Chapter-5: Miss Lubov In Chang’An

After indulging myself in a heaven of culinary and delicacy, I wiped my lips clean. “Heh\~Those foods are to die for!” (This original body owner must have a top notch tongue considering how she can enjoy such delicious dishes every day!) ( Now that I think of it, although I can feel what she’s felt and I know what she knew, I don’t remember everything especially the day she died...) (I’ve heard people say that a sudden death can make people forget how they died when they become ghosts. I never believed in such super-natural events until now...It’s so weird. My theory of our souls swapped between two parallel universes must be true! I’m sure I wouldn’t die just from falling off of some stairs! Her soul must be in my original body now!) (Argh...please girl, don’t mess things up for my sake there, I’ll seek justice for you and I’ll make things here right for you!) (I’m sure she too will get some of my memories and skills like I got hers or she wouldn’t survive a day in modern day!) (Phew...I just hope she wouldn’t get bullied by Lilian) (Or Lilian might end up getting bullied by an ancient Chinese martial artist!hehe.) As I was lost in my thoughts, Xiao Du calls me, “Miss, let me wash you up.Since you’ve gotten better, you should dress up and relax in the garden a little bit or you can go outside to get some air\~” She says with a smile. “Outside? Can I go outside?” I ask her. “Eh\~Miss ,what are you saying? We always go shopping whenever you feel bored,”Xiao Du answers. (I guess not all Chinese ladies are caged birds. This girl might even be free more than I was in modern day!)

“Xiao Du, we’re in Chang’an right?”I ask her for confirmation.Although I can remember the name of the city I live in, I can’t remember a thing about it.

“Aiyah! Miss\~ have you really forgotten everything?? Master is the most trusted by the emperor and a renowned general! Of course! Our house is in the capital! You’ve lived here your whole life! And people here, admire you so much! You’re a renowned beauty not only for your looks but also for your talents!” Xiao Du compliments me with pride.

“You little, you’re flattering me!” “Eh, quick! I’m so excited to go for shopping. Help me wash up and dress me up!” I order her with a smile. After washing up in a traditional wooden tub with warm water and flower petals, I was dressed up with a beautiful silk robe. And I sit infront of a bronze mirror. (Whoah\~ she’s indeed a beauty! Her skin is so fair and milky and so smooth! Unlike us,westerners, her features are so delicate and really adorable! I’m so proud I swapped my soul with such a beauty!) “Miss, do you want to put on some make-up?” Xiao Du asks me. “Sure!” I answer. In reality,I was just curious. She puts white powder that seems to be made of rice on my face and slips a red paper between my lips. She makes an expression by pressing her lips together. So I also copy her by pressing my lips together with the red paper. “Wow, it’s pigmented! But not so bold.I like this” I tell Xiao Du.

“Hehe, Miss, that’s your favorite lip colour.” Xiao Du tilts her head to watch my face with a smile and then she starts styling my hair. (Maids in ancient China are so skilled with complicated hair styles! Since normal people don’t usually cut their hair since birth,Chinese people all have super long hair. It’s not surprising how they keep their hair clean! They have such skilled helpers!) After doing my hair, Xiao Du puts a beautiful piece of hair accessory into my bun.

“This is given to you by master on your last birthday. You wear this everyday since this is not too heavy nor extravagant. This hairpin has been your favorite ever since! Do you remember this?” Xiao Du asks me.

“Yes, come to think of it, I remember that day.” This girl was loved by her father a lot and still has a biological mother. It’s so rare in this era and in this culture but I’m glad her life was different. To lose a father who loves her dearly must have been hard. And because of that,she must have been so careless of people around her due to sadness. People change. No matter how good they were at one point. They change into different people when there are circumstances. I’m sure she has been envied by her half siblings and their mother her whole life! They just didn’t show her. Now that the general is gone, they show their true colours! In that case, her mother’s life is also not safe at all!) While I was lost in my thoughts, Xiao Du finished drawing my brows.

“All done! You’re as beautiful as ever. Master would be so proud if he sees this. You shouldn’t stay in misery at least for his sake!” Xiao Du’s warm and comforting words wakes me up.

“Don’t worry, I won’t waste my life! Let’s go!” I tell her standing up and pulling her hand, stepping out of the room.

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Beautiful ancient buildings, sounds of people and animals,endless trails of carts and food stalls,exotic looking brocades hanging at the balcony of brocade shops, fragrant aroma from restaurants, hostels, handicraft shops,jewelry shops, magic shows, circus, fortune tellers, musical operas and famous tanghulu candies! All in one place. This place is the main market place of the city of Chang’an! So crowded yet feels rhythmic and fun. So many things to see! This is just like in the movies but since I’m personally here, it’s even better than in the movies! There are also a bunch of cosmetic shops! They mainly sell rouges, bracelets and hairpins. I wonder if they have any perfumes!

I drag Xiao Du to a nearby cosmetic seller, “Come, I want some perfume!”

“Come, beautiful ladies, come!” “Come take a look at my exquisite fragrant pouches and European perfumes!” The seller greets us. (My, he sure has a sharp ear! He heard that I want perfume! I need to be careful. These money hungry monsters are just like Mr.Krab!) As I approaches him, one beautiful fragrant pouch attracts my eyes. It has a beige pink colour with a pair of songbirds sewn on it. They’re so lifelike! Ancient Chinese people sure have extraordinary embroidery skills!

“Boss! How much is this?” I ask him.

“ Miss, you have a nice eye!This pouch is sewn by using the method of our household passed down for six generations! You can’t find it anywhere!” He boasts. (Sigh, this geezer..) And he continues, “ Since this will be the first sale for me today, I’ll give you a discount okay? What about 25 taels of silver?”

“Eh? What are you talking about! This would only cost at most 10 taels! Don’t try to trick us. No matter how beautiful it is,we won’t buy it!” Xiao Du then pulls my hand and tries to take me away, “Come Miss! Let’s go look around other places!The price is too high!”

As Xiao Du pulls me away, the shop keeper panics and stops us from leaving. “Miss, Miss! Please this is a handicraft unique to our family for six generations! If you want it, I’ll sell you with only 20 okay?” “No!” Xiao Du says and pulls me away a little further. The poor man shouts again, “Miss ! Please don’t go, I’ll give you with 18! No no no, I’ll give you with 15 okay!?”

“Aiyah, Xiao Du, I think his prize is reasonable. In fact ,I really want that pouch. It’s only 5 taels more than other ordinary pouches’ price!” My words makes Xiao Du stop and she pulls me back to the shopkeeper with a big grin. “Okay, boss, since you’re selling us with an honest price,my Miss likes to buy it. Pack it up for us please!” She pulls out her money bag and pay the price.(Damn, this girl! All this time, she was playing around to get it as cheap as she can! Argh! This is shameful! I’ve never complained about any price tags in my life in modern day!)( If anyone from modern day sees this Miss Lubov asking a shopkeeper to give something with a lower prize, I would become a laughing stock! Not to mention we can’t do that in Britain!)

Xiao Du happily takes the pouch and hands it to me saying, “ Miss, don’t fall for any tricks those shopkeepers play. What they say might be true but it’s better to lower their prices as much as possible! After all,it’s us who’re gonna pay! But just leave it to me when it comes to lowering prices hehe.”

“You, crafty girl! It’s not very fair for the seller!” I tell her flicking her forehead. “ Ow, Miss, it’s normal. You need to do that if you want to save money!” We laugh and talk as we leave the cosmetic shop,looking around more places,stopping by different shops.

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