Chapter 52: Collecting Evidence
The two people's ideas coincided.
"This matter requires both human and material evidence."
Liang Weiyuan thought for a moment and then said thoughtfully, "Two years ago, when I was traveling with my mother on a business trip, I saw the Shu Brocade Guild's secret method of testing cloth."
"Tomorrow I'll have Meishu dress up as an embroiderer and go to Jinxiu Pavilion to buy some cloth. I'll then ask the guild's experienced tailor to come and inspect it. Then Yu Shi won't be able to escape."
Huo Jin saw his eyebrows move slightly, as if in approval.
Because he had already thoroughly investigated the dark side of Jinxiu Pavilion, and Liang Weiyuan had connections, the plan was easily finalized.
The next day at 9:00 PM, the sun was at its highest point.
Liang Weiyuan stood in the private room on the second floor of Jinxiu Pavilion.
Her black hair was tied up in a stunning bun, revealing her slender neck. Her pearl earrings swayed slightly with her movements, making her face look as white as frost and snow. Her willow-shaped eyebrows were raised at a slant as she looked down at what was happening downstairs.
"Miss, Meishu has entered the shop." Zhushu lifted the corner of the curtain, holding a lacquer box in his hand. "According to your instructions, she has hidden a sample of genuine Shu brocade in her sleeve."
Liang Weiyuan nodded, and his fingertips stroked the twined branches on the window frame.
The shop was bustling with people.
Mei Shu was dressed as an embroiderer. After entering the Jinxiu Pavilion, she first turned around in a pretentious manner, and then, with a grim expression on her face, she grabbed a piece of "Shu brocade" and threw it on the counter.
Her deliberately suppressed voice was shrill and pierced through the carved screen in an instant: "Oh, look at this warp! It's completely different from the real Shu brocade I bought from the Chamber of Commerce!"
"This cloth shop is actually passing off Suzhou embroidery as Shu brocade. They're treating us embroiderers like blind people who don't know the real deal, right?"
Mei Shu had been practicing martial arts since he was a child, so his voice was sharp and powerful, and the ladies who were buying cloth in the shop could hear it clearly.
They gathered together quickly in surprise.
"Embroiderer, please don't talk nonsense. This Jinxiu Pavilion is a shop owned by the wife of the Marquis of Wenxin Mansion. How could there be fake fabrics?"
Yu was known for her gentleness and good housekeeping skills, and she was also the wife of a marquis, so naturally people did not easily believe Mei Shu's words.
The shopkeeper behind the counter's face changed slightly, and he slammed the table and stood up, his round belly hitting the abacus with a crackling sound.
"Where did this crazy woman come from! My wife is a noble lady, how could she sell fake goods? If you keep talking nonsense, don't blame me for sending you to the government office!"
"Government?" Mei Shu sneered, pushing away the servant who lunged at him. "That's perfect. Let the government see how the shop in the Marquis' Mansion is defrauding the people."
"Everyone present here is a witness. Let's go together and get to the bottom of the matter!"
In the private room, Liang Weiyuan heard the guests whispering and tapped the windowsill with her fingertips.
Zhushu immediately understood and stuffed half a piece of honey cake into the parrot cage, and the parrot cooed happily.
This is a signal to the bribed informant in the store.
The old woman, who was also dressed as an embroiderer, understood what he meant and immediately stood up to agree.
"Yes, although we are ordinary people, we have heard that there are methods to test Shu brocade!"
"There's no need to go to the government and cause trouble. Let's just ask the old tailor from the guild to come and check it out. Whether it's a mule or a horse, we should take it out for a walk! Don't you agree?"
Shu brocade is precious, and given the reputation of the wife of the Marquis Yu, those who come to Jinxiu Pavilion to buy cloth are all wealthy and powerful people.
Therefore, when some servants who came to buy cloth for their masters heard this, their expressions changed from watching the fun to being suspicious.
If they really bought fake goods, wouldn’t their masters skin them alive if they found out?
Other people who bought ordinary cloth could no longer stand.
If Jinxiu Pavilion can even fake Shu brocade, then the materials they bought may not be genuine.
Thinking of this, everyone echoed uneasily: "That's right! The true scriptures are not afraid of fire. Why not ask the old tailor to test it!"
As the crowd gradually gathered around him, the shopkeeper's forehead suddenly broke out in a cold sweat. He waved his hands repeatedly and said, "We never sell fake goods in this shop. Everyone, please don't listen to others' instigation!"
"This embroiderer must have been sent by a fellow embroiderer to ruin the reputation of our Jinxiu Pavilion!"
"Boss, why are you so anxious?" Liang Weiyuan finally spoke, her clear voice penetrating the screen.
She walked slowly downstairs, the hem of her cloak brushing against the carved railings and stirring up dust from the beams. "Since my mother's shop is innocent, why not inspect it and give everyone an explanation?"
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw a woman in gorgeous clothes walking towards them. A jade belt with the Huo family emblem hung around her waist. With every step she took, her Dongzhu earrings drew cold arcs of light in the sunlight.
I was wondering who it was...
"Isn't this the eldest young lady of the Marquis' Mansion?"
In the crowd, the old woman raised her voice and shouted.
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