"There are still some left; the three of you can share it. Don't waste anything."
Mu Qingyao's astonishing words nearly made the third young lady drop her jaw. Surely the Prime Minister's manor wasn't short of food.
However, as their young lady had said, the three girls quickly sat by the round table to eat breakfast. Although their young lady was now indifferent and didn't like to get close to people, her tone of speech and her way of doing things were truly endearing. The three maids finished breakfast swiftly.
Lü'er cleared away the dishes, while Xiao Lian and Mei Xin attended to Mu Qingyao.
"Miss, would you like to rest in your room for a while? You woke up early to practice your martial arts."
Mu Qingyao shook her head indifferently, her bright eyes gazing at the green bamboos outside the door, lost in thought.
Was her martial arts skill ordinary or remarkable? She had to find someone to test it.
If her martial arts were very strong, she wouldn't be afraid of being bullied. If she only had third-rate skills, many things would have to be settled with her wits.
The hall fell silent. Lü'er's voice sounded from the doorway.
"Miss, the First Madam just sent a maid with a message, saying that someone from the most famous Neon Cloud Workshop in Lin'an City has arrived and is currently in the front hall?"
Mu Qingyao came back to her senses. Neon Cloud Workshop, the largest fabric store and clothing boutique in Lin'an City, whose garments were worn by the dignitaries and nobles of the capital.
Most of them were produced by Neon Cloud Workshop. They had top-tier craftsmen, top-tier fabrics, and even the rare Misty Cloud Gauze was never out of stock.
"Just in time, I was worrying about not having any clothes to wear."
Upon hearing Lü'er's words, Mu Qingyao's interest was immediately piqued. Despite the scorching sun outside, the thought of the colorful, layered clothes in her wardrobe made her sweat. She decided it was time to get some new outfits.
Mei Xin and Xiao Lian exchanged a look, their eyebrows furrowed. With so many clothes in their young lady's wardrobe, how could she not have anything to wear?
However, seeing her in such high spirits, the two maids dared not spoil her mood and followed her out.
The group walked along the long corridor, encountering many servants who respectfully greeted Mu Qingyao.
During the day, their third young lady was truly beautiful, with delicate features and a captivating charm. Although her white dress was simple, it looked elegant and tasteful on her.
In fact, the clothes Mu Qingyao was wearing belonged to Mei Xin, as she had no presentable attire and feared heavy, cumbersome clothes. Thus, she had borrowed one of Mei Xin's dresses.
While the fabric wasn't top-grade, the color was plain and the style simple, which suited Mu Qingyao perfectly.
Before they reached the main hall, joyful voices could be heard from afar.
"Mother, I want this! And this!"
In the main hall, an array of vibrant and dazzling fabrics was laid out on the carpet embroidered with peonies.
Besides the fabrics, two renowned master craftsmen from Neon Cloud Workshop stood smilingly by, awaiting the Mu family to select their materials.
The Mu family had always been a loyal customer of Neon Cloud Workshop, which was why they offered their door-to-door service. Ordinary families did not receive such preferential treatment.
At this moment, the eldest young lady of the Mu family was happily browsing the fabrics, touching them with delight and calling out to her mother.
Women possess an innate, irresistible attraction to beautiful and luxurious clothing.
"Mother, this one is so beautiful! I want this one, and this one too."
The eldest young lady found everything appealing. These top-grade brocades and silks felt smooth and delicate to the touch, with vibrant colors. When made into fine garments, they would undoubtedly enhance one's feminine grace.
The more the eldest young lady thought about it, the happier she became. She could almost envision the grand scene of herself ascending to the throne as empress, her face blooming like a flower.
"Yes, yes."
How could the First Madam refuse her daughter's requests? She nodded repeatedly. Her daughter was destined to become an empress, perhaps even the future matriarch of the nation.
She herself would then bask in her daughter's glory, and all the imperial relatives would be eager to curry favor with her. The First Madam's happiness grew with each passing thought, her eyes narrowing into slits.
In a corner of the hall, the Second Madam and the second young lady, Mu Qingxiang, could only look on with envy at the top-grade brocades and Misty Cloud Gauze.
The First Madam knew full well that Qingxiang would enter the palace with her own daughter, so why would she make clothes for the latter's rival?
However, she hadn't forgotten the third young lady, having already instructed a maid to summon her.
As the Second Madam was lost in thought, she heard a young maid's voice by the door: "Third Miss?"
Mu Qingyao nodded slightly, a regal aura enveloping her as she gracefully entered the main hall, accompanied by her maids, Lü'er and Mei Xin.
As the three of them entered, the First Madam immediately smiled and said.
"Yao'er, you've arrived? Come quickly and choose some fabric for your summer clothes."
The First Madam's affectionate demeanor towards Mu Qingyao was due to two reasons: the master's warning the previous day and Mu Qingyao's decision to forgo the opportunity to enter the palace.
This would increase the eldest young lady's chances, so as a mother, she was happy to have this girl make a couple more outfits.
"Mm," Mu Qingyao nodded slightly. She was indifferent to the First Madam's hypocritical behavior, but the fabrics laid out on the red carpet did catch her eye.
There were three rows in total. The first row clearly consisted of the finest materials, with bright colors and a soft, smooth texture, finer than human skin.
The second and third rows were comparatively inferior. Mu Qingyao's lips curved slightly as she pointed to the best fabrics.
"Use these to make me a few summer outfits. I want light colors with subtle patterns, and the style should be simple. As for the embroidery, please embroider it with plum blossoms for a refined look."
After she finished speaking, the two craftsmen standing by were momentarily stunned. The First Madam quickly urged, "Hey, why aren't you measuring the Third Miss?"
"Yes, Madam?"
"Third Miss, please come this way." The two craftsmen snapped back to attention, exchanged a glance, and looked at the elegantly refined woman before them. Her natural aura of dominance and her condescending demeanor were striking.
A mere glance evoked a sense of awe from the depths of their hearts, making it difficult to look directly at her, and making them feel a sense of oppression.
Could this be the third miss of the Mu family? That woman who was a known flirt? How was that possible? They had seen the third miss of the Mu family before.
She was always ostentatiously dressed, with thick powder on her face, rouge, and darkened eyebrows, making her original features unrecognizable.
But the woman before them was entirely new, a captivating beauty who commanded attention. If this truly was the third miss, then the most outstanding person in the Mu family was likely the one standing before them.
Compared to her, the eldest and second young ladies paled in comparison.
Mu Qingyao followed the two craftsmen to the side to have her measurements taken. One took the measurements while the other noted them down, and the task was completed swiftly.