Chapter Sixty: Attire

Almost as soon as the words “bring honor to the family” left Ping Yin’s lips, her voice grew hoarse, as though she were lost in thought.

Lu Ying heard this, curled her lips into a slight smile, and walked slowly to the side. She casually picked up a cornelian-embroidered robe hanging in the shop and draped it over her shoulders.

Lu Ying’s figure was graceful; whatever she wore seemed to fit her perfectly and naturally. The shopkeeper, who had just been taking her measurements, now saw her putting on the shop’s finest, most luxurious garment. Startled, the shopkeeper glanced at Madam Huang for guidance.

Madam Huang was equally flustered. She had been instructed by her mistress to get close to Lu Ying and win her favor. But her mistress had said nothing about giving Lu Ying such an extravagant robe! This embroidery would be considered top-tier even in Luoyang, and its price no less than a hundred taels of gold. Just thinking about it made her heart ache.

At that moment, Lu Ying turned her head. Her dark eyes fixed on Madam Huang as she smiled and asked, “Auntie, don’t you think this robe looks nice?”

“It looks wonderful…” Of course it did—such a fine garment, how could it not?

“I think it looks nice, too.” Speaking with perfect ease, Lu Ying stepped out of the fitting room.

No one had expected her to simply walk out wearing the robe. Madam Huang panicked and hurried after her, so preoccupied with thinking of a way to dissuade Lu Ying that she completely forgot the other two young ladies of the Ping family were waiting outside.

As soon as Lu Ying stepped through the doorway, the two Ping girls’ eyes lit up. They turned simultaneously, recognizing the elegantly dressed woman before them as none other than Lu Ying—the very person they had just been loudly complaining about.

Seeing Madam Huang following closely behind Lu Ying with two maids in tow, looking every bit the attendant, and seeing Lu Ying’s face, made all the more radiant by her splendid attire, Ping Yin was filled with rage.

She glared wide-eyed at Lu Ying and shrieked, “What are you doing here?”

Lu Ying met her gaze and replied calmly, “Second Aunt invited me to pick out some new clothes. Madam Huang brought me here especially to have a look.”

“What?” Ping Yin was furious, screeching, “Impossible! You’re lying!” How could this be? No one had ever thought highly of this fallen girl, yet now, in the blink of an eye, both Grandfather and Grandmother’s attitudes had changed, and even Second Uncle’s household was different?

Moreover, even though her own family’s circumstances were the best in the entire Ping clan, she herself had never worn such a sumptuous garment. On what grounds should this pauper be allowed to wear it?

Face flushed with anger, Ping Yin looked at Lu Ying, who seemed all the more noble clad in her finery. She shrilled, “Wretch! Wearing such clothes—are you planning to seduce Zeng Lang again?”

Lu Ying let out a laugh. Her dark eyes glanced up from beneath long lashes, her tone scornful. “That fellow named Zeng? I was the one who cast him aside. You bought him off me with gold and silver—why would I bother seducing him again?”

Such insolence! Such audacity!

For a moment, Madam Huang was stunned. The shopkeeper’s wife was stunned. Even the other young lady of the Ping family behind Ping Yin was stunned!

Ping Yin shrieked, “How dare you say such things? You—you truly have no shame!”

Lu Ying couldn’t help but laugh. She replied coolly, “No, I have plenty of shame. It’s you who has none! Because you’re shameless, you go after another woman’s husband. Because you’re seducing someone else’s spouse, what you gain isn’t truly yours. That’s why, even now as you’re about to become a bride, you still can’t find happiness. Tell me, Ping Yin, is your life really so meaningful now?”

With these words, Lu Ying walked right up to the enraged Ping Yin, stood before her, and after calmly sizing up the now haggard, less attractive Ping Yin, she shook her head with a mixture of disdain and pity. Without another word, she strode away.

While everyone else was still dazed, Lu Ying had already vanished. Madam Huang, after a moment’s delay, called out, “Ah Ying, that robe…” But when she got to those words, she found the shopkeeper’s wife staring at her, waiting for an explanation. With a pained expression, she said, “Um, just put that robe on the tab for now—I’ll bring the payment soon.”

“Yes, yes, of course.”

Lu Ying’s acceptance of the Ping clan’s lavish gift was a powerful signal. So, the very next afternoon, the Ping family’s ox-drawn carriage was waiting outside the alley. With her usual beaming smile, Madam Huang told Lu Ying that her grandfather wished to see her.

This time, Lu Ying agreed readily. She sat inside the luxuriously adorned carriage, dressed in the cornelian-embroidered robe she had acquired the day before, her face lightly powdered. Coupled with the scholarly composure she had gained from years of study, the effect was so striking that even Madam Huang was momentarily entranced.

Only now did she realize that her cousin’s grace and bearing far surpassed that of any young lady in the Ping household.

No wonder that distinguished gentleman had chosen her.

The carriage rolled steadily on toward the Ping estate.

Upon arrival, Madam Huang first took her to see her Second Aunt.

Unlike any previous meeting, this newly acquainted Second Aunt was unfailingly polite and warm toward her.

Afterward, Madam Huang smiled and said, “Cousin, the old matron wishes to see you.”

Lu Ying lowered her gaze. “Very well.”

Seeing her so agreeable, Madam Huang grinned and quickly led her to the courtyard where the old matron resided.

Along the way, as they passed other servants and young ladies, everyone paused in surprise at the sight of Lu Ying in her splendid attire. After the initial shock came a flurry of whispers.

Soon, those who recognized Lu Ying had gathered around.

“Ah Ying, I’m your fourth cousin—do you remember me?”

“And I’m your seventh cousin, Ah Ying!”

The young ladies themselves numbered only five, but with their maids, there were sixteen or seventeen in all. Surrounded by a crowd of girls, each introducing herself and chattering merrily, their warmth and friendliness would have left anyone else feeling giddy with delight.

But Lu Ying did not lose her composure. She smiled and chatted with them for a while, until Madam Huang interjected, “Ladies, cousin still needs to see the old matron.”

“Then Ah Ying, let’s talk again next time!” “Come chat with us again soon!” “See you later, Ah Ying!”

With some difficulty, Lu Ying finally extricated herself from the crowd. Flushed from being jostled, she made Madam Huang laugh. “The young ladies all like you so much, cousin. Looks like you’ve made some close friends now.”

Lu Ying smiled and nodded.

Before long, the two arrived at the old matron’s courtyard.

After settling Lu Ying in the main hall for a moment and seeing that the old matron had not yet arrived, Madam Huang whispered, “Ah Ying, please wait a while—I’ll go inquire.” With that, she went down the steps and quietly questioned a maid.

Lu Ying glanced at Madam Huang, then lowered her head.

Just then, a commotion erupted outside. She heard a maid exclaim, “No, that’s a very precious item—the token of betrothal from Fourth Cousin’s husband’s family. It was hanging at her waist just a moment ago when she was here, and now it’s suddenly gone!”

The moment everyone heard it was the token of betrothal, the crowd grew tense and the noise intensified, accompanied by the frantic sounds of boxes and chests being rummaged through in haste.

Soon, a maid entered and addressed Lu Ying respectfully. “Cousin, Fourth Cousin has lost a jade pendant. They’re still searching for it. Please don’t mind being neglected.”

Lu Ying nodded. “I don’t mind—” But before she could finish, she saw the maid’s eyes widen in disbelief as she stared at her.

“What’s wrong?” Lu Ying started to ask, but the maid had already begun shrieking, pointing at her. “Ah! The jade pendant—the jade pendant—Fourth Cousin, come quickly! Your jade pendant is on Cousin Lu Ying!”

The words had barely left her mouth when hurried footsteps sounded from all directions.

——

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After a thousand years in ice, what she awakens to is not a future of healing and medical miracles, but a life as a living fossil, touring the stars with another “public antique.”

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