FBC – Chapter 335 Winning Favor

Min Dongsheng had no choice but to turn his back and take off his robe, handing it to the nanny.

“Thank you, Nanny.”

The nanny smiled as she took the robe and passed it to Dong Qing, who was waiting by the door.

“Have some snacks.”

Yuanyuan, excited, jumped up and grabbed Min Dongsheng, pulling him to sit down.

With the two children distracting him, Min Dongsheng gradually relaxed, sitting with them as they ate and asking what characters they knew and what books their mother and elder sisters had read to them.

About fifteen minutes later, Dong Qing returned.

She still didn’t enter the room, calling out “Nanny” from the doorway.

The nanny went out and handed the robe to Min Dongsheng.

His mood had already settled. Curious, he glanced at the hem and, at first glance, couldn’t spot any repair work. Turning it over to examine the back carefully, he noticed a tiny knot.

The frayed edges had also been mended—completely seamless.

He couldn’t help but marvel at the craftsmanship.

A strange feeling stirred in his heart.

He hurriedly put on the robe and saw Dong Qing still standing at the door, her back to the room.

After a moment’s thought, he mustered his courage and stepped out. “Thank you, Miss Dong Qing.”

Dong Qing stiffened, quickly turned, bowed slightly, and, not daring to look at Min Dongsheng, examined the repaired area instead.

“Are you satisfied, sir?”

Min Dongsheng replied sincerely, “Yes, very satisfied. I truly didn’t expect your hands to be so skillful, Miss Dong Qing.”

Dong Qing was delighted inwardly, but her face remained composed, slightly flushed. “Your servant will take her leave.”

Watching her retreating figure, Min Dongsheng suddenly remembered something. “Miss Dong Qing…”

She turned around.

He smiled, “Last time you were looking for the book Wangxi Zazu, I happened to find it. I didn’t bring it today, but I’ll bring it when I come tomorrow.”

Dong Qing’s eyes brightened, and she shyly nodded. “Thank you, sir.”

Watching the girl’s graceful figure, it felt as though a spring breeze had blown into his heart.

But suddenly, a thought crossed his mind, and his expression darkened.

He was over ten years older than her—how could he indulge in such thoughts?

…

Gu Hua and Old Madam admired the new brocades delivered from Xianghua Tower.

Old Madam praised, “These brocades can fully rival those from Jiangling.”

“Indeed. This is thanks to the Pei family generously sharing their techniques. Our brocades are even being sold back in Bianjing, through Pei’s shops since they have greater renown.”

Old Madam looked at her approvingly, “You’re really clever.”

Gu Hua smiled faintly, “We have to make money. I know that previously, the Min family paid compensation to the fallen soldiers entirely from their own funds—none from the court. Coupled with all the orphans, the families of the fallen soldiers, the Min family has been supporting them painstakingly. If we want to recruit soldiers and force our way back to Bianjing, this money is only a drop in the ocean. We’ll need to think of more ways.”

“Child, aren’t you afraid?”

“No.”

Gu Hua smiled gracefully, “I’ve already lived through death. Now I have Ziyuan and my mother—I’m not afraid.”

Old Madam said with satisfaction, “Ziyuan is truly fortunate to have met you.”

Gu Hua blushed, “It’s I who am lucky, to have met Ziyuan and my mother.”

Yun’er quietly stepped in and whispered, “Princess, when Xianghua Tower delivered the brocades, they said that Lady Li, the wife of the governor of Qian Prefecture in Bazhou, sent someone to request a customized brocade painting for her biological mother’s birthday. She is expected to arrive at Xianghua Tower this noon.”

Gu Hua’s eyes lit up. “Good.”

All shops under Xianghua Tower, as well as those under her and the Pei family, received the notice. Any important guest’s visit must be reported immediately.

Gu Hua planned to start with public opinion and the inner household, laying groundwork for the Min family army, so she needed to closely monitor the movements of key families in several prefectures.

For over a year, Wang Heng had been wandering here, with the governors of Gongzhou and Bazhou interacting most frequently with him.

The situation of Lady Li, wife of the governor of Bazhou Qian, was clearly reported by Chiyu and others.

Lady Li’s father was Li Guitian, Minister of Works and father of the Virtuous Consort.

But Lady Li was not his legitimate daughter; she was the daughter of the second concubine.

Li Guitian, originally from Bazhou, came from a humble family, and climbed the ranks on his own.

When he served as governor of Bazhou, his legitimate daughter had just been selected into the palace as a minor beauty, so the family could not rely on her.

Before the Li family relocated to the capital, they relied on the Min family and had mutual support, so Min Junyan had some connection with Li Guitian.

When Min Junyan destroyed the Jiang family, Li Guitian assisted covertly.

After the Jiang family fell, the Empress’s family dominated and began regulating the harem, aiming to control the princes to secure the Crown Prince’s position for her son.

Li Guitian knew clearly that without the backing of a century-old prominent family, he could not fully protect the Virtuous Consort or the Fourth Prince, and had to pick a side.

This was also why the Virtuous Consort quietly sent the Fourth Prince to the Min family army.

But Li Guitian had a man’s flaw: he favored the beautiful second concubine, mother of the illegitimate Lady Li.

Her status rose along with her mother’s favor, and she had a generous dowry when married.

Official Qian, originally Li Guitian’s subordinate, naturally wanted to marry this illegitimate daughter as his main wife to advance his career.

When Li Guitian’s daughter in the palace became pregnant, he secured a lucrative post in the Ministry of Works and recommended this son-in-law, who proved competent and eventually became governor of Bazhou.

Later, the second concubine suddenly died. The legitimate mother, to maintain the Virtuous Consort’s honor, tightened the household’s discipline and stopped caring for the illegitimate daughter.

With the court in turmoil, Li Guitian had no time for these matters.

A daughter married off is like water spilled—especially an illegitimate one, considered tainted by the legitimate mother—there was no help forthcoming.

Without support, after Official Qian grew close to Wang Heng, he gradually treated his legitimate wife coldly, showing signs of favoring a concubine over her.

Hearing that she came to order expensive brocade, Gu Hua naturally guessed that she aimed to please her biological mother, gain her family’s support, and make her husband respect her.

“Mother, I’ll go to the shop to take a look.”

“Go ahead.”

Old Madam never stopped Gu Hua from acting.

Gu Hua changed into a newly made brocade skirt and went to Xianghua Tower.

Lady Li was examining brocade patterns and her eyes lit up when she saw a three-by-six-foot piece hanging on the wall.

“How much for this for the Queen Mother’s birthday?”

A maid smiled, “Madam, you have a keen eye. This piece was made by the sixth-generation inheritor of a brocade family and is the shop’s treasure. It’s been here for some years. If you wish to have it, three thousand gold coins will suffice.”

“Three thousand gold coins and that’s considered affordable?”

Lady Li exclaimed in disbelief, “Why wouldn’t others fight for it? A master’s painting is only one or two thousand gold coins!”

“Madam, you may not know, brocade differs from painting; the labor and effort involved are incomparable.”

A clear, gentle voice spoke.

Lady Li turned and was nearly blinded by the gorgeous brocade skirt of the newcomer.

Gu Hua was accompanied by the shopkeeper of Xianghua Tower.

The shopkeeper spoke first, “Madam Li, this is Princess of Yong.”

Lady Li was startled, hurriedly bowed, “Greetings, Princess.”

Gu Hua gently steadied her, “Madam Qian, hello.”

Lady Li was surprised, “Princess, you know me?”

Gu Hua smiled faintly, “You are the most beloved daughter of the Minister of Works—I naturally know of you.”

Raised in this way, Lady Li was overjoyed.

She hurriedly said, “I should have presented my respects to Princess in Juzhou first, but I feared it would be improper, so I didn’t dare. Please forgive me, Princess.”

Gu Hua smiled, “You are too polite. Are you here to choose brocade for your personal use?”

Lady Li felt awkward to appear cheap in front of her, “It’s my mother’s birthday. I wanted an expensive gift. Hearing that you can customize brocade, I thought to select a suitable one.”

Gu Hua pointed to the shop’s treasure piece delivered by the Pei family, “This was personally made by the sixth-generation inheritor of a brocade family, and is the shop’s treasure.”

“The craftsmanship of brocade is complex and difficult, requiring great skill and experience. A single mistake in the threads can waste an entire month of effort. The artisan…”

Lady Li could only nod in agreement.

“This piece for the Queen Mother’s birthday I have seen in the palace; it was a gift from the Pei family for the Empress Dowager’s birthday, also made by this sixth-generation inheritor.”

Gu Hua looked to the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper nodded, “Exactly. That year, when the Pei family was newly selected as imperial merchants, they specially made one for the Empress Dowager.”

Lady Li’s eyes brightened.

If she gave a similar piece for her mother’s birthday, the biological mother would certainly be pleased and view her differently.

“Truly precious.”

Although Lady Li’s pocket was shallow, she still wanted the best.

Gu Hua, of course, understood her intentions.