Rebirth of Poisoned Empress, by 颜若优雅

Chapter 14

When the two returned to their courtyard, Qi Xuan, who had left the manor, still had not yet returned. After Qi Yue's repeated questioning, Shen Liang briefly went over the matter with the Ironclad Guards and bandits with him. Soon after, the tailors from the Fei Yu Pavilion came over.

"Fifth young master, it's not suitable for someone your age to wear red. Why don't you change to a more neutral tone and color?"

After taking his measurements and seeing Shen Liang bring out the red material, the embroidery madame suggested, which was rarely done. The Fei Yu Pavilion has served many nobles and those with authority for a long time. The madame could be considered experienced and she was not oblivious to the schemes those in the courtyard of affluent families. The moment she stepped into the courtyard, she had already sensed that the fifth young master and heir of the Marquis Manor was not living well.

"No need. Just this will be fine."

Shen Liang smiled and refused her goodwill. His gaze swept over the fabric, and he nonchalantly picked up a piece, "How much silver will it cost to make two attires out of this cloth?"

"En? This is a cloud brocade. With the fifth young masters' measurements, it would cost approximately thirty silvers for two attires.

The embroidery madame responded with a smile after believing that Shen Liang simply wished to make a few more attires for himself.

"Not with my measurements. With theirs."

"What?!"

Her gaze followed where Shen Liang pointed and the madame couldn't help but exclaim in shock. Qi Yue herself was also frightened. How would he dare to adorn an attire that costed fifteen silvers?

"No Liang...fifth young master, I'm only a slave. How can I possibly wear something like that?"

"Like what? It's nothing much."

Shen Liang ignored Qi Yue's anxiety and smiled naturally, "I'll have to bother the madame to take his measurements."

"Oh, alright..."

The lady from the embroidery house still could not react. Although she had seen and experienced much, this was the first time she had seen a master treat his servants so well. Fifteen silvers was not cheap.

"No, fifth young master. How would I be able to work wearing such a cloth?"

"Why not? If it gets dirty, we'll just make a new one."

It was only a cloud brocade. If he could, Shen Liang would even allow them to wear gowns made from Sichuan brocade. Wasn't it only because the cloud brocade was the best option they had available to them right now?

"But..."

Qi Yue was still unwilling. After pondering about it, he leaned in and whispered to Shen Liang, "Fifth young master, where will we get all those silver?"

The children in the Marquis Manor's monthly spending was twenty silvers. He and Qi Xuan could only be considered second-tier servants, which meant they only received two silvers per month. Added together, the three of them only had twenty-four silvers per month. When Qi Xuan left, he had taken three silvers with him, and they only had twenty-one silvers left on them. It simply wasn't enough.

"Don't worry about the silver. Just wait to wear your new clothes."

After, Shen Liang passed a look toward the embroidery madame. Qi Yue gelt helpless and could only allow the madame to take his measurement stiffly.

"Fifth young master, this one is curious as to what color does the fifth young master favor?"

"Just smoke gray with bamboo prints and apricot ink color. I'll take two fabrics of each color and adorn them with a jade belt decoration and appropriate pants."

"A total of four attires?"

"Fifth young master!"

Both the madame and Qi Yue were stunned. Four attires would be sixty silvers and adding on the other items and attires he ordered, even a hundred silvers may not be enough!

Oh right, these attires will be paid by me personally. There's no reason to pass the bill to the Marquis Madame. I'll ask the madame to know what to say and what not to say."

As though he didn't hear their exclamations, Shen Liang continued, "As for my attires, make however many you can from each fabric and do not neglect to make the corresponding jade inner gown with them. 

"...Alright!"

The madame was entrapped in her stupor for quite a while before nodding. The profit she would earn off of Shen Liang was not to be taken lightly.

"Around how many days will you need?"

"For the cloud brocades, around three days will suffice. As for the attires for fifth young master, we will need to utilize the entire fabric and it will take longer."

"That's alright. I'll personally stop by the Fei Yu Pavilion in three days. Will separate deposits be required?"

His injuries should have recovered by then.

"The deposit will be unnecessary. If the fifth young master has no other orders, this one will pardon herself."

"We will trouble you then. Qi Yue, send the lady off."

Shen Liang smiled and bowed his head as courtesy. Qi Yue stepped forward to hand the madame some silver he had prepared beforehand as tip before leading her out the courtyard.

"Liangliang, you can't be impulsive. We don't need any new attires. Where will we get this much silver?"

After returning, Qi Yue started to gripe at him. Shen Liang didn't take it to heart. His words went in one ear and out the other and even more infuriating was when Shen Liang passed him a cup of water and gestured for him to moisten his throat before continuing.

"...."

Qi Yue's head felt it had blown off after being passed the teacup. He didn't even know how to continue anymore. Xiao Xuan was right! Liangliang had turned rebellious!

"Alright now Yue Ge. How could I let you suffer as you did back in the countryside? Rest assured; I have the matter with the silvers under my hand."

Seeing him like this, Shen Liang could only smile lightly with helplessness and pulled on Qi Yue to lead him to sit down. Money isn't absolute, but it is absolutely unacceptable to have no money. Along the way back, he had already thought and planned out on how to earn money. It was only a hundred silvers. For Shen Liang, that didn't amount to much at all. In his previous life Qi Yue and Qi Xuan had lost their lives for him. Did that alone not amount to a hundred silvers? Qi Yue and Qi Xuan's loyalty and dedication towards him, he will work hard to repay.

"But..."

"Don't but anymore. Our guest is here."

Qi Yue was still upset but Shen Liang had turned his head to peer outside. Qi Yue's gaze followed him and only saw the Liu Shuhan mother daughter pair strolling angrily towards them with a large crowd of servants. Qi Yue was immediately frightened and stood up while Shen Liang simply retracted his gaze. Shen Liang's white slender fingers picked up the tea leaf gently floating in the teacup.