The Princess’s True Face

While Lin Mo’s match was still ongoing, the other girls were earnestly pleading with Ji Xue.

“Your Highness, might I implore you to refrain from wearing makeup from now on?”

“…Your Highness,” another ventured, braving her wrath, “I too must advise you, at the risk of my life, please, no more makeup… It’s simply…”

Ji Xue burned with shame and indignation.

‘Had she truly been mistaken all these years? And why had her nanny never spoken up?’

“Ugh…” A soft, almost broken whimper escaped her tightly clenched teeth, entirely against her will.

“All of you, silence!”

‘Once she returned to the palace, she vowed to strangle that old hag of a nanny.’

‘No wonder so many people had gazed at her with such peculiar expressions before! She had always assumed they were captivated by her beauty, unable to tear their eyes away. But could it be… that they were merely mesmerized by her bizarre makeup?’

However, oblivious to her internal turmoil, the other girls seemed to have even more audacious ideas, acting as if Ji Xue’s words had simply vanished into thin air.

“She truly looks like a completely different person! Ah, Your Highness and Personal Disciple Lin share such a good relationship, yet he probably hasn’t seen her without makeup, otherwise he wouldn’t let her continue appearing like this.”

“Hey, what do you mean by that? Are you insulting the imperial family?” Ji Xue’s head snapped up. ‘Did these people not fear her? She was a Princess! Speaking this way, were they courting death?!’

Before Ji Xue could retort, another girl interjected, “Hey! What if we helped Her Highness get ready? Wouldn’t Personal Disciple Lin be utterly shocked when he returns?”

“A brilliant idea! Her Highness possesses such an enviable beauty; if we were to assist her with her makeup, we would certainly do justice to her face!”

“So, you’re saying I’ve been doing my face a disservice?! Is that what you mean?!”

“Personal Disciple Lin will definitely be astonished when he comes back!”

The girls chattered excitedly, seemingly having forgotten Ji Xue’s royal status entirely, their sole focus on how much more beautiful she could look with proper makeup.

“I am not your plaything!” Ji Xue erupted in anger, instantly rising to her feet, asserting her imperial dignity. “I am a—”

“Don’t you want to surprise Personal Disciple Lin?”

“!”

“Exactly! Don’t you want to see Personal Disciple Lin’s reaction when he sees your face?”

“!”

“Don’t you want Personal Disciple Lin to praise your beauty?”

These few questions made Ji Xue’s recently straightened posture waver slightly, striking directly at her heart.

‘She had… indeed never heard Lin Mo call her beautiful.’

‘He had never seemed to care about her appearance. If… if her face, without makeup, truly was as beautiful as everyone claimed… then what would Lin Mo’s reaction be?’

Ji Xue felt a surge of curiosity, or rather, an intensely potent one.

Ji Xue resettled onto the stool, closing her eyes with a dismissive huff, though a stubborn flush remained plastered across her cheeks. “Hmph,” she declared, her voice carefully modulated, “As a Princess, one must naturally respond to the expectations of the populace. Since you… since all of you are so eager to do this, then… then do as you please!”

—She agreed!

A chorus of tiny, suppressed cheers erupted around them, resembling a whirlwind of excited whispers that swept through the corner.

A few inner-sect female disciples, the boldest and brightest-eyed among them, practically pounced towards Ji Xue’s seat, their fingers already itching to begin.

“Rest assured, Your Highness, we’ve got this!”

“Yes, yes! We’ll ensure our Princess dazzles everyone present!”

Ji Xue felt her ears burning, yet she remained rooted to the spot, held captive by a thought named ‘Perhaps Lin Mo might find it beautiful too?’

“Your Highness’s bone structure is inherently exquisite,” a steady voice explained near her ear, imbued with a professional’s certainty. “There’s no need for heavy grease and thick powder to adorn it; that only serves to conceal your naturally fine features.”

A hint of exasperated disappointment, like ‘hating iron for not becoming steel,’ laced the voice. “That previous style was simply a waste of natural beauty! It’s fortunate Your Highness has such a good foundation; otherwise, anyone else would have become a laughingstock!”

The unspoken message conveyed by these words—’You were already beautiful; your makeup merely obscured it’—felt like a warm breeze, subtly melting the icy lump of embarrassment in Ji Xue’s heart. Her tightly pressed lips softened imperceptibly.

Someone presented a small porcelain box or jade pot, its contents clear and natural in color. The foundation was a delicate, fragrant hue, and the rouge resembled crushed rose petals, soft and tender, far superior to the lavish, intense, and mask-like powders used in the palace.

Initially, with her eyes closed, Ji Xue could only feel the cool, fine powder, imbued with a comforting subtle fragrance. It felt less like applying makeup and more like dusting away the grime from a peerless jade. The lustrous, translucent glow that had been suppressed for so long was now slowly awakening beneath the layers of thick cosmetics.

“A touch of dark jade is all that’s needed for the eyes; Your Highness’s brow peaks are already as smoky as distant mountains…” The female disciple holding the brush held her breath, carefully dipping the finest tip into the lightest indigo pigment, then delicately swept it along Ji Xue’s naturally arched brows.

There was no needless exaggeration, no deliberate lengthening or heightening; merely a subtle enhancement following the natural, flowing curve. It was like distant mountains veiled in emerald, perfectly complementing the elegant eyelids beneath, where thick, curled lashes cast a small, alluring shadow.

The brush tip danced, dipping into the petal-crushed rouge. The fingers holding it moved with astonishing skill, blending a thin layer with exquisite precision only on the high points of her full cheekbones.

Like the first blush of dawn or a single red plum blossom fallen on snow, it instantly imbued her flawless, pearly-white skin with vibrant vitality, yet without diminishing her cool, ethereal aura; instead, it enhanced her delicate liveliness.

A touch of shimmering, honey-hued balm was dabbed onto her cupid’s bow, slowly spreading. No longer the stark, intensely colored lip makeup of the past, this natural rose-pink blended seamlessly, perfectly enriching her already beautiful lip shape, making them incredibly soft, like petals kissed by spring rain.

Gradually, only faint breaths and the rustle of fabric remained. With each stroke of the brush, more disciples silently drew closer, deliberately softening their breathing, as if fearing to disturb this alchemical transformation.

Their eyes, however, grew increasingly bright. The face, gradually shedding its “armor” to reveal its true splendor, left even the most discerning gazes with nothing but pure, unadulterated astonishment.

When the final stroke was complete, the disciple holding the brush held her breath and took half a step back. The surroundings plunged into an even deeper silence.

Even the sunlight seemed to favor this face, falling gently upon it.

That face was no longer a mask of accumulated cosmetics, but a masterpiece of natural perfection.

Her skin was flawless, cool as jade, delicate and translucent. Her lightly brushed brows resembled crescent moons, and her ink-jade eyes, beneath fluttering lashes, seemed to hold the shimmering ripples of a thawing spring lake, captivating hearts without a single word.

Her full cheeks glowed with healthy vitality, and her naturally blended lip color was as dewy and soft as a rosebud holding morning dew, inviting contemplation.

Her bone structure was superior, almost to the point of extravagance.

The lines flowed seamlessly, with perfectly proportioned undulations, from her full forehead to her plump cheekbones, then to her subtly tapered jawline, transitioning as naturally as if sculpted by a divine artisan.

This fluidity and naturalness created an elegant beauty that transcended gaudiness, striking directly at the heart.

There were no deliberately sculpted lines, no contorted or artificial depictions, no single stroke of pretentious embellishment. There was only a peerless beauty, stripped of all artifice, utterly natural and divine.

A small porcelain jar slipped from someone’s hand, hitting the ground with a particularly crisp ‘clink,’ yet no one moved to retrieve it.

Every gaze was firmly fixated, as if the air had been sucked from their lungs, leaving only the thunderous drum of their own heartbeats in their ears.

Ji Xue could feel the almost solidified gazes surrounding her, the intense, almost savage astonishment rippling around her like a tangible current.

A profound shyness intertwined with a strange, unprecedented sense of satisfaction, making her even more reluctant to open her eyes.

Her long lashes trembled continuously from nervousness, and the ink-jade eyes hidden in their shadow seemed to brim with nascent starlight and apprehension, threatening to spill over.

Even Liu Ruyan couldn’t help but feel a surge of curiosity.

Although she wasn’t one to judge by appearances, beautiful things were simply irresistible for a young girl like her.

The young girl, however, wilted and sat down to the side.

Of course, besides her apprehension about Ji Xue becoming even more beautiful, the main reason was that she was too short to see over the crowd.

Thinking about how shocked and captivated Sister Wan’er would be later, she felt even more disheartened, and so she naturally remained seated until Lin Mo returned.

“A surprise?” Lin Mo’s brow furrowed slightly.

Following Liu Ruyan’s complex and evasive gaze, he saw only a human wall, unable to even glimpse the hem of Ji Xue’s robes.

‘Where was Ji Xue?’

‘What had happened?’

As Liu Ruyan’s words faded, the human wall in front slowly parted to either side, revealing a narrow passage.

Lin Mo’s gaze pierced through this brief corridor—

A young woman sat gracefully upon a stone stool.

Her head was bowed slightly, raven-wing lashes half-lowered, shadowing her lower eyes, while a remarkably natural blush, like the first hint of morning glow, graced her cheeks.

Several strands of dark hair brushed across her smooth, full forehead, tracing the fluid, naturally perfect contours of her face.

It was a face with distinct features, yet utterly devoid of harshness, imbued with a profound sense of harmony and natural charm.

Her hands were primly folded in her lap, yet her fingertips curled slightly from nervousness, her knuckles showing a faint pink.

Her lips were a healthy, soft rose-pink, dewy and pliant like a blossoming bud. Sunlight cascaded upon her, seemingly bathing her entire being in a hazy, ethereal glow.

Her crimson-jewel eyes, hidden beneath the shadow of her lashes, shimmered with a delicate, almost fragile beauty that had never before been seen on Ji Xue, yet it possessed a breathtaking, pure allure.

The rose-colored rouge still lingering on her cheeks seemed to instantly dye all exposed skin, spreading to her delicate earlobes and slender neck, her alabaster skin radiating a vibrant, alluring flush.

Aside from Ji Xue herself, who shyly clutched the hem of her skirt, and Liu Ruyan, whose shoulders slumped in defeat nearby, everyone gathered around desperately pressed their lips together, unable to fully suppress the knowing smiles that tugged at the corners of their mouths.

All eyes were glued to Lin Mo, holding their breath, anticipating the roof-raising exclamation they were certain he would utter.

After all, Ji Xue’s current appearance was more than just a mere change; it was a complete transformation.

It was not merely a meticulously applied new makeup; even a secret art for changing one’s appearance would barely achieve such a result!

This was clearly a case of shedding all artifice, revealing a rare and true countenance after completely washing away the dust that had obscured a brilliant pearl.

However, Lin Mo simply walked closer. He leaned down slightly, his gaze falling gently upon Ji Xue’s cheeks, flushed as if with wine. The curve of his lips was as natural as a spring thaw. “Your Highness, you’ve changed your makeup? It’s truly beautiful.”

His clear voice carried no hint of surprise, as if he had merely noticed her wearing a new, more becoming outfit.

!!!

In that instant, a profound silence descended.

All faces that had been waiting for a gasp, anticipating astonishment, froze.

Their smiles froze, and their eyes erupted with an astonishment ten times greater than when they had first beheld Ji Xue’s true face!

“You… you recognized me?” Ji Xue suddenly lifted her gaze, her obsidian eyes, clear as glass, brimming with disbelief as she blurted out the question on everyone’s mind—’How could he possibly recognize me?!’

“Personal Disciple Lin, how… how could you possibly recognize—”

The figure of one disciple distorted, rushing to question, “Just from that chin… I mean… from her previous, previous appearance…”

Though she abruptly cut herself off, her unspoken meaning was abundantly clear—the Ji Xue who had worn such a monstrous, earth-shattering makeup was a complete opposite to this radiant, naturally beautiful woman before them.

How could anyone recognize the same person in a single glance?!

“Exactly! It’s impossible! They’re two different people!”

“Even if my own mother stood before me, having changed her face like this, I’d still be stunned for half a day!”

Everyone snapped back from their shock, clamoring with questions, their fervent desire to uncover the truth even eclipsing their usual deference to a Princess.

“Why wouldn’t I recognize you?” A hint of almost bewildered confusion flickered across Lin Mo’s face as he scratched his head, as if they had asked a question that required no thought at all.

He leaned forward slightly, his deep eyes like a tranquil lake, clearly reflecting Ji Xue’s presently stunned face, tinged with the blush of dawn.

“A Princess is a Princess,” his voice was candid, imbued with certainty. “A Princess is a Princess; even with changed makeup, even if she appears more austere, she is still Princess Ji Xue, is she not?”

Lin Mo’s words echoed in her ears, lingering long after they were spoken.

The flutter in her heart was more intense, more fervent than ever before!

For in Lin Mo’s heart, she was simply Ji Xue.

Not whether she was a Princess.

Nor the one who had once worn grotesque cosmetics, drawing peculiar stares with her pointed face.

Nor even this stunningly beautiful maiden, whom she herself felt a slight unfamiliarity with.

She was simply “Ji Xue,” the person herself.

‘No need to be a Princess, no need to borrow imperial prestige, no need to be haughty or overbearing, no need to be exceptionally talented, or even exceptionally beautiful—someone would still notice her…’

‘Ji Xue, simply the Ji Xue he liked.’

Ji Xue felt that the most correct decision she had ever made in this life was coming to the Xuan Nv Sect and meeting this fellow.

“No, no, no, as a subject, one naturally ought to possess such discernment, to recognize me at a glance.” Ji Xue’s expression quickly recovered, though the lingering warmth on her cheeks showed no sign of fading. Her proud declaration, rather than increasing her intimidation, instead added a touch of endearing charm. “Then it’s settled—from this day forward, no matter how vast the mountains or deep the seas, you shall walk by my side! You are not permitted to leave my presence by half a step!”

At the very moment her words fell—Lin Mo’s eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly for an instant. His Adam’s apple bobbed, and his lips tightened as if pulled by invisible threads. Yet, his bright, sun-like smile swept away any hint of gloom. “Naturally, Your Royal Highness.”

“Hm?”

‘Was that a misconception?’

A flicker of doubt crossed Ji Xue’s mind, only to be instantly drowned by a more surging sweetness—

—’He must have been stunned with joy!’

‘She had, after all, made such a declaration, almost a confession, in front of everyone. He must be delighted, right?’

‘After all, this unequivocally meant they would be together forever!’