Chapter 248 Yingxiang Pavilion
His words were concise and powerful. He then stepped forward and, together with Erzhong, very steadily helped Gu Xian, who could barely stand, into the car.
An Linglong watched his steady movements, a hint of relief and gratitude flashing in her eyes.
The carriage moved smoothly down the street.
Inside the car, Gu Xian leaned against the soft cushions, feeling drowsy.
Before the carriage, Xiao Yeming sat silently beside Wang Wu, guarding him.
An Linglong sat in the car, taking good care of Gu Xian. Occasionally, she would look up at Xiao Yeming's tall but lonely figure outside the car, and her heart was filled with mixed feelings.
Upon arriving at the elegant villa, Xiao Yeming personally settled Gu Xian on the couch in the inner room, his movements steady and gentle.
He got up, walked quickly to the hinged window, and pushed it open a crack.
The autumn breeze, carrying a slight chill, gently swept in, dispelling the stuffiness of the room.
Turning around for a closer look, he was still uneasy despite the thick brocade quilt on the bed, and reached out to gently touch Gu Xian's wrist that was exposed outside the quilt.
It was ice-cold to the touch.
His brows furrowed involuntarily as he turned to An Linglong: "Aunt An, he is weak and anemic, and his hands and feet are cold. He needs an extra thin silk quilt to protect him and prevent him from catching a cold. The window needs to be left slightly ajar for ventilation, but there must be no direct draft."
An Linglong stood quietly to the side, observing his every meticulous movement.
Seeing him like this, a hint of relief and approval flashed in her eyes.
It is truly rare for Xian'er to have such a loyal and devoted friend in her life.
They usually joke around and tease each other, but when it comes to a critical moment, their friendship is truly profound.
She met Xiao Yeming's gaze and nodded solemnly: "Don't worry, I understand."
Xiao Yeming then stepped back slightly, stood in the courtyard, and gazed at the gray sky, remaining silent for a long time.
After settling Gu Xian in, An Linglong walked to his side.
She gently patted his arm, teasingly saying, "Alright, General Xiao. Don't look like the sky is falling. With your aunt here, you can rest assured about Xian'er."
She paused, her gaze becoming deep and knowing, and softly pointed out: "Xian'er is a child with a gentle nature, but he is very thoughtful. He has helped you so much over the years, both openly and secretly. What do you think he got out of it? What he can't let go of the most right now is you and Madam Lu."
"What he wants most is for you and Madam Lu to have a happy ending. You can't... let him down."
Xiao Yeming suddenly looked up at An Linglong, his eyes swirling with emotions.
Finally, facing An Linglong, the elder who truly supported Gu Xian, he solemnly clasped his hands and bowed deeply: "Ye Ming... understands. Thank you for your guidance, Aunt An. I entrust everything to you."
An Linglong accepted his bow without hesitation and said gently, "Go."
Xiao Yeming glanced deeply into the direction of the inner room one last time before resolutely turning around and striding away.
The next day.
Lu Zhaoruo returned from visiting Gu Xian, a hint of worry still lingering between her brows. She was already sitting in Yunshang Pavilion, checking the accounts of a newly arrived batch of silk fabrics.
The room was quiet, with only the soft clatter of abacus beads.
Dongrou walked in with light steps: "Madam, a respectable old woman has come from outside. She says she was sent by the mistress of 'Yingxiang Pavilion' in the east of the city. She says her mistress admires your craftsmanship and wants to order spring clothes for everyone in the pavilion. She wants to order thirty-eight sets at once, and specifically requested that they be made of the finest silk and have the latest patterns."
She paused slightly, then lowered her voice: "I've heard that 'Yingxiang Pavilion' has an elegant storefront, and although it sells cosmetics, it's quite different from other shops. It specializes in selling unusual items, such as lip rouge that doesn't stick to the cup, face powder as fine as smoke, and 'snail-shell brushes' that make eyebrows incredibly smooth... It's very popular among the noble ladies of the capital. However, its manager is quite mysterious and rarely appears in public."
After saying that, she added worriedly, "My lady, don't you think this is a bit strange? It's only been a short time, why are you in such a hurry to make spring clothes? And you want to make thirty-eight sets at once! With such extravagance, which lady in the palace has so many personal clothes?"
"Besides, the season hasn't arrived yet, and the cost of materials and labor for these thirty-eight sets of spring clothes alone is a huge expense. Although Yingxiang Pavilion is famous, it is certainly not as good as our Yunshang Pavilion. Such disregard for cost is really against common sense. I am worried that there may be something else going on here."
Lu Zhaoruo paused slightly in her hand holding the account book.
She had naturally heard of the name "Yingxiang Pavilion".
The sophistication of their goods and the skill of their business management are far beyond the reach of ordinary merchants.
This sudden and extravagant visit is indeed suspicious.
Is it a genuine desire to collaborate based on reputation? Or is there ulterior motive, an attempt to probe the true nature of Yunshang Pavilion?
She raised her eyes, her expression calm and composed, and instructed Dongrou, "Guests are welcome, so do not neglect them. Please have the matron rest in the private room and serve her some fragrant tea. I will go to see her in person shortly."
The aroma of tea wafted through the elegant room of Yunshang Pavilion.
As Lu Zhaoruo entered the room, she saw an elderly woman, dressed in extremely fine clothes and with her hair neatly combed, sitting in the guest seat. She was composed, but her eyes held a scrutinizing quality, which made her realize that the visitor was no ordinary person.
She stepped forward with a smile, took a seat in the main seat, and after exchanging a few pleasantries, subtly got to the point: "I am deeply grateful for your esteemed master's favor. May I ask how you should address the lady of your household? So that I may remember it in the future."
Upon hearing this, the old woman put down her teacup and smiled faintly: "Madam Lu, you are too kind. My master has long heard of your skill in 'using clothing to express virtue,' and he was quite curious, so he specially sent me to see it for myself."
"As for the name..."
The old woman drew out her words slightly, "My master has always preferred quiet and dislikes getting involved with unrelated people. He instructed me not to mention it, and I hope you will understand, madam."
She paused, then continued, "My master often says that objects have form, but their scope is limited. This time, she just wants to see how far your 'craftsmanship' can go, Madam Lu. As for titles, they are indeed just empty formalities."
Lu Zhaoruo remained expressionless, still smiling gently: "Since that's the case, Zhaoruo will not insist. But I wonder if your master has any particular rules regarding patterns and color schemes?"
The old woman remained calm and replied, "My mistress only made one request. She said that the clothes should be neatly cut with simple lines, without elaborate embroidery, and should focus on highlighting the wearer's figure."
In an instant, what flashed through Lu Zhaoruo's mind were the currently popular wide robes and sleeves, layered and intricate patterns, and meticulously outlined waist-length skirts...
How can clothing not be adorned with patterns? How can it not be decorated? Wouldn't that be a loss of etiquette and splendor?
The old woman, seeing this, took out another piece of paper from her sleeve. On the paper, a string of numbers was listed in extremely neat handwriting. She handed it to Lu Zhaoruo: "These are the master's measurements. Shoulder width is 1.2 feet, waist circumference is 2.1 feet, and garment length is 3.2 feet... The master instructed that the garment must be made according to these measurements, with an error not exceeding half a point."
The old woman seemed oblivious to her shock and continued calmly, "As for the specific design, it's entirely up to Madam Lu to decide. The master trusts Madam Lu's comprehension."
Lu Zhaoruo's hand holding the cup tightened slightly.
The other party not only avoided the real issues but also spoke with an inexplicable sense of superiority, which is definitely not normal.
After the old woman finished speaking, there was a moment of silence in the private room.
Lu Zhaoruo's hand holding the cup trembled slightly.
His gaze fell on the precise number on the note.
"Shoulder width 12 inches, waist circumference 21 inches... error must not exceed half a centimeter?"
A strong sense of unfamiliarity and astonishment instinctively rose within her.
What she excels at is judging by sight and touch, observing a person's temperament and character, and then "tailoring clothes to fit them".
The art of tailoring has always emphasized intuitive understanding and the feel of the hand, and it is about the harmony between the garment and the wearer's spirit.
She had never seen anything like it before... measuring living people with ink and paper, scrutinizing every single detail. This was a set of rules completely outside her comprehension.
The old woman noticed her subtle tremor, a hint of smugness flashing in her eyes. Her tone remained respectful, yet probing: "Madam Lu has a long-standing reputation, praised by both the Empress and the Emperor. Who in the capital doesn't know about this exquisite skill of 'manifesting virtue through clothing'? However... Master's method is quite novel. If you find it difficult, perhaps you need time to ponder it. I can also report back to Master and we can discuss it further."
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