Tang Dynasty Little Godfather

Chapter 117 Testing
Hongxiu did not deceive Wang Xi; it was truly the first time she had a man do her makeup.

Although she kept telling herself that this was just a class and Linglong and the others were watching, if she acted coy, it would only lead to more speculation. She should just be open and set a good example.

But when Wang Xi brought her face close to his and helped her draw her eyebrows, she couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed. She could only close her beautiful eyes and pretend to be burying her head in the sand.

Qin'er was even more nervous than Hongxiu, staring intently at Wang Xi's every move, as if she would pounce on him and fight him to the death if he made any indecent move.

But seeing Wang Xi helping Hongxiu draw her eyebrows with utmost seriousness, without the slightest hint of evil in his eyes, she thought to herself, "Could it be that I really misunderstood him?"
Then Wang Xi actually picked up a thin brush, dipped it in a little red ointment, and gently applied it to her red sleeves and lips.

Hongxiu suddenly felt an itch on her lips. She opened her eyes and was startled to see Wang Xi's face so close to hers.

"Don't move! It'll be ready soon!" Wang Xi said.

Hongxiu dared not make a move, but the shyness in her heart was hard to suppress, and her face turned as red as blood, which only made her more beautiful.

After a while, Wang Xi put down his pen and breathed a sigh of relief: "All done!"

Qin'er and the others immediately turned their heads.

Wow, so beautiful!

The junior female students all exclaimed in unison.

Hongxiu felt a little embarrassed by their stares. She looked into the bronze mirror and was stunned. She felt that she was a complete stranger to herself.

At first glance, it seems as if no makeup has been applied, and everything looks so natural. But upon closer inspection, one feels that their temperament has changed dramatically.

As if she had shed the dust of the world, she appeared so intellectual and elegant.

Isn't this the person I've always wanted to be?

For a moment, he was overjoyed.

Little did he know that this was exactly the image of a teacher in Wang Xi's mind. When he first saw Hongxiu, this image had already appeared in his mind. He had always looked forward to bringing this image into reality one day.

If he were to add a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, it would be absolutely perfect. Wang Xi couldn't help but feel a pang of regret.

"Senior brother, you must be tired. Quickly wipe your sweat."

The obedient Linglong handed Wang Xi a handkerchief.

"Thank you, junior sister."

Wang Xi took the handkerchief.

Hongxiu turned her head to look and saw that Wang Xi was covered in sweat, which showed that he had really tried his best to help her with her makeup. She couldn't help but feel guilty and thought she had misunderstood him again. She said softly, "Wang Xiaoque, thank you."

"No need to thank me, it's my honor to do your makeup. But..." Wang Xi frowned.

Hongxiu hurriedly asked, "But what?"

Wang Xi said, "However, these eyebrow pencils and lip glosses can only be used temporarily for teaching, and it's hard to last even half a day, sigh!"

Hongxiu asked, "Why did you draw for me with a brush just now?"

The word "lips" is something that people are too ashamed to say aloud.

Wang Xi said, "This is made with safflower and beeswax, not the commonly used cinnabar. Firstly, cinnabar is too bright and does not suit the teacher's temperament. Secondly, cinnabar is poisonous and long-term use is bad for the body. Please do not use cinnabar in the future."

Nowadays, cosmetics are all made with various irregular chemicals, and many of them are toxic. Wang Xi really wants to improve this aspect; he doesn't want to get poisoned just from kissing someone.

Hongxiu nodded gently. In fact, since arriving at this nameless academy, she rarely wore makeup and always went bare-faced.

Wang Xi excitedly added, "But please rest assured, teacher, I will definitely make the best eyebrow pencil, rouge, and lipstick in the world for you. Oh, and this bronze mirror is so blurry that you can't appreciate my masterpiece at all. I must make the best mirror for you."

Hongxiu didn't take it seriously, assuming Wang Xi was just bragging, and asked with a smile, "Really?"

Wang Xi replied very seriously, "I am determined to keep my word."

Hongxiu was taken aback.

At this moment, the junior sister Linglong pouted and said, "Senior brother only has eyes for the teacher."

A hint of shyness flashed in Hongxiu's eyes, and she quickly stood up and said, "Alright, alright, hurry up and let your senior brother help you draw it. The teacher can learn from the side."

Linglong asked, "I wonder if Senior Brother is willing?"

Wang Xi laughed and said, "Hurry up and sit down. Do you want your senior brother to help you sit down?"

"I wouldn't dare trouble you, senior brother."

Linglong quickly sat down.

Wang Xi couldn't help but steal a glance at Hongxiu, admiring his masterpiece. Hongxiu seemed to notice, her beautiful eyes flashing as if giving him a warning.

Wang Xi quickly composed himself and continued drawing for Linglong.

Hongxiu was also observing attentively from the side. The more she looked, the more incredible it seemed. She felt that every stroke of Wang Xi's brush was just right. It didn't seem like she was applying makeup, but rather she was depicting what a beauty should look like.

She had no doubts at all, because Wang Xi was only so old, and even if he really practiced, he couldn't possibly have as much experience as her.

But she knew her makeup skills were nowhere near as good as his.

This can perhaps only be described as talent.

"All right!"

"So fast?"

Linglong said, "You just drew so much for the teacher!"

Halfway through her sentence, Linglong suddenly stared at herself in the mirror, her eyes filled with shock.

The innocent and lively girl seemed to have grown into a charming and mature woman overnight, and she couldn't help but cover her mouth.

Qin'er couldn't help but exclaim, "This is truly amazing!"

"My turn, my turn!"

The junior sisters, including Qingzhi, immediately started scrambling for it, not giving Linglong a chance to say thank you before pushing her aside.

"I haven't had a good look yet."

Linglong muttered something, then squeezed in again, looking at herself in the mirror with secret delight, and affectionately linked arms with Hongxiu, "Teacher, when your senior brother gives you the best mirror in the world, can Linglong also take a look?"

Hongxiu said, amused and exasperated, "You believe his nonsense."

Linglong said, "Senior brother would never lie."

Wang Xi said, "Junior Sister Linglong, just because of what you said, I'll put on some makeup for you later, and I guarantee you won't recognize yourself again."

"really?"

"Senior brother, we also believe you wouldn't lie to us."

The other junior sisters echoed in unison.

Upon seeing this, Hongxiu chuckled and shook her head slightly, thinking to herself, "It seems that I am no longer in charge here."

While Wang Xi was getting along well with his junior sisters, his father, Wang Shouyi, was in the Imperial Clothing Department designing clothes for them.

"Master Cao, can this garment be made?"

Wang Shouyi, holding Wang Xi's design drawings, asked Cao Zhuyi, who was in charge of clothing manufacturing, a question.

"Master of the Robes" is an official title, which actually means "Imperial Robe Master." After examining it carefully, Master Cao nodded and said, "It should be possible to make it. It's even simpler than those stockings from last time. However, we might need to consider the materials used."

The Palace Secretariat represented the highest level of textile technology in the Tang Dynasty. As long as they were given specific blueprints, they would definitely be able to weave it.

Wang Shouyi said, "Just tell me what you need, and you'd better hurry."

"Yes."

Just then, a servant came to the door to announce, "Reporting to Duke Qi, Imperial Censor Yuwen requests an audience."

Wang Shouyi raised his eyebrows, seemingly unsurprised, and said, "Have him wait in the hall for a moment, I'll be right there."

"Yes."

After a short while, Wang Shouyi arrived at the hall.

"I apologize for disturbing you, Duke Qi."

Yuwen Rong immediately stood up, cupped his hands, and said.

Wang Shouyi laughed and said, "Imperial Censor Yuwen is too kind. In fact, if His Majesty does not travel, there is not much for my Palace Secretariat to do."

“I know that.” Yuwen Rong nodded, then added, “But doesn’t the Duke of Qi also control the Anye Bureau?”

Wang Shouyi said, "Oh, so that's why Imperial Censor Yuwen came."

Yuwen Rong hurriedly said, "Please forgive me, Duke Qi. His Majesty ordered me to oversee this matter, but I noticed that you have not taken any action, so I came to inquire about it."

Wang Shouyi glanced outside, and seeing that no one was around, he whispered, "This matter was suggested by Imperial Censor Yuwen. I can only offer some assistance at most. The specific details still need to be led by Imperial Censor Yuwen!"

Yuwen Rong quickly replied, "Duke Qi is too modest."

"This is not modesty."

Wang Shouyi said, “Imperial Censor Yuwen, you must not place your hopes on Anye Bureau. According to Anye Bureau’s responsibilities, we are only responsible for assisting those hidden households to return to their registered residence. As for how to settle their land and household registration issues, these are none of our Anye Bureau’s business.”

Yuwen Rong hurriedly replied, "Settling down and developing a livelihood naturally includes settling down and developing land."

Wang Shouyi said, "The Anye Bureau has no such power. The land and household registration belong to the Ministry of Revenue."

After saying that, he laughed and said, "I'm not afraid that Imperial Censor Yuwen will laugh at me. If I were really asked to manage such a big matter, I wouldn't be able to handle it. This matter needs to be handled by Imperial Censor Yuwen himself."

Yuwen Rong hurriedly replied, "Duke Qi, you jest! I am but a lowly censor!"

Wang Shouyi said, "Imperial Censor Yuwen, do not be modest. I, Wang Shouyi, dare to declare here today that this matter belongs to Imperial Censor Yuwen alone. No one can take it away from us, and no one dares to take it away from us."

Upon hearing this, Yuwen Rong was secretly pleased, but said aloud, "I dare not accept such praise."

He didn't think Wang Shouyi was flattering him; it was the truth. The issue of hidden households and land wasn't a recent development; it had always existed and was getting worse. Yet, neither Yao Chong nor Song Jing had bothered to address it.

This clearly demonstrates the stakes involved.

He was the one who first brought it up, and he also believed that we should confront this problem head-on.

Wang Shouyi said, "If Imperial Censor Yuwen has any requests, please just give them."

"Don't dare! Don't dare!"

Yuwen Rong hurriedly said, "This humble official only came to inquire. If Duke Qi continues to speak like this, this humble official will never dare to come again."

Wang Shouyi said, "We are both trying to share His Majesty's burdens. If Imperial Censor Yuwen keeps things to himself, and I make a mistake, it won't be good for anyone!"

"That's true!"

Yuwen Rong nodded and then asked, "But I wonder what the Duke of Qi intends to do?"

Wang Shouyi sighed, "This is what I'm thinking. Anyway, Wuming Academy has to do good deeds, so let them do it."

"what?"

Yuwen Rong was dumbfounded. It turned out that you hadn't made any moves at all, just waiting for the Nameless Academy.

Wang Shouyi asked, "Does Imperial Censor Yuwen perhaps find this inappropriate?"

Yuwen Rong hesitated for a long time before saying, "After all, the Nameless Academy is doing good deeds, while the Anye Bureau is ordered to settle hidden households. There is still a big difference between the two."

Wang Shouyi said, "But actually there's no difference. It's just helping those hidden households. I can't do more than that. I'm not seeking merit, but only avoiding mistakes."

Yuwen Rong nodded. "I see."

Wang Shouyi then asked, "What does Imperial Censor Yuwen think?"

Yuwen Rong hesitated and said, "This is a matter for your Anye Bureau. Since the Duke of Qi has already made his decision, then I have no objection."

The two chatted for a while longer before Yuwen Rong left.

Upon leaving the palace, Yuwen Rong frowned, thinking, "Could it be that I overestimated the Duke of Qi? If they had no ambition, why would they want to take on this job? Or is there some other secret behind this?"
He came here today to test Wang Shouyi, to see if Wang Shouyi was ambitious and wanted to take his job.

However, he was quite satisfied with Wang Shouyi's performance, but being a cautious person, he felt he needed to observe him further.

noon.

As soon as Huangfu Shangde left the imperial city, his eyes were fixed on a carriage. He immediately walked over and got into the carriage.

Wang Shouyi was sitting inside. Huangfu Shangde asked, "Brother Wang, what brings you here?"

Wang Shouyi first instructed the groom to go home, and then said to Huangfu Shangde, "Yuwen Rong came to see me today."

Huangfu Shangde exclaimed with delight, "He's finally here!"

Wang Shouyi laughed and said, "If he hadn't come, I wouldn't have dared to touch Anye Bureau, lest he think we came to seize power. Now we can proceed according to plan."

Huangfu Shangde nodded. "I'll tell Monk Nian when I get back."

Having experienced several coups, their assessment of risks was quite accurate.

Wang Shouyi suddenly seemed to remember something, "Oh right, there's something I need to tell you first."

Huangfu Shangde asked, "What is it?"

Wang Shouyi said, "The princess advised me to also give up the land and return it to the court."

"what?"

Huangfu Shangde immediately looked around and said, "This is unnecessary. Everyone has occupied this land, and there's no talk of giving it up."

Wang Shouyi said, "That's what I said too, but the princess thinks this is the fairest way."

Huangfu Shangde frowned; he certainly knew what "fairness" meant.

Wang Shouyi added, "I'm not advising you to take it out too, I'm just letting you know."

Huangfu Shangde sighed, "Since you've already taken it out, I definitely have to take it out too, otherwise, what will His Majesty think?"

Wang Shouyi said, "Actually, I don't want to either!"

"I know."

Huangfu Shangde waved his hand and said, "Actually, what the princess said makes sense. This is fair. Even if we lose some land, we won't starve."

(End of this chapter)