Forced Into the Palace: Becoming the Emperor's Favorite
Chapter 42 Chief of the Embroidery Workshop

Chapter 42: Chapter 42 Chief of the Embroidery Workshop

Qiu Ming listened and immediately agreed, then quickly headed towards Linzi Palace.

Xia An looked at Lin Wanyi inside the room, his eyes full of concern.

"My lady..."

"After all, I thought too simply. I believed that by keeping a low profile, I could enjoy peaceful days. Anyways, help me up for a walk. I haven’t been on my feet for several days and my legs feel somewhat uncooperative."

In the left wing, Xia An supported Lin Wanyi as she moved back and forth in the room.

The movements weren’t very strenuous, but after not getting out of bed for several days, walking like this for a while made her legs a bit sore.

"My lady, you really shouldn’t overdo it. As the saying goes, injuries to muscles and bones take a hundred days to heal. Be careful not to develop lingering ailments, like bone pain when it gets cold or rainy."

"Don’t worry, I will take care of my own body."

Lin Wanyi rested for a while, then let Xia An gently knead her legs to ease her muscles and bones.

In the days that followed, it seemed as if all the servants in the left wing started getting out of bed and walking as if by agreement.

The one who recovered the fastest and best was Xiao Luzi, who, as soon as he got the Medical Officer’s approval, changed into a spirited outfit and tidily followed to meet Qiu Ming.

"Mr. Qiu, this servant has recovered. Whatever instructions you have in the future, just give the word."

Qiu Ming saw his rosy complexion, having been well taken care of with good food and drink these few days, and so smiled faintly.

"Ah, to be young. The recovery is indeed quicker."

Xiao Luzi chuckled and then properly asked, "Mr. Qiu, would you like me to recite the newly drafted palace rules for you? I haven’t been idle these past days, you know."

"No need to recite them. Walking past your door the last few days, I’ve almost heard them all. But remember, memorizing them is just the first step. What’s most important is to keep them in mind."

"Rest assured, Mr. Qiu, I will remember them."

"That’s good then."

Qiu Ming looked at Xiao Luzi with a hint of approval.

The gravest mistake for a servant is arrogance, and also the fear of giving up.

They suffered a knife wound and are doing the most menial jobs in the harem; if they don’t respect themselves, how can others respect them?

Xiao Luzi has good potential, and if well trained, there’s a big opportunity for him in the future.

With this thought, Qiu Ming spoke up.

"His Majesty likes the nightclothes made by my lady and has ordered several more. You should go to the Inner Court Department, find the Chiefs of the satin warehouse and embroidery workshop to come over for consultation. Also, stop by to reassure your master. He’s been so worried these days he’s developed sores at the corners of his mouth."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Luzi felt both sad and happy inside.

Since entering the palace, he had always been under the care of Eunuch Qin An.

Over the years, a deep bond had been formed.

In fact, my lady never opposed his interacting with Mr. Qin, as long as he didn’t carelessly talk about matters from the left wing.

With this thought, he nodded.

"Thank you, Mr. Qiu, for the reminder. This servant understands."

After speaking, he quickly walked towards the Inner Court Department.

It wasn’t long before the Chiefs of the satin warehouse and embroidery workshop arrived together.

Nanny Fan from the satin warehouse was someone they had dealt with before, and the one beside her, who appeared somewhat frail but had shrewd eyes, was now the Chief Maid of the embroidery workshop.

"Slave Fan Baoju greets my lady, wishing her peace and health."

"Slave Chang Hai’e greets my lady, wishing her peace and health."

Lin Wanyi, with inconvenient legs, was sitting under the Bright Window Couch with a thin blanket over her lap.

"Both nannies, please rise."

"Thank you, my lady."

"Thank you, my lady."

Chief Maid Chang, from the embroidery workshop, looked up to size up Lin Wanyi. She found her appearance pleasantly gentle, and her slight smiling demeanor made one instinctively want to be close.

In her heart, she mused, no wonder she became the Emperor’s favorite within just over half a month of entering the palace.

Indeed, beauty and ability.

Thus, she dared not slack and immediately spoke politely, "My lady has called us here to discuss making nightclothes for His Majesty, correct?"

This Chief Maid Chang was indeed "straightforward," getting to the point right away, though one wondered how genuine this bluntness was.

Therefore, not showing any expression, Lin Wanyi responded.

"Chief Maid Chang is straightforward, so I won’t beat around the bush either. Since we’re making clothes for His Majesty, the fabrics and threads need to be carefully selected. However, I’m not aware of what resources the palace has, so I’ve specifically asked the two nannies to inquire."

With an understanding look, Chief Maid Chang immediately replied, "My lady has asked the right person. I will tell you about the current situation of the embroidery workshop."

Then she began to eloquently explain the situation of the embroidery workshop, from the honors received to the registered embroideresses.

She almost revealed the entirety of the embroidery workshop, but Lin Wanyi did not hear what she wanted to know.

As Chief Maid Chang was still vividly describing, Lin Wanyi coughed twice, and Qiu Ming, standing by, immediately understood her intent.

He spoke to Chief Maid Chang, "Maid, please just mention the key points. My lady is currently weak and doesn’t have much time to chat idly with you here."

His tone was somewhat stern, and Chief Maid Chang, having been in the imperial court, knew of Qiu Ming’s cold temperament, so she dared not act rashly.

Only then did she begin to talk about the threads.

"Presently, what’s used in the embroidery workshop is mostly three types of threads: silk thread, silk cotton thread, and ice silk thread, with a total of three hundred ninety-four colors. They are dyed with plants, not only bright in color but also long-lasting."

"Do you have tear amber and honey dye?"

Upon hearing this, Chief Maid Chang put away her previous pride.

So, Lin Daying is indeed an expert, directly asking for these two types of threads, and responded with some difficulty.

"Most embroidered threads in the palace are tributes. Tear amber and honey dye take too long to produce, so there’s often insufficient supply. There are some, but the stock is not much. If my lady needs some, we can fetch a few, but it might not be sufficient for making clothes."

"As long as there are some, Xiao Luzi and Xiao Hezi will accompany you later to fetch them. If there are Brocade White Thread and copper red thread, bring me some, too."

When Lin Wanyi said this, it stunned Chief Maid Chang.

The things she wanted weren’t extravagant but were complex to manufacture and rarely used in embroidery.

They preferred bright colors, ones that would shine under sunlight. Whether stitching a golden dragon for His Majesty or floral designs for the concubines, they always aimed to be eye-catching.

Originally, Chief Maid Chang wanted to say more, but Lin Wanyi interrupted her.

She then turned to Nanny Fan, who had yet to speak, and said.

"And what about the stock in the satin warehouse?"

Nanny Fan, unlike Chief Maid Chang, immediately took out a booklet from her sleeve.