The Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 26: Alternatives

   The Story of Yanxi Palace《延禧攻略》Yanxi Gonglue

   The Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 26: Alternatives

   The Embroidery Workshop was quickly filled with people.

   “Oh my god, the peacock feather thread is gone! Serves her right, all good things have happened to her, this is bad luck!”

   “That's right, let's see how she turns out! If Momo gives me the job, I'm not like her!”

   “He hee, she's getting kicked out of the palace this time, isn't she?”

   “More than that, to lose your head!”

   Yingluo turned around sharply and coldly scanned the crowd and said: “On the road to Yellow Springs, I am not lonely at all with all of you by my side!”

   The crowd was merrily falling on their faces, when they heard this from her, they were instantly upset. Linglong stood out from the crowd and spoke for them: “What are you talking about! Why should we be buried with you if you lost something!”

   “She's right.” A cold, stern voice suddenly sounded behind her and Linglong turned around to find Zhang Momo standing behind her, staring at her like a knife, saying, “The phoenix robe is the dedication of the Embroidery Workshop and everyone is one. Is she the only one at fault? If you have time to gloat, why don't you feel your own neck and see if it's tough enough to withstand a knife at the noon gate!”

   If this had come from Wei Yingluo's mouth, people would not have believed it.

   But coming from Zhang Momo, especially for the second time, the crowd had to believe it.

   The whole of the Embroidery Workshop will suffer if one mistake is made.

   One of the court maids cried out in fear and said, “What then? I don't want to die!”

   A palace maid next to her was quick to covering her mouth and said: “Yuck, you're not allowed to say that word in the palace! Palace Maid A: What time is it, you still care about taboos!”

   And one gritted his teeth and said: “Which one of the killers stole the stuff, hurry up and give it back or keep it as a funeral piece?”

   At these words, the crowd looked from side to side, all looking at each other with suspicious eyes, unable to uncover from them at once the thief who had done so much harm to all.

   “Momo, it's my fault!” Jixiang suddenly flung herself down at Zhang Momo's feet, unlike the others, she was always thinking of Wei Yingluo and was willing to take her place in order to save her some grief, saying, “It was me who let the thief get away with pulling Yingluo away, so punish me if you want!”

   Wei Yingluo looked at her, knelt down beside her and said to Zhang Momo: “Momo, one for all, the peacock feather thread was stolen at my hands and I am willing to take responsibility.”

   Zhang Momo sighed and said, “What are you going to do?”

   “The immediate task is to gather the efforts of the entire workshop and make the phoenix robe first.” Wei Yingluo pondered for a moment and said through clenched teeth, “As for the peacock feather thread. I hope Momo will promise me one thing.”

   “What is it?” Zhang Momo asked.

   “Please open the depot door!”

   The last time Wei Yingluo went into the storehouse, she had gotten too big from eating kaolin and her clothes didn't fit, so Zhang Momo ordered her to go to the storehouse to get some old clothes that fit.

   There she saw not only a lot of old clothes and new clothes but also a lot of old threads and new threads and almost all the embroidery threads that had been in fashion, or were in fashion, were gathered there and there was always a substitute for one of them.

   The door of the store room opened and Wei Yingluo walked past the shelves, picking up the boxes of embroidery thread one by one.

   The golden thread--no, it won't work. The peacock feather thread has a seven-colored light in the sunlight, the gold thread has only one color of light and the sunlight will reveal the end.

   Ditto for silver thread, red thread and none of the rest of the colors of embroidery thread.

   Although the colored threads can be compared to one or two in color, they lack that natural richness and are not even as good as the gold and silver threads.

   Jixiang, who was holding the light for her, said with a sobbing voice: “This is no good, that is no good, or you may as well put the fault on me, I am thick skinned and can withstand beating ...”

   “I won't let you be beaten.” Wei Yingluo continued to rummage through the embroidery thread, her gaze unmistakable, saying, “Nor will I let Zhang Momo get beaten.”

   She knew in her heart that if she failed to make the phoenix robe in the end, there were two people who would surely take all the blame on themselves.

   One is Jixiang and another is Zhang Momo.

   “Hey! Why are you so stubborn!” Jixiang was so anxious that she bumped into a wooden shelf beside her and a bag fell down, the string tied to it was a bit loose and it opened at once, spilling out its contents.

   Wei Yingluo flinched and said, “This is ...”

   In a sea of gold and silver threads, the objects on the ground appear unusually plain.

   “Oh, it's the fur used to make end covers in winter but it's still some inferior stuff, useless!” Jixiang bent down to pick up the white furs on the ground and said, “Other things at least have a box to put them in but this, I couldn't even get a box, I just put it in a bag.”

   After picking it up and casually tying the bag with a string, Jixiang was on her tiptoes, about to put the bag back on the shelf, when a hand suddenly reached out next to her and stopped her from doing so.

   Jixiang flinched, turned her head and asked, “Sister Yingluo?”

   Wei Yingluo took the bag from her hand, reopened the string that tied it, took a piece of fur from it and brought it to her eyes.

   It is indeed inferior and smells like an animal. If it is not treated, I am afraid that even if it is given to the palace maids to make clothes, the palace maids will dislike it.

   Seeing that she looked thoughtful, Jixiang asked in disbelief, “Sister Yingluo, you, what are you doing? ... Don't, it's the most useless thing ever!”

   “There is no such thing as a useless person, nor a useless thing.” Wei Yingluo, however, smiled, a finger brushing the soft fur and a gleam of wisdom in her eyes, saying, “It depends on how and what it is used for!”

   In a month's time 

   “The Gold and Jade Workshop presenting 4 jade pieces in 2 boxes and 2 lai shi ruyi handles.”

   “A pair of jadeites Danfeng vases and a pair of crystal double fish vases, offered in the Ceramic Workshop.”

   “A box of carved ivory dressing cases and a mirror with watch and enamel handles, offered by the glassworks.”

   “A pair of peacock plume palace fans on rosewood bases, a carved rosewood throne and a pair of silk and enamel crane wax stands are offered at the screen.”

   Outside the Changchun Palace, the eunuchs and palace maids sent by the various workshops to present gifts were lined up in a long line, with Wei Yingluo standing among them, a tray in her hands, covered with a yellow silk, covering the contents tightly.

   “Take it easy.” Wei Yingluo mentally say to herself, “Seeking always make things happen.”

   At that moment two eunuchs bowed out of the hall, perhaps because they were young and did not avoid the ears of those around them when they whispered but heard one of them say: “See the face of Her Highness Empress, it is really ugly, not even a smile from the beginning to the end!”

   “Her Highness Noble Consort is also mean.” Another said, “Why would she give Her Highness Empress a Goddess of Mercy made of gold?”

   Noble Consort Hui has torn open the scars of the Fucha Empress's heart and sprinkled salt on them.

   Wei Yingluo, who had been standing in the middle of the crowd, sniffed at the words and quietly took a few steps behind.

   Although it is true that it is in the hands of man to plan things, if you want to succeed, it is best to try to avoid man-made disasters.

   Having received such a great gift from Noble Consort Hui, I am afraid that Her Highness Empress, while not saying anything on the surface, is holding back her anger in her heart and that whoever goes in now to offer a gift, no matter what it is, will not be pleased.

   It's possible that she'll be angry ...

   “Unless ...” Wei Yingluo looked back and said, “Offering after that one.”

   The more the steps fell back, the more Wei Yingluo receded to the end of the line without realizing it.

   One by one, the palace maids at the front went in with their trays and there was a constant chanting of salutations coming from the hall.

   Without realizing it, she was all that was left ...

   “The Embroidery Workshop Tribute --”

   The eunuch's summons came from within the hall.

   There was no one else behind her but Wei Yingluo kept looking back with anxious eyes.

   “The Embroidery Workshop Tribute --”

   The eunuch's summons sounded again.

   It is only a matter of three and if we let a third summons sound, even a courtesy becomes a lack of courtesy.

   Wei Yingluo just had to take a deep breath and say to herself, “It's up to you to plan, it's up to you to make things happen!”

   She walked inside the Changchun Palace with a tray in her hand, her feet heavy and slow.

   Even though he was frugal, the Changchun Palace was also decorated on the day of the birthday feast. Coral trees, mirrors smoother than the surface of a placid lake and exotic treasures that the common people could only dream of, were all piled high on the palace as gifts for the Empress.

   Summon the eunuch and shout, “The Embroidery Workshop presents a female robe with a phoenix wearing a peony and a pair of female shoes with a high sole embroidered with a phoenix's head in stone and green satin!”

   Yingluo kneels down and raises the tray high: “Congratulations to Her Highness Empress on her longevity.”

   The tray was held aloft, halfheartedly missing the next move.

   Perhaps it's the first time she had seen noble ladies and she'd forgotten what to do next? the Fucha Empress kindly reminded her: “Why don't you lift the yellow silk when you get inside?”

   Wei Yingluo pursed her lips and ducked to the end of the line, slowing her pace and finally hesitating to unveil the yellow silk. With a sigh in her heart, Wei Yingluo was about to lift the yellow silk when a long chant came from behind her saying: “His Majesty has a reward!”

   It was as if a current of electricity ran through Wei Yingluo's entire body.

   She had to fight with all her strength to suppress the ecstasy in her heart.

   The man ... At last.

  

   The Story of Yanxi Palace《延禧攻略》CHAPTERS