Chapter 56: Putting on Makeup and Setting Out

Master Su waved his hand grandly. “No matter. We will go buy a few sets right now, and then have the maids alter them overnight.”

Su Fu said, “At this hour, I am afraid the shops are all closed.”

Master Su replied, “No matter. We have money. We will just give them more, and they will surely open their doors to let us buy a few sets on short notice.”

Having said that, he summoned the maids and ordered them to hurry to the shops to buy clothes according to Lian Li’s height. They had to be altered by tonight, and he would pay them extra.

Master Su was determined to have Lian Li pose as Su Fu. Now that the most difficult step had been resolved, he could not let things fail over a few outfits.

Even if he had to throw money at the problem, he would produce several sets of clothes that Lian Li could wear.

He made the arrangements with great speed, fearing that Lian Li might change his mind.

Once everything was settled, he said to Lian Li with a beaming smile, “Young Master Lian is truly chivalrous and courageous. My Su Mansion is immensely grateful.”

Lian Li gave a polite, practiced smile. “You are welcome.”

To the side, Yun Huizhou turned his head to look outside, the corners of his mouth practically impossible to suppress.

With the matter decided, they were in no hurry to leave. They planned to wait for the maids to return with the clothes so Lian Li could try them on, making it easier to perform alterations.

Under the influence of Master Su’s generous spending, the maids soon returned successfully with the clothes.

Lian Li casually picked a set and went to the adjacent room to change.

Madam Su also brought over a set of new rouge and jewelry that Su Fu had not yet worn, waiting for Lian Li to finish changing.

Because of the West Island Lord, Lian Li was quite adept at wearing these ancient women’s garments.

Before long, he had finished changing. After a moment’s thought, he let his hair down and returned to Su Fu’s room.

The moment he appeared, everyone except Yun Huizhou showed a look of disbelief, and some even looked stunned by his beauty.

The crowd soon regained their composure. Madam Su looked at the rouge on the table and then at Lian Li’s face, feeling that this Young Master Lian might not even need makeup.

The clothes the Su Mansion had bought were standard women’s attire, not the kind specifically made for cross-dressers that the West Island Lord provided.

Therefore, even though Lian Li’s physique was not bulky, there were bound to be places that felt uncomfortable.

As he entered the room, he rolled his shoulders and walked over to the maid who had bought the clothes. “Auntie, please widen the shoulder area slightly. It feels a bit tight.”

The maid was dazed as she listened, seemingly not expecting this young hero to be so comfortable wearing women’s clothing.

Although this young hero had taken the initiative to suggest dressing as a woman to stand in for the Young Mistress at the martial arts marriage competition, the fact that he showed no bashfulness or shame after actually putting them on was truly unexpected.

“Auntie, are you listening?” Lian Li asked again when he saw the maid did not react.

“Ah, yes, I am listening,” the maid hurriedly replied. “I have noted it down. Are there any other places where Young Master Lian feels uncomfortable? Please tell us all at once, and we will alter them overnight.”

Lian Li felt that trying them on one by one was too much trouble, so he gave his measurements to the maid and told her to alter them according to that size.

The several maids quickly memorized the measurements, then divided the other sets Lian Li had not tried on, preparing to take them back for alteration.

The members of the Su family wanted to speak but did not know what to say. They could only look at Lian Li and Yun Huizhou with smiles, offering words of gratitude.

It was getting late, and with the martial arts marriage competition tomorrow, everyone prepared to return to their respective rooms to rest.

At this point, Madam Su glanced at the rouge and jewelry on the table. After some thought, she said, “Young Master Lian, I will bring the maids over tomorrow morning to apply your makeup.”

Lian Li took a look and noticed that the rouge and jewelry were kept in exquisite wood-carved boxes. Not even considering the contents, the boxes alone were likely worth several taels of silver.

After silently remarking on the Su family’s wealth, he nodded and said, “Then I shall trouble Madam Su.”

In truth, he could apply makeup himself and do a simple hair bun, but if someone else could do it for him, why bother doing it himself?

Besides, if he did it himself, it would make it seem as if he were truly skilled at dressing as a woman.

While that was the truth, it was better not to let others know; it was enough that the people on Drunken Dream Island knew.

Once the arrangements were made, Lian Li changed back into his own clothes. He handed the women’s outfit he had just tried on to the maid for alteration and prepared to return to their courtyard with Yun Huizhou.

Su Jun watched the retreating backs of Lian Li and Yun Huizhou and murmured, “Young Master Lian is truly a man of great righteousness.”

***

Early the next morning.

Lian Li rose early. The first thing he did was sit cross-legged to circulate his energy and regulate his breathing.

During the battle last night, his internal energy had been nearly exhausted. If he remained diligent over the next few days, his martial arts would see further improvement.

Not long after he finished regulating his breathing and washing up, Madam Su arrived with the maids.

The clothes were folded neatly on rectangular wooden trays, and the jewelry and rouge were also arranged tidily.

Seeing Lian Li and Yun Huizhou exchanging moves in the courtyard, they did not disturb them, waiting until the two finished their practice before stepping forward.

Yun Huizhou glanced at the items on the trays, gave a small smile, and returned to his own room.

The main color of the outfit Madam Su had brought was red. However, it was not the red of a wedding dress, though it was still extremely vibrant—very suitable for the occasion of a martial arts marriage competition.

After Lian Li took it into his room and changed, the vivid color made his face appear even more radiant. If not for the fact that his facial contours were not as soft as a woman’s, he might truly be taken for a girl if he walked out like this.

The servants were also stunned when they saw him come out. Madam Su was the first to snap out of it, saying, “Young Master Lian, please sit down. We will apply your makeup and do your hair.”

Lian Li nodded and sat down before the bronze mirror.

The maid Madam Su had brought was one who frequently served her for makeup and hair; her hands were very nimble.

She quickly found a suitable hairstyle and makeup style that softened the contours of Lian Li’s face.

Since the clothes were a vibrant color, the makeup was naturally on the brighter side as well.

Once the various hairpins and jewelry were put on, a bright and moving beauty appeared.

Lian Li looked at the makeup on his face and felt that letting the Su Mansion’s maid do it was the right choice; her technique was indeed beyond his own.

He felt that if he went out for a stroll now, his “head-turning rate” would definitely be very high, and perhaps many people would even try to strike up a conversation with him.

Once he was ready on his end, there were basically no more issues.

Yun Huizhou didn’t need to prepare anything at all; he just needed to bring himself and his blade.

As they left the courtyard, Madam Su watched Lian Li’s walking posture and still whispered a reminder: “Young Master Lian, once we go out, you will be in a sedan chair. However, there is still some distance to the viewing seats. At that time, I must trouble the Young Master to take smaller steps.”

Lian Li knew what she meant. She wanted him not to walk so boldly, but more like a lady from a prestigious family.