Brocade Odyssey

“So the Emperor and his ladies all want to wear our Sichuan brocade robes? No problem! We offer exclusive, limited-edition pieces, and we’ll even embroider His Majesty’s personal label on them. What’s that? The Emperor’s short on cash? Oh, that’s fine—we can just scrape off some dragon scales and chop off some dragon claws to sell to the village chief’s nephew’s wife in Gedang Village. She loves that nouveau riche gold anyway. ROAR: No money, no deal! And I don’t care if your noble lord tries to sweet-talk us! Tell him if he keeps asking, we’ll confiscate those two copper coins he hides in his boots!” Ji Yingying feels she dyes not mere silk, but dreams of myriad colors. In her dreams th...