It took several days, but Shen Hua managed to fill her house to the brim, radiating opulence. Yicui and Nanny Cheng were constantly running errands, yet they were also dedicated to preparing a splendid New Year for Shen Hua.
Luckily, with the addition of an ox cart, it was convenient. The sister-in-laws from the alley could only see Cheng Gui busily hauling cart after cart of New Year’s goods to the pear garden.
"Miss Shen really spares no expense. I just stole a glance; it was a cartful of tonics."
Sister-in-law Wang: "She is with child; of course she should eat well. I bumped into Miss Shen the other day sitting in the courtyard. You didn’t see her pallid face—it looked like she suffered from pregnancy discomfort."
Continuing, she sighed deeply, "Her man is gone, and it’s taboo to eat at during the mourning period. But if the adults don’t nourish themselves, how can the child? Not to ntion eating tonics, in my opinion, even if Miss Shen were to drink chicken soup, she should."
She then began to feel guilty: "It’s also my fault, the last ti I sent dumplings filled with cabbage and pork."
No wonder the attendants would ask what the filling was.
It was her petty heart that led to resentnt at that ti.
Shen Hua had just taken a dicinal bath and was now lying on the bed. The room was ward with burning charcoal, and she was under a thick brocade quilt. As soone always averse to the cold, her face was now ward to a rosy glow.
"Madam!"
The young maid Ningzhu scampered in from outside.
Being young, Nanny Cheng and Yicui left her to tend to Shen Hua.
Ningzhu closed the door against the biting chill, shaking the snow off her body, and only when she felt warm did she approach with a wrapped package.
"This is a letter from Housekeeper Sun, along with a hand-crafted fur hand-warr from Aunt Liu."
Shen Hua propped herself up. She opened the package.
Aunt Liu was skilled with her hands, and when Ms. Shen Chun was still alive, she would always send the full amount of fabric. Aunt Liu would personally make clothes for Shen Zhui, and from ti to ti, she would make so for Shen Hua as well.
The hand-warr was embroidered with beautiful Yulan flowers, the orange-red color of common fox fur.
With hardly any savings of her own, this was the best New Year’s gift Aunt Liu could offer Shen Hua.
The always discerning Shen Hua, unenthusiastically remarked, "How could I lack such things? Aunt Liu is just wasting her ti."
Ningzhu had yet to grasp Shen Hua’s temperant and took her words as irritation.
Indeed, even the canopy hanging over her bed was a pale blue chiffon tent made from fine autumn silk—it made the hand-warr seem rather shabby in comparison.
The little maid, nervous, now feared Shen Hua’s wrath.
But in the next mont, Shen Hua, in her presence, put on the hand-warr and looked at it thoughtfully for a while.
With a tone of disdain: "It’ll do for making do."
While speaking, Shen Hua instructed, "Give the letter."
Ningzhu hurriedly presented it.
Shen Hua read it very slowly, the corners of her mouth revealing a hint of a smile.
"The letter says that since Shen Xue-shi returned from jail, presumably she has been shocked and has fallen severely ill, still not fully recovered to this day."
Upon hearing this, Ningzhu instantly smiled, "That’s indeed great news."
"That’s not all."
Housekeeper Sun certainly knew what would make Shen Hua happy.
Shen Hua raised her little finger: "That lecherous Xue Muliang has beco impotent."
He lost face completely, like a rat being chased down the street, not stepping outside since that day.
What’s the difference between a son who has lost the ability to continue the lineage and the eunuchs in the palace? Mr. Xue finds it dirty even to glance at him, and Old Lady Xue, who was most fond of him, does not even bother to see Xue Muliang anymore, spending her days praying and hoping that the child in the belly of the pregnant concubine is a boy.
Shen Hua continued reading and sat up straighter without realizing it.
"Shen Qu personally went to beg for rcy before County Magistrate Liu."
The marriage outfit specifically requested by the daughter of the county magistrate was rushed, and with a large group of old embroiderers gone, they naturally were unable to et the deadline.
County Magistrate Liu’s daughter’s marriage was supposed to be a joyful event. With the wedding date approaching and this happening, how could he look kindly upon Shen Qu?
Unexpected complications arose—a bad on indeed!
Having dealt with the Dong Family’s case, County Magistrate Liu not only rose in prestige but also saw the officials colluding with Prefect Lu being targeted one after another by the Imperial Censorate. Currently safe and sound, he must be breathing a sigh of relief.
To say he feels like he’s riding on the spring breeze wouldn’t be an exaggeration, yet Shen Qu brings him troubles.
Shen Hua delightedly remarked, "My cheap step-brother has paid quite a sum of silver, behaving like a grandson before County Magistrate Liu."
But Shen Qu did have so capability, recruiting embroiderers from all around and, with much effort, also poached quite a few from rival embroidery workshops at a high price.
He sohow managed this crisis.
But what of it?
How smoothly can Shen Qu carry on?
Manager Sun specially ntioned at the end of the letter, telling Shen Hua not to worry.
To complete an embroidery work, the finer the craft, the longer it takes—taking a year or two is normal. And the embroidery workshop must deliver a batch of goods by late sumr after the New Year.
Laypeople might just be buying the na of the Shen Family’s Embroidery Workshop, how could they distinguish the quality?
Connoisseurs, though, understand much more.
Not to ntion, within this batch of goods is a birthday gift for the Fourth Prince’s mother, Princess Consort Jing.
If Princess Consort Jing is dissatisfied, it won’t be as simple for Shen Qu as acting like a grandson; this is a matter of losing his head.
Shen Hua is looking forward to it.
She carefully folded the letter, planning to read it again at dinner. It would surely allow her to enjoy one more bowl of rice.
Reviews
All reviews (0)