After walking the streets for a while, Qi Qingyao entered a nearby apparel shop and stumbled upon a top-grade brocade robe. The maple-yellow robe was embroidered with the pattern of white honeysuckles. The cuffs and neckline had white outlines, and the white collar also bore an embroidered white, fluttering maple leaf.

Qi Qingyao was very pleased when she saw the robe.

The fabric felt soft to the touch. Surely wearing this to eat in Songhe Inn would match the status and class of the place.

“Boss, how much for this robe?” Qi Qingyao asked casually.

The boss came over and was about to say that it was not a robe a maid would be able to afford.

However, he instantly saw the meticulous ‘Li’ character embroidered on the arm of the maid’s outfit.

There was only one respectable family with the surname Li in the entire Capital City—the State Preceptor.

A maid of the State Preceptor’s residence wanted to buy this garment?

Could it be that it was for Lady Qi who was staying at the State Preceptor’s residence?

After all, there were no female family members in the State Preceptor’s residence other than the maids, maid elders, and female cooks.

Who else would it be for if not Lady Qi…

The streets of the Capital were brimming with gossip. The shopkeeper of Ziyun Boutique was a mere store manager, but since Ziyun Boutique was a subsidiary of the Senluo Chamber of Commerce, he was considered a minor person in charge under the Lu family. Of course he knew of Lady Qi. Although that girl with a strong backing had the reputation of being a widow, she was related to the previous young grand master, and now she had been bestowed a marriage by the empress. She was about to become the wife of the young master of their family!

If it was for the future young mistress, the boss would not dare say no!

He smiled very politely and said, “This garment is ready-made, and there are only three pieces available! If you want, you’ll have to provide us with your measurements so we can alter its size for you, free of charge.”

“No need, I want this one.”

“Ah.”

“What do you mean ‘ah’? Name the price. I want this one,” Qi Qingyao urged.

The boss looked at the little maid’s domineering appearance and thought, ‘As expected of a maid of the State Preceptor’s residence!’ Such an arrogant person! She was not the same as maids from other residences! This little maid might even be the personal maid of the future young mistress!

The boss gave her a special half-off discount! He had his own plan in mind.

Once Qi Qingyao was married into the Lu family, she would be the top young mistress. She might come to his store to shop for garments in the future. When that time comes, he could say that the first garment he sold to her was bought by her maid at a 50% discount…

Making money was not important.

The important thing was currying favor with the future young mistress.

Thus, these three limited edition pieces of priceless garments in the entire Capital City, one of which had been sold yesterday, leaving only two pieces remaining—with the original price of eighty taels, one was sold to Qi Qingyao for forty taels.

The boss even specially packed the limited-edition garment in a very exquisite silver package and sent her out cordially.

Upon turning around and returning to the shop, the boss looked at the remaining orange robe on the wall and figured that this piece would just hang there as the store’s treasure. It would not be for sale anymore.

He could not allow other people to dress like the future young mistress!

…

Qi Qingyao, who had not a single idea that she had unwittingly taken advantage of the boss, carried the bag out and left happily. She walked to an empty alley nearby, openly removed the maid’s outfit, and changed into the orange robe!

She did not mind at all because she was still wearing a white inner garment, so she did not think there was anything wrong with changing her clothes this way.

Thinking that no one noticed her hiding in the alley in such early hours of the morning, she took her clothes off and was left only wearing the fitting white inner garment. However, this scene happened to be witnessed by someone.

That person was Tan Xiangdie.