The relatives from Jiazhou left the next day. Xing Yanan said that once he had settled matters over there, he would come first. Xing Muzheng sent some men to escort them back, and also help with the move.
Qian Jiaoniang went to look around the embroidery shop. To call it a “shop” was hardly accurate—it was an embroidery tower, three full stories tall, elegantly arranged inside, even with a small ornamental garden within. This was not Zhou Cuilian’s doing, but arranged by Xing Muzheng’s advisers. Qian Jiaoniang thought, if she were still an ordinary commoner, she would never have dared step into such a place.
Zhou Cuilian relayed what the adviser had said at the time: “Only such a place is worthy of the madam’s embroidery, which is exchanged for a skirt at the price of a jade bracelet worth a thousand in gold.”
This was about building momentum.
But would customers really come? Qian Jiaoniang had never run a shop before, and her heart was still somewhat uneasy.
Several beauties had come to the old residence, summoned by Qian Jiaoniang. They were all willing to work as embroideresses in the shop, to support themselves. Qian Jiaoniang said she intended to teach them the new embroidery methods she had invented. The women were all shocked.
They had all seen Qian Jiaoniang’s embroidery, indeed different from the ordinary. Some had even watched her embroider with their own eyes—but her hands were so quick and deft, like butterflies darting in flight, that even those who had tried to learn were dazzled, unable to grasp the key. Such a craft she did not hoard away, but instead generously offered to teach them—how could they not be astonished?
Qian Jiaoniang was puzzled at their reaction. “Do you not wish to learn?”
The women all shook their heads rapidly.
Yanluo spoke on their behalf, and Qian Jiaoniang suddenly understood. She smiled. “It’s nothing great. What I can think of now, you will surely be able to think of in the future. I am only a step ahead, that’s all.” She paused. “You are willing to work, to support yourselves—I think that is very good. I am willing to teach you.”
The beauties looked at one another, much moved. Their cheap lives had drifted like duckweed, sent off by their masters as gifts at a whim. They had thought being sent to the Dingxi Marquis was already the height of fortune—that winning his favor, bearing a child, becoming a concubine or secondary wife would be the best outcome. Who knew that the Marquis’s eyes were entirely on his wife, not sparing them a glance. Yet because of this, they gained by misfortune, receiving a respect they might never have had in their lifetimes. One day, they might even hold their own savings, walk with heads high, and marry good men—not spend their lives in a little inner courtyard, fighting other women for favor. That life, just imagining it was beautiful. That life—it was given to them by the Lady.
One of them said, “Madam is kind-hearted. We are willing to take you as teacher, and follow your instruction.”
Qian Jiaoniang laughed. “How could I have such ability, to start a school of disciples?”
“Even with a single pupil, one may be a teacher,” Yanluo urged. “Madam’s intention is good, but formally establishing a teacher-student bond can spare much trouble. Respecting the teacher and following the Way is always right.”
Qian Jiaoniang tilted her head in thought. “Very well, let it be so.”
The beauties immediately knelt smartly, all calling her “Master.”
Yanluo smiled. “Taking a teacher is not so easy—you must choose an auspicious day, bring a proper gift, and serve the tea of apprenticeship.”
The women did not feel awkward, but laughed and rose, chattering about what gifts to prepare. Qian Jiaoniang smiled and asked Yanluo, “And you? Do you want to learn?” She had noticed that lately Yanluo often hesitated to speak, perhaps wanting to learn embroidery but afraid she would refuse.
Who knew Yanluo would shake her head. “Madam, this servant does not wish to learn embroidery. This servant wishes to…” she faltered.
“What is it you want?”
Yanluo hesitated for a moment, then lifted her beautiful eyes. “Madam, this servant wishes to be the manager of the embroidery shop.”
Qian Jiaoniang was a little surprised. “Manager? You mean you want to sit here in the shop, greet customers, and run the business?”
Yanluo nodded.
Seeing this, before Qian Jiaoniang could answer, Shanzha blurted out, “Sister Yanluo, you’re really funny. With looks like yours, why bother exposing yourself like that? Just one smile, and scores of young lords would line up to marry you!”
Yanluo, always gentle and dignified, for the first time showed some embarrassment. This was exactly what she feared: “an innocent man gets into trouble by carrying jade.” She did not want to serve people with her beauty, yet she happened to be born with such a face. In the brothel, for the sake of survival, she had no choice but to fight with her sister for the title of top courtesan. In truth, she hated seeing that look of astonished greed in men’s eyes, as if her existence was only this skin, her life’s purpose only to please whoever bought her. She was a plaything, not a person.
Bought by the Zhen family, she had thought she would serve one of their masters, but instead she and her sister were kept to be given to the Dingxi Marquis. She had never expected to encounter a Marquis who ignored them, and an eccentric Marchioness. Yanluo keenly sensed the Marchioness was not like other women. That was why, when Qian Jiaoniang let her choose, she unhesitatingly chose to follow her—not to catch the Marquis’s eye, but because she truly wished to be close to the Marchioness. She had something Yanluo had never possessed.
Qian Jiaoniang glanced at Yanluo, then said to Shanzha, “Your Sister Yanluo’s beauty is hers. It has nothing to do with men.”
Yanluo suddenly raised her head. Everyone who saw her face thought only of which man ought to own her. But the Marchioness before her said: her beauty was her own.
Shanzha saw Yanluo’s embarrassment and realized she had misspoken. Her face flushed red, and she hurried to explain, “This servant had no other meaning, servant was only saying that Sister Yanluo is very beautiful and ought to be well-kept in the courtyard!”
“Every young woman ought to be well-kept,” Qian Jiaoniang said, “Making oneself happy is also a way of nourishing the heart.”
At first hearing, Qian Jiaoniang’s words seemed easy to understand, but in truth they carried depth. Shanzha listened without fully grasping, but the other women each had their own thoughts.
Yanluo suppressed the turmoil in her chest, lowered herself in a graceful bow, and said, “Yanluo earnestly begs Madam to grant Yanluo this chance.”
Hongjuan, though understanding her intention, still voiced her concern, “Yanluo, you are truly too beautiful. If you are to sit in the embroidery shop often, I fear it may bring calamity.”
Once the famous courtesan who could make countless young lords spend fortunes with a mere smile—just by sitting still, she might attract a swarm of butterflies and bees.
Yanluo’s back stiffened, unwilling to lift her head.
Qian Jiaoniang said, “Just yesterday I learned a word, and I did not expect to use it today. It’s called ‘giving up eating for fear of choking.’”
“Madam, what does that word mean?” asked Shanzha.
Qian Jiaoniang smiled, “It means this: we cannot stop eating altogether just because we once choked on food, and starve ourselves to death. Yanluo also cannot hide in a room for life just because of a few lechers. If they appear, drive them out! This is the Marquis’s household, and the Marquis is also the governor of Yuzhou. No one dares to strike at the head of Mount Tai!”
She looked at Yanluo. “If you truly want to do this, then be the shop manager. But—you must make something of it!”
Yanluo’s heart, once cold and detached, surged with heat. Her eyes brimmed, and she bowed low again, “Yanluo will give her utmost.”
Qian Jiaoniang glanced around once and then left. The beauties stayed in the embroidery building to help clean.
Qian Jiaoniang boarded the carriage. Seeing the hour was still early, she wondered whether she should stop by Miss Chen You’s weaving estate. Suddenly the carriage jolted violently; outside, the driver cried out urgently, and the carriage came to an abrupt halt again.
Could it be another cloth merchant blocking the carriage? Qian Jiaoniang thought she must find a way; otherwise, with these repeated shocks every few days, sooner or later she’d be thrown right out of the carriage.
“What is it?” Chunwu asked.
As expected, the driver said helplessly, “Madam, someone is blocking the carriage again!”
Qian Jiaoniang felt rather exasperated. She was about to speak when a familiar wailing voice came from outside: “Third Sister, can you truly be this heartless!”
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