigments, the careful placement of each freckle and the delicate beauty mark. Hours had melted into one another, yet she had been oblivious to the passage of time, lost in the transformation that had taken place.