Poor Lady Chapter 35: Embroidery thread
In the past few days, Qi Surong has been staying at home to draw patterns.
Feng Zhan has written to inquire several times. Although this embroidery was not appointed by the emperor, as long as he promises, he cannot break his promise. If the finished product cannot be delivered in the end, the consequences will be disastrous.
She must be extremely cautious.
However, because she didn't reply for a long time, rumors spread in the capital, and many people began to spread unfavorable remarks about Yunrong Xiuzhuang. The reputation of Yunrong Xiuzhuang has been greatly affected by this.
A stern look flashed in Qi Surong's eyes, she didn't want to cause trouble, someone wanted her to live in peace. Do you want to use your speech to force her to ride a tiger?
Looking at the artwork on the table, a sense of arrogance suddenly arose in her heart. Since you can't avoid it, let's fight it!
After thinking for a long time, Qi Surong decided to prepare three drawings, one of landscape, one of pavilion, and one of flower. This was to prevent someone from interfering, so she drew two more pictures as alternatives. Naturally, it was impossible for her to embroider three pictures in more than two months, she could only focus on one, and the others could be used to divert attention.
After making up her mind, she sent someone to reply to Feng Zhan, accepting the task, but there was only one condition, that is, the embroidery pattern must be kept secret and not disclosed to anyone.
The envoy originally ordered embroidery from Yunrong Xiuzhuang in a private capacity, and there was no special requirement for the pattern of the embroidery, so Qi Surong happened to be able to do it cheaply.
After Feng Zhan received the reply, he was naturally very happy. He first reported to the emperor, and then informed the envoys of the matter.
Other than that, he never disclosed the details of the matter to others, but three days later, the matter was still widely heard in the streets.
It is undoubtedly a matter of honor for the common people that foreign envoys appreciate the embroidery art of Wei State. Qi Surong accepted the commission in the name of "Yunrong", which immediately attracted the attention of many people, and they all looked forward to the completion of the final embroidery. Yunrong Xiuzhuang was suddenly pushed to the forefront.
The more people who follow, the greater the pressure on Qi Surong. In the end, if the embroidery cannot be delivered, the reputation of Yunrong Xiuzhuang will be ruined, and the Qi family will also be in danger.
Qi Surong expected this to happen from the very beginning.
Opportunities often coexist with crises. No destruction, no establishment, no danger, no progress.
Now that she has made a decision, she will abandon all distracting thoughts and fears and stick to it.
Luo Mansion.
"Go, do whatever you can to destroy Qi Surong's embroidery." Luo Yanyi ordered, "It doesn't matter if you burn it or cut it, as long as you don't let her finish the embroidery."
"Miss, isn't this very good?" A servant said cautiously, "I heard that Mr. Feng sent guards to guard the door of Qi's house in the future. It will be difficult for us to sneak in."
"Are you all elm-headed?" Luo Yanyi said angrily, "If you can't sneak in, won't you think of other ways? For example, bribe the peddler who delivers rice and vegetables, and put some poison in the rice and vegetables. The rest of the Qi family made some troubles, causing his family to be in a state of turmoil... What can't be thought of?"
"Yes, yes, what the lady said is true." The attendant agreed boldly, but secretly complained in his heart. If he was caught, his life might be in danger.
"Since that's the case, what's the point of dawdling, let this lady do it!"
Several attendants jumped out immediately.
Taiwei Mansion.
"You keep an eye on Qi's family, and report to me any changes." Liu Qian'er said to several servants, "Be sure to find out which silk thread Qi Surong uses for embroidery."
"Yes."
"This matter must not be publicized, nor should my father and brother be told."
"Yes, the villain will save you."
"Okay, you guys go." Liu Qian'er waved at them.
After the servant left, she called a middle-aged man with a gloomy face and asked, "Uncle Zhong, do you know how many colors the embroidery threads in the capital have?"
"Miss Hui," the man called "Uncle Zhong" said respectfully, "As far as this old servant knows, there are a total of forty-six colors of embroidery thread in the capital."
"How long does it take to re-produce a batch of embroidery thread?"
"It takes half a month."
"Which color is the fewest?"
"The three colors blue, green, and purple are the least, because these three colors are the most difficult to smudge." Uncle Zhong replied, "It's hard to grasp the depth, and there are few color separations."
"So, if I want to buy silk threads of these three colors, how much money will I need to spend?"
Surprise flashed in Uncle Zhong's eyes, he thought for a moment, and replied: "There are more than 370 embroidery shops and more than 220 rouge shops in the whole capital, and there are five fabric material suppliers. If you want to monopolize these three kinds of embroidery threads, at least tens of thousands of taels."
"Tens of thousands of taels?" Liu Qian'er smiled slightly. Although she couldn't come up with tens of thousands of taels all at once, if she joined Luo Yanyi and a few other noble girls to share it, each person would only need a few taels. Qianliang.
Liu Qian'er had some calculations in her mind, and she just waited for the results of the investigation.
In order to ensure everything is safe, Feng Zhan specially sent guards to stay near Qi's house.
In this way, some people with evil plans will not be able to enter, and Gu Jinyun will no longer be able to sneak in secretly to meet beautiful women.
However, he knows that these two months are very critical for the Qi family, and Su Rong must complete this embroidery within a limited time.
The embroidery thread used for this embroidery must be the best. Qi Surong personally selected the embroidery thread sold by two embroidery shops.
She needs a lot of embroidery thread, and the quality and color must be uniform. It is sure that the order will not be complete at one time, but she is afraid of being tampered with by others after ordering many times. After thinking it over and over again, Qi Surong decided to buy a few more colors, so that people can't figure out which ones she needs.
In the first half month, Qi Surong's embroidery went smoothly. She typed out the first drafts of the three designs, and she chose landscapes, which are majestic and beautiful.
Qi Surong embroidered very carefully stitch by stitch, and must be perfect without any loss.
Once you are focused, you are fully engaged.
It was not until the second time when I purchased embroidery thread that I was surprised to find that the embroidery thread in the three colors of blue, green, and purple in the capital was almost sold out.
Her face changed slightly, she didn't expect those people to be so rich and powerful, monopolizing all these colors in one go.
She looked carefully at her pattern and found that these three colors were essential.
The three patterns may be grand or gorgeous, blue water, green leaves, and purple waffles, each with its own characteristics and indispensable.
Even if you change the picture, it may be difficult to get rid of these three colors. What's more, more than half a month has passed, Qi Surong doesn't have much time to delay.
She immediately sent people to look for new sources of goods. However, the newly obtained embroidery threads were either of inconsistent colors or of poor quality.
This embroidery is embroidered for foreign envoys, and no flaws are allowed.
Knowing the situation, Gu Jinyun specially went to other places to buy embroidery threads for her, but because of the different dyeing methods, the colors are always different.
After such a lot of tossing, another seven or eight days passed before I knew it, and the embroidery was only one third completed.
Not only that, the Qi family has been in constant turmoil for the past few days, and from time to time people come to trouble the Qi family. There were also people making trouble at Yunrong Xiuzhuang, and the business plummeted. Qi's father was not overly annoyed, but when his temper flared up, he almost got into another lawsuit.
Qi Surong fell into a dilemma.
"Rong'er, what should I do?" Qi's mother wept slightly, her eyes full of worry.
Qi Surong looked at the embroidery picture on the embroidery frame with a calm expression.
"Rong'er, if this embroidery cannot be completed..."
"No, I have to finish it!" Qi Surong said firmly.
"So what are your plans?"
Qi Surong stood up slowly, picked up the scissors at the side, and suddenly raised her hand to stab at the embroidery pattern, only to hear a squeak, and she cut a long cut in the fine silk.
"Rong'er, what are you doing?" Qi's mother turned pale with shock. There is not enough time, and now that the entire embroidery picture has been destroyed, isn't there no hope at all?
Qi Surong closed his eyes, then opened them, with a strange brilliance in his eyes.
"So what if there is no blue, green, or purple?" She decided, "Even with the simplest colors, I can embroider the best embroidery!"
"Rong'er, you..."
"There is still more than a month, enough for me to start all over again!" Instead of continuing to delay time, it is better to burn the boat.
The next day, Qi Surong secretly sent a letter to Gu Jinyun, asking him to help purchase several kinds of silk threads.
Since the three colors of blue, green, and purple have the fewest embroidery threads, she embroiders with the largest number of embroidery threads.
Afterwards, she said to her parents: "Father and mother, I will leave Qi's house for a while until this embroidery is finished."
"Where are you going?" Qi's father frowned, "In Qi's house, at least there are guards guarding, and outsiders cannot sneak in, but if you go out alone, you may encounter danger."
"Father, don't worry, the place I'm going to is absolutely safe and secret." Qi Surong replied, "Once I leave, those who harass the Qi family will stop, and they will focus on finding my whereabouts." .”
"Are you sure?" Father Qi asked seriously.
"Yes." Qi Surong nodded affirmatively, her beautiful face was full of confidence.
"Okay, let's go."
"Remember to bring more maidservants." Mother Qi reminded.
Qi Surong said with a smile: "Mother, I'm not going to visit relatives. Bringing a maid is too big a goal, and it's easy to reveal whereabouts."
"But you belong to a daughter's family..." Qi's mother looked worried.
"Don't worry, mother, my daughter has her own measure."
Qi's mother was about to say something, but Qi's father interrupted: "Don't talk too much, my daughter should have already thought about it."
Qi Surong nodded and smiled.
A few days later, Qi Surong suddenly disappeared from home, but outsiders didn't notice it at all. Everyone thought that she was still embroidering behind closed doors, and the servants of the Qi family were still buying embroidery thread everywhere, and nothing seemed to have changed.
However, where did Qi Surong go?