The carriage slowly set off. Lin Siming said scornfully, "You showed some loyalty by not selling out Ru Yan, but let me be blunt: Old Madam Wei's banquet is only a few days away.
If you can't produce a garment that satisfies Miss Wei, on top of those ten strikes with the paddle, you'll have to leave the Clothing Bureau for the imperial harem."
Mu Wan Yun replied with a faint smile, "You're right, Miss Wei is kind-hearted. However, Miss Wei also just said that I'm just being made an example of in the palace.
Miss Wei is only punishing me to warn the others.
Just now, the Heir of Wei humiliated a palace maid in front of His Majesty. This matter could be blown up or brushed aside.
To smooth things over, Miss Wei naturally won't bother herself with a lowly servant like me for maliciously guessing her thoughts. You, on the other hand, Lin Siming, have failed to manage your maids, allowing the palace maids to spread rumors..."
Hearing this, Lin Siming felt a cold sweat break out on her back.
What Mu Wan Yun said was true. Wei Minlan had repeatedly expressed displeasure with the new clothes made for her by the Clothing Bureau.
It was hard to guarantee that the palace maids in the Clothing Bureau didn't hold opinions and gossip behind her back.
Lin Siming herself had heard Lin Miaoyi complain about Wei Minlan many times.
Lin Siming had never disciplined her, because she, too, was growing impatient with Wei Minlan.
'After all, Wei Minlan isn't the Empress yet, but she keeps rejecting the clothes made by our Clothing Bureau time and time again.'
Now, after hearing what Mu Wan Yun said, Lin Siming finally understood that if she didn't intervene, she would truly offend Wei Minlan.
Lin Siming glanced at Mu Wan Yun and said, "A daughter raised by the Mu Family is certainly full of schemes."
'I know I can't afford to be disliked by Lin Siming forever if I'm to stay in the palace,' Mu Wan Yun thought. 'I have to make my position clear.'
'There's no need to be constantly dragged down by the Mu Family.'
So, Mu Wan Yun explained, "Lin Siming, I was not raised by the Mu Family.
When I was only three or four years old, the Mu Family abandoned me in Yinxing Village, in the countryside of Yangzhou.
Growing up, I was only looked after by an old nanny and a few servants on the estate.
The Mu Family didn't even leave any Silver Taels. When the estate servants saw that the Mu Family had forgotten me, they took all the silver from the estate and left.
All these years, the Mu Family has completely ignored me.
Other than sharing the surname Mu, I have no connection to the Mu Family whatsoever.
The Mu Family brought me back to Chang'an only because they wanted to use me to marry Prince Jian. My hatred for the Mu Family is no less than anyone else's."
Lin Siming looked at Mu Wan Yun and said, "No matter what, the Mu Family did give you life. Do you truly feel nothing but hatred for them?"
Mu Wan Yun nodded. "In Yangzhou, I felt resentment toward the Mu Family, but not hatred. But after coming to Chang'an, the Mu Family forced me to commit the crime of deceiving the emperor. Now, I feel nothing but hatred."
Lin Siming said, "You're a clever one. Since you're in the Clothing Bureau, then focus on learning how to serve the masters here."
Mu Wan Yun replied with a faint smile, "Yes, Lin Siming."
「...」
Back at the Clothing Bureau, Lin Siming went to see Shi Shanggong.
Wei Minlan wasn't just difficult for the Clothing Bureau; the Treasure Bureau also suffered greatly. Therefore, the palace rumors didn't just come from the maids in the Clothing Bureau.
After listening to Lin Siming, Shi Shanggong summoned all the female officials and palace maids from the Four Departments of the Imperial Workshop, who crowded into a grand hall.
Mu Wan Yun looked up at Shi Shanggong. She wasn't old, looking even younger than Lin Siming.
She looked to be in her early twenties, but she possessed an immense air of authority.
All the palace maids lowered their heads, not daring to move an inch, listening intently as the maid beside Shi Shanggong read the palace regulations.
The regulations were read for about half an hour.
Only then did Shi Shanggong speak slowly, "Every one of you entered the palace at the age of seven. Now, the youngest among you is fifteen. You've been in the palace for eight years, yet you still haven't learned to be cautious with your words and actions!
Whether it's a master inside the palace or a master outside the palace, as long as it's an order from His Majesty, any loose talk from you is an act of insubordination!
Since the new emperor ascended the throne, there have been no masters in the inner court, but that is not an excuse for you to get lazy and slack off!
The next time a palace maid in our Craftsmanship Bureau is caught gossiping, her tongue will be cut out before she's sent to Wang Sizheng!
Do you understand?"
Mu Wan Yun said along with the crowd, "We understand."
Shi Shanggong continued, "The Head of Decorative Affairs of the Clothing Bureau is leaving the palace in the third month.
Lin Siming, do you have a good candidate for the position? Zhong Shanggong has already urged me several times. That Ru Yan of yours is quite..."
Lin Siming said, "Reporting to Lord Shang Gong, this servant was thinking that whoever can come up with a garment that satisfies Miss Wei should be the one to get the position. What do you think?"
Mu Wan Yun saw Ru Yan, who was standing beside her, clenching her fists so tightly that her nails seemed to be digging into her flesh.
Shi Shanggong said, "Very well."
After the assembly, Mu Wan Yun returned to her small cabin to ponder the matter of making clothes for Wei Minlan.
The cabin was small, with only a bed, a chest, and a table.
Mu Wan Yun knew how to make clothes; her nanny had taught her when she was young.
But that was only the kind of clothing worn by country girls.
She couldn't make the exquisite garments worn by the daughters of nobility.
A birthday banquet required festive attire. Most festive colors were bright and tended to make one's skin look darker. If the goal was to make the skin look fairer, nothing was better than green.
Commoners' wedding dresses were often green. Mu Wan Yun remembered Sister Xiao Fang's wedding, where a dark green wedding dress had made her skin look exceptionally fair.
But even when dyed dark green, silk often came out as a vibrant color. Because silk has a natural luster, it was extremely difficult to dye it a true, deep ink-green.
Commoners, however, wore linen clothes. Linen was breathable and could be dyed a proper ink-green color.
With this in mind, Mu Wan Yun went to find Lin Siming to discuss the matter.
"Lin Siming, I've thought of a way to make a garment that will make Miss Wei's skin look fair. We can use the fabric that commoner brides use for their wedding dresses."
Lin Siming frowned slightly. "You want Miss Wei to wear clothes made of linen?"
Mu Wan Yun said, "Although linen isn't as fine as brocade or satin, it's breathable and comfortable. Most importantly, linen can be dyed a color that makes the skin look fairer than brocade or satin can.
What's more, the weather won't get any warmer in the next few days. But since it's already past the new year, I see the clothes you've made are all spring garments. Compared to thin silk, linen is warmer and also lighter.
And green also signifies the vibrant life of spring. Amidst the many reds and pinks at the old madam's birthday banquet, a touch of green will also make Miss Wei stand out."
Lin Siming considered it for a moment. "We'll do as you suggest. But I'm afraid there isn't enough time to dye the fabric."
Mu Wan Yun said, "The fabric is the easy part. We just need to send someone to the tailor shops in Chang'an to purchase it. The sky isn't dark yet; I wonder if it's possible to leave the palace to buy it?"
Lin Siming said, "I'll go find the buyer eunuch right now and ask if he can go out of the palace to buy the fabric."
Mu Wan Yun waited in the embroidery workshop for an hour. When the fabric finally arrived, the palace maids of the Clothing Bureau cut it into a garment.
Mu Wan Yun drew a water-ripple pattern on the hem of the skirt with a brush.
She found an embroiderer to stitch the pattern using interwoven gold and silver threads. Feeling uneasy, Mu Wan Yun watched from the side.
It was past midnight when drowsiness finally overcame her, and she returned to her cabin. She hadn't even stepped inside...
...when she saw a lamp was lit. She thought she might have left a candle burning when she went out.
She pushed the door open and saw Lu Jingxing.
Mu Wan Yun rubbed her eyes, thinking she was seeing things. When she realized it was really him, she ran over and hugged Lu Jingxing, crying out, "Husband!"
Lu Jingxing pried her fingers away and said coldly, "Don't you ever appear in front of Wei Mingsang again!
Don't think that just because you look a little like your legitimate elder sister, you can act as her substitute and stay by Wei Mingsang's side to become the Heir's wife of the Duke Mansion!"
Mu Wan Yun clung to Lu Jingxing tightly. She looked up at him, tracing circles on his chest with one hand.
"You don't have to be jealous, Husband. You're the only one in my heart."
Lu Jingxing's face darkened. "I, jealous? What a joke!"