Back in the courtyard, Bai Zhi looked at the dress and said to Chu Muqing, “Miss, you really have great taste. The more I look at this dress, the more beautiful it seems.”
Chu Muqing ran her hand over the fabric. It felt smooth and comfortable to the touch. She remembered how, back in the inner room, the maid in charge of the garments had glanced at this dress before selecting it. Now it seemed this dress was actually Madam Luo’s masterpiece.
Bai Zhi said regretfully, “It’s just a pity that Fourth Miss chose that double-butterfly dress. Fourth Miss is really domineering. She clearly saw that someone else had already taken a liking to it.”
Chu Muqing replied calmly, “What’s there to regret? If she likes it, then let her have it. Besides, she isn’t the only one with her eye on that dress.”
The First Madam had been quiet for so many days. It was about time she made her move. Now that she could finally enter the palace, how could she possibly allow anyone to steal Chu Shuran’s spotlight?
That evening, Chu Muqing was reclining on the chaise lounge reading when Bai Zhi hurried in and whispered, “Miss, Fourth Miss’s dress has been torn.”
Chu Muqing lifted her gaze. “Do you know how it happened?”
“I heard two maids were arguing and ended up fighting. During the argument they knocked over a clothes rack. When they tried to pick up the dresses, they stepped on that one and tore it like that.”
“What a coincidence,” Chu Muqing sneered.
“Yes. Fourth Miss is still crying in her courtyard. The Third Madam is so furious she wants to sell those two maids off.”
“How lively.”
The First Madam was truly cunning. Third Madam probably still had no idea that her courtyard had long since been infiltrated.
She instructed, “Tell everyone in Tangtao Courtyard that I don’t want to hear a single word about this from anyone.”
Bai Zhi replied, “Yes,” and turned to leave.
The next morning, Chu Muqing rose early and let Bai Zhi do her hair and makeup. She wore a Flying Fairy bun decorated with hairpins, her fringe combed completely up to reveal her smooth forehead and bright almond-shaped eyes. With light makeup and dressed in the Su-embroidered Immortal-Retaining Skirt, she looked radiant and stunning.
It was the first time she had dressed up so formally since returning to the manor.
Bai Zhi was stunned by her beauty. “Miss, you look breathtaking.”
Chu Muqing looked at herself in the mirror and smiled in satisfaction. For some reason, her complexion now looked even better than in the first half of her previous life. Perhaps it was because back then, sorrow had always lingered between her brows.
“Have Xia Zhu wait outside First Madam’s courtyard and find out when she plans to leave,” she instructed.
Xia Zhu was one of the maids chosen last time and was now a second-class maid of Tangtao Courtyard.
Bai Zhi asked in confusion, “Miss, won’t Madam send someone to call us when it’s time to leave?”
“Just let Xia Zhu go,” Chu Muqing said firmly.
Her stepmother would send someone to notify them, but when was uncertain. She didn’t believe the First Madam would be so considerate. If the maid sent to Tangtao Courtyard deliberately came half an hour late, would everyone simply stand waiting at the gates?
If she were late to such an important occasion, no matter the excuse, the Old Madam would never forgive her.
And if that maid even slightly twisted the story and accused her of stalling deliberately, she would never be able to clear her name.
Shortly after, Xia Zhu returned and reported, “Miss, I waited outside Madam’s courtyard for a while. Madam is about to leave now.”
Chu Muqing nodded. “I understand. Well done. You can go back.” Then she glanced at the still-stunned Bai Zhi. “Let’s go. We’ll head out too.”
After saying that, she slowly walked out. Bai Zhi quickly followed behind, secretly thinking that her young lady was truly remarkable, she had actually guessed that the Madam would secretly delay sending someone to notify them.
When they arrived at the gates of the Marquis’s residence, the First Madam and Chu Shuran were already there, standing in front of the carriage discussing something. The Old Madam had not yet arrived.
When the First Madam saw Chu Muqing approaching with her maid, she was momentarily stunned. She clearly remembered instructing the maid to notify Chu Muqing half an hour later, so why was she here now? Had the maid failed to follow instructions, or had Chu Muqing anticipated this?
And upon first seeing her, she couldn’t help being slightly dazed.
This girl was simply too beautiful.
Chu Muqing walked up to them, bowed, and greeted, “Mother.” Then she turned toward Chu Shuran and said, “Second Sister.”
The First Madam was dressed in her formal robes today, carrying the dignified presence of the Marquis’s wife, and Chu Shuran beside her was also carefully and elegantly adorned.
Chu Shuran smiled lightly when she saw her. “Eldest Sister.”
Perhaps because Chu Muqing had arrived, the First Madam and Chu Shuran stopped their conversation. The group fell silent, each standing beside their respective maids near the carriage.
After a while, the Old Madam came out of the residence with Nanny Liu.
She, too, was dressed in the formal robes today, with a forehead band adorning her brow. To someone who didn’t know her temperament, she would appear like a kindly old lady.
Chu Muqing and Chu Shuran greeted her in unison, and the Old Madam looked at them with great satisfaction.
Concubine Rong had summoned them to the palace today, ostensibly to reminisce, but the Old Madam knew very well that the Concubine intended to choose a princess Concubine for the Third Prince from among her nieces.
Originally, Concubine Rong favored Chu Shuran, and the Old Madam agreed. But now that Chu Muqing had returned, and after learning from Chu Muqing that the Duke of Dingguo would soon be returning to the capital and after secretly confirming the matter with His Majesty, things had to be reconsidered. If the Duke of Dingguo regained imperial favor and returned to the capital, Chu Muqing’s status would change entirely. Marrying her would be equivalent to gaining the Duke of Dingguo’s support.
However, since Chu Muqing had never been in the capital before, the imperial Concubine did not know her well and worried she might be useless. Moreover, she was genuinely fond of Chu Shuran, she had watched her grow up, she had both beauty and talent, and truly was worthy of a prince’s consort.
The Old Madam was immersed in these thoughts when she saw Chu Sichun arriving.
She seemed to have run there, breathing heavily, and hurriedly called out, “Grandmother.”
The Old Madam frowned. This granddaughter of hers had been behaving increasingly improperly lately. She scolded mildly, “Who’s chasing you? Where is your ladylike composure?”
Without waiting for her response, Nanny Liu helped the Old Madam into the first carriage, and the First Madam followed after.
Chu Muqing and Chu Shuran bowed and then boarded the second carriage, leaving Chu Sichun momentarily standing alone outside.
Her maid called anxiously, “Miss.”
Only then did Chu Sichun climb into the second carriage as well, feeling deeply wronged.
Once everyone was seated, the carriages began moving toward the palace.
Inside the second carriage, seeing Chu Muqing and Chu Shuran sitting composedly only made Chu Sichun feel even more aggrieved, and resentment surged in her heart.