novelden Chapter 327 Hot-headed 2
Chapter 327 Hot-headed 2
I still remember that An Lingrong's expression was as cold as ice in the coldest days of winter. There was not a bit of warmth left for me in her cold eyes.
Only then did Wei Lin realize his own overstepping of authority.
Lady An was the mistress, a concubine in the harem, and he was just a small imperial physician in the Imperial Medical Bureau. Just based on the friendly interactions between them, he actually had so many inappropriate thoughts.
This is really a taboo when working in the palace. I have always been cautious and prudent, but I was carried away by it. Wei Lin naturally knew what carried him away.
From then on, whenever he went to the Yanxi Palace to check on An Lingrong's pulse, An Lingrong was still gentle and polite, but there was a hint of alienation in her words.
Wei Lin's fiery heart did not cool down because of An Lingrong's attitude. If things don't go well in one direction, there will be bright lights in the other. An Lingrong would still embroider some pieces and give them to the old eunuch to sell outside the palace, and Wei Lin would save up his monthly salary to buy them.
Don't think that Wei Lin is helping An Lingrong in disguise. An Lingrong's embroidery is in great demand. Basically, as soon as she embroiders a handkerchief in the embroidery workshop and puts it on the shelves, it will be snatched up by the ladies in the boudoir or the personal maids of the ladies from wealthy families.
Wei Lin was puzzled at first. Even if a handkerchief was washed and dried every day, it would still be durable and would not break after being used for three to five months. So why did these young ladies come to the shop every day to grab the handkerchiefs?
Later, after Wei Lin finished his shift, he stayed in the embroidery workshop for a few times. The proprietress of the embroidery workshop finally explained the truth to this young man:
"My dear, you are not married yet, so you are buying a handkerchief for the girl you like. I have an embroiderer with excellent skills. The patterns she embroiders are the most popular in the capital. Why don't you pay a deposit? Next time, when the embroiderer finishes the embroidery, I will keep one for you."
"May I ask the shopkeeper why this handkerchief is in such short supply?"
The proprietress saw Wei Lin wearing a long gown and looking like an official, but with a pale complexion, it was obvious that he was not a high-ranking official. However, the proprietress did not give him any perfunctory treatment. She directly took out a handkerchief that had been pressed down in her hand and explained to Wei Lin:
"Look at this embroiderer's craftsmanship. There's no one better than her in the whole capital. That's one thing. And the pattern is different from the flowers drawn by ordinary girls. It takes at least ten or eight years of experience to draw this kind of painting. Besides, even if the painting is vivid, it's useless if the embroiderer can't embroider the spirit. But the pattern is novel and the embroidery is exquisite."
The proprietress of the embroidery shop had also been through the age of passing handkerchiefs to her lover across the wall to express her love for him. Seeing Wei Lin's silly and foolish appearance reminded her of her own youth, she did not hide her feelings, drank a sip of warm tea and continued:
"Besides, my embroiderer is very attentive. She embroiders a crabapple flower on the corner of each handkerchief. The crabapple flower represents the identity of my embroiderer. The young ladies in the capital think that the crabapple flower is noble and buy it just for this flower. No matter how other handkerchiefs imitate, they can never imitate the charm of this flower."
Wei Lin looked in the direction described by the proprietress, and indeed, a crabapple tree was quietly blooming, just like the seals that scholars would use to write inscriptions on paintings in running script, engraved in a fixed position, which would leave an impression in people's minds over time.
Seeing things as you see people is a good idea.
"Well, besides, every handkerchief I sell is unique, with patterns that are never repeated in all four seasons. Girls all want to buy a few to make a complete set. Whoever can make a complete set will be very proud to attend poetry gatherings or tea parties."
"How about it, little sir, do you want to buy one for your sweetheart?" Wei Lin stared blankly at the crabapple flowers on the embroidered handkerchief and didn't react for a moment. When he saw the proprietress take back the handkerchief, he came back to his senses and said with a bow:
“Can you sell this one to me?”
"No! This is a sample from our store! If you want it, pay first. Next time I have new goods, I will leave one for you." As she said that, the proprietress "cheated" more than double the deposit from Wei Lin's pocket.