Chapter 99 – Trouble: Legendary Soft Brocade
“Miss, we’ve prepared it for you to see.” The clerk had obviously been informed of this matter beforehand, so he replied respectfully at this time.
“Your Heir-apparent, you see….” Jing Wenyan turned around and her beautiful eyes landed on Yan Huaijing. Obviously, she was asking Yan Huaijing for his idea.
“Bring it here then.” Yan Huaijing said as he looked at Jing Wenyan with thoughtful eyes.
“Bring it over!” Jing Wenyan nodded her head calmly and instructed the attendant on the side, who took her order and quietly retreated.
Another clerk came up and served them tea and refreshments.
“I remember Your Heir-apparent talking about soft brocade before. I heard that it was available in this shop, so I invited Your Heir-apparent to take a look. I wonder if it’s true.” Jing Wenyan said softly.
Wei Yuewu lowered her head. She picked up a cup of tea, took a sip and played with the cup in her hand. She did not intend to be involved in their conversation. She was forced to come here by Yan Huaijing. This situation, needless to say, was quite similar to the previous one with the Third Princess.
However, the Third Princess appeared more imposing, whereas this Eldest Miss Jing was much more adorable.
Moreover, it could be seen from their conversation that the two of them had already known each other. Though Wei Yuewu was also here, she thought it should be enough for her to be a listener for form’s sake.
However, that carefree heir-apparent didn’t let her off. “Sixth Miss Wei, do you remember soft brocade?” His handsome eyes lifted up slightly and landed on Wei Yuewu. He had a trace of smile on his face that couldn’t fail to attract others’ attention.
Jing Wenyan’s eyes fell on Wei Yuewu too.
“I… I don’t remember anything about it.” Wei Yuewu shook her head sincerely with a blank look. Her clear eyes were even filled with faint confusion. Her long eyelashes fluttered, indicating that she was searching her memory but couldn’t remember anything.
“Didn’t you tell me last time that your mansion also had a piece of soft brocade?” Yan Huaijing placed his hand on the table and leaned back. His eyes smilingly landed on Wei Yuewu’s face.
Wei Yuewu gritted her teeth in hatred. She didn’t want to get involved in this topic, but was dragged into it by him anyway!
“I also heard the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang had a piece of soft brocade. I wonder if there’s a chance to see it.” Jing Wenyan said softly.
“Grandmother put it away. I’ve only heard of it but never seen it.” Wei Yuewu had to answer Jing Wenyan apologetically.
Soft brocade was said to be woven by using a lost technique. Compared to ordinary brocade, it was much softer and it was light and comfortable to wear. The dyeing technique for soft brocade was also unique. The colors it exhibited in the sun were different from those when there was no sunlight.
Because the technique to weave soft brocade was lost, there wasn’t much of this cloth left. Some aristocratic families might have a little, but the amount decreased every time they used it. Therefore, they wouldn’t take it out for display on usual days.
Wei Yuewu really didn’t know if there was any soft brocade in the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang.
For so many years she had lived in her maternal grandmother’s house that was far away from the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang. As for the saying about soft brocade, she only heard about it from her granny. Her granny had also said that even big noble families might not have a whole bolt of soft brocade. It was fortunate enough to own a small piece.
It could be seen that soft brocade was extremely precious.
Wei Yuewu was much surprised that this Brocade Clothing Shop actually had such cloth and Jing Wenyan had obtained the news. She appreciated the Eldest Miss Jing’s ability, but of course, there might be other reasons behind it.…
However, she was now most concerned about whether Brocade Clothing Shop would face trouble later!
As for whether the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang really had soft brocade or not, Wei Yuewu didn’t feel the need to be concerned about it herself. Even if the mansion had it, the Madam Dowager would not easily show it to others. Therefore, Wei Yuewu only answered casually.
At this time, a clerk knocked on the door and came in. Behind him was another clerk holding a one-foot-long brocade box with extreme cautiousness, as if he was afraid of accidentally knocking the object in the box.
Two maids walked past Jing Wenyan. Each held one end of the box and carried it to the front of the table.
The box was opened, revealing in front of everyone a pack of neatly folded brocade that was as bright as sunset glow. Wei Yuewu looked up curiously. She also took a few more glances at the extinct brocade. What she did not expect was that the material was not small. Such a large piece was enough for making a dress.
It did not seem that a shop could have such a large piece of soft brocade.
Moreover, this was her maternal grandparents’ shop! Wei Yuewu had never heard from her granny that there was soft brocade in the shop. Her long eyelids slightly drooped. Her eyes flashed with a trace of deep thought. She quietly leaned back to signal at Huamo on the side.
Huamo understandingly walked out from behind her and went out to inquire of the shopkeeper.
Everyone’s eyes were focused on this soft brocade. No one noticed that the maid behind Wei Yuewu walked out, except Yan Huaijing. He raised his eyes and languidly glanced at Wei Yuewu but immediately withdrew his gaze. She didn’t know whether he had seen it or not.
Yet Wei Yuewu did not take any chances with this. Fortunately, she did not mean to hide her intention from him. She could not hide it from him anyway….
“Your Heir-apparent, take a look, is this what you need?” Jing Wenyan pointed at the material and asked softly.
“That’s right.” Yan Huaijing stretched out his hands to take out the soft brocade from the box. He looked at it, pondered for a moment, and nodded with a smile. “I didn’t expect that such brocade would be available in a shop.”
How could such brocade be available in an ordinary shop? Even if there was one, it was impossible for the shop to openly sell it. Then, it was doubtful how Brocade Clothing Shop obtained this piece!
Wei Yuewu’s eyes became more thoughtful. Her long pretty eyes fell on Jing Wenyan’s face thoughtfully and she remained silent.
Jing Wenyan also picked up a corner of the brocade and gently touched it. She looked up gently at Yan Huaijing and said, “If it’s genuine, Your Heir-apparent can buy this brocade.”
“Thank you, Eldest Miss Jing.” Yan Huaijing nodded. The lad servant behind him took the brocade box and signaled to the clerk, who hurriedly followed him out.
This meant they made the deal!
Wei Yuewu didn’t want to get involved anymore. Now that their business was done, she smiled and stood up. “Your Heir-apparent, Eldest Miss Jing, I won’t disturb you anymore. I’ll go and take a look at the clothes outside. My grandmother told me to pick some ready-made clothes.”
The atmosphere in the room was really weird. She did not feel that she had to stay. Furthermore, she must ask about the soft brocade. It was impossible for the shop to obtain such precious material of such a large size.
Even though her maternal grandparent’s family was moderately affluent, it was only a small ordinary aristocratic family. It was nothing at all in the eyes of the powerful nobility in the capital. Even a large noble family would take a small piece of soft brocade as a treasure. It could be seen how difficult it was to obtain the material and how precious it was. However, such a large piece appeared in the Brocade Clothing Shop. How could Wei Yuewu not be surprised?
“Sixth Miss Wei, there’s no need to hurry. Just ask the clerk to bring over what you want.” The speaker was surprisingly Jing Wenyan. She raised her beautiful face with a smile and looked at Wei Yuewu. Her tone was gentle and friendly, as if this wasn’t the first time they had met. There was also a faint sense of affection in her attitude.
“Go picking some beautiful clothes and let Sixth Miss Wei have a look.” Jing Wenyan instructed the maid beside her.
“Yes, I will go immediately.” The maid received the order and retreated.
With that said, Wei Yuewu would be a bit rude if she insisted on leaving. She sat down again and thanked Jing Wenyan, “Sorry about the trouble, Eldest Miss Jing.”
“Sixth Miss Wei, you don’t have to be so polite. Although this is the first time I’ve seen you, I feel a special friend in you. My birthday is in a few days. I wonder if you can come.” Jing Wenyan said gently to Wei Yuewu. Her beauty coupled with her elegant temperament made her very attractive.
Going to Jing Wenyan’s birthday banquet? Wei Yuewu was stunned for a moment. Only close friends would be invited to this kind of banquet if it wasn’t a grand one. Even if it was a grand banquet, she had nothing to do with Jing Wenyan and it was basically impossible for her to be invited.
After a moment of hesitation, Wei Yuewu’s eyes regained clarity. She smiled faintly and asked, “This… I’m afraid I will disturb you, Eldest Miss Jing?”
“How can that be? There will be more fun with more people. I don’t know many people in the capital. If you come, Sixth Miss Wei, we’ll have more fun and I won’t feel lonely….” When she said those words, Jing Wenyan seemed to recall her current situation. She lowered her head slightly and wiped her tears with a handkerchief.
Anyone who saw such a beauty with that pitiful expression would feel soft-hearted.
Wei Yuewu felt it hard to respond to her words. The land of the Duke of Jing State was occupied by the Duke of Yan State. The Duke of Jing State was sent to the capital as a captive by Yan Huaijing. This Eldest Young Lady of the mansion of the Duke of Jing State wasn’t captivated because she had fled in time. What Wei Yuewu had seen in front of the Plum Blossom Nunnery and later among the plum trees showed that this famous Eldest Miss Jing wasn’t having such bright days as she appeared to be on the surface.
“Then I’ll thank you for your kindness, Eldest Miss Jing.” Wei Yuewu had no choice but to accept.
As she spoke, Yan Huaijing’s lad servant walked in with the brocade box in his hand. There was no clerk following behind him. Obviously the bill had been paid.
Yan Huaijing’s fingers tapped on the table. He spoke gently with a smile on his handsome face, “I have matters to attend to. Excuse me, ladies.”
“Your Heir-apparent….” Seeing that Yan Huaijing was about to leave, Jing Wenyan stood up and looked at Yan Huaijing closely with her beautiful eyes, but she was hesitant with her words.
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