The Beauty Wan Hui, Shan Bo in Armor

Chapter 135 The Beauty Wan Hui, Shan Bo in Armor

That night, the moonlight was like water, its clear glow shining down on the uneven rooftops of Guangling City, turning the night of this military town on the frontier into a pale silver-gray.

Su Wanhui sat alone in her bedroom, with a low desk in front of her and an account book spread out on it.

With pen in hand, she meticulously checked the accounts line by line, her expression focused, oblivious to the long winter night in this foreign land and the occasional sound of a bugle outside the window.

Her personal maid, Asu, entered quietly and walked to her side, whispering, "Miss, the hot water is ready; you may take a bath now."

Su Wanhui hummed in agreement, placed the brush in her hand on the brush holder, picked up a plain handkerchief from the desk to wipe her fingertips, and stood up.

She stretched her shoulders and back, which had become slightly stiff from sitting for so long, and followed Asu out of the bedroom and into another room.

Inside the room, behind the screen, stood a wooden tub about half a person's height, filled with warm water. Steam rose from the tub, turning into wisps of white mist in the candlelight.

Beside the wooden tub was a copper basin filled with clear water. A clean, dry white towel was draped over the basin, and a small porcelain box was placed beside it. Inside the box were several bath beans about the size of longans. The beans were slightly yellow in color and had a faint medicinal fragrance and a refreshing aroma of bean powder. It was clear at a glance that they were of high quality.

In this era, bath beans were a luxurious cleaning product. They were made primarily of finely ground bean powder, combined with medicinal herbs such as angelica, aconite, poria, and sandalwood, and then mixed with honey. The mixture was formed into pills, which were dissolved in water and applied to the face and body to remove dirt and moisturize the skin.

Ordinary people couldn't afford bath powder, so Su Suhui always carried high-quality bath powder with her when she traveled.

Su Su Hui walked to the copper basin, bent down, scooped up a handful of water with both hands, and splashed it on her face.

Asu took a bath bean from the porcelain box, dipped it in water in his palm, gently dissolved it, rubbed it to create fine foam, and handed it to the young lady.

Su Wanhui took the towel and carefully applied the medicinal foam to her cheeks, forehead, nose, and chin, gently rubbing it in circles with her fingertips. After a moment, she rinsed it off with water, repeating this process several times before taking a dry towel from Asu and gently pressing it onto her face to absorb the water droplets.

When she removed the towel from her face and looked up again, her entire face seemed refreshed.

Before washing her face, her appearance was ordinary. Her skin was dull and slightly yellow, her eyebrows were sparse, and her lips were pale and almost white. She was not eye-catching in the crowd.

But after washing her face, the covering was removed, revealing her true appearance, and she turned out to be a beautiful woman with remarkable looks!

Her skin was fair and delicate, with a faint pinkish glow; her eyebrows were naturally dark, like distant mountains shrouded in mist; her lips were naturally red, like peach blossoms glistening with dew.

This is without makeup. If she were to put on more makeup and enhance her features, she would be a stunning beauty that would be impossible to look away from!

When Zhu Yingtai first met Su Wanhui yesterday, she felt that this young lady's appearance seemed ordinary but was actually extraordinary, and even suspected that she had deliberately made herself look ordinary.

Zhu Yingtai's prediction was correct.

Su Suhui is naturally beautiful; she is a beauty even without makeup. With careful makeup, she can definitely be called a great beauty.

However, she traveled extensively throughout the north and south, leading large caravans. If she were too conspicuous, it would not only cause her many inconveniences in doing things, but also easily attract covetous eyes and danger.

Therefore, she often applied a layer of rice flour mixed with yellow powder to her face, pressing her skin tone into a dull, waxy yellow. She did not use rouge or eyebrow pencil at all, and even her eyebrows were simply drawn with a burnt willow twig, leaving them scattered and shapeless. On her lips, she applied a layer of lip rouge mixed with chalk, covering her originally luscious lip color with a pale white.

In this way, she became an ordinary-looking young woman, blending into the caravan, inconspicuous and unremarkable.

To make travel easier, Zhu Yingtai chose to disguise herself as a man. Her face naturally possessed a heroic air, and she was taller than the average woman, making her look perfectly natural in men's clothing, like an extremely handsome young man.

Su Wanhui's face has soft features, and her eyes possess a gentle, feminine quality, making her unsuitable for cross-dressing as a man; even if she were dressed as a man, it would be immediately obvious that she is a woman. However, her face is very suitable for disguise as an ordinary person; with a little effort, she can completely conceal her natural beauty.

The two women, each with their own methods and skills, can be considered a pair of wonderfully similar individuals.

At this moment, Su Wanhui washed away the layer of concealment on her face, revealing her true appearance, and felt refreshed and comfortable as if her whole face had been given a breath of fresh air.

She breathed a sigh of relief, and Asu stepped forward to help her undress. She stepped barefoot into the wooden tub and slowly sank her body into the warm water.

The swirling steam made her fair face even more radiant, and a few strands of hair, damp with the steam, clung to her temples, giving her a unique, languid yet elegant charm.

After bathing, she changed into a simple set of everyday clothes, with a silk sash loosely tied around her waist. Her long hair was draped over her shoulders, still damp from the bath.

She emerged from behind the screen without makeup or hairpins, her face completely bare, exuding a natural charm like a lotus emerging from clear water.

Just then, a servant walked in quietly and bowed to her: "Lady, Attendant Ling is outside requesting an audience."

Su Wanhui nodded: "Let him in."

The aunt acknowledged and withdrew.

Su Wanhui walked into the hall, knelt down on a mat, and straightened her clothes.

Ling Cheng walked in, with his usual composure and respect. Just as he was about to bow, he saw Su Wanhui's appearance after her bath. Her face was clean of makeup, her skin was as white as snow, and her eyebrows and eyes were like a painting, which made him pause slightly.

It felt as if something had gently bumped into his heart, creating ripples that he quickly suppressed.

Ling Cheng was adopted by Su Jingting when he was seven or eight years old. He grew up in Su Family Fortress in Huaibei, eating Su Family food, wearing Su Family clothes, and receiving Su Family favors.

He watched Su Wanhui grow up, from a little girl to a smart and capable young woman, and then to the capable caravan leader she is today.

At first, in his eyes, Su Wanhui was a young lady, a master, but as she gradually grew into a beautiful young woman, his feelings for her unknowingly changed.

He found himself staring at her absentmindedly when she spoke, feeling uneasy at the occasional smile she gave him, and praying for her safety day and night when she went on a long journey.

But he was also keenly aware that he was just an orphan adopted by the Su family, and there was an insurmountable gap between him and the girl. He was not worthy of her, and if others knew about his feelings, it would only embarrass the girl and bring shame to his benefactor.

So he remained silent, keeping his feelings hidden deep in his heart, and never confessed them.

Later, when he came of age, Su Jingting found him a rather attractive wife, whom he married, and they lived a peaceful and stable life. Loyal to the Su family and regarding Su Jingting as his father, he hid his feelings even deeper.

However, whenever he saw the woman's beauty, his heart would still flutter slightly, like a pebble falling into water, leaving no trace.

At that moment, he composed himself, lowered his eyes, dared not look any longer, and respectfully clasped his hands in a salute.

Su Wanhui stared at Ling Cheng, her gaze clear, and asked, "Feng Gui, how is the matter I instructed you to handle?"

Just an hour ago, Su Wanhui instructed Ling Cheng to do an important task.

Ling Cheng's expression hardened, and he replied respectfully, "Reporting to Miss, it has been taken care of. I personally oversaw the process, and there was absolutely no mishap."

Su Suhui nodded in satisfaction, a faint smile appearing on her lips.

Ling Cheng is reliable and steady in his work; there is almost nothing he cannot accomplish once he has agreed to do it.

She didn't ask any more questions, and gently waved her hand: "You've worked hard, get some rest."

Ling Cheng bowed again, then turned and left the main hall.

The next morning, the sky was still shrouded in a hazy gray, with only a faint hint of dawn appearing on the eastern horizon. Guangling City was still asleep, with the distant sound of watchtowers echoing from the city walls.

Liang Shanbo had already rolled off the bed, and although the movement was light, it still startled the person beside him.

Zhu Yingtai also sat up, rubbing her sleepy eyes, but had no intention of staying in bed.

Today marks the day Liang Shanbo officially assumes his post as a military advisor, commanding the elite vanguard. From this day forward, he is no longer a commoner from a humble background, but a staff officer under Xie Xuan, advising on military matters, and a court official commanding the elite vanguard.

Today he should don his armor and leave the city to reach the main camp outside the city.

After Liang Shanbo made his vows and washed his clothes, Zhu Yingtai personally helped him put on his armor.

Zhu Yingtai first helped him put on a close-fitting undershirt, then took the two-piece armor he had brought back from the general's mansion yesterday and carefully put it on him.

This set of armor is made of cowhide, lacquered in black, with one piece each for the chest and back. The iron plates are polished and shiny, and they are connected at the shoulders with leather belts. A leather belt is tied around the waist to protect the front and back.

The position of "military advisor" is a staff officer in the military government, whose status is between that of a civil official and a military official. On formal occasions, they should wear official robes. However, during drills, marches, or battles, they usually wear armor or military uniforms to show military might.

The Liangdang armor was one of the important armors in the Eastern Jin army, with a simple and practical design. It was well-made, with uniformly thick iron plates and a flexible and sturdy leather strap. It was second only to the extremely precious Mingguang armor in the Eastern Jin army and was not available to ordinary soldiers.

Zhu Yingtai then personally picked up the matching helmet and carefully put it on Liang Shanbo, tightening the silk sash under his chin.

Then, she took two steps back, clasped her hands in front of her, and carefully looked Liang Shanbo, who was fully armored, up and down.

Liang Shanbo was already tall and slender, and now, wearing this black armor, he looked even more heroic and imposing. The calm and composed air between his brows was accentuated by the armor's imposing presence, giving him an air of unapproachable general.

Zhu Yingtai's eyes shone brightly, filled with pride and joy.

Yu Xian and Yin Xin, who were standing to the side, were also amazed by the scene before them.

Yin Xin opened her mouth, then managed to utter, "Liang Lang looks truly impressive!"

Zhu Yingtai stepped forward, straightened Liang Shanbo's leather belt, brushed a speck of dust from his breastplate, smiled sweetly, and sincerely praised, "Brother Liang, from now on you will be a general in armor. Today, you look even more heroic in your military uniform than I imagined. I almost don't recognize you."

Liang Shanbo looked down at his armor, then looked up into her bright eyes. A warm feeling and a surge of pride welled up in his heart. He smiled and said, "Thank you, Ninth Sister, for personally helping me put on this armor. Wearing this double-layered armor makes me feel both heavy and secure. From now on, I will carry Ninth Sister's expectations as I lead troops into battle and achieve great deeds."

Zhu Yingtai suddenly remembered something, turned around and walked to the bedside. She bent down and rummaged under the pillow for a while. When she turned back, she had a jade pendant in her hand.

This is a jade pendant, its color a pale bluish-green with a hint of turquoise, tied with dark blue silk threads.

She walked up to Liang Shanbo, opened her palm, and presented the jade pendant to him. Her eyes sparkled as she softly said, "Brother Liang, today you are a military officer, a general in armor, and an official of the court. You are no longer a commoner. You can now openly wear this jade pendant at your waist. Brother Liang, would you like to wear it? Even if you don't wear it at your waist, wearing it around your neck or close to your heart would be fine too."

Liang Shanbo looked down at the jade pendant in her palm, gently stroked the jade surface, and felt its familiar warmth.

This jade pendant was something she had exchanged for six bolts of silk in Qiantang County. She had personally handed it to him on the grass bridge, and she had kept it for him for over a year.

This jade pendant seemed to be reminding him that he had to achieve great things and stand out from the crowd until the day he could wear it with dignity.

He did not take the jade pendant, but gently closed her hand, then held her closed hand in his warm palm, smiled and shook his head, and said softly, "Ninth Sister, you should continue to keep this jade pendant for me."

Now I have joined the army, donned armor, and become an official appointed by the imperial court—that's all true. But joining the army is merely being recruited as a staff member by the military government, and besides, I have not yet achieved any merit, nor have I received any rewards from the imperial court.

I want to wait until the day I truly achieve great things and receive rewards and honors from the imperial court before I ask you to personally put this jade pendant on me.

That day shouldn't be too far away.

Zhu Yingtai was not surprised to hear him say this, and smiled sweetly: "I knew Brother Liang would say that. Well, I knew you would not wear it now, but I still want to take it out and ask you, and hear you say these words yourself."

I will continue to keep this jade pendant for you. I believe that in the near future, Brother Liang will surely achieve great things and shine brightly. When the imperial court bestows rewards upon you, let's see what reason you will have to refuse.

When that day comes, I will do as I said before, personally fasten it for Brother Liang at his waist, and tie a double-loop knot myself, securely and firmly.

Liang Shanbo was both moved and filled with pride, and nodded heavily.

As the morning light gradually brightens outside the window, the early winter sun has already peeked over the distant horizon.

"Brother Liang, it's time for us to head to the main camp!"

Xiao Hu's call came from inside the courtyard.

Liang Shanbo said no more, turned around and stepped out of the bedroom, walking out of the courtyard gate with Xiao Hu, who was also wearing armor.

Zhu Yingtai, along with Yu Xian, Yin Xin, and A Mian, escorted him to the courtyard gate.

Liang Shanbo leaped onto his Red Wind Horse, glanced back at Zhu Yingtai, and the couple smiled at each other before he and Xiao Hu rode away together.

>