"This way, miss. Let me see the design," said Jin Yunqiu's maid as she stepped out of the courtyard. Seeing that Li Sumeng was dressed decently, the maid set aside her initial disdain and spoke more politely.
Li Sumeng offered a delicate smile. "I don't have a physical design with me."
The maid's almond-shaped eyes widened. "No design? Are you playing games with my young mistress?" She spun around, ready to walk away.
"Wait! I'm not joking." Li Sumeng quickly stopped her, gesturing toward the magnolia silver hairpin adorning her head. "The design is here, in my memory. A style this unique must be kept discreet. Imagine if someone else wore the exact same dress—it would be so embarrassing."
The maid hesitated, finding some truth in Li's words. After a moment's thought, she replied, "Follow me."
Silently cursing the maid as a "mere lackey," Li Sumeng kept her pleasant expression intact, her graceful steps following the servant. Her eyes, however, darted around the Jin estate, marveling at the luxurious surroundings. The finely crafted pavilions and lush gardens made her own home feel like a pigsty in comparison.
Envy gnawed at her heart, twisting into bitter resentment. She clenched her handkerchief so tightly that it nearly tore, but her face remained as delicate and soft as a newly bloomed flower.
When they reached Jin Yunqiu's courtyard, Li Sumeng was instructed to wait outside the young mistress's room. The air was perfumed with an exotic and expensive fragrance, while the room's décor was filled with treasures from foreign lands and rare tributes from the empire. Coral bonsai glimmered with inlaid jewels, and the pearl curtains gleamed brighter than the earrings dangling from Li Sumeng's ears.
She lowered her gaze, masking the jealousy in her eyes. For a fleeting moment, she smirked. If such a pampered young mistress were to face humiliation, would Jiang Huaiyu remain as composed as ever? But when she heard footsteps from inside the room, Li quickly wiped the expression from her face.
Jin Yunqiu stepped out, her brows furrowing when she saw Li Sumeng. "Why did you bring someone inside? Didn't I say to present the design to me directly?"
The maid leaned in to whisper a brief explanation.
"Fine. Bring her paper and ink. Let's see it," Jin Yunqiu said as she slowly moved to a chair, resting her chin in one hand while a servant promptly handed her a warm bowl of bird's nest soup.
Though her words lacked overt disdain, her casual dismissal of Li Sumeng stung, filling the latter with quiet rage.
Suppressing her hatred for Jin Yunqiu's aloof behavior, Li forced a demure smile. Taking the offered paper and brush, she began sketching meticulously. Soon, an exact replica of Jiang Huaiyu's "Liuxian" dress appeared on the page.
Li handed the design to the waiting maid, who then presented it to Jin Yunqiu. "I thought a dress this exquisite could only suit someone as refined as the Second Miss Jin," Li said with a gentle smile.
"What, and not Qin Jiuru?" Jin Yunqiu asked with a faint smirk.
Though Jin couldn't deny the dress was beautiful, the fact that Li Sumeng brought it made her wary. The recent scandal involving Qin Jiuru—who had forcibly acquired a shop, leading to the owner's death—had been the talk of their social circles. While many believed the incident exposed Jiuru's true nature, Jin Yunqiu saw it differently. Qin Jiuru was foolish, but not inherently malicious. The real culprit was likely this sycophantic woman before her.
"Jiuru has been preoccupied lately," Li replied smoothly, though her hand tightened beneath her sleeve. "And she's never been one for delicate fashion. After thinking it over, I realized no one could wear this dress better than you."
Jin Yunqiu tapped her fingers on the table, her interest piqued. "Such a lovely dress wouldn't suit staying indoors."
"Exactly," Li said, her eyes glinting briefly before she lowered her gaze to mask her glee. "The upcoming Chrysanthemum Garden Party would be the perfect occasion."
"Ah, I'd nearly forgotten about that," Jin Yunqiu said with a cryptic smile, nodding. "How thoughtful of you. Be sure to visit me again when you have time. That will be all for today."
Li Sumeng's smile froze. She had expected at least a token of appreciation, perhaps a reward. Though she didn't intend to ask for money, Jin Yunqiu's lack of any gesture left her feeling both frustrated and humiliated.
After Li left, the maid hesitated before asking, "Miss, shouldn't we have the dress made soon? The party is only two days away."
"Hmph." Jin Yunqiu tossed the design onto the table dismissively, offering no further explanation.
Only someone as dim as Qin Jiuru could have been manipulated by a schemer like Li Sumeng. Jin Yunqiu smirked at the thought. Clearly, Li was up to something. She couldn't help but wonder who Li's new target might be—or, more intriguingly, who had designed such an extraordinary dress. If possible, she'd like to meet the person and see if they had other creative ideas.
Back at her home, Jiang Huaiyu gave Zhuzhu instructions. "Check on the progress of the Liuxian dress at Qingrui Cloth Shop tomorrow. Make sure the fabric is being handled with care."
She turned to see Xiaocao reading aloud from Expanded Aphorisms for Enlightenment to Tangbao, fulfilling his early education. Jiang couldn't help but smile.
"Was Tangbao well-behaved today?" she asked, pinching her son's chubby cheeks.
Xiaocao nodded. "He didn't make any trouble. Even the neighbors couldn't resist praising him. They almost gave him snacks on the way home!"
"Exactly! When Xiaocao brought him back, I thought she had gone shopping!" Old Madam Xu chuckled nearby.
"For such a young boy to be so charming—what will we do if he grows up even more handsome?" Jiang teased. Tangbao giggled, showing his few baby teeth.
"Madam," Old Madam Xu interjected, "should I arrange a carriage for you? The Chrysanthemum Garden Party is in two days."
"Yes, please," Jiang replied. "While I'm away, you and Zhuzhu look after Tangbao. I'll take Xiaocao with me."
Later, in the privacy of her room, Jiang opened a hidden compartment under her bed and counted her earnings. Most of her silver had been converted into banknotes, but she had indulged in keeping a few shining silver ingots and two gold coins for fun.
In just four or five months since arriving in the capital, she had amassed nearly 3,000 taels—mostly from selling soap and spices. Perfume sales had yet to start in earnest, but the sample gifts alone had generated interest. She smiled, imagining the profits her other ventures, including the mooncake business, would soon bring.
Though satisfied with her progress, Jiang remained vigilant. For her, wealth wasn't about climbing social ranks—it was about ensuring security for herself and her loved ones. No one would trample on her without consequences.
"Xiaocao, make sure the workshop is rented, molds are ready, and ingredients like taro, salted egg yolks, and lotus seeds are stocked," Jiang instructed as she left her room.
"Yes, Madam," Xiaocao replied confidently. "The workshop is rented for eight coins a month, with three workers on hand. The molds were made as you requested—I just brought them back this morning. Would you like to see?"
"Bring them here," Jiang said, pleased with Xiaocao's progress.
The molds were intricate, featuring circular patterns and engraved designs—some with poems, others with elegant motifs.
"Perfect. Deliver these to the workshop," Jiang said. She envisioned a steady business, one that wouldn't draw too much attention yet would quietly generate significant wealth. The key was ensuring her products became indispensable in people's lives.
"Have you reviewed the accounts from Qi Jue?" Jiang asked, remembering she had tasked Xiaocao with the job.
"I looked, but the numbers confused me…" Xiaocao admitted, embarrassed.
"Then it's time to learn," Jiang said kindly. "If you're ever in charge, how will you prevent your subordinates from tricking you with false accounts? Come, I'll teach you."