Chapter 415: Mi Xiang Ju

For this outfit, she had been busy for almost a month; the shop didn't have many clothes, some were made by embroiderers, a few were her own work, but she was very strict with her embroidery, and if there was any flaw she wouldn't accept it.

"I think it can still be saved." Jiang Yunchu gave a light smile, then pointed at the garment, "May I try?"

Xiang Wei Er's eyes lit up, "Do you also like embroidery?"

"Just... a hobby?" Or perhaps she prefers stitching human skin?

But such frightening words are better left unsaid, lest we scare the young lady.

"Go ahead and try; anyway this garment is already ruined." Xiang Wei Er didn't mind, as any flawed embroidery could only be destroyed.

Let Yun Miao Er try as well; it wouldn't hurt.

Jiang Yunchu took it, then picked a strand of yellow thread; she didn't stop, picking also a white thread, combining the two.

She lightly lifted the piece of gauze, her stitches fine and tight, moving quickly; at first nothing could be seen, Xiang Wei Er merely felt that this person's skill was not great.

But...

Later, seeing the lifelike rabbit, then noticing the alternating white and yellow forming a sense of depth, as if a rabbit were right before her.

"This..." How was it done?

Jiang Yunchu gave a light smile, placed her hand before her eyes, "Look at me, is this side light, is that side dark? Light and dark together form the light‑dark plane; the formation of that plane also brings forth a true person."

"All things in the world are thus."

"Xiang Wei Er, what do you think?" She gave a light smile; this lesson also counted as repaying the favor owed for this garment.

Xiang Wei Er stared blankly; even after Jiang Yunchu left, she didn't notice, merely holding the rabbit with both hands.

The rabbit's body was fully embroidered, lacking only the pair of scarlet eyes; when she lifted her head, where was Yun Miao Er's shadow?

"Where is the person? The one who just embroidered?" The maid beside her replied, "Miss, the person left long ago."

"Gone..." Xiang Wei Er sighed; this embroidery was destined to lose its soul.

Jiang Yunchu walked out of the shop, took a side path to a place, pushed open the shop's door, and a clear bell rang from the doorway.

"We're not open; come back later, sir." A woman didn't turn her head, tidying her lapel, one hand holding sheer fabric, lightly covering her mouth as she sneezed; the whole motion was full of grace.

"I'm here to register." Jiang Yunchu didn't leave; instead she stepped forward a few paces.

The madam turned; upon first seeing Jiang Yunchu, she merely felt her eyes brighten, unable to see her beauty in the dim light, but that bearing alone was top‑notch.

The girls of Mi Xiang Ju don't have such an aura.

"Register? Do you know the rules, miss?" The madam in light purple gauze swayed over to Jiang Yunchu, saw that face—though half covered, the full forehead hidden by tassels and those brows and eyes seemed to proclaim to all, this is a beauty.

"What rules?"

I know some, but not that detailed.

Three days ago, Mi Xiang Ju announced the Talent Competition; any talented woman may register.

Mi Xiang Ju raises many girls; upper‑class girls sell art, not their bodies; lower‑class girls sell their bodies, not art; of course there are also middle‑class girls who only serve special clients.

This time Mi Xiang Ju's Talent Competition is also held to attract customers.

Most importantly, Mi Xiang Ju invited the Great Prince stationed in Xi Xiang Cheng.

And the medicinal herb Jiang Yunchu needs is only found in the Great Prince's West Wind Mirror; this time she came to register precisely for that West Wind Mirror of the Great Prince.

"First place can claim a thousand taels of gold, second place five hundred taels, third place one hundred taels."

"First place promises Mi Xiang Ju three stage appearances, no time limit."

"Second place promises Mi Xiang Ju five stage appearances, no time limit."

"Third place promises Mi Xiang Ju ten stage appearances within three years."

These rules are rather interesting.

Jiang Yunchu gave a light smile, then nodded, "Register."

"All right." The madam shook her purple gauze in front of Jiang Yunchu, swaying as she walked to the back; seeing Jiang Yunchu not following, she covered her mouth and laughed lightly, "Miss, what are you waiting for? Come along!!"

Even without men around, the madam still had a naturally alluring bearing; every frown and smile, every movement, seemed pre‑calculated.

Jiang Yunchu didn't reply, merely followed her steps.

"The Talent Competition has no requirements; it can be dance, an instrument, poetry, song, fu—anything, but it must be beautiful!"

The madam introduced that, then looked at Jiang Yunchu, "What will you enter?"

Jiang Yunchu thought, then smiled, "The guqin, perhaps."

"The guqin is an instrument, but it doesn't seem suited to you; you're better suited for dance, yet you don't dance with that figure—a pity." The madam made a note, saying regretfully.

Jiang Yunchu didn't speak, merely shook her head,

"Name."

"Yun Miao Er."

"Age."

"Nineteen years old."

The fewer the lies, the more convincing; she only lied in a few minor details.

"The time and your stage number are on the plaque; when the time comes, just take the plaque." The madam handed the plaque to Jiang Yunchu.

Jiang Yunchu nodded, "Thank you."

"No need to thank me; if you place in the top three, my Mi Xiang Ju will attract more customers." Her money isn't wasted; each of these girls is capital for drawing clients—those adults scatter coins between their fingers, and it's still not just this amount.

With this figure, this skin, this… not dancing, what a pity!

The madam still couldn't forget this matter.

After leaving Mi Xiang Ju, Jiang Yunchu found an inn, changed into ordinary Xijiang attire, gazed at the Xijiang moon, and wondered how those little ones were faring.

In the pitch‑black night like ink, a black silhouette slipped into a courtyard of Xi Xiang Cheng; the black clothing and the dark night seemed to merge as one.

"General!" Upon seeing the arrival, the two below immediately bowed in salute.

"What's the situation in Xijiang now?" The man stood in a dark place, this obscured his face, that cold voice carried a hint of chill.

"Reporting to the general, the Great Prince and Third Prince of Xijiang seem to have reached some kind of agreement; previously they were opposed, but now they have both calmed down. Although there are still minor frictions below, no major trouble has erupted again." A person hurriedly replied, voice steady.