Chapter 232 The Grand Meeting
"Is something wrong?"
Luo lowered her head to ask, and Shen Yuanzhu replied, "There are many more judges at this year's Dyeing Competition than at the last one."
Shen Yuanzhu rested her chin on her hand, holding the brocade sticker in one hand and scanning it line by line with her eyes.
"If I remember correctly, although there were officials from the Weaving and Dyeing Bureau among the judges at the last Dyeing Competition, there was only one fifth-rank official surnamed Liang."
Luo said, "And there was also Jiang You, the then-Admiral of Textiles."
Shen Yuanzhu nodded: "Apart from the two of them, the rest are just a few master craftsmen in the weaving and dyeing industry."
"But this year, there are many more people judging, so it seems there's something more to this dyeing competition."
"What do you think the reason might be, Miss?"
Shen Yuanzhu put down the embroidery patch and gently tapped a spot on it with her finger.
Luo exclaimed in surprise, "The Imperial Wardrobe? People from the inner court? This time... are they trying to select tribute items, or imperial merchants?"
"I don't know, but whatever it is, winning the championship will surely lead to a meteoric rise in one's career..."
Upon hearing this, Luo's face lit up with joy, and Shen Yuanzhu was also very happy.
Therefore, even when Xie Qi, covered in sweat, came out to pester her, her joy remained unaffected.
And unusually, Shen Yuanzhu got up to wipe Xie Qi's hair and comb it.
Xie Qi was somewhat flattered and obediently sat in front of the bronze mirror, hooking his leg around Chen Yuanzhu's leg, and let his wife tidy his long hair.
The two lived in the small courtyard, and Xie Qi's mind became more and more open. He had not heard the old man's call for the past few days.
He squinted contentedly, letting Shen Yuanzhu's fingers gently brush across his forehead and the back of his head.
Shen Yuanzhu looked down at Xie Qi and saw that he had a gentle and obedient appearance. She suddenly said softly, "Xie Qi."
"Um?"
Xie Qi opened his eyes, his gaze filled with tender affection.
Shen Yuanzhu asked, "Are you doing well working under Eunuch Yuan now?"
"..."
He was momentarily at a loss for words. Just as he was about to say something after a moment of thought, Shen Yuanzhu spoke up again: "If things aren't going well, how about I find you a job after the Dyeing Competition?"
Even if she doesn't win the championship in this year's Dyeing Competition, she will definitely be in the top three.
In any case, as long as her scale-patterned dyeing catches the eye of the head of the inner court embroidery workshop, Xie Cui Fang will be considered to have soared to new heights.
At that point, she won't be able to hide her identity anymore.
Shen Yuanzhu had no intention of hiding it any longer.
She seems to have no one to rely on now, but precisely because of this, she feels completely at ease.
Having severed ties with the Shen family and the Xie family, no one could question what kind of shop she owned.
However, if they could really get in touch with the inner court, Luo Qing and Luo Bai alone would not be enough.
Xie Qi...
It can help her.
"What kind of work?"
Xie Qi smiled brightly upon hearing this.
He blinked slightly, a hint of allure emanating from his delicate features.
Xie Qi leaned down into Shen Yuanzhu's arms and teased, "Making money outside, inside..."
He raised his face, revealing red lips and white teeth, his eyes growing increasingly lustful: "Serve the mistress, be a good wife and mother..."
After saying that, he pulled her into his arms and used his lips to unbutton the buttons on her clothes.
Shen Yuanzhu tried to push him away a few times but failed, so she let him go.
The two rested at home for a short time before the opening day of the Dyeing Competition arrived.
Xie Qi dressed up early and took Shen Yuanzhu out to watch the excitement.
This year's Dyeing Competition will still be held on the west side of the Dyeing and Textile Bureau.
At this time, the outer perimeter was enclosed by a vermilion fence and a large red silk cloth, while inside, a two-story wooden viewing platform was built.
The platform was covered with a blue curtain, and the floor was covered with a red carpet. The top tier was furnished with a mahogany chair and a tea table, while the bottom tier had ordinary wooden chairs.
When Xie Qi pulled Shen Yuanzhu into the venue, the bailiff at the entrance reached out to stop them. Shen Yuanzhu was slightly taken aback, not expecting the security to be so strict this year.
Fortunately, Xie Qi had an invitation, which allowed the two of them to enter smoothly.
As soon as Chen Yuanzhu entered the arena, she smelled a very familiar scent—the unique grassy, astringent aroma and bitter taste of the dye.
"There are quite a few businesses participating in the dyeing convention this year."
Looking at the rows of neat long tables inside, Shen Yuanzhu quickly scanned the nameplates of the shops on them and said, "There are even shops from other prefectures."
Xie Qi nodded: "This conference is grand, and Father-in-law has declared that all businesses can participate, regardless of location."
"No wonder..."
She murmured softly, no wonder there were so many more evaluators this year, and even the evaluation rules were different from those of the past.
“Those are…”
Xie Qi followed Shen Yuanzhu's finger and saw bamboo baskets, porcelain, and various oil paper and cloth packages placed on the tables of each family.
He said, "It's the raw materials. For this dyeing competition, the Grandfather asked each family to write down their raw materials, but not the dyeing method."
Shen Yuanzhu nodded and turned to look for the long table in Xiecuifang.
After seeing the clam shells, soapberries, and other items placed on it, I stopped paying attention.
As everyone entered the venue one after another, Shen Yuanzhu and Xie Qi sat on the outer circle, only able to watch the excitement.
It wasn't until Yun Zheng, Luo Qing, and even Shen Yanhuai entered the room that the sense of familiarity returned.
She chatted with Xie Qi casually until they heard the deafening sound of a gong, realizing that the conference had officially begun.
Yuan Xu, dressed in a scarlet robe, strode forward, a silver badge bearing the insignia of the Imperial Textile Commissioner hanging from his waist, followed by two men.
One was Lord Liang, an assistant director of the Weaving and Dyeing Bureau whom Shen Yuanzhu had met once, and the other was a director of the Weaving and Dyeing Bureau.
Upon meeting the two men, Xie Qi introduced their official positions.
"These two are responsible for reviewing the etiquette and regulations of the participating businesses. Although it is unlikely, we still need to prevent any overstepping of the rules today."
Walking alongside Yuan Xu was an elderly man with a white face and no beard.
Shen Yuanzhu guessed that this person should be the head of the inner court embroidery workshop, responsible for selecting tribute items for the palace.
Behind him was a round-faced man with a Buddha-like appearance. Xie Qi saw him and said, "This is the Assistant Inspector of the Provincial Surveillance Commission, used to prevent fraud."
Shen Yuanzhu was surprised: "This year's Dyeing Competition is receiving so much attention?"
Xie Qi said, "From what I understand, you mean that you want to select a batch of fine items as New Year's tribute to the Empress Dowager. Since this involves the imperial family, we naturally need to be extremely careful."
"I see."
The group went up to the top floor and took their seats one by one, followed by several people who looked familiar to Shen Yuanzhu.
Upon seeing an elderly man with a white beard leaning on a cane, she remarked, "They've even invited this ancestor this year."
"And this is...?"
Xie Qi had only been in the weaving and dyeing industry for a short time and did not know these folk masters, but Shen Yuanzhu knew them very well.
"Old Master Chen, he has been a dyeing craftsman all his life. He can tell at a glance whether a fabric has been dyed using over-dyeing or whether the dye solution contains improper raw materials just by touching it."
"Some dyes are highly toxic, and such things must never be offered as tribute."
After thinking for a moment, Shen Yuanzhu said with a serious expression, "If we present something like this, everyone here today will probably lose their heads."
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