Chapter 16

Chapter Sixteen: The Situation (Part Two)

Fifth Miss had finished her duties and was now spending most of her time with the matriarch. When Amber and Binju went to visit, she was not there.

It was Zi Wei who received them.

She smiled and offered them tea. "Amber, it’s not often we see you here!" Her tone was affectionate but lacked respect.

Once, Amber had served under the matriarch, but now she was part of Eleven Miss's household. While they may seem equal in status, the matriarch still favored Fifth Miss more than Eleven Miss.

Amber could easily discern this.

But such was human nature...

She smiled faintly. "I originally wanted to ask Fifth Miss for advice, but she’s with the matriarch."

Zi Wei was slightly stunned.

Amber explained, "As you know, our Miss has been staying indoors these days, focusing entirely on embroidering the screen. But this morning, the matriarch summoned the needleworkers to take measurements for spring clothes for Eleven Miss. Four silk jackets, six beizi, four pleated skirts, one wrap skirt, one moonlight skirt, four undergarments, four pairs of pants, six pairs of shoes, and twelve pairs of socks... In the past, Dongqing would help manage these things. This time, Dongqing is assisting Eleven Miss with the embroidery, so I didn’t want to disturb her. Thinking that Fifth Miss has the best taste—even the matriarch often asks Fifth Miss for advice on new clothes—I wanted to ask Fifth Miss for her opinion."

Zi Wei noticed the brief flash of satisfaction in Amber’s eyes and inwardly sneered.

She wasn’t here to ask for advice; she was here to show off!

"Why not follow what our Miss is doing?" Zi Wei’s expression was indifferent. "This morning, the needleworkers also arrived at Jiao Garden, sent by the matriarch to make spring clothes for Fifth Miss. Four silk jackets, six beizi, four pleated skirts, one wrap skirt, one moonlight skirt, four undergarments, four pairs of pants, six pairs of shoes, and twelve pairs of socks. Our Miss went to see the matriarch to, firstly, thank her by performing a formal kowtow and, secondly, to hear the matriarch’s opinion on the fabric and colors." She lifted her teacup and took a small sip, smiling. "It seems that, as someone who served the matriarch and managed jewelry and clothes, Amber, it should be easy for you to help Eleven Miss decide on her clothes!"

Binju couldn’t help but frown.

Everyone knew Amber was usually gentle and modest, so why did she say something so presumptuous when she came to Green Bamboo Pavilion?

"I just wanted to ask what colors Fifth Miss chose," Binju said with a smile, trying to smooth things over. "We wouldn’t want to duplicate them; it wouldn’t be proper."

That made sense.

Zi Wei smiled and said, "Our Miss has decided on moon white, crimson red, pine green, and ginger yellow for the silk jackets. The half-sleeved jackets and beizi will match these colors: rose red, pomegranate red, bright red, grape purple, grass green, and lilac. For the skirts, the pleated skirts will be white. Two with borders, two without. The wrap skirt will be bean green, and the moonlight skirt will be true purple. As for the undergarments, pants, shoes, and socks, they will be the usual."

As she spoke, Binju quietly memorized everything.

"Our Miss also wants to make two undergarments and two moonlight skirts," Zi Wei said, her eyes flashing. "The matriarch specifically instructed Sister Liu to help make them."

Sister Liu was the most skilled needleworker in the Luo family, known for her exceptional craftsmanship.

"Our Miss doesn’t have the exceptional embroidery skills that Eleven Miss is famous for, even in Hangzhou," Zi Wei said, covering her mouth and laughing. "Otherwise, why would we bother Sister Liu—she is the personal attendant who accompanied our eldest young mistress as part of her dowry?"

Zi Wei was clearly implying that while Eleven Miss had certain advantages, Fifth Miss possessed something Eleven Miss lacked.

Binju’s face turned pale, but she didn’t blame Zi Wei for her sharp words; she blamed Amber for being ostentatious.

"Both Fifth Miss and our Miss studied under the same teacher, but our Miss has a greater passion for embroidery, while Fifth Miss excels in calligraphy," she said with a smile, flattering Fifth Miss before taking her leave. "You’re busy here, and we need to help Eleven Miss choose fabrics and colors!"

Zi Wei didn’t try to keep them, seeing them off with a lukewarm attitude.

On the way back, Binju, thinking of Amber’s origins, could only suppress her anger and tactfully broach the subject with Amber. "Our Miss has always been gentle. If there’s something good, she naturally lets her sisters have it first, especially when it comes to food and clothes. She’s never been particular or concerned about these things."

Amber laughed. "It’s all my fault. I didn’t expect an offhand remark to offend Sister Zi Wei. Do you think she’ll hold a grudge against us?" Her words held no hint of worry.

Binju knew that Amber hadn’t taken her words to heart and sighed inwardly.

While Binju couldn’t directly address Amber’s behavior, she hoped Miss would do so once the screen was complete. For now, she would keep a closer watch on Amber.

Before they knew it, the two had already descended the corridor.

Amber smiled at Binju and said, "Sister, if you have anything to take care of, feel free to head back! I'll go to Sister Liu's place."

Binju was startled. "What are you going to do?"

Amber smiled. "How can we help Miss choose the right fabrics and colors without seeing what's available at Sister Liu's?"

Binju became anxious. "You know I was just being polite. How can you take it seriously? We usually don't leave the house unless it's necessary. If you need to go out, you should inform Miss first."

Amber smiled. "Miss is fully focused on making the screen. How can we bother her with such trivial matters?" Without waiting for Binju's response, Amber turned and hurried off to the west. "Don't worry, Sister, I'll be back soon!"

Binju stomped her foot, rushed forward, and pulled Amber back to Green Bamboo Pavilion. "I'm not stopping you, but we need to report to Miss first!"

Eleven Miss was sitting by the embroidery frame, working on a pouch.

Dongqing, like Eleven Miss, was also embroidering a pouch.

As she worked, she complained, "Everyone knows you're busy finishing the embroidered screen this year. Even if we don't give them out, no one will think it's impolite."

Ever since Eleven Miss's embroidery skills had slightly matured, every year before the Spring Festival, she would embroider a large number of pouches. On the night of New Year's Eve, she would give them to the Luo family relatives who came to pay their respects.

Eleven Miss smiled. "I'm just switching tasks because I'm getting tired from working on the longevity screen."

Dongqing set aside her work and offered to help Eleven Miss rest. "If you're tired, you should rest."

Eleven Miss was about to decline with a smile when a young maid reported that Amber and Binju had arrived.

The two were taken aback for a moment but quickly regained their composure. Eleven Miss sat in front of the embroidery frame, and Dongqing lifted the curtain. "What is it?"

Binju and Amber entered and explained that Amber had wanted to change the colors and fabrics for the clothes Miss had decided on that morning.

Eleven Miss looked at Amber, who appeared sincere, and asked, "Why do you want to change them?"

Amber smiled. "Miss's figure is still petite, and your skin is as delicate as porcelain, easily damaged. I thought to choose some soft, elegant silk fabrics for Miss's spring clothes..."

Before she could finish, Eleven Miss had already nodded. "You were in charge of clothes and jewelry in Mother's quarters, so naturally, you have better taste than us. You can decide on this matter."

Amber smiled and left after receiving her approval.

Binju sighed. "Miss, you don't know. Miss Five's spring clothes this time are all brightly colored. If we follow Amber's suggestion and make ours in soft, elegant colors, wouldn't it be like competing with Miss Five? That's what you've always avoided."

Eleven Miss was slightly startled and asked Binju, "What colors did Miss Five choose?"

Binju described them in detail.

Eleven Miss smiled as she listened. "What do you have to worry about? Don't forget, this whole matter is decided by Amber."

Binju began to understand but still felt it was somewhat inappropriate.

She hesitated. "But no matter what, she's now a member of our household. We can't let her act rashly, can we?"

Eleven Miss smiled meaningfully. "She won't act rashly."

Before Binju could say more, Dongqing, who had been watching, smiled and stepped forward. "The priority now is to finish the embroidered screen. We can deal with other things later!"

Binju couldn't say anything more, curtseyed, and withdrew. Still, she couldn't shake off her concerns and sat in the resting area, listening for any news from outside.

After a while, she heard Xin Mama greet someone. "Amber, you're back!"

Binju stood up and smoothed her hair at the temples, then sat quietly waiting for Amber to come in.

The footsteps grew closer, but then passed by the door.

Binju froze in surprise.

She stood up, lifted the curtain, and looked outside.

She saw Amber turn into the suite.

The suite had a staircase leading up to Ten Miss’s quarters.

Was she heading to see Ten Miss?

The thought crossed her mind, and she felt a jolt of surprise. Recalling what Amber had said at Fifth Miss’s place, she became more certain of her guess.

After a brief hesitation, Binju trailed after her.

She had just climbed a few steps when she heard Amber’s voice, “...she made twelve pairs of socks.”

Then Bai Zhi forced a smile, trying to keep the conversation light, “Eleven Miss is still growing. Unlike our Miss, who gets new clothes every year, there are so many that we can barely fit our hands into the boxes.”

“Who’s short of clothes!” Amber laughed, “It’s just about adding a few new pieces for variety!”

“Yes!” Bai Zhi’s voice sounded strained, “But our Miss has a peculiar temper. Instead of making clothes for her, it’s better to buy some books to make her happy!”

“So, Ten Miss isn’t getting new clothes this time?” Amber’s voice carried a hint of excitement.

Fuming, Binju called out from downstairs, “Miss is waiting for you to report back!”

Amber said no more and smiled as she came down the stairs.

Binju, with a look of guilt, apologized to Bai Zhi, “She works in the matriarch’s quarters…”

Before she could finish, Bai Zhi took her hand, “Don’t say anything, sister. I understand.”

Binju comforted her, “Perhaps there are too many things to do with needlework, and they have to be done in batches. In a couple of days, the seamstresses will come to take measurements for Ten Miss.”

Bai Zhi forced a bitter smile, “There are fixed customs for when the young misses in the household get new clothes. Am I worried they won’t make them for Ten Miss? It’s just that Ten Miss is older, but now Eleven Miss has overtaken her… We are already struggling, and I fear things will only get worse for us.”