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Chapter 13 Ten Colors Brocade

Three people and three horses set out from the ruined temple and headed towards the nearby Qingshui County.

The two places are not far apart, probably only takes the time of an incense stick. Along the way, you can see large areas of wasteland and some farmhouses that look particularly dilapidated because no one lives there.

"Where have all the farmers here gone? Why is there no one farming?" Zhu Yu was a little surprised. It was supposed to be early summer, a good time for crops to grow, but the surroundings looked very desolate.

"Many people have gone to the southern border." Lu Qing sat upright on his horse, looking around, and answered slowly, "The southern border of Jin State is adjacent to Lan State. Lan State is surrounded by water on three sides. In addition to producing white jade, it is best known for fishing and weaving. Nine out of ten of the world's famous silks and satins come from Lan State.

However, because they were not good at farming and mostly relied on water transportation, they had to buy the minerals, flowers and plants used to make dyes from the Jin State.

About two years ago, the Lan Kingdom presented a batch of brocade to the emperor, which was called Ten-Color Brocade. It was said that a special technique was used to make the color of the cloth change color as it moved, which was extremely gorgeous.

The emperor gave the brocade to Concubine Duan, the most favored concubine in the palace in recent years. Concubine Duan ordered the clothing store to make a floor-length skirt with eight panels of ten-colored brocade, and performed a dance for the emperor at the New Year's Day banquet.

The hem of her skirt was glittering and colorful, making Concubine Duan look like a lotus with flowers growing under her feet and a fairy from the sky, which greatly pleased the emperor.

After the news spread outside the palace, the noble ladies in the capital city flocked to it, and other wealthy families followed suit, to the point that even an inch of the ten-color brocade was worth a fortune.

As a result, merchants from Lan Kingdom came to Jin Kingdom and paid a large sum of money to buy the dye for dyeing ten-color brocade. Since there were few people growing the dye, the price was naturally high.

Lu Qing paused for a moment before continuing, "The imperial court levied a rice tax on grain-growing farmers, but since growing flowers and plants for dyeing was a relatively rare activity, there was no precedent for levying additional taxes. Consequently, many farmers, driven by profit, gave up growing grain and began cultivating flowers and plants for dyeing.

Unfortunately, the winter and spring temperatures in the capital were cold, and the dyes needed for the ten-color brocade could not grow. So some people simply went to the south to plant flowers and plants, or to mine ores, all of which were the raw materials needed for the ten-color brocade.

Later, although the imperial court began to impose taxes on flowers, plants, and minerals, it was still more profitable than growing crops.

What you see is in the capital area, which is relatively good. In the north of Jin State, there are many abandoned farmlands and farms like this."

Zhu Yu frowned as he heard this.

Although she had never seen people making profits by growing flowers and plants to make dyes, she was very familiar with growing mulberry trees instead.

But she didn't say anything.

Although they had been married for only a few days, Zhu Yu did not dare to say how well he knew Lu Qing, but he was certain that this man was definitely not the free and easy king who only knew the music of stringed instruments as the outside world had said.

So what he said to me today should not be just a casual remark.

Not long after, the three men arrived outside the gate of Qingshui County.

Different from the bleak scene seen on the road just now, at this moment, before the sun had risen very high, a lot of people had gathered at the gate of the county town. Most of them were pushing carts or carrying loads on their shoulders, queuing outside the gate, waiting to be inspected so that they could enter the city to sell goods.

Zhu Yu's gaze fell on a dark and thin man in front of him who looked like a hunter.

The hunter was wearing old clothes and carrying a long wooden stick on his shoulder. A string of hares hung on one end of the stick. The hares looked very fat and their fur was shiny.

Thinking of the wild beasts that the two people who burned incense and prayed to the gods mentioned the night before, Zhu Yu jumped off his horse, walked a few steps towards the hunter as if nothing had happened, and looked at the hares he was carrying with interest.

Fu Lu wanted to follow, but Lu Qing, who had already dismounted, tapped his waist with the folding fan in his hand, and he did not move.

The hunter felt someone approaching to look at his prey. He turned around and saw that the person was a fair-skinned young man with a handsome appearance. He looked like the one that could be supported by a wealthy family. He quickly said to Zhu Yu, "Young master, do you want to buy some rabbits to take back?

This rabbit is fat and tender. Buy it, peel it, roast it, or boil it. It tastes delicious and is very nutritious!" Zhu Yu smiled but said nothing. He just reached out and touched the rabbit's fur.

Seeing this, the hunter hurriedly said, "Young master, are you interested in rabbit fur? I caught these rabbits with traps. Not a single bit of their fur is damaged. You may not be able to buy such intact fur from others."

Even though it's just the beginning of summer, if you buy some now, peel off the skin, tan it, and make it into a cloak, the weather will be cooler soon, and it will be just right to wear!"

"I do want to buy a cloak," Zhu Yu nodded, "but... this rabbit's fur is soft and easy to fall everywhere, I don't like it very much.

Hey brave man, are you a hunter in this area?

How about I give you some deposit and you help me headhunt a leopard. I want a leopard fur coat.

Don't worry, as long as you can help me hunt a leopard, I will definitely give you money."

When the hunter heard this, his face turned even more unhappy. He looked at Zhu Yu as if he were a fool and said, "You, young man, look like a respectable and polite scholar. How could you tease me, a hunter, for no reason?

When have there ever been leopards in Qingshui County!
I grew up in this area. Before my teeth were fully grown, I started hunting with my father in the mountains. It's been thirty years now, and I've never seen a single hair from a leopard's tail, let alone a leopard!

Zhu Yu was a little disappointed when he heard this, and seemed a little unwilling to give up. He changed his words and said, "How about I give you some money, and if you help me hunt a few foxes, I can make some fox furs for you!"

"I've never even seen a fox!" the hunter said impatiently. "Everyone knows that fox fur is more valuable than rabbit fur! If I could kill a fox, why would I bother chasing rabbits all day long?"
If you, my dear, are not sincere in buying my rabbit, then don't use me to entertain yourself!"

Lu Qing had caught up with them at some point. Seeing that the hunter was getting irritated by Zhu Yu, he smiled at him and said, "My brother has a bit of a bad temper. Don't bother with him, brave man. Help me pick out two fat and tender rabbits. I'll take them back to add to the dishes."

The hunter had only heard the young man talking about leopard and fox furs, and thought that the other party was deliberately making fun of him, so he was very unhappy. But now, when he saw the young man's family coming, who were not only well-dressed, but also wanted to buy two rabbits without saying a word about the price, his anger immediately disappeared, and he happily helped Lu Qing carve down two fat rabbits.

Zhu Yu stopped talking and acted obediently, following behind Lu Qing.

No one knows better than the hunter what kind of birds and beasts there are in this area. Since the hunter said that there are no jackals, tigers, leopards, or even foxes in this area, then the claim that there are wild beasts hurting people in the ruined temple in the wilderness is of course pure nonsense.

It is hard to say whether the story that the pilgrims in the "Ghost Fairy Temple" who were never seen alive or dead were taken away by wild beasts was made up by those seeking wealth to give themselves courage, or was deliberately spread by the villains who placed bamboo tubes and released incense in the temple to let people down their guard.

After all, human thoughts are the most difficult to understand.

It’s all about “what if”. When good things happen, do you always feel that “what if” that shitty luck will hit you on the head?
When faced with bad things, I would think that it was just a “what if” thing and it was not such a coincidence that I would encounter it.

The master and his two servants led the horses into the city. The county town was already very lively. The vendors who were already in the city set up stalls on the roadside, and most of the shops on the street were open to welcome customers. There were quite a few people coming and going on the street.

Zhu Yu was a little surprised. He looked around until his eyes were not enough.

Lu Qing was more than a head taller than her, and following her pace, it felt more like strolling in the garden.

"This county town looks inconspicuous from the outside, but I didn't expect it to be so lively and prosperous inside!" Zhu Yu exclaimed.

"There is only one county town within a hundred miles of this area, so it is naturally the most lively one." Lu Qing replied.

Zhu Yu raised an eyebrow at him and asked in a low voice, "So after the tomb sweeping, we actually walked over a hundred miles away from the capital?"

Lu Qing smiled back at her calmly, without commenting. He looked ahead and pointed to a restaurant not far away: "Let's go there and ask the chef over there to roast these two rabbits."

(End of this chapter)