Chapter 40: Hong Luan’s Missing Dress
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The dress, crafted by the head embroiderer of the Golden Ribbon, was nothing short of extraordinary. Its pattern, craftsmanship, and design were impeccable. Among the three dresses made by Seamstress Zhou, the one called “Golden Autumn” in a golden-yellow tone was everyone’s favorite.
True to its name, “Golden Autumn” used the rich gold of a harvest, exuding a dignified beauty. Unlike the more colorful dresses that immediately caught the eye, this one radiated a subtle and elegant charm. It was also practical, featuring an inner lining that could be attached for warmth during chilly mornings or removed during hot afternoons. Even the outer shawl was adjustable: it could fold up into a shorter, warmer version or unfold into a longer, breezier one. The skirt was embroidered with large golden-red wheat stalks, perfectly evoking the theme of autumn. The wheat stalks were so detailed that you could almost imagine the fresh scent of grain.
It wasn’t hard to imagine that if someone wore this dress to a banquet, they would definitely leave a lasting impression on the Emperor himself.
Yu Zhi Yi gazed at the dress, then casually glanced at the door across the room but remained silent. Behind the door, Hong Luan mouthed, “Watch me!” Yu Zhi Yi gave her a subtle nod before picking up a handful of sunflower seeds from the table, settling in to watch the show.
Du Zi Heng sighed quietly, his face expressionless.
Seamstress Zhou was known as the most skilled and experienced embroiderer at the Splendid Embroidery Workshop. Whenever she appeared with her dresses, young noble ladies would brace themselves, ready to fight for the chance to buy one of her pieces—especially “Golden Autumn.” Each time Seamstress Zhou’s dresses were unveiled, it was like a bidding war for a rare treasure.
To the noblewomen, a beautiful gown that set them apart from the crowd was worth any price.
After Seamstress Zhou presented her dresses, it was Hong Luan’s turn. She and her three assistants, all dressed in simple uniforms, stepped onto the stage. Hong Luan spread her hands and announced, “My embroidery—it’s missing.”
The top seamstresses went to great lengths for the monthly showcase. They poured their hearts into their creations, keeping their designs secret to prevent theft. Only their apprentices, who helped with tasks like cutting fabric or taking measurements, had glimpses of the process. Normally, no one knew what the others were making.
So when Hong Luan said her work was missing, someone sneered, “Hong Luan, did you just run out of ideas and not make anything at all?”
Seamstress Hong frowned in confusion. “Hong Luan, what happened?”
Hong Luan looked at Seamstress Zhou and said, “What else could it be? Someone must’ve taken a dislike to me and stolen my finished dresses.”
Though she didn’t name anyone directly, her pointed gaze made her meaning obvious. The audience quickly picked up on her implication.
Seamstress Zhou, a middle-aged woman with a gentle demeanor, immediately looked tearful. “Miss Hong Luan, I swear I didn’t do it! How can you accuse me like this?”
Bai Tian Er, Zhou’s daughter, spoke up in a soft, trembling voice. “Hong Luan, I know you’re jealous that my mother is the best seamstress here, but you shouldn’t ruin her reputation and future like this. My father died when I was young, and my mother works tirelessly to support our entire family. All her money goes to care for my grandparents and help my aunts and uncles. She’s suffered enough. Please, don’t make it harder for her.”
Everyone was familiar with Seamstress Zhou’s skill. Her innovative and elegant designs always made the wearer stand out. Many people held her in high regard.
As for Hong Luan, though she had made some notable dresses before, she was still new, and her demeanor came across as arrogant. The audience naturally sided with Seamstress Zhou.
People began accusing Hong Luan of trying to create drama. Some whispered that she was just making excuses for failing to complete her work and wanted to sabotage Seamstress Zhou out of jealousy.
Hong Luan, seemingly infuriated, shouted, “How can you all take the side of a thief? I made that dress!”
“Who believes that?” one noblewoman snorted. “Don’t hold up the auction.”
Seamstress Hong frowned. “Everyone, please wait. Let me report this to the owner so it can be thoroughly investigated. The Splendid Embroidery Workshop will make sure you all get an answer.”
Suddenly, Yu Jiao Jiao exclaimed, “Oh, I just remembered! Sister, aren’t you acquainted with Hong Luan?”
Yu Zhi Yi sighed. “So what if I am?”
She didn’t deny it, which was as good as admitting it.
Yu Jiao Jiao, excited inwardly but worried on the surface, said, “If Hong Luan is falsely accusing people, she must have character issues. You should keep your distance from her.”
Yu Zhi Yi swirled the tea leaves in her cup with the lid, her tone cool. “Are you more capable than the city magistrate? No need for evidence, no trial—just make your ruling?”
Yu Jiao Jiao’s face fell. “That’s not what I meant. I was just—”
“Enough,” Yu Zhi Yi interrupted, setting her teacup down. “The scent of tea in this room is already strong enough without you adding to it. Let’s wait for the magistrate to arrive before passing judgment.”
Seamstress Zhou’s expression shifted, and she was about to speak when Yu Jiao Jiao interjected, “Is that really necessary? Seamstress Zhou has been well-known for years. Why would she need to steal a newcomer’s work?”
A mysterious voice added, “I think Seamstress Hong should deal with her people appropriately. As for the showcase—let’s continue. No need to ruin everyone’s good mood.”
Yu Zhi Yi pressed her lips together, a hint of frustration in her voice. “Fine, whatever makes you happy.”
She turned to Hong Luan. “Since you have nothing left to display, why not come over and sit with us?”
Hong Luan gave Seamstress Zhou a fierce glare before pulling up a chair next to Yu Zhi Yi, her movements unapologetically bold.
Du Zi Heng, feeling ignored, just sighed quietly.
Though many disapproved of Hong Luan joining them, no one dared voice it, not with Du Zi Heng, the only son of the Chancellor, sitting there.
Yu Jiao Jiao, caught up in her sense of victory, for once kept her mouth shut.
Seamstress Zhou’s eyes flickered with unease, but seeing her daughter’s reassuring look, she steadied herself. Everything was going smoothly. There was nothing to worry about—nothing at all.
Yet, for some reason, she couldn’t fully calm her nerves.
The next part of the event was the purchase segment. Just like an auction, the Splendid Embroidery Workshop set a base price, and the noblewomen bid against each other. Originally, there were supposed to be eighteen dresses, but since Hong Luan’s were missing, there were only fifteen.
Each dress started at three thousand silver taels.
By the end, five dresses sold for three thousand eight hundred taels, three for four thousand five hundred, three for five thousand one hundred, two for six thousand five hundred, and one for seven thousand eight hundred. The most expensive dress, “Golden Autumn,” fetched eleven thousand taels.
It was Yu Jiao Jiao who bought “Golden Autumn.”
Yu Zhi Yi, meanwhile, had Du Zi Heng bid on a dress called “Red Maple,” the second most expensive.
Yu Jiao Jiao stroked the golden wheat stalks on her new dress, her smile sweet as she looked at Yu Zhi Yi. “Aunt loves beautiful gowns. When I give this to her in the palace, she’ll be overjoyed.”
Yu Zhi Yi sighed softly. “If you don’t want Aunt to hold a grudge against you, you’d best not do something so foolish.”