"Yes!" The girls replied crisply.
As the gong sounded, Madam Chen took the stage. She was an experienced hostess who always knew how to handle the situation. At this moment, a sincere smile spread across her face: "Thank you all for coming today to take part in Winding Pavilion’s opening fashion show. Since you’ve come, Winding Pavilion will not disappoint. The fashion show officially begins now!"
As her voice faded, musicians on both sides of the T-stage began to play a cheerful melody that wasn’t too fast, lifting everyone’s spirits.
Qing Lei was the first to slowly walk out to the music. She wore a light green cloud-patterned water skirt, with light and graceful steps. A sweet smile matched her temperament, as she had a clean and refreshing appearance. The unique aspect of her outfit was the lace trim along the cuffs and collar, mixed in by Xin He to give her a playful, youthful appearance – a first in this era.
At first glance, the water skirt seemed simple, but its slimming design became apparent upon closer inspection. The clever tailoring made it look much thinner on the wearer – another first. Especially around the waist, which was cinched by a two-finger-wide belt, accentuating Qing Lei’s slender waist even more. A beautifully designed sapphire-encrusted waist chain loosely encircled her thin waist, adding a touch of elegance to her outfit.
As Qing Lei slowly walked out, the audience – both men and women – were captivated. The women looked even more intently, paying closer attention to her clothing.
Madam Chen looked to Xin He in the audience, and Xin He nodded slightly. Madam Chen then announced with a smile, "The skirt worn by Miss Qing Lei is an exclusive design of Winding Pavilion. It’s uniquely tailored to appear slimmer, and the cuffs and collar feature a new kind of fabric called lace – also exclusive to our shop. It may seem simple and clean, but it’s actually full of hidden details. If any young ladies wear it, they’ll stand out in a crowd. The skirt is priced at thirty taels of patterned silver."
Upon hearing this, the eyes of noble ladies and young misses in the audience lit up. No wonder they thought the skirt looked so beautiful at first sight!
Qing Lei had reached the front of the stage and stopped. She lightly brushed her waist chain with her hand.
Madam Chen added, "This waist chain is another exclusive design of Winding Pavilion, made of sapphire-encrusted silver chains. It pairs perfectly with this water skirt, serving as an eye-catching adornment. It’s priced at fifty taels of patterned silver!"
Qing Lei smiled, turned around, and walked back. The audience remained fascinated by her.
Madam Chen continued her introduction: "The jade hairpin on Miss Qing Lei’s head is an orchid hairpin, exquisitely crafted by skilled artisans. It’s priced at twenty taels!"
There were only these three items on Qing Lei, introduced all at once.
Qing Lei had already left the stage, but the audience continued to buzz with chatter. Men were indifferent, only wanting to admire the beautiful girls. The women, on the other hand, were constant in their discussions about the clothing and accessories.
Madam Chen addressed them all with a smile: "If any young lady or madam takes a liking to any of the items our girls are wearing, please send someone over there to place an order. Winding Pavilion has plenty of stock for its grand opening, so nobody leaves disappointed."
With these words, everyone became excited, and the noise in the hall grew louder.
"Oh! I think her skirt is beautiful! I must have it!"
"The skirt looks even better with that waist chain. It’s so stunning, I can’t take my eyes off it!"
"I like the hairpin too..."
The murmurs continued. Madam Chen didn’t try to stop them. With Qing Lei off the stage, other girls came to take her place. Madam Chen shouted, "Miss Xiang Cha, please take the stage."
Following Ji Xinhe’s instructions, only a few top girls were interspersed among the girls showcasing the various clothing and accessories. This was because Winding Pavilion had so many items to display. If all the top girls were clustered together, the others would pale in comparison, and the audience’s anticipation would wane.
Upon hearing Madam Chen’s call, the audience immediately quieted down, eagerly waiting to see what surprises the next girl could bring them.
As the fashion show proceeded smoothly, Xin He watched from the audience. Almost every time a girl left the stage, a servant of some lady or young miss would run to the hall to place an order.
When the show was more than halfway through, Xiaoyu hurried over and whispered in Xin He’s ear, "Just now, the front hall informed us that Qing Lei’s water skirt is almost sold out. Other outfits and accessories are also selling well, so we need to replenish our stock today."
Xin He raised her eyebrows, surprised by the positive response. She smiled and replied, "You go arrange that. Make sure they don’t mess up the show."
"Yes."
The fashion show, as it stood, seemed to be a resounding success.
Just as Leng Qing’s segment ended, the audience erupted into chatter: "That bracelet is so beautiful! I’ve had my eyes on it since I saw it in the beautiful painting! And those matching earrings made of silver are even more stunning than their jade counterparts!"
These earrings were designed by Xin He in a modern style, with a single dangling silver needle that transformed into an elegant shape, more lively than jade earrings.
"I can’t help it! I want so many skirts today! If I buy too many, my parents will scold me!"
"Why do all the clothes and accessories at Winding Pavilion look so beautiful? I don’t even know how to choose now!"
Xin He curled the corners of her mouth, calmly continuing to watch the show as it approached its finale.
Finally, it was time for Ah Lian, the finale, to take the stage.
"Next up, Miss Ah Lian!" At Madam Chen’s announcement, the entire hall eagerly awaited her entrance.
Ah Lian’s reputation indeed surpassed all the other girls, as she was known both as the city’s most beautiful and the most talented. This was why Xin He chose her for the grand finale. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖
When Ah Lian slowly stepped onto the stage, her outfit garnered much attention from Xin He, as it was her favorite design among all those up for display.
The upper part of her dress was similar to traditional clothing, with wide sleeves and a densely buttoned chest area, giving off a classic elegance. However, the waistline was curved, and the lower half featured elements of modern gauze skirts.
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