The Minister of Works was efficient; the sewing machine was finished in less than half a month.

After applying the oil, Gu Nanjiao pedaled the sewing machine a couple of times. She had to admit, pedaling the sewing machine was really effortless.

Lord Zhao was fascinated by the sewing machine. Remembering what Gu Nanjiao had promised him, he said, "Madam Lu, didn't you say you'd give my wife one when it was finished? Don't forget that."

Gu Nanjiao waved her hand: "Don't forget, this one needs to be improved. I'll circle it later, and you can make improvements and remake one. The improved version will be given to your lady."

Lord Zhao beamed with joy, his mustache twitching with delight: "Then thank you, Madam Lu."

Hehe, I wonder how happy her wife would be if she got such a novelty!

Gu Nanjiao called over a servant to carry the sewing machine onto the carriage.

Inside the Jiaoniang Pavilion, Lü Siniang was busy calculating accounts with her abacus. She glanced up at Gu Nanjiao, then lowered her head again.

Suddenly, Lü Siniang looked up again, pointed at the sewing machine, and asked, "What is this?"

Gu Nanjiao kept everyone in suspense: "Guess?"

Lu Siniang stepped forward, circled the sewing machine, and asked incredulously, "This isn't the kind of machine you were talking about that sews people up, is it?"

Lu Siniang opened her eyes wide and said in horror, "You, you, you, how could you think of such a cruel instrument of torture? Get it away quickly, don't leave it here and affect business."

Gu Nanjiao was stunned: "Why are you all saying it's a sewing machine? It's clearly for sewing clothes."

Seeing that Lü Siniang didn't believe her, Gu Nanjiao casually found a piece of cloth and sat down in front of the sewing machine: "Watch me operate it, and you'll know how amazing it is when I'm done."

Under Lü Siniang's watchful gaze, Gu Nanjiao calmly raised the presser foot on the sewing machine, turned the special-shaped wheel, and moved the take-up lever to its highest position, guiding the thread from right to left around the take-up lever.

After the thread is prepared, press the strip of fabric onto the presser foot of the sewing machine, turn the handwheel, and press down with your foot.

The rhythmic thumping sound came, and soon Gu Nanjiao had sewed the scraps of cloth into a small pocket.

Lu Siniang held the small bag and looked it over from left to right, and couldn't help but exclaim in admiration: "The stitches are so fine that you can't tell it was sewn. If you use it to sew clothes, wouldn't it become a heavenly garment worn by fairies?"

"The celestial robes worn by fairies?" Gu Nanjiao pondered, then suddenly thought of something, walked to the counter, picked up a pen and started sketching. In no time, a beautiful flowing fairy dress was designed.

Both of them were the type to act on their ideas immediately. With the blueprints in hand and Gu Nanjiao's guidance, Lü Siniang began making the Liuxian skirt using a sewing machine.

Seven days later, Jiaoniang Pavilion launched the "Celestial Maiden's Garments" series of clothing, including the flowing fairy dress with wide sleeves, the flowing fairy dress with rainbow feathers, and the fairy dress with light sand fluttering in the sky...

For a time, it set off a craze in the capital, with people praising the clothes of Jiao Niang Ge everywhere.

The clothes from Jiaoniang Pavilion are not only exquisitely made and of good quality, but they also have no loose threads. The colors are perfectly matched, and when worn, they make you feel like a fairy descending from the heavens.

Every day, long lines of customers formed outside the shop, making a fortune daily.

When Lü Siniang saw the silver, her eyes lit up dramatically. Gu Nanjiao had been so busy lately, receiving orders that she was practically running around like crazy.

Left with no other option, Jiaoniang Pavilion had to set a fixed quota of 50 people per day, and would not accept orders after that time.

Zhou Yu also received the news and rushed over early in the morning with her maid.

Looking at the long queue, Zhou Yu frowned in disgust. "Does this young lady have to wait in line?" She turned to Lv Fu and said, "Go and call Gu Nanjiao out for me. Let her personally receive me."

Lu Fu nodded and entered the Beauty Pavilion. She returned shortly afterward.

She glanced at Zhou Yu cautiously and said, "Third Miss, Manager Gu said that you should line up and she will personally serve you when it is your turn."

Zhou Yu was furious upon hearing this, her delicate face turning red with anger: "Gu Nanjiao has such a high opinion of herself, she doesn't even respect the Minister's Mansion."

With that, she glared at the people in line and yelled, "Get out of my way!"

No one dared to disrespect Miss Zhou, so the crowd in the line quickly made way for her. Zhou Yu walked in with her head held high, but was blocked by someone at the door.

Upon closer inspection, isn't this celadon?

Could it be that the older sister is here?

Zhou Wan certainly couldn't be here; now that she was the Crown Prince's concubine, she rarely showed her face in public. Having heard that the Flowing Fairy Dress from Jiao Niang Pavilion was like a seamless celestial garment, she commissioned Qing Ci to make one.

Zhou Yu smiled and said, "Qingci, is Big Sister here too? Tell her quickly that I also like the Flowing Fairy Dress from Jiaoniang Pavilion, and ask her to give me her spot."

Qingci secretly scorned her. The Third Miss had always liked to snatch things from her young mistress. Whenever the eldest young lady tried to give in, the Third Miss would take advantage of her.

Now that her young lady is a concubine of the Crown Prince, she is no longer a concubine's daughter of the Zhou family who needs to be subservient to others. Yet the Third Miss still dares to take advantage of her kindness and openly steal things.

She wouldn't tolerate Zhou Yu.

Qingci stood tall and proud, not even glancing at Zhou Yu, and said arrogantly, "Third Miss, my mistress really likes the flowing fairy dress from Jiaoniang Pavilion. She specially instructed me to make a few for her to wear when she goes to the palace to see the Imperial Concubine. This spot cannot be given to you, Third Miss."

Zhou Yu was stunned for a moment, then looked angrily at Qing Ci and pointed her index finger at her: "How dare you speak to me like that? Believe me or not, I'll tell my older sister and have her sell you out."

Qingci snorted coldly, completely disregarding Zhou Yu's words: "Third Miss, please forgive me. Qingci is just a servant. How could I dare to be disrespectful to you? Besides, the Consort is the daughter-in-law of the Imperial Family. How could she possibly yield to the daughter of an official's concubine? It would be a laughing stock if word got out."

“You… a mere servant girl, how dare you lecture me? If my elder sister can’t discipline you, then I will discipline you for her. Green Fu, smash her mouth open.”

Lu Fu cautiously tugged at Zhou Yu's sleeve and advised, "Third Miss, the eldest young lady is now a rank-holding concubine of the Crown Prince, and Qing Ci is also a female official. If we hit her, it would be an act of insubordination and contempt for the imperial law."

The Crown Prince's principal wife of the Chu Dynasty was a first-rank official, while his concubines were second-rank officials. Qingci, as the personal maid of the Crown Prince's concubine, was a sixth-rank official, only one rank lower than Gu Nanjiao, who was a sixth-rank scholar.

Now that their statuses are worlds apart, if someone hits her, at best they'll be beaten and sold off, at worst they'll lose their lives.

Green Fist's admonition not only failed to calm Zhou Yu down, but instead enraged her. She slapped Qingci across the face: "Just a servant girl, how dare you act arrogantly in front of me and be so disrespectful? Qingci is a servant girl of my Zhou family. Her parents are still in our household. What kind of imperial law are you defying?"

Qingci was stunned. Since marrying into the Crown Prince's mansion with the eldest young lady, no one had ever dared to show her any disrespect. Back in the Minister's mansion, her young lady was weak and was always suppressed by the third young lady.

Qingci snapped out of her daze, her face turning ashen. She wasn't going to tolerate the Third Miss anymore, and slapped Zhou Yu hard across the face.