…

In Jing Ting’s study, Gong Yin coughed and shifted his position.

Meng Hu kept glancing out the window, his eyes showing anxiety.

Gong Yin put down the memorial and adjusted the oil lamp.

Meng Hu looked at the motionless scene outside, sweat forming in his palms.

Gong Yin flipped through the memorials with rustling sounds, reading quickly but making no annotations.

Meng Hu looked at the pitch-black night and could no longer bear it.

How could this chicken soup delivery take so long? If it didn’t arrive soon, his master would suffocate…

Taking advantage of Gong Yin shifting position again, he quietly slipped out.

…

Meng Hu stood dumbfounded at the small door, watching Yelu Qi lean against the wall, smiling as he spoke to the Queen.

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for personally delivering soup.” Yelu Qi smiled charmingly at the open-mouthed Jing Hengbo, smoothly taking the porcelain jar.

Jing Hengbo, already stunned, didn’t notice the soup and only focused on asking, “It’s so late, what are you doing here? You don’t even live in the palace.”

“I’m being investigated now, staying at Zhaomin Public Office.” Yelu Qi smiled and pointed to an iron-black building across the palace road. “For the short term, Your Majesty and I are neighbors. Hmm, Your Majesty suddenly wanting to live here must also be because I moved here? Oh my, even specially bringing chicken soup to comfort me… I’m fine, thank you for your chicken soup. Remember to visit often.”

“Hey, I’m not…” Jing Hengbo reached out to grab the soup back.

Yelu Qi had already quickly withdrawn, slamming the side door shut with a “bang,” leaving only laughter echoing faintly through the wall.

“Damn it! I should have poisoned it – couldn’t kill you anyway!” Jing Hengbo pulled at the side door, which wouldn’t budge, so she could only mutter while sullenly rolling away.

…

Behind the wall stood the bewildered Meng Hu, worrying about how to report this to his master.

Her Majesty said she’d bring chicken soup, but halfway through gave it to State Preceptor Yelu instead – what kind of situation was this?

Meng Hu sadly turned around, pondering his wording, when he was suddenly startled.

“Master!” His voice trembled slightly with unease.

Gong Yin stood quietly in the moonlight with his hands behind his back, looking at that door, his gaze cooler than the moonlight.

“Master…” Meng Hu’s voice lowered, knowing his master had seen that scene, secretly regretting that he shouldn’t have gone to check on Her Majesty earlier.

He knew she was unreliable.

“I’ll have dinner brought to you…” he tried to remedy the situation.

Gong Yin had already silently turned and walked toward the study.

“Bring all the memorials that the Six Ministries handled in my absence,” he said. “I need to review them all again.”

“This…” Meng Hu was stunned – that would be over a thousand memorials! No sleep tonight?

“Hmm?”

“Yes!”

Half an hour later, Meng Hu walked back panting while carrying mountain-high stacks of memorials, viciously instructing the palace guards, “Watch Zhaomin Public Office for me! From now on, no one is allowed to wander around randomly!”

…

With her chicken soup stolen, Jing Hengbo cursed a few times then went to wash and sleep.

She always believed in taking revenge within ten days – her chicken soup wasn’t so easily stolen.

Waking up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, she casually glanced up and saw the back window still faintly reflecting lamplight. Jing Hengbo wondered where the light was coming from since her side had long extinguished the lamps. Drowsily moving to the window to look, it seemed to be light reflected from next door.

Was he still not asleep?

Being a State Preceptor was really hard work.

Jing Hengbo thought lazily – so whether the Queen was a puppet didn’t matter. Happiness was most important. As long as they didn’t create so many rules to suppress and torment her, she’d rather have all the power in Gong Yin’s hands… Tsk tsk, what was good about being emperor? Look how hard it was. Sigh, too bad he didn’t get to drink chicken soup today…

Drinking more chicken soup would give him energy to fulfill their bet in the future. Ah, she’d won the bet but hadn’t had time to claim her prize yet. She’d been busy with moving into the palace recently and hadn’t decided what to make him do. Sexy dancing? Streaking? Singing love songs? Truth or dare? Or should such a precious opportunity not be wasted on pranks, but saved to make him fulfill a promise? Was pranking better or being practical better? Could she make him do both…

As she thought randomly, she pulled something out from under her pillow – square-shaped with rounded corners, smooth texture, with a warm milk-white luster on the surface. It was carved with openwork auspicious grass patterns, and through the openwork gaps, a faint green glow could be seen. At first glance, it looked like a small soap box made of jade, very exquisite. It was warm when held, but she remembered that under the scorching sun that day, this thing had been coolly refreshing.

She’d been studying it for a while now but couldn’t figure out what it was for, much less understand how this seemingly useless object could help her successfully pass the welcoming ceremony just by taking it out. However, once when she accidentally dropped it on the ground, thinking it would shatter, it was completely unharmed. Another time when drinking soup, her hand slipped and it fell into the soup, but when fished out, it hadn’t even gotten greasy. It seemed never to change, but never changing was sometimes also a kind of magic. Jing Hengbo thought this thing must have a trigger for activation, just that the time hadn’t come yet. Something that the great god treasured and carried close to his body, then gave to her at a crucial moment – could it really just be his soap box?

Actually, if it really was a soap box, she wouldn’t mind. She was still very curious about what fragrance the great god used – it smelled so good…

Thinking randomly, she collapsed on the bed and fell asleep again. When she woke up, the sun was high in the sky and the rich aroma of breakfast was already wafting in.

Smelling this aroma reminded her of last night’s chicken soup. She sat on the bedside pondering, thinking of ways to deal with the situation.

Then she toured her new residence, having been too tired last night to look properly. Only now did she realize that although this room had only been arranged yesterday afternoon, it didn’t seem hasty. Besides the dressing room she’d requested, the rest was beautifully and luxuriously furnished with everything needed. Most eye-catching was a brass full-length mirror mounted on the wall, polished smooth and flat. Since arriving in this other world, Jing Hengbo had never seen such a large mirror.

She had complained about this before – ancient times without full-length mirrors couldn’t provide her with the most intuitive clothes-changing experience.

She vaguely remembered yesterday afternoon during the move, a guard seemed to have carried over a box. Was this from Yelu Qi or Gong Yin?

It felt like Yelu Qi – that guy was romantic and carefree, the type who could think of what women wanted. Gong Yin was an iceberg – could he think of this?

She chuckled and patted the mirror satisfactorily, did a set of yoga, then summoned a female official to ask about the Queen’s degree of freedom before coronation.

When the female official arrived, she saw Her Majesty sitting cross-legged on the bed, wearing a strange peach-red tight outfit, sweating fragrantly with heaving breath, unabashedly displaying her proud curves. This made the habitually conservative official blush and turn away unnaturally, saying quietly, “Your Majesty, before coronation, you should learn etiquette and rules. The Palace Supervision Ministry has already assigned you an etiquette governess who will soon come to see you. This outfit you’re wearing…”

Her expression was serious, her tone rigid, without a trace of smile.

Yesterday Jing Hengbo’s sedan-chopping behavior had truly shocked her. Afterward, this female official had tossed and turned all night thinking. She thought that as an etiquette official selected by the Ministry of Rites and specially assigned to Her Majesty’s side for long-term service, she shouldered the important responsibility of teaching and managing Her Majesty as the first female official. She absolutely couldn’t disappoint the trust of the Ministry of Rites and Palace Supervision Ministry. Yesterday she’d been shocked by the Queen’s sedan-chopping behavior and hadn’t fulfilled her duties properly. Today she must hold firm and absolutely couldn’t let the Queen continue doing as she pleased. Otherwise, everyone would be in trouble in the end.

However, no kind of expression seemed to work on Jing Hengbo.

“What’s wrong with this outfit?” Jing Hengbo smiled as she stood up. The short top immediately rode up, exposing a stretch of snow-white waist. The female official was dumbfounded and quickly said, “Your Majesty, none of your clothing may expose any part of your body except your hands…”

Jing Hengbo seemed not to hear her, rummaging through the wardrobe by herself, then suddenly turned around with a bright red dress in her hands.

“Hey, how about this dress?” She shook out the dress, looking left and right.

Pure bright red with slightly wrinkled fabric inlaid with bright and dark gold threads, body-hugging and hip-wrapping with a plunging neckline. One could imagine that such a dress on the body would create curvaceous lines and undulating waves, with gold threads flickering like light as one moved.

“Ah, no!” The female official immediately rejected it. Glancing at the Queen’s face hidden behind the dress – snow-white skin, high nose bridge, lips redder than the dress itself…

She swallowed dryly, thinking that actually such a fiery, gorgeous dress on the passionately beautiful Queen would definitely be stunning…

Jing Hengbo said “oh” and casually set the dress aside, pulling out a golden puffy dress.

“Hey, is this one pretty? How about I wear this today?”

The female official stared at the golden short dress – fitted waist with full skirt, short above the knees, neckline low below the collarbone. She could imagine the voluptuous Queen wearing this dress with a tiny waist, exposing snow-white, long, slender legs…

“No!” The female official’s words burst out, then she quickly controlled her tone and lowered her head. “Barely covering the body, it doesn’t suit your noble image…”

“How about this one?” Jing Hengbo didn’t give up, pulling out an electric silk floral long dress in brilliant, harmonious colors.

Seeing the hem, the female official’s heart settled, but scanning upward she frowned. “How does this dress have no upper half? And why are there only thin straps at the shoulders? That entire shoulder…”

“It’s a spaghetti strap long dress, Bohemian style, the most romantic and lively design. Exposing snow-white fragrant shoulders, cascading black hair, paired with a floral ribbon hat – infinitely charming, haha.”

“No, no.” The female official shook her head frantically.

Jing Hengbo shrugged. “Fine,” casually tossing the dress aside.

The female official secretly glanced at that beautiful, bright dress.

“This one? Ancient style, conservative enough!”

This time it was a black brocade satin long qipao, high-necked and sleeveless, with colorful patterned satin inlaid in the lower half, slightly lifted toward the hem. The colors were pure, noble, and contrasting. The qipao’s natural body-conscious fit made the female official’s eyes light up, but when she reached out and discovered the slit reaching above the thighs, she couldn’t help waving her hands repeatedly.

Jing Hengbo wasn’t annoyed and set it down again. The female official couldn’t help enviously glancing at those dresses. She wondered where the Queen got so many beautiful dresses. Each one would drive women crazy if it appeared on the market. Though she couldn’t wear them or dare to wear them, collecting and viewing such beautiful things was also enjoyable. If someone was skilled with their hands, they might even be able to modify these fresh styles to design clothing suitable for Imperial Song women to wear. That could start a fashion trend among Imperial Song’s noble class…

“How about this one?” Jing Hengbo magically produced another.

“This one is good!” The female official sincerely praised it. A snow-white dress with dream-like silk quality, inlaid with just the right amount of sparkling sequins, with skirt and collar, layered decorative pleats at the chest – exquisite and luxurious. Though sleeveless, a small cape could be added – both flowing and delicate, extremely feminine.

Her eyes lit up – women were naturally defenseless against beautiful things, regardless of era.

Jing Hengbo smiled and turned the dress around.

“Ah!” The female official cried out. “Why is there nothing in the back!”

“Backless design.” Jing Hengbo lifted the dress to show the female official her smooth, crystal-clear back. “Such a beautiful back – wouldn’t it be a shame not to show it?”

The female official’s face turned completely red. She quickly closed her eyes and shook her head frantically. “Ah no no no, such clothing absolutely cannot…”

“You really don’t understand the happiness of being a woman.” Jing Hengbo sighed and pulled out another. “Alright, this one should work, right?”

The female official opened her eyes fearfully, then they brightened.

“So beautiful…” She let out a dreamy sigh.

Before her was a purple long dress with a lace bodice in dignified court style, creating bubble sleeves like flower buds. Fitted waist with a silver textured belt, below was an organza puffy long skirt lined with purple gauze of the same color, sporadically decorated with tiny rhinestones.

Jing Hengbo held the dress with a strange smile, knowing these women couldn’t resist this European court style.

“This… the back…” The female official was still traumatized.

Jing Hengbo showed her the back – completely covered.

The female official relaxed and truly began appreciating the dress, liking it more the more she looked. “Hey, this one is luxurious and refined yet dignified, with a special court charm, very suitable for palace women to wear…”

“Then this one it is.” Jing Hengbo smiled and stuffed the dress into her hands, then pushed her toward the dressing room. “Go change.”

She had already converted the chamber pot room behind her bed into a dressing room. She’d rather go outside to use the bathroom than have no place to change clothes indoors.

“Ah?” The female official clutched the dress, stupidly sticking out her head. “Your Majesty, isn’t this dress for you to wear?”

Such a beautiful dress, for her to wear? The female official’s hands were trembling.

Jing Hengbo looked at her expression, rolled her eyes and smiled. “You try it on first, let me see the effect.”

“Oh.” The female official relaxed, carefully and joyfully taking the clothes inside. Being able to try on such a dress felt very satisfying.

Jing Hengbo chuckled and casually grabbed the floral Bohemian long dress to put on, also finding a Bohemian-style beach wide-brim hat with colorful ribbons.

Her suitcase was the largest size, nearly half a person’s height and too heavy for one person to move. Originally, to fit all her beloved items, she had searched online for many clothes-packing methods to maximize space for her treasures. So her suitcase probably contained the equivalent of Taishi Lan, Jun Ke, and Wen Zhen’s luggage combined. Most was occupied by clothing, fortunately mostly thin dresses that didn’t take much space. Even in winter she only wore dresses with coats over them – a beauty who couldn’t endure cold wasn’t a true beauty!

The curtain lifted and the female official came out timidly, head down pressing her skirt. Jing Hengbo looked up and cheered loudly.

“Beautiful!”

The sound attracted Cui Jie and the other two, who also hurried over, gathering at the door to look enviously. Jing Hengbo turned and said, “Look, isn’t she beautiful?”

The three sincerely nodded, even silent Yong Xue’s eyes showed envious light.

Love of beauty was women’s nature, regardless of age, even transcending time and space.

The female official was so shy she dared not lift her head, hands alternately smoothing her skirt and fingering her sleeves, not knowing where to put them.

Jing Hengbo dragged her to the brass full-length mirror. “Don’t look down, lift your head, stick out your chest. A woman’s body isn’t something shameful – it’s God’s most beautiful gift. You should be proud of it! Come! Look clearly, see how beautiful you are!”

Her voice was lazy and husky but full of conviction, with a strange allure. The female official involuntarily lifted her head and stuck out her chest. Seeing herself clearly, her cheeks instantly flushed red as fire.

She could hardly believe the graceful, elegant person in the mirror was herself.

Cui Jie and the other two at the door made envious sighing sounds.

Like magic, watching the previously rigid, serious, lifeless old woman suddenly become refined and beautiful, radiating youth. Only now did everyone realize she was only about twenty years old.

“The best years! The best years!” Jing Hengbo held up the gray female official’s uniform she’d changed out of with regret. “Buried in such widow’s clothing! Look! Should this be clothing for a twenty-year-old girl to wear! So damn awful!”

“Your Majesty, twenty is very old…” The female official lowered her head self-consciously.

“Nonsense. Twenty is a woman’s best years. Where I come from, twenty-year-old women are the objects of all men’s admiration!”

“What tribe is Your Majesty’s hometown? It sounds so wonderful…” The female official’s expression was dreamy, not noticing Jing Hengbo’s spaghetti strap long dress.

“No tribe can compare, but sadly I never properly experienced it either.” Jing Hengbo rarely sighed, then perked up. “So I want to thoroughly reform Dahuang, make it a second China – at minimum, there must be freedom!”

Turning to see four people’s silly expressions, she chuckled.

The road was still long – take it slowly.

For instance, first win over this female official.

Rather than exhausting herself forcefully driving away one only to have another come, wouldn’t it be better to simply pull her into her own camp?

Now the little girl had already taken the bait…

Feifei and Er Gouzi had somehow slipped in. Feifei’s deep purple eyes blinked as she stared at the purple skirt hem. Er Gouzi tilted his head and praised in an old-fashioned way: “After fresh rain on empty mountains, cool weather comes at autumn’s end, a little virgin accompanies me to the brothel.”

…

“Look at this style, this color – so suitable for you.” She supported the female official’s shoulders intimately. “But your old-fashioned hairstyle won’t do – it doesn’t match. We need to change your hairstyle.”

She pressed the female official down to sit before the vanity mirror. The female official was in a daze, her bottom barely touching the chair when she jumped up like she’d been electrocuted. “Ah, no no, how can this be a place for this humble minister to sit? How can this humble minister be so presumptuous…” while hurrying to take off the dress.

“Don’t move.” Jing Hengbo pressed her shoulders, smiling seductively. “Why are you so nervous? There are no outsiders here. I just want to see the effect of an outfit, using you as a model. You have the duty to cooperate and obey me, right?”

The female official could only nod – this seemed reasonable. The Queen’s legitimate orders couldn’t be disobeyed.

“What hairstyle should go with this? Jing Hengbo thought, then slapped her forehead. “I’ve got it.”

She found her paper and pen, drew a hairstyle with double braids pinned up at the back, and showed it to Jing Jun. “Can you do this?”

Among the three – Cui Jie, Jing Jun, and Yong Xue – only Jing Jun paid most attention to appearance and had good skills in this area.

Jing Hengbo had originally thought the proud and delicate Jing Jun might be somewhat unwilling, but unexpectedly she smiled and stepped forward, following the drawing to style the female official’s hair. Indeed skillful, creating exactly what was drawn, much better looking than Jing Hengbo’s scribbly drawing.

Jing Hengbo casually rummaged in her treasure box, finding a Korean-style purple lily wide-leaf crystal rhinestone hair accessory to put on. Immediately colorful light flowed and rhinestones sparkled.

Jing Jun’s eyes showed envy as she gently pushed the female official to turn sideways to see her back. The female official’s eyes widened in disbelief as she reached out to gently touch the hair accessory that looked more beautiful than gold and gems.

“So beautiful… this must be extremely, extremely expensive.”

Jing Hengbo thought yes, that one ruby on your finger could probably buy ten thousand of these. But rarity makes things precious – this was modern craftsmanship with historical value, naturally more precious than their rubies when brought to Dahuang.

“Stand up and see the overall effect.”

The female official stood up dreamlike. In the mirror was a beauty with cloud-like hair and flower-like face, full chest and tiny waist. The pale purple lace was refined and soft, the tightly bound belt flashed silver light, the puffy long skirt spread like a dream, brightening everyone’s eyes.

The female official was almost breathless from her own beauty, reluctant to look away.

Jing Hengbo rested her chin on her hand, looking again and again, shaking her head and muttering, “No, no, the makeup is too rigid.”

Female official: “…”

Soon she was pushed down to sit again by Jing Hengbo, who this time brought out a large black box. Opening it, the first thing visible was a flash of bright white inside. The female official looked down and was startled to see a light brown spot on her nose, jumping back in shock – was this a mirror? How could it be so clear!

“Look at your powder – not refined at all! And why haven’t you put on any rouge? Your lipstick color is too old-fashioned! Your eyebrows aren’t drawn well either – so straight and rigid, are you writing the character for ‘one’? Go wash it off quickly!”

Cui Jie had already quickly brought a basin of water, standing by with great interest. Even tomboys couldn’t resist the feminine instinct to pursue beauty.

The female official obediently washed her face. With so many surprises, she felt like she was in a dream, having long forgotten about rules and resistance, single-mindedly wanting to see just how beautiful she could become under the Queen’s magical transformation.

The large black box was divided into compartments large and small, containing small boxes, large boxes, brushes and pencils that dazzled the eyes. After the female official finished washing her face, Jing Hengbo personally sat down in front of her.

“You will learn that there’s a magical technique in this world. Before such technique, Dahuang will have no more ugly women – close your eyes.”

The female official closed her eyes.

She felt the Queen’s fingers moving gently on her face, seeming to apply and draw something, with occasional intermittent commands.

“Look up, yes, don’t blink.”

“Look down…”

“Press your lips together.”

…

Cui Jie, Jing Jun and the others had long been stunned. At first they saw a face powdered white like plaster, somewhat frightening, but as foundation, concealer, setting powder, contouring, and blush were applied, they watched a originally barely passable round face suddenly become whiter, brighter, with clearer contours – even the chin became pointed. They were so shocked they stared speechless, not understanding how those brushes, applicators, creams and powders could have such magical effects.

Jing Jun watched Jing Hengbo’s operation without blinking, trying hard to remember what she used each time. But those brushes all looked the same, and the colors were so complex. A small palm-sized box was divided into dozens of small compartments, each containing a cosmetic color she’d never seen before, glinting with subtle silver light, particularly alluring.

She looked at Jing Hengbo with some understanding. She’d often felt her eyes were particularly deep, with enchanting, seductive sparkles at the corners, and her lips looked especially vivid, full, and well-defined. Was this related to these magical little boxes?

Cosmetics could actually have so many colors, and so many colors could be used this way. Today was truly eye-opening. In comparison, she suddenly felt that the previous style of applying powder, rouge, and lip color was stiff and lifeless, just like a motionless painting.

Jing Hengbo had actually only given the female official light makeup, not using colored contacts, double eyelid tape, false eyelashes, etc. Makeup technique was one of her few skills, and she didn’t want to reveal everything at once.

With light makeup and her natural talent for cosmetics, she had already sufficiently corrected the flaws on the female official’s face, disguising her slightly low nose bridge and creating clear contours. The whole person immediately looked much more spirited.

“Done.”

The female official opened her eyes, and this official who had been selected for being particularly careful, prudent, dignified and self-controlled let out an uncontrollable excited scream.

“Is this me!”

Jing Hengbo rolled her eyes.

Always the same melodramatic line.

“Just light makeup, but your temperament suits light makeup too. Now this is the real overall effect – stand up and walk a few steps.” Jing Hengbo picked up a pair of silver high heels and placed them at the female official’s feet.

She deliberately chose a pair with only eight-centimeter heels, but the female official was still startled by these shoes.

“These shoes…”

“Beautiful, right?” Jing Hengbo loved each of her shoes. Shoes took up space, so she only had two or three pairs total. “I’m letting you borrow them. Sigh, it breaks my heart.”

The shoes were intimidatingly high yet irresistibly beautiful. The female official finally put them on with nervous excitement. As soon as she wore them, she swayed to one side. Jing Hengbo, who had been prepared, quickly steadied her.

“You’ll get used to it after walking a few steps,” she said. “Your female officials’ platform shoes in summer are about the same height, right?”

When the long purple hem swayed through the room, when snow-white fingers lightly grasped the wide sides of the skirt, when the purple rhinestone flowers sparkled in the abundant hair, when the female official unconsciously raised her snow-white neck and stuck out her chest, it seemed like there was another queen in the room.

A complete transformation – nothing more than this.

The other three women suddenly felt insignificant, wishing they could immediately shrink into dust.

Er Gouzi flapped his wings and flew over, wanting to steal that crystal lily hairpin to wear on his own head. Feifei pounced on the skirt hem, burying her head, and from those deep eyes, she seemed to be considering the possibility of hypnotizing the person and dragging her back to the cave.

Jing Hengbo was very satisfied with the effect and clapped her hands.

“Alright, then let’s go shopping.”

…

A moment of silence.

Then the female official suddenly turned around. “What?” She was so shocked her voice changed pitch.

“Shopping.” Jing Hengbo had an expression of ‘why make such a fuss.’ “After working so hard, do you think I did this for nothing? Beautiful to this degree, do you plan to just stay locked in a room looking a few times? What’s that saying? Dressing up beautifully but not going out for people to see is like wearing fine clothes at night. Alright, don’t resist the imperial decree. I’m not trying to break rules – I just have a completely new plan to help all Dahuang women develop beauty consciousness and improve quality of life. In the future, I hope to use this to create chain beauty salons or clothing stores, providing employment opportunities for Dahuang women and solving the problem of women’s low status in Dahuang. This is welfare I, as Queen, am planning for Dahuang women, and also a sacred measure that benefits the country and people…”

The female official listened in a daze, not understanding how things started or developed, how trying on a dress suddenly escalated to national affairs benefiting the country and people. Something that was clearly the treasonous act of sneaking out to shop had suddenly become “serving the Queen by conducting field styling demonstrations and market reaction surveys”…

Anyway, when Queen Jing truly began her eloquent persuasion, the simple people of Dahuang couldn’t identify and resist it. Half an hour later, Jing Hengbo had successfully coaxed the female official and several women to go shopping on the streets.

With the female official leading the way, leaving the palace was actually quite simple. Jing Hengbo went out by carriage, and at the female official’s repeated pleading, she reluctantly brought a small white shawl.

Today on Imperial Song’s busiest Jiugong Street, a small whirlwind arose.

The whirlwind started from the west end of Jiugong Street near the Imperial Plaza, slowly rolling forward, getting bigger, faster, and more sensational.

Looking down from above, one would see a black whirlpool of crowds surrounding several small colorful dots. As the dots moved, the crowd slowly followed, with whispered conversations constantly emerging.

“Look, look, what kind of dress is that!”

“So beautiful! I’ve never seen such beautiful clothing!”

“I like that purple one – noble! Refined! Wearing it makes you look like a queen! Ah, is she the Queen!”

“I like that colorful dress – so beautiful! Flowing like a dream!”

“Which shop sells these? I must buy one!”

“Ah, look at her shoes – silver, so high, so delicate! Shoes can actually be made in this shape?”

“Look at her hat – the ribbons are flying!”

“Ah ah ah what is that purple lily hairpin made of! My most beautiful jewelry isn’t half as good as that hairpin!”

“You’re all looking at dresses and shoes, but I think their makeup is so refined. How can that lip color be so vivid? And it’s sparkling!”

“I want to know where everything comes from!”

“Quick, quick, find a way to follow them and ask where they bought these!”

All of Imperial Song’s clothing stores, jewelry shops, gem processing shops, shoe stores, cosmetics shops, embroiderers, peddlers… almost all shops and workers related to women’s items were stirred up.

Almost all the young ladies and marriageable girls in Imperial Song City were stirred up.

Almost all the noble sons, young masters from prominent families, and various playboys in Imperial Song City were also stirred up. Following the fragrance, even if they couldn’t see the beauties at the center of the crowd, they could see countless ladies. Usually they could never see so many women gathered together, much less see them with such excited, flushed faces.

Two flowing sleeves, two fragrant breezes instantly swept through Imperial Song.

Jing Hengbo walked unhurriedly through the crowd, a slight smile at the corner of her lips. She was long accustomed to being watched and had originally come out prepared to be seen – the more sensational the effect, the better.

For the first time, she didn’t want to shock the world. The long dress was considered conservative, the small white shawl covered exposed skin, and the large colorful hat covered half her face, only revealing fire-red lips on snow-white skin. Her lips were full with clearly outlined lip lines, sparkling under the hat’s shadow.

The chiffon long dress fluttered, the colorful dress gathering the most beautiful colors – like brilliant autumn, like ocean waves, like spring flowers blooming. Under the dress peeked pointed high-heeled shoes with ribbons, inlaid with rhinestones that sparkled.

The young female official beside her was named Xia Zirui – no wonder she liked purple. Jing Hengbo had placed a black silk net with small black pearls in her hair, covering half her face. The exposed half showed distinct white and red, with a slightly upturned nose tip, radiating bright innocence. The naive purity of a twenty-year-old girl seemed only now to be unearthed.

She was far from Jing Hengbo’s composure, regretting the decision to come out from the first moment she stepped off the carriage onto the street. If not for Jing Hengbo’s dragging and pulling, she would definitely have turned and fled. As more and more people gathered and the spectacle became more sensational, she grew increasingly nervous, constantly tugging at her skirt hem, swaying unsteadily in the high heels she couldn’t master, completely supported by Jing Jun.

“Don’t be afraid, we’ll just make one round and go back,” Jing Hengbo comforted her, smiling apologetically at Jing Jun and the other two. “There wasn’t enough time today to dress up only Zirui. Next time I’ll dress you all up beautifully and we’ll come out together in style.”

“Forget it,” Cui Jie shook her head. “Dressed like this, I wouldn’t know how to walk. Are these shoes meant for humans?”

Yong Xue said quietly, “Just looking is very good. Some clothes also require fortune to carry them off.”

Before Jing Hengbo could praise her words, Jing Jun was already smiling: “Is Your Majesty planning to promote this kind of clothing and styling? Let Imperial Song women learn it while also making some money?”

“You’re smart!” Jing Hengbo’s eyes lit up. “Did you know? Women’s money is the easiest to earn. Dahuang isn’t poor, but because it has too little exchange with other countries, women dress too unfashionably and outdated. Heaven sent me here to earn their spare change!”

Moreover, she had herself as Queen and a court female official personally serving as model demonstrations!

Looking at modern constitutional monarchies, the clothes and jewelry of princesses, queens, and royal ladies always led fashion trends, with online knockoffs selling hotly. Everyone had a princess dream and could only wear clothes matching the princess to make up for it slightly.

During the welcoming ceremony, because the situation was unclear, she chose to obediently wear the ceremonial dress Dahuang had prepared. After she established her footing, she wanted all of Imperial Song, all of Dahuang, to see her unique modern style.

This Queen of hers had even less real power than the British Queen. Yesterday she had asked Zirui – her provisions also needed approval from the Palace Supervision Ministry and Ministry of Rites, with fixed amounts, ostensibly to prevent the Queen from developing extravagant and wasteful habits. Women without money lived dangerously. She didn’t want to have to file multiple reports just to buy a fur coat in the future. What would she do when she wanted to search the world for her three troublemaking friends?

Jing Hengbo looked at Jing Jun’s eyes that held inner light, just about to discuss her plan with her or simply put her in charge – after all, she needed a liaison in the outside world. Suddenly her heart stirred and the words on her lips stopped.

Some people and matters should be planned more cautiously.

The commotion ahead intensified as a large group of shop owners, disregarding propriety between men and women, desperately pushed through the crowd of women, wanting to rush in and question them. Another group of well-dressed young men on fine horses ordered their guards to clear the crowd, laughing loudly from afar as they inquired about Jing Hengbo and the others’ prices, their tone frivolous.

Jing Hengbo heard someone in the dispersed crowd mutter quietly.

“A group of hostages mixing around in Imperial Song, not knowing when their heads will roll, yet they dare be so arrogant!”

Jing Hengbo understood – these were probably the legendary sons of leaders from the six nations and eight tribes, forced to be sent as hostages through Gong Yin’s schemes. These people survived in Imperial Song as hostages, generally also serving as family leaders for the six nations and eight tribes in Imperial Song, responsible for related liaison affairs, controlling all family power in Imperial Song, and sometimes participating in national decision-making.

Last time before entering Imperial Song, those captured leaders from the six nations and eight tribes were mostly advisors or military leaders under the hostages. Due to the hostages’ existence, the six nations and eight tribes had to station some ministers and guards in Imperial Song, but the real kings stayed in their own territories and couldn’t leave without being summoned for major ceremonies.

As hostages, constantly facing life and death worries, their lives must be difficult. Drinking away sorrows, debauchery, and womanizing seemed to be necessary protective coloring.

Knowing these people’s backgrounds, Jing Hengbo didn’t want much contact. Just as she was about to turn away, she suddenly felt something wrong behind her – a feeling like thorns on her back. She suddenly turned and saw a pair of hawk-like eyes.

Against the light, with evening approaching and crowds bustling behind, she could see almost nothing clearly. But somehow she immediately saw into those eyes. That gaze was cold and deep, piercing toward her like needles, yet the moment it met her gaze, the killing intent flashed by like a meteor, turning dim and peaceful. Then that person turned and disappeared into the crowd.

Jing Hengbo only had time to see the person’s tall retreating figure with black hair, appearing quite young. From his attire, he seemed to be one of the hostages as well.

Jing Hengbo secretly memorized this silhouette.

Jiugong Street was very long, and they had attracted too many people. Halfway through, they could no longer move forward. Ill-intentioned people gradually approached, and some had already reached out trying to grab Jing Hengbo’s dress. Zirui had long regretted coming out infinitely, biting her lips and nearly crying: “Your Majesty… we shouldn’t have come… there are too many people and we can’t get out. Something will happen…”

“Mm, it’s about time. We should leave a stunning final impression.” Jing Hengbo nodded, seeing a small well by the roadside ahead. She went forward and turned around.

A gust of wind happened to lift her hat, and as colorful ribbons flew, her long hair rose. She smiled and looked back.

Gorgeous and elegant, capturing all the romance.

For a moment, everyone felt their eyes brighten, like morning sailing on the sea suddenly seeing sunrise and rosy clouds emerge. Suddenly their eyes were filled with colors and vividness, brightness and brilliance. Beauty to the extreme point where they couldn’t say what was beautiful – they only felt dark eyebrows and jade face, every stroke like a painting, only felt that from eyes to heart, from heart to soul, everything was shocking, stunning in an instant, forgetting everything, only remembering this moment, the brightness and radiance stretching across their retinas.

The crowd made meaningless exclamations, all somewhat dazed.

After a long while, someone finally reacted.

“Eh! Where are they!”

The remaining people were shocked, seeing that the two beauties who had just been not far ahead suddenly disappeared.

They had clearly just been surrounded in the middle of the crowd, unable to fly away.

Everyone searched around themselves – where could they find them? Those two women in strange and wonderful clothing, like fox spirits and ghosts from flower demon stories, descended on the wind and departed with a smile, disappearing amid everyone’s regretful and longing gazes.

…

Half an hour later, Jing Hengbo was pulling the confused Xia Zirui back to the carriage parked in a corner of Imperial Plaza.

After waiting a while longer, Cui Jie and the other two also returned.

Jing Hengbo could only teleport with one person at most. Fortunately, Cui Jie and the others had received her instructions beforehand and dressed normally. The moment Jing Hengbo teleported away with Xia Zirui, they turned and slipped into the crowd, returning on their own.

Under the radiant illumination of Jing Hengbo and her companion, they were just passersby – no one paid attention to what they looked like.

The carriage smoothly entered the palace. The guards at the palace gate were familiar with Zirui and only looked at the waist token she presented, not checking the carriage at all. Those who could serve as female officials in Dahuang’s court had all undergone repeated examination and testing by the Palace Supervision Ministry. Their own lives and honor, as well as their entire families’, were in the Palace Supervision Ministry’s hands – there was no possibility of betrayal.

Returning to her courtyard, Jing Hengbo was surprised to find the courtyard had expanded somewhat and many things had been added. Meng Hu was guarding the entrance, pacing back and forth with an anxious expression. Seeing her, he immediately went to the neighboring courtyard.

Only then did Jing Hengbo remember that although Zirui had a waist token for convenient entry and exit, her leaving the palace this time had been too easy. Gong Yin, that control freak, hadn’t arranged for anyone to follow?

…

After hearing Meng Hu’s report, Gong Yin put down the scroll in his hands and glanced toward another person standing before him.

This was a fat man, also one of the attendants who had accompanied the trip to Great Yan, named Yu Chun.

“Reporting to Master,” Yu Chun said. “Her Majesty left the palace with Female Official Zirui and didn’t do anything special. She walked thirty zhang on Jiugong Street and returned, taking no more than a quarter hour total. However…” He wiped his sweat, remembering how he had nearly been squeezed out of his skin, and smiled bitterly: “However, all of Imperial Song should be stirred up now…”

“Oh?” Gong Yin finally turned his face around. In the dusk sunlight, his features were clear, with a point of golden light sparkling on his long, thick black eyelashes.

“This…” Yu Chun instinctively felt he couldn’t describe his stunning feelings from that moment to the State Preceptor, so he could only laugh vaguely: “You should go see for yourself to understand…”