One month later, it was time for the princess consorts’ tea party, and Ailuo Wen had no choice but to attend. She decided to buy a few decent outfits.
Inside the Moon God Tailor Shop.
“Miss, would you like to rent a ceremonial gown?”
The shop owner gave Ailuo Wen a look and found that she was dressed like some noble lady.
After all, she was a princess consort—she had clothes of that level.
“Princess Consort… the clothes here are very expensive. Even nobles can rarely afford them.”
Nina was worried by her side. She knew all too well the kind of financial situation this Ailuo Wen was in.
A huge courtyard with only one person living in it, and the weeds in the garden were nearly as tall as a person.
“Let me have a look at this one. Hey—Nina, do you want to try it on?”
Nina quickly waved her hands.
Seeing this, Ailuo Wen gave it a thought with her rather simple mind and smiled.
“That’s right. You’re my handmaid. We can’t dress the same.”
“As you say…”
Nina was a bit flustered. After this short period of contact, she had discovered that this princess consort was endearingly naive.
If it were as a good friend, she would be perfectly happy.
But the Inner Palace was a dangerous place. A single misstep could cost you your life.
Although Ailuo Wen’s innocence was healing to Nina, it also worried her.
“Look, this dress is really nice.”
Ailuo Wen walked out of the fitting room, and the entire shop seemed to brighten up.
Nina and the shop owner found it unbelievable. After changing into this dress, Ailuo Wen was like a completely different person.
Unlike those pampered noble girls, Ailuo Wen had grown up amidst the sounds of forging and quenching, often helping out.
Now her healthy skin, set off by the brocade gown, radiated a cool, pale light.
Two dainty little feet peeked out from beneath the hem, restlessly playing with her shoes inlaid with gold, silver, and jewels.
If not for that movement, one might have thought her feet were carved from marble—they were that fair.
“So beautiful. Miss, I always thought clothes make the person, but I never imagined the person could make the clothes look even better.”
“Boss, how much is this dress?”
Nina, though stunned, noticed all the details and the extraordinary gems studded on the dress.
It was obviously something Ailuo Wen couldn’t afford.
“This Moon Shadow Dress is our newest style. We spent a long time choosing the tailors. Many princess consorts have had custom orders.”
The boss was a businessman; when someone asked the price, he had to boast a bit to raise it.
“Consort Ailuo Wen… this must be very expensive…”
Nina knew this dress. Almost every princess consort had one, and some noble ladies who followed the trend would also buy it.
But for a girl like Ailuo Wen, who came from a blacksmith’s family, it would be difficult to even own such a dress in her lifetime.
At best, she could rent it for a day at her wedding.
The boss looked at the excited Ailuo Wen, then at Nina’s troubled face, puzzled.
“Miss, are you looking to rent? If so, this dress is currently not available for rent…”
“I’ll buy it. Also, make one for her too.”
Ailuo Wen said.
She had been in the Inner Palace for a while, and Nina was the first woman willing to chat with her.
Other maids, even the menial ones, looked down on her.
In Ailuo Wen’s straightforward mind, buying her a dress—no matter how expensive—was totally worth it.
“This… I…”
Nina wanted to say outright that she couldn’t afford this dress, but looking into Ailuo Wen’s earnest eyes, she was deeply moved.
‘This fake princess consort probably has no idea that the favored consorts casually throw gold around. This dress…’
Ailuo Wen pulled out a gold bar and placed it on the table.
“This…”
“Huh?”
The boss and Nina were both stunned.
“Miss, this you’ve taken out… it’s a gold bar, isn’t it?”
The well-traveled boss wouldn’t be mistaken; the gleaming gold bar before him was genuine.
He had just marveled that someone could order two dresses at once—such generosity.
Then he was shocked by the gold bar.
“Our shop accepts gold coins, but a gold bar this big…”
The boss hesitated for a moment, looked at the naive girl, then sighed.
He couldn’t very well send a customer to the bank to exchange gold coins, especially since he could change the bar himself.
“This Moon Shadow Dress costs five gold coins. For two, I’ll give a discount of one coin, so total nine gold coins.”
“I can’t accept that!”
Nina snapped out of her shock at the gold bar when she heard the price.
“Even if I take it, what occasion would I have to wear it?”
“If you don’t, you’re not taking this princess consort seriously.”
Nina looked at the puffed-cheek Ailuo Wen and suddenly her eyes cleared.
This Ailuo Wen was really like a child, simply wanting to show her goodwill.
But this way of showing goodwill was far too heavy—or rather, too excessive.
Yet for the childlike Ailuo Wen, it wasn’t excessive at all.
“Consort Ailuo Wen, it’s not that I’m refusing your kindness, but this dress really doesn’t suit me.”
Taking a deep breath, Nina made up her mind.
“Since you want me to be your handmaid, then please get me a maid’s uniform. The Inner Palace has its ranks and rules. Deep down, I think you are a good friend worth cherishing, but the regulations must be seen by everyone in the Inner Palace.”
Hearing this, Ailuo Wen realized she had been a bit inconsiderate, but her eyes sparkled.
Nina had formally agreed to be her handmaid.
“Fine, then order a maid’s uniform for you—the most expensive one!”
Ailuo Wen had money now, and her voice carried more confidence.
Inside her belly, Lai En watched this scene and found it both amusing and exasperating.
‘This mother of mine is way too naive. Good thing she met this Nina, or she’d be taken for a fool.’
The act of using a gold bar as currency also gave Lai En a headache.
This woman had no concept of not flashing her wealth.
Fortunately, this was a simulation. Her doing this would make those who wanted to harm her reveal themselves faster and more clearly.
‘Good thing she has me as her cheat…’
The boss was puzzled by the talk of “princess consort” and “handmaid,” but he wasn’t about to turn away business.
After measurements, the two dresses went into the custom order process.
……
A month passed in a flash, and the tea party began.
Last simulation, Ailuo Wen had been shabby. Now she wore the most fashionable gown, with the graceful Nina following behind.
Together, they stepped into the Tea Party Garden.