A Willing Mistake, My Lady – Chapter 56
by Little PandaHaving to Wear Women’s Clothes
Lipstick Prints
Shen Hetang stared at Shen Yunshu’s letter. Her head, which had only enjoyed two days of peace, began to throb once more. Seriously? The fire is practically licking our eyebrows, yet how is Shen Yunshu still so calm? To only send a single letter!
The Emperor was far too impatient. It hadn’t even been decided whether she was dead or alive, so why was he already decreeing a marriage? No, wait—the decree probably hadn’t been officially issued yet. Perhaps there was still a way out.
At this moment, Shen Hetang almost felt like packing up her mother and marrying her off instead. She’d certainly enjoyed her brief moment of satisfaction, but she’d utterly ruined her daughter.
She’d still been planning to take Jiang Chenyu back with her, but what was she supposed to do now? Shen Yunshu had explicitly pointed out in her letter that it was best not to let Jiang Chenyu get caught in the middle, lest the Dowager Empress act arbitrarily and harm an innocent person.
It said it was best to draw a clear line between herself and her nominal wife within seven days. But what Shen Yunshu probably didn’t know was that it was already too late. They couldn’t draw a line, and she had no intention of doing so anyway.
Moreover, the letter also said she had to return to resolve it herself, claiming she’d surely find a loophole. What on earth did that mean?
The letter in her hand felt as heavy as a thousand jin1. In her youth, the Dowager Empress had followed the late Emperor to expand the empire’s borders; she wasn’t a good-tempered woman. Now that she was advanced in years, it had been a very long time since anyone had dared to defy her.
Even if she wouldn’t go so far as to senselessly slaughter the innocent, she might force Chenyu to become a mere bedchamber maid, or perhaps make her shave her head to become a nun in some temple.
How could an orphaned young woman living all on her own ever become an obstacle? The Dowager Empress wouldn’t even spare her a second glance.
The final glow of the setting sun faded, leaving the spacious bedroom cast in half-light. After burning the letter, Shen Hetang leaned against the window sill alone. Her heart felt as though it were weighed down by a heavy boulder; try as she might, she couldn’t find any peace of mind.
Suddenly, she remembered that she used to have two maids skilled in martial arts, who were currently doing menial chores under Madam Shen. Back then, even though she had Zhao Chenlan as a follower, she was a woman after all; it was always inconvenient without a personal maid.
Later, she’d taken a fancy to two sturdy-looking sisters. However, while these sisters possessed quite a natural talent for physical combat, they were utterly incapable of delicate tasks like serving tea or pouring water. For every precious porcelain bowl or dish they picked up, they would inevitably shatter a pair.
Thus, they had earned their names: Cuiwan and Cuidie.
In the end, Shen Hetang had kept them around to train in martial arts. Yet before she could even put them to use, she’d departed for the military camp. Now, they were probably sweeping the courtyards under Madam Shen’s supervision.
As the saying went, “train an army for a thousand days, use it for a single hour2.” This was precisely the moment she needed them. She’d send a message to Shen Yunshu tomorrow to demand their return.
“Why are you standing by the window catching the draft?” Jiang Chenyu’s voice drifted over. “If it’s too hot, go sit outside. I’ll slice a sweet melon for you; it’s been chilled for a long time.” The draft from the window was considered highly harmful.
“Alright, I’ll go sit outside for a bit.” She rose and made her way to the rocking chair beneath the tree. Mosquito-repellent grass had been planted nearby, so sitting there for a while in the evening was perfectly fine.
A bright moon, round as a silver platter, hung high in the night sky, its brilliant rays surrounded by a cluster of shining stars.
Shen Hetang reclined lazily in the rocking chair, gazing up at the distant moon. The moon, oblivious to her heavy worries, continued to display its full, gentle radiance. Everything in the courtyard seemed tranquil and beautiful, untouched by the passage of time.
After a brief moment, Jiang Chenyu approached carrying a plate of sliced sweet melon. Next to the rocking chair sat a small bamboo-woven stool.
Under the moonlight, she wore a light yellow gauze robe embroidered with gold patterns. Beneath it, she wore a ginger-yellow printed zhuyao3. Her thin, silky cream-white satin skirt seemed to bloom with subtle floral patterns with every light, gliding step she took.
Jiang Chenyu’s dark hair was swept up in a loose, elegant bun, held in place by a slanted buyao4 adorned with pearl tassels. In the eyes of a certain onlooker, her every smile and frown could easily outshine Chang’e5 in the Lunar Palace.
With nimble fingers, she pierced a slice of the sweet melon with a silver fork and offered it to the person lounging comfortably in the rocking chair.
Shen Hetang took the fork from her hand. The pale, greenish-white flesh of the fruit, wafting a refreshing, sweet aroma, looked remarkably like a peeled honeydew melon.
She nudged the fork toward Jiang Chenyu’s lips, her eyes flickering slightly as she said, “You try it first.”
Feeling the cool, sweet moisture against her lips, Jiang Chenyu instinctively took the melon into her mouth. It was indeed wonderfully sweet and crisp, carrying a delightful, refreshing chill from being iced.
Shen Hetang reached out and pulled Jiang Chenyu down to lie beside her. No matter how stiflingly hot the day had been, the night became far cooler once the sun went down. With the occasional gentle breeze and the rising and falling chorus of crickets, a sense of tranquil peace emerged from the mild, rustic commotion.
Shen Hetang buried her face in the fair neck of the woman in her arms. Her brows were still slightly knit with worry as her lips pressed against Jiang Chenyu’s delicate collarbones with gradual, gentle pressure, leaving behind a scattering of faint red marks.
Jiang Chenyu’s skin was exceptionally smooth and sensitive; even the slightest touch sent a wave of tingling warmth through her. She let out an innocent, sweet laugh, squirming slightly in an attempt to dodge.
“Ah Tang, there’s going to be a Flower Goddess parade in two days. Shall we go watch?” Remembering the final bustling festival before the onset of autumn, she suddenly felt a strong desire to attend with Ah Tang. The Flower Goddess in the parade would bestow her most beautiful blessings upon every young woman.
She wanted to leave Ah Tang with a beautiful memory. After all, Ah Tang had probably never worn women’s clothes before…!
“If you want to go, of course we can.” There was certainly no harm in heading out to enjoy the lively atmosphere.
“But only girls are allowed to enter the Flower Goddess’s sedan chair to receive a blessed flower wreath.” The Flower Goddess parade didn’t happen every year; under normal circumstances, it only occurred once every two or three years, making it an incredibly joyous event for young maidens and newlywed wives alike.
“Then wouldn’t it be fine if you went in?” Shen Hetang replied, failing to catch her drift.
“But I want you to go in with me too. I’ve never seen you in women’s clothes before.” Jiang Chenyu looked up, her bright eyes shimmering with a sweet, playful temptation.
“Heh… I haven’t seen myself in women’s clothes either,” Shen Hetang murmured, gently running her fingers through Jiang Chenyu’s long hair as she considered the possibility. “But if you really want to see, how about I wear them at home instead?”
Before long, they’d very likely have to be parted for some time. Whatever she could do for Jiang Chenyu now, she’d do her utmost to satisfy her.
“Mm… Alright then. Seeing it at home is just the same. Once I get the flower wreath and bring it back, I’ll place it on your head.” Upon further thought, Jiang Chenyu agreed that safety should come first.
Two days later, Jiang Chenyu returned with her hair in a disheveled mess, her clothes torn in one place, and the shoes on her feet not even the pair she’d worn out. Yet she was in high spirits, looking very much like she’d returned in triumph.
Shen Hetang carried her on her back through the front gates, sighing helplessly, “If you couldn’t grab it, you shouldn’t have fought for it. What’s the point of scrambling over a single flower wreath?”
Just thinking of that chaotic scene gave her a headache.
Standing outside, she couldn’t help at all and could only watch anxiously. Inside, a crowd of girls was desperately shoving their way into the sedan chair. Calling it a full-scale brawl might’ve been an exaggeration, but everyone had certainly pulled out all the stops. If Jiang Chenyu hadn’t been lucky and clever enough to charge from a different direction, Shen Hetang had been genuinely terrified she’d be squeezed flat.
Watching it made her nerves throb; she’d regretted not wearing women’s clothes to go help. If a plump girl hadn’t blocked the crowd, Jiang Chenyu wouldn’t have escaped with just a few dropped hairpins—her face would’ve likely been clawed to pieces.
“You don’t understand. How could it just be a flower wreath? It’s this!” She waved the red-gold chain in front of Shen Hetang’s eyes.
Suspended from the bottom of the fine gold chain was a small gold plaque engraved with a unique, mystical symbol, giving it an air of ancient mystery.
“Once you change into women’s clothes, I’ll put it on you.” Jiang Chenyu was visibly excited; the radiant smile on her face hadn’t faded for a single second since she’d secured the prize.
A warm current flowed through Shen Hetang’s heart. Gently placing her down on the chaise longue6, she asked, “How’d you manage to wrest it from that incredibly sturdy girl?”
That girl was three times her weight, and once they squeezed inside, what happened couldn’t be seen from the outside.
“I traded my gold bracelet to her, so of course she stopped competing with me.” She’d been so worried she wouldn’t be able to squeeze past the crowd that she’d specifically brought a gold bracelet with her. She hadn’t expected her luck to be so good that she’d actually get to use it.
“Don’t go squeezing into crowds like that next time. If there’s something you like, just tell me,” Shen Hetang said, finding the whole thing rather amusing.
“But this has to be fought for to work. If no one fights for it, it won’t be effective!” From Jiang Chenyu’s cheerful tone, it was obvious she’d had a great time.
“Hurry and bathe, go quickly! Once you’ve changed, I’ll hang this flower plaque around your neck. That way, you’ll be safe, prosperous, and turn every misfortune into a blessing.” Jiang Chenyu urged, unable to contain her excitement.
“Even if you’re in a hurry, we still need to light the lanterns first, my little ancestor7.” They’d been conversing entirely by moonlight, which made the indoors even darker than the courtyard.
Shen Hetang went to bathe. Meanwhile, Jiang Chenyu hummed a tune as she fetched the clothes she’d prepared, determined to dress Ah Tang up beautifully.
The dress was a brilliant crimson pleated skirt, connected directly to a bodice embroidered with begonia flowers. It was a significantly bolder design than what women typically wore. The cuffs of the outer gauze robe were layered with fine, light fabric that looked as if a gentle breeze could coax a flower into bloom, and the printed light red of the robe mirrored the inner tube dress perfectly.
Clad in the red dress, Ah Tang looked noble and radiant, yet she still carried a sharp, formidable edge that made it hard for anyone to look her directly in the eye.
“Relax a little, you don’t need to be so tense.” Seeing how rigidly she sat with a stiff expression, Jiang Chenyu teased her while draping the outer gauze robe over her shoulders.
Shen Hetang’s skin was pale and cool, and her features were sharp and delicate. Combined with the floral-red dress, a wave of cold elegance washed over her.
“Give me a smile, won’t you?” Jiang Chenyu’s small hand wandered along the edge of the bodice, playfully pressing against it from time to time to tease her, thoroughly enjoying herself.
Counting both her past and present lives, Shen Hetang had never had the chance to wear such an ethereal, flowing dress. She felt drafts everywhere and didn’t dare to move, only feeling a bit better once she’d put on the outer gauze robe.
“Close your eyes,” Jiang Chenyu said after applying a thin layer of scented powder.
Shen Hetang didn’t know what was being applied to her face, so she simply resigned herself to being a doll for Jiang Chenyu to play with as she pleased.
Jiang Chenyu applied a thick layer of lip rouge8 to her own lips. Bending down, she firmly pressed her lips against Shen Hetang’s face. One print wasn’t enough, so she pressed down twice more, only looking satisfied when she stood up to inspect her handiwork.
Shen Hetang felt only a wave of delicate fragrance draw near as soft lips brushed against her cheek twice like a dragonfly skimming the water before quickly darting away. She opened her dark, phoenix eyes, which burned with the quiet restraint of someone biding her time to settle scores later.
Meanwhile, the little kitten who’d just stolen a treat was now casually adjusting the hair flowers as if nothing had happened.
“Oh no, the flower plaque I grabbed is gone!” Jiang Chenyu’s voice suddenly spiked with alarm.
“Don’t panic. It must’ve slipped off somewhere.”
“I only went to the side yard to pluck a flower.” As she spoke, she even brought over the blooming peony she’d plucked for Shen Hetang to see.
“I’ll go look for it,” Shen Hetang said. If this item, which she’d fought so hard to grab, was lost, her little ancestor would surely cry.
“I’ll go with you.” There were no servants near the side wall, and at this late hour, no one would normally wander near the main courtyard anyway.
“Mm… Alright,” Jiang Chenyu said, looking a bit anxious.
Moving quietly, they slipped into the side yard, raising their lanterns to search the ground inch by inch.
Shen Hetang’s hair hadn’t been styled yet, cascading straight down to her waist and hips.
Focused entirely on their search, they didn’t notice the movements around them. Next door, which had been quiet for a long time, a pair of restless eyes was currently peering through a hole in the wall about the size of half a fist, silently observing their every move.
When he clearly saw that they were two women wearing dresses, his initial curiosity turned into shock. He rubbed his eyes hard, thinking his old eyes were playing tricks on him. Pressing close to the hole to watch again, a malicious smile slowly spread across his face.
Footnotes
- Jīn. A traditional Chinese unit of weight, equivalent to approximately 500 grams. Often used metaphorically to denote great weight or importance.
- Yǎng bīng qiān rì, yòng bīng yī shí. A Chinese proverb meaning that preparation is made over a long period for a brief moment of critical need.
- Zhǔyāo. A traditional Chinese undergarment, similar to a bodice or corset, designed to wrap around the torso and accentuate the waist.
- Bùyáo. A classic Chinese hair ornament featuring dangling tassels or pearls that sway gently with the wearer's movements.
- Chang'e. The mythical Chinese goddess of the Moon, legendary for her transcendent beauty and for swallowing an elixir of immortality.
- Guīfēità. A traditional Chinese daybed or chaise longue with an asymmetrical backrest, historically associated with noblewomen.
- Xiǎo zǔzōng. A playful and affectionate Chinese address for someone who is cherished but demanding, literally translating to 'little ancestor.'
- Kǒuzhī. A traditional Chinese lip balm or lipstick made from natural ingredients like beeswax, animal fats, and plant pigments.
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