Chapter 3

The day after breakfast, Old Madam Qi arrived with the clothing and jewelry ordered by Madam Zhang.

As the items were laid out on the large table, Li Lanxin sat by the side, watching as the maids placed the bone-colored silk dress from the largest tray onto the clothing rack. Sunlight hit the fabric, revealing patterns embroidered in subtle, off-white thread that would have been nearly invisible in dimmer light.

The rest of the delivery included a pale, straw-colored shawl, jade-colored embroidered shoes, and a tray full of silver hairpins. The only items with any color were a pair of emerald bracelets and a jade waist ornament, tucked away in the corner.

It was plain to the point of austerity.

Li Lanxin knew without having to imagine it that on the day she entered the imperial palace, she would be the most drab and shabbily dressed among all the officials' relatives.

Behind her, Limian and Xing'er stood with their brows furrowed tightly. Limian’s fists were clenched. They had expected that Madam Zhang wouldn't send anything bright or elegant, but they hadn't imagined it would be this excessive. It was a special occasion; this was clearly a deliberate attempt to make their mistress lose face and suffer ridicule.

Old Madam Qi stood by the rack, her expression cold and insincere as she stared at the woman in the chair, waiting for a reaction. "The Old Mistress cares deeply for you, Second Mistress. She ordered us to select these fine garments from the storeroom. Look, this dress is made of snow-satin, the patterns are Suzhou embroidery, and even the shawl is made of Shu silk. Are you satisfied, Second Mistress?"

Li Lanxin stood up, her smile as calm and gentle as ever. "Naturally, I am satisfied. Were it not for my mother-in-law's help and compassion over these years, I would never have had a stable life, let alone the chance to see the world at the imperial palace. Please, do thank her for me when you return."

Old Madam Qi’s eyes flickered with a cold light before she nodded, satisfied. "As long as you are pleased, the Old Mistress's efforts were not in vain." She then dismissed the maids and remained alone with Li Lanxin for half an hour, detailing the etiquette and rules to observe once inside the palace.

It wasn't until mid-morning that she finally stepped out, leading the General’s Mansion servants away from Qingluo Lane with an imposing air.

As soon as the heavy gate of the house closed, Limian’s breathing grew hurried. She threw her summer fan to the ground. "This is too much!" she cried, her eyes reddening. "How can they make you wear such clothes? They could at least have let you wear the dresses the Second Master had made for you!"

Li Lanxin stooped to pick up the fan and pulled her along as they walked back. "I am a widow. Wearing anything too flashy would not be proper." She added with a smile, "Besides, these are valuable items. They aren't cheap, and they will be comfortable to wear."

Limian was not comforted. "Mistress! What good is quality fabric if the clothes are so drab they could be worn to a funeral? You are a widow, but isn't the Eldest Madam in the same position? I don't believe for a second that Madam Zhuang will be dressed like this!" She had seen Madam Zhuang at the General’s Mansion the day before, adorned with gold hairpins and a necklace of pigeon-blood rubies. Whether widowed or not, she lived a life of luxury.

"Enough! No more of that!" Li Lanxin’s expression turned stern. "We must live our own lives. Do not compare yourself to others." She sighed. "Some things are only a source of distress if you dwell on them."

Limian felt a grievance. "I just feel awful. You’ve been a widow for so many years for the Second Master—isn't that enough? They won't let you leave, and now they use these methods to humiliate you. It’s only gotten worse these past two years..." She caught herself before finishing the sentence.

"We have our shop and our money, yet we cannot leave the capital, nor can we even walk out of this lane often. When will this ever end?" Limian complained, feeling suffocated.

Li Lanxin patted her head, her smile bitter. "Limian, you grew up in the capital and haven't seen the world outside. Do you think the world beyond the capital is a paradise? For a widow like me, traveling with you and Xing'er to make a living—how could that be easy? Whether it's the wealthy officials in large cities or the clan gentry in small counties, everything is deeply intertwined. Even if we had a fortune, we would have to be extremely cautious to gain a foothold. And right now, I rely only on this embroidery shop."

"Not to mention the complexities of social interactions. If we suddenly went to a strange place and something happened, we wouldn't even know where to turn for help."

Limian paused, lowering her eyes.

Li Lanxin led her back to the house. "We are stable for now. We can save money. The capital is prosperous, and there are advantages to living here. The markets are busy, and there are many merchants, which helps us build capital faster."

"When your Second Master was alive, he was very kind to me. If not for that, you and I would still be trapped inside the General’s Mansion instead of living in this separate house. I don't feel wronged by keeping this mourning. To live for a few decades with food and clothing is enough."

Limian sniffled. "You make it sound so simple, but have you forgotten the insults they've hurled at you? And now they want you to make a fool of yourself again, and you won't even defend yourself. Just once, wouldn't that be enough?"

Li Lanxin chuckled. "Let them laugh. I've heard worse. You two just hide behind me and cover your ears; I’ll listen to it myself."

This was the truth. The women of the high-ranking households in the capital were all literate; their insults could never be as crude as those of the countryside. She had faced much worse in her uncle’s home.

"Well then, go tell Xing'er to get ready. We’re leaving. It's already past mid-morning. After we check on the shop, we’ll have a good meal at the Xiwei Restaurant."

At the mention of the Xiwei Restaurant, Limian’s eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Of course. We haven't treated ourselves this month, have we? Hurry now."

As Limian ran off to find Xing'er, Li Lanxin went to her room to fetch her purse. She needed to make a slightly larger purchase today. She planned to buy some books on patterns and designs; to keep her small embroidery business going, she had to constantly learn and see new styles.

Li Lanxin’s skill—the rare double-sided embroidery—had been inherited from her mother. However, after her parents passed away, her aunt and uncle had forced her to work in the fields, viewing her embroidery as a waste of time and materials. It wasn't until she married into the General’s Mansion that her late husband, Xu Yu, encouraged her to read, paint, and study, eventually setting up this shop for her.

Xu Yu had said that having a skill was good, but constantly refining it was even better.

Li Lanxin stepped out with her purse, and they set off. They walked past a neighboring house, ignoring the shadows moving behind the half-open door.

The embroidery shop was located on the busiest street in the east of the city. After stopping for some candied plums, they arrived at the shop. The manager, Cheng Laosan, was a former soldier under Xu Yu who had lost a leg and sight in one eye in battle. He was honest and capable, and his presence provided both security and a livelihood.

"Mistress, you've come at a good time," Cheng Laosan said, bringing out the account books. "Business has been busy. A new customer came by last night specifically asking for two double-sided embroidery pieces for their hall. I was just about to send word."

"A new customer? Who is it?" Li Lanxin asked.

Cheng Laosan lowered his voice. "They said they were purchasing for the Prince Jin’s mansion. Since Prince Jin has arrived in the capital, they are likely renovating the long-vacant residence. I’ve heard that other shops in the market have received orders as well. The woman said if we accept, we must have the designs ready within three days, and they will pay the deposit immediately upon approval."

Three days—that would be just before she had to leave for the imperial palace.

Li Lanxin nodded. "What are the requirements?"

"They want auspicious patterns—cranes, pines, things that symbolize longevity," Cheng Laosan replied. "They said price is no object; they want the best, just as long as it looks grand."

A few hundred taels—that was a massive commission. Li Lanxin’s face flushed with excitement. "Excellent! I’ll draw the designs tonight, and you can have Limian bring them to you. I shouldn't go to the Prince's mansion myself, so I'll have to rely on you, Old San."

"Rest assured, Mistress," Cheng Laosan replied. "I understand."