Legend of the Embroiderer

Su Mengyao's life in the palace gradually returned to normal. She was assigned to work in the palace's embroidery workshop. Here, every stitch and thread carries the weight of history, and every embroidery pattern tells an untold story. She knew that to survive in this era, she must master a craft, and embroidery was undoubtedly one of the most important skills for women in the palace.

When she arrived at the embroidery workshop, she was greeted by a bustling scene. Colorful silk threads shone in the sunlight, and the hum of looms, accompanied by the gentle chatter of palace maids, created a harmonious scene. Standing before this scene, Su Mengyao felt both anticipation for the new skills she was about to learn and nervousness about the unknown challenges ahead.

Upon her arrival, she would be taught embroidery by the experienced embroiderer, Aunt Wang, a renowned figure within the palace. Her skills were unmatched, and her creations were often presented as tribute to the imperial court. Aunt Wang, kind yet strict, held her apprentices to extremely high standards, earning her a certain respect from many of the palace maids.

Aunt Wang looked at the young woman in front of her with a kind smile on her face. She asked gently, "Are you new here? You look like you really like embroidery! Are you confident that you can master it?"

Faced with Aunt Wang's enthusiastic inquiry, Mengyao didn't hesitate. She answered with a firm and powerful voice, "Of course I'm confident! I will definitely learn from you!" Mengyao thought to herself that she had a solid foundation in design and was no stranger to handicrafts like embroidery, a craft she had a strong interest in and passion for. She firmly believed that with hard work and continuous practice, she would be able to master embroidery techniques.

After hearing Mengyao's answer, Aunt Wang's eyes flickered with appreciation. She smiled and nodded, expressing her satisfaction. She encouraged him, "That's good! As long as you have confidence and work hard, you'll definitely learn well. Although our conditions here are simple, everyone is very hardworking and eager to learn. I believe you'll gain something from this experience."

Mengyao nodded gratefully. She knew she had come to this place not only to learn embroidery skills, but also to pursue her true dreams and goals. She was determined to seize this opportunity and live up to the expectations of Aunt Wang and others.

Aunt Wang glanced at the newly arrived Mengyao, her lips curled slightly, and she decided to give her a good lesson. She explained the necessary tools and characteristics of embroidery one by one, and she knew every one of them like the back of her hand.

"Mengyao, look at this embroidery, it is a profound art!" Aunt Wang gently picked up an embroidery needle, with a solemn light flashing in her eyes, as if the needle was a scepter in her hand.

She continued, "The pattern is like a brilliantly colored scroll, the embroidery material is like soft and delicate brocade, and the embroidery thread is like iridescent silk. Each one needs to be carefully selected, as if searching for a rare treasure. And the tools, such as the stretcher and adhesive frame, must be used with ease, as if they have become a part of one's body. Only in this way can one stand out in this artistic embroidery studio. To achieve success in this field, one must learn to feel every stitch and thread with one's heart, just as one would savor a beautiful and moving poem."

Mengyao listened with rapt interest, her eyes filled with curiosity and awe. Seeing this, Aunt Wang continued to explain the characteristics and stitches of embroidery. Her words seemed to have a magical power, vividly showcasing the exquisite beauty of the embroidery.

Aunt Wang gestured as she spoke, "This embroidery must be as meticulous as dancing on the tip of a needle, and the needlework must be as lively and agile as an elf."

Mengyao was deeply attracted by Aunt Wang's words, as if she were in a colorful world of embroidery. But when she heard Aunt Wang's requirements for embroidery skills, she couldn't help but back off.

"It's not easy to achieve smooth and even embroidery..." Aunt Wang muttered in a resounding voice. "This embroidery skill is like a ladder to heaven; it can't be mastered overnight. You need patience, like the constant flow of water; you need perseverance, like the unwavering determination of a towering mountain, to produce a good piece of embroidery."

Mengyao began to wonder in her heart: "I thought embroidery was easy, but it sounds much harder than studying design. Can I learn it?" She looked up at Aunt Wang's expectant eyes, and a surge of courage surged in her heart.

"Well, I must work hard to learn embroidery!" Mengyao clenched her fists and strengthened her belief. She knew that the road ahead was still long, but as long as she worked hard, she would be able to embroider her own wonderful life.

Aunt Wang noticed Mengyao was distracted and asked, "Mengyao, what are you thinking about?" Mengyao came to her senses and quickly replied, "Nothing, nothing."

Aunt Wang excitedly explained, "There are four main embroidery stitches. The straight stitch is like a straight road, creating a shape with straight lines. The starting and ending stitches are all parallel, and the edges are as neat as if cut by a knife. Color matching requires using a single color thread; avoid fancy multi-colored threads. The wrapped stitch is like a nimble dancer, wrapping short diagonal lines around the shape, dancing gracefully from one place to the other. The coiled stitch is like a winding stream, winding and meandering. The loop stitch is a common embroidery technique, like a nimble dancer, dancing gracefully on the cloth. The flat stitch is a wonderful embroidery technique that uses gold and silver thread instead of silk. You must learn all these basic embroidery techniques."

Aunt Wang's voice was like a loud bell, serious and firm, and her eyes seemed to be burning with a blazing passion for the art of embroidery.

Su Mengyao began learning embroidery under the patient guidance of Aunt Wang. Aunt Wang taught her how to choose the right silk thread and control the size and pressure of the stitches. "The stitches must be smooth and even, making each one more vivid," Aunt Wang explained as she demonstrated.

"Auntie, how can I make the wiring look better?" Su Mengyao asked humbly, her eyes closely following Auntie Wang's every move.

"The stitches should be dense and even, and the lines should be smooth and natural." Aunt Wang explained patiently, "Just watch." She picked up the needle and thread, and her fingers danced flexibly on the embroidery cloth. Every stitch was just right, and the lines of the embroidered pattern were beautiful and vivid.

Su Mengyao observed carefully and found that every movement of Aunt Wang was full of rhythm and melody, as if her hands were not moving on the embroidery cloth, but dancing an elegant dance.

"Now, you try." Aunt Wang smiled and handed the needle and thread to Su Mengyao, her eyes full of encouragement and expectation. Su Mengyao nervously took the needle and thread, her heart filled with an inexplicable excitement and uneasiness.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. She carefully picked up the needle and thread, imitating Aunt Wang's previous steps, gently piercing the fabric and beginning her first attempt.

At first, Su Mengyao's fingers were a little stiff, her stitches were crooked, and her lines weren't as smooth and natural as Aunt Wang's. But she didn't get discouraged and continued practicing with full concentration.

Aunt Wang, who was standing by, looked at Su Mengyao's serious look and smiled with satisfaction. She did not blame Su Mengyao for her clumsiness, but patiently guided her, correcting her needlework and gestures over and over again.

"Don't be anxious, take your time," Aunt Wang said gently. "Embroidery requires time and patience. Every attempt is an opportunity to improve."

Gradually, Su Mengyao mastered some embroidery techniques, her stitches became neater, and her lines became smoother. Although she still has a long way to go to reach Auntie Wang's level, she has already felt the joy and sense of accomplishment that embroidery brings.

"You have to remember that embroidery isn't just a skill with your hands; it's an art in your heart," Aunt Wang said earnestly to Su Mengyao. "You have to embroider with your heart, feel every stitch, and let them become an extension of your emotions. Only then can you truly appreciate the charm of embroidery."

Su Mengyao nodded, fully understanding the profound meaning of Aunt Wang's words. She decided to study embroidery more diligently, not only to improve her skills but also to interpret this ancient and beautiful art with her heart.