Qin Shuang'er, burdened by the knowledge that they held leverage over her, had been uneasy. But after that night's incident passed, she noticed that Jin Niang and Fang Qiaolian seemed to have completely forgotten about it—they treated her no differently than before. Even Madam Chen remained unaware of the matter and simply tasked her with embroidering a "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea" quilt cover for the elderly matriarch.
"It's the First Madam who assigned this to you, so it must be done well—no carelessness," Madam Chen instructed.
"Yes," Qin Shuang'er agreed, stealing a glance at Jin Niang, who was absorbed in sewing garments for the eldest and second young ladies for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Her anxious heart finally settled.
Truthfully, Jin Niang had only used the leverage to ensure Qin Shuang'er wouldn’t cause trouble in the future, never intending to drive her out or expose her. She had even instructed Si'er to keep it quiet. After all, Qin Shuang'er was barely older than a middle schooler in her past life, and they wouldn’t be together forever—once the eldest young lady married in two years, the sewing workshop would disband.
Like King Zhuang of Chu’s legendary act of mercy at the Banquet of the Untied Hat Tassels, sometimes it was best to forgive and let go.
You schemed against me, and I retaliated—now I hold your secret. That’s enough.
Meanwhile, ever since the eldest young lady made her debut at the First Madam’s birthday banquet, matchmakers had begun visiting the Zhou household.
In Bianjing, matchmakers were ranked by status. The highest-ranking ones wore purple beizi jackets and veils, serving only officials and noble families. The mid-tier matchmakers donned headpieces wrapped in yellow scarves and carried green parasols.
Naturally, the Zhou family received a matchmaker in purple beizi.
Even Madam Chen remarked cheerfully to the seamstresses, "Practice your skills diligently these days. Once the real work begins, time will be tight."
Fang Qiaolian couldn’t resist asking, "I wonder what kind of family the eldest young lady will be matched with?"
"It must be either wealthy or noble," Jin Niang mused. "As the Zhou family’s eldest daughter, her marriage will be chosen with the utmost care."
Madam Chen quickly hushed them. "No gossiping about the masters."
Jin Niang immediately covered her mouth, not daring to say more.
Her birthday slipped by like the fleeting days of June. Now thirteen, she received a lavish gift from Second Master Cun—a set of forty-two pigments, far more expensive and complete than her own.
By July, the Qixi Festival—traditionally a girls’ holiday—arrived. Jin Niang had hoped for a day of leisure, but instead, they worked late into the night on the young ladies’ garments. Madam Chen handled the clothing for the matriarch, the masters, and the young masters, while Jin Niang, Fang Qiaolian, and Qin Shuang'er took charge of the young ladies’ and concubines’ wardrobes.
With her new pigments, Jin Niang’s designs flourished. The eldest young lady, now of marriageable age, needed dignified yet youthful attire—nothing too frivolous. Bright pinks were set aside in favor of soft hues: pale pink, pearl white, light blue, and pale yellow, evoking both summer freshness and scholarly elegance.
Her first design featured a pale green bodice embroidered with large white flowers and green pistils, paired with a grass-green pleated skirt. The beizi jacket, made of sheer lake-blue gauze, had a collar embroidered with matching blossoms and budding vines.
Pleased, Jin Niang presented it to the eldest young lady, who approved. Relieved, Jin Niang said, "Then I’ll begin work on this set first."
But before she could start, Madam Jiang summoned her to craft a pearl-encrusted gown for the eldest young lady, even sending Yan Hong to deliver the pearls personally.
Jin Niang hesitated. "A pearl gown? I’m not sure where the pearls should be placed—on the collar trim, or elsewhere?" Such an expensive garment couldn’t be ruined.
Yan Hong suggested, "The Grand Xiangguo Temple holds a market five times a month—the liveliest in Bianjing, with everything from birds and beasts to daily goods and embroidered trims. The embroidery district is nearby too. You could go there for inspiration."
"Am I allowed to leave?" Jin Niang asked.
Yan Hong smiled. "It’s for official business. I’ll inform the First Madam and arrange a carriage for you."
For the first time, Jin Niang carried the household token and dressed practically, bringing Si'er along. She had invited Fang Qiaolian, but the latter declined, grimacing. "My monthly pains have come. I can’t even manage needlework today, let alone an outing."
"Ah, I’ll have Lan Xue bring you a bowl of brown sugar water. Drink it and rest at noon," Jin Niang offered.
Fang Qiaolian nodded. She had once acknowledged Nanny Kuang as a foster mother, but the old woman favored her own daughter, pocketing Fang Qiaolian’s money and only tossing her scraps. Real opportunities had to be earned.
Once in the carriage, Jin Niang told Si'er cheerfully, "We’ll eat out today. Whatever you fancy, just say the word—I’ll buy it for you."
Since Si'er had proven her loyalty, Jin Niang had begun teaching her to distinguish threads and colors, sharing treats and guidance like an elder sister or mother. Si'er adored her.
Their carriage, meant for servants, was draped in plain cloth with no windows. Only when they reached the Grand Xiangguo Temple did Jin Niang step out, dazzled by the bustling crowd.
Kuang San'er, the driver, said, "I’ll wait here. Take your time—just don’t return too late."
Jin Niang handed him twenty copper coins. "For your lunch, Kuang San'er. We don’t want you going hungry on our account."
"Ah, you needn’t—" Kuang San'er protested, embarrassed. They were all servants, and Jin Niang wasn’t even a high-ranking maid, yet she tipped generously.
But Jin Niang insisted, and Si'er chimed in, "Just take it, Kuang San'er!"
Finally, he accepted. Hand in hand, Jin Niang and Si'er took in the lively scene along the Bian River. The street led straight to the temple, where a flat, sturdy bridge—unlike the usual arched or drawbridge designs—spanned the water. Vendors clustered on the western side, but Jin Niang, wary of getting lost, headed straight for the temple.
Outside, the aroma of food stalls filled the air. "Pick whatever you’d like," Jin Niang told Si'er.
The vendors sold everything from rice porridge and braised meats to pastries and affordable cooked dishes—duck, rabbit, tripe, eel, chicken-skin buns, and lamb offal, all priced at fifteen coppers per serving.
The tantalizing scents made their mouths water. Si'er, frugal as always, opted for plain rice porridge, but Jin Niang insisted on buying her braised meat and a cup of papaya water. For herself, she ordered a plate of chicken and two side dishes. They ate until their bellies were full, then strolled into the temple grounds.
Even Jin Niang, who was accustomed to modern shopping streets, was stunned by the scene before her. It was one thing for the gates of the Xiangguo Temple to sell animals like birds, cats, and dogs, but between the second and third gates of the temple, colorful canopies were set up, selling daily necessities. It was summer, so items like grass mats, bamboo mats, and bed screens were everywhere. Toothbrushes and tooth powder were also available, but what surprised her even more were the bows, arrows, horse saddles, and reins being sold.
Jin Niang bought a box of tooth powder for just seven or eight coins. When she opened it and took a whiff, she found it had a refreshing minty fragrance and was finely ground—far better quality than the box she had bought from the stewardesses for twenty coins. Next, she purchased two grass mats, one for herself and one for Si'er. Only by ensuring comfort in daily life could they avoid falling ill from the heat.
Si'er hadn’t expected Jin Niang to buy a mat for her and was overwhelmed with gratitude.
Jin Niang smiled and said, "Take it. As long as I have food to eat, you’ll have food too."
Nearby, close to the temple hall, seasonal fruits, dried fruits, and cured meats were being sold. She didn’t bother with these, as the Zhou family often had dried fruits and fresh produce.
Looking around, she finally reached her destination. The corridors on either side of the temple hall were filled with nuns from various monasteries selling handmade goods—embroideries, collars, silk flowers, pearl hair ornaments, and all kinds of headpieces. There were also turbans adorned with gold thread, false buns, and hair crowns, dazzling the eyes.
As Jin Niang walked and browsed, she marveled at the nuns' exquisite embroidery skills. A pearl-embroidered bodice was priced at fifteen strings of coins, while a collar adorned with pearls cost thirty strings. Even a plain embroidered collar went for one string, its floral patterns stitched with emerald-green and gold threads. Jin Niang thought she could make something like that herself.
Among the shoppers were noble ladies wearing veiled hats and wealthy young women dressed in fine attire. One young lady, with a flower pinned to her temple, removed her hat and took a fancy to a tiny pearl gardenia—just that small piece cost two strings of coins.
A wine-selling granny carrying a basket muttered enviously, "These nuns really know how to make money."
Jin Niang couldn’t help but ask, "Aren’t they nuns? Where do they get the fabric and pearls for their embroidery?"
"You must be from out of town, young lady," the granny replied. "South of Xiangguo Temple is an embroidery alley, home to skilled embroiderers and nuns. Don’t let their shabby clothes fool you—they’re all quite wealthy." She patted her wine jug, deciding to sell it at a nearby snack stall later.
Jin Niang pressed further, "I heard Shu Embroidery Pavilion is the largest embroidery house. Do people prefer buying from them or from the embroidery alley?"
The granny chuckled. "Shu Embroidery Pavilion sells ready-made clothes. Their embroidered pieces are supplied by these artisans, who also sell their own work. They do business independently, though they can only come here a few times a month. Even so, they live very comfortably."
Jin Niang hadn’t realized Shu Embroidery Pavilion specialized in clothing. It seemed they contracted embroiderers—you could make any design you wanted, and as long as it sold, you’d earn a share.
She thought how wonderful it would be to live in Bianjing. Aside from the high cost of housing, the capital offered a hundred times more opportunities to make money than Jiangling.
