FID – Chapter 405

Chapter 405: What a Joke!

  After that incident, waves of new faces flocked into the villages around Xinghua Village.

  Nobody knew exactly how An Cai got intels about them, but he was able to report to the Liu family in time every time. 

  With their side cooperating, Wei Hong solved people cleanly and perfectly every time, making up for Wei Lan’s absence.

  Xue Qinglian would only show up on time at dinner every day, and nobody knew where he had gone the rest of the time.

  Only Liu Yusheng and Liu Zhiqiu knew that every time Wei Hong caught some people back, Xue Qinglian ended up taking them away.

  Liu Zhiqiu didn’t dare to think where he had taken them.

  ”Bang!” In Qingning Palace, a wine cup made of white jade was smashed to smithereens.

  Dowager Consort Liu emitted a turbulent cold air, and her chest heaved violently.

  ”They disappeared inexplicably again, and nobody returned!” This was already the sixth bad news received in a month: “A small Xinghua Village, they just have to dig around some news, but failed to accomplish such a trivial thing. I have spent so much money for support, but only supported a bunch of wastes!”

  ”Dowager Consort, there must be an expert in Xinghua Village.” In front of her, stood a tall figure wearing a black cloak. His cloak hugged him impenetrably. With a wide brimmed hat lowered, it only revealed his chin below, but it was also concealed by a mask.

  ”Who is the expert? Have you found out?” Dowager Consort Liu glared coldl: “If you’re only relying on guessing, who hasn’t guessed it? I want a nine out of ten guarantee!”

  ”With the candidates for the harem selection entering the capital one after the other, the screening of various workshops in the palace is also imminent, so the King of Nanling’s people are guarding the city gates on the pretext of the capital’s martial law. His Highness has spies all over the capital, so if our people want to leave the capital through the gates, they have to risk being exposed. The achievements that Concubine Dowager has spent so much effort to build up are likely to be ruined as a result. Concubine Dowager, lack of forbearance in small matters spoils great plans.”

  Consort Liu took a deep breath, opened her eyes, and smashed another wine glass.

  The man had a point. Of course, she knew that Feng Qingbai was waiting for her to get anxious and give herself away. However, knowing was one thing, but she really could hardly contain her anger.

  She had to put up with it even if she couldn’t.

  ”Stop the people over there from taking actions for now. Nobody returns every time, so let’s not lose manpower for nothing.” Consort Liu restrained the violent conflict in her chest and coldly said, “When this selection is over, I must go and visit that Xinghua Village. Let me see what divine characters they’ve hidden!”

  ”I am at your service.” The cloaked man’s tone remained calm and unhurried. He listened carefully, without betraying a trace of emotion.

  It was impossible to discern what expression he had under his mask.

  The end of February was ushered in, and the Shangyi Workshop would begin the selection in three days.

  All the cloth merchants in the capital were stepping up their preparations, and the major inns in the city were also experiencing a wave of peak occupancy. All of them were cloth dyers throughout Nanling who came to participate in the selection.

  The most hotly debated subject in teahouses and restaurants was the special fabric selection in three days.

  Once selected and becoming the special supplier of fabric to the palace, it was equal to fame and fortune. After they took the top spot in the cloth industry, their future development in the business could be imagined. 

  Everyone had been speculating who was most likely to be the chosen one.

  The most popular was naturally the Fu family in the capital.

  When the late Emperor was still alive, the Fu family provided special cloth for the palace. After his death, His Majesty ascended the throne at a young age, so the harem had been empty. This temporarily broke the cooperation between the two sides.

  Now that the beauty general selection was imminent, the Fu family, who had had experience in the past, were a step ahead of other cloth dyers.

  As long as the Fu family’s fabric could maintain their current grade, it would be challenging for anyone to step on them.

  After all, behind the Fu family was the Liu family. The Liu family was a first-class distinguished bigwig, who produced Consort Liu. Because of this layer of relationship, Consort Liu would most likely favor the Fu family some.

  Hence, in the eyes of the common people, the rest of the merchants basically had only one role and that was to accompany the Fu family and come to show their faces.

  Nonetheless, even if they weren’t selected, it would still be beneficial if their own fabrics were to receive a commendation from the Shangyi Workshop.

  In addition to selecting a special supplier, three high-quality fabrics from the selected fabrics would also be picked and used as rewards. If the merchants could compete on this, it could also bring them rich returns.

  Fu Yuzheng’s side were basically ready. After she finished all matters at hand, she went to the city store.

  After returning from Xinghua Village and preparing for the selection, she rarely set foot outside the gates of the King’s residence, and visited the store only several times.

  The shopkeeper had sent words, asking her to take some time out to check the accounts.

  The books in the store had been piling up for months.

  After spending an afternoon checking the accounts with the shopkeeper, it was already dark outside, just like nightfall.

  Fu Yuzheng said goodbye to the shopkeeper, left the store and prepared to go back to the King’s residence.

  Although it was still the King’s residence and was no different from before, there was an extra person inside that was why she always felt like returning to her home every time she went out.

  ”Fu Yuzheng!”

  Just as she was about to step onto the royal carriage, a familiar voice sounded behind her.

  Fu Yuzheng turned around and saw Fu Yuxian standing not far behind her, looking at her coldly.

  After just one look, Fu Yuzheng continued to get on the carriage and ignored him.

  ”Fu Yuzheng, stop right there! I have something to say to you!” ,

  ”I have nothing to say to you.”

  ”Do you really think you’ve hidden the secret formula well?”

  Fu Yuzheng faltered getting into the carriage. Her pupils shrank despite herself, but her voice and expression remained unperturbed: “I do not understand what you are saying.”

  ”Whether you really can’t understand or feigning confusion, you and I know it by heart.” Fu Yuxian slowly walked over, convinced that Fu Yuzheng would not ignore her: “Let me only ask you one thing. Do you really want to participate in the selection, against Father, against the Fu family?”

  ”Is participating in the selection process against you? Then you should go and warn all the cloth dyers running for the selection, instead of just coming to me and barking. You should know that I am not a soft persimmon you can take advantage of.” “Fu Yuzheng turned around and looked at her faintly, the corner of her mouth curved in a sneer. “Do you have so little confidence in your Fu family’s cloth-dyeing skills that you have to run out in front of your opponents to threaten and intimidate them? The Fu family in the capital has fallen to such a state, but they still need an ill repute daughter to step forward! What a joke!”

  Fu Yuxian’s face distorted for a moment, and then she sneered, “You’ve got such a sharp tongue. Go ahead and show off your momentary eloquence. I tell you, you can’t be complacent for long! You’ve been a maid for so many years, and now you want to surpass my Fu family in the selection process by relying on your presently learned skills? Dream on!”

  ”Whether it’s a dream or not, we’ll see.”

  ”Fu Yuzheng!” The woman’s certainty caused Fu Yuxian’s face to change again. Her eyes glinted grimly. “You did hide the real secret formula, didn’t you?”

  ”After so many years of dyeing cloth, your Fu family can’t even tell if a secret formula is real or not? How were you chosen as the special supplier in the first place?” Fu Yuzheng snorted sarcastically. “If you suspect that the formula is fake, it’s very simple. Just stop using it. During the selection, use your Fu family’s real ability on the stage!”