Chapter Thirteen: The Tribute Lost Beyond the Borders

Shen Yi looked at Zhao Jiayi, grinding her teeth slightly.

"As expected of County Princess Jiayi, I concede!"

With that, she huffed and pulled Liu'er away. However, after exiting the fabric shop, Shen Yi did not leave; instead, she waited right by the entrance. Liu'er stood beside her, feeling puzzled. She knew her mistress had a private stash of money; logically, four hundred taels of silver should not have been a problem to produce.

Though confused, Liu'er did not dwell on it. She said, "Mistress, don't be sad. Even though the Cloud-Flow Brocade is precious, no matter what fabric you wear, you will always outshine everyone else."

Shen Yi turned back and looked at Liu'er, her previously angry expression breaking into a sudden laugh. "Who said your mistress was angry?"

Liu'er gasped, stunned. "Mistress, you aren't angry?"

Shen Yi wore a mysterious smile and offered no explanation.

At that moment, Zhao Jiayi emerged with her maid, accompanied by Chen Xijun and her servant. The County Princess still wore a triumphant smirk.

"Oh, if it isn't Shen Yi, the eldest Miss Shen! Why haven't you left yet? Could it be you think that by lingering here, you can win my favor? What a pity. In the past, I might have considered you a rival. But alas, the Prince did not marry you, and now you are out of the game."

Hearing this mockery, Shen Yi did not get angry. She said with breezy indifference, "An outsider might think it was you, County Princess Jiayi, who married the Prince. Some people just love to press their hot faces against a cold backside for years on end, aren't you ashamed?"

"You..." Zhao Jiayi pointed at Shen Yi, trembling with rage. But seeing Chen Xijun signal her, she realized Shen Yi’s intent was to make her lose her composure in public. How could she let Shen Yi have her way?

Zhao Jiayi let out a cold snort and turned to Chen Xijun. "Sister Xijun, there are two full bolts of this Cloud-Flow Brocade, more than I can use. How about I have a dress made for you from the extra? What do you think?"

Chen Xijun’s face lit up with joy. She had alienated Shen Yi to curry favor with Zhao Jiayi precisely to gain such benefits! She never expected Zhao Jiayi to be so generous. Chen Xijun immediately bowed, "I thank you, Sister!"

She then immediately pledged her loyalty: "Unlike some people, who have known each other for years yet act like such misers!"

It was obvious who this "miser" referred to. Shen Yi remained calm, but Liu'er put her hands on her hips. "Miss Chen, I have recorded every single favor my mistress has done for you over the years! Since you call my mistress a miser, shall I bring out the account book and let everyone judge who is right?"

Chen Xijun’s face changed. She hadn't expected Shen Yi to pull such a move. Her eyes darted around in panic, and just as she was about to defend herself, Zhao Jiayi stepped in to mediate. After all, Chen Xijun was now on her side, and she couldn't afford to let her feel cold.

"Sister Xijun, let’s go! Seeing certain people just brings me bad luck." With that, she bumped her shoulder against Shen Yi’s and walked away with Chen Xijun.

Shen Yi praised Liu'er, "Well done, Liu'er!" Then she asked, "Did you really record everything Chen Xijun took from me?"

Liu'er giggled, "Mistress, I was just bluffing!"

Shen Yi couldn't help but laugh out loud. If Chen Xijun knew that, she wouldn't be giggling anymore.

Shen Yi led Liu'er back into the fabric shop, leaving the girl utterly baffled. "Mistress, the Cloud-Flow Brocade has already been bought by the County Princess. Why are we back?"

Shen Yi replied matter-of-factly, "To collect the silver that Zhao Jiayi gave us, of course!"

Liu'er thought her mistress had gone mad—the idea of Zhao Jiayi giving her money was impossible. However, the moment they stepped inside, the shopkeeper greeted them with a radiant smile.

"Miss Shen, here are two hundred taels of silver. Please take them!"

Shen Yi did not take them immediately. "Shopkeeper, aside from the original price of the brocade, you should only owe me one hundred and eighty-eight taels. Why two hundred?"

Shopkeeper Qin explained, "Thanks to your help today, Miss Shen, I have earned more than enough. The extra dozen taels are a token of my gratitude. I also hope this matter remains known only between us two; please do not let a third person find out. I cannot afford to offend the Duke of Anguo’s estate!"

Shen Yi nodded. "Rest assured, Shopkeeper Qin, my lips are sealed. Since this is your gesture, I shall accept."

Liu'er stepped forward and took the banknotes from the shopkeeper. Shen Yi made to leave, but the shopkeeper called out, "Miss Shen, please wait!"

Shen Yi turned back, looking surprised. "Shopkeeper Qin, is there something else?"

The shopkeeper reached under the counter and produced another bolt of fabric. It was more Cloud-Flow Brocade, of even higher quality than the one sold to Zhao Jiayi—likely of imperial tribute grade.

Shen Yi asked in surprise, "This is?"

Shopkeeper Qin leaned in and whispered something to her. Shen Yi was even more shocked. "Shopkeeper, you mean to say this is the palace's own Cloud-Flow Brocade? But shouldn't that be kept in the Imperial Household Department? How did it end up here?"

Shopkeeper Qin hesitated before confessing: "I shouldn't have taken this. It is royal property. If the palace finds out, my shop will be shut down, and I might face imprisonment. But my foolish clerk accepted it without knowing better, and I had no choice. Meeting you today, and given your status with the Prince of War’s estate, I would rather gift it to you!"

Shen Yi understood. This imperial tribute was a hot potato for the shopkeeper, but it meant little to her. After all, she was the adopted sister of the Prince of War, and Xiao Huaijin himself was of royal blood. Having an imperial tribute bolt in the estate was no issue at all.

Shen Yi thanked him and took the brocade back to the Prince of War’s estate.

On the way, Liu'er was extremely curious. "Mistress, why did Shopkeeper Qin give you money?"

Though they had agreed not to let a third person know, Liu'er was her loyal shadow, and thus trustworthy. "I spoke to him privately earlier. I told him I would act as his 'plant' to drive up the price against Zhao Jiayi. That two hundred taels is just the profit squeezed out of her."

Liu'er laughed until she nearly doubled over. Long after, she finally regained her composure. "Mistress, if County Princess Jiayi finds out, she will surely hate you to death!"

Shen Yi offered a cold smile. Zhao Jiayi was just a woman with a big chest and no brain. Her predecessor never considered this foolish woman a rival, let alone her.

Back at the estate, Shen Yi asked Chong Ming where Xiao Huaijin was. He told her the Prince was in the study handling official business. If it had been Jiang Nansheng, Chong Ming would have surely blocked her, but for Shen Yi, he was not only respectful but even offered to lead the way. It seemed that in these types of novels, the male lead's guards always despised the heroine, suspecting her motives, while wishing the wicked female supporting character were the Princess Consort.

When Shen Yi arrived at the study, Xiao Huaijin was feeling exhausted. He had expected that, as in the past, Shen Yi would come forward to massage his shoulders and temples to relieve his fatigue. Instead, she simply bowed and called out, "Brother Jin."

Xiao Huaijin felt there was nothing wrong with her behavior, as he now had a proper Princess Consort. Even through his fatigue, a smile touched his lips. "Yi'er, you are holding a bolt of fabric. Don't tell me you are planning to make me another set of clothes?"

Shen Yi shook her head and placed the fabric in front of him. Xiao Huaijin looked at it with curiosity, then his expression shifted to one of astonishment.

"This is Cloud-Flow Brocade, and of imperial tribute grade at that! Yi'er, where did you get this?"

Xiao Huaijin remembered that the brocade his imperial brother had bestowed upon him had already been made into clothes for him by Shen Yi. Logically, there should be none left in the estate. Cloud-Flow Brocade had only become popular in the last two years. Due to its complex craftsmanship, production was extremely limited. The top-tier quality became imperial tribute, while the common grades were prized by high-ranking officials. The annual tribute from Yunzhou to the court was less than twenty bolts in total.

For Shen Yi to have brought one over... it surely wasn't as simple as it seemed.