Chapter 249 Who exactly is the owner of Yingxiang Pavilion?
Upon hearing this, Lu Zhaoruo gently stroked the inside of the cup with her fingertips, then looked up, her eyes clear and calm, without a trace of hesitation.
She smiled slightly: "You're overthinking it, Granny."
"Your master's method is novel and innovative, and I have learned a great deal. Please reply to your master that I have noted down the dimensions. Half a month later, I will present the garment according to these measurements. At that time, whether it is a masterpiece or a mere imitation will be judged by the public."
When the old woman saw that Lu Zhaoruo agreed so readily, without any sign of difficulty on her face, but instead with a calm and composed demeanor, her heart sank.
She was confident that such an "unorthodox" request would be enough to make the renowned Lady Lu show her reluctance and politely decline.
She had already planned out how to subtly spread the word that "Lady Lu of Yunshang Pavilion's skills are limited to this point; she can't even pass the basic test of tailoring."
But right now, Lu Zhaoruo's casual yet resolute statement, "We will present the clothes according to this data," was like a boulder, choking all her calculations and leaving her speechless for a moment.
She managed to maintain her composure and bowed, saying, "I admire Madam Lu's straightforwardness. In that case, I will... await good news."
She was about to turn and leave when Lu Zhaoruo gently called her back.
"Please wait, Granny."
Lu Zhaoruo remained seated, a smile playing on her lips, her gaze falling gently on her. Her tone was tactful: “Business dealings require a set procedure. Now that the dimensions and style have been decided, shouldn’t we… settle the deposit first? That would make it easier for Zhaoruo to have the materials prepared and work started immediately.”
Upon hearing this, the old woman's face turned pale instantly, and her heart skipped a beat!
The master only instructed her to come and make things difficult for her, but never gave her a single penny as a deposit.
She fully expected Lu Zhaoruo to back down, and had not prepared any deposit for her.
Cold sweat instantly soaked through his inner shirt.
Her face showed embarrassment and panic, and she quickly bowed: "Oh dear! Look at my memory! I'm so senile! I've forgotten such an important matter... Madam Lu, please forgive me! I will go back to the manor to inform my master and send someone to deliver the deposit immediately!"
In a moment of panic, she instinctively reached into her sleeve, but her fingertips touched a smooth object.
It was the bottle of "perfume" that her master had given her before he left, instructing her to give it away.
I was so shaken just now that I completely forgot about this thing!
She quickly took out the exquisite glass bottle, presented it with both hands, and said in a tone of urgent remedial action: "Before leaving, my master specifically instructed me to give this to you, my lady. This item is called 'perfume,' named for its 'subtle fragrance.' Just a drop on the wrist will linger the fragrance all day long, unlike ordinary sachets or scented cakes. My master said he hoped you, my lady, could... appreciate its wonders."
"As for the deposit, I will never forget it. I will have someone make up the difference as soon as possible!"
Lu Zhaoruo glanced at the small glass bottle, which was no bigger than the palm of her hand, and instructed Dongrou to accept it. She said gently, "Granny, you are very kind. Please convey my thanks when you return. I am very grateful for your kindness."
The old woman felt as if she had been granted a pardon and dared not linger any longer. After a hasty bow, she left Yunshang Pavilion as if she were fleeing.
Watching her slightly flustered figure, Lu Zhaoruo gently stroked the cool glass bottle between her fingers, a cold smile flashing in her eyes.
The owner of "Yingxiang Pavilion" may have strange methods, but his mind may not be as meticulous as one might imagine.
Dongrou carefully held the small glass bottle, her eyes instantly filled with amazement: "My lady, look! This bottle is a smooth oval shape, with lines as soft as a warm pebble. A circle of extremely fine gold wire is wrapped around one side of the bottle, outlining several graceful leaves, and a pearl smaller than a grain of rice is embedded at the tip of each leaf! I have never seen anything so exquisite and unique before. It looks both novel and noble."
Lu Zhaoruo took the small bottle, feeling a warm, cool sensation on her fingertips.
This bottle abandons elaborate carvings, winning with its minimalist streamlined shape, yet it is embellished with gold thread and pearls in the details to create an understated luxury.
This aesthetic is quite different from the ornate and elaborate style she is familiar with; it is a more understated and confident refinement.
She had to admit that the gift, in terms of its beauty, had a power to touch people's hearts.
She gently pulled out the wooden stopper, which was also decorated with fine gold patterns and was secured by an ingenious mechanism.
Instantly, an extremely rich and aggressive exotic fragrance wafted over.
The scent was not any of the floral, woody, or fruity fragrances she was familiar with, but rather a cool yet sweet complex aroma. It was stunning at first, but upon closer inspection, it felt overpowering, rushing straight to the top of her head, making her subconsciously want to frown.
She didn't like the taste.
The fragrance was too overpowering, completely at odds with the understated elegance she had always pursued.
However, she had to admit that the fragrance was so unique and long-lasting, and the bottle was so exquisitely crafted, that she had never seen anything like it in her life.
so.
Who exactly is the owner of Yingxiang Pavilion?
However.
Lu Zhaoruo waited quietly in Yunshang Pavilion for three whole days, but the old woman disappeared without a trace.
Not only have no one arrived, but not even a single penny of the deposit that was promised so confidently before has been delivered.
Dongrou watched her wife calmly and methodically running the business, but she felt a surge of resentment for her.
That afternoon, while helping to organize the silk threads, she couldn't help but mutter under her breath, "Madam, do you think the owner of Yingxiang Pavilion is just an empty shell? The nanny they sent over was all talk and no action, saying things like 'no expense spared' and 'you can trust your skills, madam,' but she couldn't even spare a deposit! It's been days, and there's not a trace of her."
“I think she’s just wasting her breath on talking about those ‘ingenious objects’! She even said something about ‘objects have form, but their structure has limits,’ but I think it’s ‘tongue has form, but sincerity has no limits’! She’s wasting all your effort, and she thinks she’s someone important.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Zhaoruo continued arranging the thread in her hands, only glancing at Dong Rou with a slight smile, but she did not reply.
Her mind was crystal clear: the deposit would likely never come. The other party's actions were never intended as a sincere attempt at cooperation; it was merely a carefully orchestrated test. Now that the test was over, there would be no further developments.
However, after this incident, the image of the lady from "Yingxiang Pavilion" in her mind has changed from a vague rival to a concrete and vivid one.
Shrewd, arrogant, and stingy.
Another month has passed in the blink of an eye.
Ever since Princess Yongfu learned that Gu Xian had moved from the Yongjia Marquis's residence to An Linglong's villa, Princess Yongfu seemed to have come back to life, and she went to that little courtyard almost every day.
An Linglong adored this innocent and unpretentious princess and never stopped her. Sometimes she would even tease her with a smile: "What new things has Your Highness brought to our little courtyard today?"
Yongfu blushed and proudly presented the palace's new-style pastries or trinkets that he found interesting.
Gu Xian's body was still weak, and most of the time he could only lie on the soft couch under the corridor in the courtyard, covered with a thin blanket, looking at the clear autumn sky.
Yongfu moved a small stool and sat down beside his bed, chattering away incessantly.
From anecdotes from the palace to interesting stories from the streets of the capital, she tried her best to use these vibrant tales to dispel the sickly aura surrounding him.
She stopped mentioning his illness and instead tried different ways to make him happy.
What moved Gu Xian and An Linglong even more was that Yongfu's actions were not just a passing fancy.
She brought Imperial Physician Wang over almost every day to examine her pulse. She tried every means to find the best medicinal materials in the Imperial Hospital, such as old ginseng, snow lotus, and lingzhi, and sent them to the small courtyard box by box.
On this day, she suddenly had a whimsical idea and insisted on personally preparing medicine for Gu Xian.
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