Chapter 120 The Devastating News of the Second Waste? It seems like nothing happened after he came back…
"It seems like nothing much has happened since I got back," Cheng Qianyue thought lazily. The children all have to go to school during the day. When they were in the Forbidden City, they went to the Imperial Study, and now that they're here, they go to Wuyi Studio in Changchun Garden. They leave before dawn every day. Cheng Qianyue thought people are really weird. Before, she complained about how tiring it was to travel and meet guests, but now that she's back, she misses those days.
Sigh, even though I couldn't see my child, those days were really fulfilling when I think back on them!
Cheng Qianyue leaned lazily against the cotton backrest of the kang (heated brick bed), lost in thought. She pondered that she should cultivate some hobbies, perhaps flower arranging, or maybe painting her nails, or even growing vegetables to experience the joys of rural life?
Just as she was contemplating enriching her life, Ruoyun walked in from outside, carrying Ruoxia with new clothes. Cheng Qianyue's eyes lit up immediately. Oh dear, how could she have forgotten about the embroiderer she had brought back from Jiangnan? Upon closer inspection of the clothes, they were indeed all in the style of Han Chinese women from Jiangnan.
Ruoyun said, "The embroiderers inquired about your measurements before you even returned, and they started making the clothes as soon as you came back. They sent them over as soon as they were finished. Please take a look and see if you like them, and if there's anything you want to alter."
Cheng Qianyue touched the soft fabric and said with a smile, "Let's try it on first."
Although Cheng Qianyue's clothes varied in fabric color and embroidery patterns, the styles were all quite similar. Whether it was everyday wear, formal attire, or ceremonial dress, they were all long, straight-cut shirts and outer robes. However, women's clothing in Jiangnan was different; it still followed the upper and lower garment system, and compared to Manchu clothing, it was equivalent to a two-piece set and a dress.
The Hanfu top reaches approximately to the knees, with a beautiful drape. Its most distinctive feature is the wide sleeves, adorned with elaborate embroidered floral patterns, making them exceptionally ornate. Because of the large sleeves, even slight arm movements reveal a portion of the sleeve, making the wrist appear remarkably slender in comparison. The skirt, while not as ornate as the top, is a pleated skirt made of dark cloud-patterned silk, its layers rippling like waves on a lake.
After changing her clothes, Cheng Qianyue looked herself over in the mirror, feeling that she did have a touch of the gentle elegance of a woman from a water town. However, her hairstyle just didn't suit her at all; the combination of the headdress and Hanfu looked really awkward. But after she removed the headdress and let her hair down, putting it back up in a bun, it looked much better.
Cheng Qianyue was admiring herself when Yinreng walked in from outside. She was stunned when he arrived, then smiled and said, "I almost thought I had come to the wrong place."
These days, Yinreng has been staying at the front, and I heard he's been running back and forth between Changchun Garden and the West Garden, probably helping the Emperor deal with the accumulated political affairs. Cheng Qianyue wanted to give him some entertainment, so she twirled around in front of him and said, "How is it? Does it look good?"
Yinreng nodded and said, "It looks good." It has a different style from the cheongsam. He stepped forward, took her hand and looked her up and down, "The color is nice. In the middle of summer, looking at the light blue silk makes me feel cool."
She felt the same way; cool colors are more appealing in summer.
Yinreng took her hand and sat down on the kang (a heated brick bed) with her, saying in a deep voice, "It seems that bringing back the embroiderers from Jiangnan was the right decision."
Cheng Qianyue was about to say yes when she suddenly heard a voice outside call out, "Father!" She turned around abruptly and saw that Mo Yaqi had returned from school before Hongyan and the others. However, Mo Yaqi's expression seemed a little off, as if she was suppressing anger. But when Mo Yaqi saw her, her expression changed, and the combination of anger and sudden realization made things look strange.
Moyaqi had thought someone audacious enough to commit such a filthy act in the Donglizhai room, but when the person turned around, she realized it was her mother. Moyaqi breathed a sigh of relief and walked over, saying, "Mother, it's you!" Then she exclaimed, "Mother, you look so beautiful dressed like this."
Cheng Qianyue was very pleased to be praised by her daughter and replied with a smile, "Isn't it beautiful? It's a new dress made by Mother. Many women in the South dress like this."
"Really?" Moyaqi looked at it with increasing envy and tugged at Cheng Qianyue's sleeve, saying, "Mother, Father, I want to wear clothes like this too."
Yinreng said, "If you like it, then have the embroiderer make it for you."
Cheng Qianyue also said, "I knew you would want it. Your father brought embroiderers from Jiangnan, who make clothes like this." Turning to Ruoyun, she said, "This dress is well made. Reward the embroiderers with silver. Call them over again later to take the Second Princess's measurements and make a few more dresses like this."
After giving these instructions, Cheng Qianyue pinched Moyaqi's nose and said, "Are you happy now?"
Moyaqi smiled broadly and said happily, "Thank you, Mother."
After a while, Moyaqi went back to her room. Yinreng and Cheng Qianyue exchanged a glance and suddenly burst into laughter. Yinreng said in a deep voice, "This girl." But he quickly sighed and said with emotion, "She really loves you. You haven't spoiled her for nothing."
Cheng Qianyue now understood why Moya had acted so strangely earlier, and said with relief, "Our daughter, who else would she side with if not her mother?"
A few days later, Moyaqi's Hanfu was also finished. It was made of the same material as hers, but the embroidery patterns were different. Her top and cuffs were embroidered with peonies and intertwined floral patterns, while Moyaqi's had magpies and bright yellow ginkgo leaves.
As soon as Moyaqi returned, she couldn't wait to change into her clothes. The two of them standing together looked incredibly harmonious. Cheng Qianyue felt it was such a pity that current technology was so backward; if they had a camera, she would definitely take a commemorative mother-daughter photo with Moyaqi.
Then Cheng Qianyue thought, "Oh, I think I've got something I can do! I could design clothes! Modern tassels and ruffles—couldn't I add those to clothes?"
Just thinking about it made Cheng Qianyue excited. She used to be a fashionista; for example, when she was looking for a job after graduation, she would even go online to research workplace attire, just so she wouldn't look out of place in front of seasoned professionals. But now, living in the Qing Dynasty, maybe she'd become a fashion icon! The thought made her feel quite elated.
Then Cheng Qianyue began drawing the design sketch. Although her sketch looked rather simple, it clearly outlined the desired effect for each part. She first added the lotus leaf-shaped trim element from later generations to the sleeves, thinking that such cuffs would look nice. After finishing the drawing, she had someone deliver it to the embroiderer and explain it to her.
Well, she's a complete novice when it comes to making clothes, so let's not interfere. Let professionals do what they're good at.
About ten days later, the dress with lotus leaf sleeves arrived. It truly had a beautiful, layered effect, especially with the embroidered lotus flowers on it; the overall look was incredibly charming. Cheng Qianyue said, "Next time, have the embroiderer try making the skirt hem with lotus leaf edges. But if the sleeves are lotus leaf edges, the skirt hem shouldn't be either, otherwise it won't look good without any layers."
Ruoyun agreed with a "yes," but then added, "I was thinking that it's almost September now, and sleeves like these lotus leaf-shaped ones are prone to letting in the wind. Should we make the sleeves longer?"
Oh right, it's getting cold soon. Cheng Qianyue thought for a moment and said, "Tell the embroiderers to make some narrow-sleeved shirts to wear underneath. That way, the inner layer will be tight and the outer layer will be loose, which will look good and prevent the wind from getting in."
Ruoyun smiled and said, "Master has the best ideas." Then she went out to give instructions.
Before the new clothes were even delivered, trouble broke out in the garden. It was a windy morning when Hongyan, Hongchao, and Moyaqi suddenly returned from Changchun Garden.
Cheng Qianyue was puzzled. It wasn't lunchtime yet, so why were these children back from Changchun Garden? And why did they all look so strange, with an inexplicable air of desolation? She asked, "Why are you back? Did something happen in the garden?"
Hongyan pursed his lips, his brows furrowed tightly, his worry growing more pronounced. He replied in a deep voice, "I don't know what happened, but the eunuchs from the Emperor's side came to Wuyizhai and brought us back!"
What?
Cheng Qianyue's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly asked, "Is it just the three of you?"
Hongyan shook his head and said, "My eldest and second brothers are the same, but they went back to Taoyuan Study." He and Hongchao originally lived at Taoyuan Study, but after returning, he directly brought his younger siblings to Donglizhai. Encountering such a nonsensical situation, he only wanted to return to his mother's side.
Cheng Qianyue suddenly had a bad feeling; she thought something terrible must have happened outside. What could be so important that the Emperor couldn't even care about the relationship between grandfather and grandson? There was probably no other possibility but that matter.
Cheng Qianyue had someone bring them chairs and tea, and said in a deep voice to comfort them, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, your mother is here, your mother will protect you, nothing will happen." She said it over and over again, and slowly waited until the children's faces were no longer so gloomy before saying, "Go back to your room to change your clothes, go ahead."
After the children left, Cheng Qianyue called Lin Quan'an to her side and instructed him, "Go ahead and see if the Crown Prince has returned."
Although Lin Quan'an was still shaken, he showed no sign of it on his face and readily gave a curt bow, saying, "This servant will go right away."
Cheng Qianyue took a deep breath and slowly looked out the window. Yinreng...the Crown Prince...
Not long after, Lin Quan'an returned. The man who had been calm and collected just moments before was now pale and trembling as he knelt down, saying, "Master, the Crown Prince has returned, but..." He continued, head bowed and trembling, "But the Crown Prince didn't return alone. He was accompanied by a group of guards, all... all wearing yellow jackets... They surrounded the front courtyard. On my way back, I also heard that the guards had blocked the gates leading into and out of the garden."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Qianyue slowly closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she saw that everyone in the room was filled with a sense of impending doom. She immediately scolded, "What's the panic? Even if the sky falls, I'll hold it up for you. Just do what you need to do. What's there to be afraid of!"
Her outburst seemed to give everyone a sense of security, and they all bowed and said, "Yes."
Cheng Qianyue remained calm and composed. She said, "It's noon. Send someone to the kitchen to fetch our meal. Also, it's getting cold. Tell them to start stewing mutton soup. My brother, the princess, and I will have some tonight." When the kitchen staff brought the soup that evening, she took a sip and said, "This soup is quite good. Reward the kitchen staff."
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