The Moon Over Tang Dynasty

Chapter 77 The so-called fate of fashion pacesetters

“Liu Li, what do you think of my makeup?” Mrs. Wu turned around from the bronze mirror and asked enthusiastically.

Liuli looked at her, took a deep breath, and nodded with a smile on her face.

Probably because she has not participated in social activities for more than a year, Mrs. Wu's makeup today is extremely complicated and careful. She has at least three layers of white and light Yingdie powder on her face, a thin layer of goose-yellow pine pollen powder on her forehead, and a thin layer of goose-yellow pine pollen powder on her forehead. A peach-shaped gold-plated diamond was affixed, a cluster of six-dot red was dotted on each cheek, and there were two crescent-shaped slanting reds from the corner of the eye to the temples. However, despite this, the most conspicuous thing on the whole face is the two thick and long dark emerald eyebrows, which really look a bit...weird.

When Liuli saw her eyebrows painted like this for the first time a few days ago, she almost wanted to wipe them off with a rag, but Mrs. Wu told her very proudly: This is the most fashionable eyebrow makeup in Chang'an City right now! Liuli suddenly remembered some pictures of ladies with broom eyebrows from the Tang Dynasty that she had seen before, and felt a deep sense of powerlessness in her heart.

Before she spoke, Mrs. Wu looked her up and down and frowned, "Why are you still looking so plain today?"

Liuli opened her mouth in surprise. How could she keep her face bare? She had obviously put on powder, drawn on her eyebrows, and applied lipstick on her lips, but she just didn't dare to turn her face into a palette. Before she could say anything, Mrs. Wu could not help but push her down on the crescent stool, pick up Shi Cui, and start to process Liuli's two unfashionable slender eyebrows. Liuli was so frightened that she jumped three feet high and smiled bitterly. He said, "Madam, please spare Liuli. Liuli still needs to go to the kitchen to take a look. What if he sheds some sweat? How will his face look like!"

Mrs. Wu frowned and said, "You have been to the kitchen several times in the past two days. You can just ask the cook to cook any dishes. Why do you have to go there yourself?"

Liuli said hurriedly, "Today is a banquet. What Liuli has prepared is for the festival around the beginning of winter. It's best to go and see for yourself."

Mrs. Wu sighed, "Well, come to me after you're done." After saying that, she finally opened the gift box, picked a raindrop-shaped flower mother-of-pearl cut from fish scales from the flower box, and put it on Liuli's forehead, "This is I’m not afraid of sweating.”

Liuli walked out in a cold sweat and quickly reached the kitchen next to Mrs. Yang's yard. It was already in full swing. The female chef specially invited from the Shangshi Bureau was cooking Hun Yang Hudi, a dish Liuli had eaten in the palace. At this time, the chef had already stuffed two clean geese filled with five-flavor minced meat and glutinous rice into the belly of a sheep. Before the sheep was put on the grill, he picked out two pieces of tender meat from the side of the lamb spine and chopped them carefully. , add seasoning sauce to marinate, and put it aside, then slice two slightly longer pieces of tender meat from the outside of the spine, chop it into pieces, and put it aside.

Liuli was so surprised by what she saw that she couldn't help but ask, "What is this going to do?"

The female chef wiped her sweat and said with a smile, "I want to teach this lady to know that if it were other sheep, she would roast the goose and throw it away, but today it is an excellent Feng Yi sheep, so I used the tenderest backbone to cook it." The outer ridge of the lamb breast is fried with sauce and put into the soup, making it an authentic yoghurt soup. The lamb tail can also be stir-fried to make a white salsa."

Liuli nodded and said nothing, while the female chef of Wu Mansion said, "Madam, the gourd head you ordered is ready."

Liuli hurriedly walked over and saw two plates in the hands of the female chef. One was washed lamb intestines, and the other was minced meat marinated with pepper, cinnamon and fennel. She nodded and smiled, "Thank you for your trouble."

Naturally, she didn't need to do anything. She just directed the cook to mix the minced meat with raw egg yolk and corn starch and stuff it into the lamb intestines. After they were firmly tied, she deep-fried two sections and then tasted them. They were crispy on the outside and fresh on the inside. It was better than the previous two days. Made a little stronger. The chef also took a bite, and the chef nodded and said, "What I used today was the intestines of Feng Yi sheep, and the minced meat mixed with chicken. It is indeed more delicious." Then he smiled and said, "Don't worry, ma'am, the banquet will start later. This The gourd head is served together with the yokan, it must be hot. "

Liuli smiled and thanked her. Seeing that several other single-burner stoves were lighting fires in front of the firewall in the kitchen, and the stove was gradually filled with oil smoke, she did not dare to stay longer, so she turned around and returned to the yard. Then he went into the house and changed into the clothes for today's guests, a plain mandarin jacket with jade lapels and a pomegranate red skirt, and put on a jasper walking stick.

Ani looked around Liuli and sighed, "The skirt is nice, but the clothes are too plain."

Liuli couldn't help but smile and said, "You have good eyesight." This pomegranate skirt looked ordinary, but it was made of tribute Sichuan embroidery. If you look closely, you can see the precious patterns all over the ground. In fact, although the jacket is plain, the piping is also made of the most gorgeous red-bottom halo brocade. After all, with her current status, it is impossible to dress too gorgeously or too plainly, so she can only take this low-key boutique route.

　　After getting dressed up, Liuli arrived at the upper room, only to see Mrs. Wu had also arrived. She was wearing an eight-part apricot red brocade long skirt with a beige short jacket on top, which made her look quite sparkling as she moved around. Mrs. Yang frowned and said, "The eyebrow makeup that is popular nowadays is really weird."

Mrs. Wu looked disapproving. Seeing that the time was approaching, she took her maids to the second gate to welcome the guests. Liuli was still accompanying Mrs. Yang in the upper room. Not long after, Mrs. Wang Dejian, who was in the middle school room, was the first to arrive. Mrs. Hua was in her thirties, with fair skin and lively eyes. When she met Mrs. Yang, Then he came up affectionately to salute and exchange greetings.

The second person to arrive was Xu Jingzong’s wife Zhong, whom Liuli had met once before. When she saw Liuli, she didn’t even move her eyebrows. Instead, she smiled and asked her name, surname, and age, as if she had never seen Liuli before. Mrs. Yang simply said that Liuli was the direct daughter of Huayang Kudi's family. "We were old friends. Because Shun Niang was also very busy, she sometimes asked her to stay with me, an old man." Mrs. Zhong sent her as a gift. After being praised, Liuli had no choice but to blush and lower her head.

Mrs. Yu, who changed into a red banquet dress, came next. When she saw Liuli, she just nodded and smiled. Mrs. Lu, the wife of Cui Yixuan's family, arrived at the right time, but Yang Sixiniang, who was married to the concubine of Changsun Wuji, arrived last. , she apologized for a long time as soon as they met, Mrs. Yang smiled and said it was nothing, and led everyone back. The banquet was held in the pavilion at the back of the courtyard. It had been decorated very neatly, with peacocks on the screen, hibiscus hidden in the mattress, low velvet lichen, and high purple brocade curtains. After everyone had bowed to each other and sat down one by one, the maids stepped forward holding the food table in both hands and bent down to deliver it in front of everyone.

Liuli sat at the last seat of the east banquet with Mrs. Wu, just raising the cup along with the others. Seeing the delicacies on the table in front of her, ranging from raw fish and dumplings to white saloon, one after another came up like a stream. Her mind was elsewhere and she couldn't tell what the taste was. Several guests were full of praises. I heard that some of the dishes were delicious. The chef from the food bureau cooked it, and it was a great compliment to Mrs. Yang.

After seeing the yokan, tooth trays covered with gilded silver covers were brought up one by one. The silver covers were opened, revealing two golden small gourds. Mrs. Yang smiled and said, "This dish is nicknamed gourd head, but it is so delicious." It was Auntie’s idea, and she said it was made according to the recipe left by Master Sun. Eating it at this time is the most beneficial to the body, so you might as well try it.”

Everyone was naturally interested and tasted one each. They felt that it was crispy, fragrant, fat and fresh, with a slightly spicy aftertaste, and they all nodded their heads. Mrs. Zhong then smiled and said, "Auntie, you are really smart and smart. This gourd head is really delicious."

Liuli smiled and said, "Thanks to Madam for your love, this is also called miscellaneous cake. It is just a snack in the market. It is not suitable for the refined people. It is meant to replenish the body in winter."

After Mrs. Yu took a bite, she looked at Liuli blankly and asked after a while, "Did you have chicken mixed in this minced meat?"

Liuli was surprised. Although Mrs. Yu asked her to learn how to make this dish a few days ago, according to the cook, just add corn starch to the minced meat. It reminded her of the raw stuffing in dumplings in her previous life. I tried making the eggs, and it tasted better, so I changed the method. Mrs. Yu’s tongue is so good! He nodded hurriedly and said, "Madam is right."

Mrs. Yu looked at Liuli, her eye circles slowly getting warm - because she loved the spicy gourd head, her daughter went to learn how to make it, and it was even more delicious than what was made in restaurants outside. The secret was that chicken was added. Stir. After her daughter passed away, all the relatives and friends of the Su family knew that she no longer ate this snack. This time she specially asked Liuli to make it. It was just an excuse, but she didn't expect that the gourd head she made tasted amazing. So similar to what my daughter does! Speaking of my daughter's marriage back then, if I hadn't been stubborn, maybe...

Although the ladies here were not very familiar with Mrs. Yu, they could see that something was wrong. Mrs. Yang smiled and said, "Liuli, your gourd head is good in everything, but it's a bit spicy. Go and give it to Mrs. Yu." Here’s a toast.”

Liuli hurriedly responded, and left her seat to pour a cup of hot bamboo leaf greens, dipped it in her nails and flicked it, then raised the cup over her eyebrows. Mrs. Yu knelt down and took a sip, and said with a smile, "Madam, please come and sit down. I have something to ask you." "Liu Li smiled and sat next to Mrs. Yu, and Mrs. Yu asked her in detail who else was in the family and what she liked to do on weekdays.

Mrs. Yu was sitting at the north table, sharing the same table with Mrs. Hua of Wang Dejian. Mrs. Hua couldn't help but pricked up her ears while joking with Mrs. Zhong at the teacher's table. She had long been a little confused. The arrival of Mrs. Kudi was really strange. How could Mrs. Yang find such a beautiful Hu girl to accompany her in the house? Why should she be introduced to the ladies here today? Seeing that her manners and etiquette were all perfect, and her rare demeanor was quite elegant, it became even more difficult for people to see through her.

Hearing Liuli whisper that her ancestors had been princes, her father was now working as a civil servant in the Ministry of War, and her mother had passed away... Mrs. Hua became more and more puzzled: Although her background was not too low, it sounded like her family was in decline. Is it possible that Mrs. Yang really has a kind heart and wants to find a future marriage for her old friend? With this Cudi's appearance and family background, it would be very suitable for her to become a concubine in a high family. If she didn't want to be a concubine, she would probably have to be a concubine from a middle-class family, or a new talented person from a poor family... She couldn't help but feel sad. I began to wonder if I knew such a person, but suddenly I heard Mrs. Yu say in surprise, "Is your birthday also the second day of next month?"

Everyone in the room couldn't help but cast their eyes over, but Mrs. Yu didn't seem to notice it. She only asked Liu Li to ask questions. Everyone was busy and pretended not to notice, so Mrs. Hua smiled at Mrs. Wu and Yang Sixiniang, "You guys are wearing such makeup today." It’s so new, please give me some advice later!”

Mrs. Wu and Liu Niang both had the same thick and long emerald eyebrows and couldn't help but smile at each other.

As soon as the food and wine were served, Mrs. Yang smiled and said, "It's rare to get together today, why don't we throw pots and play?"

Everyone present, except Liuli, was used to this kind of banquet, so they naturally agreed happily. Mrs. Yang asked her maid to bring a large double-mouthed pot and placed it in the middle. Each person here was given two carved pots. Takeya. Mrs. Yang bowed politely first, and as usual she started to throw, and actually hit both of her throws. Then Mrs. Zhong only hit one, and drank a drink with a smile. After a round, there were some who won, and some who missed one and were fined a cup. Only Liuli rarely played this game, and both bamboo arrows missed the mouth of the pot. She finished one glass of wine and before she raised the second glass, she heard Mrs. Yu say, "You can easily hurt yourself if you drink in such a hurry. I will drink this glass for you!"

 Everyone stared at Mrs. Yu with wide eyes, not quite believing their ears for a moment.

  p.s. Are you interested in how women in the Tang Dynasty wore makeup? If you're interested, leave me a message and I'll have time to write a makeup chapter in the previous guide. Overall, I think the makeup style of beauties in the Tang Dynasty is a bit scary...

Recommended book: "Online Games Are Everywhere Tricked" by Twenty-three Divisions ISBN 2030197 Baozi's life is all kinds of cheating dramas.

 (End of this chapter)