She Came to Heal, Stayed to Conquer

In order to give an explanation to the Empress, before all the Wei family members were gathered, Mr. Wei, despite being both the imperial teacher and Prime Minister, was temporarily ”invited” into the Ministry of Justice’s prison by Emperor Jing.

Of course, he was not alone; all his relatives in the Capital City accompanied him.

Among them was also his somewhat promising son—Wei Chengchao.

The somber atmosphere in the Capital City could not affect the cycle of day and night. Early the next morning, the fiery red sun rose as usual on the horizon.

On the streets, the cries of peddlers slicing through the morning mist and the white steam of freshly steamed soybean milk rising from the market indicated the bustling cycle of the Capital City’s streets had begun again.

Today, the teaching nanny did not come. After having breakfast at the Honglu Temple guesthouse, Princess Yujia of the Turks let Alan accompany her for a stroll.

Standing at the street corner of the Capital City, the late-May breeze brushed the silver bells adorning her hair, making a crisp sound.

She looked up at the tall colorful flags and signboards hanging by the street, her eyes filled with a sparkle of curiosity.

This was her first time wandering such a bustling city. In a few days, she would enter the palace to become Emperor Jing’s concubine, from then on locked within the palace walls.

”Princess, we should return. The teaching nanny said your etiquette lessons would be checked after lunch.”

The maid Alan reminded softly from behind her, holding sugar figurines just purchased on the street.

Yujia gently shook her head, her heterochromatic eyes shimmering amber in the sunlight: ”No rush, let’s walk around a bit more.”

Her fingers unconsciously stroked the Turkic scimitar hanging at her waist.

Although the scabbard had been forcibly removed by the teaching nanny, leaving only an empty knife buckle.

Pedestrians on the street cast curious or hostile glances at this foreign woman dressed in Turkic attire.

Princess Yujia could even hear the whispers coming from behind her.

”Look at that outfit, is she a Turkic?”

”Shhh, keep it down, I heard the Turks sent a princess for marriage diplomacy...”

”Hmph, so many soldiers died at Beiguan, and now they want a diplomatic marriage...”

The princess’s back stiffened slightly, but quickly straightened again.

She had to try to get used to these gazes. In the Turks, she was a noble princess. But here, she was merely a diplomatic tool from an enemy country.

Turning the street corner, a gilded sign caught her attention—”Brocade Workshop.”

Yujia remembered the day she entered the city, seeing from afar the bustling crowd in front of this shop, unusually lively. Several women dressed in beautiful clothes walked on the stage, their skirts fluttering like butterflies.

The peace offerings brought from the Turks had all been presented to Emperor Jing.

Yesterday, Emperor Jing also rewarded her with some silver taels for the teaching nanny to bring over. She wanted to buy a few beautiful dresses like those from the Brocade Workshop.

”Alan, let’s go have a look there.”

Before the maid could respond, Yujia was already stepping towards the Brocade Workshop.

On either side of the Brocade Workshop’s grand entrance, four sandalwood-carved mannequins gleamed with oil, incredibly lifelike.

Princess Yujia couldn’t help but touch the raised chest of the female mannequin, marveling at the superb craftsmanship of the Da Jing artisans.

As she pushed open the engraved wooden door, a delicate fragrance wafted towards her.

The interior of the Brocade Workshop was elegantly arranged. The dresses hanging around cast gentle luster in the sunlight streaming through the windows.

Yujia instinctively reached out, gently touching the silver plum blossoms embroidered on an indigo-colored formal dress. She imagined herself wearing this formal dress and what she would look like.

”The young lady has a good eye; this is the newest ’Cold Plum Reflecting Snow’ series from our shop.”

A clear male voice spoke from behind.

Princess Yujia turned around to see a young man in his early twenties, wearing a moon-white long gown, with delicate features and a sincere and warm smile on his lips.

The man was Tang Xiaotong, the shopkeeper of Brocade Workshop.

He and Yang Haibo originally came from being peddlers roaming the streets and had honed his skills at Drunken Immortal Brew for two months, now able to assume responsibility independently.

Having been in the business circles of the Capital City for several months, accustomed to seeing people of various prestigious identities, Tang Xiaotong appeared more mature and composed than before, handling interactions with a more worldly smoothness.

In fact, he was not yet seventeen years old this year, but now standing there, he gave off the impression of someone in their early twenties.

”Are you... the shopkeeper?”

Princess Yujia was somewhat surprised; she had assumed such a dress shop would be run by women.

”Indeed, I am Tang Xiaotong.”

The man clasped his hands in courtesy, his gaze lingering for a moment on Princess Yujia’s Turkic attire, but without showing any hint of strangeness on his face.

”Is this the young lady’s first time at our Brocade Workshop? Would you like me to introduce it to you?”