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Chapter 337 Lying Without Blinking

Seeing Yan Shu's expression, Zhu Yu figured she couldn't possibly have heard anything, so she didn't press the matter further.

After a while, the few servants with vacant eyes came over again to deliver breakfast. After they finished eating, the bowls and plates were taken away, and the old steward came with a few people, bringing some dyes, silk, and a wooden box.

"Distinguished guests, did you rest well here last night?" The old steward greeted Zhu Yu and Lu Qing with a warm smile. "Although the Lord of the Fortress has not yet returned, I have brought some dyes and silk from our Immortal Fortress today for you to take a look and see if what we produce here is of the highest quality."

If you find this place acceptable, please remain here and wait for our lord to return so we can discuss business with you.

If our offerings still do not meet your standards, then this old man will not dare to delay your distinguished guests any longer. You may simply return home.”

"You're very kind, Steward." Lu Qing bowed to him without making a sound, walked up to the servants, picked up a piece of silk, and gently twirled it between his fingertips. He asked the old steward as if it were nothing, "Do you also stay in the fort at night, Steward?"

"Of course," the old steward replied casually, unaware that anything was amiss.

“In that case, I wonder if the old steward heard anything last night?” Lu Qing put down the silk and walked to the dye tray next to him. “I slept soundly last night, and I vaguely heard some kind of sound, which was very shrill, but I couldn’t hear it clearly. I don’t know if I heard it wrong.”

Zhu Yu watched the old steward silently from the side. He saw the steward's expression change slightly, and his eyes quickly looked at Lu Qing's face. However, Lu Qing's expression was calm, and he could not see any emotion. So he had no choice but to give up.

"Ah, I always sleep very soundly at night and haven't heard any noise. But there's a family in our fort who have a daughter who's crazy and often howls at night."

That family is afraid she'll run around and frighten people, so they usually keep her at home and don't let her go out. Distinguished guests, there's no need to worry!

Zhu Yu glanced at the old steward again, secretly cursing him in his heart.

What a shameless old liar!
Although she had slept soundly the night before and couldn't wake up, thinking she was dreaming, the voice, upon careful recall, was quite low and shrill, definitely not something a madwoman could make.

She saw Lu Yan's eyes widen for a moment after hearing the old steward's words, but he quickly swallowed his anger and stood silently at the back.

Given his notoriously fiery temper, he has done his best to achieve this.

"I see. Then we have nothing to worry about." Lu Qing smiled and nodded. "The silk and dyes from Fairy Castle are indeed of superior quality and live up to their reputation."

Upon hearing this, the old steward looked pleased with himself, clapped his hands, and gestured for the two servants carrying the wooden box to step forward. He carefully opened the wooden box himself, took out a cloth bundle wrapped tightly in a large piece of brocade, carefully opened it, and gently lifted a long skirt with both hands.

"I previously told several distinguished guests that our lord supplies the finest materials from the fortress to major clients in the capital. These materials are then processed into superior fabrics and tailored into dresses for the nobles in the capital. However, words are not enough, so today I have brought a sample dress that a nobleman once gifted to our lord. I hope you, my connoisseurs, can take a look and see if this is a rare and exceptional item." The old steward lifted the dress and gently shook it in the sunlight.

It's likely that the bag of gold Lu Qing gave them the day before had an effect, convincing the old steward that they were truly wealthy. That's why he brought this dress today to reassure them.

The skirt was a dignified pear-brown color with subtle gold and cloud patterns. At first glance, it seemed unremarkable, but when the old steward gave it a gentle shake, the silk satin shone softly and brightly in the morning light, and with the soft movement of the fabric, it looked like ripples on water.

Zhu Yu had previously worn the ten-colored brocade dress that Lu Qing had prepared for her to make a good impression at her parents' home. Although it was much more dazzling and gorgeous than the dress in the old steward's hands, it was still clear that the material with such texture and luster was definitely not an ordinary fabric.

Such items are absolutely impossible to find in ordinary clothing stores and fabric shops.

However, as the skirt swayed, Zhu Yu seemed to smell a faint fragrance, somewhat familiar, but too faint to be certain.

She gave Lu Qing a wink, and Lu Qing understood immediately. He pointed at Zhu Yu and said to the old manager, "This is the manager in my fabric shop who is in charge of the fabric and workmanship. I wonder if it would be convenient for him to come closer and take a closer look at the texture of this dress?"

"Why not?" The old steward nodded and said to Zhu Yu, "However, please be careful, this distinguished guest. This dress is very expensive, so please be careful not to accidentally tear it."

"I understand, so the person in charge can rest assured."

"We are both doing our duty, how could I make things difficult for you?" Zhu Yu smiled and nodded to the old steward, took two steps forward, moved closer to the skirt, gently lifted the hem with her hand, and leaned in closer, seemingly to examine the texture of the fabric carefully, but actually to sniff the fragrance.

As she got closer, the faint fragrance became clearer, and she quickly made a judgment. She pretended to rub the fabric a few times with her fingers, then let go and nodded to Lu Qing: "This is indeed a rare and fine material."

"If we could use this fine silk and dye to make such a fabric, I believe our esteemed guest would certainly appreciate it."

The old steward smiled more, folded the skirt again, wrapped it in brocade, and carefully put it back into the wooden box.

"Since you distinguished guests are satisfied with our silk and dyes, please stay here in peace. Once the lord returns, I will arrange for you to discuss matters with him." He waved his hand, signaling the servants to take the things and leave, and said to Lu Qing.

Lu Qing also cupped his hands in greeting, and the steward led his men away from the courtyard.

Fu Wen escorted them to the courtyard gate. He wanted to see them a few more steps, but the old steward noticed immediately and, while polite in words, firmly persuaded him to go back.

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