Seeing was believing. Huo Qilang finally understood why, while Consort Xue was alive, the whole nation had agreed that she was the greatest beauty under heaven. She also understood why Baozhu had admitted so forlornly that there was only one beauty in her family. It was not the daughter who had inherited their mother's world-enchanting looks, but the son.
She had spent years learning her craft in the Setting Sun Courtyard, with several blackhearted, ruthless senior disciples above her, not to mention her inhuman master, Chen Shigu. To survive, she had long since learned to be clever, agreeable, and all things to all people. Though shock had briefly robbed her of speech, she quickly forced down her astonishment and feigned composure, taking a few steps toward the bed to examine him. The two looked at each other for a moment.
As she studied him, she thought that although the Disguise Art allowed considerable freedom, and she could fashion a face without any model at all, even racking her brains would never enable her to invent a masterpiece so painstakingly sculpted by the great goddess Nüwa. The longer she looked, the more entranced she became.
The household steward was impatient by nature. Seeing her hesitate, he urgently pressed her. "Can you do it?"
Huo Qilang considered briefly, then said thoughtfully, "His Highness has grown thin from illness. If I put on fine robes, I might be able to imitate him, but I'm afraid I couldn't fool someone who shares his bed."
Silence fell around them. Li Yuanying said slowly, "You're planning to have contact with someone who shares my bed?"
Huo Qilang immediately caught on. She gave an embarrassed little cough and hastily drove all his wives and concubines out of her mind. "If I'm only strolling around outside in loose