Chapter 45

45 What could her magic do? Part II

“Your Majesty...” Suddenly, Empress Dowager Wei interjected. “...Yu-er’s manner is impeccable. She’s not only skilled in every field but also wise. Aijia admired her highly.” It seemed Empress Dowager Wei took this opportunity to praise her in front of the Emperor to announce her own agenda.

“This time Yu-er and Ming-er came together to help with your royal affair. Your Majesty should not be so indifferent.”

“I know, mother. At this royal banquet, zhen will reward you all handsomely.” In the latter sentence, the Emperor turned to the three people who contributed, not just two of them that were mentioned by the Empress Dowager.

It meant that this time, her implication of tying the knot between Bai Yu and Ouyang Mingxian was not accepted or refused by Ouyang Hongxian. And so, he chose to mention all of them equally.

Hearing his words, Empress Wang then happily said “Bengong had good quality silk, exquisitely embroidered with plum blossoms. Bengong will give it to Miss Bai Yu so that she can use it for this banquet.”

“Empress is most gracious.”

“Aijia also has a high-grade fabric made from the fur of white fox. Yu-er, you take it back with you too.”

“Empress Dowager is most gracious.”

Even after talking with Bai Hua for a long while, no one among the nobles gave her rewards or praises. Instead, Bai Yu received both praises and silk in heaps and chests. In the end, what she got was not only from Empress Wang but also from Empress Dowager Wei as well. The action of these two powerful women forced Bai Yu to choose sides yet again.

.....

They continued to talk for almost one shichen before the Emperor accompanied Empress Dowager Wei back to her palace by himself. Bai Yu and her sisters left the palace together with Ouyang Mingxian who was again ordered by the Empress Dowager to see them off.

In front of the carriage were two horses ridden by the princes. Inside, there was only silence.

With weariness weighing in her heart, Bai Yu had to shut her eyes all the way back to the residence.

Bai Hua discreetly stared at Bai Yu’s face while pondering to herself all the way to the front gate.

——————–

“I want the best tailor in the capital.”

“But Miss, you don’t want to have your clothes made by the same shop that Bai family always used?”

“No. You two go and find the handiwork from every tailor shop in the capital. I want to see them all today.”

“Yes, miss.”

Bai Yu ordered her two maids while choosing silk fabrics that caught her eyes from the chest given by the Empress and Empress Dowager. It was fortunate for her that she would not have to go out to buy the fabrics herself. Still, the color of fabrics within both chests was mostly light or pastel, only a few had darker tones she liked.

Receiving an invitation to a banquet was always important for women in high society, because it was the opportunity for them to show their appearances, dress, and other accessories befitting of their social standing. And obviously, a fashionista-cum-villainess like Bai Yu would not lose to any other woman.

In this era, women wore a thin bodice, which Bai Yu did not like at all, as undergarments. Then, they wore a strapless, low-cut dress that had a full-length skirt embroidered with different patterns according to the wearer’s preference.

Apart from those was a strip of fabric tied around the chest or under the bustline to emphasize women’s natural curves. The outermost layer was a wide sleeves coat that limited movements for both elegance and a show of wealth. Finally, they would complete the look with a long shawl that would flutter with their every step.

Mostly, fabrics for these dresses would change according to the season. It was currently winter, so others would wear clothes with thick fabrics, while shawls were substituted by furs. From Bai Yu’s own observation, she noticed that women’s clothes were made in a lighter color to bring out youthfulness, and they would dress in only one color, sometimes with white mixed in. For instance, if their inner dress was pink, then the coat and bust ribbon, or the shawl would also be pink, only darker or lighter in shade.

Bai Yu was mostly satisfied by the clothes women wore in this era. However, she wanted to design a dress that was more beautiful than what already existed in order to add some variety. Another factor she had to consider was also the cold weather in winter, even though people in this world were used to the temperature already.

But before designing something new, the most important step was tailoring. She wanted someone with the best needlework, who could make the dress exactly as she wanted. Bai Yu was determined to be the star of the banquet!

Xiao Xi and Xiao Chang brought dozens of dresses from different tailor shops for Bai Yu to choose from. She examined the gatherings and stitching of each dress. Though Bai Yu was not a designer, she had plenty of experience modeling for clothing brands and had some knowledge about sewing.

“Which shop is this from?” The intricacy and meticulousness of the needlework reflected how much care was put into the work.

“It was from an anonymous master. He would accept only a few orders each month,” Xiao Chang answered. “I heard that the owner of that shop is hard to please, but has an exceptional skill. He might be a little odd, but his handiwork is superb. Nobles who want to have their clothes made with him have to rely on luck because he chooses his clients on a whim, no concern for statuses at all.”

“And whose dress is this?” Bai Yu looked at a light yellow dress in her hand.

“It is the first Furen’s. The shop made this dress as a gift for when she married into Bai mansion.”

Bai Yu nodded. “That means this master is not a young man.”

“I heard that it has been a well-known shop for a long time, miss. It seems to be a family business of a family that was quite powerful since no one can find the identity of this anonymous master.”

“Then bring me there.”

“Yes?” Xiao Xi made a confused face.

“I want that master to tailor my dress.”

——————–

“Benxiaojie came to see your master.”

“Master does not accept guests today.”

“So your master is here?”

“Um...”

“Answer.”

“Y...yes, miss.”

“Give this to your master. Tell him that benxiaojie will wait for only half a ke.”

“But master said-Yes, I will inform him right now.”

A maid at the tailor shop immediately ran upstairs. Even though she tried to follow her master’s order and refuse, the gaze from this miss was even scarier than when her master was angry.

Bai Yu knew how talented people were hard to order around. The higher their skills, the more they would play hard to get. However, the halfly designed dress that she sent with the maid should pique that anonymous man’s interest and make him more willing to work for her. As a talented person, he must like being challenged, and her design should be enough of a challenge to excite him.

Not a half a ke later, the same maid returned with a note that said ‘Explain’. The corner of her mouth lifted. He must be talking about the details of the dress she wanted him to make.

“What else did your master say?”

“Master has ordered me to ask when miss would like this dress.”

“Benxiaojie wants to wear it in the next seven days. Your master can do anything to finish it in time.”

“Then I will take your measurement, miss.”

“No need” Bai Yu responded and gave the finished design with detailed explanation of her dress, including her proportions, that the tailor would need to the maid.

“Benxiaojie will be waiting at the Bai mansion.”

Xiao Chang gave silk fabrics that they prepared for the dress to the shop’s maid, including some accessories that Bai Yu wanted him to sew into the clothes.

“T...Thank you, Miss Bai.”

This young lady, Miss Bai, took less than one ke to negotiate with her self-centered master. Furthermore, it was only conducted through pieces of paper. What an extraordinary lady.

——————–

“How did you do it, miss?”

“It’s a secret.”

Bai Yu did not pay attention to Xiao Xi who was excited by the smooth proceeding. Xiao Chang looked at her companion and wearily shook her head.

“But miss, are you really sure you want to make that dress?” Xiao Chang, who had seen the drafted design, asked.

“Why?”

“It is quite...”

“Different is not abnormal. It’s human’s thoughts that label what’s normal or abnormal.”

Xiao Chang listened to her miss and then nodded. “If it is my miss, then everything is possible.” The first miss was more beautiful and intelligent day by day, and braver too.

Suddenly, the carriage stopped in the middle of heading back to the mansion. The three women inside looked at each other in confusion. Bai Yu nodded to Xiao Xi, signaling her to draw the curtain, and asked the driver about the situation. However, when the curtain opened, they discovered that the driver had disappeared, and somehow, they were in the middle of the forest without realizing it!

“M...miss”

“What’s the name of the driver?”

“I...I don’t know.”

Bai Yu could faintly guess that she was kidnapped. It was her mistake that she was not careful about her own safety enough. She did not even remember the carriage driver’s name!