The number one sycophant of the Ming Dynasty

Where can I find some clothes to change into? Fayuan Temple is in the suburbs, about ten miles from the city. Where can I find clothes?

She didn't bring any change of clothes in her carriage. Who would bring a change of clothes when going out to burn incense?

Sun Yue clutched the handkerchief in her hand, her knuckles turning white.

She understood Li Wanqing's meaning all too well.

Sending her back to her meditation room is tantamount to asking her to withdraw from today's poetry gathering.

After everyone had finished enjoying the snow, reciting poems, and returning home in high spirits, she stayed alone in the meditation room, returning home looking disheveled.

Tomorrow, the whole capital will be buzzing with the news that Miss Sun was splashed with tea at a poetry gathering and is in a terrible state, without even a change of clothes.

She gritted her teeth, her chest tight with pressure, but she couldn't utter a single word.

Cui'er stood to the side, almost in tears, "Miss..."

Just then, a voice came from the doorway, neither too loud nor too soft, steady and clear.

"Miss, I have prepared a change of clothes."

Everyone turned their heads away.

Chen Han stood at the entrance of the pavilion, covered with a thin layer of snow.

He had been standing outside for a while, holding a bundle in his hand, his expression normal, his tone calm, as if he were talking about something very ordinary.

He didn't look at Li Wanqing, but Li Wanqing's expression changed in an instant.

Sun Yue suddenly raised her head, looked at the bundle, and her eyes lit up instantly.

Cui'er was the first to react and ran over to take the bundle.

Upon opening it, I found a moon-white brocade jacket with a subtle floral pattern and a matching horse-face skirt neatly folded inside.

The collar of the jacket was embroidered with a few pale ink orchids, simple and elegant, clearly the most popular style in the capital at the time.

The skirt has fine pleats, is made of high-quality material, and has dense stitches.

Cui'er unfolded her clothes, and everyone's eyes lit up.

"This is... moon-white?" Miss Wang leaned closer to examine it. "Such exquisite embroidery!"

"This fabric is so nice, it must be Hangzhou silk, right?" Miss Zhao touched it. "Sister Sun, this color really suits you!"

Li Wanqing stood to the side, her smile freezing on her face.

She stared at the moon-white jacket, her fingers unconsciously clenching the handkerchief.

She had expected Sun Yue to make a humiliating exit, but instead, she was greeted with an even more presentable outfit than before.

Sun Yue remained silent.

She glanced at Chen Han.

The young man stood at the door, his head slightly bowed, not looking at her or anyone else, as if he had done something insignificant.

She suddenly felt a tightness in her throat.

Cui'er helped her into the meditation room and helped her change her clothes.

The moon-white jacket fit her perfectly, the length and width just right, as if it were made especially for her.

The length of the skirt was just right, neither dragging on the ground nor revealing the instep. The hem swayed slightly as she walked, creating a graceful and charming look.

Sun Yue stood in front of the bronze mirror, staring at her reflection, and was stunned.

The moon-white color accentuated her fair skin, and the dark brocade satin shimmered softly in the candlelight, while the orchids on her neckline were elegant and refined.

Although she wasn't a stunning beauty, this dress made her look elegant and refined, and even she couldn't help but glance at it a few more times.

"Miss, you look so beautiful!" Cui'er couldn't help but exclaim.

Sun Yue didn't speak. She raised her hand and gently touched the orchid on her collar.

The stitches are fine and the flower pattern is elegant; it wasn't bought casually, but rather with care.

This garment doesn't seem like an emergency backup; it seems more like it was made specifically for her.

She suddenly remembered that Cui'er seemed to have told her that Supervisor Chen asked her what colors she liked and what colors she disliked.

She didn't pay attention at the time and casually said, "Moon white and lotus root color, I don't like bright red and green."

He bought the dress after hearing those words.

She looked down at her moon-white jacket and then remembered the pale yellow coat that had been splashed with dirt.

When the two garments are placed side by side, it's immediately obvious which one suits her better.

She took a deep breath, straightened her back, pushed open the door of the meditation room, and walked out.

……

Inside the pavilion, the noble ladies were still waiting.

When Sun Yue came out, everyone fell silent.

The moon-white jacket accentuated her flawless skin, and the dark-patterned satin shimmered softly in the snow.

Her gait was more composed than before, unhurried and steady, as if she were a completely different person.

Miss Wang was the first to speak: "Sister Sun, this dress is so beautiful! It's even more beautiful than the one we just had!"

Miss Zhao also chimed in, "This color really suits you. You should wear moon white from now on, not pale yellow."

The second young lady of the Zhou family circled around Sun Yue: "The embroidery is so exquisite, the orchids are embroidered just like the real thing. Sister Sun, where did your family get it? I'd like to buy one too."

Li Wanqing stood in the corner, her face ashen.

She went to great lengths to spill tea all over Sun Yue, hoping to embarrass her.

And what happened? Sun Yue changed into an even prettier dress, one that was more beautiful than the previous one, and more beautiful than anyone else's.

Her splashing of water not only failed to embarrass Sun Yue, but instead made her even more prominent.

She sat back down, picked up her teacup, and took a sip. The tea had gone cold and was even more astringent.

She slammed the teacup down on the table with a loud thud, which sounded particularly jarring in the quiet pavilion.

No one turned to look at her.

The poetry reading continued.

Li Wanqing wrote several more poems, still with ornate language and perfect parallelism.

After she finished reciting a poem, she waited, and only a few scattered echoes came from the audience.

In previous years, by this time, everyone would have already gathered around praising it.

Today, their eyes lingered on Sun Yue's moon-white jacket and on the casual conversation when Miss Wang asked, "Where did you buy the Ding kiln tea set?"

Li Wanqing put down her pen and stopped writing.

Sun Yue sat in the main seat, holding a teacup, and took a small sip.

Her movements were more composed than before, a faint smile on her face, and something she had never seen before hidden in her eyes.

That's not pride, that's confidence.

She knew that no matter what happened today, the person standing outside the door could protect her.

She has shoe covers for wet shoes, a silk scarf for a dirty skirt, a spare hand warmer for a cold hand warmer, and a change of clothes for spilled garments. She has nothing to fear, nothing to panic about.

She had never felt this way before.

……

The poetry gathering ended around noon.

The noble ladies boarded their respective carriages and headed into the city.

Sun Yue sat in the car, Cui'er sat next to the driver, and Chen Han continued walking in the snow.

After walking a short distance, Cui'er lifted the carriage curtain and peeked at him.

The snow on him was thicker, and his shoulders were covered in white, but his steps remained steady and unhurried.

She pulled back and whispered to Sun Yue in the car, "Miss, that Supervisor Chen is still following behind. In this heavy snow, he doesn't even have an umbrella."

There was a moment of silence in the car.

"Where's the umbrella?" Sun Yue suddenly asked.

"Huh?" Cui'er was taken aback.

"Take that blue cloth umbrella you have to him," Sun Yue said calmly. "Tell him not to wander outside, just stay by the car."

"With such heavy snow, if I catch a cold, my dad will say I'm not considerate of the people."

Cui'er paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Yes, this servant will go right away."

She jumped out of the car and handed the blue cloth umbrella to Chen Han: "Supervisor Chen, Miss said you shouldn't walk outside, just stay by the car. Here, take this umbrella, don't get cold."

Chen Han took the umbrella, opened it, and bowed slightly towards the carriage: "Thank you for your consideration, Miss."

There was no response from inside the car.

But Cui'er noticed that the carriage curtain moved slightly, as if someone had peeked out.

She laughed and jumped into the car, thinking to herself:

This Supervisor Chen is truly remarkable. Liu the Clerk and Zhao the Registrar have been doing this job for so many years, and not one of them has ever gotten the young lady to utter a single word of "consideration for those below."

……