Legend of the Embroiderer

After listening to Aunt Wang's explanation, Mengyao gained a deeper understanding of the various types of embroidery, the tools required, and especially the techniques and characteristics. She learned that "embroidery requires fineness, breathability, and elegant colors, and that its stitches vary, each with its own unique expressiveness!" She listened with great interest, filled with curiosity about this new knowledge.

She also learned that when embroidering flowers, gradient colors are often used to create a three-dimensional effect on the petals, and when embroidering animals, special attention must be paid to the delicate and vivid fur! This made her exclaim: "Embroidery is so magical! Every stitch is so delicate and exquisite, as if a small world is embroidered on the cloth!"

Aunt Wang looked at Su Mengyao's amazed expression and said with a smile, "Yes, embroidery not only makes people feel beautiful, but also makes them feel peaceful. As long as you study hard, you can create your own beautiful works!"

Su Mengyao nodded, a determined light flashing in her eyes. She decided to learn embroidery well and create more beautiful things with her own hands!

Over time, Su Mengyao began to master various embroidery techniques. She learned how to use different stitches to express different textures and textures, and how to create unique atmospheres through color matching. Her works became increasingly exquisite, earning the admiration and love of those around her.

Su Mengyao isn't content with this. She constantly challenges herself, boldly experimenting with new patterns and styles. Drawing inspiration from nature, she incorporates elements of mountains, rivers, flowers, birds, fish, and insects into her embroidery. Her work becomes more vibrant and artistic.

Throughout this process, Su Mengyao also made many like-minded friends. They exchanged embroidery tips and shared their creativity and experiences. This atmosphere of mutual learning and encouragement brought Su Mengyao immense warmth and joy.

After studying for a while, Su Mengyao's embroidery skills gradually improved. Her fingers flexed the needle and thread, moving effortlessly across the work. Her lines became smooth and powerful. She began to understand Aunt Wang's words and began to carefully feel each stitch, imbuing her embroidery with vitality.

Mengyao's rapid growth sparked jealousy in the palace maid Zhao Wan'er. A highly respected maid in the embroidery workshop, Zhao Wan'er feared Mengyao's embroidery skills would surpass her own. She often hovered near Su Mengyao, ostensibly to compliment her work, but in reality, she was secretly spying on her, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

Once, Zhao Wan'er came to Su Mengyao again and saw that she was concentrating on embroidery. She carefully examined the embroidery in Su Mengyao's hands, a hypocritical smile on her face, and praised her hypocritically: "Mengyao, your craftsmanship is really getting more and more exquisite! Look at this peony flower, it is so lifelike, it seems like a real one!"

Su Mengyao raised her head slightly, a faint smile on her face, and replied softly, "Thank you for the compliment, Zhao Wan'er. However, I feel that I still have a lot to learn and improve, especially in making the petals appear more three-dimensional and the color transitions more vivid. I still need to work hard."

Hearing Su Mengyao's words, a trace of barely perceptible jealousy quickly flashed in Zhao Wan'er's eyes, but she still forced a smile and said, "Oh, you are too modest! With your talent and hard work, I believe it won't be long before you can easily surpass the rest of us." After that, Zhao Wan'er made up an excuse and hurriedly turned around and left.

Zhao Wan'er's jealousy didn't subside. Late one night, while Su Mengyao was away fetching water, she snuck in. Her heart raced with anxiety, her palms sweating, but her fury overwhelmed her. She gripped the scissors tightly, the sharp blades gleaming coldly, as if foreshadowing the tragedy to come.

She slowly walked over to the nearly finished embroidery, her eyes gleaming with madness and determination. She raised her scissors and cut hard at the embroidery, each cut laced with endless hatred. As the scissors fell, the thread snapped, and the beautiful pattern was instantly incomplete.

Zhao Wan'er looked at the work she had destroyed with her own hands, and a wave of satisfaction welled up in her heart. She felt that she had finally gotten revenge on Su Mengyao, the one who had stolen her limelight, by making her feel the bitterness of failure. She didn't realize that doing so would only lead her into deeper sin.

After completing all this, Zhao Wan'er carefully restored the scene to its original state, ensuring that no traces were left. She didn't want anyone to suspect her, as that would bring her trouble. After doing this, she quietly left the embroidery workshop, leaving behind a shattered dream and a broken heart.

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the windows into the embroidery workshop, illuminating the debris strewn across the floor. Su Mengyao walked into the studio as usual, ready to continue her work. But when she saw the embroidery, utterly destroyed, her face paled instantly. Her eyes widened in disbelief at the sight before her, her heart filled with shock and anger.

She stretched out her slightly trembling hands and gently touched the damaged areas, as if she could feel the emotion and expectation contained in every stitch and thread. Tears flowed down her cheeks like a flood, dripping onto the ground. Her heart felt like it was being gnawed by thousands of ants, and she felt the pain.

She found it hard to accept the harsh reality before her. She kept replaying the images of herself toiling day and night, and her rosy visions of the future. Now, all her efforts had come to nothing, leaving her in a state of endless despair. She knew that if she failed to complete the embroidery on time, she would not only lose Aunt Wang's trust but also face even more severe punishment. The thought made her shudder.

Who could be so cruel? "Is he jealous of my talent and hard work, deliberately destroying my hard work?" She felt helpless and confused, not knowing how to face the next predicament. She could only silently tell herself that she must find the murderer and seek justice!

Su Mengyao immediately reported the situation to Aunt Wang. "Auntie, the dress I embroidered for the queen is ruined..." Her voice trembled, tears welled up in her eyes.

Aunt Wang's face darkened as she immediately realized the seriousness of the situation. "What's going on? Is this sabotage?" Her sharp eyes swept across every corner of the embroidery workshop.

"I don't know. I left the embroidery workshop to get some water, and when I came back I found that the embroidery was damaged. But I must find out the truth." Su Mengyao said firmly.

Aunt Wang nodded and said, "Don't worry, I will personally investigate this matter and give you a satisfactory answer. I will never allow this destructive behavior to breed and spread."

She began to investigate and question the other palace maids, checking every corner of the embroidery workshop for possible clues. Her severity and fairness made everyone feel in awe, and everyone knew that Aunt Wang would not tolerate any behavior that would disrupt the harmony of the embroidery workshop.

As Aunt Wang investigated, clues began to surface. A palace maid reported to Aunt Wang, "On the night of the murder, I saw Zhao Wan'er wandering around the embroidery workshop. I wondered what she was up to." Aunt Wang immediately sought out Zhao Wan'er. Faced with her questioning, Zhao Wan'er appeared flustered, her gaze evasive and her speech hesitant.

Under Aunt Wang's stern questioning, Zhao Wan'er finally admitted her actions. She said, "I saw that you particularly liked Mengyao and respected her, and I was jealous of her embroidery talent, so I did such a foolish thing. Please forgive me, and I won't do it again next time." Aunt Wang severely criticized her behavior and punished her accordingly.

Although Su Mengyao was disappointed with Zhao Wan'er's behavior, she was more concerned with repairing the damaged embroidery. She decided to use modern design thinking and innovative methods to restore the work. Working day and night, she skillfully transformed the damaged area into a completely new design. Using the remaining silk thread, she cleverly embroidered the damaged area into a phoenix, ready to take flight. The phoenix's wings perfectly covered the damaged area, making the entire design even more vivid and unique.

When Aunt Wang saw the restored embroidery, she was amazed at Su Mengyao's creativity and perseverance, and she was impressed. "Mengyao, you not only restored the embroidery, but also gave it new life." Aunt Wang's eyes flashed with admiration.

This incident of embroidery being destroyed not only helped her find the hateful destroyer, but more importantly, it also gave her a great opportunity to demonstrate her outstanding design talent. Due to the successful resolution of this incident, her position in the embroidery workshop became more solid, and her reputation began to spread gradually in the palace.

Aunt Wang's affection for her grew day by day, and her care and guidance for her became more and more profound. Aunt Wang firmly believed that as long as she maintained her intelligence and fearlessness, coupled with her outstanding design talent, she would be able to live a happy and fulfilling life in this deep palace.