Having sent Ah Jiu away, Wufu then opened the other large box he had brought. When she saw the magnificent dress inside, she was montarily stunned.
"Miss, this is Fragrance Brocade," Purple Jade said to Wufu excitedly, as she and Jadeite had already shaken out the dress.
The dress, woven with gold and silver threads, was designed in the classic attire system known as the deep garnt, or "shenyi," which combined the upper garnt and the lower skirt at the waist. The collar, sleeves, and hem were bound or embroidered with other fabrics. Similar to Hanfu, it was splendid without sacrificing its refined elegance.
This dress before her, with its skirt hem teeming with butterflies amidst lush flowers, was distinctly vibrant. The embroidery along the edges was intricate and graceful, with patterns that seed three-dinsional and lively. As it shimred in the light, one could only imagine how arresting soone would look in it.
The gown for Wufu’s marriageable age gift had already been prepared by Madam Zhou at the city’s most famous Jinxiu Pavilion. Now that Ah Jiu had sent another set, this one was even more eye-catching and splendid than what Madam Zhou had prepared.
"...Miss, Fragrance Brocade is extrely rare. I dare say that if you wear this dress out, even the young ladies of the prefectural city will be envious of you!" Purple Jade said, smiling.
"Oh?" Wufu, this pseudo-antique persona, was completely ignorant of these matters.
"Fragrance Brocade is an imperial tribute. Even so, there are only two bolts of it each year, and sotis not even that!" Jadeite also recognized how precious the dress was and said, "Miss, the prince is truly thoughtful. You should try it on quickly, and perhaps wear this set for the ceremony tomorrow."
"Right, miss, you should at least try it on. If there’s anything that doesn’t fit, we can quickly make adjustnts," Hongyu added, coming back to her senses.
Seeing their enthusiasm, Wufu obligingly tried on the dress, and to everyone’s amazent, it fit perfectly, as if it had been tailored to her asurents. Purple Jade and the others were surprised, wondering how Ah Jiu could have known the miss’s size.
After being fussed over by the maids, Wufu finally took off the precious gown. Outside, another maid ca to report that the County Magistrate had sent over a congratulatory gift, and Miss Ping from next door had also co, currently paying respects to Madam Zhou.
Ping Caier had co to go over the ceremony details with Wufu, as she was to be the Praise Giver for her coming-of-age ceremony the next day. Wufu could not take this lightly, so she composed herself and went to Madam Zhou’s main room.
"Wufu is here! Co here quickly. Miss Ping has specifically co to discuss tomorrow’s affairs with you. Make sure you are a good host," Madam Zhou said with a beaming smile when she saw her daughter.
Wufu and Ping Caier were of the sa age group, with hardly any difference in their years; they greeted each other and took their seats.
Madam Zhou said, "You young girls can go to your room to talk; you’ll feel more at ease there than in here with ."
Wufu thus stood up, invited Ping Caier to her room, and took with her the congratulatory gift from Lord Wen that had been delivered to Madam Zhou.
She wasn’t in a hurry to see what the gift was. Instead, it was Ping Caier who showed so curiosity, laughing as she said, "I had no idea that you and Lord Wen were on such good terms."
Wufu wasn’t displeased by her probing and replied indifferently, "I hold a position at the Hundred Treasures Silver Building, so there is a bit of a relationship."
"I’ve heard that Lord Wen is a young County Magistrate and has yet to marry!" Ping Caier paused before asking further.
Wufu’s brows furrowed slightly as she said, "That is the gentleman’s private business, which I am not so privy to. However, with his status as soone from a prominent household, if he isn’t married now, he probably has betrothal arrangents with Ladies from Reputable Families. Now, about tomorrow’s ceremony etiquette, sister, would you please teach ?"
She deftly changed the subject, and Ping Caier, seeing no avenue to press further, could only follow Wufu’s lead and steer the conversation onto other matters.
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