The Prince's Beloved Little Wife

With a clear goal in mind, the two walked briskly towards the clothing store, their hearts filled with anticipation. As soon as they stepped inside, their eyes were immediately drawn to the dazzling array of clothes, as if they had entered a vibrant, colorful world. On the racks, exquisite garments made of silk hung like works of art, each exuding a unique charm.

Among them, the light and flowing ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) is particularly eye-catching. The pink ruqun is as delicate and vibrant as blooming peach blossoms, evoking the beautiful scene of trees full of flowers in spring; while the blue ruqun is as deep and tranquil as a still lake, giving a sense of serenity and peace. The hems are embroidered with exquisite lace, some with lively butterflies fluttering among flowers, others with elegant orchids exuding a faint fragrance. These laces not only add layers to the garment but also make it appear lifelike, as if it has come to life.

Besides the ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), the shop also sells dignified shenyi (a type of traditional Chinese robe). The black fabric exudes a simple and elegant style. The collar and cuffs are embroidered with intricate cloud patterns in gold thread, each stitch seemingly telling the story of the craftsman's ingenuity. These cloud patterns are not only beautiful and elegant, but also symbolize good fortune and auspiciousness, inspiring awe in the wearer.

On a nearby shelf, stacks of matching short-sleeved blouses and horse-face skirts were laid out. The blouses were brightly colored, primarily in vibrant hues like vermilion and emerald green, giving them a lively feel. The horse-face skirts, on the other hand, featured elaborate gold-woven brocade patterns, with various auspicious designs so lifelike they seemed to leap off the garments, displaying their vibrancy and energy. Phoenixes soaring high symbolized good fortune, happiness, and well-being; koi carp, seemingly swimming, represented abundance and prosperity year after year. These patterns not only made the garments more magnificent but also expressed people's aspirations and pursuit of a better life.

Standing in the bustling clothing store, Chen Mengyao was momentarily at a loss, faced with a dazzling array of fine garments. She knew the importance of her upcoming visit to the Grand Tutor's residence to formally acknowledge her family; the clothing she chose had to not only reflect her status but also demonstrate respect and reverence for the Grand Tutor's family. Left with no other option, Chen Mengyao softly called over a seemingly experienced shop assistant, requesting their help in selecting suitable attire for the occasion.

Upon hearing this, the sales assistant immediately offered a polite smile, knowing that this customer needed an outfit that was both appropriate for the occasion and showcased her personality. So, the sales assistant led Chen Mengyao among various silks and elegant garments, patiently explaining the characteristics and meanings of each piece. Finally, the sales assistant carefully selected a noble and elegant dress from the many options available.

The dress, with its deep sapphire blue base and intricate gold embroidery, conveyed auspicious meanings of dragons and phoenixes while maintaining a dignified and elegant style. The skirt swayed gently, seemingly radiating endless brilliance with Chen Mengyao's every step. Wearing it, she exuded an even more noble and extraordinary aura, as if she were a noblewoman from a prestigious family. Looking at herself in the mirror, Chen Mengyao felt an indescribable joy and confidence welling up within her. She knew this dress would surely make her shine at the Taifu Mansion's family recognition ceremony.

Just as Chen Mengyao was admiring herself, Ouyang Han strolled over. He had only glanced at her casually, but his gaze was instantly drawn to Chen Mengyao, and he involuntarily stopped in his tracks. His eyes widened slightly, filled with amazement.

The sapphire blue gown seemed tailor-made for Chen Mengyao; the golden dragon and phoenix patterns shimmered on the fabric, perfectly complementing her noble气质 (qi zhi - inherent quality/temperament). Ouyang Han felt his heart skip a beat. The woman before him was like a fairy stepping out of a painting, so beautiful he couldn't look away. His gaze slowly moved down from Chen Mengyao's delicate face, across her graceful neck, and finally settled on the hem of her skirt swaying gently in the wind. For a moment, everything around him seemed to disappear; the entire world consisted only of Chen Mengyao in her magnificent gown.

After a long while, Ouyang Han finally came to his senses. The corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up, and he said in a voice with a hint of gentleness that was barely perceptible, "You look really beautiful in this dress." Upon hearing this, Chen Mengyao's cheeks flushed slightly, and she lowered her head shyly. This bashful appearance was even more charming in Ouyang Han's eyes.

While selecting clothes, Ouyang Han suddenly had a whim and gently gestured to the shop assistant to choose a few more items to carefully coordinate for Chen Mengyao. He meticulously considered various occasions, including casual and simple yet elegant attire for everyday wear, as well as outfits specially prepared for the solemn and magnificent palace banquets. Each piece was uniquely crafted, exuding nobility and gentleness.

The shop assistant understood immediately and quickly selected a few particularly outstanding pieces from the dazzling array of clothing. These garments were either fresh and elegant, made of soft and delicate silk embroidered with delicate floral patterns, as if they could dance lightly in the wind; or gorgeous and dazzling, inlaid with tiny jewels and sequins, shining brightly under the light, like the brightest star in the night sky.

As Chen Mengyao tried on each garment, the entire shop seemed to radiate light upon her arrival. Her everyday clothes perfectly showcased her unadorned, natural beauty, drawing people closer to feel her purity and warmth. But when she donned her imperial banquet attire, she instantly transformed into a noble and elegant princess, her every gesture exuding unparalleled grace and charm; every glance she cast was enough to make time stand still.

Ouyang Han's gaze followed Chen Mengyao intently. Every turn she made, every smile, captivated him. A powerful possessiveness welled up within him; he longed to cherish these beautiful moments forever, to prevent anyone from witnessing her unparalleled beauty, wishing only that she could forever remain beautiful and belong to him alone. This deep affection and longing flowed in Ouyang Han's eyes, transforming into endless tenderness and protection.

Ouyang Han carefully instructed the shop assistant to meticulously wrap every piece of clothing Chen Mengyao had tried on, ensuring they were perfectly intact. He then elegantly paid for them and led the delighted Chen Mengyao into a nearby jewelry store. The store's dazzling array of jewelry shimmered under the lights. Without hesitation, Ouyang Han had the shop assistant select the most exquisite and valuable pieces; each one radiated a unique brilliance, as if made specifically for a gentle and charming woman like Chen Mengyao.

After completing all this, Ouyang Han didn't waste a moment. He instructed the guards to carefully deliver the meticulously selected items back to Chen Mengyao's residence, while he personally accompanied Chen Mengyao to the embroidery workshop that had specially made her wedding dress. Inside the workshop, each embroiderer was immersed in her own world, her needle and thread flying, each stitch imbued with blessings for a happy marriage. Ouyang Han specifically sought out the embroiderer who had personally taken Chen Mengyao's measurements and gently inquired about the progress of the wedding dress. The embroiderer smiled and replied that she had just finished the wedding dress, into which countless efforts had been poured, that morning and was just about to send someone to have it tried on when they unexpectedly came in person, so she immediately arranged for Chen Mengyao to try it on.

With the gentle assistance of the embroiderer, Chen Mengyao slowly put on the wedding dress that embodied the painstaking efforts of countless artisans.

The wedding dress was predominantly crimson, like the most vibrant red plum blossoms in winter, striking yet dignified. Embroidered in gold thread were dragons and phoenixes, the dragons fierce and lifelike, seemingly about to burst forth from the fabric; the phoenixes spread their wings, their multicolored feathers clearly defined, radiating a lively luster. A band of round pearls adorned the neckline, each full and radiating a soft glow, like stars fallen from the night sky. The cuffs were made of light gauze, embroidered with delicate cloud patterns, adding a touch of ethereal grace. The skirt trailed on the ground, layer upon layer, like blooming flowers, each edge embroidered with exquisite lace, swaying gently with Chen Mengyao's movements, like a flowing sea of ​​flowers. The back of her wedding dress featured a long shawl, also embroidered with auspicious words in gold thread. When a gentle breeze blew, the shawl fluttered, and the shimmering gold characters looked like leaping sprites, further highlighting Chen Mengyao's stunning beauty at that moment.

As she slowly emerged from the fitting room, the entire room fell silent, all eyes drawn to her. The wedding dress seemed to come alive on her, making her appear like a fairy stepping out of a painting, ethereal and breathtakingly beautiful. Ouyang Han was deeply stunned by the sight before him; his eyes were filled with amazement and tenderness, as if the whole world had lost its color because of her, and she alone was the most dazzling light in his eyes.

Ouyang Han's eyes were filled with endless tenderness as he softly said to Chen Mengyao, "You are so beautiful, like a fairy who stepped out of a painting. This wedding dress is simply tailor-made for you, making you even more gentle and charming. What do you think? Is there anything that needs to be altered? Also, would you like them to embroider a pair of suitable shoes for you to match?" Chen Mengyao looked down at the wedding dress she was wearing, a satisfied smile on her face. She replied, "This wedding dress does fit quite well; the workmanship is exquisite, and the style is elegant. However, it would be even better if there were some adjustable designs at the waist. After all, there are still more than ten days until the wedding day, and I don't want to be unable to fit into it by then just because I've gained a little weight. Besides, I don't want to deliberately diet during this time; I really can't eat less."

At this point, Chen Mengyao smiled mischievously, seemingly a little helpless about her gluttony. Then, she continued, "As for shoes, there's no need to bother. Anyway, this wedding dress is so long, it covers my feet, I can just wear my own shoes. Although the embroidered shoes here are exquisite, I'm not used to wearing them." Ouyang Han couldn't help but laugh and cry at her words. He shook his head helplessly, then said to the embroiderer beside him, "Can you meet her request? Make some alterations at the waist so that it can be adjusted in size."

The embroiderer listened carefully to Ouyang Han's request, then nodded confidently: "No problem, Your Highness. Such modifications are not difficult for us; we can probably complete them in a few days. Once finished, I will send them directly to the Prince's residence." Ouyang Han nodded in satisfaction upon hearing the embroiderer's words: "No problem, then thank you for your hard work." After saying that, he turned to look at Chen Mengyao, his eyes full of doting affection.

So, Chen Mengyao returned to her inner room, took off her wedding dress, and carefully handed it to the embroiderer. Then, she and Ouyang Han left the embroidery workshop and returned to their own courtyard. Along the way, both of them were in exceptionally high spirits, as if they could already see the blissful scene of their wedding day.