Six o'clock came far too early, in Wei Ying's opinion. Lan Zhan had him out of bed by five thirty, dunked in a bath smelling of rose petals and jasmine oil for his hair while Wei Ying slept through it.
They were ready and waiting for the royal dressers to arrive at six, after hastily eating a rushed breakfast of dumplings and steamed buns.
"What time are we supposed to get to the court?" Wei Ying asks, resting his tired head on Lan Zhan's shoulder, eyes still closed.
"Ten. Getting ready should take a few hours. We will not be late." Lan Zhan sounds determined.
They're waiting in their room so it's safe to speak freely.
"What do you think of the Emperor?"
"I do not know His Highness. One must not make judgements based solely on hearsay."
"Lan Zhaaan! That's no fun!" Wei Ying whispers drowsily.
Lan Zhan's lips turn up slightly as he wraps an arm around Wei Ying's waist, pulling him closer. His free hand takes Wei Ying's hand and brings the back of it to his lips, kissing the soft skin gently.
There's a knock on the door and then a maid opens it after they give their permission.
The tailors come in first with six servants carrying cloth bundles of silk brocades, followed by a group of ten ladies who stand to one side for now. Hao Bai and Nie Huaisang follow at the end and close the doors behind them. Even this big room suddenly seems shrunken in size now that there are so many people in it.
Wei Ying swallows hard, wide awake now. Lan Zhan can feel his apprehension and squeezes their hands twice.
It's a good thing we can communicate without talking, huh? Wei Ying thinks loudly through their mental connection.
Mn. It will no doubt come in useful at court today.
That comment makes Wei Ying smile.
Lan Zhan feels so much better now. He'd do anything to keep that look on Wei Ying's face forever.
"I know it's short notice," Hao Bai is saying to the Head Tailor, "and as it is, they must be at court by ten, so you have three hours to make them both presentable. Show me what you've got."
The Head Tailor bows and claps his hands; the six servants immediately plop their bundles on the ground and undo the double knots on the top, peeling back the layers to reveal sumptuous rich colours of silk brocade in deep purple, dark greens and emerald shades, gorgeous plum silk with gold thread embroidery all over it, the deepest wine colour, and a rich blue, as vibrant as cobalt.
All are lavishly decorated, either with golden embroidery or the same woven through to create elaborate patterns.
"Are they not to your liking?" Hao Bai asks them, sounding a little worried.
"Lan Zhan?" Wei Ying asks him out loud.
Lan Zhan definitely looks as if he's struggling. He would have preferred a pale blue, white being his second choice, but neither are here and available.
They're just clothes, my love. Think of them as our disguise, necessary for our mission, Wei Ying encourages him, as usual, getting to the root of the problem with alacrity.
Lan Zhan takes a deep breath and nods once, straightening his shoulders and sitting upright once more.
"We will take the deep wine coloured cloth," he says firmly.
Why? Wei Ying wonders.
Because they remind me of my husband.
Lan Zhan stands up first to be fitted, while Wei Ying tries not to squeal out loud, fighting a smile all the way.
The robes are mostly constructed; they only need slight modifications in order to fit.
"These are the under robes," the Tailor pulls out a super soft silk robe in black.
Wei Ying is made to stand up too, and then three attendants are upon him, helping to dress him.
They are first pinned into their clothes and then taken out of them after the fitting, and once they're sewn properly, the two tall and handsome men are made to wear their outer layers again.
The results are devastatingly gorgeous.
Both Lan Zhan and Wei Ying are wearing pure white inner robes, a fact that makes the connection to Gusu and them feel marginally better, followed by the black robes, and on top of them, the final layer is a dark wine silk. Their waist sashes are black, kept in place by a gold and ruby waist chain.
"Oh my word! Lan Zhan, you look beautiful!" Wei Ying unconsciously drifts towards him, at the same time as Lan Zhan is reaching for him too, but they're quickly pushed onto two separate stools to have their hair and makeup done.
"Wei Ying is beautifuller," Lan Zhan insists vehemently, before they force him to look straight ahead.
Hours later, after having their faces cleaned, moisturised and plucked to remove any excess hair, their eyebrows are shaped, their faces powdered and then rouge is applied to their cheeks and lips. All the while, their hair is being combed, brushed, tugged and braided into an elaborate style. Ornaments are picked and discarded by both Hao Bai and Huaisang in such obvious glee and expertise, that Wei Ying wonders aloud if this isn't the first time they're doing this.
"Good taste is a skill, Haizi," Hao Bai reprimands him, though she's smiling.
"I want you to meet MY grandmother!" Wei Ying grouses, pouting.
He's told off immediately for changing his expression and he struggles to sit still until Lan Zhan reaches across the distance in between them to take his hand. He immediately calms down then, and Huaisang and his grandmother share a knowing look.
Finally, finally, they're deemed ready to leave for their Royal appointment.
I can hardly recognise us, Wei Ying complains to Lan Zhan in their heads, as they're escorted along the corridor to the outside where a golden carriage decorated with lucky fish and guardian gates awaits them.
And the entire household is also waiting, quietly forming a loose circle around them.
It's kind of unnerving.
Mn. It will pass, Lan Zhan reassures him.
Someone squeals most familiarly, and Wei Ying looks up from having to navigate his heavy clothing so he won't trip himself up, to see Cheng Daiyu being hushed but she's as red as a tomato, her eyes devoted to her idol, Hanguang-Jun.
The whole family is there, and then everyone bows. It's a pindrop silence, broken only by the anxious horses neighing, wanting to go.
They bow in earnest, and then they're helped up into the carriage.
Then they're off!
"Lan Zhan, what have we signed ourselves up for?" Wei Ying says quietly, not expecting an answer.
Don't worry, Hui Gai joins in.
Wei Ying suddenly laughs out loud.
Hui Gai! I'm so glad you've joined us, he says through their mental connection. Where were you, before?
Ah, both of you were busy when we came to look for you. Zago might have found something back at the house, so she's stayed there. But I couldn't let you go off and have all the fun by yourself, could I??
Wei Ying reaches out blindly with his hand, and is immensely comforted when two warm black scaley hands suddenly appear, holding his tightly.
Raincheck on the hugs.
Of course! Wei Ying grins at the empty space in front of him.
The carriage is surrounded by a thick gold curtain and he peeks out from the slight opening.
Each house they pass by is even more grander than the previous one, and there are so many beautifully dressed people slowly making their way to the Palace alongside them.
They pass through golden gates with spikes on their tips, and then Wei Ying sits back nervously.
"We're here," he says quietly.
YOU ARE READING
WangXian Forever Book 10
RomanceWei Ying and Lan Zhan must step up to the new challenge that awaits them when they find something that was given to them in secret. What is it, and why is it so dangerous? They embark on a new adventure to find out.
