Chapter Seventy-One: An Unexpected Turn

“Want to give it a try?” Li Xiuning smiled faintly. “It’s barely dawn—surely you’re not suggesting I stay abed and sleep?”

Cui’er replied, “Apart from this bedding, General Chen also sent a down coat!”

As she spoke, Cui’er retrieved a padded garment from beneath the quilt and handed it to Li Xiuning.

Li Xiuning reached out to accept the bundle, only to discover it was actually an undergarment.

In ancient times, clothing followed a strict order. One first wore an inner garment, then a layer of underclothes, followed by a mid-garment, and finally an outer robe. Both the inner garment and the underclothes were what we would now call underwear—items not meant to be seen. It was considered improper even for women to appear before one another in such attire, let alone before a man.

The quality of the mid-garment and outer robe varied with one's wealth and status, and only the finest materials were used by the elite.

Realizing that Chen Ying had sent her an undergarment, Li Xiuning’s cheeks flushed crimson.

Although the Tang Dynasty was comparatively open in its views on propriety, a measure of reserve remained—especially between men and women. Sending underwear was a gesture reserved for couples or lovers; otherwise, it was considered forward and inappropriate.

Cui’er’s small face reddened in outrage. “General Chen is simply too indecent! How could he… how could he send the Princess… an undergarment!”

Li Xiuning turned and glared at Cui’er fiercely. Startled, Cui’er immediately fell silent.

Though Li Xiuning felt a trace of shyness, she did not dwell on it. Her mother, the late Empress Taemu, had passed away when Li Xiuning was only nine, before she could teach her daughter much about the ways between husband and wife. Thus, Li Xiuning had little concern for such matters.

She held the pale pink undergarment in her hands, and instead felt a warmth bloom within her heart. Since her mother’s death, her father, Li Yuan, had only ever given her bolts of cloth to sew herself. In all her life, this was the only ready-made undergarment she’d ever received as a gift.

Though she was of royal blood and never lacked for bedding and clothes, nor for wealth and possessions, Li Xiuning had never truly felt cared for in this way. Even when she was betrothed to Chai Shao, the gifts he sent were only bolts of cloth and valuables—items that might seem precious to commoners, but which meant little to her.

At present, the undergarment she wore was made of the finest white fox fur and superbly warm. Even in the bitter cold outdoors, she felt no chill.

With a gentle, happy smile, Li Xiuning regarded the pink garment. Its fabric was the best Sichuan brocade—fine, yet still a far cry from the exclusive rainbow brocade of the imperial family.

Gradually, her delicate brows knit together.

The stitches on both the undergarment and the bedding were exceedingly wide—almost two inches between each. From the standpoint of needlework, this was a disaster. Proper sewing demanded close, even stitches, nearly touching, so that the seams were invisible.

Li Xiuning thought it over. In Chen Ying’s household, there were only a few maids—Luzhu, Hongxiu, and Lan’er—none of whom were skilled in needlework. She would have to teach them someday; otherwise, presenting such shoddy work in the future would be laughable.

“Princess, do you not like this bedding?” Cui’er asked cautiously.

Her own quilt was barely a meter wide, though it too was made of fine lambskin. Still, since she was a restless sleeper, it often fell off and left her shivering in the night. This quilt was not only broader but thicker—far superior to her own.

Seeing Li Xiuning’s noncommittal nod, Cui’er quickly suggested, “Then… why not give it to your humble servant?”

Though mistress and maid in name, Li Xiuning and Cui’er were as close as sisters. Unless etiquette strictly forbade it, Cui’er’s needs were treated the same as Li Xiuning’s. Habitually, Li Xiuning was about to agree, but then remembered the quilt was a gift from Chen Ying.

“In your dreams!” Li Xiuning lightly tapped Cui’er’s forehead, scolding with a smile. “Why not have your husband provide one for you instead?”

No sooner had the words left her lips than Li Xiuning realized her slip. Fortunately, Cui’er was no outsider.

Though not entirely satisfied with the undergarment and bedding Chen Ying had sent, Li Xiuning could not disregard the thoughtfulness behind the gesture.

“Just set it aside for now. Go fetch the old armor from the storeroom. Since I’ve nothing to do, I’ll mend it. Better to keep busy than idle!” Li Xiuning’s heart inexplicably quickened.

Cui’er hurried out and returned with several battered sets of leather armor, and had extra braziers brought in. She and Li Xiuning sat together by the fire, repairing the armor.

Armor suffered heavy wear on the battlefield, whether from arrows or blades. Damaged sections had to be mended promptly, or negligence could lead to injury or death.

They hadn’t yet finished repairing a single set when Ma Sanbao burst in, brimming with excitement. “Princess, the down coat Chen gave me is so warm! It feels like wearing nothing at all, yet I’m sweating. Not a breath of wind gets through!”

Chen Ying had sent two sets of down bedding and coats to the Princess of Pingyang’s residence: a pink set for Li Xiuning herself, and a blue quilt with a black down coat for Ma Sanbao, whom he knew best.

Li Xiuning was astonished. The undergarment from Chen Ying weighed barely a kilogram—hardly heavy in the hand.

“Can it really be that warm?” she wondered aloud.

“Look, Princess—my head is sweating!” Ma Sanbao exclaimed. “This down coat is amazingly warm. Wearing it, I can ride with my sword as if I’m gliding on clouds.”

Li Xiuning was suddenly moved to try the garment herself.

After Ma Sanbao left, she quietly shed her white outer robe and pale mid-garment. As the layers slipped away, a chill ran over her skin.

She had no mind to admire her near-perfect form in the bronze mirror, and swiftly donned the undergarment.

A wave of warmth surged through her. She spun experimentally in place and immediately noticed something crucial.

The garment was neither too loose nor too tight—every dimension fit perfectly. She had never told Chen Ying her measurements, and even the finest tailor could not have fitted her so well by sight alone. The outer and mid-layers of clothing typically concealed one’s figure, unless one was especially plump or thin.

For a moment, Li Xiuning stood dazed.

Chen Ying had truly been thoughtful.

In fact, Li Xiuning misunderstood—Chen Ying had no idea of her size. The information had come from Hongxiu and Luzhu, who had attended her countless times and naturally knew her measurements.

Clad in the down undergarment, with her mid-garment thrown over it, Li Xiuning stepped out into the snow. As Ma Sanbao had said, she felt not a trace of cold, and her range of movement was completely unhindered.

“Remarkable indeed.”