Chapter 274: The Empress’s last morning routine.
At precisely 5:00 a.m, Empress Hui opened her eyes. Unlike other people that were awakened by normal alarm clocks, she was awakened by the sound of a violin, played by an eight time national and international award winning violinist who never thought that after years of playing on grand stages, she would end up being a walking, breathing alarm clock.
Royal attendants were already inside her bedroom, like they were always. Two were spraying imported rose mist in the room, some were opening the windows and changing the curtains.
Two maids helped the Empress out of bed and escorted her before her smart make up mirror. They stripped her and she prepared herself for the judgement of the mirror.
Everyone in the room took a deep judgemental breath as they waited for the mirror to critique her as it always did. The critiquing was followed by advise which she always took. The mirror did offer some motivational phrases that were beauty related and she repeated them for ten minutes before the next routine.
An oxygen facial mask with real gold on the edges was pasted to her face for fifteen minutes. The Empress claimed it helped her skin breathe better.
Up next was a brief yoga session for her face which she practiced with a virtual yoga teacher.
And then came the dipping of her face in a bowl of ice cold water which was followed by a parade of serums, each meant to fulfill a specific purpose.
After this was a careful selection of what make up she would wear, depending on what her itinerary held. An assistant with skin like hers sat in front of her and the make up was tried on her skin. Empress Hui made comments like the skin was her own and not that of another person.
After the choices were made, she took three baths. One in milk, one in cold water and one in floral scented warm water infused with oils and special herbs.
Next ws breakfast. If she was not dining with anyone else, she ate alone just as she did this morning. She took a few sips of the best and most expensive tea, nibbled on something and spat it out before swallowing. All the while whispering mantras about how the breakfast would not make her fat.