Chapter 41 Outrage Kisses her with wild dominance.

Chapter 41: Fury: A Wild, Domineering Kiss

When Shen Jichen arrived at Qingyang Tower as scheduled, the rain was already pouring down. The waiter specially waiting at the entrance immediately spotted his carriage and called for assistance. Umbrellas were opened one after another, forming a canopy-like coverage that extended right up to the eaves of Shen Jichen's carriage.

From the carriage to the entrance hall of Qingyang Tower, Shen Jichen didn't get a single drop of rain on him, still appearing proud and composed.

The manager personally escorted him to the private dining room. As the door opened, the people inside stood up. Besides the elder who had invited him today, there was actually someone else present.

That person stood on the left, giving Shen Jichen a confident yet flattering smile, devoid of any noble bearing. Shen Jichen glanced at him indifferently and entered calmly.

"My greetings, Marquis." The person bowed to Shen Jichen, who nodded reservedly.

"Piao Yao, please come in and take a seat." The elder said with a kindly smile.

Shen Jichen concealed the displeasure in his expression and respectfully called out, "Sixth Uncle."

Sixth Uncle Ma was considered a distant relative of the Shen family—though "distant relative" was merely a courtesy extended by the Shen family. His ancestors had sacrificed themselves a hundred years ago to save the head of the Shen family, Shen Jichen's great-grandfather. The Shen family, a centuries-old prestigious clan, and the great-grandfather, a man who valued loyalty and righteousness, immediately took the Ma family's descendants under their wing, educating them alongside the Shen family's own children.

Unfortunately, the Ma family's talents were limited, and they failed to produce any promising officials. Eventually, with the Shen family's help, the Ma family started a highly lucrative porcelain business in the capital. Now, Sixth Uncle Ma was even the vice president of the Porcelain Merchants Association.

"Piao Yao, this is Cheng Qian, the young master of Jinxiu Tower." Sixth Uncle Ma introduced him to Shen Jichen.

Hearing this, Shen Jichen gave a proper look at Cheng Qian and already understood the purpose of today's banquet. He took his seat without revealing any emotion, while Cheng Qian sat opposite him.

Seeing Shen Jichen's lofty, unattainable demeanor like the bright moon, Cheng Qian felt somewhat intimidated. But after all, he was the young master of the capital's premier embroidery house, and with Sixth Uncle Ma present, no matter how arrogant Shen Jichen was, he still had to show deference to Sixth Uncle Ma. So, he straightened his back and emitted a hearty laugh.

Seeing that Sixth Uncle Ma kept talking to Shen Jichen about some rare top-quality porcelain being fired to present to the empress, along with some trivial family matters, without any intention of broaching his purpose, Cheng Qian grew impatient. Thinking of Yue Rongrong's face that looked down upon him, he was eager to get this matter settled so he could show Yue Rongrong.

So, he raised his glass, with an air of self-satisfied superiority, and said to Shen Jichen, "I'd like to propose a toast to you, Marquis."

But Shen Jichen didn't even raise his eyes, nor did he raise his glass. The room suddenly fell silent. Sixth Uncle Ma hurriedly signaled to Cheng Qian with his eyes.

Cheng Qian stared fixedly at Shen Jichen, completely missing Sixth Uncle Ma's warning. The arrogance in his expression vanished, replaced by a face flushed with shame and anger.

Although he had used Shen Jichen's status to pressure Yue Rongrong before, it seemed he didn't really hold Shen Jichen in high regard. Not just Shen Jichen—he looked down on all those noble youths, thinking they were just fortunate to be born into privileged families, their glory all thanks to their lineage. But he—he was the young master of Jinxiu Tower, the only embroidery house collaborating with the royal family. He usually associated with the elite, and as the young master, many people flattered him daily. He had long become lost in all that flattery, feeling himself equally unattainable.

Especially since Yue Rongrong was entangled with Shen Jichen but treated him with contempt, his fragile self-esteem made him feel he was almost on par with Shen Jichen!

Even if he offended him, Shen Jichen couldn't do anything to him. So he decided to get straight to the point, calmly putting down his glass, using indifference to mask his injured pride. "I heard that Ren Hanzhen from our embroidery house has offended you, Marquis. I beg you to be magnanimous and let this young woman off."

Shen Jichen still didn't respond, toying with his glass in his hand.

Cheng Qian's face darkened, struggling to maintain his composure. "The Duke holds a high position with great power. You should consider his standing. If you insist on pursuing a weak woman, it might tarnish your honor."

"Ahem." Sixth Uncle Ma coughed heavily.

Cheng Qian still ignored him. In his view, they were all relying on their family's influence for a bright future—he and Shen Jichen were the same.

"This morning, Rong Rong told me she was going to plead with you, Marquis. I wonder if you've seen her today? Although she told me not to worry, I still can't rest easy." Cheng Qian asked leisurely.

Shen Jichen finally looked up. Cheng Qian couldn't help but shudder, his hand on the table unconsciously retracting. Just now, for some reason, he had intentionally implied an intimate relationship with Yue Rongrong, but he hadn't expected Shen Jichen to care so much. He had always thought Shen Jichen was just seeking something novel...

Instantly, a cold sweat broke out on his back.

"Is Young Master Cheng teaching this Marquis how to do things?" The low tone was icy and dangerous.

Cheng Qian felt speechless. Shen Jichen's gaze was light, but he felt an invisible pressure almost forcing him to lower his head. After a long moment, he reluctantly said, "I wouldn't dare."

If he had been as arrogant as before, Shen Jichen might have viewed him differently. But seeing his confidence was just a bluff, Shen Jichen said with a cold sneer, "If you don't dare, then shut up."

Cheng Qian stiffened, all the confidence he had upon entering gone. He stared blankly at Shen Jichen, the difference between them clear.

Sixth Uncle Ma quickly stepped in to mediate the situation. "Piao Yao, Cheng Qian is still young and inexperienced. He usually just follows his father around. Don't take it to heart."

Actually, Cheng Qian looked older than Shen Jichen and was indeed a year older.

But Sixth Uncle Ma dismissed him as an ignorant youngster who only followed his father, while Shen Jichen was a powerful minister who stood on his own. Cheng Qian was seething with resentment.

Especially when he saw Shen Jichen laugh, he flushed red with shame but dared not speak his anger.

His face kept changing colors, truly like a clown on stage.

Shen Jichen had no intention of staying any longer and stood up. Sixth Uncle Ma also stood, not daring to keep him, and saw him to the door. When he returned, he was furious.

Sixth Uncle Ma had originally thought Cheng Qian was someone he could support. He wanted to take over the embroidery business and become a royal merchant, perhaps using Cheng Qian without having to deal with his father. Who would have thought!

"Utterly disgraceful! I overestimated you! What are you showing off without your father?" Sixth Uncle Ma scolded mercilessly. "Do you think Shen Jichen is like you, all paths paved by his father? What right do you have to act high and mighty in front of him? What qualifications do you have?" Finally, he coldly snapped, "If you want to die, don't drag me down!"

Cheng Qian's face was tense, nearly grinding his teeth. At this moment, Shen Jichen and Yue Rongrong's faces seemed to merge, and he felt utterly humiliated.

Wen Song saw his Marquis come out so quickly, with a face dark with anger, and immediately knew things had gone badly. All the way back to the Ministry of Justice headquarters, the heavy rain beating on the carriage roof, he was nervous inside.

After getting out, Shen Jichen headed straight for the archives, not even caring that his robe was wet. Before Wen Song could step forward to open the door, he pushed it open himself, startling the two men within.

Assistant Minister Guo turned to scold but suddenly met with icy eyes. He gasped and dropped the brush in his hand.

Shen Jichen's gaze swept around, growing darker, finally landing on Assistant Minister Guo with a look that seemed to want to slice him into pieces.

His voice was extremely cold. "Where is Yue Rongrong?"

"Yue, Yue... Miss Rong Rong..." Assistant Minister Guo tried to play dumb, but his trembling lips turned pale. "She..."

"Speak!" Shen Jichen snapped coldly.

Assistant Minister Guo immediately said, "She went to the painting boat!"

He watched as Shen Jichen's face darkened sharply, his eyes fierce and imposing. The atmosphere around them seemed to freeze. He didn't dare move, staring straight as Shen Jichen turned and left.

"It's over..." Assistant Minister Guo collapsed onto the cushion, his face ashen.

The clerk beside him, who had been scared stiff, stammered, "Yeah, Miss Rong Rong is finished..."

Assistant Minister Guo said, "...I mean we're finished."

The clerk then realized, closing his eyes tightly in fright, utterly baffled. "But it was an elder's invitation! The Marquis should have been there for at least an hour! How did he come back so soon!"

Miss Rong Rong had said she would be back quickly, definitely before the Marquis returned! Now it's over...

Assistant Minister Guo slapped his thigh desperately, remembering how Yue Rongrong had been tearful and threatened him with words like, "Have you ever seen any other girl sitting by your Marquis grinding ink for him?"—such suggestive talk that had fooled him. He shouldn't have been blinded by Yue Rongrong's teary eyes earlier!

**

By now, Yue Rongrong had already taken a carriage to the painting boat. She remembered how seriously Xue Yubai had said "wait until you come" when they made plans yesterday and couldn't relax. If he had given up waiting and left, that would be one thing, but if he was still waiting... Looking at the pouring rain, he probably wouldn't be foolish enough to wait, but she had to check to be sure.

When she reached the lakeside outside the painting boat, she got out with an umbrella and indeed saw no one. She breathed a sigh of relief—good, he must have gone back or already be on the boat admiring the paintings. Afraid that Shen Jichen would be angry if he returned to the office and didn't see her, she didn't dare delay by going onto the boat and hurriedly turned to leave, but suddenly froze.

She couldn't believe it and turned to look. Suddenly, a flash of lightning lit up the sky, and under a willow tree stood a tall figure, drenched—Xue Yubai.

Her heart clenched, and she rushed over, holding the umbrella over his head. In the heavy rain, she cried out, "Why are you standing here in the rain!"

Xue Yubai was shivering all over, his lips already pale from the cold, but he managed a comforting smile. "Good, you're safe."

"What?" Yue Rongrong froze.

Xue Yubai still smiled gently: "When you didn't show up for so long, I was afraid something had happened to you. I also worried that if I went looking for you, we might miss each other, and you would be concerned if you couldn't find me."

A heavy wave of guilt washed over Yue Rongrong's heart: "Then why didn't you find some shelter from the rain!"

Xue Yubai said: "If I'd found shelter, I was afraid you wouldn't be able to find me when you arrived."

Yue Rongrong's nose stung with impending tears, and the guilt nearly crushed her. She wanted to explain: "I..."

"It's all right, you don't need to say anything. I'm just glad you're safe."

Seeing Yue Rongrong on the verge of tears, Xue Yubai knew he had succeeded.

This was the first time he'd acted so despicably, utterly lacking in integrity, betraying his principles as a gentleman—but he felt truly desperate.

Yesterday, he had begged his teacher to accept Yue Rongrong as his last disciple. His teacher saw right through his intentions at a glance. Being Mr. Jimo's last disciple would bring a layer of glory, adding luster to Yue Rongrong's reputation. Moreover, she truly possessed extraordinary talent in painting. Even without a prestigious family background, she would be accepted by the nobility.

His teacher said: "From the moment I first saw her, I wanted to take her as my disciple."

Before his joy could even show on his face, his teacher added: "The first time I met Rong Rong was when Piao Yao brought her to me."

He froze, stunned.

The teacher brought out the banquet painting from his birthday celebration and spread it out before him: "What do you see?"

Hearing this, Xue Yubai had to push aside his wandering thoughts and look carefully. From initial focus and calmness to later shock, his face grew increasingly pale. He looked up, dazed.

The teacher laughed softly, then sighed: "Rong Rong is young, but her painting skill is exquisite. I've grown quite fond of her. In this painting, even those she met for the first time are captured with striking vividness. Only Piao Yao is different."

"Piao Yao is different"—those four simple words pierced his heart like four sharp blades.

He could only take this chance to make Yue Rongrong ache with guilt, hoping to carve out a place in her heart. It seemed he had succeeded.

In that moment, Yue Rongrong seemed to understand the meaning behind Xue Yubai's gaze and his words. She felt utterly torn—because he was so good to her, been so kind to her, yet she couldn't return his feelings. She lowered her head, listening to the rain beating loudly against the umbrella. The hem of her skirt was already thoroughly soaked and clinging to her legs. After a moment, she pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to him. When she looked up, she saw Xue Yubai's wet hair clinging to his cheeks, his eyes even brighter than before.

"Dry yourself off. Let's find a place to shelter from the rain first."

But as she reached out her hand, Xue Yubai tightly grasped it. She instinctively tried to pull back, but he tightened his grip. The dampness of his palm and the coldness of his fingertips made Yue Rongrong's heart jump. For a moment, she relented momentarily, but when she tried to withdraw her hand again, she noticed Xue Yubai turning his head to look somewhere else, his gaze calm and profound.

Puzzled, Yue Rongrong followed his gaze and went rigid with shock. The hand Xue Yubai was holding suddenly felt as if it had sprouted thorns that dug painfully into her skin. She yanked her hand free.

Xue Yubai's face fell abruptly. He lowered his gaze to look at Yue Rongrong, watching her face pale by degrees, seeing the guilt in her eyes replaced entirely by panic and guilt. His heart clenched as if sliced by knives. He lifted his eyes again, a faint, cold smile touching his lips as he met Shen Jichen's icy expression. Shen Jichen's eyes were piercingly cold, barely restraining his fury as he advanced toward them with measured steps.

Under the curtain of rain, Shen Jichen walked at a steady pace, with Wen Song following behind him holding an umbrella over him, each step so nervous he nearly tripped.

Shen Jichen was, after all, Shen Jichen. Despite the heavy rain, his robes were already soaked, yet it did nothing to diminish his commanding, dignified aura. In comparison, Xue Yubai looked completely disheveled.

Step by step, he approached. Yue Rongrong grew increasingly flustered. She hardly dared to look at Shen Jichen's face. Logically, they had no relationship now—even if he saw her with another man, it shouldn't matter. But if she acted so guilty, it would seem as if she had something to hide!

Thinking this, she suddenly lifted her eyes and met his gaze directly. The moment she feigned composure and looked over, Shen Jichen's pupils constricted sharply. His voice was extremely low: "Come here."

The words of defiance circled in Yue Rongrong's throat, but when she remembered that the fate of Brocade Pavilion now lay in his hands, she swallowed her resistance. Just as she was about to go over, she thought of Xue Yubai without an umbrella and handed hers to him.

This action undoubtedly made Shen Jichen's expression darken further, his anger intensifying.

Xue Yubai took the umbrella but also grasped her arm, speaking softly with a hint of pleading: "Don't go."

Meeting his pleading gaze, Yue Rongrong's heart tightened. But in that brief moment, her other arm was seized by Shen Jichen. She turned in surprise to see Shen Jichen staring coldly at Xue Yubai.

"Let go."

"It's you who should let go. Piao Yao, you two are already in the past." Xue Yubai stood his ground.

These words deeply provoked Shen Jichen. Enraged, he struck out, pushing Xue Yubai away with a palm strike while simultaneously pulling Yue Rongrong into his arms. The umbrella in Xue Yubai's hand tilted, and he stumbled backward several steps in defeat.

Yue Rongrong, unable to bear it, instinctively struggled for a moment, but Shen Jichen held her firmly, leaving her no room to break free. Suddenly, he swept her up into his arms and strode directly toward the carriage.

"Let me go! Weren't you already planning to part ways with me before? What are you doing now! Who I'm with is none of your business! Let me go!"

Shen Jichen's rage churned within him, almost bursting through his chest. He carried her into the carriage and angrily tossed her onto the cushioned seat. Yue Rongrong cried out in pain and tried to get up, but immediately Shen Jichen pressed down on her, blocking all escape and retreat!

"None of my business?!"

The sudden force knocked over a teacup on the table, shattering it. His furious breath fanned across her face. Her heart raced wildly, and fear began to take hold.

"You're quite the schemer! While pretending to cooperate with me at the Ministry of Justice, you had your Cheng Dashao put on a show in front of me! And then you sneak off to meet another man! Yue Rongrong! I never knew you were so fickle before!" His eyes were red, jealousy and rage driving him to lose all reason.

But Yue Rongrong sensed something amiss in his words. Angrily, she turned her face away: "What do you mean, my Cheng Dashao? Stop slandering me!"

Shen Jichen gripped her chin, forcing her to turn back: "Yue Rongrong, do you have no heart? No matter how I treat you, you can discard me like trash, can't you? If that's the case, why should I continue to cherish you!" With that, he leaned in and suddenly kissed her, wildly and domineeringly claiming her breath. Feeling her struggle, he pinned her arms above her head. Her legs kicked wildly, but he forcefully parted them and pressed her down.

This position made Yue Rongrong shocked, ashamed, and terrified. She frantically tried to evade his invasion, but the more she resisted, the more an indescribable fury rose in Shen Jichen's heart, making his demands even more intense. The overwhelming intimacy nearly suffocated her. She wanted to gasp for air but instead let out a moan. She felt Shen Jichen pause for an instant before his aggressive kiss almost tore open her collar in violation.

Suddenly, Xue Yubai's heart-wrenching shouts came from outside the carriage. She shuddered all over, realizing only then that the carriage hadn't moved. Xue Yubai must have heard their commotion but hadn't burst in— undoubtedly, Wen Song had restrained him.

Shen Jichen—he had done this on purpose... How could he, how could he... She was utterly humiliated and deeply distressed. Tears uncontrollably streamed from the corners of her eyes, more and more, like broken strings of pearls. Her body gradually began to tremble.

In a flash, Shen Jichen shuddered violently and abruptly pulled away. Yue Rongrong, panicked and afraid, clutched at her pulled-open clothes and scrambled backward, her face streaked with tears. Seeing the fear in her eyes, a sharp pain sliced through Shen Jichen's heart.

Yue Rongrong tried to support herself on the tea table to stand but suddenly pressed down on a shard of the broken teacup. The sharp porcelain pierced her palm. She cried out in pain and wept even harder.

Shen Jichen's heart constricted sharply. He quickly took her hand, pulled out a clean handkerchief, and pressed it firmly against the wound despite her struggles. Yue Rongrong continued to cry as he held her hand tightly. Blood stained the white handkerchief red, dyeing his hand crimson. He bent over, his brow deeply furrowed, gazing down at her hand with nothing but anguish, heartache, and a trace of desolate sorrow in his eyes.

After a long moment, he laughed—a sound both bitter and mocking. His low, hoarse voice echoed quietly in the carriage: "Why are you crying? Am I really so unacceptable to you now?"

Yue Rongrong kept crying as if she wanted to release all the grievances she had accumulated over this time, paying no heed to what he said, pitiful and helpless.

Her crying stirred his heart, making him flustered. He looked up, her tears flowing freely, her face both pale and flushed, so delicate it seemed it might break with a touch. He slowly raised his other hand and used his knuckles to wipe away her tears. The pain in his heart was immeasurable, and his hand fell limply. Facing her, he couldn't be too harsh or too gentle; he simply couldn't handle her.

Perhaps exhausted from crying, Yue Rongrong sobbed, her voice thick with tears: "Please let go of Brocade Pavilion, and let go of Han Zhen."

Shen Jichen looked at her with an unbelievable mix of pain and mockery in his eyes. At a time like this, she still wanted to manipulate him and negotiate terms. He laughed, a sound escaping his lips, his vision momentarily blurred. He turned his face away and said coldly: "Alright."

He then bent down again to tie the handkerchief around her hand, stood up, and got out of the carriage. Yue Rongrong heard him instruct Wen Song in a deep voice: "Take her to the clinic, then take her back."

Then came the sound of Xue Yubai rushing over, only to be restrained again, it seemed. The carriage moved. Through the window paper, she saw Shen Jichen holding Xue Yubai back. He had his back to the carriage. In Yue Rongrong's memory, Shen Jichen had always been vibrant, noble, and proud. When had he ever been so dejected, so disheveled? Her heart suddenly ached, and she lowered her head.

For a moment, she almost rushed out, wanting to embrace him regardless of the consequences. But then what? Then history would repeat itself. She shivered, gradually regaining her composure.

After getting her wound bandaged at the clinic, Yue Rongrong returned to Brocade Pavilion and, putting on a brave face, shared the good news with everyone. Just as everyone cheered and the shopkeeper called her Brocade Pavilion's savior, she fainted.

**

The next day was Jin Tangsong's wedding day. As the Duke's daughter was marrying, the ceremony was naturally grand and magnificent. Yue Rongrong, lying in bed, could almost hear the joyous music and firecrackers echoing down the long street.

She remembered when Jin Tangsong had come to Hangzhou years ago, arrogant and defiant in front of her: "Do you think sleeping with Cousin makes you his wife? Have you met his parents? Have you received approval from the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress? Have you paid respects to the ancestors of the Shen family? What kind of wife? At most, you're just a temporary concubine to alleviate boredom. Cousin's wife was decided long ago to be me! Don't even think about competing with me!"

Now that she had severed all ties with Shen Jichen, while Jin Tangsong had also married someone else, life truly was full of surprises.

The wedding celebration lasted until midnight before finally coming to an end.

Han Zixian and his group were enjoying the moon with Shen Jichen when He Minxuan said, sounding disappointed, "It's a pity Yu Bai fell ill and couldn't make it."

Zheng Xuchao laughed and said, "Now that your Younger Sister has married before you, Brother Piao, all the noble houses in the capital have their eyes on you."

Shen Jichen lowered his head, his expression calm and indifferent, and remained silent.

After a moment of hesitation, Zheng Xuchao said, "Brother Piao, perhaps you should give up."

Another stretch of silence followed. Just as they thought Shen Jichen wouldn't respond, he suddenly raised his head.

In a low, resonant voice, he said slowly, "I've thought about letting go, but every time I try to forget, the moon comes out. Can you stop the moon from ever rising again?"

**

The day after the wedding, Jin Tangsong and her new husband Zhao Yizhi entered the palace to pay their respects to the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress. Since Zhao Yizhi held a court position, he bid a reluctant farewell to Jin Tangsong and went to the imperial court.

The Grand Empress Dowager, though in her sixties, was full of energy and spirit. Fond of the younger generation, she said with affectionate kindness, "Truly newlyweds, thick as thieves."

Jin Tangsong shyly lowered her head. Empress Shen Qingci observed her and, seeing her shyness seemed genuine, felt reassured.

At that moment, the Grand Empress Dowager grumbled irritably, "Now only Piao Yao remains troublesome! Could it be that boy wants to find a celestial beauty?" As she spoke, she actually began pondering, "If he really wants a celestial beauty, where would I find one for him?"

Shen Qingci and Jin Tangsong were taken aback, then smiled faintly, easing the atmosphere.

Just then, a court lady announced, "Reporting to the Grand Empress Dowager, Lady Meng is here to pay her respects."

The Grand Empress Dowager raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Speak of the devil, and the fairy arrives. Could it be fate?"

Shen Qingci smiled and said, "Grandmother, please don’t say that in front of Jia Yan. She’s shy."

The Grand Empress Dowager simply laughed, understanding well. "You’re not afraid she’s shy—you’re worried that such a joke would put Brother Piao in an awkward position. You, always protecting your brother."

Her thoughts exposed, Shen Qingci didn’t deny it and playfully mimicked the Grand Empress Dowager’s raised eyebrow. The Grand Empress Dowager sighed inwardly; if only she were this lively in front of the Emperor, Noble Consort Liang wouldn’t have gained favor.

Meng Jiayan arrived, and the group chatted and laughed with the Grand Empress Dowager for a while, enjoying some pastries and sipping tea before taking their leave from Ci'an Palace.

Restless and wanting to wait for her husband to return together, Jin Tangsong pulled Shen Qingci and Meng Jiayan along to go fishing to kill time. Seeing that Shen Qingci didn’t object, Meng Jiayan agreed. In truth, only Jin Tangsong fished, while Meng Jiayan kept Shen Qingci company in the pavilion.

The rain had made the cobblestones slippery, and not far away, a court lady slipped and fell. Meng Jiayan noticed first and said to Shen Qingci, "Your Majesty, look."

Shen Qingci glanced over, smiled at Meng Jiayan, and instructed a maid to help the fallen woman over.

The court lady was from the Palace Women's Bureau and had just retrieved the selection list for embroiderers from the Ministry of Rites. Meng Jiayan asked gently, "May I take a look?"

The roster wasn’t confidential, so the maid had no reason to refuse and handed it over respectfully. Shen Qingci, seeing her examine it closely, asked curiously, "Why the sudden interest in this?"

Meng Jiayan smiled softly and whispered, "Just passing the time while she rests."

Shen Qingci chuckled. A moment later, Meng Jiayan casually asked, "Did all the embroiderers from Jinxiu Lou sign up this year?"

The maid replied, "Reporting, Miss. Every year, all embroidery houses have full participation. After multiple rounds of selection, each house gets only two spots."

Meng Jiayan nodded. "Quite strict." With that, she returned the roster to the maid.

After having lunch with the Empress in the palace, Meng Jiayan left. Instead of heading home, she made her way to Jinxiu Lou.

The manager recognized her immediately and greeted her warmly. "Lady Meng, what a rare guest!"

Meng Jiayan was polite to everyone. "Manager, do you have any latest embroidery works?"

The manager promptly escorted her to a private viewing room on the second floor and ordered someone to bring out pieces not displayed publicly. Meng Jiayan examined each one, praising them highly. Finally, her gaze settled on an embroidery titled "Trimming the Candle by the Western Window." Noting the signature, she asked, "This Xin Yue—is she Yue Rongrong?"

The manager was momentarily surprised but quickly replied, "Yes, it’s her."

Meng Jiayan smiled. "With such exquisite craftsmanship, she’s sure to take first place in the palace’s embroiderer selection."

The manager sighed regretfully. "That’s what everyone says, but she didn’t sign up!"

Meng Jiayan feigned surprise. "Oh? Why?"

The manager explained, "It was Madam Ming’s decision. She didn’t explain clearly, but when sign-ups began over a month ago, she directly crossed out Yue Rongrong’s name. Come to think of it, it was Madam Ming who recommended Yue Rongrong to our Jinxiu Lou in the first place."

"Madam Ming?" Meng Jiayan asked. "When did Yue Rongrong join Jinxiu Lou?"

Back and forth like this, the manager sensed something and asked cautiously, "Lady Meng seems quite interested in Yue Rongrong?"

Meng Jiayan nodded with a smile. "I met her a few days ago and spoke with her. We hit it off, so I wanted to ask—is she a local?"

Unsuspecting, the manager said, "She arrived a little over two years ago. Her household registry says she’s from Yangzhou. Truth be told, Yue Rongrong is quite determined. In over two years, she’s never participated in any competitions or selections, and Madam Ming never lets her, even though her skills are among the top three here."

How strange... Meng Jiayan sensed something amiss and smiled. "Could I see her household registry?"

So polite and refined, without any airs of a noble lady, the manager was more than willing. He even rationalized her request—young ladies of good families always look into newcomers’ backgrounds—and promptly fetched it.

The moment she held the household registry, Meng Jiayan stroked it a few times, examined it carefully, and was taken aback. After a pause, she calmly closed it and returned it to the manager. "Thank you, Manager." She added with a smile, "Next time my family invites an embroiderer from here, please send Rong Rong. I admire her work."

The manager happily agreed.