After the awkward borrowing of money came to an end, and right as Ye Ziji tucked away the bag of gold coins and gems, the elegant, rhythmic *clack-clack-clack* of hooves echoed down from the stairs.
The previous farce—filled with tension and dramatic twists—had finally come to an end, returning them to their original business.
Rarity, completely oblivious to everything that had transpired downstairs, was happily making her way down from the second floor.
She didn’t carry anything with her hooves.
Instead, her horn glowed with a faint light, using magic to levitate her merchandise down one piece at a time.
Several deep purple velvet curtains wound through the air like living things, a few hand-woven tapestries with intricate patterns slowly unfurled, and two plush, soft mattresses floated weightlessly, followed by several pillows embroidered with black silk thread and a few neatly folded blankets.
Next, using the magical aura at the tip of her horn, she cleared away the scraps of fabric on her workbench and elegantly arranged the goods upon it one by one.
Each item was positioned at the perfect angle to display its charm, instantly transforming the entire tabletop into an exquisite home decor exhibition.
“Look at these, darling!”
Rarity looked at her masterpiece with satisfaction, a confident smile gracing her face.
Turning to Ye Ziji, she asked, “These designs are my absolute latest, representing the pinnacle of fashion in Equestria! Are they enough?”
Nearby, Twilight Sparkle watched with crossed forelegs, her expression filled with confusion.
The frustration in her heart hadn’t fully dissipated, but it was now replaced by an even stronger bewilderment.
What on earth was Ye Ziji trying to do?
Buying so many household goods?
Did he plan on making a home somewhere in the Everfree Forest?
But Nightmare Moon had just returned!
It made absolutely no sense!
Ye Ziji’s gaze calmly swept over the exquisite goods on the table.
He had to admit that Rarity’s taste was impeccable.
Any single one of these items would make an excellent decoration, capable of greatly improving one’s quality of life.
However, while these might be more than enough to decorate a single room, they were barely a drop in the bucket for an entire castle.
Even so, he was in no hurry.
*If I furnish the entire castle all at once, it’ll make me look too deliberate and impatient.
And of course, the most important thing is that I don’t have that much money…* he calculated in his mind.
*Better to take these back first and see how Her Majesty reacts.
If she likes this style, it won’t be too late to come back for more.*
Having reached a decision, a satisfied, gentle smile appeared on his face.
“Exquisite, Miss Rarity.”
He offered his heartfelt praise, then nodded and said in a brisk, decisive tone, “These will do. If you would be so kind as to wrap them up for me.”
Upon receiving her customer’s approval, an incredibly bright smile bloomed on Rarity’s face.
She nodded happily and began her favorite part of the process—packaging.
To sell the fruits of her artistic labor was, in itself, a validation of her talent and worth.
The tip of her horn glowed with a soft, magical aura.
Sheet after sheet of light-purple wrapping paper, stamped with her Cutie Mark, flew up on their own, tightly enveloping the velvet curtains, handmade tapestries, and other items.
Then, silver ribbons wound around the packages like living snakes, tying themselves into flawless bows.
The entire process was as smooth as flowing water, rich with artistic grace.
Clearly, to Rarity, packaging was an art form in its own right.
As he waited, Ye Ziji idly looked around the boutique.
His gaze was suddenly drawn to an unusual sight in a corner of the shop.
There sat a large package carefully wrapped in deep blue silk.
The silk seemed to be embroidered with intricate patterns in a special, light-absorbing thread.
But just a moment ago, a faint, starlike shimmer had flashed through a gap in the wrapping.
This piqued his curiosity immensely.
He slowly walked over and found that although the package was wrapped with extreme care, it had been left all alone in an inconspicuous corner.
A pile of recently used fabrics lay stacked on top of it, making it look forgotten.
“Oh, darling, you’ve noticed that.”
Rarity noticed Ye Ziji’s actions.
She stopped her packaging and walked over.
The excitement on her face had vanished, replaced by a complex expression—a mix of pride and profound regret.
“Allow me to show you my most magnificent creation to date.”
With her magic, she gently untied the ribbon on the package.
The deep blue silk slid away slowly, revealing the treasure within.
In an instant, the entire boutique seemed to dim, as if all the light in the room was being drawn toward this single object.
It was a three-piece bedding set. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
But it was indescribably exquisite, gorgeous, and radiant.
The fabric of the mattress cover was a deep, midnight-sky color, embroidered with ultra-fine, shimmering silver threads that depicted a flowing, lifelike galaxy.
The blanket was woven from an unknown, incredibly delicate fiber, its borders adorned with countless tiny diamonds like stardust, refracting a dreamlike glow under the light.
And the pillow was meticulously embroidered in its center with moonlight-colored silk, depicting a gentle crescent moon surrounded by brilliant stars.
Ye Ziji’s pupils constricted sharply in that moment.
*Beautiful…*
“This… this was originally meant to be a gift for Her Royal Highness after the Summer Sun Celebration,” Rarity’s voice was filled with an unmaskable disappointment as she continued.
“I spent a whole six months completing it. I named it ‘Brilliant Night Sky.’ But unfortunately…” She sighed deeply, her eyes growing dim.
“Her Royal Highness has vanished without a trace. This gift can no longer be delivered.”
When the gift named “Brilliant Night Sky” was fully displayed, the air in the boutique seemed to freeze.
Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy gasped in unison, letting out low murmurs of awe.
Their eyes were filled with pure, unadulterated admiration and shock.
They were completely captivated by the craftsmanship and beauty of the piece, temporarily pushing aside their doubts and worries.
Yet amidst this chorus of awe, a bright light flashed within Ye Ziji’s dark-colored pupils.
What he saw was not just a work of art, but a tool—a key that could lead him directly to the core of his plan.
*What an excellent gift!* His mind raced.
*This is practically tailored for her!
Whether it’s the theme, the colors, or that crescent moon, there couldn’t be a more perfect gift!
If I present this to that “Princess,” she will undoubtedly be thrilled.
When that time comes, if I offer to clean and arrange her chambers, she’ll have absolutely no reason to refuse!*
A plan instantly crystallized in his mind.
Once his thoughts were clear, he adopted an expression of utmost sincerity and admiration.
He turned to Rarity, who was still lost in her sorrow, and spoke slowly in a gentle, solemn tone:
“Miss Rarity. Would you be willing to… part with this masterpiece?”
Rarity blinked, startled, seemingly not expecting such a request.
Ye Ziji did not give her much time to ponder.
He continued in a gentle, solemn, almost pleading voice, “I wish to take it along with the rest of these goods! I promise you, it will never be hidden away in obscurity. I will make sure it is put to its best use, given to the pony who suits it most, so that this touch of brilliance can merge with the starry night.”
These words, as if carrying magic, struck a chord deep within the softest part of Rarity’s heart.
What she feared most—or rather, what any designer feared most—was not losing the work of their heart and soul.
It was having it lose the chance to ever be appreciated by another pony.
For a brilliant creation to go unnoticed, unable to adorn a pony, left only to gather dust in a dark corner as a dead object carrying regret—that was the true tragedy of “beauty.”
She hesitated, thinking it over for a long while, before taking a long, deep look at the “Brilliant Night Sky” set.
Her eyes were filled with a complex reluctance to let it go.
But in the end, that reluctance dissolved into a long sigh.
“Very well.” A smile returned to her face, this time more relieved than any before.
“Since you appreciate it so, let it go where it belongs. I believe in your promise, darling.”
With that, she used her magic to rewrap the “gift” in the deep blue silk, her movements gentle, as if bidding farewell to her own child.
She then placed this package alongside the other wrapped goods on the table and resumed her unfinished packaging.
Twilight Sparkle watched Rarity in surprise.
She had never expected Rarity to actually agree to sell a “gift” she had poured so much of her heart, soul, and emotion into so easily.
In her eyes, the value of “Brilliant Night Sky” simply couldn’t be measured in bits.
While she was lost in thought, Rarity had already used her magic to perfectly package all the items, including that deeply meaningful “gift.” The exquisite packages were stacked on the workbench like a small hill.
Seeing this, Ye Ziji stepped forward with a smile.
He pushed the bag of gold coins he had borrowed from Twilight Sparkle, along with the gems Fluttershy had given him, over to Rarity.
Rarity merely glanced at the bag of gold coins without counting them.
She nodded with a smile and gracefully put the money away, as if it were nothing more than a minor formality.
The transaction was complete.
Ye Ziji did not say another word.
He simply snapped his hoof, and several wisps of invisible, flowing wind element appeared out of thin air.
They gently swept up all the packages from the floor, letting them float weightlessly in midair.
Then, with a slight nod to the mares in the shop, he turned and leisurely left the Carousel Boutique, carrying his massive haul of “loot” with him.
It wasn’t until the gentle breeze fully vanished beyond the door that Twilight Sparkle snapped out of her shock.
Unable to hold back any longer, she turned to Rarity and asked urgently, “Rarity! I might not understand the prices of these fashion goods, but—I am absolutely certain that the money he just paid isn’t nearly enough to buy so many things! Let alone… let alone that ‘gift’! Why did you…”
Hearing Twilight’s question, Rarity didn’t get angry at all.
Instead, she offered a remarkably generous smile.
“Oh, my dear Twilight.” She gently patted Twilight’s shoulder with her hoof and said in a lighthearted tone, “Of course your math is correct. That money wouldn’t even cover half of the merchandise, let alone all of it. And as for that ‘gift’?”
“Darling, that is priceless.”
“Then why did you?!” Twilight grew even more bewildered.
Rarity’s smile softened.
She looked toward the doorway, a hint of genuine gratitude showing in her eyes.
“But Twilight,” she said slowly, “have you forgotten? Not too long ago, who was it that saved us in the forest? Who was it that helped calm all the panicked townsponies during Ponyville’s darkest hour of chaos? He saved our lives, and he protected our home.”
She paused, her voice becoming incredibly solemn.
“This is merely a small token of my appreciation—a belated, albeit insignificant, thank you.”
Twilight Sparkle was utterly stunned.
Looking at Rarity’s candid and sincere face, she found herself at a loss for words.
“Rarity,” she murmured, “you really are… so generous.”
At the same time, this was all Ye Ziji’s fault!
She had been teased by him so many times and constantly driven to frustration that she had almost forgotten that he had saved their lives, helped Ponyville calm its chaos, and even summoned elemental creatures to protect the town.
Just as Twilight fell silent, trying to untangle her chaotic thoughts, Fluttershy timidly reached out a hoof and nudged her.
“Um… Twilight?” Fluttershy’s voice was barely a whisper.
With an embarrassed look on her face, she continued, “Just now… when Ye Ziji left, he seemed to… also take that thing you sewed earlier…”
Before she could finish, she was interrupted by a crisp, loud voice.
“Oh! Do you mean that ‘giant rag’?”
Spike popped his head out of a ball of yarn, offering his commentary with perfect ease, completely oblivious to the danger.
He didn’t notice Twilight’s face instantly turning livid.
“Pfft…”
Hearing this description, Fluttershy couldn’t help herself.
She quickly covered her mouth with her hooves and turned her head away.
Her pink mane shook slightly as she tried to stifle her laughter, while also hiding away in embarrassment for giggling at her friend.
“Spike!”
Twilight finally exploded.
She glared fiercely at her little assistant, scaring Spike into instantly shrinking back.
But Spike’s comment had indeed jarred her memory.
Twilight snapped back to reality and looked in the direction Ye Ziji had left, her expression becoming even more bewildered.
She knew better than anyone what that “giant”…
“unfinished project” actually was!
It was a complete failure, an utterly ruined handmade blanket.
But why on earth did that guy take it?
Did he take it as a freebie?
Meanwhile, Rarity, having concluded this “big business,” was organizing the money she received and putting it into the register.
As she held the gems Ye Ziji had used to make up the payment between her hooves, she let out a soft murmur of confusion.
She held up one of the pale blue gems, examining it closely under the moonlight.
Then she muttered in perplexity, “Strange… Why do these gems look so familiar?”
Of course they looked familiar.
These gems were originally stock from her own shop—or to put it more bluntly, they were hers to begin with.
She only knew that Fluttershy and the others had requisitioned some gems, but she didn’t know there were any left over.
“Meow!”
Opal, the pet cat resting on the counter, could no longer tolerate her owner’s oblivious, foolish display.
She let out a cry filled with disdain and complaint, casting a look at Rarity as if looking at an idiot.
Then, flicking her tail huffily and proudly, she leaped off the counter and vanished into the depths of the boutique.
Hearing Rarity’s confusion and Opal’s meow, Fluttershy froze, an incredibly awkward smile spreading across her face.
She had originally intended to return these leftover gems to Rarity and thank her.
But seeing that Ye Ziji needed them, she had personally handed them right back to him, only for Ye Ziji to now pay them back to Rarity as part of the payment.
This bizarre cycle made her wish she could sink into the floor and disappear.