Climbing on the Sparrow Branch – CH 032

Chapter 32: Shu Brocade

On the second day after Mistress Xu’s visit, Binglu brought the news that Mistress Xu had died. “It was a fire that started last night. I heard it burned for three hours. Miss, is this the fire the one you said was by Madam’s house?”

Binglu didn’t dare to say anything about the rest.

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s true or not.” An Zhi was arranging flowers. “As long as it’s true that Mistress Xu died, that’s all that matters. We have no evidence, so it’s hard to speculate. But you should know that our madam is ruthless. Don’t get too close to her in the future, but don’t get too far away either.”

After An Zhi finished speaking, she finished arranging the flowers. She picked up the vase and placed it in front of the window. She heard the cicadas chirping outside. Thinking carefully, time had passed really quickly.

At this time, Fusheng came in with an envelope.

Binglu took it and asked, “Who sent it?”

Fusheng: “Sister, I don’t know. The messenger brought it to me.”

An Zhi opened the envelope, which was sent by Pei Que, saying that the Shu brocade would arrive at the dock in the capital the next day, and asked An Zhi to prepare the warehouse and manpower.

“Where is the messenger?” An Zhi asked Fusheng.

“He’s gone.” Fusheng replied with his head down, “But he said that if the young lady has any questions, she knows where to find him.”

The letter was sent by Pei Que. An Zhi met Pei Que at Chunfeng Tower both times when she was in disguise. Pei Que was hinting to her that she should just go to Chunfeng Tower.

But An Zhi did not intend to accept Pei Que’s help. The Shu brocade business was just icing on the cake for her, not a business she had to make.

However, in order to prevent Pei Que from causing trouble, she still asked Fusheng to go to Chunfeng Tower to deliver a message to politely refuse Pei Que.

She originally thought that Pei Que would give up, but when Fusheng came back, he brought another piece of news. Pei Que said that if An Zhi didn’t want it, he would deliver it to her door in person tomorrow. By then, more than ten carts of Shu brocade would be delivered to the An family, and then everyone would know Pei Que’s feelings for her.

“Playboy!” An Zhi spat and had to ask someone to prepare the warehouse.

When she went to pick up the goods the next day, she was really shocked, not by the quantity, but by the quality.

“Sir, the quality of these Shu brocades is comparable to that of tribute.” Binglu exclaimed from the side.

An Zhi was still dressed in men’s clothes today. She didn’t want to use An Zhi’s identity to do business, otherwise it would be difficult to run away in the future.

“Pick a few pieces with fresh colors and take them back.” An Zhi said to Binglu as she watched the workers finish moving the Shu brocade and turned to leave.

She walked out of the warehouse first, and unexpectedly saw Pei Que.

Pei Que was dressed simply today. Among ordinary people, he would be just a person with outstanding appearance, not like a nobleman.

“Fourth Master Pei.” An Zhi clasped her fists and bowed to Pei Que. “You provided me with this Shu brocade today. When I sell it tomorrow, I will return it to you with interest.”

“Whatever you say.” Pei Que smiled and glanced into the warehouse. “It took me a lot of effort to get these Shu brocades. The money doesn’t matter. If you have any conscience, will you accompany me to the Dragon Boat Festival this year?”

There was only half a month left until the Dragon Boat Festival. If Pei Que’s request were made to an ordinary person, it would not be excessive.

But An Zhi was different. She knew Pei Que had other intentions. “Fourth Master Pei, my father won’t let me go out during the Dragon Boat Festival.”

“That’s okay, I have my own way to get you out.” Without giving An Zhi a chance to find an excuse, Pei Que left first.

When Binglu came out with the cloth, she saw her young lady frowning and looking into the distance, “Miss, what’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing.” An Zhi didn’t want to tell Binglu what happened just now, so she got on the carriage first.

Now that she had the Shu brocade, she should find a way to sell it.

“Binglu, when we get back home, go find two of the best tailors. I want them to make me a few sets of clothes as quickly as possible.” An Zhi closed her eyes and rested.

Today, Shu brocade had not become popular in the capital. One reason was that Sichuan was far away, and the amount of Shu brocade that could be shipped to the capital for sale was limited. The ladies who could buy it rarely wore it, so not many people knew about it.

An Zhi knew that a palace banquet next month would make Shu brocade very popular. What she had to do now was to show her face in the circle of noble ladies and let them know where Shu brocade could be bought. Then, when it became popular in the future, she wouldn’t have to make a big fuss about selling Shu brocade.

Binglu was very efficient and found a tailor the next day after returning home.

After they took An Zhi’s measurements, she also made new clothes for the servants in the courtyard.

After the fun in her courtyard was over, an interesting news came from the main courtyard, saying that An Chengye had taken Xi’er in.

“Miss, didn’t you say that the madam just came in? Why did she ask the master to take back the maidservants so quickly?” Binglu asked.

“She feels guilty.” An Zhi initially thought Meng Jie could hold her own, but after just two days, she couldn’t hold on any longer. However, Meng Jie was being clever. Nothing in this world could withstand investigation. If An Chengye was too heartbroken and he investigated thoroughly, then Meng Jie would completely lose their marital bond. It would be better to find a beautiful maid to distract An Chengye from his sadness.

But if An Zhi were to do it, she would not set fire to Mistress Xu in the first place. After all, Mistress Xu had just come to her for help, and outsiders would inevitably be suspicious. It would be better to ask Madam An to kill with a borrowed knife, or to drug Mistress Xu to death slowly.

One could only say that An Zhi had overestimated Meng Jie before.

“Go prepare a gift, quietly, and say it’s from you, and give it to Xi’er.” An Zhi said.

Binglu said yes and went out to prepare.

As soon as Binglu left, Aunt Zhang came.

“Auntie, be careful, the road is slippery.” An Zhi went out to help Auntie Zhang. “You haven’t been going out recently, so why did you come all the way to see me?”

Aunt Zhang was only a few days away from her third month of pregnancy. According to the doctor, the baby was not yet firmly established.

“I was bored staying in the room, so I thought I’d come over to your place.” Aunt Zhang smiled as she watched the maid finish serving tea. She took a sip and sighed, “The tea here is still the best, young lady.”

“Aunt, you’re talking nonsense. The tea here is the same as yours.” An Zhi heard that Aunt Zhang seemed to have something else in her words, but she didn’t want to get involved in the fight between the wives and concubines of the older generation, so she deliberately changed the subject.

When Aunt Zhang heard this, she understood what An Zhi meant. She didn’t say anything else and only talked about raising children.

After sending Aunt Zhang away, An Zhi asked Cuisi to find out whether Meng Jie had established any new family rules recently.

Cuisi’s small mouth was very useful, and she quickly replied, “Miss, yesterday the Madam reduced the staff around the two concubines. Except for the ones in our courtyard, the monthly allowance of everyone else in the mansion was reduced by 10%.”