Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 328 - 326

Chapter 328: 326

Yun’er was already skillful at handling clothing matchups and designs. She quickly picks out her dress — slightly long. A few quick stitches would shorten it perfectly.

Then she picked up the light yellow extra cloth that Xiao’er cut out. Without needing Xiao’er to explain much, she started to make roses with the material.

These roses were something Xiao’er taught her to create before; they were simple and Yun’er could quickly make three or four per minute since she was used to it.

Initially, Xiao’er had intended to use the remaining cloth to make a wood ear edge as a decoration. Now, with Yun’er’s help in making roses, it was even better.

The other ladies woke up to their plan!

They all knew how to sew, they could alter their own clothes if they didn’t fit perfectly.

Major modifications to fix ill-fitting clothes couldn’t be accomplished in time, but minor adjustments were doable, so all the ladies started to get busy.

Xiao’er sewed the roses made by Yun’er on the seams of her clothes. After sewing a small half length of light yellow skirt, it didn’t look abrupt anymore.

"Okay, I can handle the rest myself, Yun’er, go change your makeup quickly!" Xiao’er told Yun’er after she finished making the roses.

Yun’er nodded. While others were still altering their clothes, Yun’er quickly dressed and went to the dressing table, skillfully adjusting her makeup.

Whenever Xiao’er had some free time at home, she would teach Yun’er some modern hairstyles. Yun’er took what she learned and adapted it slightly, making a very appealing classical hair bun for herself.

After Xiao’er had finished her dress in just 10 minutes, even though it was made in a rush, the stitches were not perfect. However, they didn’t stand out when seen from afar, so the dress itself had no visible flaws.

"There’s only half an incense stick’s time left!" Aunt Gui reminded everyone.

With only five minutes left, Xiao’er rushed into the changing room, then disappeared into the portal to further refine her skirt as a precaution. After dressing up in the portal, she walked out.

Aunt Gui was slightly surprised to see that Xiao’er was able to change her wardrobe so quickly all by herself.

Xiao’er didn’t care about her thoughts. After all, she couldn’t guess that Xiao’er had obliterated the time difference using the portal.

Upon reaching the makeup table, she quickly removed all the light makeup on her face, took off the accessories in her hair, and untied her hair. She then neatly tied a double flat bun and secured it with a light yellow ribbon.

Xiao’er only put on some eyeliner and skipped the lipstick. She really couldn’t afford to appear too flamboyant at a funeral. Even without lipstick, her lips were naturally red, if she wore lipstick on top, she would not look solemn enough at all.

By the time Yun’er had finished her part and helped another girl who didn’t know how to manage her hairstyle, Xiao’er was also ready.

The two sisters exchanged smiles.

"Time’s up! Ladies, please follow me," Aunt Gui said in a stern voice.

Many people complained as soon as Aunt Gui had finished speaking.

Aunt Gui, while looking at Xiao’er who was standing in front of her, praised her in her heart.

It was said that the Countess of Rui’an was intelligent and bright. It seemed not to be mere hype.

The empress dowager deliberately made it difficult for her, gave the Countess of Rui’an unhappy topics on purpose. None of the wardrobes fit well and no matter how one tried to style them, it was all going to be wrong.

But within the span of an incense stick, the Countess of Rui’an solved the clothing issue. This was not just ice smart, this was also skillful craftsmanship.

"Ladies, please follow me," Aunt Gui once again turned a blind eye and lead them to the main hall, without any expressions on her face.

As soon as the two teams of ladies appeared, the empress dowager began to pay attention to Xiao’er’s attire.

So simple and elegant?!

The empress dowager looked back at Aunt Lin.

Aunt Lin understood and said softly, "Empress dowager, this skirt is not included in the outfits we prepared!"

Who gave her this skirt? The empress dowager looked at the empress.

Upon seeing the empress dowager looking at herself, the empress hastily asked, "Mother, what is your order?"

"Did you arrange for Countess Rui’an’s outfit?"

The empress took a glance at the dress Xiao’er was wearing and shook her head, "How could I prepare such a simple and elegant dress for Countess Rui’an?"

How would the little girl choose such attire, it’s too simple!

The empress dowager finally recalled, the note the Countess of Rui’an had, was something she told Aunt Lin to add recently. The empress couldn’t possibly know that there was such a note.

The scribbled notes in the hands of the 24 ladies were collected by the palace maids and presented to the Emperor, empress dowager, empress, and others.

Upon seeing the words on Xiao’er’s note, the Emperor and the empress understood why she was dressed so plainly.

After all the votes were cast by the standby ladies, the results of this round of competition were out.

First place: Chuan Ranhui, Second place: Shen Yun’er, Third place: Gu Qiqi, Fourth place: Lin Yunzhi, Fifth place: Shen Xiao’er...

"If we’re really styling based on what’s written on the note, I think Countess Rui’an’s outfit is quite fitting." The Emperor found it absurd when he saw Xiao’er’s ranking.

Lin Yunzhi’s dress was a little loose fitting on her, but she was ranked ahead of Countess Rui’an. This group of people was really taking things too far.

"Countess Rui’an doesn’t deserve the fifth place, she cheated." The empress dowager scoffed.

"Why does the empress dowager say so?" Shangguan Xuanyi didn’t like it when he heard the empress dowager discredit Xiao’er.

"The dress Countess Rui’an is wearing was not selected from the clothes that Aunt Lin prepared. Countess Rui’an, explain yourself. Where did you get this dress?"

"Yes, Empress Dowager. This dress I’m wearing is modified from one of the dresses prepared by the palace. It’s not strange that the empress dowager didn’t recognize it." Xiao’er curtsied and calmly explained herself.

"Modified? In such a short time? Countess Rui’an, you have great skills! Why can the empress dowager recognize everyone else’s dresses, but not Countess Rui’an’s?" The wife of the Minister of the Left couldn’t hold back and threw sarcastic remarks.

There was no room for her daughter in today’s competition, all thanks to this vixen. Now that there was a chance to step on her, she could not let the opportunity pass.

"This dress I’m wearing had a red plum embroidered on the hem. The note I received mentioned a funeral, so it would be inappropriate to wear it as is, so I had to modify the dress myself. All the other ladies in the room can bear witness!"

"Ranhui, is it like what Countess Rui’an said?" The Emperor looked at his niece.

"In response to the Emperor, that’s true. Countess Rui’an did alter her dress in front of all us. Second Miss Shen helped by making several roses." None of Fu Ranhui’s words were biased.

"Since others helped, that constitutes cheating. Those who helped also violated the competition rules!" The wife of the Minister of the Left held onto Xiao’er tightly and did not let go.