Chapter 13: The Brilliant Stratagem

"Oh my, Princess, this is a shop under Young Master Rong Xi’s name." Dieyi’s mouth twitched. She couldn't believe the Princess had forgotten even this. She had to lure her in; perhaps if Rong Xi saw this new, different Princess, he might fall for her all over again.

Xiangcao scoffed, "Princess, you really ought to go in and put that arrogant man in his place. Ever since that Murong Xi married you, he has been gallivanting about in public all day. Who knows what people are whispering behind your back?"

Yun Xiange smiled. In this era where women are revered and men are subordinate, a man who dared to challenge tradition and pursue his own ideals was a rare, admirable oddity.

Murong Xi—her husband. Ah, pfft, she had truly become accustomed to this ancient world; her speech was becoming so formal. Murong Xi, her husband... well, she was far too curious. She would just go in and take a look.

"You two go off and amuse yourselves. Meet me back here in three hours."

After dismissing Dieyi and Xiangcao, Yun Xiange entered the Yinyuan Clothing Store alone. It was clear the business was thriving; the storefront was hung with a dazzling array of luxurious garments. It was evidently a high-end boutique, frequented by wealthy, jewel-bedecked women.

Suddenly, a voice of reprimand caught her attention: "Tell me, what are we to do now? Fine silk ruined by you lazy employees!"

"Manager, this batch of silk was ruined because the young miss was playing in the back room and accidentally knocked over the dye vats. It has nothing to do with us," said a woman in coarse clothing, looking aggrieved.

The shopkeeper fell silent; clearly, the "young miss" the woman referred to was her own daughter. "Let me take a look." Yun Xiange pushed through the crowd. Tsk, tsk, this fine white silk was stained with splotches of red, blue, and purple—it was practically trash.

She felt the texture of the fabric; it was delicate and smooth. It was clearly top-quality material. A plan formed in Yun Xiange’s mind: "Shopkeeper, I have a solution. Please, bring me a brush, paper, and an inkstone."

The shopkeeper was skeptical. Though she didn't know who this masked woman was, she possessed an air of unshakable confidence. Very well, at this point, she might as well treat a dead horse as if it were alive.

The noblewomen browsing nearby were drawn by the commotion, gathering around Yun Xiange to watch the spectacle. Many sneered at this woman who didn't even dare show her face, mocking her for "wielding an axe before Lu Ban"—showing off her incompetence before experts. The designers at Yinyuan were among the best in the capital, and even they couldn't salvage this damaged fabric. Could a young, unknown woman really design something out of it?

But who was Yun Xiange? She was a brilliant secret agent from the twenty-first century. While she hadn't studied fashion design, she had seen plenty of trends in her time. She also possessed significant artistic skill; an agent had to be a jack-of-all-trades.

Ignoring the surrounding murmurs of doubt, Yun Xiange waited until the brush and paper arrived. She pulled out a piece of the stained fabric—dyed with yellow, green, and orange—and contemplated it for a moment before setting her brush to the parchment. Her strokes were inspired, and within fifteen minutes, a lifelike design for a dress appeared on the page.

The spectators gasped in unison. They had never seen such a stunning gown. It had no long sleeves, and a long skirt that reached the ankles. With a yellow base, the green dye was incorporated into leaf patterns, accented by vast, blooming flowers. The style exuded an unrestrained, wild beauty—proud and symbolic of freedom. It instantly captivated everyone present; every woman there longed to wear such a dress.