【Chapter Two: Losing the Competition, Winning… the Gossip Headlines?】
The next morning, the East Market square was bustling with noise and excitement.
The triennial Silk Competition was to be held that day to determine the title of Chang’an’s top silk house.
The winner would not only receive the imperial-bestowed plaque inscribed with “Tiansun Golden Ribbon” but would also gain priority in procurement for the Palace Weaving and Dyeing Office and the Imperial Treasury over the next three years.
For any silk house, this was a matter of life and death.
On either side of the high platform sat six judges, including senior advisors from the Weaving Office and major silk merchants from Jiangnan.
The middle-aged official in the center, wearing a silver fish pouch at his waist, was a female official dispatched by the Department of Craftsmanship’s Office of Regulations. Behind her stood two palace attendants dressed in green robes and plain skirts.
“Jinxiu Workshop arriving—”
Amid the announcer’s call, Madam Chen led eight assistants carrying four hinged chests, heading straight toward the exhibition area on the high platform—a prime spot reserved for the previous champion.
As she passed the western waiting area where the Cloud Silk Atelier members stood, Madam Chen paused briefly, her gaze lightly sweeping over Shen Nianyi, the smile at the corner of her lips deepening slightly.
Shen Nianyi immediately responded with a smile three times brighter than the morning sun, stepping forward to meet her gaze.
At that moment, several old neighbors from the West Market in the crowd couldn’t help but whisper:
“Young Mistress Shen has had it tough. Three years ago, when Old Master Shen fell ill, Jinxiu Workshop pushed Cloud Silk Atelier to the brink.”
“Exactly. Back then, thugs came to wreck the place every day. If it weren’t for this girl gritting her teeth and holding on…”
“I heard she ran all over Chang’an begging old customers for credit just to keep the shop afloat.”
Da Chun, overhearing the whispers, couldn’t help but murmur softly, “Boss, we must win today!”
Shen Nianyi gently ran her fingertips over the wooden box, then clenched her fist. “Don’t worry. We’ve prepared for so long—we won’t lose!”
All of this was observed by Madam Chen. She lightly fanned herself with a round silk fan and said to the assistant beside her in a voice neither too loud nor too soft, “Some young people always think they can reach the sky in a single step.”
The judge raised his arm and struck the wooden block—a deep, resonant bell toll echoed through the square.
“The Silk Competition begins—”
The assistants from Jinxiu Workshop promptly opened the lacquered chest.
A flash of light swept before the crowd as a roll of gold-woven multicolored brocade slowly unfurled in the morning light. The peacock feather silk twisted into the warp threads shimmered in harmony with the gold threads of the weft.
The crowd gasped in unison.
The silk shimmered with iridescent colors under the sunlight, just as Manager Sun had described, displaying the alternating effects of the five primary colors: blue, red, yellow, white, and black.
Madam Chen rose gracefully and bowed to the judges’ panel. “This brocade was crafted using a secret recipe from a southern island nation, combined with gold paste from the Western Regions, and woven through seventy-two layers of warp-and-weft color interlocking techniques. The cost of one inch rivals ten taels of gold.”
Several senior advisors on the judges’ panel had already picked up crystal lenses to examine the patterns up close. Even the female official nodded slightly.
Shen Nianyi quietly observed the roll of brocade and whispered to A Man, “The timing is perfect. It’s our turn now.”
“Cloud Silk Atelier presenting silk—”
A Man and Da Chun stepped forward in response, carrying a plain wooden display stand edged with silver between them, placing it steadily in the center of the square.
When the lid of the box was lifted, the onlookers instinctively leaned forward.
Inside the box lay a roll of rain-patterned damask silk, moon-white in color, appearing exceptionally plain at first glance.
Madam Chen covered half her lips with her silk fan, letting out a soft, disdainful chuckle. The movement of her fan grew even more relaxed and self-satisfied.
Shen Nianyi walked unhurriedly to the center of the stage and offered a graceful bow toward the judges’ table. “May this humble woman be permitted to move to the northern eaves to display this silk?”
After receiving permission, she personally carried the brocade to the shaded corridor beneath the northern side of the high platform.
Just as the crowd craned their necks to watch, the originally plain silk surface gradually began to glow with a soft, lustrous blue radiance. The hidden cloud-and-crane patterns woven into its warp and weft shimmered faintly within the gentle light, like flowing clouds in the night sky before the moon rises.
“This brocade is named Cloud-Dream Rainbow Glow,” she explained. “In daylight, it is as plain as clouds; in darkness, it glows like twilight. This humble woman has no intention of competing with the dazzling brilliance of rainbow hues. I only wish for this silk to be like moonlight—”
She turned to face the crowd. “Whether in light or shadow, it possesses its own radiance.”
A murmur of admiration rippled through the crowd.
“Marvelous!” an elderly silk merchant on the judges’ panel stroked his beard, nodding repeatedly. “Not contending for fleeting beauty, yet possessing inherent grace.”
“This technique of glowing in darkness is truly rare,” another judge remarked with evident interest.
Even the court lady had now turned fully around. She did not speak, only leaned forward slightly, her gaze lingering on the flowing, moon-white blue glow. Then, she nodded.
It was done!
Grandfather, do you see? Even the important person from the palace has nodded!
Though her heart surged with emotion, Shen Nianyi’s expression remained perfectly composed. Following proper etiquette, she respectfully held the brocade and retreated steadily to the side of the stage to wait.
Soon, the next silk house began its presentation. A piece of richly colored, dazzling silk was unfurled, instantly capturing most people’s attention. New exclamations of wonder rose from the crowd.
Shen Nianyi stood guard beside her own brocade, not daring to relax in the slightest.
Huff— If Cloud-Dream Rainbow Glow wins first place, the price will at least double! No, triple!
A-Man and the others have stayed up so many nights with me—their bonus envelopes must be thick! And the medicine debt at Doctor Sun’s in Yankang Lane… this time, I can finally…
Just then, a young waiter carrying a tea tray hurried past her side, head bowed, nearly colliding with her!
Shen Nianyi’s heart tightened, and she reacted swiftly, sidestepping.
The waiter brushed past her, tea splashing onto the floor and dampening the hem of her skirt.
“Hey! How can you be so careless!” The reprimand sprang to her lips but was forcefully swallowed back. She couldn’t make a scene and lose her composure at such a critical moment.
“Sorry, sorry!” The waiter apologized repeatedly without looking up, scurrying away.
Shen Nianyi shot a fierce glare at his retreating back. Forget it, why bother with a mere waiter? The important matter is at hand.
She immediately shifted her position, moving the display case closer to the edge of the stage, away from the flow of people. She resolved firmly in her heart: No more distractions. Keep a close eye on my precious treasure!
However, mere moments later, another waiter carrying a large roll of empty cloth backing stumbled as if tripped, staggering toward her. The heavy roll headed straight for the display case!
Shen Nianyi swiftly retreated another step while using her arm to deflect the roll. It landed on the floor with a thump, rolling several times.
What’s going on? One after another!
Once might be an accident, but twice? Could that still be coincidence? This is clearly targeting my brocade!
Shen Nianyi’s gaze swept toward the two waiters who had already blended into the crowd, their faces now indistinguishable.
Jinxiu Workshop? Or some other rival? Using such underhanded tactics!
“Da Chun! A-Man!” she called out several times, trying to draw attention.
She dared not stay in place as a target any longer and immediately hugged the display case, preparing to leave.
“Watch out!”
A startled cry erupted beside her. Shen Nianyi turned in alarm, her heart sinking to the depths. A clerk carrying a full inkstone was lunging straight toward her!
The thick, black ink had already spilled from his hands, pouring unerringly toward the display case in her arms!
It was over! If that ink truly splashed, months of hard work and all the hopes of Cloud Silk Atelier would be utterly destroyed!
In that split second, Shen Nianyi only thought to dodge sideways, but she felt a slight push from the crowd behind her, and her feet stumbled again!
She gasped, wrapping her arms tightly around the display case, but she completely lost her balance, uncontrollably crashing toward the diagonally front—a young man leisurely writing on a fan for someone.
“Ugh!”
With a dull thud, Shen Nianyi collided heavily with the man.
“Rip—”
Most of the ink splashed onto the man’s body, the deep black quickly spreading like phlegm splattered on snow. A few drops splattered onto the magnificent brocade. Though not fatal, it was like flies landing on a beauty’s face, completely ruining the artistic conception.
The entire hall fell dead silent.
Pei Yanshu was dazed for a moment from the impact. His gaze swept toward the direction where the offending clerk had disappeared, then he looked down at his own disastrously stained front and sleeves before finally turning his eyes to the woman before him, pale-faced and clutching the display case tightly.
Shen Nianyi’s mind buzzed, going completely blank.
It was over, all over!
Months of hard work, the hopes of Cloud Silk Atelier, her father’s expectations…
The brocade was ruined, and she had offended some nobleman from who knows where!
Just as Shen Nianyi thought she would face a storm of reprimands, the other party suddenly smiled.
That smile was lazy, carrying a hint of cynicism, curving his peach-blossom eyes into two arcs.
Pei Yanshu casually handed the ruined fan to the dumbfounded fat merchant, then did something that left everyone stunned.
He spread his arms, acting as if nothing had happened, and lazily let out a huge yawn in front of the hundreds of people present, stretching as he did so.
“Ha—ah…” He rubbed his eyes, his voice hoarse as if just waking up, and said to Shen Nianyi, and to everyone present, with a grin, “Which fairy sister is this, descending on clouds so unsteadily, and even gifting me with a splash of ink?”
Hearing that lazy teasing, she felt both ashamed and anxious. She bowed deeply, her voice trembling uncontrollably: “I—I’m sorry! Young master, I am truly sorry! It was my carelessness that stained your robe… My Cloud Silk Atelier will certainly compensate you for the full price, without any evasion!”
But Pei Yanshu seemed utterly indifferent to her nearly tearful apology and didn’t even address the matter of compensation.
He lowered his head, using two fingers to pinch the blackened fabric on his chest, then glanced at the bolt of “Cloud-Dream Rainbow Glow” splattered with ink drops.
Those few drops of ink, landing on the cloud patterns of the moon-white brocade, were indeed glaring.
The commotion here had already alarmed the judges’ table. Several senior masters stood up in shock, and the female official from the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau also frowned deeply.
Not far away, Madam Chen elegantly waved her round fan, as if the accident before her had nothing to do with her—merely an incidental farce.
Shen Nianyi felt scorched by the gazes cast upon her from all directions.
Standing there, she felt an unprecedented sense of helplessness and wretchedness.
Just as her vision began to darken, a warm breath suddenly brushed past her ear.
“Don’t cry. I’m most afraid of a lady’s tears.”
It was the man who had been splattered with ink because of her!
He had somehow drawn extremely close without her noticing, and before his words even finished, he had already withdrawn.
Immediately after, Pei Yanshu cleared his throat.
Just as everyone thought he would lodge a complaint with the judges, or at least confront Shen Nianyi, he casually cupped his hands toward the entire crowd and spoke:
“Neighbors and friends, esteemed judges, please calm down, calm down! Today, it was my fault for standing in the wrong place, offending the lady and staining this… hmm, this extraordinary treasure brocade that looks anything but ordinary!”
“Or… if the lady truly cannot let this go, I see this brocade shines with dazzling colors—truly a priceless treasure. Even selling me probably wouldn’t cover the cost—”
“How about… I offer myself in marriage instead?”
He drew out those last four words, his eyes filled with a roguish teasing, yet carrying a boldness that seemed to say, “I’m just talking nonsense, what can you do about it?”
“…”
Silence.
Dead silence.
Then—
From some corner came a stifled snicker, and immediately after, as if a fuse had been lit, the entire venue erupted into thunderous laughter!
The elderly judges on the panel exchanged glances, then shook their heads helplessly. Even the stern-faced female official from the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau, her tightly furrowed brow relaxed slightly, and a faint smile even escaped the corner of her mouth.
A buzz of discussion rose from the crowd:
“This Pei Liulang… really is something!”
“A living treasure! The one and only in Chang’an!”
“What kind of apology is that? Clearly just stirring up trouble…”
Amidst the roaring laughter, Shen Nianyi jolted awake from her earlier rage and despair.
She stared in astonishment at the man in the center of the field, who remained at ease even amidst the laughter—
Everyone’s attention, everyone’s gossip, was now firmly fixed on his earth-shattering words, “offer myself in marriage.” No one was closely scrutinizing her ink-stained brocade anymore.
He had actually used this absurd, reputation-ruining method to forcefully transform a crisis that could have destroyed Cloud Silk Atelier into nothing more than a laughable street tale.
Yet, understanding was one thing—how could she swallow this anger!
Her hard work ruined in public, and now being verbally teased by this scoundrel?
This realization only made her suppressed grievances and fury, like magma with a blocked vent, impossible to release.
Amid the laughter, Pei Yanshu seemed completely oblivious to her anger. He even took half a step closer to her. “So… still feel like crying?”
He paused, his gaze sweeping over her flushed cheeks, the smile at the corner of his mouth deepening as he added in a whisper, “Getting a handsome husband like me for free—not a bad deal, right?”
Those words shattered her composure completely.
“Get lost—!”
Her voice, clear and sharp, suddenly pierced through the lingering laughter.
Pei Yanshu was momentarily taken aback by her shout, then grinned and bowed playfully. True to her words, he sauntered off… “rolling away” in his ink-splattered robe, amid the crowd’s laughter as if watching a monkey show.
After such a commotion, the ultimate winner was naturally Brocade Splendor Workshop.
But strangely, when it came to the Brocade Competition, what the people of West Market in Chang’an talked about most over tea was not Brocade Splendor Workshop’s dazzling treasure brocade.
It is the story of how Shen Nianyi, the shrewd and formidable young mistress of the Shen family silk shop, publicly scolded Pei Yanshu, the famously impoverished and idle official from the Household Administration and the sixth son of the Pei family, until he fled in disgrace.