Re-embroidering life

The New Year's Eve palace banquet made Dong Yajing famous overnight. Before the new year was over, her reputation and talent had spread throughout the high families in the capital.

The fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the wedding day of the third prince and Dong Yajing. On the fourteenth day of the first lunar month, Shui Qinghua and Ji Zimo went to the Dong family to add makeup to Dong Yajing.

The Dong Mansion was very lively today. Dong Daru's students and royal relatives were all here. Dong Yajing's courtyard was even more crowded. The ladies who had previously ignored her, now came to add to her beauties regardless of whether they were familiar with her or not.

When Shui Qinghua brought Lan Xin to the palace, the noble ladies whispered to each other: "Who is this woman? She doesn't look like the wife of any family." "How can such a woman be the makeup of the prince's wife?"

Shui Qinghua pretended not to hear and smiled slightly. Dong Yajing's maid Qingzhu came out and greeted her warmly: "Mrs. Shui, the young lady has been waiting for you for a long time, come with me!"

Shui Qinghua followed Qingzhu all the way, leaving behind the doubtful and inquiring looks.

"Sister Shui!" Dong Yajing came out from her boudoir, grabbed Shui Qinghua's hand and pulled her into the room.

Dong Yajing shined at the New Year's Eve palace banquet, and Shui Qinghua played an indispensable role. Whether it was teaching her embroidery skills, giving her new silk threads, or embroidering an exquisite peacock skirt for her, it was all timely assistance, making her feel the deep friendship from her sister-in-law.

Shui Qinghua looked at her gently: "Perhaps this is the last time I call you Yajing. Next time we meet, I will call you the Princess Royal."

Yajing's nose was sore, and she couldn't help but lean her head on Shui Qinghua's shoulder: "Sister Shui, behind people's backs, can you always call me Yajing? Can you treat me as your own sister for the rest of your life?"

Shui Qinghua said yes, but both of them knew that it was impossible. No matter how deep their love was, the barrier of their identities would create a gap between them.

Shui Qinghua was filled with emotion. The girl who had rushed to her door rashly and wanted to be her female teacher; the girl who admired the spirit of the Wei and Jin dynasties and named herself Xiuzhujun, finally reached a high position step by step. In the future, she will go further, to the top. And she will stand firmly behind her, give her a helping hand, and send her to the top.

Shui Qinghua blinked, and when the moisture in her eyes faded away, she smiled and said, "Today I am here to add some makeup to you. You should have guessed that I brought an embroidered painting."

After saying that, she motioned to Lan Xin to present the "Hua Xi Yu Yin Tu" embroidered with her for several months.

"I know your dream is to become a hermit in the mountains, but it's impossible to realize it in this lifetime. So I'll give you a picture of a hermit as a consolation." Shui Qinghua teased.

Dong Yajing smiled, but she felt like crying. She hurriedly walked to the embroidery and looked at it carefully. After a moment of silence, she said, "Sister Shui, the fruit plate I embroidered at the palace banquet was praised as exquisite, but that's because they didn't see your work. You are the one who is superb and has created a masterpiece."

Shui Qinghua accepted her compliment and took out a needle from her purse: "There are still a few stitches left on this embroidery. Please finish it. This is the last time you will sign your name as Xiuzhu Jun."

Dong Yajing took the needle, held her breath, inserted the needle, and then retracted it. Then, under the inscription "Furong Garden Embroidery" in the lower left corner, she embroidered the three words "Xiuzhujun".

The two looked at each other and smiled, yet felt endlessly melancholy.

Just at this moment, the maid Zizhu came to report: "Miss, Princess Dihua is here to add makeup to you."

Princess Dihua has a noble status. Dong Yajing took Shui Qinghua's hand and said, "Sister Shui, let's go out together." At the same time, she ordered Zizhu and Lanxin to carry out "Huaxi Fisherman's Hideaway" and place it together with other gifts.

The group walked into the flower hall, where Princess Dihua and County Lady Tanghua were sitting at the top drinking tea, and the noble ladies were sitting at the bottom in groups of three or four.

Dong Yajing and Shui Qinghua walked in, attracting a lot of attention, especially Shui Qinghua's unfamiliar face.

Dong Yajing took Shui Qinghua to pay respect to the two elders. After standing up, Shui Qinghua saw Princess Dihua and was stunned. It turned out to be Madam Li from Jingxiu Workshop!

Princess Dihua was also surprised to see Shui Qinghua and asked Dong Yajing, "So this is your sister-in-law?"

They both sighed in their hearts at the same time, no wonder!

Shui Qinghua thought to herself, no wonder Miss Liu was so obedient with just a glance from Mrs. Li.

Princess Dihua thought to herself, no wonder her small sachet could contain several never-before-seen needle techniques.

Dong Yajing was also surprised to find that the two had actually met before.

It turns out that Princess Dihua's husband's surname was Li. After her husband died young, she was bored at home and wanted to open an embroidery workshop to kill time. She loved embroidery since she was a child and had learned from a master embroiderer in the palace embroidery bureau. She had reached first-class standards in both eyesight and craftsmanship, so she opened Jingxiu Workshop, specializing in Beijing embroidery products for dignitaries. When she walked around the embroidery workshop, she never used her identity as a princess, but called herself "Mrs. Li".

As she was talking, something caught Princess Dihua's attention: "Mrs. Shui, is this the dowry gift you gave to Yajing?"

Princess Dihua stood up and walked to the "Huaxi Yuyin Tu", and admired it attentively with some surprise. After a long time, she said: "At first glance, it is a painting, and at second glance, it is still a painting. After repeated identification, it is confirmed that it is embroidery. Lady Shui, how did you do it? It is so delicate and vivid?"

Shui Qinghua simply replied, "I used several needle techniques that I created myself, and the silk thread was also specially made."

Princess Dihua carefully read the inscription again: "Hibiscus Garden Embroidery, is this your symbol?"

"Yes, my embroidery works are all called Furong Garden Embroidery. Furong Garden Embroidery is boudoir embroidery. The draft is selected from famous paintings. It is not embroidered by outside embroiderers, but by boudoir women who are well-read in poetry and books. Therefore, the products are extremely rare."

Princess Dihua's eyes sparkled: "Mrs. Shui is very talented, would you consider working for Jingxiufang? I will hire her with a large sum of money."

Shui Qinghua was not prepared for the princess' sudden request. She was silent for a moment before she said, "I appreciate your kindness, but I came to the capital to take care of my husband's spring exam. I have three young children at home and I don't have time to go out and do things. I hope the princess will forgive me."

Princess Dihua was a little surprised to be rejected, but she quickly recovered her composure: "It's okay. Women should focus on family matters. You can come to me anytime you want."

After saying this, she presented her dowry gift, did not stay any longer, and left.

After the princess left, the ladies rushed over to see the embroidery that the princess praised. Many ladies asked Shui Qinghua if they could order her Furong Garden embroidery, and Shui Qinghua answered their questions one by one.

She had planned to let Furongyuanxiu open up the situation among the nobles in the capital, and now it was just as she wished. However, the request made by Princess Dihua always made her feel uneasy. Intuitively, she did not want to be involved with the nobles of prominent status, but refusing would probably anger the other party. Once you are in the game, you can't avoid it.