Chapter 3: Highlighting Beauty

The sunlight shimmered like gold, and the sky was a beautiful azure with graceful clouds.

In the Prime Minister's manor, within a pink-hued boudoir. A woman dressed in white inner garments sat quietly before a mirror, allowing the maid behind her to arrange her hair. Her plain face showed not a trace of expression, but the fleeting glint in her eyes revealed her extraordinary nature.

Three days. This was the third day since she had woken up again! Taking advantage of these past few days of being bedridden, she had figured everything out about this place. Just as she had thought, she had transmigrated, and into an unknown dynasty! Her current name was Meng Juese, the second miss of the Meng family, and the most beloved daughter of Prime Minister Meng.

Meng Juese scrutinized the face in the mirror closely, her brows furrowing slightly. In her memories, this face was not particularly beautiful, but she had never imagined it would be quite this unsightly. At this moment, on the left side of the woman in the mirror, a red mark the size of a palm spread across her face.

She let out a soft sigh. She hadn't expected that after being so prominent in her previous life, she would transmigrate into the body of an ugly woman—and that she would have lost her chastity immediately upon arriving. She naturally knew the importance of chastity for women in ancient times; she dared not imagine what the consequences would be if the events of that night were exposed. Thinking back to that night, Meng Juese's eyes flickered. She had clearly been drugged with an aphrodisiac that night. To be drugged at an imperial palace banquet... perhaps it was only...

A delicate silhouette flashed through her mind, and a trace of coldness rose in Meng Juese's eyes. Her "dear younger sister," Meng Juemei, seemed to treat her quite well indeed!

Chun'er stood behind Juese, combing her hair, not noticing her abnormality today at all. She simply kept talking, "The imperial physicians in the palace are truly capable; your wound is finally healed, Miss. Otherwise, I'm afraid you wouldn't be able to go out and play today. Miss, where are we going to play today? To Chunxiang Pavilion? Or Menghuan Pavilion?"

"Oh, right, Miss, did you know? I heard that a new male escort arrived at Chunxiang Pavilion two days ago. He is incredibly handsome, not losing at all to Young Master Hua Rong of Menghuan Pavilion. Do you want to go take a look?"

"And also—that—"

Hearing Chun'er speak like this, Meng Juese couldn't help but frown slightly. By all rights, women in ancient times should be confined to their homes, never stepping foot outside, yet this body was the exact opposite, spending all day lingering in those places of pleasure until she became notorious. Meng Juese gave a bitter smile; what kind of rotten body had she stumbled into!

"Miss, Miss, are you even listening to me?" Seeing Meng Juese lost in thought, Chun'er felt a bit discouraged.

Juese snapped back to her senses and realized that Chun'er had finished her styling. However, it was better not to look; once she did, she was even more stunned.

Originally, there was already a red mark on her face, but now, Chun'er had applied makeup so white, and her hair was stuffed with so many hairpins. Those glittering gold ornaments made her look so vulgar it would provoke the wrath of gods and men! Looking at this appearance, Meng Juese's brow furrowed slightly. "Take off all these complicated hairpins. They are too heavy."

"Miss, haven't you always liked these? Didn't you say these hairpins could highlight your beauty?" Chun'er spoke with some astonishment. "Besides, Chun'er thinks you look quite good like this. These are the pieces you spent a fortune on, Miss!"

Good looking? Juese raised an eyebrow. A face made to look like a pig's head was considered good looking? That's right, she remembered now; this maid of hers didn't seem quite simple. Under her instigation, the previous Meng Juese had worn this makeup every day to meet people. The "good reputation" she had now truly owed much to Chun'er's efforts!

Lifting her head, Meng Juese looked directly into Chun'er's eyes. As expected, she saw traces of panic in them, even though they were well-suppressed.

"Miss, you... why are you looking at Chun'er like that?" Sensing her gaze, Chun'er actually shuddered. "If you don't like it, then this servant will change your outfit. Didn't you snatch a set of jewelry from Miss Li a few days ago? You've been sick for so long that you haven't had a chance to wear them."

"No need. Just leave one hairpin; take everything else off," Meng Juese said, pointing to a single hairpin.

"Miss, that won't look good," Chun'er said after a brief pause. They were supposed to go out today, and she had been ordered to dress Meng Juese quite "grandly."

Meng Juese naturally perceived Chun'er's little scheme and let out a cold laugh. Who was she? In her previous life, she had struggled in the entertainment industry for over ten years, eventually climbing from a small supporting role to the position of Best Actress. Her acting skills were naturally beyond question. Chun'er was just a little girl; how could such petty tricks escape her eyes? The corners of her lips curled, and a chill rose in her eyes as she thought to herself: *Meng Juese, oh Meng Juese, you really are incredibly stupid! Look at the kind of person you've been keeping by your side!*

Lowering her eyelids, Meng Juese directly tore off all the jewelry, and the complex hairstyle she had originally had was also messed up. "What? You won't even listen to my words now? Look around this manor and see who the master actually is. If you don't want to work, get lost early!"

Chun'er, who had been somewhat dissatisfied, suddenly shuddered upon hearing these words. How could she have forgotten? Although this second miss was stupid, she was narrow-minded and her methods were incredibly vicious. If she offended her, she likely wouldn't have a good end! But, she had always dressed her this way every day, why today... Recalling the way Meng Juese had looked at her just now, Chun'er shuddered, hoping she hadn't discovered anything.

After removing the jewelry, following Meng Juese's request, Chun'er styled her hair into a simple bun. Afterward, Juese walked to the side, wiped her face, and applied a simple layer of makeup herself. Although the red mark on her face could not be removed, under her deliberate concealment, it actually faded by fifty or sixty percent, no longer looking as terrifying and hideous as before.

Dressed in simple, plain clothes with her hair held up by only a single hairpin, having shed the usual gaudiness, Meng Juese at this moment seemed to possess a bit more temperament. Chun'er rubbed her eyes in disbelief from the side. How was this possible? How could this habitually vulgar and graceless second miss have turned into a completely different person?

"Miss, these—these were all your favorites..." Chun'er was still unwilling to give up. She looked at Meng Juese and spoke with some concern, "Miss, could it be that you are feeling unwell?"

Juese turned her head and gave her a faint glance. With just that one look, Chun'er lowered her head and spoke no more. It was only after a long while that she murmured, "Then, Miss, regarding Chunxiang Pavilion and Menghuan Pavilion... where do you wish to go? A new male escort arrived at Chunxiang Pavilion, and today happens to be the day of his once-a-month appearance. However, there is a competition at Menghuan Pavilion today; it seems you promised Miss Li a month ago that you would attend."

Hearing this, Juese's brow twitched slightly. She finally vaguely remembered that there really was such a matter. "Then let's go to Menghuan Pavilion."

Upon hearing this, Chun'er's face lit up with joy, and even her voice rose a few degrees. "Then this servant will go and prepare for you, Miss."

Meng Juese gave her an imperceptible glance, her lips curling coldly. A competition of acting? Then let's try it and see who can outdo whom! Now that she had occupied Meng Juese's body, she would live a good life in her place from now on!