Chapter 040

Chapter 40: Red Luan’s Clothes Are Missing

The clothes made by a top gold-ranked seamstress were of course extraordinary. Whether it was the design or the embroidery, everything was first class.

Among Seamstress Zhou’s three dresses, everyone liked the one in golden tones called “Golden Autumn” the most. Just like its name, it used the gold color that stands for the harvest of autumn. It looked dignified, generous, and strikingly beautiful. At first glance it was not as flashy as those bright, colorful skirts from earlier, but it had a quiet, intelligent grace.

It also balanced warmth and breathability. Inside the skirt there was a removable liner: when mornings and evenings were cold, you could add the liner; when midday was hot, you could take it out. The shawl was made so its length could change freely. Folded, it became a short, warm style; opened, it became a long, light, and airy style.

Big golden-red wheat ears were embroidered along the hem. The pattern was fresh and special, perfectly matching the theme of autumn. Each grain looked full and heavy; just looking at it made you almost smell the fragrance of wheat.

One could imagine this: if someone wore this skirt to a banquet and the emperor saw it, he would definitely remember it.

Yu Zhi Yi raised her brows at the sight of the skirt and glanced toward the door not far away, but she said nothing. Behind the door, Red Luan shaped the words with her lips: “Watch me!” Yu Zhi Yi gave an invisible nod, picked up some melon seeds and began cracking them, ready to enjoy the show.

Du Zi Heng was speechless: “…”

Seamstress Zhou, known in the Splendid Brocade Pavilion for her excellent memory and for making the most city-famous dresses, stepped out, and the noble ladies’ looks changed at once. Each of them straightened with resolve, wanting to fight for her clothes, especially “Golden Autumn.” Every time her work appeared, the Splendid Brocade Pavilion saw a scramble like an auction for a rare treasure. To the noble ladies, a dress that could make them the one in ten thousand in a crowd was worth winning by any means.

After Seamstress Zhou finished her showing, it was Red Luan’s turn. Red Luan and the three young women who handled the modeling came on stage in the pavilion’s plain uniform. She spread her hands and said: “My embroidery pieces are missing.”

For the monthly viewing banquet, every gold-ranked seamstress used all her skills. To keep others from stealing ideas, they never let outsiders watch while the three dresses were being made. Only their disciples could help a little with tasks like measuring and cutting. So in normal times, no one knew others’ progress or the exact styles they were making.

When people heard Red Luan’s words, someone who disliked her snickered and said: “Red Luan, could it be you ran out of ideas and never made them in the first place?”

Aunt Hong was stunned and asked: “Red Luan, what is going on?”

Red Luan looked at Seamstress Zhou and said: “What else could it be? Someone who can’t stand me stole the dresses I finished.”

She didn’t name anyone, but her gaze was so direct that everyone caught her meaning.

Seamstress Zhou looked like a gentle, mild middle-aged woman. Her eyes reddened at once as she said: “Miss Red Luan, I did not. How can you slander me like this?”

Bai Tian’er put on a soft, weak look and said: “Sister Red Luan, I know you’ve always been jealous that my mother is the best seamstress in the pavilion, but you can’t ruin her name and future with such a cruel trick!”

She added, voice trembling: “My father died when I was little. My mother has worked so hard to support our big family. She spends all the money she earns to treat my grandparents, and she even helps my mother’s side of the family. She… she has suffered enough. Please, don’t hurt her anymore!”

Everyone here knew Seamstress Zhou. She had skillful hands, and her styles were new and lovely, often helping the buyer become the focus of any crowd. Many people liked her. As for Red Luan, even though she had also made dresses that became the talk of the city, she was still new, and she looked proud and headstrong. People naturally leaned toward Seamstress Zhou.

Right away, some began to criticize Red Luan for seeking attention. Others came up with a conspiracy: Red Luan could not finish her work and could not deliver, and because she was jealous of Seamstress Zhou, she chose this evil way to destroy her.

Red Luan looked furious and said: “How can you take the side of a thief? Those clothes really are mine!”

A blunt noble lady said: “Who believes you? Don’t mess up the auction that’s next.”

Aunt Hong frowned and said: “Please wait, everyone, allow me to report this to the owner for a strict investigation. The Splendid Brocade Pavilion will give you noble ladies a clear answer.”

Suddenly, Yu Jiao Jiao cried out and said: “I remember now, sister, aren’t you acquainted with Miss Red Luan?!”

Yu Zhi Yi said, very calm: “So what?”

She did not deny it, which was the same as admitting it. Yu Jiao Jiao looked excited but put on a worried face and said: “If Miss Red Luan slanders others like this, her character must be bad. You should keep your distance from her.”

Yu Zhi Yi used the lid of her cup to stir the tea leaves and said lightly: “Are you more powerful than the prefect of Jing Prefecture? Without looking for evidence or hearing the case, can you judge it right away?”

Yu Jiao Jiao’s face changed as she said: “I didn’t mean that, I just…”

“Enough,” Yu Zhi Yi put down the cup and said: “The room already smells strong of tea; don’t keep steeping it. Let’s wait for the prefect of Jing Prefecture to decide.”

Seamstress Zhou’s face stiffened, and she was about to speak. Yu Jiao Jiao cut in and said: “There’s no need to go that far. Seamstress Zhou has been famous for years. Why would she steal a newcomer’s work?”

Xuan Ji looked at Aunt Hong and said: “If you ask me, Aunt Hong, you should focus on punishing your own people properly. As for the viewing banquet, let it continue. Don’t spoil everyone’s good mood.”

Yu Zhi Yi pressed her lips together and, after a long moment, said as if unwilling: “As you wish.” Then she looked at Red Luan and said: “Since you have no pieces to show, why not come sit with us?”

Red Luan shot Seamstress Zhou a glare, then dragged a stool over and sat beside Yu Zhi Yi with bold ease.

Du Zi Heng, who had been ignored, said nothing: “…”

Although many were unhappy that Red Luan joined them, no one told her to leave, because Du Zi Heng, the only son of the Chancellor’s Manor, was present. For once, Yu Jiao Jiao did not keep acting nasty. She was busy enjoying her feeling of victory.

A flicker of worry crossed Seamstress Zhou’s eyes, but she calmed down after seeing her daughter’s comforting look. [Everything is going smoothly. No problem. Nothing will go wrong.] Even so, she could not truly settle her heart.

According to the plan, after the showing came the buying. It worked like an auction: the pavilion set a base price, then the honored guests bid, and the highest bid won. Today they had planned to sell eighteen dresses, but because Red Luan’s were stolen, only fifteen sets were left.

The base price for each skirt was 3,000 taels of silver. In the end, five skirts sold for 3,800 taels, three skirts for 4,500 taels, three skirts for 5,100 taels, two skirts for 6,500 taels, one skirt for 7,800 taels, and one skirt for 11,000 taels.

The 11,000-tael skirt was “Golden Autumn,” and Yu Jiao Jiao was the one who bought it. Yu Zhi Yi had Du Zi Heng bid on a skirt named “Red Maple,” which ended up the second most expensive.

At that moment, Yu Jiao Jiao lovingly stroked the golden wheat ears on the skirt and smiled sweetly at Yu Zhi Yi as she said: “Aunt loves to collect beautiful skirts. When I send this into the palace, Aunt will surely be delighted.”

Yu Zhi Yi sighed and said: “If you don’t want Aunt to hold a grudge against you, you’d better not do something so foolish.”