Song Shuyu secretly clenched her fists. She refused to be outdone!
"Chunxiao, go find me the best piece of fabric. I'm going to embroider a sachet for my imperial grandfather!"
Song Shuyu remembered that her grandmother had once praised the sachets she embroidered.
"Yes, this servant will go right away!" Chunxiao replied, hurrying off to prepare the materials.
Prince Ling had only ever intended to use Song Shuyu.
Therefore, he did not exactly dote on her.
Furthermore, his mind was entirely focused on his grand schemes, so he left all domestic matters for Princess Consort Ling to handle.
As Prince Ling's wife, Princess Consort Ling could naturally guess a bit of her husband's intentions.
Because Song Shuyu had grown up under Old Madam Song's care since childhood, she had developed a rather shallow and short-sighted disposition.
Thus, Princess Consort Ling detested Song Shuyu and naturally wouldn't prepare anything extra for her.
In any case, Song Shuyu's clothes were all custom-made by shops and delivered to the manor.
Chunxiao searched for a long time but couldn't find any suitable fabric.
In Song Shuyu's room, apart from a few bolts of fabric she had snatched from Xiao Yunning that were meant for clothes, there was nothing else.
And because these bolts of fabric had been chosen by Princess Consort Ling for Xiao Yunning, their patterns and colors were naturally unsuitable for making a man's sachet.
"Commandery Princess, how about this servant goes to ask the Princess Consort for instructions? There must be good fabrics in the Princess Consort's storehouse."
Since Princess Consort Ling had previously struck her, Song Shuyu harbored a grudge and certainly would not go begging to her.
She wasn't completely foolish, either. She knew full well that since she had just bitten Xiao Yunning, Princess Consort Ling definitely wouldn't give her anything even if she asked.
Beg Prince Ling?
Song Shuyu rolled her eyes in thought.
She had truly only wanted to play a trick on that jinx, but she never expected that the one who ended up falling would actually be Prince Ling!
Song Shuyu waved her hand dismissively.
"Just find a piece from the fabrics we have right now. I'll practice first!"
Song Shuyu had learned to be smart this time.
Chunxiao hesitated for a moment but still went and brought over a piece of fabric.
It was a red fabric covered in various floral patterns.
Song Shuyu took one look and immediately showed her disgust.
"It's so gaudy! How am I supposed to embroider a pattern on this? It needs to be plain and elegant!"
Chunxiao looked troubled.
"Commandery Princess, everything in the storehouse is floral."
"This piece is already the one with the fewest patterns that this servant could find."
Song Shuyu looked at Chunxiao suspiciously. "This is already the least?"
Chunxiao nodded hastily.
"Yes, there is one more piece without flowers, but that one is Xiangyun silk."
"However, that piece is too precious. You should use this one to practice first, and if it turns out well, then use that one."
Hearing this, Song Shuyu was instantly displeased.
"I want to use that one! Go bring it to me!"
"Commandery Princess, there is very little of that Xiangyun silk. If it's ruined, you won't have any fabric left to make your first sachet."
Song Shuyu's face darkened.
"Are you the master, or am I? Hurry up and go!"
Chunxiao submissively went, and soon, she walked in holding a handkerchief-sized piece of Xiangyun silk.
Song Shuyu remembered it now.
She had seen this piece of Xiangyun silk at Princess Consort Ling's place and liked it very much.
So, she had conveniently taken it.
Holding it in her hands, Song Shuyu felt the fabric's lightness.
It seemed a bit of a pity to use it for a sachet!
However, Song Shuyu had heard that the Emperor had rewarded Duoduo with countless gold and silver just for a painting.
Once the Emperor received the sachet she made, his rewards would definitely be even more than what Duoduo got.
Thinking of this, Song Shuyu began to ponder what pattern she should embroider.
"Chunxiao, tell me, what looks best embroidered for a man?"
Song Shuyu asked what she didn't know. Anyway, the only person she could ask was Chunxiao.
Chunxiao used to be just a rough-work maid; how would she know what looked best on a man's sachet?
"Commandery Princess, this servant doesn't know either."
"But this servant heard the older women say it's usually just patterns like bamboo or chrysanthemums."
Song Shuyu thought about it. Embroidering flowers was too difficult; she would have to embroider stems and petals, and use different shades of thread.
Why not embroider bamboo?
It was simple!
Just a few lines, really!
Having made up her mind, Song Shuyu ordered Chunxiao to prepare pen and ink so she could draw the design.
Chunxiao happily went to prepare.
When Princess Consort Ling heard the servants report Song Shuyu's movements, she scoffed.
However, Song Shuyu did remind her of something.
"Anning, why don't you embroider a sachet for your grandfather?"
Xiao Yunning, who had just been pacified by Princess Consort Ling, immediately widened her eyes upon hearing this.
"I won't do it! Why is it that whatever she does, Mother wants me to do too?"
Princess Consort Ling comforted her daughter.
"Think about it. Your embroidery skills are far above hers. If her work ends up being appreciated by your imperial grandfather, could you accept that?"
Xiao Yunning stomped her foot. "No!"
Princess Consort Ling patted her daughter. "Exactly!"
"Look, Mother will prepare the best fabric for you. If you embroider it carefully, it will definitely be better than hers!"
"When the time comes, what if your imperial grandfather is pleased and rewards you with some things too?"
"Don't you want presents?"
"Of course I do!" Xiao Yunning replied.
"Then will you embroider it or not?" Seeing her daughter take the bait, Princess Consort Ling's expression softened.
"I will! But, Mother, you have to get someone to help me!" Xiao Yunning knew her own limits.
"Alright, no problem. Mother will have someone go pick out the fabric for you right now."
Princess Consort Ling called a maid over and sent her to choose the fabric.
Standing to the side, Xiao Yun'an looked thoughtful.
"Mother, your son is not good at painting, but my calligraphy is quite decent."
"How about your son writes a piece of calligraphy to give to Grandfather?"
Princess Consort Ling's eyes reddened, and she nodded in excitement.
"An'er, you've grown so sensible!"
Xiao Yun'an waved his hand nonchalantly. "Rest assured, Mother, my sister and I will always stand by your side."
"The three of us can definitely beat that one over there."
Princess Consort Ling shook her head.
"Our opponent isn't her, but over there."
Princess Consort Ling pointed in the direction of Prince Pingyang's estate.
"As for the one in our own manor, you don't need to worry about her. Mother can handle her alone."
"An'er, remember this: your future lies in the whole world. Do not fix your gaze on these petty matters of the inner court."
"Alright, hurry back and review your lessons, lest your father tests you later!"
"Mother doesn't need to worry. Your son has already memorized all of today's lessons."
"Throughout my journey, I haven't fallen behind on my studies for a single day. You can be at ease."
Since his sister had suffered a grievance today, Xiao Yun'an wanted to stay and keep her company for a while.
Seeing her son so filial and intelligent, Princess Consort Ling dared not slack off even more.
She gently pushed Xiao Yun'an. "If you've finished today's studies, you can study for tomorrow's and the day after's."
"Your father is resting in the manor. If he sends someone to look for you later and finds out you are still lingering in the inner court, he will definitely be angry."
Princess Consort Ling knew that her husband was most opposed to their son lacking ambition.
Hearing his mother say this, Xiao Yun'an had no choice but to take his leave.
Meanwhile, in a side room on the other side of the estate, Song Shuyu held a calligraphy brush, carefully tracing a design onto the Xiangyun silk.
