The woman in the mirror had a sallow and haggard face. Her eyes were dull and listless, with two dark and heavy eye bags under them. There were many obvious spots on her face, and she no longer had her former youthful beauty.
She looked just like those resentful women in the deep mansions who were not favored by their husbands and were full of grievances.
Song Nanxin covered her face and let out a shrill scream!
How could this happen? How could this happen?!
Her scream attracted the maids and old women guarding outside the house. Hearing the footsteps behind her, Song Nanxin became even more agitated.
"Get out! All of you get out!"
She covered her face tightly with her clothes, not allowing anyone to see her current appearance.
Granny Zhao sensed something was wrong and quickly drove the other maids away. Cui Muyuan gave Granny Zhao a look, and Granny Zhao gritted her teeth and also retreated.
For a moment, only Song Nanxin and Cui Muyuan were left in the room.
Cui Muyuan stepped forward and hugged the trembling Song Nanxin, coaxing her, "What's wrong? What happened?"
Knowing that he was beside her, Song Nanxin pushed him away and cried, "Get away from me! Don't look at me!"
But how could a woman's strength match a man's? The clothes on top of Song Nanxin's head were soon pulled down by him, fully revealing her face.
Song Nanxin closed her eyes fearfully, thinking she would hear his disgusted voice. Unexpectedly, he said very gently, "Don't be afraid. It's just the effect after taking the beauty - enhancing pill. You'll be fine after a few days of recuperation."
Song Nanxin opened her eyes and grabbed his hand. "I can regain my former appearance, right?"
"Of course. However, you must never take that beauty - enhancing pill again. Counting these days, you've already taken five pills. It's precisely because you took them too frequently that this happened."
"But we're going to Xingzhou today. If I don't take it, how can I show my face? Just one more pill! I can stay in the carriage all the way and recover my appearance well!"
Song Nanxin turned around and rushed towards the dressing table, but was pulled back by Cui Muyuan.
He looked deeply at Song Nanxin and said, "This beauty - enhancing pill is harmful to the body. You really can't take it anymore. If you trust me, I have another kind of pill that is safer than the beauty - enhancing pill. Even after the effect wears off, you won't end up like this. But this pill needs to be taken continuously without interruption. Once you stop, you'll feel extremely itchy, as if ants are crawling on you. Moreover, this pill is quite expensive. One pill costs ten taels of silver."
"Ten taels of silver is nothing. I can afford it! Hurry and give it to me!" Song Nanxin said anxiously as soon as she heard this.
Cui Muyuan seemed to smile and said, "That won't do. There's still the effect of another pill in your body. Taking this one now will only cause the medicine properties to conflict, which won't do you any good. Wait for another three days. Three days later, I'll give you this medicine. But I only have enough medicine for four months. If you can't return to the capital after four months and stop taking the medicine, you'll probably feel a hundred times more uncomfortable than now."
"That's enough! This time we're going to Xingzhou for the autumn hunt. We'll definitely return to the capital in three months!" Song Nanxin tightly held Cui Muyuan's hand, and her fingers were trembling.
"Cui Taizhu, help me."
Using his disguise technique, Cui Muyuan helped Song Nanxin tidy up her appearance. Gradually, Song Nanxin, who had looked so dispirited before, regained her original appearance.
Running his fingers across Song Nanxin's cheek, Cui Muyuan's eyes were dark. He silently whispered in her ear.
Want to get rid of me? It's not that easy. From now on, Princess of the Heir Apparent, you'll never escape my grasp.
...
In Tinglan Courtyard, Song Yihuan half - squatted in front of Song Yixuan and carefully arranged his hair and clothes.
Before they set off, the Brocade Weaving Workshop had delivered the clothes that Song Yihuan had ordered last time to the Prince Ning's Mansion. This time, Song Yihuan didn't hold back with Song Nanxin. The materials she chose were all the signature brocade satin from the Brocade Weaving Workshop.
Normally, a bolt of such brocade satin would cost Song Yihuan several months' monthly allowance, so she never bought it for herself.
Although many of her clothes were given by Song Nanxin, they were either old or clothes that her elder sister didn't like anymore. This set of clothes was the first time she had chosen the materials and styles herself, so it suited her and Song Yixuan very well.
After tidying up their appearances, Song Yihuan took Song Yixuan's little hand and led him and the two maids behind them towards the front yard.
In the front yard of the Prince Ning's Mansion, the guards and servants who were going on this trip had already gathered.
Song Yihuan and Song Yixuan left home early and were the first to arrive.
After waiting for a while, from afar, they saw Song Nanxin supporting the Princess of Prince Ning slowly walking over.
The servants all bowed in salute. Song Yihuan also led her younger brother forward. "Song Yihuan/Song Yixuan pays respects to the Princess of Prince Ning and the Princess of the Heir Apparent. May the Princess of Prince Ning and the Princess of the Heir Apparent be well."
The sunlight shone on the glazed tiles, reflecting a magnificent light. The bright light made people clearly see the faces of the siblings.
Song Yixuan had gained some weight in the Prince Ning's Mansion these days. He looked much rounder and fairer than before. He had a pointed chin, and his deer - like eyes, just like Song Yihuan's, were rolling around. Set off by the dark - green brocade satin long shirt with lucky patterns and a hundred flowers, he looked as cute as a jade snowball, very lovable.
Song Yihuan was also wearing a water - green long dress of brocade satin with vine - like patterns and a hundred flowers. The belt around her waist accentuated her slender waist that was hardly graspable with one hand. Her palm - sized face was slightly powdered. Her deer - like eyes were sparkling, and her red lips were full and rosy. Her black hair was coiled into a hairstyle for unmarried women, and there was a jade - beaded silver hairpin in her hair. She was so beautiful that it was startling.
Even the Princess of Prince Ning, after seeing her, couldn't help but sincerely praise, "Miss Huan really has a beautiful appearance."
The Princess of Prince Ning's praise made Song Nanxin suddenly come to her senses. She gritted her back teeth in jealousy and hatred. She wished she could go up and scratch Song Yihuan's natural and flawless beautiful face.
Especially since she woke up early in the morning and found her face dull and covered with spots, and had to rely on Cui Muyuan's disguise technique to maintain her appearance, she was even more filled with hatred.
Suddenly thinking of something, Song Nanxin turned around and looked at Cui Muyuan, who was following closely behind her, disguised as "Baishao".
Seeing that the other person had kept his head down from beginning to end and didn't look in Song Yihuan's direction, Song Nanxin felt a little more comfortable.
The Princess of Prince Ning shifted her gaze from Song Yihuan and waved to Song Yixuan. "Little Xuan'er is so cute today. Come, quickly come to the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva."
Song Yihuan let go of her hand, and Song Yixuan walked towards the Princess of Prince Ning, smiling with his eyes bent into crescents.
"The Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva is also very beautiful today. Xuan'er just learned a new phrase these two days, which is 'a flowery face and a moon - like appearance'."
The Princess of Prince Ning covered her lips and laughed merrily. She pinched his little face and said, "You little rascal, you really know how to please people."
Breaking free from Song Nanxin's hand, she casually took Song Yixuan's hand and resumed her lofty and noble air as the Princess of Prince Ning.
"Alright, everyone get on the carriages and set off to wait for the imperial carriage in the suburbs."
Everyone said in unison, "Yes, Your Highness!"
Song Yihuan frowned.
Are we setting off just like this? Where are Prince Ning and Ji Lingchuan?
It was not convenient for her to ask, but Song Yixuan spoke up. "Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, aren't we going to wait for Brother - in - law?"