FID – Chapter 413

Chapter 413: Chances Were Already Ten to One.

  ”If you want her to be my sister-in-law, you have to let me get married to Shengsheng first.”

  Liu Zhixia flung the carriage curtain and declined to reply.

  This was something he couldn’t do, nor could he undertake.

  Owing favors was owing favors. Nannan’s affairs absolutely couldn’t be used to return favors. 

  The best he could do was to not be a hindrance to Feng Qingbai and Nannan. As for how to pass the rest of the family, Feng Qingbai must seek his own luck.

  Shuangyun Hall was located in the harem among many halls.

  When Fu Yuzheng and the others arrived, the Shangyi Workshop manager was already waiting inside. A curtain was also pulled up in front of the hall, and behind the curtain, there sat Concubine Dowager Liu and two elder concubines, as well as Emperor Feng Mohan.

  The harem was currently under Consort Liu’s charge, and she should be at the selection site as a judge. What Fu Yuzheng didn’t expect was that the Emperor would also be present.

  His Majesty didn’t need to pay attention to such trivial matters as dressmaking.

  Moreover, the fabrics that would be specially selected weren’t for His Majesty’s use.

  His status was too noble, so his clothes, from weaving and dyeing to tailoring, were all handled by the Shangyi Workshop. Only the finest products made throughout the Shangyi Workshop would be used, and the special fabrics were only for the concubines of the harem.

  He had little practical role in the selection. At most, he would just join in the fun. If he wanted to talk about something, he had less power than Consort Liu in the affairs of the harem.

  Feng Mohan sat behind the beaded curtain with his cheeks propped up in boredom. Although he was quite slumped, the Emperor’s aura remained intact. However, it was two points less in decency, and more points on the aura of a youth. 

  He didn’t want to come, but Consort Liu, the old witch, said that the special fabrics would be used to make clothes for the concubines in the harem. All of them would be worn for his eyes, so his likes were paramount.

  In the end, he had no choice but to sit there.

  Feng Mohan looked through the bead curtain to the crowd standing below the hall. At a glance, he spotted Fu Yuzheng’s figure, but this barely roused his interest.

  He knew that Aunt Zheng would also participate in the selection process. Currently, the Fu family provoked a babel of criticism in the capital, so much that even the palace servants discussed animatedly. He would like to see the fight between Aunt Zheng and Fu Shuyuan, so he’d have a wonderful journey when he returned later.

  His trip here was worth it.

  After entering the hall, the candidates neatly lined up in two rows under the command of the eunuchs. Whether it was intentional or not, Fu Shuyuan happened to queue on Fu Yuzheng’s left side, so they stood side by side.

  ”Rebellious daughter, you really do not put the Fu family in your eyes. Disobedient and unfilial, plotting against your own family, you’d better cry on your knees while it’s not yet too late!” Standing beside her with a long line in front of him, Fu Shuyuan could not restrain his smouldering resentment and scolded with his head bowed.

  Fu Yuzheng didn’t bat an eyelid. She retorted in a flat and waveless voice, “Lord Fu, if you still have the time to hurl abuse, you’d better spend it worrying about yourself. Your wife and daughter received their retribution, and I think Lord Fu’s share isn’t long in coming. When that time comes, don’t break your old bones.”

  ”Fu Yuzheng, you dare to talk to me like this?!”

  ”Why don’t I dare? Didn’t you call me disobedient and unfilial? If I don’t stay true to your charges, wouldn’t that be a waste of your teaching?”

  Fu Shuyuan was so furious that his face turned black. Just then, the manager standing above the court began to speak, informing them of the rules of the selection competition, so he could only shut his mouth temporarily.

  Fu Yuzheng straightened her spine and looked straight ahead, the corners of her mouth gently curling up.

  She was ecstatic.

  For so many years, she kept a low profile in front of Fu Shuyuan just for this day. 

  She didn’t have to put up with him anymore. She didn’t have to worry about this snake anymore. It felt wonderful.

  The selection competition aimed to compare the advantages and disadvantages of the fabrics brought by the merchants.

  The merits of the fabric were further divided into two competitions: quality and color.

  Quality meant the comfort and tensile strength of the cloth.

  Color naturally pointed to the uniformity and firmness of the color.

  The best in both categories would then compete in the final overall competition.

  Shangyi Workshop had held such selections many times, so they handled everything with ease. After explaining the rules, they directly proceeded to the focus and began the competition.

  Two columns of merchants stepped forward together. Two by two, they showed the fabrics they brought, personally explained the advantages of the cloth they presented, and had them inspected on the spot.

  After the selection officially began, Fu Yuzheng paid no attention to the resentful man next to her, not sparing him even a second glance from beginning to end.

  She focused her full attention on a sheet of cloth displayed in front of her.

  There were numerous craftsmen in Nanling, and countless expert craftsmen from all walks of life. Many of the displays at the forefront of the team alone were high-quality fabrics.

  Shangyi Workshop had an in-house attendant who was specially responsible for recording potential fabrics one by one in a booklet.

  Fu Yuzheng also observed the faces of the manager and the attendant.

  In this selection, she not only had to surpass Fu Shuyuan, but also to win head and shoulders above others and return home with high honors.

  It was for the man waiting for her in front of the palace gates, and for Liu Yusheng’s trust in her promotion.

  If she could win more awards and occupy a place in the cloth industry, the commercial territory of the Liu family in Xinghua Village would expand larger and wider. By then, when they fight against the Liu family in the capital, the odds of winning would naturally be in their favor.

  Her only concern was the person behind the beaded curtain.

  Consort Liu.

  As a member of the Liu family in the capital, and as a political enemy of the King, Concubine Dowager Liu would never let her escape easily.

  Even if she pulled the Fu family down, Consort Liu would bid others to suppress her.

  The front line slowly shortened, and half an hour later, it was finally Fu Yuzheng and Fu Shuyuan’s turn.

  The two walked up and opened the cloth they brought with them. Coincidentally, both of them chose bright red fabric.

  And the moment the two fabrics were unfolded, they both overflowed with color!

  ”Whoa, this is rare. Two fabrics actually clashed.” Behind the curtain came Consort Liu’s laughter. Liu. “I heard that the two candidates are both from the Fu family in the capital, a father and daughter. You both came up with the same idea.”

  ”It is said that there is no father and son in the battlefield, so is the selection competition. Even if our ideas collide, there will always be a high or low, a win or lose. After all, we consider not only cloth but also craftsmanship,” Feng Mohan said, “Let’s hear what the two of you have to say.”

  Fu Shuyuan coldly glanced at Fu Yuzheng, immediately stepped forward and said, “Your Highness, Your Majesty, this fabric is called Golden Wind and Jade Dew in scarlet red. The fabric is woven with golden silk, but the whole cloth is extremely light and airy. If it’s made into a garment and worn, it will project a golden glow with every step you take and coil cheerily around your legs as you walk, presenting an agile beauty. This is made of dyed golden woven fabric. The manufacturing is costly, but it can better set off the status and identity of a nobleman. On top of that, the Fu family had previously been a special supplier of cloth in the palace, so the craftsmanship of the Fu family in weaving and dyeing are obvious to all in the industry. Even among the many masters of the art, I dare to say that we are the best!

  Consort Liu nodded, “This Concubine has also worn dresses made of cloth supplied by the Fu family, and they’re indeed excellent.”

  At her confirmation, Fu Shuyuan’s eyes showed wild joy.

  The word ‘excellent’ from Consort Liu was the highest praise at this time, place and occasion.

  With her praise, his chances were already ten to one.