Chapter Thirty-Two: Dressing for the Empress Dowager’s Birthday II
Hua Ling turned around to take a look. Against a peach-pink background were embroidered vivid peach blossoms. The fabric was not ordinary cotton, but silk—light and soft, looking both gorgeous and delicate. Hua Ling nodded in satisfaction and said, “Not bad. Better than I expected. It seems Uncle Xu really is a good man.”
“Exactly. The moment Uncle Xu heard you needed it, he brought out several colors for me to choose from without another word. I thought the other colors were too plain, so I took the liberty of choosing this peach-pink for you. Though it is a little bright, paired with Madam’s ice-smooth, snow-white skin, it will look the most beautiful,” Yuechun said with a smile.
“Since you were thinking of me, little girl, naturally I can’t let you be disappointed. To tell the truth, I really do like this fabric very much. It’s just too long.” As Hua Ling spoke, she took up the scissors and cut it off at a length of roughly four meters.
“Madam, even if we start making it now, there won’t be enough time. What’s the point of cutting the cloth?” Zhijin said anxiously. Even if the eldest young master of Liandu’s best Golden Weaving Hall, Su Yechen, personally took action, he still would not be able to finish it in time!
Hua Ling only smiled without speaking. After cutting off the fabric, she said, “All right, stop crowding around and staring at me. Have you drawn the water? I need to wash my face and do my makeup.”
At Hua Ling’s words, the little maids immediately busied themselves. Before long, the water was brought in. After washing her face, Hua Ling sat before the bronze mirror and looked at the rather unclear figure reflected within. Once again, she sighed inwardly and secretly swore that she would definitely get herself a glass mirror.
“Madam, what hairstyle will you wear today?” Yuechun stood behind her holding a wooden comb and asked, ready to do her hair.
“I’ll do it myself. You don’t need to worry.” Hua Ling smiled and reached up to pull out the hairpin from her hair. Her head of black hair fell straight down like a waterfall. Hua Ling used the comb to part her hair down the middle, then combed it smooth. She dipped her little finger in a bit of red rouge and lightly dotted it between her brows. In an instant, her whole person gained a few more touches of brilliance and allure.
Hua Ling said to everyone, “All of you go out first. I’m going to change. In a while, I’ll give you a surprise.”
Hearing this, everyone went out with giggles. Their Madam never changed clothes in front of others. Hua Ling closed the door, took off the clothes she was wearing, and picked up the piece of fabric she had just cut, beginning to wrap it around herself.
So what was Hua Ling planning to wear? An Indian sari. This garment was truly beautiful. An Indian sari was dignified, elegant, and filled with exotic charm. Traditional Indian women’s attire was divided into three parts: the choli, a tight short blouse; the petticoat, a loose long skirt worn beneath the sari; and the sari itself on the outside. Sari colors were bold and bright—not only peach-pink, vivid orange, fiery red, sapphire blue, and other solid colors, but also all kinds of traditional patterns. Saris came in many materials, mainly cotton and silk, while those of better quality were embroidered and inlaid with golden patterns.
There were many ways to wear a sari. Today, Hua Ling chose a draped style that was most popular at evening banquets. Wearing a sari was actually a matter of putting on a small tight top, taking one corner of the sari and tying a knot to tuck into the waist, then wrapping it around the waist circle after circle, arranging layers in the front, and draping the remaining portion over the shoulder so that it hung naturally down the back.
After Hua Ling put it on, she carefully looked at herself in the mirror and felt extremely satisfied. Then she opened the door. The maids waiting anxiously outside all widened their eyes in astonishment when they saw Hua Ling open the door, unable to say a word.
It was simply too beautiful. Heavens, how could there be such a special garment? Without using even a single stitch of needle and thread, it could produce such a lovely effect.
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Also recommending Xiangxiang’s completed work, “The Time-Traveling Eccentric Prince’s Modern Consort,” and the newly opened pit, “The Flower Dragon Teases the Phoenix: Consort Wants a Letter of Divorce.” If you have time, everyone, please go take a look!! Hehe.