Chapter 411: Chapter 405_1 Chapter 411: Chapter 405_1 “How about this, I’ll front the silver for you, and once you are more financially stable you can repay me. I won’t even charge you interest, just bring me two extra pounds of fine tea leaves,” Jiang Ziqi specifically started with the request for tea leaves because he didn’t want Lin Yue to feel obligated and refuse outright, so he purposefully used this approach.
Lin Yue knew that Jiang Ziqi had good intentions, but Jiang Ziqi had already helped them so much. Moreover, she didn’t know if Zhao Erhu would mind since men like him often have strong pride. Although he seemed to get along with Jiang Ziqi well these days, no one knew when he might become upset; such things had happened before. It was better for her to be cautious. After all, it wasn’t that she couldn’t come up with the silver.
“Brother Jiang, there’s no need, I can figure out the silver on my own. You have already done so much for us.”
“If that’s the case, then alright, but if you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to ask. For now, I’ll follow you back to get the silver. As for those matters, I’ll just give an order and someone will take care of them. Once everything is settled, they will bring it directly to you.”
When Lin Yue returned to the place they were renting, she shut the door of the room. For safety, she had hidden the silver in various places, and now she gathered the silver notes that were placed in different locations, totaling ten thousand taels of silver. She then rifled through a chest and pulled out an old worn jacket, which she carefully dismantled to retrieve an embroidered picture hidden inside.
This embroidered picture was a double-sided work of contrasting colors she had stitched when she felt a surge of inspiration. Naturally, for safety, she dared not sell it. Even Dalang and the others had not seen it; only Zhao Erhu knew about it. She had sewn the picture into the jacket as a precaution for an emergency when she might urgently need silver. With Jiang Ziqi covering for her, it was unlikely that anyone would trace it back to her.
Indeed, as Jiang Ziqi suspected, after Lin Yue gathered the ten thousand taels, there wasn’t much silver left. She and Zhao Erhu also had several servants to support. Not to mention the expenses required for maintaining social relationships even before their own expenditures for food and daily needs; there were also unseen costs to account for. In the Capital City, a place of wealth and luxury, money was needed everywhere. She was unsure if the silver she had would suffice. After some thought, she decided to sell the embroidered picture for money.
This embroidered picture was not as large as the one made for the Empress Dowager, but it was still two-thirds the size of the Longevity Picture. Having practiced with the picture for the Empress Dowager, Lin Yue’s embroidery skills had become even more refined. Apart from the size, this picture was in no way inferior to the one she had made for the Empress Dowager. Even if it didn’t sell for ten thousand taels, she should be able to fetch seven or eight thousand at least, which would be enough to cover their expenses in the Capital City for some time. Plus, the profit share from Jiang Ziqi’s workshop should arrive by the end of the month, further adding to their funds.
However, looking at the way money was rapidly being spent, Lin Yue thought it best to embroider a few more high-quality pictures to sell for silver. It was always better to have some extra money in hand, ensuring that they could afford whatever they fancied without financial strain.
Zhao Erhu and Jiang Ziqi waited for her in the hall. They were curious when they saw Lin Yue emerge after a long time, carrying a box in one hand and the silver notes in the other.
“Brother Jiang, I’ve got another favor to ask of you,” Lin Yue said as she opened the box and presented it to Jiang Ziqi. “This is a double-sided embroidered picture with contrasting colors. I made it in my spare time. I’ve had it for a while but dared not sell it. It’s not convenient for me to do it myself, so I must ask you to help me sell this picture.”
“Is this embroidered in the same style as the Longevity Picture for the Empress Dowager? No problem! I’ll definitely get you a good price,” as Jiang Ziqi said this, he took the picture out of the box to admire the clearly distinct patterns on each side and the exquisite craftsmanship. He studied the embroidery appreciatively for quite some time.
Ever since he presented the Longevity Picture during the Empress Dowager’s birthday, many had inquired about the origins of that artwork from Jiang Ziqi, making the double-sided embroidery with contrasting colors an object of pursuit among noblewomen. Unfortunately, such items were priceless and unavailable on the market. Aside from the Empress Dowager’s picture, no other works of this kind had surfaced, leading to even higher values. Despite this, not a single piece appeared, and many aristocrats yearned for one in vain. Even the noble ladies of the imperial court desired a piece of such embroidery, not just for their fondness but to flaunt it as a mark of prestige, but they couldn’t get any information from Jiang Ziqi.
Ordinary people could be disregarded by Jiang Ziqi, but he couldn’t avoid dealing with the most esteemed ladies of the court. For a time, this matter had been a headache for him, wishing he could hide away, but it was just not possible. He had recently taken on the role of Family Head and was too entangled in clan affairs to be absent.
“Then, I’ll have to trouble you, Brother Jiang,” Lin Yue said, feeling that she owed Jiang Ziqi too much. Given his status, there was nothing he lacked, and she had no idea how to repay him. Suddenly, she remembered that he had asked her for a folding fan a few days ago.
The fan was already embroidered; however, in the past, the fan bones were always carved by Zhao Fuquan. Presently, Lin Yue didn’t have a competent person to help with that, and given that the fan featured a double-sided embroidery with contrasting colors, it wasn’t something she could entrust to others. So she resignedly brought out the fan surface.
“Brother Jiang, weren’t you asking me for a folding fan? I’ve finished embroidering the surface. It’s a double-sided embroidery with contrasting colors, not suitable to be handled by others for attaching the fan bones. I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble you to do it yourself,” she said.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ziqi took the fan surface from Lin Yue’s hand and unfolded it to look. A joyful expression appeared on his face. Indeed, Little Yueyue knew his taste well. The front of the fan featured several stalks of green bamboo, while the reverse showed a poem praising bamboo, both elegant and exuding a unique charm. Most importantly, the fan was unique, embroidered by her just for him.
Zhao Erhu knew that his wife was trying to repay Jiang Ziqi’s favor, but seeing Jiang Ziqi holding the fan, each stitch personally made by his wife, there was a sourness in his heart. He scoffed at the ostentation, thinking that it wasn’t anything exceptional. After all, every item he owned was crafted by his talented wife’s hands; what was so special about being happy over a simple fan?
Jiang Ziqi, noticing Zhao Erhu’s sour look, thought it had been some time since he’d seen this man show such jealousy. He missed it, in a way.
While each person harbored their own thoughts, Zhao Erhu was silently contending with Jiang Ziqi when a servant came to report that someone from the Chen Mansion had arrived. Zhao Erhu hastily instructed the servant to bring the guest in, while Jiang Ziqi resumed his usual serious and indifferent demeanor in the presence of others.
“Greetings to Master Zhao and Madam,” the boy sent from the Chen Mansion bowed simple respects to Zhao Erhu and Lin Yue, not recognizing Jiang Ziqi, and thus addressed only Zhao Erhu and Lin Yue with a modest salute before presenting an invitation.