Chapter 158: Tragedy Of Noble Families
” Haha, Young Master Shen, Please drink more.”
” Sure, Elder Niu.”
Shen Ming and Niu Chao drank happily. ” We have to admit that the Luo Family really helped us a lot.”
” Indeed, It’s all thanks to Third Prince Li Yuan favoring Lian Luoqiu. They received an imperial decree to sell special yellow and black dyed silk to the imperial family.”
” Indeed, Their new dye is getting popular. And even the imperial family wants it.”
Making new color dyes and patterns is absolutely vital for textile industries. After all, people wouldn’t like to wear the same things forever.
There are also nobles, who wish to wear something that would show off their class. They don’t want to look the same as all these working peasants below.
If the commoners and nobles wore the same things, it would cause anger among the noble communities.
The process of making dyes is also pretty troublesome. They have to invite some scholars with knowledge of various ores and herbs to test the materials.
Then the new color dye is sampled on a piece of cloth, to see how the color looks on the clothes. Then, the color fading after washing is also tested.
There are various herbs that are great dyes. However, the juices of those herbs could cause skin injuries. Only a scholar alchemist from the high ranking institute would be able to see the process and effects of all the combinations of materials.
Therefore, those with spiritual qi and alchemist professions are rare and usually venerated.
” Tsk, It’s purely because the Lian Family got lucky this time.” Shem Ming mumbled. ” Now, they will pressure the remaining two families in the Silkward Chamber, increasing their influence.”
” However, All in all, With this, we will finally be able to stomp down the Cai Family.”
” Hmph, They dare to humiliate my Niu Family.” Niu Chao snorted as he placed the cup on the table angrily. ” They broke the engagement with our family.”
” Heh, You are talking like Cai Yixue was going to marry your son.” Shen Ming chuckled. ” Didn’t Prince Li Yuan showed interest in her?”
” Well, That’s…Another matter.” Niu Chao’s face flushed as he didn’t reveal much.
He indeed thought of using Cai Yixue as a bargaining chip to deal with Prince Li Yuan.
Even though she is a beauty, she couldn’t be worth more than the support of a prince.
” But why should we worry?” Shen Ming laughed. ” The prince already planned to wipe out the Cai Family. All we need to do is to sap their military and financial strength.”
” Indeed, Nephew Shen spoke the truth.” Niu Chao laughed. ” This cup is for the destruction of Cai Family.”
” For the destruction of the Cai Family.”
As they were about to clink their cups, a servant rushed inside.
” My Lord! My Lord! This…This a terrible news!”
” These dumbwits.” Niu Chao was half drunk as he snorted, glaring at his servant. ” What is the news? Can’t you see I am with a guest right now?”
” Hehe, I also want to hear what is it.” Shen Ming chuckled,
” My-My Lord! The warehouse…The warehouse is on fire.”
” Yeah, So what…”
Niu Chao snorted before he froze in the mid sentence. Shen Ming’s expression also froze when he heard that.
” Wh-What did you say?”
” THE SILK WAREHOUSE IS ON FIRE!”
Shen Ming and Niu Chao’s bodies turned cold as the realization kicked in. The intoxication of alcohol vanished instantly as Niu Chao rushed and held the collar of that servant.
” Motherfucker! Do you understand what you are saying?” Niu Chao’s eyes were red as he snarled.
” Y-Yes My Lord. I am telling…the truth.”
” Fuck! FUCK!!”
Shen Ming and Niu Chao took the horses and rushed to their warehouse. Niu Chao’s heart sank as he could see a pillar of flame from afar.
” MOTHERFUCKERS! CAN’T THEY EXTIGUISH THE FLAMES?”
Shen Ming and Niu Chao cursed as they finally reached the burning warehouse.
The orange flames were burning high, like a sea of flames engulfing the entire warehouse, However, he also saw the patches of green flames, burning with an eerie aura.
Niu Chao almost fainted when he saw the scene.
“MY LORD!”
His servants held the swaying body of Niu Chao. Meanwhile, Shen Ming kicked the workers who were kowtowing before the green flames.
” Motherfuckers! What are you doing? WATER DOWN THE FIRE!”
” Young master, We are trying!”
” But these are ghost flames! They are not snuffing out with water!”
Shen Ming was going to kick them again. However, he saw a servant rushing with a bucket of water.
The water splashd over the green flames. But the flames didn’t extinguish at all, burning with the same eerie green color.
‘ Wh-What sort of sorcery is this?” Shen Ming was aghast. He heard people calling it ghost flames and curses. And now, he also started to believe it somewhat.
‘ Is it some demon or monster? Or some spiritual master took action?’
‘ No, If they take action, it will certainly cause a commotion. It must be a demon! A demon in Nanhai City?!’
” No…NONONONO!”
Niu Chao wailed as he clutched his hair. ” Someone! Someone extinguish the flames!”
” No! My money! My silk! My goods!”
Shen Ming also trembled as his face was completely pale. He tried his best to control his body, or else he might cough a mouthful of blood.
Niu Family pushed all their money into this gamble as they purchased the silk with the Shen Family and Silkward Chambers.
Not to mention, the cost of labor and warehouse, the cost of extra labor, and the laborers working overtime, Niu Family was paying for everything.
And now, along with the goods, the money also burning before him.
Niu Chao could not help but cough a mouthful of blood before fainting.
” My Lord!”
Meanwhile…
Lian Luoqiu sat in her room, playing the guqin elegantly. ‘ Next time, I will play this tune. I will make Li Yuan attracted to me, but I won’t give in.’
‘ Hey, fiddling with men, they are worth of that anyway.’
However her tune became disarray as her maid opened the door in panic.
” Young Miss! Something bad happened!”
” What is it?”
” Niu Family’s warehouse caught fire!”
Lian Luoqiu’s expression changed when she heard that. ” What!? Is it true?”
” Yes, Young Miss!”
” What’s about the goods!” Lian Luoqiu hurriedly asked. ” The batch of silk we had…”
” Everything, Everything was transported to the Niu Family’s warehouse this afternoon.” The maid spoke in a bitter voice.
*STRING!*
Lian Luoqiu winced in pain as she looked at her finger. Her finger was bleeding, cut by the guqin wires.
” How…How is this possible…”
Lian Luoqiu’s lips trembled and her eyes were like breathing fire.
” HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE!”
She threw the guqin to the floor, breaking it entirely.
