Chapter 651 Yunshang Pavilion
Chu Ruohan had no time to pay attention to the "rebellion" trend that Gu Qingchen had started in Bailu Academy.
The daughter had her own father to worry about, while Chu Ruohan put all her energy into another storm that was about to sweep across the capital.
Ten days later.
On Zhuque Street, the most prosperous street in the capital, the Chu family's originally inconspicuous silk shop took down its old plaque and replaced it with a brand new plaque with gold letters on a black background - Yunshang Pavilion.
In front of the door, two vermilion pillars were covered with eye-catching red paper with thick ink writing on it:
"The Chu family's Cloud Silk Brocade, once a swallow in the halls of the wealthy and the wealthy, has now flown into the homes of ordinary people. Each piece sells for only five ounces of silver."
Five taels!
This price was like a huge rock hitting a calm lake, instantly causing a thousand waves.
You should know that the most common Shu brocade on the market sells for thirty taels per piece, and the slightly better ones are even more expensive.
Is the Chu family crazy?
"It's fake, right? Five taels of silver for Shu brocade? I'm afraid you'll end up buying a piece of rag!"
"That's right, there's no such thing as a free lunch. It must be a gimmick!"
The crowd was talking a lot, most of them were there to watch the fun, but few of them really wanted to buy.
At this moment, the door of Yunshang Pavilion creaked open.
Two slim maids came out, each holding a piece of brocade, and slowly spread it out in the sunlight in front of the door.
One is the lake green of the misty Jiangnan region, with brilliance flowing as if crushing a pool of spring water.
The other one is a rouge red as bright as clouds, with a rich color, bright but not vulgar.
"This... this is real Shu brocade!" an experienced craftsman in the crowd exclaimed in amazement. "Look at the sheen and the embroidery, it's definitely top-quality material!"
The crowd exploded.
Doubt and wait-and-see attitude were instantly replaced by enthusiasm.
"Give me a lake green one!"
"I want the red one! Don't fight with me!"
"Boss! Do you have any other colors?"
The threshold of Yunshang Pavilion was almost broken down by the influx of people.
Chu Ruohan stood by the window on the second floor, quietly watching the heated scene downstairs, her eyes calm and expressionless.
Qin Fang stood behind her, his face filled with uncontrollable excitement: "Madam, we succeeded!"
Chu Ruohan said "hmm" lightly.
"This is just the beginning." She picked up the teacup and blew away the foam. "I've cast the bait down. Let's wait and see how many big fish will be tempted to bite."
Capital city, Jinxiu Pavilion.
The best Longjing tea was emitting wisps of white smoke in the cup, but the atmosphere in the house was colder than the coldest days of winter.
"This is outrageous! This is absolutely outrageous!"
A fat and bloated silk shop owner slapped the table, and his fat trembled.
"What does Chu Ruohan want to do? Five taels of silver per horse. She's going to destroy all of our jobs!"
"Manager Liu, you are the most prestigious among us. You have to make a decision!"
Everyone looked at the middle-aged man sitting in the main seat.
Liu Dehai, the top figure in the silk industry in Beijing.
He was nearly fifty years old, with a thin face and a pair of triangular eyes that showed shrewdness and viciousness.
He didn't say anything, but just skimmed the tea foam with the cup lid, making a crisp clinking sound.
Every blow seemed to strike everyone's heart.
Liu Dehai then spoke slowly, "Ever since the Chu family changed its head, they've become less and less compliant with the Chamber of Commerce's rules. They're only concerned with making money themselves, and don't care about the lives of us businessmen!"
"A young girl, relying on the fact that she is the wife of a duke, wants to make trouble in the capital? She is still a little naive."
He put down his teacup, a venomous gleam in his eyes.
"Isn't she selling cheap? Then we can't sell her."
"Spread the word that her 'Cloud Brocade' is made from silkworms that died of disease before spinning. The cloth is poisonous. If you wear it, your body will be festered within three days, a life worse than death!"
The businessmen present took a deep breath.
This move is too vicious!
Not only does it cut off someone's financial resources, but it also ruins their reputation!
"Shopkeeper Liu is brilliant!"
"That's right. As long as her reputation is ruined, no one would dare to take her even if she was given away for free!"
Liu Dehai sneered, "That's not enough. Send someone to her shop and make a scene. Find some shrews and tell them that her fabric has a disease and make her pay for it!"
"Doesn't she have the support of the Zhenguo Mansion? I want to see if the Zhenguo Mansion can afford such a loss of face!"
The rumor spread like a plague throughout the streets and alleys of the capital overnight.
Yunshang Pavilion, which was bustling with people the day before, was deserted the next day.
What's worse, several women in tattered clothes, claiming that their skin was itchy after buying Yunshang brocade, blocked the door every day, crying and shouting at the Yunshang Pavilion's signboard.
Qin Fang was so angry that his face turned blue. He tried several times to ask someone to drive those shrews away, but was stopped by Chu Ruohan.
"Madam, if this continues, our reputation will be ruined!" Qin Fang was extremely anxious.
Chu Ruohan, however, acted as if nothing had happened. She looked at the account book leisurely and asked without even looking up, "Have all the invitations been sent out?"
"It's been sent out." Qin Fang was puzzled. "But Madam, why are you holding a 'Cloud Clothes Show' at this time? Who would dare to come?"
"They will come." Chu Ruohan finally put down the account book, her eyes gleaming with the confidence of someone who has mastered the situation. "Not only will they come, they will rush to come."
Three days later, in the back garden of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.
Surrounded by pavilions, towers and waterside pavilions, it is a perfect time of year in early summer.
Almost all the prominent ladies in the capital received invitations.
They said, "Mrs. Chu really doesn't know how to take things seriously," but their bodies were very honest. They dressed up and showed up on time for their appointments.
After all, this is a banquet hosted by the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.
The ladies gathered in twos and threes, whispering about the rumors about Yun Shangjin, and their eyes looked at Chu Ruohan with a hint of anticipation for a good show.
Chu Ruohan didn't care either, she just greeted everyone with a smile.
When the auspicious time arrives, the sound of stringed instruments begins.
In the center of the waterside pavilion, more than ten graceful dancers, wearing gorgeous clothes made of colorful brocade, came out.
The brocades shone brightly in the sunlight, outlining the dancers' figures to perfection.
Either elegant, or bright, or luxurious.
"Oh my god, this fabric is so beautiful!"
"If I hadn't heard those rumors, I would have bought a few right away."
The ladies' eyes were filled with unconcealable amazement and desire.
At this moment, a lady in elegant attire coughed lightly and spoke with feigned concern, "Madam, your brocade is beautiful, but people say... the material is poisonous. Is this true?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the whole audience fell silent.
Everyone's eyes were focused on Chu Ruohan.
Chu Ruohan smiled.
These were the words she was waiting for.
"Madam Yang is right." She spoke calmly and clearly, "Rumors are fiercer than tigers, but words alone are not enough to prove anything. To reassure you ladies, I have specially invited a doctor here today to test this Yunshangjin to see if it is celestial dew or poison."
As soon as she finished speaking, she clapped her hands.
At the end of the garden path, Doctor Qian was seen carrying a medicine box and walking towards them slowly, led by his servants.
"It's Doctor Qian!"
Doctor Qian has opened a Baicaotang in Beijing in recent years and has also provided free medical services in the capital. He is known as a miracle doctor and even the imperial physicians in the palace cannot compare to him.
Doctor Qian walked to the front of the stage, bowed to everyone, and then took a piece of cloth from a dancer.
He first put it to his nose and sniffed it, then twisted it carefully with his hands, and finally, he even took out a silver needle from the medicine box and scratched the cloth a few times.
During the whole process, everyone watched with bated breath.
After a while, Doctor Qian put down the cloth and said loudly, "Ladies and gentlemen, this brocade is made of high-quality silk, and the dye is also pure plant dye, which is absolutely non-toxic. If there is anything wrong with it, it is..."
He paused deliberately to keep the question in suspense.
Everyone's heart was in their throat.
"That is, this fabric is exquisitely woven, breathable and skin-friendly. Wearing it regularly is beneficial to a woman's qi and blood."
As soon as the words fell, the whole room was in an uproar.
Mrs. Wang's face turned red and white, and she wished she could find a hole in the ground to crawl into.
Chu Ruohan stood up with a smile. Her voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard by everyone.
"The truth is out. Ladies present today, all brocades in Yunshang Pavilion will be half price."
Half price!
That’s only two and a half taels of silver per horse!
What’s the difference between this and giving it away for free!
The desire that had been suppressed for a long time suddenly erupted.
"Madam, I want ten horses!"
"Give me twenty pieces! I want them in all colors!"
She resolved the incident with ease, and the incident swept across the entire circle of wealthy women in Beijing.
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