Song Shuyu hadn't painted for a very long time.
Originally, she had planned to sketch on paper first.
However, Chunxiao had only managed to borrow a brush and ink from the housekeeper.
Left with no other choice, Song Shuyu had to paint directly onto the silk gauze.
The very first stroke she applied came out too thick.
A bit annoyed, Song Shuyu picked a different spot to start again.
Painting on paper and painting on fabric were completely different.
Besides, the brush used for drawing embroidery patterns was different from the one used for writing.
Song Shuyu harbored the ambition to amaze everyone with a single brilliant feat, believing she could complete it perfectly.
She hadn't expected to run into difficulties right from the start.
After making several consecutive strokes, Song Shuyu was dissatisfied with all of them.
How was this a bamboo? It looked purely like ink sticks!
Chunxiao, come paint this for me! Song Shuyu angrily threw down the brush.
Chunxiao hurriedly picked up the brush to check it; fortunately, it hadn't broken.
Princess, your servant doesn't know how! Chunxiao looked troubled.
Song Shuyu looked at the gambiered Canton gauze she had already drawn into a mess and felt furious.
Why are you so stupid? You don't know how to do anything!
Chunxiao hurriedly knelt down. Please forgive me, Princess. Your servant will go find someone to help right away!
Song Shuyu stomped her foot. You are not allowed to go!
Chunxiao knelt on the ground, at a loss for what to do.
Song Shuyu opened her mouth, wanting to scold her, but eventually, she sat back down in her chair angrily.
Take this, wash it clean, let it dry, and then bring it back!
Yes. Chunxiao complied and scrambled up from the floor.
After Chunxiao went out, Song Shuyu suddenly had a good idea.
She took out her frequently used handkerchief from her clothes and spread it on the table.
She picked up the brush and carefully began to draw on it.
By the time Chunxiao returned with the washed gauze, Song Shuyu was already able to draw bamboo of the appropriate thickness.
Seeing Song Shuyu leaning over the table, earnestly drawing bamboo, Chunxiao hesitated to speak.
She thought about the news she had just heard and wondered if she should tell Song Shuyu.
Song Shuyu put down her brush with great satisfaction. As soon as she looked up, she saw Chunxiao standing nearby with a conflicted expression.
Startled, Song Shuyu was about to lose her temper but then remembered her drawing.
How is it? I only practiced a little, and it's already quite stunning, isn't it? Song Shuyu looked at the maid proudly.
Chunxiao licked her lips. Looking at the blobs of ink on the handkerchief, she didn't know how to evaluate it.
Princess, your servant just heard that Commandery Princess Anning is also going to embroider a pouch for His Majesty.
What? Song Shuyu stood up in surprise.
Where did you hear that? She was somewhat in disbelief.
Everyone in the manor is talking about it. The Princess Consort opened the storehouse, picked out top-grade brocade for the Princess, and even personally selected the pattern.
Song Shuyu blinked. What pattern?
Chunxiao swallowed hard. A golden dragon! A pattern only the Emperor can use!
Suddenly, a brilliant idea formed in Song Shuyu's mind.
Can you find a way to get that pattern for me?
Chunxiao's face instantly turned pale with fright.
Princess, your servant cannot enter the Princess Consort's courtyard.
Song Shuyu rolled her eyes at Chunxiao. So stupid! I will figure it out myself!
Song Shuyu paced in a circle. She glanced at the water clock; it was getting late.
It seemed she would have to wait until tomorrow to figure something out.
At this thought, she immediately lost interest in embroidering bamboo.
Finally waiting until the second day, Song Shuyu took Chunxiao to pay her respects to Princess Consort Ling.
Princess Consort Ling was currently embroidering pouches with Xiao Yunning.
Xiao Yunning was embroidering one for the Emperor, while Princess Consort Ling was embroidering one for Prince Ling, simply treating it as keeping her daughter company.
When the maid reported that Commandery Princess Funing had come to pay her respects, Princess Consort Ling was a bit surprised.
Soon, Song Shuyu walked in with her maid.
She gave Princess Consort Ling a very perfunctory curtsy and then looked around.
Princess Consort Ling had already suspected that Song Shuyu had some ulterior motive for coming.
Seeing Song Shuyu's behavior now, she was even more certain.
Your face looks better, but you should rest more in your room. If you haven't fully recovered, Mother will be heartbroken.
Princess Consort Ling offered fake concern with a distant tone.
Song Shuyu waved her hand. It's too stuffy in my room. I came to ask Mother for some patterns to take back and embroider for fun.
Song Shuyu spotted a pattern peeking out from under the hem of Xiao Yunning's clothes. She walked over, unceremoniously lifted the cloth, and pulled the pattern out.
That's mine! Xiao Yunning hurriedly tried to snatch it back.
Song Shuyu immediately stepped back.
I'm just borrowing it, I'll return it to you later! Mother, I'm taking my leave!
Having found what she wanted, Song Shuyu immediately ran off.
Xiao Yunning hurriedly told her maid to give chase, but Princess Consort Ling stopped her.
Let it be. Mother has more over there, let her have it. Princess Consort Ling didn't want to make too much of a fuss; if Prince Ling found out, it definitely wouldn't end well.
Song Shuyu walked out triumphantly, holding the pattern.
As she walked, she unfolded the pattern in her hands.
Huh? Why are these two patterns the same? Song Shuyu was a bit puzzled.
Chunxiao leaned over to take a look.
Princess, they are different. Look, the dragon in this picture has an extra claw.
Song Shuyu looked and saw that it was indeed so.
This drawing is so hard to embroider! Song Shuyu pouted.
She hadn't expected this pattern to be so difficult.
She had never embroidered anything like it before!
Chunxiao saw someone approaching from ahead and quietly reminded Song Shuyu.
Princess, Secondary Consort Wei is coming over.
Song Shuyu looked up, and indeed, a woman wearing pink clothes and golden hair ornaments was walking toward them.
Secondary Consort Wei was a bit taken aback when she saw Song Shuyu.
She walked up to Song Shuyu and greeted her with a smile.
Commandery Princess Funing.
Song Shuyu nodded arrogantly. Secondary Consort Wei.
Secondary Consort Wei smiled, her sharp eyes catching sight of the embroidery pattern in Song Shuyu's hands.
Is the Princess planning to embroider a pattern?
Actually, Secondary Consort Wei had long known that Princess Consort Ling asked Xiao Yunning to embroider a pouch for the Emperor in order to outshine Song Shuyu.
Song Shuyu looked at Secondary Consort Wei and blinked.
Secondary Consort Wei, do you have any maids with good embroidery skills?
Secondary Consort Wei smiled. I still need to pay my respects to the Princess Consort first, so I will take my leave.
Seeing that Secondary Consort Wei didn't answer her question, Song Shuyu stomped her feet in anger.
When Song Shuyu returned to her room, she saw a maid already waiting outside her door.
Your servant is here to help the Princess. The maid was holding a small bundle in her hands.
Throwing caution to the wind, Song Shuyu immediately let her into the room.
This dragon has too many claws. I want to embroider this one with one less claw.
Song Shuyu pointed to one of the patterns. The maid paused for a moment, then complied and helped trace the drawing.
While Song Shuyu was busy splitting threads to prepare for embroidering the pouch, Duoduo was also busy on her end.
After waking up in the morning, she first exercised with Li Jin.
After breakfast, she studied literature and history with Li Jin for two hours.
Then, Li Jin had to go out to handle his affairs, while Duoduo began drawing promotional posters for the shop.
I have to draw a hundred of these? Duoduo stared wide-eyed at the thick stack of paper.
