Volume One, Chapter 11: A Mother's Head Is About to Split

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Su Residence.

Su Lingxue sat in her room, feeling gloomy. With her skills, it wouldn’t be difficult for her to leave unnoticed. Yet, she hesitated, recalling her father’s words: if she sought out Xiao Shilang, he would disown her. This left her conflicted.

She could tell her father wasn’t joking.

Su Lingxue wasn’t very familiar with Xiao Yichen. The reason she agreed to marry him was because Chu Aoshuang was too arrogant; she couldn’t bear to see the noble Xiao family, known for their loyal warriors, suffer such humiliation. Her chivalrous heart compelled her to stand up.

Now, faced with choosing between Xiao Yichen and her father, she was at a loss.

“Miss, something bad has happened!”

Just then, a maid rushed in.

“What is it?”

“I just heard from the household staff that Master has rejected the Xiao family’s betrothal gifts and personally selected a husband for you. The bride price has been accepted, and the groom should be arriving soon to bring you home.”

“What!”

Su Lingxue sprang up, a flash of anger on her face. Her father was so unreasonable—arranging a husband for her without informing her, clearly wanting to marry her off quickly to sever her ties with the Xiao family.

Her temper flared.

“Xiangling, pack your things. We’re going to the Xiao residence.”

“But Miss, Father said if you—”

“Don’t care what Father said. Go bring me paper and pen.”

Xiangling hurried to fetch the supplies. Su Lingxue sat down to write a letter declaring her intention to marry into the Xiao family and sever all ties with the Su family. This way, if anyone targeted the Xiao household, it wouldn’t affect the Su family.

She had made her decision. Having sworn an oath to the Xiao family, she would not break it.

Soon, the two women packed their belongings. Su Lingxue lifted Xiangling over the wall, escaping the Su residence.

She didn’t go directly to the Xiao family but planned to visit Han Ziyun and Luo Wanying first.

The three were close friends, so naturally, they would go together.

…

Xiao Residence.

Xiao Yichen sat in his room, holding a homemade quill, sketching designs on paper. Qiaoyun ground ink nearby.

A pile of sheets lay on the table as Xiao Yichen tried to recall the styles of modern-day cheongsams.

Straight hems, wide hems, formal hems, fishtail hems…

Various cheongsam designs took shape under his pen. He was grateful to have learned sketching in high school; otherwise, even knowing the styles, he wouldn’t be able to draw them properly.

“Master, are you drawing women’s clothing?”

Qiaoyun looked over after a long time, unable to hold back her curiosity. The garments seemed strange—she had never seen anything like them.

Xiao Yichen was about to answer when a voice came from outside the door.

“Master, madam requests your presence in the main hall.”

“I’m coming.”

Xiao Yichen agreed, standing up to head to the hall.

In the hall, besides Liu Jine, the third sister-in-law Zhao Yaxuan was also present. Judging by her appearance, she had just returned from the shop.

“Mother, are you looking for me?”

Liu Jine snapped, “Did you go cause trouble at the Brocade Pavilion again? You drove Zhang Tao and the others away by scolding them, and now there’s a pile of undyed fabric and silk at the shop. Do you want to exhaust your third sister-in-law?”

“Mother, you’re wrong. I offered each of those workers an extra ten taels a month—that’s extortion. I couldn’t let them get away with it.”

“So you just kicked them out? There was still room to negotiate, but now that you’ve scared them all off, do you want the Brocade Pavilion to shut down?”

Liu Jine glared at her son, feeling a headache. Of her four sons, Xiao Yichen was the youngest. Ever since he lost his martial prowess, she feared he would give up on himself, so she indulged him in everything.

He had been somewhat reckless before, but she never said anything. Now, he went and drove away their workers—that was too much.

All the men in the Xiao family had died in battle, and they relied on the Brocade Pavilion’s business to support the whole family.

They also had to care for the families of the fallen soldiers.

Lately, Liu Jine had been so worried she couldn’t sleep at night.

Money was needed everywhere; she wished she could split a single tael in half to make it last.

Originally, when Xiao Yichen agreed to return the debts and bride price, she had been a bit relieved, thinking her youngest son was finally becoming sensible and could help share the burden.

But then he ruined the Brocade Pavilion’s business.

She felt utterly disappointed.

“Mother, trust me. I’ll handle the finances. We’ll close the Brocade Pavilion for a few days, but when we reopen, it will be the most popular shop in the capital.”

Liu Jine felt like her head was about to split.

Only a mother knows her child.

Aside from his exceptional martial talent, Xiao Yichen was otherwise ordinary.

Though the family’s only son, Liu Jine never expected him to earn money; not just her, but all the women in the household thought so.

Hearing him boast now, she had no comeback.

“Yaxuan, go to the pawnshop and ask if they have workers who know dyeing. If so, hire a few immediately.”

Zhao Yaxuan nodded and left.

Before leaving, she shot a sidelong glance at Xiao Yichen—he was truly going to cause her trouble.

After Zhao Yaxuan left, Liu Jine said, “While you were out, the Chu family sent someone. They want you to extend the deadline for returning the bride price to fifteen days. I promised them on your behalf.”

“Mother, why did you promise? Just give them three days to return it.”

“Three days to gather a hundred thousand taels is too difficult for the Chu family. Since we’ve agreed to return the bride price, there’s no need to be so harsh. It’s better to leave some room for them.”

Her voice softened, and her gaze toward Xiao Yichen held a trace of pity.

Being rejected was hardest for Shilang. Maybe that’s why he scolded the workers.

“Mother, you’re too kind. The Chu family has humiliated us; they should be taught a lesson.”

“But since you’ve agreed, fifteen days it is.”

“I’m going back now.”

Without another word, he dashed off to show the sketches to the fourth and fifth sisters-in-law.

Xiao Yichen’s sisters-in-law each had their own talents; none were idle.

The eldest spun yarn, the second wove cloth, the third managed the Brocade Pavilion, while the fourth and fifth were skilled in needlework. The sixth was even a descendant of the Mo family.

Whether the cheongsams could be made depended on the fourth and fifth sisters-in-law.

When Xiao Yichen showed the sketches to them, their eyes lit up with curiosity. They had never seen such designs, but their feminine intuition told them these dresses would look beautiful.

They promised to make them as quickly as possible.

Xiao Yichen then turned to preparing dyes. Ancient dyeing wasn’t too complicated, mainly using plants for coloring.

He had once visited a silk museum, where he happened upon a demonstration of ancient dyeing techniques. Interested, he even tried it himself.

He never expected it would prove useful now.

The Xiao family lacked dyeing skills, which was why Zhang Tao dared to demand exorbitant prices. Without core skills, the Xiao business was doomed to fail.

Previously, Zhang Tao worked earnestly at the Brocade Pavilion because Xiao Zhantian was around. Working at the general’s house shop gave him some prestige in the neighborhood.

Now that the Xiao family had fallen on hard times, he dared to raise prices.

Xiao Yichen used plant-based dyeing but didn’t dye directly. Instead, he applied mordanting—adding green vitriol or alum.

This method produced brighter, more vivid colors than direct dyeing.

Xiao Yichen was confident that clothes made with his dyes would cause a sensation in the capital.