In the morning, the minute Tian Miao woke up a maid outside her room whispered to ask if she could come in to wait on her.
After getting the affirmative from Tian Miao, several maids entered the room in single file. There were those carrying washbasins for washing one’s face, sticks of willows used for rinsing one’s mouth, salt, and there were also maids carrying trays filled with hair accessories and new clothes. Anyone would be able to tell that everything had been prepared with great care just with a single glance at it.
Tian Miao happily accepted the maid’s service, from dressing to washing up, and, finally, to putting on all the accessories.
As the maids looked at the woman in front of them, they each felt their hearts beat somewhat faster. They had never seen a woman so beautiful and elegant before to where they dared not look directly at her, but were yet unable to help secretly stealing glances at her.
When Princess Yong An came to look for Tian Miao, she was also dumbfounded by the sight that greeted her.
She recalled the words that her husband had said: “Look at her mannerisms and how she dresses. Why do I feel that even the late Empress Dowager’s poise and bearing couldn’t compare to hers?” The late Empress Dowager was one remarkable woman whose name had made it into the history books. When the Emperor first established his nation, he was naturally without any support, and his empire was barely a hinterland. At that time, the Emperor didn’t have an empress. It was the Empress Dowager who sat in court to govern state affairs. All the civilian and military officials at court were full of praises for her, and everyone was fully and sincerely convinced of her superior capabilities.
Later, the passing of the Empress Dowager brought great grief to all the officials at court. Even so for the Emperor, who grieved and mourned with every single passing moment. He went without sleep and rest for three days and nights, where he kept vigil by the coffin without taking a single step away from the wake.
For such a remarkably amazing woman like her, even if she just stood still in one spot, her presence was incomparably dazzling.
And the aura that this Miss Tian had was even more dazzling than that of the late Empress Dowager.
This Miss Tian, exactly who was she? Was she really a member of the clan of divine operators?
“Miss Tian, did you have a good rest last night?” Princess Yong An went up to Tian Miao and asked with a smile.
“Yes, thank you for your concern, Princess Yong An.” Tian Miao looked at the graceful and elegant woman in front of her and returned her smile. She found the briskness and frankness in Princess Yong An’s tone of voice appealing and somewhat likable. Such a woman who had a mind of her own and dared to shoulder responsibilities wasn’t often seen in this era. Even for a woman in her position, she was still a rarity of rarities.
“Let’s have breakfast first.” Princess Yong An led Tian Miao out of the room to the dining hall. The entire family of the Duke’s residence had already arrived and were waiting there. They started eating after Tian Miao arrived, and it was only after the meal that they started discussing some matters.
Xiao Anning only came to know that Prime Minister Ji had brought Ji Liruo over after he woke up.
He listened while his grandfather filled him in on the details of what had happened, but when he learned that this matter would be handled by Prime Minister Ji, Xiao Anning fell silent. He didn’t really like Prime Minister Ji. This man’s methods were overly pragmatic and unscrupulous. Although in the officialdom, there was nothing wrong with such behavior.
As for Ji Liruo…
Xiao Anning’s thoughts drifted far away.
It was only when Princess Yong An called out to him that he returned to his senses, interrupted from his thoughts.
“Ah? Mother, what did you say?” Xiao Anning asked in confusion.
“Miss Tian would like to take a stroll around the capital. You should accompany Miss Tian around.” Princess Yong An finished giving her instructions to Xiao Anning, then smiled and spoke to Tian Miao again. “If Miss Tian sees anything to her liking, please don’t stand on ceremony.”
“In that case, thank you very much.” Tian Miao also smiled and nodded. She didn’t have the slightest intention at all of showing restraint. Seeing how straightforward Tian Miao was, Princess Yong An liked her even more.
“Okay, okay.” Xiao Anning recollected his thoughts and nodded in response.
Princes Yong An instructed Xiao Anning to bring more guards along before allowing the two out the door.
Tian Miao got on the carriage while Xiao Anning rode a horse next to the carriage she was on.
When the carriage came to a complete stop, Tian Miao got off and looked up to see that the carriage had stopped in front of a jewelry store.
It was only at this point that Xiao Anning got off his horse, walked over, and said somewhat shyly, “I don’t know what the ladies fancy. But I think beautiful jewelry should be very suitable for Miss Tian.” When he was at the OmniStore, he had seen Tian Miao, who was so beautiful that she seemed immortal. He had also caught sight of the fine jewelry that she donned. Subconsciously, he had formed the impression that Tian Miao had a liking for exquisite things like jewelry.
Looking at the somewhat shy Xiao Anning, the corners of Tian Miao’s mouth curled up slightly. What a sensible child indeed.