Madam Zhao Shen, still angry, initially didn’t want to look. But with the box opened before her eyes, she glanced in and blood rushed to her head, her heart pounding wildly. She slammed the lid shut with force: “When Second Young Master comes out of the Treasury Hall, I’ll ask him if his desperate desire to marry that little hussy from the Ji family means he no longer cares about his mother!”

Nurse Gu was startled. She had been so focused on watching Madam Zhao Shen’s expression that she hadn’t noticed what the brocade handkerchief in the box looked like. Seeing her mistress’s anger, she carefully consoled her: “Second Young Master has always been filial. Please calm yourself, madam.”

How could she calm down? Madam Zhao Shen was using anger to mask her agitation. She grabbed the box and called out loudly: “Go fetch the master!”

Clutching the box, her heart continued to race. She had seen it clearly – the handkerchief was embroidered with that chrysanthemum design. This year, the Zhao family had chosen Second Young Master Zhao’s chrysanthemum design for the brocade competition, and only Old Master Zhao, Zhao Binsung, and Madam Zhao Shen had seen it. What did it mean that Madam Ji had specially delivered this handkerchief embroidered by Ji Yingying? With barely a month left before the competition, could Ji Yingying have devised a new silk thread color combination?

She walked so quickly that Nurse Gu and the maids, thinking their mistress had been angered senseless by Madam Ji, didn’t dare advise her and just followed quietly with lowered heads.

Returning to Moon Brocade Hall, without even catching her breath, Madam Zhao Shen demanded: “Has the master been found?”

Seeing her mistress’s unusual agitation, which seemed different from mere anger at Madam Ji, Nurse Gu grew nervous herself: “Madam, they’ve just gone to fetch him.”

“Ah, never mind. When you find the master, tell him to go directly to Pine Crane Hall.” Madam Zhao Shen, anxious at heart, hurried out with the box, rushing like a wind to see Old Master Zhao.

When Zhao Binsung received the message and hurried from the front courtyard to Pine Crane Hall, he entered to find Old Master Zhao and Madam Zhao Shen seated in the hall with peculiar expressions. After paying his respects to Old Master Zhao, he glared at Madam Zhao Shen, thinking that no matter how urgent the matter, shouldn’t she have discussed it with him before seeking the Old Master?

“Come look at this.”

In the main hall of Pine Crane Hall, with no servants present, Old Master Zhao pointed at the handkerchief spread out on the table, telling his son to see for himself.

Madam Zhao Shen rose to meet her husband, exceptionally excited. As the principal wife, if she could help the Zhao family reclaim the title of Brocade King this year, what glory that would bring – so much so that she’d forgotten to be angry at the Ji family.

Zhao Binsung stepped forward to pick up the handkerchief, examining it carefully. After a moment, he let out a long breath: “If we can weave it like this, the Zhao family has hope of winning the competition this year.”

“Ha ha!” Old Master Zhao lost his composure, slapping his thigh with uncontrollable laughter. After his laughter subsided, his face grew stern: “Both of you must keep your mouths sealed. If anyone dares let slip even a whisper of this, don’t blame family law for being merciless.”

The couple acknowledged solemnly.

After leaving Pine Crane Hall, Madam Zhao Shen, knowing her husband well, quickly explained in a low voice: “With the competition drawing near, I was anxious.”

“I understand.” Zhao Binsung’s mind was filled with thoughts of the Brocade King title. Having been family head for over twenty years without winning the title once, he’d had enough of his brothers’ contempt. Thinking of the chance to hold his head high this year, he couldn’t blame his wife’s anxiety at all.

“The Ji family… I’m afraid we won’t be able to control this daughter-in-law!” Back in Moon Brocade Hall, after hearing about Madam Ji’s visit, Zhao Binsung couldn’t help but sigh.

Madam Zhao Shen froze. She had been anxious about winning the competition, but now, thinking back on Madam Ji’s attitude, wasn’t she acting rather fearless? She said harshly: “Let’s focus on the bigger picture first – securing Second Young Master’s position as the family head is crucial. Once he marries her, I’ll still be her mother-in-law.”

Then, she would have plenty of time to pluck out Ji Yingying’s thorns one by one. No matter how fierce she might be, Madam Zhao Shen still held the position of mother-in-law.

After lunch, when Zhao Xiuyuan came out from meeting Old Master Zhao, he rushed back to Moon Brocade Hall to see his parents. Time was pressing, and he only hurriedly said: “I need to see Second Miss Ji about this matter, I’m going to the Ji house now.” Then he turned and left.

Madam Zhao Shen didn’t even have time to express her concern and felt blocked up again: “No matter how urgent, surely it’s not so urgent he can’t spare a moment. I haven’t seen him in so many days. Get a wife and forget your mother!”

“Ahem!” Zhao Binsung cleared his throat, “The brocade weaving is crucial.”

Those four words pushed back Madam Zhao Shen’s complaints.

—

Zhao Xiuyuan lifted the curtain to the small private room in the dyeing shop.

Ji Yingying was embroidering.

Her arms rose and fell in graceful rhythm. Zhao Xiuyuan had never seen Ji Yingying so quietly focused on embroidery before; she seemed like a different person from the lively Ji Yingying he knew, yet possessed a different kind of elegant beauty. He stood frozen, holding the curtain, staring.

“You came quite quickly,” Ji Yingying said coolly without looking up.

How could he not? Following Ji Yingying’s thread-matching method, they would need time to select new silk, reconfigure the loom, and then weave three feet of brocade. Working day and night, they would barely make the competition on the ninth day of the tenth month. Every hour had become precious. Zhao Xiuyuan snapped out of his daze, lowered the curtain, and called out: “I came as soon as I got the message.”

Ji Yingying stuck her needle in the embroidery frame and looked up: “Rushing here to order dyed silk threads or to buy ready-made ones?”

Why did her tone sound off? Zhao Xiuyuan had no time to ponder her attitude, assuming she was in a mood because of the days without news. He strode over, taking out the handkerchief she had embroidered: “Yingying, please help me match the silk threads according to this!”

He had lost weight, and his eyes were bloodshot. He must have been in the weaving room rushing to complete that brocade, without proper rest. Ji Yingying felt a twinge of sympathy. But then she thought of the overbearing Madam Zhao and decided not to let Zhao Xiuyuan off easily.

“The Zhao family has run their weaving workshop for a hundred years, weaving at least tens of thousands of pieces of brocade. Don’t you know how to match silk threads? Surely you’re joking?”

Zhao Xiuyuan blushed at her sharp words, embarrassment flashing across his face. Quick-witted, he immediately put on a full smile and bowed deeply to Ji Yingying, deliberately making an excessive gesture: “Yingying, I apologize. I’ve been so busy rushing to weave that brocade these past days, that I’ve neglected you. Keep track of it. After I finish this brocade, you can punish me however you like.”

When he bowed, Ji Yingying jumped away like a rabbit, her face also reddening: “The one who offended me wasn’t you, there’s no need for you to play the good person.”

Zhao Xiuyuan’s heart skipped a beat, realizing someone from the Zhao family must have truly offended Ji Yingying. Who could it be? He had been locked in the Treasury Hall weaving brocade these days, unaware that his mother had gone to the Ji house to put on airs as a future mother-in-law. He knew Ji Yingying was straightforward, and since she was willing to speak plainly about being offended, this matter wouldn’t be hard to resolve.

He straightened up and accommodated her mood: “Whoever offended you, I’ll make them come apologize right away. Just wait here, I’ll go home now to investigate.”

He turned to leave as he finished speaking.

Ji Yingying wanted to call him back, but thinking of her mother’s visit today and Madam Zhao Shen’s mockery, she closed her mouth. Whether for the brocade competition or the marriage alliance, it was the Zhao family seeking favor from the Ji family. Her mother was right – being too eager wasn’t good for business, and though the Ji family was modest, they shouldn’t let the Zhao family look down on them through the door crack.

She didn’t see Zhao Xiuyuan’s face darken as he stepped out.

Leaving the Huanhua Dyeing Shop, Zhao Xiuyuan looked back. Previously, when Ji Yingying was in a mood, she would always smile after a bit of coaxing. What was different today? He hadn’t expected that Ji Yingying wouldn’t call him back, that she was waiting for him to find the person who had offended her and bring them to apologize.

In this hesitation, Zhao Xiuyuan also realized he’d forgotten to take back the handkerchief. If he went back for it now, Ji Yingying would probably snap at him again. Gritting his teeth, Zhao Xiuyuan returned home with a belly full of anger.