Mood 22

  Li Qianxue's eyes were red, and she looked a bit uncomfortable. She quietly took in Yang Lan's room, which was not large but was tastefully decorated with elegant furnishings made of Huanghuali wood. The bedding on the kang had a subtle yellow peony pattern embroidered on it, and there was a small wooden table at the window with a pair of auspicious pillows and a luxurious bed runner in a soft lotus color.

  The western room is connected, with a multi-treasured rack carved with the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, separating it from the yellow flower pear wood. On top are placed some books and decorations, among which a pot of He Tianyu's luxurious peony is particularly eye-catching. The carving is magnificent, the peony is rich and majestic, very striking. There is also a pair of thin as paper, thin-bodied porcelain bowls, faintly glowing with light and shadow.

  Behind the shelf is a four-open sandalwood embroidered screen, and behind it should be Yang Lan's bedroom. On the high shelf in the northeast corner, there is a green glass vase with purple flowers, and on the west window sill, there is a pot of peach blossoms in full bloom. The furnishings are not many, but each one is a masterpiece of imperial gifts, and the layout is elegant, comfortable, simple and generous.

  Bi Yun placed a small tea tray with black lacquer and carved flowers on it, with two white porcelain cups painted with colorful flowers. "Miss Bai, please, this is the new batch of Junshan Yinzhen tea."

  Yang Lan smiled and looked at Li Qianxue, softly comforting her, "Sister doesn't need to blame herself, Mother just hopes we understand the rules better!"

  Li Qianxue lowered her head, a flash of jealousy quickly passing through her eyes, feeling quite resentful in her heart. Why could she live so comfortably? She had status and power, love and family background, why did I have nothing? My mother was also a ten-mile red dowry back then!

  Now I've become a dependent of the Li family, and since Father's death, there hasn't been an outstanding man to take charge and hold up the family. If it weren't for Grandmother's pity, I'm afraid...I have to endure humiliation everywhere, striving for every bit of sympathy, why can she live without worries and enjoy life effortlessly? It's so unfair!

  Her emotions flashed across her face, but she smiled with a reddened face, "I just feel like I've dragged everyone down. I originally wanted to take the opportunity to learn more from Auntie, but I didn't expect to make my sisters unhappy! I'm really sorry, Sixth Sister, please don't be angry with me! This pouch is one that I embroidered myself, consider it a peace offering!" As she spoke, she handed over a crimson satin pouch embroidered with golden chrysanthemums.

  Yang Lan smiled and took it over, praising: "Sister's craftsmanship is really good, much better than mine!"

  Li Qianxue smiled confidently, "I'm just barely presentable like this, as long as you're not disappointed, little sister!"

  "How is this possible! My cousin's craftsmanship is great, I want to learn from her!" Yang Lan said with a happy smile.

  "I just came to apologize to my sister, I won't stay long, I'll come back another day to talk to my sister!" Li Qianxue smiled and stood up to bid farewell.

  "Cousin, come over and play when you're free! I won't be polite to my cousin anymore, there's still a lot of stuff to copy!" Yang Lan said with a mischievous tongue-out expression, looking cute and playful.

  After seeing off Li Qianxue, Yang Lan pinched her purse and was in a daze. Lin Mama brought up a bowl of silver ear red date soup, "Miss, have a bowl of sweet water to moisten your throat! Is this sent by Miss Biao?" She asked with a tilted head.

  Yang Lan nodded and handed it over, "She just ran to give me a purse and apologize? Besides, she shouldn't be apologizing to me either? All the sisters were punished, right? If anyone should apologize, it should be to Third Sister! I don't understand what she means?" She picked up her bowl and stirred the red dates with her spoon.

  Lin Daiyu picked up the embroidery bag, took a look, and shook her head with a smile. "This level is far inferior to Miss's, not even as good as Biyun's craftsmanship! In my opinion, she came to curry favor with you!"

  "Flatter me? Why?" Yang Lan's face was full of strange colors, what could I bring to her anyway?

  Lin's aunt sat on the kang, carefully distinguishing, "Miss Biao is a girl with a heart, but she is still young and can't help but write it on her face. She is eager to please you! If you say something good about her, in the future she will be able to marry into a good family, or at least have a good relationship with you, which would be a great help! If she could get a word of praise from Master, what's there to fear?"

  A benevolent and gentle face with a hint of a knowing smile, eyes that see through the ways of the world.

  Yang Lan nodded thoughtfully and picked up her purse, lifting her head to smile: "Doesn't everyone know that I don't particularly like overly bright colors?"

  Although this purse is red, the floral pattern is very elegant and delicate, it can be seen that my sister has put some thought into it, and it must be a new piece.

  Lin's aunt smiled and said meaningfully: "Young master, just watch, as long as you show a hint of favoritism, someone will immediately come to flatter you with gifts. I saw Miss Biao looking at you with envy earlier!"

  "Hmm, I saw it too. She swept her gaze around the decorations in my house, thinking I didn't notice!" Yang Lan smiled and shook her head, but also didn't take it to heart.

  "By the way, Princess, I've invited two embroiderers to the mansion, one is skilled in Su embroidery and the other in Gu embroidery. The one who does Su embroidery can do real double-sided embroidery, isn't that what you wanted to learn? It's perfect timing for her to teach you well." Lin Mama remembered something and hurriedly reported it.

  Yang Lan indeed asked with great interest: "Is it for me alone or is it an invitation for the entire household?"

  "Gu Xiu's one is also teaching the young ladies, mainly to teach you, Su Xiu's one lives in our mansion and doesn't go there." Lin Mama said with a hint of meaning.

  "Oh! Is double-sided embroidery difficult to learn? I see many people selling it on the market!" Yang Lan had only learned women's needlework for less than three years and could only make small items such as pouches, handkerchiefs, fan bags, etc., and couldn't even make clothes yet.

  Ms. Lin smiled and explained, "Real double-sided embroidery is extremely difficult, that's truly good craftsmanship. There are same-color double-sided embroidery and different-color double-sided embroidery. Suzhou embroidery mainly emphasizes clarity and elegance. This embroiderer was invited back by the princess at a great price to preside over the shop, but she really has skills. However, most of what's sold on the market is fake and deceives people. The hardest part of double-sided embroidery is learning to hide the thread head so that not a single trace can be seen."

  Yang Lan listened with relish, she liked to embroider things, especially the feeling of accomplishment when bringing paintings to life through embroidery. Looking at the exquisite embroidery products was like admiring a work of art, it was a delightful thing, and at the same time, she also used this to temper her temperament.

  "That's great, I like it. When can she come? I've been wanting to learn for a long time! Auntie, look at the embroidery on that screen in my room, it's so good! I was thinking of embroidering a small screen myself and giving it to Mother as a gift!" Yang Lan thought about it and found it very interesting.

  "Come tomorrow, I'll have someone clean up the house and arrange for you to stay in the room next to yours. And I'll also assign a clever little maid to serve you!" Lin Yini was in charge of managing the affairs of the courtyard, but whenever something came up, she would definitely report it to Yang Lan.

  "Just watch and do it, we should still respect those who are capable. Tell the little maids not to be unruly and make a fool of me as their master." Yang Lan warned again.

  "Don't worry, Master, I won't let such a thing happen." Lin Daiyu guaranteed with a smile.

  Collect it and click! New book needs motivation!