Cuddling with the Cold Female Protagonist – Chapter 38
by Little PandaVolume 2: The Captivating Splendor of Jingdu
Sales Pitch
The two embroiderers from Dongli Kingdom worked very hard1, seemingly afraid Su Yi wouldn’t employ them anymore. Apart from eating and sleeping, the two of them spent all their remaining time working.
Su Yi tried persuading them several times, but they wouldn’t listen. Finally, she had no choice but to let them be. Their wages were also raised from the original one thousand two hundred wen per month to three liang2 of silver.
The two embroiderers became even more diligent, finishing the five garments Su Yi wanted in less than two months.
Afraid they would exhaust themselves, Su Yi quickly ordered them to stop embroidering. Furthermore, she had Yan Can spend all day instilling the rules of Yanxue Kingdom and the concept of female superiority and male inferiority in them.
This method was very effective. After some time, the two improved significantly. Although still shy, they no longer worked almost without sleep or rest.
Su Yi breathed a sigh of relief3. She drew some more clothing design drafts, took the finished garments, and paid a visit to the Second Princess’s residence.
Evening arrived, with a cool breeze blowing.
Ji Qingyun sat in the pavilion, watching the lotus flowers by the water while listening to the pipa4 and sipping wine; it couldn’t have been more pleasant.
She gleefully ate a grape and waved to her younger sister fishing by the lotus pond, “Ninth Younger Sister, don’t just focus on fishing! These grapes were chilled in well water, they’re especially cold and delicious. Come over and try some.”
Ji Qingchi put down her fishing rod, slowly rose, walked over to the pavilion, and sat down.
“I didn’t realize you liked fishing so much, Ninth Younger Sister.” Ji Qingyun pushed the plate of grapes in front of her. “Come, come, try some.”
“Fishing is quite enjoyable,” Ji Qingchi said faintly, picking up a grape, peeling it, and eating it.
Fishing was the best way to temper one’s willpower. Every time her temper flared, she would sit by the lotus pond with her fishing rod for one or two shichen5.
“I just can’t feel the joy of fishing,” Ji Qingyun laughed. “Our temperaments as sisters are really quite different.”
“After all, not everyone is as open-minded6 as Imperial Elder Sister,” Ji Qingchi smiled faintly, picking up another grape.
Ji Qingyun’s eyes curved. Just as she was about to speak, an attendant approached, curtsied, and said, “Your Second Highness, there is a Miss Su at the residence gate requesting an audience. She says she wants to give you something.”
Miss Su?
It seemed the only Miss Su she knew was Su Yi, right? Could it be her?
“Is it the young lady in the wheelchair?”
“Yes.”
Then it must be Su Yi.
Ji Qingyun wondered what Su Yi wanted with her. Could it be that Su Yi discovered she planned to close the case in a perfunctory manner7, unable to grant justice to her and her fulang, felt wronged, and came to cry to her about it?
Ji Qingyun felt quite guilty, but since the person had already come seeking an audience, she couldn’t refuse. She could only brace herself8 and say to the attendant, “Alright, then please invite Miss Su in.”
Su Yi was led by the attendant to the pavilion. She supported herself to stand and curtsied to Ji Qingyun, “This commoner9 pays respects to Your Second Highness.”
“Miss Su, your body is weak, there’s no need for so much ceremony. Someone, grant her a seat.”
Su Yi was seated slightly below Ji Qingyun. She was very proper, not looking around randomly, only facing Ji Qingyun’s direction. “Your Second Highness, this commoner has something she wishes to present to Your Highness.”
“Oh? What is it?”
Su Yi had Gan Cao open the cloth bundle10, revealing an exquisitely crafted summer garment for women inside.
Ji Qingyun had never seen such a style of clothing before, but the cuffs and waist were tailored very well, and the collar was also handled nicely, preventing chafing against the neck. She liked it immediately; the garment looked very suitable for hunting.
“Was this clothing made by Miss Su’s maids? This Palace has never seen such a style even in the Bureau of Imperial Attire11.”
“This style was researched by this humble woman12 herself, referencing books.”
Su Yi was a dedicated salesperson, doing her utmost to pitch the advantages of her product to Ji Qingyun, and frankly stated her intentions, “To be honest with Your Highness, this humble woman has little family property. Therefore, to establish a firm footing in Jingdu, I now intend to start a ready-made clothing business.”
She didn’t come to settle accounts with me, that scared me to death.
As Ji Qingyun breathed a sigh of relief, she looked at Su Yi with renewed interest. “Are you planning to have This Palace promote your wares to other nobles?”
“Yes,” Su Yi stated frankly. “If Your Second Highness is willing, this humble woman is willing to give one-third of the shop’s profits to Your Highness.”
“There’s no need. It’s just a small effort13. Besides, this is Miss Su’s livelihood. A noblewoman does not take what others cherish14. This Palace is not short of this money. However, This Palace really likes these clothes. If Miss Su doesn’t find it troublesome, please send two sets of winter clothing to This Palace as well, consider it my reward.”
Su Yi quickly agreed, “Many thanks, Your Highness.”
“You’re welcome.”
The two then chatted about how to introduce these clothes to other high officials and nobles. Ji Qingchi sat to the side, expressionlessly pinching a grape, watching the two treat her like she was invisible.
After they had chatted for quite a while, Su Yi coughed. Ji Qingyun had someone bring tea. “Then it’s settled. Miss Su, rest assured, This Palace will certainly do her best.”
Su Yi didn’t know how to express her gratitude. “Many thanks, Your Second Highness, this commoner…”
“Do you have any of these clothes suitable for soldiers?”
Her basketful of thanks hadn’t even been spoken when she was suddenly interrupted.
Hearing the familiar female voice, Su Yi turned her head in surprise, only to see the cold-faced Ji Qingchi sitting upright.
Huh? What’s going on? When did the female protagonist get here?
Ji Qingchi naturally saw the surprise in her eyes, and a wave of irritation inexplicably rose in her heart. The calm she had just achieved through fishing surged up again.
What does she mean by being so surprised? Could it be that I, a big living person15, have been sitting here for so long, and she didn’t even notice?!
Ji Qingyun sat aside, snickering inwardly. Hahaha, it’s not easy to see Ninth Younger Sister look deflated16. However, as the host of the residence, to fulfill the duties of a host17, she cleared her throat and introduced to Su Yi, “This is my Ninth Younger Sister.”
Su Yi truly hadn’t noticed her. Royal etiquette was strict; she hadn’t dared to look around much upon entering. Later, she had only focused on Ji Qingyun. Ji Qingchi was sitting quite far from her, and without deliberately turning her head, she couldn’t see her.
Su Yi’s scalp tingled18 as she stood up. “This commoner greets the Ninth Princess. Please forgive me, Ninth Princess. This commoner’s eyes are poor and did not see Your Ninth Highness just now. This commoner deserves death.”
Ahhh, in front of the female protagonist’s elder sister, the female protagonist probably won’t do anything to me, right? I really didn’t do it on purpose!
“No need. Miss Su is frail, please sit down and speak.” Ji Qingchi’s face was cold, looking as if someone owed her several hundred liang of silver. “You haven’t answered This Palace’s question yet. Among these clothes of yours, are there any suitable for soldiers?”
“There are.” Hearing that she didn’t intend to settle accounts with her, Su Yi breathed a sigh of relief and quickly had someone open another bundle.
Fortunately, to ensure nothing goes wrong19 today, she had brought all the designs she had drawn—she presented them to Ji Qingchi. “Your Ninth Highness, please look. These few styles are suitable for soldiers.”
Ji Qingchi took them and looked them over. Su Yi’s design drawings were simple and easy to understand, and Ji Qingchi, being intelligent, grasped the blueprints immediately.
Sure enough, on these drawings, several vulnerable areas were covered with thick material, and the overall style was light and convenient. It was clear at a glance that they were very suitable for soldiers to wear in battle.
Ji Qingchi was very satisfied. Su Yi’s clever little head20 was full of strange and wondrous things, so she wasn’t surprised why she would design these. She said to her, “Make one hundred sets for This Palace according to this style first.”
“As Your Highness commands, this humble woman will certainly obey. However, this commoner requires some blacksmiths.”
“Granted.”
“This commoner also wants some ore.”
“Granted.”
“This commoner also wants a deposit.”
“…”
What does she mean? Is she afraid I’ll renege on the payment later? Am I that stingy in Su Yi’s eyes?
Ji Qingchi’s face remained taut, silent. Su Yi wore a bitter melon face21, nearly scared to death by her. But if Ji Qingchi didn’t give her a deposit, she couldn’t pay others either! Those craftsmen, the transport workers—who didn’t require money? Did she look like someone who could advance the funds for the female protagonist for free?
Armor worn by soldiers was different from ordinary clothing. Firstly, the materials were very special; things made from ordinary cloth could easily be pierced. So Su Yi planned to experiment with drawing metal into threads and using that as thread to sew a set of clothes. Making one hundred sets of armor, how much money would that cost? Not only would the armor materials cost money, but iron plates also needed to be embedded, plus labor costs. Calculating that huge sum in her head, Su Yi figured it would cost at least one thousand liang.
She only had one thousand five hundred liang in her pocket. Making her pay out of pocket before even starting work—Heh, even if it was the female protagonist—
Sorry, I’m a coward. Facing this great god of slaughter22, the female protagonist, I’m willing to pay out of pocket, I’m happy to pay out of pocket, I’m very happy to pay out of pocket!
Su Yi gritted her teeth, ignoring the blood flowing from her heart, and said to Ji Qingchi, “This commoner misspoke just now, may Your Ninth Highness not mind. There’s no need—”
“How much money?”
“Ah?” The words Su Yi had prepared got stuck in her throat, interrupted by Ji Qingchi.
“Is two thousand liang enough?”
Before Su Yi could reply, Ji Qingchi had already ordered people to bring two chests of silver. She looked coldly at Su Yi, “This Palace knows that making clothes for soldiers is not easy. Our dynasty has never been stingy with military expenses. Take this money as a deposit. Miss Su, do you think it’s enough?”
Staring at the shining white23, dazzling silver, Su Yi blinked. She hadn’t expected that although the female protagonist was tyrannical, she was quite generous.
She quickly nodded, “Enough, enough.”
Ji Qingchi nodded and called to her subordinates, “Take this and exchange it for silver notes24.”
Su Yi watched eagerly as the silver was carried away, like her beloved toy being taken from her.
Seeing her money-grubbing look, Ji Qingchi said coolly, “Miss Su, rest assured, this deposit won’t fly away. But two thousand liang is too conspicuous and heavy. It wouldn’t be convenient for Miss Su to carry it.”
Huh? Why does it feel like the female protagonist is actually quite considerate?
Su Yi quickly lowered her head, “This commoner thanks Your Highness.”
Ji Qingchi suddenly stared at her and said coldly, “There are two Highnesses here. Which one are you thanking?”
Su Yi was terrified by her posture and tone, quickly trying to cover herself, “Naturally, Your Ninth Highness.”
Only then did Ji Qingchi’s expression improve the tiniest bit. However, seeing the clothes on the table, her expression soured again.
The female protagonist was truly terrifying, so capricious25. Su Yi feared that if she stayed here any longer, she would be scared into having a heart attack.
So, after receiving the silver notes and settling the completion date with Ji Qingchi, she quickly slipped away.
Su Yi’s thin figure disappeared behind the rockery. Ji Qingyun smiled, “Who knew Miss Su possessed such talent? She can compose poetry and couplets, knows how to sew clothes and do business, and also has looks that could topple nations—what a pity. If Miss Su were a man, I would have married her.”
Ji Qingchi popped two grapes into her mouth, chewed hard, chewed forcefully, chewed until they were ground to powder and torn apart by five horses26, torn apart by five horses and ground to powder.
“Ah, these clothes are quite good-looking.” Ji Qingyun didn’t get a reply but didn’t mind. Ninth Younger Sister was usually very quiet; trying to deliberately tease her often got no reaction, it wasn’t the first time.
She picked up the garment, draped it over herself, spun around, and smiled, “Not bad, very suitable for hunting when worn, especially this waist…”
Ji Qingchi suddenly stood up, “Second Imperial Sister, I just remembered I have some matters to attend to at my residence. I’ll head back first.”
“Ah, alright.” Her Ninth Younger Sister always had things to do; Ji Qingyun was used to it. “These grapes are delicious, right? I’ll have someone send some over to you later.”
Ji Qingchi said coolly, “No need, they’re very sour.”
After saying this, she quickly walked away.
“Sour?” Ji Qingyun suspiciously picked one up, put it in her mouth, and chewed carefully a couple of times. “That’s not right, they’re sweet.”
Is there something wrong with Ninth Younger Sister’s sense of taste?
Footnotes
- 卖力 | màilì | Lit. “sell strength”; To exert all one’s strength; to work energetically.
- ≈ 112.5 grams of silver.
- 松了口气 | sōng le kǒuqì | Lit. “loosened a breath”; To feel relieved.
- 琵琶 | pípá | A four-stringed Chinese lute.
- 2 to 4 hours
- 心胸旷达 | xīnxiōng kuàngdá | Lit. “heart-chest broad-reaching”; Broad-minded, open-minded, magnanimous.
- 敷衍了事 | fūyǎn liǎoshì | To do something perfunctorily; to gloss over things; to make do.
- 硬着头皮 | yìng zhe tóupí | Lit. “harden the scalp”; To force oneself to do something unpleasant or difficult; to bite the bullet; brace oneself.
- 民女 | mínnǚ | Lit. “commoner woman”; A humble form of self-address used by a non-noble woman when speaking to royalty or high officials.
- 包袱皮 | bāofupi | A square piece of cloth used for wrapping and carrying items; a bundle wrapper.
- 尚衣局 | Shàngyī Jú | An official department historically responsible for making clothes for the imperial family and court.
- 小女子 | xiǎo nǚzǐ | Lit. “small woman/girl”; A humble form of self-address for a woman, similar to 民女 (mínnǚ) but perhaps slightly less formal or emphasizing youth/lower status.
- 举手之劳 | jǔ shǒu zhī láo | Lit. “the labor of lifting a hand”; A task requiring minimal effort; a small favor.
- 君女不夺人所好 | jūn nǚ bù duó rén suǒ hào | Lit. “noble woman not seize people’s cherished things”; Adapted from the saying 君子不夺人所好 (jūnzǐ bù duó rén suǒ hào – a gentleman does not take…).
- 大活人 | dà huó rén | Lit. “big living person”; Emphasizes that someone is a real, present, living human being, often used when feeling ignored or overlooked.
- 吃瘪 | chībiě | Lit. “eat shriveled/deflated”; To suffer a setback, be snubbed, be put in an awkward position, or look embarrassed/deflated.
- 一尽地主之谊 | yī jìn dìzhǔ zhī yì | Lit. “fully exhaust host’s friendship/duty”; To do everything expected of a good host; to show full hospitality.
- 头皮发麻 | tóupí fāmá | Lit. “scalp goes numb/tingles”; A physical sensation often associated with fear, shock, disgust, or extreme awkwardness.
- 万无一失 | wàn wú yī shī | Lit. “ten thousand no one loss/mistake”; Absolutely safe; foolproof; leaving no chance for error.
- 小脑袋瓜 | xiǎo nǎodaiguā | Lit. “small head-melon”; An affectionate or slightly condescending term for someone’s head or mind, often implying cleverness or ingenuity in a small/young person.
- 苦瓜相 | kǔguā xiàng | Lit. “bitter melon appearance/face”; A facial expression showing distress, bitterness, or worry.
- 大杀神 | dà shāshén | Lit. “great kill god”.
- 白花花 | báihuāhuā | Describes something dazzlingly white or silvery, often used for large amounts of silver or snow.
- 银票 | yínpiào | Banknotes exchangeable for silver; paper money used in historical China.
- 反复无常 | fǎnfù wúcháng | Lit. “repeat back-and-forth no constancy”; Changeable; capricious; unpredictable; moody.
- 粉身碎骨 | fěn shēn suì gǔ | Lit. “powder body shatter bones”; To be utterly destroyed; to sacrifice oneself completely. Here used metaphorically for intense chewing/anger. 五马分尸 | wǔ mǎ fēn shī | Lit. “five horses divide corpse”; An ancient form of execution by dismemberment. Used here metaphorically alongside the first idiom to express extreme, violent anger/frustration through the action of chewing.
This is so hilarious, How come I didn’t read this much earlier!