Lu Xunguang's gaze swept across the group of weavers and said in a deep voice, "You just focus on mending whole - heartedly. The kesi embroidery should be as delicate and elaborate as possible. Don't worry about whether the difference can be spotted at a glance."
Then he looked at the thin roll of peacock gold thread and instructed, "There may be a shortage of spinners. You don't need to worry. I'll immediately order the steward to search for skillful weavers in the capital to come and help."
Since Lu Xunguang had said so, although the weavers were puzzled, they didn't dare to say much. They just nodded obediently and each got down to work with all their might.
It was Li Ying who followed Lu Xunguang out of the courtyard gate. She said softly, "My lord Lu, if I'm not mistaken, that Commissioner Cao must have arranged spies to keep a close eye on us at this moment. If the Lu family recruits a large number of female workers at this juncture, I'm afraid..."
Lu Xunguang showed an understanding look and just looked at her with a smile but said nothing.
Li Ying was sharp - eyed. She clapped her hands and said, "Could it be..."
She was worried about eavesdroppers and didn't speak out directly. But the two of them were so in tune that just by exchanging a glance, they immediately understood what the other was thinking.
Just as Li Ying had expected, the news that the Lu family was recruiting textile workers soon reached Commissioner Cao's mansion.
At that time, he was reclining smugly on an eight - immortals chair, sipping tea. When he heard the servant's report, he didn't even lift his eyelids.
"Humph, trying to compete with me? That young Lu fellow is still a bit lacking in experience!"
Madam Cao, sitting beside him, also sneered contemptuously.
"That Lu Xunguang is just a greenhorn. I thought he had some insight, but it turns out he's just short - sighted! Our Peacock Gold Robe is such a rare treasure. How could he mend it just as he pleases?"
"Now he refuses to ally with our Jiangnan Textile Bureau. He's delusional if he thinks he can just find a few idle weavers to mend the robe and get away with it!"
The two of them were so self - satisfied that they didn't take Lu Xunguang seriously at all.
To be on the safe side, Commissioner Cao still ordered his servants to send a few trustworthy and capable servants to sneak into the Lu family while Lu Xunguang was in a desperate hurry.
Firstly, to ensure that the plan of "damaging the Peacock Gold Robe" would go smoothly without any problems. Secondly, perhaps they could also learn some of the Lu family's unique skills. If anyone managed to learn the method of making "Xiangyun Silk", they would be handsomely rewarded.
Within half a day, several people from the Textile Bureau managed to sneak into the Lu family without any trouble.
Li Ying and Lu Xunguang pretended not to notice at all. Those people were quite happy about it. They behaved themselves carefully and observed secretly.
At the Lu mansion, the weavers had already divided the newly recruited female workers into groups. According to the "assembly - line operation" method taught by Li Ying, they assigned them to different processes of reeling silk, spinning, and kesi embroidery.
The people from the Textile Bureau were assigned to the spinning process. Twisting the peacock gold thread made their fingers so numb that they felt like they didn't belong to them anymore.
They had never heard that the "Peacock Gold Robe" that Commissioner Cao was going to present was so complicated to make!
The several people were very puzzled but didn't dare to show it. They also couldn't afford to cut corners. So they just sat there obediently, spinning the thread and secretly complaining.
Li Ying came to check on their progress from time to time. Seeing that these people sent by Commissioner Cao were indeed very skilled at weaving and spinning, with their help, the peacock gold thread was gradually taking shape. She found it quite amusing.
They should actually be thanked for helping to mend the kesi Peacock Gold Robe successfully.
The weavers worked until the fifth watch. Finally, they managed to mend the Peacock Gold Robe. From a distance, there was no sign of anything amiss. But if you held it in your hands and examined it carefully, it was not difficult to notice the difference.
At the mended part of the kesi embroidery, the patterns seemed to be printed on the brocade, looking so natural. Compared with nailing peacock feathers or making embroidery patterns, they were much more delicate in shape and more gentle and vivid in color. Even a layman in weaving could tell the difference at a glance.
The weavers at the Lu mansion were puzzled. At first, they were quite shocked by the fabric they had woven with their own hands. Then, their faces were clouded with worry.
Such an obvious difference! How could they get away with it! Would the master and the mistress of the mansion end up in prison?
They looked troubled. The spies sent by Commissioner Cao were also in a difficult situation.
They had been spinning the peacock gold thread for a whole day. If they were a bit distracted, the thread would get all tangled up. They didn't even see how Li Ying had mended the robe at all. They had just worked hard for someone else for a whole day for nothing!
They had thought that Li Ying and Lu Xunguang were just bluffing. The skilled craftsmen of the Jiangning Textile Bureau all had skills passed down from generation to generation. How could these two young upstarts compete with them?
But now when they got closer, they were shocked to find that Li Ying's mending skills were much more advanced than those of the embroiderers from the Jiangnan Textile Bureau!
The several people looked at each other, not knowing what to do.
Li Ying could tell that they had ulterior motives, but she just smiled sweetly.
"Thanks to all of you for your hard work today. We were able to finish the work on schedule. It's getting late. You can all go back and rest first. As for the reward, don't worry. The Lu mansion will never treat you unfairly!"
She told everyone to disperse. Ignoring the fact that those cronies of Commissioner Cao were dawdling and reluctant to leave, she put the mended Peacock Gold Robe back into the box, locked it, and left on her own.
The tree shadows were swaying in the corner, obviously indicating that there were people hiding in the dark. She pretended not to notice at all and left yawning.
Sure enough, not long after Li Ying left, those weavers came back. They got together and whispered.
"This matter is of great importance. It's beyond our control. In my opinion, the best thing to do now is to steal the Peacock Gold Robe and present it to the commissioner for him to decide!"
One person spoke first, and the rest of them immediately agreed. They quietly pushed open the window that had been left ajar in advance, jumped in, and furtively carried the box containing the Peacock Gold Robe. Taking advantage of the cover of the night, they rushed to Commissioner Cao's mansion in a hurry.
Although Commissioner Cao didn't take Lu Xunguang seriously, this matter was related to the Queen Mother's birthday gift, so he couldn't afford to be careless and hadn't been able to sleep either.
He and Madam Cao were pacing anxiously in the mansion. When they heard the servant's report that there was news from the Lu mansion, he quickly put on his robe and went to greet them.
After listening to the brief report from those people about what they had seen at the Lu family, Commissioner Cao personally took the brass key and opened the big lock on the box. The Peacock Gold Robe was lying quietly inside, shining with colorful light.
He couldn't wait any longer. He quickly found the place where it had been burned before. Just one look at the Lu family's mending made his expression freeze on his face, as if he had been hit by the heavy snow in the coldest winter.
"This... this..."
What kind of mending method was this!
He had been in charge of the Jiangnan Textile Bureau for half his life and had been exposed to all kinds of exquisite silk fabrics since childhood. He prided himself on having seen all the most wonderful silks in the world. But at this moment, he couldn't even tell what kind of weaving method this was!