Chapter 296 When the Royal Makeup Artist Meets the High Priest (1)
Amytis was Nebuchadnezzar II’s wife who came from mountain areas of Media. Nebuchadnezzar II built the Hanging Gardens because Amytis missed the scenery in the mountains of her hometown. The Hanging Gardens puzzles many historians and no one knows whether it really existed.
If Lin Luoran didn’t return to the Neo-Babylonian Empire, she would probably be moved by such stories written in historical doc.u.ments. However, she never forgets the Median princess is also a cultivator of Huaxia although the princess in front of her blushed when she mentioned Nebuchadnezzar II.
The surname of the woman in Shenyi is Ji. Amytis doesn’t know the meaning of it, but Lin Luoran who comes from Huaxia cannot ignore it. In this era, the Zhou Dynasty is about to fall. The Spring and Autumn period has begun, but the royal family of Zhou is still the rightful ruler. Every one from Huaxia is familiar with names such as Ji Chang and Ji Fa. Their stories are written in The Legend of Deification. All people from Huaxia read the book when they grew up. The surname of the royal family of the Zhou Dynasty is Ji.
Why did the female cultivator who is from Zhou’s royal family come all the way here? Why did she take the Median princess as her student? Is she only after the Tower of Babel? If a prominent building like the Tower of Babel had been completed, she and Yang Lisha would have seen it before they even entered the city. Is she brought back to the time when the Tower of Babel hasn’t been built? Questions like these make her stay up all night.
“Lin, will you attend my wedding tomorrow?” Amytis also can’t fall asleep for the whole night. The woman in Shenyi never returns. The maids never dare to chat with their princess. Amytis decides to stay in the palace on the night before her wedding. She finds Lin Luoran to keep her company and talks to her.
Lin Luoran can imagine that it will be a grand wedding tomorrow, but the woman in Shenyi has restricted her personal freedom. Since both pieces of figure paper are taken away by the woman, Lin Luoran doesn’t dare to challenge her authority. She shakes her head to Amytis with regret and apology.
Amytis holds her head in her hands. Fire in the room casts glorious light on her clear face.
“My teacher only looks harsh. In fact, she is a nice person. Don’t worry. I will help you convince her.”
Lin Luoran bursts into tears. She really wants to tell the little girl that her “teacher” is probably plotting something bad! Back to the problem, should Lin Luoran attend the wedding of Babylon’s future king and queen? What does the Tower of Babel want her to do in this test? Will it be better if she a.s.similates into society in this era?
She thinks about it and still looks at Amytis as if she really wanted to attend the wedding. It feels somewhat mean to cheat the little girl.
However, Amytis is very happy. She hugs Lin Luoran and giggles. It makes Lin Luoran like her more. She and Li Xi’er have similar personalities. Lin Luoran doesn’t know what test Mr. Lin and Yuan Ye get. She only hopes they are not unlucky like her.
A group of maids pours in when it is still dark outside the palace.
They are holding flowers, satin, a dress weaved with golden thread and a belt decorated with many gems. Obviously, the procedure of tomorrow’s wedding is very complex.
Someone brought in some white viscous liquid that smells like milk. Does she use this to take a bath? Lin Luoran thinks of the words Xiao Xiaomu read to others on the bank of the Euphrates River. This is the Mesopotamia plain where milk and honey flow. It is not as barren as Lin Luoran thought.
Amytis takes a milk bath and doesn’t mind getting dressed in front of Lin Luoran afterwards. This is an unconventional era, unlike that of Huaxia. Since a certain dynasty, women in Huaxia had been asked to obey their fathers, brothers and husbands, as well as following the four virtues of women. They also had to bind their feet into about ten centimeters. If a strange man took a look at a woman’s naked ankles, the only thing she could do was suicide.
On the opposite, Amytis is an enthusiastic and open-minded girl. She is at ease when Lin Luoran sees her naked. Naked bodies of young people are supposed to be appreciated.
Lin Luoran loves to watch the maids helping Amytis put on the gorgeous long dress. They tie the belt around her waist. Two maids braid her hair into pigtails while others do her makeup. Lin Luoran is amazed by how women did makeup two thousand years ago.
There is powder in blue and black. Lin Luoran smells on it. It seems to be made from minerals. Wouldn’t it be harmful to apply the mineral powder directly to the eye sockets?
Lin Luoran remembers that there is a set of unopened high-end cosmetics that Baojia sent her a few years ago in her s.p.a.ce. Things won’t go bad easily in her s.p.a.ce, so they can still use it, right?
She takes out the cosmetics in her s.p.a.ce. The colorful glistening eyeshadow palette attracts Amytis’s eyes.
“Lin, what are these? They are so beautiful!” The eyeshadow palette in dozens of colors is definitely more beautiful than blue and black powder. Every color looks like what Amytis ever wanted. She loves it very much.
Lin Luoran coughs twice, “I think I might be able to give our princess a different bridal makeup.”
The submissive maids look at Lin Luoran in astonishment, as if she were a horrible beast that would eat people.
Lin Luoran touches her nose bashfully. This proposal is indeed a bit risky. This is a veritable royal wedding. Let alone other etiquettes, there must be some specific requirements for the queen’s makeup and dress, right?
Amytis’s eyes light up.
Lin Luoran feels she is about to lift a rock and drop it on her own toes.
……
“How do you do makeup like this?” Amytis looks at herself in the bronze mirror. Her eyelashes are very dense, but they look even denser now and look like a small fan when she blinks. Lin Luoran uses the blue powder to draw an elegant flower on Amytis’s left eyelid. Amytis doesn’t know what kind of flower this is, but she thinks it is beautiful.
She also has thick eyebrows. There aren’t any flaws after applying a thin layer of white powder on her face.
Amytis is amazed by the bridal makeup Lin Luoran gives to her. It looks different from that of Media and Babylon. It seems strange at first, but Amytis soon discovers that this strange makeup covers all her small imperfections. Her nose looks more prominent while her eyes are deep and blue. Her lips seem to be coated with honey and are smooth and shiny.
Amytis is surprised by the mysterious oriental product. Actually, Lin Luoran is also surprised that both Eastern and Western people use bronze mirrors. Because the mirror is well polished, she can see clearer than how it is described in many novels. At least, Amytis can see her face clearly in it. It is much better than looking at reflections in the water.
The maids are very nervous, which makes Lin Luoran feel stressful as well. The common stage makeup of the 21st century should be suitable for the wedding, right?
Lin Luoran puts a ruby-inlaid golden hoop on Amytis’s forehead. She is ready to be a Babylonian bride now.
The palace rings with music before dawn. The melodious sound of the piano is mixed with that of metal percussion. Amytis invites Lin Luoran to attend the wedding as a royal makeup artist.
Lin Luoran follows the sedan chair carefully. The woman surnamed Ji doesn’t show up, which makes her relieved. Amytis is dignified and beautiful and is going to be the official queen of Babylon soon. On such a formal occasion, she must hide the playfulness of the little girl inside.
Another team with a sedan chair comes towards them before they get out of the palace. Lin Luoran knows it is Nebuchadnezzar II once she sees the sweetness on Amytis’s face. His beard doesn’t cover up the fact that he is much older than Amytis. Lin Luoran has to be as well-behaved as the maids walking next to her, so she doesn’t stare at the king of Babylon directly. Instead, she looks at one side of his sedan chair.
Are people holding harps carved with bulls’ heads royal musicians? There are also people holding something like gongs, tambourines and other musical instruments she doesn’t know.
When Nebuchadnezzar II sees Amytis clearly, he is astonished. The makeup on his bride’s face is totally inconsistent with Babylon’s traditions. However, he thinks Amytis is more beautiful than she used to be after a second look.
At this time, Lin Luoran hasn’t known that Nebuchadnezzar II’s approval has officially made her a royal makeup artist instead of a temporary one.
The bride and groom do not talk after the two sedan chairs meet each other. The group of people goes towards the Ishtar Gate along the high walls of the inner city. Outside the walls, people of Babylon are cheering.
The Marduk Temple that is important to Babylon is right ahead. The avenue from Ishtar Gate to the Marduk Temple is the famous “Ceremonial Avenue” which is used for parade and religious activities during grand ceremonies.
According to Amytis, she and Nebuchadnezzar II will receive the blessing of the high priest at the Marduk Temple. Then, they will celebrate with the people of Babylon.
That’s the high priest! The female cultivator with the surname Ji hasn’t returned since she went out last night. Somehow, Lin Luoran feels a little worried.