After departing from the Wang Residence, Yang Ning opted to make a brief stop at Lady Guo's boutique, conveniently located on her way back to the palace. It had been a few weeks since she attended the tea party, and after that, she hadn't had the chance to visit her boutique once because she was busy with the palace work and management.
Seizing the opportunity while outside the palace, Yang Ning was determined to take advantage of the opportunity to explore the boutique that had received numerous praises.
In the past, Yang Ning lacked the freedom to venture outside the palace at her own will. She was still accommodating to the palace rules and lacked the authority to make significant decisions. The former Empress had never bestowed upon her the power to share the burden of managing internal palace affairs. This absence of empowerment hindered Yang Ning's reputation and authority within the palace.
That's why she used to stay inside the palace, and when she went out, she did so in disguise out of fear that she might not get permission to roam around the city. She used to believe that she didn't have the power and authority to make her decisions, which left her feeling frustrated. Discover more stories at mvl
However, later she realized that if she had asked for permission from Zheng Liang, he wouldn't have rejected her and would have allowed her to go outside. It was only because she never asked for his permission before. After returning from Xinling City, their relationship improved significantly.
The trust and belief in each other had increased to the point where she began to understand him more than before.
Also, after the former Empress was exiled, His Majesty granted authority to Yang Ning to oversee the internal affairs and management of the palace. With this newfound responsibility, not only did her status improve, but she also gained the power to make independent decisions. Now, she could venture outside the palace at her discretion, as long as she was accompanied by royal guards and servants.
After the attack on their carriage, this rule became even more stringent, and no royal family member was allowed to venture outside the palace without the protection of guards and loyal servants.
***
As the royal carriage came to a halt in front of Guo Yurong's boutique, a worker who was cleaning the path outside was shocked to witness the prestigious vehicle stopping at their establishment. Xiaowei, Yang Ning's personal maid, stepped down and promptly asked the worker to inform their master that the Crown Princess had come.
Would you like to take a tour of the place first?" She asked.
Yang Ning was amazed by her description and nodded in a daze. "Yes, I would love to."
After Guo Yurong and Madam Liu accompanied her on a tour of the place, Yang Ning was left in awe. The establishment was larger than she had expected, resembling a luxurious and popular clothing brand store from the modern era. The boutique exuded an air of sophistication, much like Lady Guo, who possessed a mature and elegant demeanor.
"Princess, did you like anything? You can get anything from here," Guo Yurong said as she served tea to Yang Ning. After the tour, the three ladies returned to the main hall, where they sat at one of the tables, and the servants served them with tea and snacks.
Madam Liu encouraged Yang Ning, "Yes, Princess! It is your first time here. You should get something for yourself. Please take it as a gift from my side."
Guo Yurong frowned at Madam Liu's insistence to pay, "Madam Liu, you're insulting me. How can you speak about paying for Her Highness's gift? Since she came to my boutique for the first time, I should be the one gifting her." She then turned to Yang Ning and said, "Your Highness, please tell me what you liked. I will ask the servants to pack it for you."
Yang Ning laughed helplessly as she observed the two women arguing about who would pay for her gift. After taking a sip of tea, Yang Ning addressed Guo Yurong, "Lady Guo, there is something that I indeed liked from here, and would like to take it with me. However, I would like to pay for it myself because it will be a gift for someone special. I would like to take care of the payment."
Guo Yurong and Madam Liu exchanged glances, and upon seeing the light blush on Yang Ning's cheeks, they understood for whom she wanted to purchase the gift. Guo Yurong let out a low laugh and said, "In that case, how can we insist on gifting you? Since you want to gift someone else, it wouldn't be appropriate for us to give you."
"Tell me what you liked earlier. I will ask my servant to pack it for you," Guo Yurong asked.
Yang Ning blushed shyly and said, "When we went to the accessory room earlier, I saw a..."