There was nothing to be coy about. She wore men’s clothing for convenience, so naturally she could give him this small privilege of seeing her in women’s attire because Murong Yi wanted to see it.

She declined the female manager’s help. Such private matters as changing clothes, she wouldn’t even let Dan Shuang or Chi Xue assist with.

Dan Shuang and Chi Xue had also come along, but Tie Ci sent them to browse the shop, naturally with Mu Si and Zhao San accompanying them.

The dress was even more beautiful than she had imagined. It wasn’t imperial attire, but a variation of ordinary noble family women’s clothing. Women’s clothing in the Great Qian typically consisted of cross-collar tops with ru skirts, as well as wide-sleeved shirts and mamian skirts, or long jackets with cloaks paired with mamian skirts.

This set resembled the last style – a pearl-colored long jacket with a collar that sparkled brilliantly. Looking closely, it was set with crushed diamonds. Tie Ci estimated they were real diamonds, otherwise they couldn’t have such radiant light. The front buttons were round, lustrous pale green pearls, styled as a fitted waist design. Below was a white long skirt with layered, wide pleats. At first glance it seemed to have no decoration, but when walking, one could discover that the edges of the pleated hem concealed silver gradient embroidery depicting verdant mountains and rivers, seawater and cliff patterns – both exquisite and rare, subtly echoing her identity.

The outer drape was made of a very rare gauze woven with silver threads, shimmering with crystal-like light yet hazy as mist, perfectly balancing the crisp lines of the inner jacket and long skirt while adding a touch of gentle elegance.

When Tie Ci put it on, she discovered that the fitted waist design was extremely slender yet perfectly matched her measurements – not a fraction more or less would do.

Clearly it was custom-tailored. Someone was intimately familiar with certain measurements of hers.

Only this tailoring was too precise – not a fraction could be altered. She couldn’t even wear the deep inner robes underneath, only close-fitting undergarments.

Never mind, this dress would only be worn for Murong Yi to see anyway. With such curves on display, if she walked outside, tomorrow the censors’ memorial criticizing her could pile up to fill the imperial study.

After removing the layers of long robes underneath, she put on the complete outfit and waited for someone to come style her hair. Since she was changing to women’s attire, it would lack sincerity not to change her hairstyle as well.

The curtain lifted, but it was Murong Yi who entered first. There were no lights in the changing room, making it quite dim. When he entered, he could only see a graceful, curvaceous silhouette in the darkness, seemingly glowing faintly in the shadows. Murong Yi instantly covered his nose, calling out repeatedly: “I can’t take it! I can’t take it!”

Tie Ci looked at him with amusement, quite enjoying such straightforward praise.

“This kind of dress needs higher shoes to look good.” Murong Yi picked up a box from the low stool beside them. Opening it revealed a pair of embroidered shoes with thick soles and high heels. The shoe uppers were also adorned with a circle of fine diamonds in wave patterns, radiating brilliant light even in the dim space, with no other excessive decorations like pearls or tassels.

He crouched down, half-kneeling to help Tie Ci remove her boots and put on these high-heeled embroidered shoes.

Tie Ci looked down slightly at his jet-black crown.

She had seen too many people bow to her, bending their masculine frames before her, and witnessed countless others prostrating themselves at her feet with full kowtows. She had looked down at so many crowns, crowds before her like wind over wheat fields, bowing in waves.

But never had this moment, in this small space, looking at this person’s crown, given her such deep, warm, and stirring feelings.

Like glimpsing the warmth of human life through grand halls and lofty palaces. The sparks fell into her palm, becoming eternal stars in her eyes.

It made her want to bend down too, bury her face in that crown of hair, breathe in his cool fragrance – the scent of finally being grounded, of smelling flowers bloom.

With a gentle movement of her feet, Murong Yi finished putting on her shoes and helped arrange her skirt hem, carefully smoothing out the wrinkles disturbed by putting on the shoes before standing up. As soon as he rose, he saw Tie Ci with her head slightly lowered, soft light flickering in her eyes.

If it were any other time, the perceptive Murong Yi would certainly have sensed Tie Ci’s delicate mood at this moment and quickly seized the opportunity for sweet words. But right now his mind was filled with other exciting matters. Standing up, he said: “This outfit uses very novel materials and can be styled in several ways. Would you like to see first?”

Saying this, he walked behind Tie Ci. With a soft ripping sound, he seemed to have pulled something down, and Tie Ci felt her back grow cool.

Her first instinct was to smash Murong Yi’s dog head.

What time was this, what place was this? Her mother was right next door, and this shameless rogue wanted to feast in broad daylight?

But the tenderness and emotion from moments before still surged in her heart, making her momentarily unable to resist indulging him a little, reluctant to be harsh.

She turned her head to look. Murong Yi was using special little clips to secure the separated back fabric at the shoulders, holding one in his hand and one between his teeth. He tilted his head slightly, comparing the distances on both sides. The pearl-shell clips made his red lips look like fire, glowing with vivid color alongside his eyes in the dim light.

After securing both clips, he pushed Tie Ci to stand before a full-length mirror, smiling: “Your master provided the design and materials. We hired ten of the finest embroiderers and tailors to make this. Your master calls this style ‘backless.'”

Tie Ci turned her head slightly and suddenly saw that the back of the garment could actually separate, revealing a large expanse of snow-white skin and half a shoulder blade, with the little clips on both shoulders like two small butterflies perched there.

Murong Yi’s gaze fell on her back. That night they had been busy with work and he truly hadn’t had much opportunity to appreciate her body. This was why he had gone to such trouble to create this dress. Indeed, his A’ci had the most beautiful skin and most wonderful body curves in the world – a natural pearl, human jade.

He gently placed his fingertip on Tie Ci’s skin. As he had thought, Tie Ci’s body temperature was slightly higher than normal, like a piece of naturally nurtured finest warm jade, warm, soft, smooth and slightly elastic to the touch.

Tie Ci moved slightly. Murong Yi pressed her shoulder, smiling: “Don’t move, there’s another style.” He removed the pearl-shell butterfly clips and pulled the collar further down to above her arms, gathering it at the back and securing it again with the butterfly clips.

Now it had become an off-shoulder dress.

The young Crown Princess’s shoulder lines were exquisite, her collarbone so perfectly sculpted it could exactly accommodate Murong Yi’s slender fingers. Her swan neck and straight-angled shoulders, the graceful line flowing down from her neck, faintly revealed slightly rising edges – clearly Her Highness the Crown Princess looked slim when clothed but had curves when undressed.

Murong Yi’s fingers moved, and Tie Ci’s hair ornaments scattered, her black hair cascading like flowing water over her shoulders. Tie Ci breathed out in relief, her tense shoulders relaxing slightly.

Murong Yi’s fingers rested gently on her shoulders. The two stood before the full-length mirror gazing at each other. In this moment, Tie Ci suddenly recalled her master’s description of weddings in her world, with a series of ceremonial procedures completely different from Great Qian, including the bride and groom trying on wedding attire. Their weddings favored wearing white.

Snow-colored, flawless, gauze-like, with skirts flowing like water or puffed out, often backless or off-shoulder – wedding dresses.

Tie Ci’s gaze fell on her own white long skirt.

The hem slightly revealed the edges of the high-heeled embroidered shoes, the circle of fine diamonds sparkling brilliantly. With the slightest movement, the pleated edges would flutter to reveal blue-green landscapes and seawater cliff patterns. The light silver gauze draped dreamlike over everything.

Noble yet elegant.

The person behind her gazed with smiling eyes, looking at her with passionate yet tender expression.

In this moment, Tie Ci suddenly understood the anticipation, joy, satisfaction and all the most beautiful feelings of love that her master had described about new brides.

It was having him here – then wind was not cold, sun was not scorching, flowers bloomed in all seasons, and the passage of years was not fearsome.

Because of eager anticipation, they could grow old together.

Something cool suddenly touched her neck – something bright and glittering, a chain with a small sparkling pendant.

The shoulder area that had seemed somewhat empty due to her pale skin immediately became lively and beautiful with this necklace.

Tie Ci picked up the pendant to examine it closely.

There were some lively-styled necklaces available now, with various chain pendants, mostly set with gemstones. This one was different though – very simple, with two curves above and below, two thin bars in the middle. In the small square formed by those two middle bars was hidden an extremely tiny diamond rabbit. It was that tiny detail that made the light flash brilliantly, making the entire pendant appear extraordinarily exquisite.

“This… looks like Gemini?” Tie Ci said in surprise. “How do you know about this?”

“I saw them selling this at Gui Qizhai. Based on your birth date, they calculated that you should be what’s called Gemini. The rabbit is because you were born in the Year of the Rabbit. This style with a hidden rabbit in the constellation pendant was specially customized by me at Gui Qizhai – unique in all of Great Qian.”

“Special custom? How much did Master extort from you?”

“Not much, just ten thousand taels.”

“How ruthless.”

“Gold.”

“Does Master have no shame!”

“No choice.” Murong Yi complained aggrievedly. “The Gui Qizhai manager was secretive and evasive about the identity of VIP customers and partners, only letting me see a sample, saying they don’t sell to the public – if you want one, you have to commission it. And what he showed me was some Aquarius design. I couldn’t even imitate it, so I had to obediently pay up.”

Tie Ci thought about it. “Limited edition, so being expensive is normal. Being expensive suits your status better.”

She had almost forgotten – she now had shares in Gui Qizhai.

Murong Yi’s hand slowly moved downward, his smile turning somewhat roguish: “Spending a bit more doesn’t matter. Gui Qizhai has your share too. So, considering how thoughtful I’ve been, how about…”

Suddenly Noble Consort Jing’s voice came from outside: “Your Highness, Your Highness.”

Tie Ci started.

“Your Highness, where are you? Let me see if these clothes fit properly.” Noble Consort Jing called out enthusiastically looking for Tie Ci. “Are you in the next changing room? I think I heard your voice just now.”

There were no attendants outside at this time. Murong Yi had already sent everyone to the outer room to facilitate his opportunity to take advantage of Tie Ci.

Tie Ci froze.

This was bad.

If Mother saw her dressed like this, with her pea-sized brain and vast ocean-like imagination, screaming was certain. She might even think Murong Yi was undressing her for daytime debauchery.

Tie Ci pushed Murong Yi away and frantically tried to pull her clothes up, but the garment was secured and pulling hard might tear it.

She could only reach for the outer drape she had removed earlier. Before she could grab it, the curtain lifted and Noble Consort Jing had already entered.

In that split second, Tie Ci turned around, grabbed Murong Yi and pressed him against the mirror.

The mirror couldn’t bear the weight of two people and crashed to the ground.

Fortunately, the mirror was set in a heavy boxwood frame and didn’t shatter to hurt anyone.

The moment the mirror fell, Tie Ci tore open Murong Yi’s collar.

The sound of ripping fabric was jarring. Noble Consort Jing lifted the door curtain to see Murong Yi lying on the mirror with Tie Ci straddling him in disheveled clothing, one hand clutching her own garment and the other gripping Murong Yi’s collar.

It looked exactly like Tie Ci had gone into a frenzy, torn off her own clothes in this dim changing room, and was about to have her way with Murong Yi right there.

Noble Consort Jing stood dazed at the doorway, clutching the door curtain with her small red mouth agape.

Tie Ci: “…”

Mother, weren’t you supposed to immediately drop the curtain, cover your eyes and flee? Why are you still holding the curtain and not letting go?

Though your face is alternating between red and white, why do you seem determined to keep watching?

And your expression – why does it look so strange, with what seems to be… excitement?

Mother’s reaction was beyond Tie Ci’s expectations. Tie Ci was stuck there, somewhat unable to continue the act.

But Murong Yi picked up the scene quickly, embracing Tie Ci and pressing his face against her bare shoulder, laughing softly: “Your Highness, continue.”

Only then did Noble Consort Jing react, hastily dropping the curtain.

Tie Ci jumped up from Murong Yi with a whoosh.

Murong Yi sat up regretfully, looking at the mirror beneath him and muttering: “Actually, now that I think about it, mirrors are quite interesting. How about we try mirrors next time?”

Tie Ci: “…Shut up, you rogue!”

Murong Yi said yearningly: “Think about it – mirrors show every detail. You and I rolling around on it, the mirror reflecting your skin, your fragrant sweat misting the mirror surface…”

Hmm, what a waste not to be an erotic fiction author.

Tie Ci said coldly: “Then the mirror shatters, piercing places it shouldn’t pierce. From then on, you and the little bugs in Ruixiang Palace become sisters.”

Murong Yi: “…”