lcionline Chapter 651 Cloud Garment Pavilion
Chapter 651 Cloud Garment Pavilion
Chu Ruohan had no time to deal with the "rebellion" that Gu Qingchen had stirred up at Bailu Academy.
While her daughter was left to her father's headaches, Chu Ruohan devoted all her energy to another storm that was about to sweep through the capital.
Ten days later.
On Zhuque Street, the most bustling street in the capital, the Chu family's once inconspicuous silk shop took down its old signboard and replaced it with a brand new signboard with gold lettering on a black background—Yunshang Pavilion.
At the entrance, two vermilion pillars were covered with eye-catching red paper, on which were written in thick ink:
"The Chu family's cloud-patterned brocade, once reserved for the halls of the Wang and Xie families, has now flown into the homes of ordinary people. Each piece is sold for only five taels of silver."
Five taels!
This price is like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating huge ripples.
It should be noted that even the most ordinary Shu brocade on the market sells for thirty taels a bolt, and slightly better pieces are even more exorbitantly priced.
Has the Chu family gone mad?
"Is this for real? Five taels of silver for Shu brocade? You're probably just buying a piece of rag!"
"Exactly! There's no such thing as a free lunch. It's definitely a gimmick!"
The crowd was buzzing with discussion; most were just there for the spectacle, but very few actually wanted to buy.
Just then, the doors of Yunshang Pavilion creaked open.
Two slender maids, each carrying a bolt of brocade, came out and slowly unfurled it in the sunlight in front of the door.
One is the green of a lake in the misty Jiangnan region, its shimmering light seemingly shattering a pool of spring water.
The other one is a rosy red, as bright as rosy clouds, with a rich and vibrant color that is beautiful without being gaudy.
"This...this is truly Shu brocade!" an experienced craftsman in the crowd exclaimed in surprise. "Look at the luster, the embroidery—it's definitely top-quality material!"
The crowd erupted.
Doubt and hesitation were instantly replaced by fervor.
"Give me a lake green one!"
"I want the red one! Don't try to take it from me!"
"Shopkeeper! Do you have any other colors?"
The threshold of Yunshang Pavilion was almost worn down by the throngs of people who flocked there.
Chu Ruohan stood by the window on the second floor, quietly watching the chaotic scene below, her eyes calm and unwavering.
Qin Fang stood behind her, his face filled with barely suppressed excitement: "Madam, we succeeded!"
Chu Ruohan gave a faint "hmm".
“This is just the beginning.” She picked up her teacup and blew away the foam. “Now that the bait has been cast, we’ll just wait and see how many big fish will be unable to resist taking the bait.”
The capital city, the Jinxiu Pavilion.
The finest Longjing tea steamed in the cup, releasing wisps of white smoke, but the atmosphere inside the room was colder than the coldest days of winter.
"This is unreasonable! This is simply unreasonable!"
A bloated silk shop owner slammed his hand on the table, his fat jiggling.
"What is Chu Ruohan trying to do? Five taels of silver a bolt of cloth! She's trying to ruin all of our livelihoods!"
"Manager Liu, you are the most respected among us, you have to make a decision!"
Everyone turned to look at the middle-aged man sitting in the main seat.
Liu Dehai was the top figure in Beijing's silk industry.
He was nearly fifty years old, with a thin face and a pair of triangular eyes that revealed shrewdness and ruthlessness.
He didn't speak, but simply used the cup lid to skim off the tea foam, making a crisp clinking sound.
Each strike felt like a blow to everyone's heart.
Liu Dehai slowly began to speak, "Ever since the Chu family changed its leader, they have become increasingly disregard for the rules of the Chamber of Commerce, only caring about making their own fortune and not caring about the lives of us merchants!"
"A mere young girl, thinking she can cause trouble in the capital just because she's the Duchess? She's still too green."
He put down his teacup, a venomous glint flashing in his eyes.
"Isn't she selling it cheaply? Then let's make sure she can't sell it."
"Pass down the word that her 'Cloud Garment Brocade' was made from silkworms that died before spinning silk, and the cloth is poisonous. Wearing it will cause your whole body to fester and you will suffer a fate worse than death within three days!"
The businessmen present gasped in shock.
That's a really vicious move!
They not only cut off someone's livelihood, but also ruin their reputation!
"Manager Liu is brilliant!"
"That's right, once her reputation is ruined, even if she were given away for free, no one would dare to take her!"
Liu Dehai smirked coldly: "That's not enough. Send people to make a scene in front of her shop, find a few shrewish women, and tell them that her fabric has contracted a serious disease, and make her pay compensation!"
"Doesn't she have the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion backing her up? I'd like to see if the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion can withstand such a loss of face!"
Rumors spread like a plague throughout the streets and alleys of the capital overnight.
The Yunshang Pavilion, which was bustling with visitors the day before, was deserted the next day.
Even worse, several women dressed in rags, claiming to have itchy skin after buying Yunshang Brocade, would block the entrance every day, crying and wailing, pointing at the Yunshang Pavilion signboard and cursing loudly.
Qin Fang was so angry that his face turned ashen. He tried several times to have someone drive those shrewish women away, but Chu Ruohan stopped him each time.
"Madam, if this continues, our reputation will be completely ruined!" Qin Fang was extremely anxious.
Chu Ruohan, however, acted as if nothing had happened, leisurely looking at the account book, and asked without looking up, "Have all the invitations been sent out?"
"They've been sent out." Qin Fang said, puzzled. "But Madam, why are you holding a 'Cloud Garment Show' at a time like this? Who would dare to come?"
“They will come.” Chu Ruohan finally put down the ledger, her eyes filled with the confidence of someone in control. “Not only will they come, they will come in droves.”
Three days later, in the back garden of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
With pavilions and towers surrounded by waterside terraces, it is the perfect time of early summer.
Almost all the prominent ladies in the capital received invitations.
They said, "Madam Chu really doesn't know what's important," but their actions spoke louder than words. They dressed up and arrived at the appointment on time.
After all, this was a banquet hosted by the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
The ladies gathered in twos and threes, whispering rumors about Yun Shangjin, and their gazes toward Chu Ruohan carried a hint of anticipation.
Chu Ruohan didn't mind, and simply smiled and exchanged pleasantries with everyone.
When the auspicious time arrived, the sounds of string and wind instruments began.
In the center of the waterside pavilion, more than ten graceful dancers, dressed in colorful brocade gowns, emerged gracefully.
The brocades shimmered in the sunlight, perfectly outlining the dancers' figures.
Some are elegant, some are bright and beautiful, and some are luxurious.
"My God, this fabric is so beautiful!"
"If I hadn't heard those rumors, I would have bought a few right away."
The ladies' eyes were filled with undisguised amazement and longing.
Just then, a richly dressed lady coughed lightly and spoke with feigned concern: "Madam Duchess, your brocade is beautiful, but people outside say... this material is poisonous. I wonder if it's true?"
As soon as these words came out, the whole place fell silent instantly.
All eyes were focused on Chu Ruohan.
Chu Ruohan smiled.
That's exactly what she was waiting for.
“Madam Yang is right.” She was neither impatient nor annoyed, her voice clear and bright. “Rumors are more dangerous than tigers, and words are not enough. To put all the ladies at ease, I have specially invited a doctor today to examine this Cloud Garment Brocade to see if it is celestial dew or poison.”
She clapped her hands as soon as she finished speaking.
At the end of the garden path, Dr. Qian, carrying his medicine chest, walked slowly and steadily, led by a servant.
"It's Dr. Qian!"
Dr. Qian has opened a herbal medicine shop in Beijing in recent years and also provides free medical consultations in the city. He is known as a miracle doctor, and even the imperial physicians in the palace cannot compare to him.
Doctor Qian walked to the front of the stage, cupped his hands in greeting to the crowd, and then took a piece of cloth from one of the dancers.
He first brought it to his nose and smelled it, then carefully rubbed it between his fingers, and finally even took out a silver needle from the medicine box and scraped it a few times on the cloth.
Everyone watched with bated breath throughout the entire process.
After a long pause, Doctor Qian finally put down the fabric and said loudly, "Ladies, this brocade is made of the finest silk, and the dye is pure plant-based, completely non-toxic. If there is anything wrong with it, it is..."
He paused deliberately, keeping everyone in suspense.
Everyone's hearts were in their throats.
"That is it. This fabric is exquisitely woven, breathable and skin-friendly. Wearing it often can actually benefit a woman's blood and energy."
As soon as he finished speaking, the entire room erupted in uproar.
Madam Wang's face flushed red and then turned pale; she wished she could disappear into the ground.
Chu Ruohan stood up with a smile. Her voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.
"The truth is out. Ladies present today, all brocades from Yunshang Pavilion will be half price."
Half price!
That's two and a half taels of silver per bolt!
What's the difference between this and giving it away for free?!
The long-suppressed desire erupted instantly.
"Lady Duke, I want ten bolts!"
"Give me twenty bolts! I want them in every color!"
She deftly defused the situation, and in doing so, she swept through the entire circle of wealthy women in Beijing.