Chapter 59 Shopping

The next day.

The red sun hung high in the sky, and the weather was clear and bright.

Yun Bai took Yun Qian and Shen Qi to the West Market.

"Since my Qianqian has such talent for Formations, we naturally need to buy more Magical Artifacts, Formation Flags, and Formation Plates for her to practice with. Also, I need to buy you some new clothes," Yun Bai said with a smile.

Yun Qian was just 13 years old and still in the growing phase, so naturally, she needed to change into new clothes frequently.

"And Shen Qi, if you see anything you like, just say so; I'll foot the bill," Yun Bai said generously.

Today was Shen Qi's 18th birthday.

Since it was the day she reached adulthood, it naturally called for a celebration.

However, Shen Qi said somewhat uncomfortably, "There is no need for Brother Yun to go to such expense. Brother Yun has already given me more than enough."

Yun Bai had assumed Shen Qi was just being polite.

He was about to say "It's no trouble," but seeing her uncomfortable expression, he couldn't help but smile.

Although this young lady, Shen Qi, worked in his home, it was ultimately an equal employment relationship.

From their dozen or so days together, he could tell that this mother and daughter possessed immense self-respect and self-esteem.

If he were to force her to accept his money, it would instead be an insult to her.

"That's fine, then," Yun Bai smiled gently.

"Since you call me Brother just like Qianqian does, how could I not show some gesture on your coming-of-age day? How about this: buy whatever you like, and pick out the one you like best, and I will give it to you as a gift."

Yun Qian linked her arm with Shen Qi's and secretly pinched her, urging her to agree quickly.

"Mm, alright. Then thank you, Brother Yun!" Shen Qi showed a grateful expression to Yun Bai.

The three of them walked to the Chu Prefecture market, chatting and laughing along the way.

They were currently in the West Market.

The West Market mostly sold miscellaneous goods, with various merchants and peddlers calling out one after another.

Yun Qian was incredibly excited to see such a lively scene, and Yun Bai, having just returned from the battlefield, couldn't help but feel his mood brighten a little upon seeing such a thriving atmosphere.

"Wow! Brother, Sister Qi, do you smell that! It smells so good!" Yun Qian said excitedly.

"This is the scent of rouge and powder," Shen Qi said softly.

"Over there, oh, they can actually try on makeup!" Yun Bai was also greatly surprised.

Many women were gathered in front of this shop, and they gave away their silver as if it were flowing water, seemingly without any heartache.

"Makeup!" As a young lady, Yun Qian was naturally fond of beauty.

Yun Qian pulled Shen Qi toward the shop.

However, she had no intention of dressing herself up; she turned her head and said to Shen Qi, "Sister Qi, this shop actually allows customers to try on makeup. You know how to apply makeup, right? Come on, do it! You are naturally beautiful; once you're done up, it will definitely be stunning. Give Aunt Yang a surprise when we go back!"

Shen Qi made a gesture to decline.

At this moment, the shopkeeper also saw the three of them.

This shopkeeper was a gaudily dressed woman, and the first person she saw was Yun Bai.

Seeing that Yun Bai had a tall, upright, and extraordinary stature, the shopkeeper's eyes lit up.

She looked at the two beautiful young ladies.

One was still young but already revealing the posture of a beauty, and the other, older one, was gentle, soft, and graceful, standing in the crowd and attracting three times more attention than others.

"Oh my, this young lady, since this little sister wants you to try it, it wouldn't hurt to put some on. Feel free to use any of the various rouge and powder in our shop; the trial is free. Our shop doesn't have much else, but we have plenty of rouge and powder. I see you are born with a gentle and moving appearance; if you were to apply some makeup, you would surely be a beauty who could topple cities!" The shopkeeper quickly piled a warm smile onto her face.

"This..." Shen Qi was a bit shy.

From the time she was little until now, she had never dressed up like this.

Although she knew how to apply makeup, that was all in the past, when she served the Young Misses in a wealthy household.

"Go ahead and try it," Yun Bai also chimed in.

"Come." The shopkeeper immediately moved the mirror on the counter in front of Shen Qi.

"Alright then." Shen Qi was actually very tempted.

Under everyone's encouragement, she began to apply makeup in an orderly fashion.

Applying powder, dabbing on rouge, drawing her eyebrows, painting her lips...

Perhaps to save time, Shen Qi did not choose a very complex makeup look.

With just a light touch and thin application, she finished in about a quarter of an hour.

"Wow!"

When Shen Qi lifted her head, the few people who had been eagerly waiting all opened their mouths wide.

"As the Classic of Poetry says, 'Her artful smile, so dimpled; her beautiful eyes, so clear,' it describes a beauty like Sister Qi!" Yun Qian did not stint on her praise at all.

"It's wonderful," Yun Bai nodded.

The shopkeeper was even more lavish with her praise: "The young lady's face has a faint blush, her eyebrows are like willow leaves, and this cherry-red mouth. You are simply better than Xi Shi and surpass Zhao Jun! You were already a top-tier beauty without makeup, but with this, you are simply too beautiful for the mortal world!"

Shen Qi's face flushed with shyness.

"Thank you, everyone."

"Hee hee, Sister Qi, let me buy these rouge and powders as a gift for you!" Yun Qian said.

"Ah, isn't Brother Yun—"

"He is him, and I am me!" Yun Qian pouted her little mouth and pretended to be angry. "Don't tell me Sister Qi doesn't want my gift!"

"Of course I do," Shen Qi said helplessly.

The shopkeeper, who had been watching the show on the side, saw more and more customers gathering around and was already so happy she couldn't close her mouth.

After buying the rouge and powder, the group continued strolling along the street.

First, they headed straight for their goal, with Yun Bai leading them to buy all the items Yun Qian needed for setting up Formations.

Yun Qian and Shen Qi also bought some handmade accessories and a few beautiful hairpins from the street vendors.

Next, the three of them arrived at a Hanfu shop.

Chu Prefecture was located in the Northwest, near the border, so most people wore Hu clothing or Qi clothing.

On one hand, this was because many non-Han people traveled through, and on the other hand, it was because Hu clothing and the like were more convenient for labor and for traveling on horseback.

"Oh, the young ladies are beautiful and delicate, and the Young Master is dashing and extraordinary. Our shop has recently tailored a few new styles; would you like me to show them to you?"

Seeing that the two had simple and plain robes but possessed a temperament different from ordinary people, the shop assistant's eyes lit up as he came over to greet them.

Especially since the shop owner had specifically told him that recently the border situation was turbulent, and many important figures had come to Chu Prefecture, with the young talents of various families following them.

"Do you have any nice-looking dresses?" Yun Qian asked. "I'm picking one out for this sister beside me!"

"Yes! Of course we do!" The assistant pointed without hesitation to one of the Ru skirts in the most conspicuous position in the shop. "Look, young lady, this is a Jin-style cross-collar waist-length Ru skirt embroidered by our shop's top embroideress."

"Look at this material and this embroidery; what's embroidered on it is the lily, known as the 'Fairy of Cloud Attire.' The great Tang Dynasty poet Wang Wei once praised this lily, saying, 'The pure and clean fragrant wind blows from afar, smiling at the dew's splendor.' Young lady, you are pure and flawless, in the prime of your youth, just like this blooming lily. This dress will definitely look very suitable on you!"

The assistant was glib and articulate, as if he could describe mud as brocade, and furthermore, this dress was indeed an extremely eye-catching existence in the bustling market.

The Ru skirt's top was pure white with luxurious purple binding at the cross-collar.

The bottom skirt was primarily purple, embroidered with two blooming lilies, and the petticoat was a shade of pink, making it look delicate and cute.

Yun Bai couldn't help but take a few extra looks; such a piece of clothing could indeed be considered a boutique item in the West Market.

"It is indeed very nice." Yun Qian could no longer take her eyes off it, and she hurriedly asked, "Sister Qi, what do you think?"

"How much is it?" Shen Qi had an inkling when she saw Yun Qian's expression.

"This Ru skirt is exquisitely made and is no ordinary item; it's the only one of its kind on this West Market street. Our shopkeeper said this dress is eight hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones, no bargaining."

Yun Bai raised an eyebrow when he heard this; he hadn't expected it to be so expensive.

Eight hundred Spirit Stones were enough for some families' food and clothing expenses for a month.

Most families, whether rich or poor, basically tailored their own clothes.

There weren't many finished garments in the fabric shops, and considering different people had different body types, even if finished garments were made, they were mostly custom-made.

In this Chu Prefecture city, such a rare Ru skirt naturally wouldn't be cheap.

"So expensive?" Yun Qian's eyes widened.

The situation suddenly became awkward.