Though Huangfu Yue and her group all wore veils and hats to conceal their faces, they still drew considerable attention. Upon entering Mudian Town, they were met with countless gazes, feeling as though eyes were upon them everywhere they went.
Huangfu Yue paid them no mind; this was entirely within her expectations.
With so many of them, all unable to see each other's faces, exuding an air of mystery, and with everyone from the princely manor dressed in mourning attire, they were naturally bound to attract notice.
It would have been strange if no one paid them any attention.
However, in their current state, it felt manageable. If they hadn't covered their faces, they would likely have drawn even more attention, possibly causing a sensation throughout Mudian Town.
After all, the sudden appearance of so many beautiful women would undoubtedly be a massive piece of news, sure to create a stir.
The women of the Prince Dai's manor truly had no complaints when it came to looks. Each of her sisters-in-law was a rare beauty, possessing ample appeal to spark conversation.
"I recall there's a clothing store on the west side of town, not far from here. Just one more street over," Feng Maoyuan suddenly spoke up.
Upon hearing this, Huangfu Yue's mind immediately conjured an image of the clothing store Feng Maoyuan mentioned.
Having previously followed Xiao Hei, she had thoroughly scouted every corner of the town and knew exactly where everything was. Thus, upon hearing Feng Maoyuan's words, the image of that clothing store flashed in her mind.
"Is that clothing store called 'Xiang Ji'?" Huangfu Yue asked with a smile.
She remembered the sign hanging above the entrance of that particular establishment read "Xiang Ji."
Feng Maoyuan was taken aback. "County Princess, how did you know?"
Feng Maoyuan's subordinates and the members of the princely manor were also somewhat surprised, wondering how Huangfu Yue could possibly know. Had she been there before?
"Don't I know Taoist magic? I just used a little spell to see," Huangfu Yue offered a casual explanation to brush it off.
Hearing Huangfu Yue's response, not a single person doubted her. They were all deeply convinced of her ability to perform Taoist magic.
"County Princess, you're truly amazing! To be able to cast spells and see what shops are there!" Ying'er, who was walking half a zhang behind Huangfu Yue, exclaimed with admiration.
Many others also cast looks of admiration towards Huangfu Yue.
"From now on, please stop calling me County Princess. Just call me Miss. Refer to my sisters-in-law as Madam, and my grandmother as the Old Madam. Be absolutely sure not to get it wrong!
There are many people here, and if you don't change how you address us, our identities will be exposed very quickly," Huangfu Yue reminded and cautioned them.
Previously, they had been unable to break the habit of their old titles because they hadn't yet arrived in Mudian Town, and there weren't many people around to overhear. She hadn't insisted they change their address then, but now that they were in Mudian Town, surrounded by people everywhere, it was imperative they change.
Feng Maoyuan and his subordinates, as well as all the servants from the princely manor, including Ying'er, quickly agreed, responding in unison, "Yes, Miss."
Inside the carriage, Concubine Zheng, watching her granddaughter ride ahead, curved her lips upwards.
With her granddaughter present, she felt she could completely relax, needing to manage nothing at all…
"Yue'er, when you used your magic to see that clothing store, did you happen to see if there were any beautiful dresses for women inside?" Xu Yuqing, seated behind Huangfu Yue, asked.
"The dress I'm wearing is dirty and all wrinkled. I need to change it quickly. I must buy two sets of nice clothes."
During the raid on the manor, she had been pushed by soldiers and later escorted by bailiffs. Her originally snow-white mourning dress had long since become soiled, and many parts were creased.
Although she was wearing mourning clothes, they were made of excellent material and were snow-white and flawless, truly beautiful. Now that they were in this state, it was incredibly disheartening to look at.
Xu Yuqing did not notice that after she spoke, her sister-in-law, Concubine Zheng, and many others from the princely manor knitted their brows.
"Second sister-in-law, we are still in the mourning period, so we can only wear mourning clothes," Huangfu Yue reminded her.
All the people from the princely manor were wearing mourning clothes, which, in fact, attracted more attention than Feng Maoyuan and his bailiffs' official attire. Yet, she had only asked Feng Maoyuan's group to change their clothes and had not considered or mentioned the manor's people changing theirs. This was because they were still in the mourning period and had to wear mourning clothes.
She knew that in ancient times, both weddings and funerals were significant events, with numerous rites and rituals, especially funerals.
Ancient people placed great importance on "loyalty, filial piety, integrity, and righteousness." These were virtues that had been passed down through thousands of years of Chinese tradition, forming the core spirit of ancient people.
When a relative passed away, one was obliged to observe mourning and wear mourning attire.
Mourning and wearing mourning clothes were expressions of grief and remembrance for the deceased, which was extremely important in ancient times.
If someone's relative died, and they failed to observe mourning and wear mourning attire during the period, it could be seen as a lack of loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, or righteousness. Most importantly, it indicated a lack of deep care for the deceased and a failure to grieve their passing.
Xu Yuqing was truly…
"I know," Xu Yuqing nodded. "I can buy white dresses, as long as they are white, it won't matter. Any white clothing can be considered mourning attire."
Hearing this, Huangfu Yue and Concubine Zheng's brows furrowed even more deeply.
What Xu Yuqing said… mourning clothes were different from ordinary clothes. Simply being white did not make them mourning attire.
"Second sister-in-law…"
"If Yuqing wants to buy new dresses, then buy them."
Huangfu Yue had just opened her mouth to explain that not just any white clothing could serve as mourning attire, thinking that Xu Yuqing's current clothes were merely a little dirty and wrinkled and could be cleaned and ironed by the maids that night to be worn again. To her surprise, she was interrupted by Concubine Zheng before she could even speak.
Huangfu Yue turned to look at her grandmother in the carriage, a flicker of confusion in her eyes.
She had expected her grandmother to object, but she hadn't anticipated her grandmother agreeing.
She felt that her grandmother's attitude towards her second sister-in-law had become somewhat peculiar since that afternoon.
"Thank you, Grandmother," Xu Yuqing, not as perceptive as Huangfu Yue, failed to notice Concubine Zheng's subtle shift in demeanor towards her. Seeing that Concubine Zheng had agreed, she happily turned back and thanked Concubine Zheng in the carriage.
Beneath her veiled hat, Concubine Zheng's face was expressionless, as cold as ice, her eyes glinting sharply.
Continue your antics!
I'll wait until you've played your hand out completely!
A short while later, Huangfu Yue and her entourage arrived at the "Xiang Ji" clothing store. Huangfu Yue, having previously seen through Xiao Hei's eyes that "Xiang Ji" was not very large and would be crowded with too many people, instructed her servants to remain outside. Only she, Xu Yuqing, Feng Maoyuan, and his subordinates entered the shop.
Concubine Zheng, Zhu Jiayi, Zhong Liangshu, Yang Wanqian, and the little ones like Huangfu Xuan all remained outside the shop and did not enter.
"Grandmother, and Elder sister-in-law, Liangshu, Wanqian, I see your clothes are also dirty and wrinkled. Why don't you also come into the shop with us and buy some new clothes to change into? And buy new clothes for the little ones too, their clothes are also dirty and wrinkled."
Xu Yuqing enthusiastically beckoned to Concubine Zheng and the others. Since Huangfu Yue was footing the bill, and she didn't have to pay, why not indulge in this act of generosity?
"I don't need to change. I'll wear this." Concubine Zheng was the first to refuse.
Seeing this, Zhu Jiayi, Zhong Liangshu, and Yang Wanqian all expressed their refusal as well, stating that their current attire was fine. Zhu Jiayi and Zhong Liangshu even added that their children's clothes also did not need changing.
Xu Yuqing was somewhat displeased, secretly pouting her lips. These sisters-in-law were so good at putting on a show of obedience. Seeing the old madam refuse, they all refused too, following the old madam's lead, trying to please her.
What a bunch of fools!
What good was it to refuse to buy new clothes and try to please the old madam? The old madam wouldn't reward them for it.
Compared to pleasing the old madam by not buying new clothes, it was more practical to buy new clothes and wear them. Good!
"Esteemed patrons, are you looking to buy clothes? Or perhaps fabric, or shoes? My store has ready-made garments, fabric, and shoes. Please come inside and take a look!"
Huangfu Yue and her group were too conspicuous. As soon as they reached the entrance of the "Xiang Ji" store, the owner of "Xiang Ji" spotted them. Seeing that they weren't entering immediately but were talking outside, he eagerly scurried out to welcome Huangfu Yue and her party.
"We'd like to buy ready-made clothes," Huangfu Yue replied to the owner as she entered the shop.
Xu Yuqing and Feng Maoyuan and his entourage followed closely behind Huangfu Yue into the shop.
"My store has all sorts of ready-made garments, for men, women, old, and young. Please feel free to choose," the owner said with a smile, gesturing towards the garments in the shop.
"We want a few sets of men's ready-made clothes. We'll wear them. Find suitable ones for us," Feng Maoyuan stated.
"Certainly." The owner immediately agreed.
"I want the prettiest dresses," Xu Yuqing quickly exclaimed.
The owner could tell that Feng Maoyuan and his men looked like guards, while Xu Yuqing was clearly a lady of a prominent family, a mistress, and a significant customer. He immediately decided to personally attend to Xu Yuqing and nodded.
"My store has plenty of beautiful dresses. Please follow me."
As the owner spoke, he called for the shop assistants to find clothes suitable for Feng Maoyuan and his group, while he himself led Xu Yuqing to view the dresses. Huangfu Yue followed behind the owner and Xu Yuqing, also going to look at the dresses.