The Royal’s Little Lady

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Gu Sui’er had been to the Palace before, but it was during the night, avoiding everyone’s eyes. At that time, her confinement had just come to an end, so no one really cared about her appearance.

 

But this time was different. She was going to the Palace as the fifth prince’s only concubine to express her gratitude and pay her respects to the Empress.

 

And since she was going to meet the Empress, she might also come across many others like Princess Zhaoyang, who found faults with her, or the third Prince, who had previously slandered her innocence more than once.

 

Feeling a headache coming, Gu Sui’er was reluctant to enter the Palace. Yet, despite everything, she still had to go. 

 

Consequently, on the designated day, she got up early and had Nanny An do her hair and makeup. She put on the formal attire of her rank and paired it with the golden hairpin that should be worn according to the rules. Finally, she put on makeup.

 

Nanny An kept praising from the side: “My Lady’s skin is really good, so fair and delicate, just like white porcelain. It is so smooth that I cannot even see a single pore. If it were any other woman, they would have had to apply a layer of rouge for this kind of makeup, but Young Mistress doesn’t need any of that. With your skin, applying rouge would actually be a waste.”

 

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She also praised Gu Sui’er’s figure: “Just look at your slim waist and full chest. Young Mistress, with your figure, it is hard to believe that you have given birth to our little imperial grandson.”

 

Little Ah Chen was now the grandson of the Emperor, a legitimate member of the imperial bloodline so the subordinates switched to calling him the little imperial grandson instead of little young master.

 

Gu Sui’er didn’t really believe Nanny An’s endless chatter about her good looks. This was the first time she had put on such elaborate makeup. But looking at herself in the mirror, she could hardly believe it was her.

 

She looked like a different person.

 

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“Don’t I look a little strange?” Nanny An had tied her jet-black hair up in a flying cloud bun1Flying cloud bun [飞云髻] – The closest picture I could find is this but I am not entirely sure it is correct: and inserted a phoenix hairpin into the bun diagonally. The hairpin sparkled with exceptional brilliance, making her little face glow softly. 

 

She touched the hairpin, having a feeling that it didn’t quite match her.

 

“Strange? How could you look strange? You look too beautiful ah!” Nanny An praised repeatedly, “I used to think that My Lady is good-looking and delicate like a flower, making others feel pleased with a glance. But now, after applying makeup, I realized that My Lady not only looks beautiful but also exudes an air of nobility. At first glance, you really look like a dignified and high-ranking concubine.”

 

What Nanny An didn’t say was that Gu Sui’er, who had just come from the countryside, had an outstanding appearance, but she still looked like a fresh and young village girl precisely because she grew up in the countryside. Later, after Gu Sui’er spent a long time in the Marquis residence, gained knowledge, learned to read, she gradually developed the demeanor of a rich family’s madam.

 

However, she could get by with that kind of aura only in the Marquis residence, not beyond that.  

 

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It was not the same anymore. 

 

Now, donning the formal attire, with her little face framed by the flying cloud bun and the shiny phoenix hairpin, she looked charming and radiant, just like a dignified concubine from the Palace.

 

After listening to Nanny An’s praise, Gu Sui’er felt a little more at ease in her heart.

 

This was the first time she had dressed up like this, so she felt a bit weird. She wanted to hear some nice words from others to boost her confidence.

 

Just then, Xiao Heng lifted the curtain and entered the room.

 

Nanny An saw him and quickly lowered her head, retreating respectfully.

 

Looking at him, Gu Sui’er inexplicably felt a bit embarrassed. She pursed her lips and smiled lightly, then secretly glanced at him in the mirror.

 

After Xiao Heng came in, he looked at Gu Sui’er and asked softly, “Are you ready?”

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Gu Sui’er quickly responded, “Almost, Ah Chen is with Guizhi. She’s dressing him up.”

 

Xiao Heng nodded. “En. We’ll leave for the Palace once the sedan arrives.”

 

Now, the residence has been equipped with various best-quality sedans for Gu Sui’er’s use. Now she was to be carried to the outer gate on a soft sedan.

 

Upon hearing this, Gu Sui’er stopped talking and sat quietly in front of the mirror, scrutinizing her makeup.

 

Girls love beauty. As she looked closely at her appearance, she noticed that her skin was indeed as Nanny An had said– smooth, tender, white and soft. And after lightly applying rouge on her lips, they looked moist and juicy like red cherries. 

 

She dared not believe the person in the mirror to be herself.

 

She blinked her eyes and saw the alluring fan-like eyelashes of the woman in the mirror flutter.

 

When she shook her head, she saw the gorgeous phoenix hairpin in the woman’s hair following suit.

 

She couldn’t help but purse her lips and smiled.

 

Xiao Heng sat on a nearby red sandalwood chair. He had originally planned to take out a book to do some casual reading, but seeing Gu Sui’er sitting at the table in a daze and shaking her head from time to time, he raised an eyebrow and asked, “What’s wrong?”

 

Startled by his question, Gu Sui’er quickly regained her composure and feigned calmness. “Nothing, I was just looking.”

 

Xiao Heng asked doubtfully: “Looking at what?”

 

Gu Sui’er choked. How could she have the cheek to say that she couldn’t help but take a few more looks at herself because she felt like she was dressed up quite well? 

 

“Nothing. I just… just felt like my head feels a little heavy today.” Poor Gu Sui’er thought for a long time and came up with a lousy reason.

 

Xiao Heng, however, did not suspect anything. He walked up to her and stood behind, placing his hands on her shoulders to look at the woman in the mirror.

 

Although it was through the mirror, Gu Sui’er could feel his gaze and felt a bit shy, so she sheepishly avoided his eyes.

 

Her face was slightly flushed, but she still lowered her eyes and waited patiently for him to look at herself.

 

In fact, she also wanted to know what he thought of her after putting on makeup.

 

After looking at her for a while, Xiao Heng’s gaze shifted downwards.

 

Due to the warm spring weather, she dressed in a light pink muslin dress underneath the formal attire of her rank with a delicately embroidered piece of satin at the chest. It perfectly complemented her snow-like skin, giving off an appeal that made one wish to seize her with just a glance.

 

Xiao Heng was a bit displeased.

 

He thought for a moment and realized that women inside the Palace did indeed dress like this.

 

But he still felt unhappy.

 

He didn’t like Gu Sui’er doing so.

 

Her skin was whiter and finer than other women, with a touch so soft that made one reluctant to part with it.

 

He had experienced that feeling himself.

 

He even sucked on it with his lips. A slight force was capable of leaving a shocking red mark on the woman’s chest, making one’s blood boil.

 

Xiao Heng’s discontent was too obvious. Gu Sui’er could also feel it. The excitement and anticipation in her heart gradually cooled down and she started feeling a bit wronged. Finally, she raised her hand in frustration, touched the phoenix hairpin and whispered, “I do look bad with this on.”

 

She caressed the exquisitely carved phoenix hairpin and felt the flutter of the phoenix wings. “It is quite heavy. I’m not used to wearing it.”

 

Just as she was speaking, Xiao Heng moved closer and leaned over from behind.

 

The mirror in front of her was suddenly blocked by a strong figure of the man and she was taken into his embrace. Taken aback, she couldn’t react in time.

 

The man lowered his head further down her neck and unexpectedly reached her chest.

 

“You——”

 

She cried out in pain. It hurts! 

 

Lightly biting her snow-like tender and smooth flesh, Xiao sucked on it a few times before graciously letting go.

 

Tears welled up in Gu Sui’er’s clear eyes as she lowered her head to look at herself. Above the bright emerald-green moxiong2Moxiong [抹胸] – Known by several other names including hezi (Tang Dynasty) and dudou (Qing Dynasty), Moxiong was worn by women in the Song Dynasty. It was an ancient underwear (but more like the tube tops of today since it could be seen from the outside). Moxiong covered the chest and abdomen and could be tied with buttons or belts. For more info, click here. The red garment showing between the parallel clothing is the moxiong: was a shocking red mark,  much like a little red fruit.

 

This really couldn’t be concealed.

 

Gu Sui’er bit her lip and looked at him with grief and indignation: “How can you do this!”

 

Xiao Heng pursed his lips and stared at the delicate little flower blooming in the snowy reflection in the mirror. “I just can.”

 

Gu Sui’er said, “You——”

 

He still tried to reason?

 

After Xiao Heng finished speaking, he ignored Gu Sui’er’s grievances and went straight to the nearby chest and rummaged through it.

 

Gu Sui’er was stunned. “Your Highness, what are you looking for?”

 

Xiao Heng searched through the box before finally pulling out an item.

 

Glancing over, she saw his slender and attractive hands holding a light pink satin dudou3Dudou [肚兜] – The dudou (literally ‘belly cover’) is a diamond-shaped underwear for women first worn in the Ming Dynasty and then in the Qing Dynasty. It typically reaches till the neck so compared to it, moxiong shows a bit more skin. .

 

It was something she used to wear in the winter when it was cold. It could protect her collarbone and stomach, making her feel more comfortable.

 

“That is for winter.” It was warm now, so it was impossible to wear something so heavy.

 

“Just wear this.” Xiao Heng held the fabric and walked over, placing it on Gu Sui’er’s shoulder. “Put it on, it will cover up this red mark just right.”

 

Gu Sui’er’s delicate eyebrows twitched slightly as she observed the man in front of her, who showed no joy or anger.

 

What does he mean by this…

 

Xiao Heng raised an eyebrow, his gaze falling lightly on the red mark. “Do you want everyone to see it?”

 

Realizing that he was right, she quickly picked the little dudou, intending to change behind the screen.

 

Xiao Heng: “I’ll help you.”

 

Gu Sui’er: “It’s fine. I can do it myself…”

 

Even though they had already been intimate countless times, she still wasn’t used to it. After all, if she was to change her underwear, she had to take off the outerwear.

 

Xiao Heng insisted: “It is getting late.”

 

Gu Sui’er had no choice but to agree.

 

Plump and well-proportioned with snow-white translucent skin, the delicate red fruits on the peak of the mountains trembled with just one movement.

 

Xiao Heng went behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He held the pair and flicked the red fruits lightly, causing Gu Sui’er to clench her teeth and almost want to pinch him, but in the end, she restrained herself.

 

“Let me help you.” A hoarse voice came from behind her. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and let him help her.

 

The phoenix hairpin, symbolizing imperial decree and her rank, was intricately handcrafted. It shone as it hung from her jet-black hair that contrasted her fair skin, reflecting a delicate and soft glow on her beautiful skin.

 

He finally finished helping her put it on and let go.

 

Gu Sui’er opened her eyes and turned around, only to see a faint trace of red on the handsome man’s rigid face.

 

It was the color of the rouge on her lips.

 

She raised her hand and gently wiped it off with her soft fingers.

 

“Be careful not to let others see and make yourself a laughingstock.”

Thanks for reading ٩(๑ᴗ๑)۶! If you found any typo or want to suggest some corrections, feel free to do so in the comment section or on our discord server. And if you like my translation, please consider rating it on NU and supporting me on:

 

 

1Flying cloud bun [飞云髻] – The closest picture I could find is this but I am not entirely sure it is correct: 2Moxiong [抹胸] – Known by several other names including hezi (Tang Dynasty) and dudou (Qing Dynasty), Moxiong was worn by women in the Song Dynasty. It was an ancient underwear (but more like the tube tops of today since it could be seen from the outside). Moxiong covered the chest and abdomen and could be tied with buttons or belts. For more info, click here. The red garment showing between the parallel clothing is the moxiong: 3Dudou [肚兜] – The dudou (literally ‘belly cover’) is a diamond-shaped underwear for women first worn in the Ming Dynasty and then in the Qing Dynasty. It typically reaches till the neck so compared to it, moxiong shows a bit more skin.