Chapter 85 - 70: One-Second Makeup
The lights in Weiyang Palace stayed on late into the night again.
The Emperor had been busy, so it had been a while since Jiang Xian last attended to him. The experience was like a satisfying workout with a handsome, eight-pack-adorned man—it brought undeniable physical pleasure. Jiang Xian treated it as her duty, but she also took pleasure in it.
She activated all her beautification auras, purchased Fragrance Floating, and adjusted her body temperature to the most comfortable level. Holding her, soft and fragrant, the Emperor felt like he was embracing his favorite little cake—he could never get enough. "Xian’er, you seem to have a sweet scent about you. What kind of incense are you using?"
"What scent? Your Majesty must be joking with me."
"It’s true, I’m not teasing you. It smells like milk cake."
"..."
’I get it.’ Jiang Xian realized he was smelling milk cake on her only because he was craving it himself.
’It’s a subordinate’s duty to anticipate the boss’s needs.’ Jiang Xian immediately claimed she was hungry and wanted some milk cake. "Eating this late will give you indigestion and keep you awake," the Emperor said, yet his expression showed he was clearly tempted. Jiang Xian took his arm, acting cute and spoiled, until the Emperor reluctantly agreed to call for a midnight snack.
When the Emperor summoned for food, even if he only asked for a plate of milk cake, the servants could never deliver just that. The staff at the Imperial Kitchen received the urgent order and, racking their brains, sent over some easily digestible pastries. Fearing the Emperor was truly hungry, they also presented two bowls of shredded chicken noodles, stir-fried bok choy, and rice porridge. Since Jiang Xian was present, they made a point to add a bowl of creamy, savory mutton soup stewed with medicinal herbs. As the attendant served it, he said ingratiatingly, "The mutton soup is a dish Noble Lady Gu often requests from the Imperial Kitchen. It might be a bit rich to have so late, but if she enjoys it, a small bowl shouldn’t be a problem."
Seeing this, Jiang Xian couldn’t help but smile.
’It’s not me who likes mutton soup, it’s Chen Daying. She’s the one who’s always asking her palace maid to order it from the Imperial Kitchen.’
Seeing her smile, her eyes curving like crescents, the Emperor’s heart skipped a beat. He rewarded the attendant from the Imperial Kitchen. "You’ve been diligent in your duties."
The staff from the Imperial Kitchen accepted the reward, and their estimation of Noble Lady Gu’s standing with the Emperor rose even higher.
Liang Yuyin also thought to himself, ’The Imperial Kitchen staff are damned lucky.’
’Normally, earning a praise like "diligent" from the Emperor would require one to rack their brains for some rare and exotic dish. Yet today, they got a reward just for catering to Noble Lady Gu’s tastes... And with mutton soup, of all things. It’s hardly an original delicacy.’
Once all the dishes were set, the Emperor ignored everything else and went straight for the milk cake.
’He really was craving milk cake.’
’In a way, Fragrance Floating is basically a form of mind reading.’
After finishing, he added:
"To get me to summon a meal this late at night... Xian’er, only you have such sway."
The Imperial Attendants present heard this and took it as gospel, their esteem for Jiang Xian rising even further.
Only Jiang Xian knew her boss was full of it again.
"Your Majesty is always so considerate of me."
The imperial meal was exceptionally delicious, so Jiang Xian ate a bit more than usual.
As for the plate of milk cake, it all ended up in the Emperor’s stomach, which showed just how much he’d been craving it.
Seeing her eat with such gusto, the Emperor couldn’t help but laugh. "Is it that delicious?"
"I’m used to eating a little more before a good workout. It helps to line the stomach so my limbs don’t go weak."
What kind of workout could one possibly have in the middle of the night?
Usually, it was the concubines who acted shy. This time, the Imperial Attendants felt like they’d been run over by a concubine’s risqué joke, and they secretly marveled at how their horizons had been broadened.
The Emperor’s gaze deepened. "Then how much longer must I wait, Xian’er?"
"Right now is perfect."
Jiang Xian put down her spoon, found the perfect angle, and smiled at him.
※
With the help of her palace maids, she rinsed her mouth and washed her face. So as not to keep the Emperor waiting, there was no time to apply makeup. Instead, she made an urgent purchase from the System Mall: a single-use consumable.
[Name]: Instant Makeup
[Type]: Single-Use Consumable
[Function]: Upon purchase, the host will gain a full face of makeup lasting up to 24 hours. The makeup’s intensity is determined by the image envisioned by the host, with the level of skill depending entirely on the host’s imagination. Furthermore, it is smudge-proof, smear-proof, and transfer-proof.
[Note]: A shortcut for clumsy hosts who can’t draw on eyeliner or apply false lashes.
This item was originally intended for system users attending grand events. With the limited cosmetics of the era, it was impossible to create modern, dramatic stage makeup, so this skill was used to achieve an effect no other concubine could match. Jiang Xian dismissed her palace maids to wash off her makeup in private. She reasoned that she didn’t need a heavy look for an intimate night, so she closed her eyes and pictured the "no-makeup makeup" looks she’d seen in her past life. When she re-emerged, her maids were thoroughly stunned.
Previously, whenever Jiang Xian attended to the Emperor, she would keep her full makeup on until morning.
This was the first time they had seen Noble Lady Gu without a trace of powder or paint on her face. And she was this beautiful!
When Noble Lady Gu had first announced her intention to remove her makeup, they had wanted to talk her out of it. Men had no idea how much effort went into looking radiant. Everyone has imperfections; it was cosmetics that concealed pores and created the illusion of flawless skin. Whenever the ladies of the Six Palaces heard the Emperor was to visit, they would all primp and preen to ensure he saw them at their most beautiful... The current Emperor was young, as were his concubines, so their complexions were naturally good. But in the late Emperor’s harem, there had been older concubines who had only entered the palace due to their status. If one of them had dared to attend to the Emperor with a bare face, calling it an assassination attempt would not have been an exaggeration.
Noble Lady Gu was banking on her youth to serve the Emperor bare-faced, but the palace maids feared it would displease him, and they would be the ones to suffer for it.
Yet Noble Lady Gu’s face, even without makeup, was still so delicate it seemed it might break at a touch. In the lamplight, her beauty was so smooth that not a single pore was visible. Her eyelashes were thick, long, and curled; the shape of her brows was elegant and lovely. Her lips, though paler than when painted, were a tender pink, as soft as a freshly peeled lychee. With her dark hair partially swept up and partially cascading down, she was the picture of natural beauty—a lotus blooming from clear water, utterly captivating.
"My Lady, you’re so beautiful,"
Jiang Xian was always easygoing with the Imperial Attendants, and the palace maid continued her praise: "There’s not a single flaw on your face, My Lady. I was completely stunned just now."
"Want to know my skincare routine?" Jiang Xian asked.
The palace maid froze, then shook her head in embarrassment. "How could I be qualified to ask about such things..."
"Drink lots of water, get plenty of exercise, don’t stay up late,"
Jiang Xian paused. Exercise was a big part of it, as it boosted her metabolism. But her skin was mostly a product of the System, and as for not staying up late... she was definitely failing on that front. "...Actually, forget it. I was born with it."
With that, she went inside to attend to him.
The Emperor was also taken aback for a moment upon seeing his beloved concubine’s bare face. "Xian’er, did you wash all your makeup off?"
Jiang Xian sat beside him and feigned a pout. "But without makeup, I can’t compete with the other ladies. Have I disappointed you, Your Majesty?" "Of course not. Why so jealous?" Seeing her act this way, the Emperor wasn’t angry at all. Instead, he laughed, pulling her into an embrace and cooing for a moment before confessing his true feelings. "I was just thinking how beautiful you are even without a trace of makeup. It proves that true beauty needs no adornment. It delights me."
Tonight, the Emperor seemed particularly fond of caressing her face, which baffled her. "Is it because my makeup usually gets in the way? Why are you so fixated on my face today, Your Majesty?"
The Emperor denied it. "This is the first time one of my chosen concubines has greeted me with a bare face. As it turns out, it’s quite a welcome sight."
Across five thousand years of history, the straight men of China have always had a mysterious obsession with natural, makeup-free beauties.
For an ordinary straight man, it would just be a passing thought.
But the Emperor was no ordinary man; he had to act on his impulses. And so, the very next day, on a whim, he went to Jianzhang Palace, wanting to see the Empress’s natural, unadorned face for himself.