A Maid's Survival Story in a Noble Family Mansion? Rich Landlords Are More Appealing.

These words were well-organized and every sentence hit the nail on the head.

Working in isolation is definitely not a solution. Kyoto is thousands of miles away, and everyone's tastes are bound to be different.

She doesn't even know what embroidery patterns or pastries are popular outside these days, so daydreaming in her room is really useless.

Amber nodded without further hesitation and said, "Sister is right. I was being stubborn. Let's go out and take a look."

"That's right." Chen Wanxing's face showed a satisfied expression. "Change into some comfortable clothes, and we'll be going now."

The two left Baishi Lane and turned onto the wider main street, where the number of pedestrians suddenly increased. The sounds of hawking, laughter, and carriages mingled together, rushing towards them.

Amber paused. Unlike Chen Wanxing, she had entered the manor early and had been living there since she could remember.

They usually lived in the inner quarters and rarely had the opportunity to go out. Even when they did go out, they usually traveled by carriage with their master.

Moreover, even at the most lively banquets in the Marquis's residence, there were rules and order, and people had to maintain a proper distance from each other.

Suddenly swept into this chaotic, shoulder-to-shoulder crowd, she felt a strange and disorienting sense of congestion.

Amber instinctively straightened her back, a posture honed through years of training. Her brows furrowed slightly as she tried to avoid contact with others.

Chen Wanxing observed her reaction but did not point it out. She firmly believed that no one was born willing to be locked in a small courtyard, guarding that small patch of disciplined sky.

Amber's current discomfort precisely illustrates how deeply those invisible shackles have been imprinted on her. And now, what they need to do is to personally break those shackles, bit by bit.

At first, Amber looked at the stalls lined up one after another on the street and was a little lost, not knowing where to start. But soon she was attracted by a shop surrounded by people, and bursts of laughter could be heard from inside.

Amber walked over involuntarily, and saw that it was a stall selling glass trumpets.

The little trinket was crystal clear, reflecting colorful light in the sunlight. The vendor imitated a turtle retracting its neck, stretching its neck as it walked, while simultaneously using a loudspeaker to mimic the muffled mooing of an old cow: "Moo—Moo—".

This creature, which resembled neither a cow nor a turtle, immediately drew laughter from those around it.

Seeing that the desired effect had been achieved, he immediately straightened up, brought the trumpet to his mouth, widened his eyes as if using all his strength, and blew out a series of crisp and rapid toading sounds, while his feet stomped to the beat of the gongs and drums, and he swayed around twice.

Amber stared intently, amused by the vendor's comical antics, and joined the crowd in the laughter.

On one side, a vendor was performing acrobatics to attract customers, while on the other side, a scholar was painting on the spot, using water instead of ink and the ground as paper. With a stroke of his brush, he sketched distant mountains and nearby waters in an instant, drawing cheers from the onlookers.

This casual display of talent on the street was completely different from the proper and refined literary tastes of the Marquis's mansion, which made her feel quite novel.

Her brow had already relaxed, and the discomfort and helplessness in her eyes had faded away, replaced by a curiosity and exploration as she looked at the world anew.

After lingering among various stalls for about half an hour, the two stopped in front of a sugar figurine shop, each holding a sugar figurine that the master craftsman had just made.

A sugar figurine with an intricate design only cost three coins, which wasn't expensive, so Amber accepted it. They had been browsing for so long, but apart from the sugar figurine in their hand, they hadn't bought anything else.

"Sister, we've seen enough of these trinkets. Let's go take a look at the embroidery shop and the fabric store."

"Yes, that's exactly right." Chen Wanxing readily agreed.

"I heard from our neighbor, Madam Zheng, that there are three famous embroidery shops in Kaifeng. Coincidentally, Jinhua Pavilion, which is located in the south of the city, is nearby. Let's go there directly."

After making up their minds, the two did not linger at the street vendors any longer and headed towards Jinhua Pavilion.

As you walk to the middle of the Imperial Street, before you even reach the shop entrance, you can smell a faint, subtle fragrance of orchids.

Looking up, there was a two-story building. There was no hustle and bustle of ordinary shops in front of it, only a few elegantly decorated carriages parked quietly.

A well-dressed middle-aged maid was walking out of the door, followed by a young maid carrying a brocade box. The two were talking in hushed tones about which piece of brocade was more to the mistress's liking.

Walking inside, the entire store is paved with blue bricks, the walls are painted white, the furnishings are elegant, and it is extremely spacious.

Upon entering the store, the most eye-catching feature is the rosewood shelf standing against the wall on the right. Instead of displaying antiques, it displays a row of colorful silk threads, arranged in order from light to dark, which gleam with a lustrous sheen under the soft light.

Looking to the left, there is a wall of fabrics. Huge nanmu wood frames reach all the way to the roof, with various fabrics hanging from them in different categories.

From ordinary cotton cloth to luxurious silks and satins, even furs were available.

A neatly dressed waiter was holding a boxwood ruler, measuring a piece of sky-blue kesi (silk tapestry) for a customer. The ruler landed lightly on the satin, almost without making a sound.

The main hall was separated by a huge double-sided embroidered screen depicting "Pine and Crane Longevity". Through the semi-transparent silk gauze of the screen, one could see shadowy figures behind it and faint whispers could be heard.

Turning your gaze further to the right, the furnishings there are even more exquisite. At the innermost part, against the wall, hang two jackets, one embroidered with a picture of a hundred children playing in spring, and the other embroidered with a dragon and phoenix symbolizing good fortune.

The remaining two walls are lined with two rows of antique display shelves arranged in a staggered manner, covered with black velvet and displaying small items such as round fans, purses, and fan covers.

"Wow, this design is amazing! It looks both exquisite and luxurious." Chen Wanxing whistled silently in her heart.

Upon seeing the two enter, a neatly dressed woman of about twenty years old greeted them with a smile.

"Greetings to both young ladies," she said gently, her gaze kind yet measured. "You look unfamiliar; is this your first time here? Are you here today to select some fabrics or to look at some embroidery?"

The two did not state their purpose. "We didn't have anything in particular we wanted to buy. We were just outside and saw how impressive your store was, so we were curious and decided to come in and have a look around."

"I see, young lady, please don't say that."

Hearing this, she didn't show any disappointment on her face. She simply stepped aside to make way and gestured for him to proceed.

"We welcome all guests with open arms. Even if you're just browsing, it's an honor for Jinhua Pavilion. Please feel free to look around. If you have any questions or want to know anything, just let me know."

The two strolled slowly on the first floor, their eyes sweeping over the embroidered items one by one.