Five chairs were arranged on both the east and west sides of the high platform. The heads of the major brocade-making households participating in the finals took their seats. The Brocade Guild’s seating arrangement was quite interesting.

Zhao Binsong sat in the first seat on the east side. Yang Jingyuan’s eldest brother Yang Jingshan, representing the Yang family, sat in the first chair on the west side. This arrangement had remained unchanged for decades.

The second-floor chambers of the Zouma Corner Tower were arranged with official families on the east side and the top ten brocade-making households on the west. Though the Military Governor’s family wasn’t present, Deputy Governor Niu’s family occupied the first room on the east. But the west side couldn’t be arranged so simply.

If the first room were given to the Yang family as Brocade King, it would be embarrassing to have to change rooms the following year if a new Brocade King was crowned. It would too easily create enmity. Since all rooms were the same size and layout, the chambers were assigned by drawing lots.

This year, the Yang family happened to draw the first room on the west side. The Zhao family was next door.

Originally, this place had been the official hall where Han officials handled brocade matters. The chambers had a bright and dark layout and were extremely spacious. Unlike the official families opposite who preferred to watch through bamboo blinds, as soon as the competition began, the windows on this side were thrown wide open, and all bamboo blinds rolled up. The brocade-making families all sat by the windows.

The Yang family had arranged three tables by the window. Madam Shi and Old Master Yang sat in the center, accompanied by the eldest daughter-in-law Madam Yang Fang, Second Young Master Yang Jingyan, eldest grandson Yang Tingyu, and second grandson Yang Tingshu. The second and third branches of the Yang family sat at the tables on either side. Space was limited, so the younger secondary wives hadn’t come.

Yang Jingyuan entered with light steps, but was spotted by the sharp-eyed Madam Yang Zou, who smiled and beckoned to him: “Where did Third Young Master run off to play? The competition has already started, come quickly.”

Hearing this, Madam Yang Shi turned around, her face breaking into a broad smile: “My son, come sit by mother.”

Yang Jingyuan smiled broadly, made a deep bow, and sat beside his second brother Yang Jingyan.

The brocade competition for the Brocade King title was the Yang family’s most important event of the year. The heads of each branch and their legitimate sons had to attend. But Madam Yang Zou was tactless. She wanted to criticize Yang Jingyuan for not understanding family rules but forgot he was a son of a concubine, and was once again angered by Madam Shi’s protection of her son, twisting her handkerchief in frustration.

The Yang family’s eldest young master sitting on stage was exactly forty this year, only a few years younger than his second uncle, and in his prime. His legitimate son was already ten. The second young master was also in his thirties, with an eight-year-old legitimate son. Madam Yang Zou looked at her three sons and felt bitter jealousy again. Her eldest son, Fourth Young Master Yang Jingting, was only different in birth month from Yang Jingyuan and wasn’t even married yet. The first branch already had grandsons to nurture. At this rate, as one grew and the other diminished, the second branch would never have a chance to rise in the Yang family.

In her jealousy, Madam Yang Zou had no interest in whether the Yang family would win the Brocade King title this year. She put on a worried expression and asked Madam Yang Shi: “Elder Sister-in-law, I heard that this morning during the brocade selection, the Military Governor couldn’t stop praising the Zhao family’s brocade. Also, I heard that Deputy Governor Niu’s young lady is engaged to the Zhao family’s second son, but they’re keeping it quiet for reputation’s sake. They’re just waiting for the Zhao family to win this year’s Brocade King title before announcing the engagement.”

Madam Yang Shi, wise with age, could hear her schadenfreude. Internal squabbles were one thing, but to not unite against outsiders during important events, while still wanting to be the Yang family’s matriarch? Madam Yang Shi wanted to spit in Zou’s face.

“Sister-in-law means to suggest that the Zhao family is colluding with the Niu family to curry favor with the Military Governor, making him judge unfairly to steal this year’s Brocade King title?” Madam Yang Shi asked in return.

How could she dare agree to such a suggestion? With so many people around, if word got out and angered the Military Governor, she wouldn’t survive. Madam Yang Zou hurriedly denied: “That’s not what I meant. I’m just worried that the Zhao family’s brocade is better this year, surpassing ours.”

Madam Yang Shi wouldn’t let her bear this accusation either. If the Military Governor was angered, it wouldn’t be women like Madam Zou who would be punished, but the Yang family’s main branch would be the first to suffer. She laughed, “The Military Governor is a senior official of two dynasties, a minister in the imperial court, known for his integrity. With him as chief judge, it couldn’t be more fair.”

“Yes, yes, Elder Sister-in-law is right.”

Madam Yang Shi changed tack: “Sister-in-law need not worry, the eldest son sent word at noon. The Zhao family’s brocade has good conception, good coloring, and good craftsmanship, but our Yang family has produced a new type of brocade this year.”

Among the finalists, all had good craftsmanship. Beyond that came conception, color, and pattern. But all these together couldn’t compare to a newly invented type of brocade. Madam Yang Zou could only laugh dryly and flatter: “That’s right, our Yang family wins the Brocade King title every year. In over twenty years, the Zhao family has never won.”

With this exchange of barbs, Madam Yang Zou finally quieted down. The whole family focused intently on the competition stage.

The announcer was calling out: “Next, the Peacock Display Brocade from the Song family!”

Two Song family servants carried a three-foot-long scroll up onto the high platform.

The brocade had been mounted as a painting, with the two servants each holding one end of the scroll.

The Song family head stood up, bowed all around, and announced loudly: “Please view the brocade!”

The scroll was slowly unfurled.

“Ah, beautiful!”

Sounds of admiration rose from below.

The brocade showed a peacock displaying its tail. The feathers were brilliant and colorful. The peacock looked incredibly lifelike. The Song family head smiled broadly and made a gesture. The servants carried the brocade around the platform so everyone could see clearly.

In the Zhao family chamber, Old Master Zhao stroked his beard and sneered: “Not as good as Second Son’s peacock brocade this year.”

Zhao Xiuyuan had originally made a peacock brocade this year, but Old Master Zhao had rejected it outright. Yet the Song family had submitted an inferior peacock brocade. The difference was obvious.

“Father. Elder Brother sent word at noon that the Yang family’s sample brocade is indeed newly invented. Our family excels in conception and coloring, but we still can’t compare to a new type of brocade.”

The speaker was Second Master Zhao from the Zhao family’s second branch. He had seen the sample brochures submitted for review and was selected for the finals. He admitted that Zhao Xiuyuan’s chrysanthemum brocade had good conception and coloring. But it only surpassed his son Zhao First Young Master’s Autumn Waves Moonlit Night brocade in conception. He had long decided that if Zhao Xiuyuan’s Immortal by the River Chrysanthemum brocade couldn’t win the Brocade King title, he would fight to the death for his son’s piece.

Old Master Zhao chuckled meaningfully: “The Yang family must think the same.” His eyes showed excitement and fervor as he said through gritted teeth, “This year our Zhao family will astonish everyone!”

The announcer’s voice rang out again from the stage: “Next, the Immortal by the River Brocade from the Zhao family of Sandaoyan!”

Two Zhao family servants carefully carried a screen up onto the competition platform, setting it steadily in place. The Zhao family’s brocade had been mounted on a screen, covered with red silk.

The Zhao family head Binsong stood up beside the screen, smiled and bowed all around as usual, then said: “Please appreciate the brocade!”

In the second-floor chambers, people from both the Yang and Zhao families couldn’t help but leave their seats and walk to the windows.

Zhao Binsong took a deep breath and reached out to remove the red silk from the screen.