Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!

Chapter 557 - 556: Waiting

"So that’s how it is, our Headdress and Shoes Workshop is truly honored!" Gu Lingyun glanced at Zhu Yu again, seeing her dressed plainly and her looks equally ordinary, yet she seemed completely unfazed by their high prices here. He tentatively pointed to the side, "There’s a set of Luo robes over there, would Madam care to take a look?"

"Alright, then I must trouble Manager Gu for a recommendation." Zhu Yu quickly nodded and followed Gu Lingyun over.

"This Hundred-fold Skirt, does it interest Madam?" Gu Lingyun brought Zhu Yu to a wooden rack where a skirt was hanging. "This skirt is woven from Four-threaded Jiao Luo and is embroidered with mandarin duck patterns. Both the material and style are the most favored by the ladies in the Capital."

Zhu Yu pondered for a moment, then shook her head, "It’s no good, while the skirt is beautiful, when we left home our in-laws instructed us, our relatives have an extraordinary family background. Although we may be distanced relations, since we’re visiting for the birthday celebration, we can’t disgrace their honor; we must dress properly."

Gu Lingyun nodded with a smile and led them to another outfit.

Despite the skirt already being quite splendid and much more luxurious than the previous one, Zhu Yu seemed still not particularly satisfied.

After selecting several more outfits, Gu Lingyun maintained his smile, but his gaze had cooled somewhat.

"I didn’t anticipate Madam’s tastes to be so discerning; our Headdress and Shoes Workshop may indeed have trouble finding something to suit Madam’s taste." He covered his mouth with a feigned smile, his tone ambiguous between praise and mockery.

"From the outside, your shop looks rather grand, but inside there’s merely this little selection for choosing?" Lu Qing seemed provoked by his words, his expression displeased, "And you call this one of the top fabric and apparel shops in the Capital?!"

Gu Lingyun chuckled, "Wherever did the esteemed guest hear such nonsense? Our Headdress and Shoes Workshop is not of unfounded reputation."

"Oh? Then it’s not on this floor?" Lu Qing, taller by more than a head than petite Gu Lingyun, looked over her head toward the staircase leading to the third floor, "If that’s the case, then take us upstairs to have a look."

With that, he started to move toward the staircase.

Gu Lingyun quickly stopped him again, "Esteemed guest, such impatience!

There are indeed some genuine treasures upstairs, but naturally, exceptional goods come with equally exceptional prices, which are indeed not cheap."

"We as a couple are visiting a prestigious household for a birthday banquet, intending not to lose face. Good things aren’t cheap; we’re well aware of that.

If you fear we can’t afford it, why not state the price upfront!"

Gu Lingyun was straightforward as well, extending a hand.

"Fifty... two?" Zhu Yu asked cautiously.

Gu Lingyun shook his head with a smile, "Madam jests, upstairs we do have some exceptional materials hard to find outside, but the price starts at over fifty taels."

This price indeed was very high.

Given Jin Country’s wealth, even in the Capital, an ordinary family managing a decent living annually earns perhaps seven or eight taels of Silver.

Even for minor officials in the Capital, or owners of large shops, at most they might earn forty to fifty taels a year.

A garment priced at fifty taels—starting price—and who knows how high the price could go.

Gu Lingyun speaking this price felt more like driving them away than genuinely intending to sell, seemingly not wanting them to go upstairs.

After hearing, Lu Qing scoffed, "I thought you were quoting something truly exorbitant! A mere starting price of fifty taels, what’s the issue!"

With that, he drew a gold ingot from his bosom, appearing to weigh ten taels.

Gu Lingyun truly hadn’t expected, these two unremarkable looking people, accompanied by an elderly attendant, would suddenly produce a gold ingot, was momentarily stunned, then smiled even brighter.

"I spoke so because I feared the couple might find it daunting after knowing the price. Now that you have expressed such sincere intent and a desire for the finest, let me take you upstairs immediately to ensure you find something satisfactory!"

Lu Qing agreed satisfyingly and instructed the rune to wait for them by the stairs on the second floor, which pleased Gu Lingyun somewhat, as he then led them to the third floor.

She seemed notably reluctant for idle characters to tread upstairs.

Going up the stairs, Zhu Yu followed Gu Lingyun, and as Gu Lingyun moved, the seductive fragrance became increasingly noticeable; Zhu Yu glimpsed through the semi-transparent muslin and vaguely saw a sachet shaped object hung at Gu Lingyun’s waist.

The shape and color of that sachet exactly matched those worn by people from the Immortal Castle steward.

They had established that the sachets worn by Immortal Castle folks had no other functions, merely aiding wakefulness, preventing the wearer from being disturbed by seductive fragrances.

Despite this, Yan Daoxin thoroughly examined those sachets, discovering that the herbs within were uncommon, and combining them was even more unusual, definitely not items easily purchased outside.

Thus, their earlier suspicions proved correct, these individuals indeed had connections.

Zhu Yu silently signaled Lu Qing with a glance, and the two followed Gu Lingyun to the third floor without revealing any emotions.

The third floor was slightly smaller than the second floor, with dim lighting and layered silk curtains hanging.

It seemed they had also burned sandalwood incense on this floor; the scent was decidedly elegant, even the wooden columns bore intricate carvings, making Zhu Yu almost believe they had stumbled from a fabric shop into an entirely different place.

The atmosphere was at once peculiar and refined.

Under the influence of the sandalwood scent, the aroma from Gu Lingyun’s sachet was entirely masked.

This brought Zhu Yu inexplicable relief.

Assuring them the floor hadn’t employed seductive fragrance to ambush them.

"Madam, this way please, let me introduce you to some rare and exquisite materials." Gu Lingyun gestured to the side, "This floor sells not clothing, for with such superior fabrics, it would be a waste to craft ordinary clothes.

If the couple isn’t in a rush to wear them, why not select a favored piece of material first, and once tailored, return in a few days to collect it. What do you think?"

"We’re not in any hurry, and we’ll stay in the Capital for a while, so let’s follow the shopkeeper’s suggestions." Zhu Yu feigned calculating the time, nodded assent.