Granny Liu spoke in a serious, low voice.

The head of the Imperial Wardrobe stared wide-eyed at the experienced examination techniques of the elderly women, his expression displeased.

"What are you saying, Granny? Do you suspect that someone in our Imperial Wardrobe is plotting against the Princess?!"

The palace maids behind the head of the Imperial Wardrobe were displeased upon hearing this. If word got out, how could their Imperial Wardrobe maintain any face in the palace?

At that time, wouldn't the nobles distrust the clothes they made and make things difficult for them?

"Don't worry, young lady, it's just a routine check. The old women have been in the palace for a long time, so they're bound to be a bit cautious."

Moreover, given the urgent delivery of these clothes, it's not impossible that the embroiderers might accidentally leave a needle inside the garment while rushing to finish it.

Granny Liu looked up at the palace maid who had spoken: "You're new here, aren't you? Every year, the clothes sent by the Imperial Clothing Bureau are inspected."

"It's not that I'm targeting your Shangyi Bureau, but the palace is so big and there are so many people handling it, it's inevitable that some needles and thorns will be missed, and occasionally some things that shouldn't be there may slip in."

“The Ninth Princess has delicate skin, so we should also check if the fabric is soft. If the Ninth Princess is hurt, neither of us can bear the responsibility, don’t you think?”

Granny Liu patiently coaxed the disgruntled palace maid.

Hearing what Granny Liu said, the palace maid knew better than to say anything more.

After several nannies inspected the clothes for a while, Granny Liu said to the head of the Imperial Wardrobe, "We have inspected the clothes. Thank you, Auntie."

Seeing Granny Liu's kind and gentle appearance, the head of the Imperial Wardrobe bowed and left with his men.

The head of the Imperial Wardrobe was much younger than Granny Liu, but since Granny Liu addressed her as "Aunt," she naturally had to return the courtesy.

After the group left Fushuang Palace, the palace maids closed the doors and windows.

Granny Liu picked up the dress and examined it carefully. "This dress is really beautiful!"

"Who can argue with that!"

"Look at the embroidery on this piece; it must have taken a lot of effort!"

Yun Duoduo had just finished bathing and came out. Hearing that the Imperial Clothing Bureau had delivered clothes, she didn't even bother to dry her hair before coming over to see.

[I have new clothes to wear again!]

"Princess, be careful not to catch a cold!" Ah Xiang followed behind Yun Duoduo and quickly draped another robe over her shoulders.

Yun Duoduo was a little excited. She curiously craned her neck to look at the box in the nanny's hand, her attention completely focused on the brightly colored dress.

She must be a big star in Nanyang, so she has to wear a custom-made dress to attend banquets.

Yun Duoduo glanced at the inner and outer garments and felt that they looked similar to those from her first birthday celebration, suggesting they were designed by the same team.

The inner garment was quite conventional in appearance, with clear patterns of auspicious clouds and peonies. Most importantly, the fabric was very soft, and the sleeves felt wonderful to the touch.

Next is the inner garment, which is also embroidered with flowers, including blooming lotuses and lotus buds. The petals are either pointed or rounded, and they are very lifelike.

The coat was a long padded jacket, with birds and butterflies embroidered on the collar and cuffs, which was very beautiful. Before Yun Duoduo could take a closer look, everything suddenly went black.

It turned out that Ah Xiang was drying her hair.

"Princess, we can look at the clothes later. Your hair is hard to dry. If we don't dry it quickly, it might delay your coming-of-age ceremony this morning."

Yun Duoduo had no choice but to suppress her curiosity.

The old woman picked up the coat and examined it closely. "Oh my, look at this long coat, it's really impressive!"

“This old servant still remembers that the princess’s little jacket was covered with jewels when she turned one year old.”

"Yes, we used to say that this little jacket was worth a lot of money, enough to buy a lot of cattle and sheep!"

Another old woman recalled from the side.

"If you ask me, this long coat, this one piece of clothing, is enough for us to use for a lifetime!"

Listening to the old women's words, Yun Duoduo wondered if it was really that exaggerated; it was just a piece of clothing.

Several palace maids took turns drying Yun Duoduo's hair. When her hair was almost dry, she took the long coat from Granny Liu's hands. Sure enough, the maids were not exaggerating at all.

They're all covered in jewels; wearing them makes you look like a true embodiment of wealth and luxury.

The light pink long coat is very elegant and beautiful, with pearls, white jade and three-dimensional flowers made of South Sea pearls sewn on the hem.

Not only were jewels sewn onto the hem, but rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and crystals were also sewn onto the lapels.

A three-dimensional butterfly was sewn onto the belt around her waist, which was very beautiful.

The Imperial Wardrobe Bureau is really getting to know her preferences better and better.

"Come, Princess, let me help you put on your coming-of-age ceremony attire." Granny Liu helped her put on the layers of clothing.

It's so heavy.

When Granny Liu put the outermost robe on her, she felt as if a huge stone was pressing down on her shoulders.

After she was dressed, Granny Liu pressed Yun Duoduo's shoulder and made her sit down.

The palace maids began busily combing Yun Duoduo's hair and putting on hairpins inlaid with rhombus-shaped malachite, plain gold, and amethyst.

Ah Xiang carefully drew Yun Duoduo's eyebrows and applied rouge and powder.

After everything was ready, Yun Duoduo went to the Dikun Palace.

Before leaving, Yun Duoduo said, "Today is my coming-of-age ceremony. From now on, I will leave the palace and live in my own residence."

"Today, everyone should relax and wear whatever clothes they like."

On the day of her coming-of-age ceremony, Yun Duoduo allowed the palace maids and eunuchs of Fu Shuang Palace to wear their own favorite clothes instead of palace attire.

She knew that the palace maids and eunuchs were confined in the palace all day long, wearing work clothes day after day for decades, which was simply outrageous and dehumanizing.

"But in the evening, if we are to receive foreign guests, we still have to wear the uniform palace attire."

After saying that, Yun Duoduo, along with A Xiang and Granny Liu, went to the place where the coming-of-age ceremony was held, the Dikun Hall.

Watching Yun Duoduo's departing figure, the palace maids were filled with disbelief. One of the more mischievous maids exclaimed, "The princess has allowed us to wear our own clothes?!"

"Last year for my birthday, I embroidered a dress for myself, and now I can finally wear it!"

The news quickly spread throughout Fu Shuang Palace, and everyone began to busy themselves choosing their special outfits for the day.

...

The Dikun Hall is where the coming-of-age ceremony is held.

After Yun Duoduo arrived at the Dikun Palace, she waited in the side hall. As soon as the official in charge shouted "The auspicious time has arrived," music began to play in the main hall.

After the music ended, Yun Beiye gave a speech, and then a palace maid led Yun Duoduo to the main hall.

Yun Duoduo was almost asleep while waiting in the side hall; she had never felt a day could be so long.

Somewhat bewildered, she followed the palace maid towards the main hall, where many people were already seated, all there to witness her coming-of-age ceremony.