The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan-Chapter 605 - 603 The Women in the Backyard (Part 1)

After the weaving looms and cotton-spinning machines were all arranged, Li Xianyun made another trip to the garment workshop.

By this time the sky had already darkened, and the female workers in the garment workshop were beginning to cease their work.

Upon seeing Li Xianyun’s arrival, they all greeted her with joyful smiles and respectfully nodded and gave salutations.

Li Xianyun was amiable in return and told them that once the twenty thousand cotton garments were completed, everyone would receive payment for their labor.

The only wish these female workers had when they came to the garment workshop was to be well-fed, hoping not to be beaten or violated.

Now they were not only well-fed but also not bullied, and they were already very content.

As for wages, that was a luxury they didn’t even dare to dream of.

This Young Master Li, like a deity, was the blessing of them all.

Ever since his arrival, the past two days felt like they had been living in a dream—a beautiful dream.

The women chattered away, expressing their gratitude to Li Xianyun and secretly resolved to repay his graciousness by working hard.

Li Xianyun left those enthusiastic female workers and took her people to the garment workshop’s backyard—where over twenty attractive women were kept.

Their ultimate fate was an issue that Li Xianyun had been pondering.

These women had always lived a life of luxury, letting them do the same arduous work as the women in the front yard would doubtless cause many to feel resentful.

Moreover, motives can hide within the heart; those women in the backyard who lived a life of privilege would surely evoke jealousy among some of the female workers.

Now, assigning these pampered women to work in the front yard wouldn’t work; they wouldn’t withstand it, and many female workers would mock them.

Trouble would inevitably arise, and it was better to manage these two groups separately.

Nevertheless, the garment workshop had changed; no freeloaders were kept, and though these women were indulged, they too had to earn their keep with their own hands.

The heavy main gate opened, and Li Xianyun walked in, as many women peeked out from the doorway or windows.

The news of officials being captured had made its rounds and eventually leaked into the secluded sky of the backyard.

They say when the reign changes, so do the ministers.

Now that these officials had fallen, it was unknown who would take over the garment workshop, and how they would deal with these women, who served with their beauty.

However, certain natures are hard to change. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

Crows of the world are similarly black, and men in the world are generally the same—repulsively ugly.

Their pervasive anxiety lessened significantly at the sight of Li Xianyun.

How could there be a man in the world who is this handsome, this elegant, with such an extraordinary demeanor?

Even the most beautiful women would probably pale in comparison and feel inferior before him.

It seemed not too bad to be able to accompany such a person.

Li Xianyun gathered the women in the backyard into one place.

She informed them that the officials had been captured, and they no longer needed to serve with their colors.

But since they were criminal slaves, they couldn’t be released.

One woman, quick to respond, said, "We’ll leave it to Young Master Li to arrange."

Li Xianyun pondered for a moment and said, "The soldiers on the battlefield consume a large amount of cotton garments, so there’s a need to produce a vast number of cotton garments for emergencies. The garment workshop is currently rushing to produce twenty thousand cotton garments, and you all need to contribute. I will set up some weaving looms in the backyard, where you can work, and after the task is completed, wages will be distributed according to the amount of your labor."

She deliberately added that last sentence.

These women were not lacking in money; she said this to let them know she would be keeping track of their labor, to prevent anyone from slacking off.

"As for where you will go, I will inform you after I have discussed it with the Official Government."

Li Xianyun said, stood up, deliberately ignoring the disappointed expressions on some of the women’s faces, and left with her people.

Once the chains were locked again, the women began to chatter among themselves.

"Looks like that young master didn’t take a fancy to us, he’s decided to get rid of us."

Someone chimed in, "That young master is like a celestial being, how could he possibly fancy us women?"

Indeed, that young master was fair and handsome, with delicate, tender skin—a clear indicator he was a noble offspring raised in affluent circumstances.

They, who had been deeply submerged in squalor, earning their living beneath men, were unclean; how could any decent man desire them?

At this realization, everyone related to their own situation and fell silent momentarily before resuming their discussions.

"The young master ordered us to spin fabric, but how do I spin? I’ve never even seen a spinning machine."

"Yes, I don’t know how to either."

These were the officials’ relatives, once pampered daughters of authorities, confined within their chambers—how would they have ever engaged in such labor?

The women began to sigh and lament, except Jiang Ying, who sat quietly in the corner.

She rarely spoke, wasn’t fond of socializing, and always kept to herself.

Yet even with such a cold disposition, she had won the favor of men.

One of the officials often stayed in Jiang Ying’s room, forbidding other men from touching her.

She had encountered a patron, so to speak.

Another woman, seeing Jiang Ying deep in thought, asked, "Do you know how to weave?"

Jiang Ying shook her head, "But, if I don’t know, I can learn. Working with my own hands, honest and upright."

"Yes, finally, we won’t have to entertain those old, foul-smelling men anymore," the woman agreed.

Such "utterly outrageous" words had never been dared spoken in the garment factory before—now, they were boldly voiced.

This was all thanks to that young master who was as refreshing as a breeze and bright as the moon.

When Li Xianyun left the garment factory and got into the carriage, the sky had turned pitch black.

A few scant stars stingily adorned the firmament, emitting a faint glow.

Youlan passed a handwarmer to Li Xianyun to warm her hands.

With the sun during the day, it didn’t feel very cold, but as night fell, the wind cut like knives, dry and cold, piercing to the bone.

Youlan saw that even her master’s cheeks and the tip of her nose were frozen red—how Khan would ache to see it.

"Master, regarding the women in the back courtyard of the garment factory, you could have just sent someone to inform them. With the weather this cold, why trouble yourself to come all the way here?"

Li Xianyun flipped over her little hand and pressed her ice-cold hand against the handwarmer, the warmth slowly spreading to her fingers, very comfortable.

"I was afraid they wouldn’t explain things clearly."

Youlan was puzzled; how could a few simple words be unclear?

She always felt there was a deeper purpose for her master’s deliberate visit to the back courtyard of the garment factory, yet she couldn’t guess it.

In truth, Li Xianyun’s visit was to investigate and identify Kewo’s accomplices.

If Houliang had planted accomplices in the garment factory, where the female workers lived and labored together day and night, under the weary eyes of many, slipping away to do something alone would be difficult.

But the women in the back courtyard were different.

Each had her own room, with little contact during the day, and come nightfall, with doors closed, they didn’t disturb each other. Assuming their identities to hide away couldn’t be easier.

Today was just about making their acquaintance; a few more meetings should reveal some clues.

Then, by following the leads, she could catch them all in one sweep.

When Li Xianyun returned to the estate, she happened to run into Jinwu leaving.

He was there to deliver a message from Yelu Yan and, finding Li Xianyun and Youlan absent, had intended to go out and search for them, but unexpectedly, they met.