FID – Chapter 415

  Chapter 415: The Lowly Life of an Ordinary Woman

  Time has always been particularly long in the eyes of those who wait.

  Obviously, the discussion on the higher platforms were but a moment, but it felt like ages.

  After a long time, many people burst out in cold sweat and soaked their clothes in the early spring.

  After the deliberations were completed, the results were announced by the person in charge of the hall.

  ”After discussing and deciding with Dowager Consort, I have the final draft here. Three high quality fabrics will be directly kept for the clothing production of Shangyi Workshop and rewarded with gold and silver. Each will be rewarded a hundred taels of silver. They are – Begonia Autumn Scenery, Hundred Flowers Spring Charm, and Phoenix In Flight. As for the fabric special winner, Golden Wind and Jade Dew! Congratulations Lord Fu for coming out on top!”

  The entire hall was in an uproar.

  Fu Shuyuan was immediately ecstatic, while the rest of the merchants showed their disappointment and despondency.

  Standing among the merchants, Fu Yuzheng quietly heard that her fabric only won among the high-quality fabrics. This result was within her expectations.

  In the end, Dowager Consort Liu still chose Fu Shuyuan.

  The Fu family was an arm of the Liu family in the capital. Even if Consort Liu would be criticized, she would never break her arm.

  The competition ended then and there, and the eunuchs distributed the rewards of the three cloth winners one by one 一一 A hundred taels of silver and a light silver bill bought all the efforts they had spent for this competition.

  Fu Yuzheng hooked her lips and smiled, looking at Fu Shuyuan.

  ”A mere royal servant, did you really think that you can shine in the hall with the craft that you have honed facing the goalmouth? You’re asking for an insult! When you go back, continue to pour tea and water to serve others. Don’t roam around and disgrace yourself!”

  ”You’ve gotten your way once,” Fu Yuzheng laughed quietly: “Lord Fu, do you really think you have won?”

  ”The decision has already been made and announced in the court. Do you still want to reverse it?”

  ”Indeed.”

  Fu Shuyuan’s eyes shrank, and he shouted, “Fu Yuzheng! The matter has already been settled. If you dare to make any trouble, don’t blame me as a father for turning my back on you!”

  Looking at the sanctimonious visage at the moment, Fu Yuzheng gave a wintry laugh, walked out of the crowd and knelt down in front of the hall: “Your Majesty, Concubine Dowager, I have a matter to report!”

  Fu Shuyuan’s expression changed dramatically, and he tried to pull Fu Yuzheng away. He did not know if Fu Yuzheng really had the ability to turn things around, but he absolutely couldn’t allow her to speak out here. He had already picked the fruit, so he couldn’t tolerate any mistakes!

  Whether Fu Yuzheng was really scaring him or really capable of reversing the ending, he couldn’t let her open her mouth and say anything further.

  ”Presumptuous! How can you allow such nonsense in the middle of the great hall! Someone, drag this woman away!” Behind the curtain, Feng Mohan snapped angrily.

  The eunuchs immediately went forward to stop him, so that Fu Shuyuan couldn’t drag Fu Yuzheng up.

  ”Miss Fu, what do you want to report? You’d better tell me a valid reason. Otherwise, I won’t spare you lightly!”

  ”Your Majesty, this lady isn’t deliberately causing a fuss in the great hall. I have something to report. If I don’t tell you, I’m afraid that Your Majesty and Consort Dowager will be deceived. If jokes abound later, my death won’t be enough to atone for my crime!”

  ”Fu Yuzheng!” Fu Shuyuan again reprimanded. He wanted her to stop, feeling an inexplicable hunch in the depths of his being. If he didn’t stop her now, his life would be over. Everything would be over!

  ”Restrain him. If he dares to shout in front of the hall again, slap his mouth!”

  Consort Liu raised her hand to stop the people outside from moving: “Yuzheng, let’s first listen to what Fu Yuzheng has to say. As for Lord Fu, be quiet for the time being, too. You two are father and daughter, so you should be working together as a family. What’s with this mess? The more so with Miss Fu Yuzheng. I cherish filial piety above everything. No matter what reason you have, suing your own father in front of the hall is already an unforgivable unfiliality. Are you sure you still have something to say?”

  Fu Yuzheng kowtowed: “Your Highness, I totally understand that the principle of filial piety is above all virtues. However, between the individual and the state, if I’ll be criticized for unfiliality, I still can’t ignore the truth for my own sake. I can’t let our national prestige collapse in the future, and be a butt of jokes among neighboring countries! If that happens, I would really be a sinner for the ages!”

  Everyone behind the curtain was stunned.

  If Fu Yuzheng dared to say such words, she must have a basis.

  Be the butt of jokes of neighboring countries! With this statement alone, Consort Liu could no longer do anything to stop her, lest if something really happened in the future, she couldn’t afford it.

  State affairs are the priority!

  A ruler couldn’t be reckless.

  ”Speak.”

  ”I’ve also only discovered this problem a few days ago. I wanted to find an opportunity to inform Lord Fu’s family, but unfortunately, before I could visit their door, the Fu family unexpectedly was embroiled in trouble. Rumors also flew, falsely accusing me, so amidst my anxiety and the chaos, this matter was set aside. The Fu family used to be a special supplier, and they should be first-class in dyeing craftsmanship, but, I’ve found problems in the Fu family’s fabrics. The Fu family fabrics must not be selected!”

  ”What do you mean?’

  When the person inside asked and Fu Yuzheng answered, Fu Shuyuan had already started to feel weak. Cold sweat also trickled down his back.

  Something that he could not stop was happening.

  ”I discovered that the color dyeing and color fastness of the Fus’ fabrichas are problematic. The fabric is bright and gorgeous upon production, but the color will fade if you wash it a few more times! If such fabrics are used to make clothes for the nobles in the palace and used to welcome distinguished guests or state guests in the future, once it’s pointed out, the whole Nanling royal family will become a laughing stock. This matter has a bearing on the state system, I dare not conceal the truth! I hope Your Majesty and Concubine Dowager will understand!”

  Fu Shuyuan’s eyes reddened. He pointed at Fu Yuzheng and shouted injustice, “Your Majesty, Concubine Dowager, she has wronged me! This b-i-t-c-h has wronged me! She hates me for not treating her well, and makes false charges against me at this time for personal revenge! The Fu family has been in this line of business, weaving and dyeing for decades. Even as a special supplier, we have never had such problems. Otherwise, the Fu family would have fallen. How could we still stand in the capital to this day! Your Majesty, Concubine Dowager, please investigate clearly and clear my innocence!”

  Many merchants in the hall, who have not yet left, were enjoying the battle between the father and the daughter. They also started to comment repeatedly.

  But with the Emperor and the Concubine Dowager still in the hall, they remained intimidated. No one dared to make a racket. There was only an endless buzzing around, with them putting their heads together and whispering animatedly.

  ”The Fus’ fabric wouldn’t really have a problem with weak dyeing, would they?”

  ”Who knows? If there is a problem, it should have been exposed by now. Why did they last until now? It is likely that they’re really wrongly accused.”

  ”That’s not necessarily true. What is this place? This is the imperial palace. If Fu Yuzheng dared to lay charges, she must have evidence. Otherwise, that’s deceiving His Majesty. She’ll be beheaded!”

  Fu Shuyuan was right next to the crowd. Even if they were whispering, he could still catch a sentence or two. His face got whiter and whiter, and his expression increasingly turned unsightly.

  ”Your Majesty, Concubine Dowager, death isn’t enough to punish this lowly ordinary woman, but I absolutely dare not falsely accuse someone in your presence because of personal grudges. Deceive Your Majesty and Concubine Dowager, if we speak of hoodwinking, it should be the Fu family doing so. Confirming the truth of my report is very simple. Just take a piece of the Fus’ clothing, wash it to verify, and you will know whether I’m telling the truth or not.”