"Authentic for who exactly? No one had ever laid eyes on Peng Xiu outside of her maidservants. As for her hidden mercenaries no one would pay attention to that area," replied the Divine Emperor his throbbing veins almost bursting. Xiang Yu was quite dissatisfied. He tried to arch his back but dang there was nothing at all. They weren’t even the size of a date.
"Old man, you are so heartless," he mumbled but his holiness merely shrugged, ignoring him as if the matter was irrelevant. Xiang Yu turned his attention to the twin sisters who were standing there just staring at him with wary expressions.
"Does it look good?... What? It’s still me," he said, trying to reassure them. But the twins’ eyes were filled with fear and resentment, memories of Peng Xiu’s actions still fresh in their minds.
Seeing their distress, Xiang Yu turned back to the Divine Emperor asking him for help. "Can you make them be the only ones to see my original appearance? I don’t want to scare them."
The Divine Emperor sighed, clearly exasperated. "You ask for too much," he muttered, but with another wave of his hand, he granted Xiang Yu’s request.
Lian and Mei’s vigilant eyes relaxed as they saw Xiang Yu’s true form overlaying his new one. Lian stepped forward cautiously. "Master, don’t scare us like that again," she pleaded. She was having flashbacks from that night of terror.
Mei let out a sigh of relief, her tense shoulders relaxing. "Master, you shouldn’t do that again," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
Xiang Yu smiled softly at the sisters, feeling a sense of peace. "Don’t worry. What you will see is me but others will see me as Peng Xiu. Now, hurry up and find a dress for me. Find something ugly." He knew that this man must have prepared a lot of dresses for his beloved. They were most likely expensive and gorgeous. It was all just to impress her but of course, she didn’t appreciate it.
The twins seemed to have a drastic shift in mood. They rushed to the separate side of the tent. They found a treasure chest at the foot of a comfortable-looking bed draped with luxurious linens. The chest was ornately carved and brimming with vibrant fabrics. Soon the bed was covered with colourful and lavish outfits and coats.
Lian’s eyes sparkled as she pulled out a peach-coloured outfit, its delicate flower embroidery catching the light. "This one is perfect for Master," she declared, holding it up for Mei to see.
Mei, however, had her heart set on a green one. Its rich hue was just like the lush forests they often hiked with master. "No, this one suits him better," she argued, her voice firm.
As always, their differing opinions led to a heated debate, their voices rising and falling like the waves of a stormy sea. Xiang Yu expected it but that was one fight he wasn’t going to intervene in unless they started throwing paws at each other. As expected, they put him on the spot and asked him to choose.
He was absently weighing oranges in his hands, his thoughts unknown. When the twins presented the peach and green dresses, he barely glanced at them before shaking his head. "I don’t like those colours," he said, his tone dismissive. "Find something black."
Undeterred, Lian and Mei tried to persuade him, their voices taking on the persuasive tones like seasoned car salesmen. But Xiang Yu remained stubborn, his focus still on the oranges. "You two know me better than anyone. I still want a black one and being disguised as a woman doesn’t change that." The twins who thought they could take a chance drooped their heads before going back.
They returned with a black outfit adorned with a gold belt. They laid the clothes on a folding screen, the fabric shimmering in the dim light. As they turned to leave to give their master some privacy, Xiang Yu’s gaze fell on a small piece of clothing they had left behind.
"Um, girls, what is this?" he asked, his finger pinching the corner of the cloth.
The twins giggled, exchanging amused glances. Who was going to tell him that was an undergarment? "It’s a dudou, Master," Lian explained, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "An undergarment for women."
Xiang Yu, "???" What in the hell did he get himself into? It was all fun and games until he saw how many layers of fabric women had to wear. There was no way he would be able to figure this shit by himself. Lian was very helpful. Like a flight attendant, she calmly demonstrated where what goes on first and how to put it on. Mei was laughing the entire time her face red.
He had always left the matter of the twins’ clothing to Dan Dan and her mother ever since they were babies thus he was truly puzzled. When they were all grown up he just paid for whatever clothes they wanted and never paid attention. He had never involved himself in such details and had no idea what a dudou was. After a fast tutorial he waved them out and the two girls stood outside their faces brimming with anticipation but soon ten minutes turned to fifteen minutes then thirty.
"Master, are you okay in there" asked Mei while Lian chuckled. This was the very definition of finding pleasure in someone else’s misery.
"Give me a minute," he said while grunting like he was fighting spirits and demons in there. "How the hell do you tie this? Damn it."
"Master, you tie it tight so it won’t fall apart," said Lian sounding ever so helpful.
"That is very helpful Lian," he said his tone sarcastic but Lian didn’t notice. She smiled pridefully with Mei looking at her like she was looking at an idiot.
When they were finally let back in, what greeted them was not the pristine figure they had envisioned, but a captivating sight nonetheless. Xiang Yu had worn the outfit but it was slightly askew. Despite the imperfections it showcased the elegance of his form.
The silk garment hung loosely, slightly dishevelled, yet the way it draped over his shoulders accentuated his physique in a way that made the twins squirm with excitement. "Oh, Master," Lian breathed, her voice a mixture of awe and mischief. "You look... stunning like a pretty princess."
"Can we do your hair?" Mei chimed in, her eyes sparkling with delight. The twins had always loved styling their master’s hair, and today was no exception. This time they would push the limit and make him pretty.
Xiang Yu who had just fought with the outfit didn’t have the strength to put up a fight. "Go ahead. Don’t make it too perfect. I need to look like I was kidnapped not pampered."
With his permission, the twins sprang into action, their hands deftly moving through Xiang Yu’s hair. Lian brushed it out with careful strokes, her fingers gliding through the strands, while Mei rummaged through a small pouch, producing a delicate hairpin that shimmered in the lanterns’ glow.
"Hold still!" Lian commanded playfully, her brow furrowing in concentration as she twisted a section of Xiang Yu’s hair and fastened it with the pin.
Mei, meanwhile, had taken to applying a soft rouge to his cheeks, a playful touch that made Xiang Yu regret it. "You two are getting carried away," he said, but the warmth in his tone betrayed his true feelings.
"Just wait until we are done!" Mei insisted, her smile infectious. "We will turn you into a distressed beauty.