Even though Tan Xiuying spent the whole night in the carriage, she wasn't sleepy at all. As she dug into the real Tan Xiuying's past, she found a bunch of painting tools on the desk next to the bed.
As she saw it, her left hand moved with skill. She picked the largest paper and drew a picture of a mature woman. The woman was wearing a khaki shirt and blue jeans, with her hair tied in a ponytail, looking modern and cool.
Under the picture, a few words were written: "Mareciland, Sharon Lin, 30 years old, 2035".
Since it was still early, Tan Xiuying figured her grandmother probably hadn't woken up yet. So, she decided to take her time and wait for her. Even though she wasn't feeling sleepy, she lay in bed and closed her eyes for a moment to give her body some rest. The journey, full of challenges for four days, had left her really tired.
But her brain and body seemed to be on different wavelengths; her mind just wouldn't shut off. Finally, she quickly got up and splashed some water on her face from the jug by the door. Then she did a quick tidy-up of her clothes, combed her long jet-black hair, and tied it back neatly.
After opening the door of her residence, she saw Cai Ying and Shao Liu standing outside, staring at her in a daze.
She smacked her forehead. 'Tan Xiuying, are you losing it? Have you ever seen a young miss from a wealthy family in ancient times dress and do her makeup herself? Ugh, these ancient people are so troublesome.'
Cai Ying and Shao Liu exchanged puzzled glances, then fearfully approached Tan Xiuying, trembling as they did so.
"Third Miss, you should change into a more suitable dress." Cai Ying, the older serving girl, suggested.
Tan Xiuying looked at them and wondered about their strange behavior. "Alright, go ahead and help me get dressed and groomed."
They all went back into the room, and Cai Ying and Shao Liu locked the door. The two maids skillfully helped Tan Xiuying put on her new clothes and did her makeup. They were incredibly quick and seemed like true experts at their jobs.
This time, they picked a blue silk hanfu with a stunning floral pattern. Tan Xiuying felt the smooth fabric and couldn't help but be amazed. It was incredible that even in ancient times, they could create such high-quality and beautiful clothing.
Hanfu was an ancient clothing style worn by the Han people for over 5000 years. It has evolved naturally over time, reflecting the unique style and personality of the Han culture.
This particular hanfu people were wearing today has been passed down through generations, preserving the remarkable craftsmanship and aesthetics of the Han people, including exquisite coloring, weaving, and embroidery on the hanfu cloth. It's truly a testament to the rich history and traditions of our people.
Hanfu fabrics were crafted from a variety of materials like brocade, silk, chintz, cotton, linen, hemp, lawai, and other color-dyed and printed fabrics. Each fabric was chosen based on its specific purpose.
The noble class usually wore clothing made from embroidered cloth, brocade, and silk, which added to the grandeur and beauty of their outfits.
Cai Ying and Shao Liu helped Tan Xiuying take off her old, shabby clothes. As she put on the new hanfu, Tan Xiuying started to recognize the layers of clothing she was now wearing.
At the moment, Tan Xiuying was only wearing a square piece of finely embroidered thin white silk cloth. It had four straps that could be tied together to cover her chest. The straps were tied behind her neck and back, leaving her back exposed.
She could only guess that it might be a type of bra from ancient times. To confirm her suspicion, she asked curiously, "What is this called?"
"Third Miss, this is called 'baofu,' a cloth used to cover the chest," Cai Ying said, slightly blushing. Tan Xiuying had never really asked many details about such things before, as underwear was considered a private matter in those days.
After that, they dressed her in a pair of trousers and a white top with a beautifully embroidered light blue neckline. They wrapped a dark blue wrap-around skirt around her waist and tied it with a rope. Then, they put on a blue silk hanfu outer robe with a black neckline. To complete the look, they added a long, dark blue cloth around her slender waist as a belt, leaving it intentionally long and hanging down.
During this era, the hanfu dress styles were mostly similar, featuring very wide sleeves and loose-fitting clothing made of two or three layers. The nobility, in particular, preferred using luxurious silk cloth with various patterns and motifs. This particular hanfu can be over 4 meters long, wrapped around the body, and creates a cloak-like appearance with an open cross collar.
High-status nobles also had the tradition of wearing different colors according to the season: blue or green for spring, red for summer, yellow for autumn, and black for winter. That's why Tan Xiuying was dressed in a blue hanfu this spring.
Once they finished getting dressed, Cai Ying and Shao Liu also helped with Tan Xiuying's makeup and hair. Tan Xiuying tried to catch a glimpse of herself in the large bronze mirror on her dresser.
As she looked at her reflection, she ran her hands through her hair and adjusted her clothes. Even though the hanfu didn't accentuate her curves, she couldn't help but feel that the blue outfit made her look even more elegant and graceful.
The girl in the mirror appeared young and inexperienced. She had lovely crescent-shaped eyebrows, and her eyes sparkled like spring dew. When she glanced around, she exuded a regal aura.
Her long black hair was intricately styled into an elaborate bun, partially tied at the back. Her face was covered in thick white makeup, giving her a porcelain-like complexion.
"Why does my face have to be so pale? What kind of powder did you use?" Tan Xiuying asked curiously.
Tan Xiuying noticed that noble women in the Han Dynasty mostly preferred white makeup, with flat or thin curved eyebrows and lip rouge. During the early stage of the Han Dynasty, the culture leaned towards simplicity and serenity, so the makeup and hairstyles were also kept simple. It was quite different from the later dynasties that started to embrace a wider range of makeup products and styles.
As Tan Xiuying continued to examine herself in the mirror, she couldn't help but wonder how she would adapt to this new world and its ancient customs. With a mixture of excitement and uncertainty, she realized that her journey into the Han Dynasty had just begun, and there was so much more to discover and explore.