Chapter 18: Masquerade ball (2):

Li Tian You POV:

Before long it was already August 3 the day of the masquerade ball. Here goes nothing "Announcing Prince Tian You and his partner Miss Shang Gu, Tian Yao Junzhu and her partner Mister Rong Ping," A voice shouted

At the ball, there was no one married apart from the emperor, so it was like a blind date ceremony. As both pairs walk in eyes shine in brightness as they admired the view, and it seems that they both have gone for a couple of hanfu. Rong Ping and Tian Yao's hanfu consist of a white long robe with a black collar embroiled with wind symbols at the bottom of their Hanfu were inky drawings that gave a sense of art. Tian Yao was holding a poem book in her hand and Rong Ping was holding a fan with poems written on it. Their hair was tied up in a ponytail and Tian Yao had a white ribbon wrapped around it, their face was covered with a masquerade mask one side white and one side black.

A pic I used as a reference :

https://www.fashionhanfu.com/chinese-ancient-clothing-men-women/

Our costume was somewhat similar Shang Gu had her hair tied up in a normal half bun with a little white peony flower perching on the side. Her Hanfu was white on the top and light blue at the bottom with little drawings of flowers embroiled her waist belt had little flowers on it. She was holding a light blue umbrella that was enhanced with space cultivation just in case something happens. My hair was tied in a half ponytail with a white ribbon holding it together the outline of my hanfu had a silky black background embroiled with little flowers. On the bottom of my hanfu were also flower embroideries. I was also holding a fan which when opens up shows a drawing of a couple standing underneath a cherry blossom with a love poem*(1) Our eyes were covered with a light blue masquerade mask for Shang Gu and a darker shade of blue for me.

My pic reference:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002454994187.html

" Wow not bad," express Shang Guan Tao as he walked towards us beside him was his partner Chong Xue Zhi*(2) They were wearing matching white hanfu with embroidery in the middle. Shang Guan Tao's hanfu was being tied together with a light blue silk waist belt and the outline of his clothes was also of this material. His hair was tied in a ponytail, with a white mask on. His hand was holding a fan. Chong Xue Zhi was surprisingly not wearing red but was matching Shang Guan Tao. The top half of her hanfu was light blue and the bottom while was holding a little fan. Her hair was in a half-bun with her fathers on the side. She was also wearing a white mask.

My pic reference :

https://daydaynews.cc/en/constellation/494116.html (Picture a)

" I wouldn't have recognised you two if it isn't for your voice. What are you guys doing here? I don't see your brother?" I asked " Father wanted somebody to represent Shang Guan household and elder brother isn't going so I've to go," he replied, " you don't seem sad?" I laugh alongside him "This is?" he asked whilst pointing to Rong Ping. " This is Rong Ping, the famous merchant, Rong Xia's didi," I replied " Rong Ping this is Shang Guan Tao, the second son of the imperial astronomer Shang Guan Yu," Greetings were made as I introduced Rong Ping to everyone who came to greet me.

" Shang Guan Tao, who is the one in a blue dress standing alone ?" I asked " oh you missed a great show. That's the third princess Chui Yeung, it was quite a commotion when she came in. Men's eyes filled with lust whilst women filled with hate and jealousy. The gossip of tonight seems that she wants to seduce someone..." he replied. Speak of the devil she looked over my direction and gave me a seductive smile " Disgusting," I muttered

*

*

I removed myself from the crowd and headed towards the balcony with Shang Gu following closely "uh I finally got away," I moaned to Shang Gu. ' Looks like I haven't as I heard someone shouting for me to come for a dance. Such a depressing day. Why did I even want to come? '

*Flashback:

" No, I will not go!" I shouted, currently we were in the father's office having a very heated discussion on whether I go to the ball or not. "I'm not your puppet stop controlling me, "I screamed "I'm your father. I have every right to control you," He whispered " Father?" I retorted " My father died alongside my mother. Don't you dare believe that just because I call you father doesn't mean I have forgiven you, If it wasn't for you fooling around outside and having a child, mother would never have gotten depression and died. On the day you brought your concubine back, my father already died,.....".

*End of flashback

'After that, I stormed out not the best decision I suppose. I still came though, for the compromise of having all of the mother shops in her dowry put under my name. Mother whatever happens I will make sure to snatch those shops under that wretched woman back, leave it for Tian An's dowry just like you stated in your diary.'

" Come Shang Gu let's have a dance," I quoted I held her hand leading it to the middle of the ballroom and started a slow tango. "Wait the question comes back why did you agree to be my partner?" I asked " To be honest I want to have a dance after tonight I will let my feeling for you go," she replied my eyes glistened as I thank her again.

'

Glossary:

1. Most fans would have poems written on them or words with special meanings.

2. Chong Xue Zhi Chong Xuezhi, the young mistress of the Hall of Flames, Jiang Hu organisation that does business with the government on making weapons. ( Author is being sneaky here, I did take these two characters from And the winner is love but the storyline has nothing to do with that c drama)