Chapter 82: Sewing Clothes

Chapter 82: Sewing Clothes

In the second year of Jianzhao, the middle spring season was not as hectic as the first year. Therefore, the Ministry of Rites proposed that the Emperor and Empress perform the First Plowing Ceremony and the Sericulture Ritual in the suburbs of the capital to set an example for all the people, personally engaging in farming and rewarding agriculture and sericulture.

The Emperor approved the proposal.

The First Plowing Ceremony was a matter for the Emperor and senior officials, unrelated to the consorts. However, the Sericulture Ritual, presided over by the Empress, required the participation of all the consorts.

Before the Sericulture Ritual, the Empress and the consorts must fast for three days. On the day of the ritual, they would wear ceremonial robes, worship the silkworm deity, and then, holding baskets and hooks, sing songs of sericulture, pick mulberry leaves, and feed the spring silkworms. After the silkworms spun cocoons, they would personally reel the silk, dye it, and embroider ceremonial robes.

Although Jiang Hui and Consort Xu, both pregnant, were exempt from traveling to the suburbs, they still couldn’t avoid performing the silkworm ritual at their respective palaces.

That day, as Jiang Hui took the anti-miscarriage medicine prescribed by Liu Taiyi, the Imperial Garment Bureau sent someone to take her measurements for the ceremonial gown she would wear for the silkworm ritual.

Wan Song indicated to Shen Gugu from the embroidery room to wait in the flower hall, then turned into the warm pavilion. After Jiang Hui finished her medicinal soup and rinsed her mouth, she softly told Wan Song, "Please invite Shen Gugu into the warm pavilion."

Jiang Hui nodded, instructing Shan Zha to open the windows to air out the scent, and softly said to Wan Song, "Ask Shen Gugu to come here."

Although it was already mid-February and the weather was not as freezing as in winter, measuring for clothes meant removing outer garments, so the warm pavilion was naturally cozier.

"Yes," replied Wan Song, and soon she brought Shen Gugu into the warm pavilion.

Dressed in a dark cyan gown, Shen Gugu greeted respectfully and said, "I apologize for the disturbance, Noble Consort."

The embroidery room had Jiang Hui’s measurements, but palace rules dictated that they be updated every two months to ensure perfectly fitting and comfortable attire for all the palace ladies.

The ceremonial robe for the silkworm ritual was special, worn only by the Empress and consorts above the rank of nine concubines, so the embroidery room's actions were entirely normal.

Jiang Hui signaled her to proceed without formalities. She stood up, assisted by Qiu Wei and Wan Song, removing the thick silk jacket she wore outside, allowing Shen Gugu to measure her with a wooden ruler.

Jiang Hui was barely two months pregnant and not yet showing, her figure as slender as ever.

Shen Gugu’s hands moved quickly and skillfully, silently completing the measurements, then stowing the ruler in her sleeve and stepping back to say, "Noble Consort, the embroidery room will deliver both the ceremonial robe and the April dresses to you before the 28th of February."

The 28th of February was just in time for the silkworm ritual on the third day of March, the Shangsi Festival.

Wan Song waited with the jacket, and once Shen Gugu finished, she immediately helped Jiang Hui redress.

After tying the last ribbon, Jiang Hui hummed in acknowledgment and asked Shen Gugu, "Have you started on April’s clothing yet?"

Since the embroidery room hadn’t yet asked her to choose designs, April's clothing hadn’t been cut. Jiang Hui's inquiry prompted Shen Gugu to give a thoughtful response.

Aware of the Noble Consort's pregnancy and that she would be noticeably pregnant by April, Shen Gugu respectfully said, "Noble Consort, we haven't started on April’s clothing yet. Since you are with child, I plan to measure you again in mid-March, allowing a few extra inches and choosing softer, more breathable fabrics."

Surprisingly, Jiang Hui declined, "No need."

Shen Gugu, puzzled and uneasy, looked up at Jiang Hui.

Jiang Hui smiled slightly, "The embroidery room should still have my measurements from when I was pregnant with the eldest imperial son. Use those measurements for the April clothing; there's no need to come to Yao Hua Palace again."

"Yes," Shen Gugu responded, although confused, she respectfully acknowledged the instruction.

After all matters were concluded, Jiang Hui picked up her celadon lotus-patterned teacup and gestured to Wan Song to see the guests out.

Qiu Wei whispered, “My lady, about you mentioning not needing measurements for April’s dress, if the Empress learns of this from Shen Gugu, might she think you’re setting a trap, pretending to have a false pregnancy when you are actually pregnant?”

“Intentionally?” Jiang Hui smiled lightly. “With the Empress's caution, she’s likely to overthink it.”

The next day, Qing Feng reported that the Empress had indeed summoned the head ladies of the Embroidery Room to the Fengyi Palace, seemingly to inquire about the ceremonial robe.

At that time, Jiang Hui was playing with Nian'er, assembling a Luban lock. Hearing the report, she smiled, “It’s normal for the Empress to be concerned about the first Silkworm and Farming rituals since His Majesty's ascension.”

Nian'er, holding a wooden block, glanced at Qing Feng, then returned to fiddling with the interlocked pieces of the puzzle – quite a challenge for a one-year-old.

He didn’t cry or fuss over not understanding or being able to play with the toy, quietly sitting on the velvet carpet, intrigued by this novel plaything.

Suddenly, not sure how, Nian'er managed to remove one piece of the puzzle. He tried to fit it back, but couldn’t figure it out, and softly called, “Mother!”

Jiang Hui laughed gently and tenderly said, “Nian'er, put it back yourself; Mother doesn't know how, I’m waiting for Nian'er to teach me!”

“Mother, can!” Nian'er, tilting his head to look at Jiang Hui, elicited another burst of laughter from her.

But she just laughed, without offering to help. Nian'er resumed his task, holding the Luban lock and continuing his attempts.

Meanwhile, in Fengyi Palace, Qiu Yue led the Embroidery Room staff out of Mingluan Hall. The Empress returned to her warm pavilion, reclining on her couch while Xia Chan massaged her legs.

Chun Yan removed the large phoenix hairpin from the Empress’s hairdo, softly remarking, “My lady, Noble Consort Jiang's reluctance to have her measurements taken after showing signs of pregnancy surely means this child is not real.”

The Empress frowned, "Shen Gugu hadn't even mentioned April's garments, yet the Noble Consort brought it up herself. There's something odd about this... With her character, she wouldn't reveal such an obvious flaw."

"My lady, perhaps the Noble Consort is aware of your meticulous thinking and is deliberately acting contrary to it," Chun Yan speculated after a moment, "She knows you would suspect her because of this, so she intentionally mentioned April's dress first, trying to make you believe she's truly pregnant when she's not!"

The Empress nodded, "That does make sense."

Xia Chan then quietly added, "My lady, as far as Noble Consort Jiang is concerned, she doesn't yet know you're doubting the reality of her pregnancy, so her words to Shen Gugu weren't intended for your ears."

"You mean..." the Empress's eyebrows slightly raised, "she simply doesn't want the Embroidery Room staff to take her measurements closely?"

Xia Chan bowed her head, "That’s what I believe."

Both trusted maids believed the Noble Consort's pregnancy was a sham. The Empress stood up and walked slowly around the warm pavilion, murmuring, "If it's a false pregnancy, the 'miscarriage' should happen within these one or two months."

After a moment, she stopped and instructed, "Chun Yan, go to the Imperial Medical Bureau and ask Physician Qiu to come here."