I woke up as the Villainous Empress

Chapter 312: Gift for someone special.

After departing from the Wang Residence, Yang Ning opted to make a brief stop at Lady Guo's boutique, conveniently located on her way back to the palace. It had been a few weeks since she attended the tea party, and after that, she hadn't had the chance to visit her boutique once because she was busy with the palace work and management.

Seizing the opportunity while outside the palace, Yang Ning was determined to take advantage of the opportunity to explore the boutique that had received numerous praises.

In the past, Yang Ning lacked the freedom to venture outside the palace at her own will. She was still accommodating to the palace rules and lacked the authority to make significant decisions. The former Empress had never bestowed upon her the power to share the burden of managing internal palace affairs. This absence of empowerment hindered Yang Ning's reputation and authority within the palace.

That's why she used to stay inside the palace, and when she went out, she did so in disguise out of fear that she might not get permission to roam around the city. She used to believe that she didn't have the power and authority to make her decisions, which left her feeling frustrated. Discover more stories at mvl

However, later she realized that if she had asked for permission from Zheng Liang, he wouldn't have rejected her and would have allowed her to go outside. It was only because she never asked for his permission before. After returning from Xinling City, their relationship improved significantly.

The trust and belief in each other had increased to the point where she began to understand him more than before.

Also, after the former Empress was exiled, His Majesty granted authority to Yang Ning to oversee the internal affairs and management of the palace. With this newfound responsibility, not only did her status improve, but she also gained the power to make independent decisions. Now, she could venture outside the palace at her discretion, as long as she was accompanied by royal guards and servants.

After the attack on their carriage, this rule became even more stringent, and no royal family member was allowed to venture outside the palace without the protection of guards and loyal servants.

***

As the royal carriage came to a halt in front of Guo Yurong's boutique, a worker who was cleaning the path outside was shocked to witness the prestigious vehicle stopping at their establishment. Xiaowei, Yang Ning's personal maid, stepped down and promptly asked the worker to inform their master that the Crown Princess had come.

Without wasting a moment, the worker threw away his broom and dashed inside to notify Guo Yurong, who was having tea with Madam Liu in her office. The worker promptly informed them about the royal carriage's presence at the boutique's entrance.

Guo Yurong glanced at Madam Liu in surprise, but the realization dawned on them that the Crown Princess must have come to explore the boutique. Wearing pleasant smiles, they stood up and made their way outside to greet the royalty and invite them in for tea and snacks. However, before going outside, Guo Yurong made sure to instruct her servants to prepare some snacks and tea for the Princess.

They hurriedly went outside and greeted Yang Ning with courtesy, inviting her inside. "Your Highness, it is our honor to have you at our humble place. Please come inside to have a look around and enjoy some tea and snacks as well," Guo Yurong prompted, wearing a polite smile.

Yang Ning was taken aback by Guo Yurong's polite smile and warm welcome. In their initial encounter, Guo Yurong had projected a cold, arrogant, and indifferent personality. Now, she appeared to be a different person. It seemed that Guo Yurong's way of interaction varied depending on the people she felt comfortable with.

"I was outside the palace to meet someone, and since this place was on my way, I decided to stop by here. I had heard so many compliments about the dresses and accessories at Lady Guo's boutique which is why I wanted to come and see them. I hope I didn't disturb your time," Yang Ning explained.

Guo Yurong smiled and shook her head, "How can that be? Aside from being the Crown Princess, you have the special privilege of winning the archery game the other day, and you can come to the boutique anytime; the employees here will attend to you first." She said before escorting Yang Ning inside.

When Yang Ning entered the boutique, her eyes widened in surprise. The hall was vast, and the walls were adorned with beautiful artwork and paintings. Every corner boasted exquisite antique porcelains and statues, showcasing the boutique's status and wealth.

A massive crystal chandelier hung from the center of the ceiling, illuminating the space, while huge windows adorned with sheer curtains allowed sunlight to filter in. The boutique featured a few round tables and chairs strategically placed for the convenience of customers seeking customized dresses.

However, she didn't spot any dresses in the hall, leaving her bewildered. Despite being a boutique, it resembled more of an elegant and exquisite cafe designed for socializing rather than showcasing dresses.

Guo Yurong noticed Yang Ning's puzzled expression and approached her to explain, "Your Highness, this is the main hall for customers to lounge in and enjoy tea and snacks. Meanwhile, in the dressing room, they can explore the clothing options and provide their measurements for tailored attire. As for accessories, we have a separate room reserved for that.

Would you like to take a tour of the place first?" She asked.

Yang Ning was amazed by her description and nodded in a daze. "Yes, I would love to."

After Guo Yurong and Madam Liu accompanied her on a tour of the place, Yang Ning was left in awe. The establishment was larger than she had expected, resembling a luxurious and popular clothing brand store from the modern era. The boutique exuded an air of sophistication, much like Lady Guo, who possessed a mature and elegant demeanor.

"Princess, did you like anything? You can get anything from here," Guo Yurong said as she served tea to Yang Ning. After the tour, the three ladies returned to the main hall, where they sat at one of the tables, and the servants served them with tea and snacks.

Madam Liu encouraged Yang Ning, "Yes, Princess! It is your first time here. You should get something for yourself. Please take it as a gift from my side."

Guo Yurong frowned at Madam Liu's insistence to pay, "Madam Liu, you're insulting me. How can you speak about paying for Her Highness's gift? Since she came to my boutique for the first time, I should be the one gifting her." She then turned to Yang Ning and said, "Your Highness, please tell me what you liked. I will ask the servants to pack it for you."

Yang Ning laughed helplessly as she observed the two women arguing about who would pay for her gift. After taking a sip of tea, Yang Ning addressed Guo Yurong, "Lady Guo, there is something that I indeed liked from here, and would like to take it with me. However, I would like to pay for it myself because it will be a gift for someone special. I would like to take care of the payment."

Guo Yurong and Madam Liu exchanged glances, and upon seeing the light blush on Yang Ning's cheeks, they understood for whom she wanted to purchase the gift. Guo Yurong let out a low laugh and said, "In that case, how can we insist on gifting you? Since you want to gift someone else, it wouldn't be appropriate for us to give you."

"Tell me what you liked earlier. I will ask my servant to pack it for you," Guo Yurong asked.

Yang Ning blushed shyly and said, "When we went to the accessory room earlier, I saw a…"