In the past few days, Qi Surong has been staying at home to draw patterns.
Feng Zhan had written to inquire several times. Although this embroidery was not specified by the emperor, he could not break his promise as long as he promised. If the finished product is not delivered in the end, the consequences will be disastrous.
She must be particularly careful.
However, because she did not reply for a long time, rumors spread in the capital, and many people began to spread unfavorable remarks about Yunrong Xiuzhuang. Such promotion of national glory was blocked and she had no courage. The reputation of Yunrong Xiuzhuang was greatly affected.
A sharp look flashed in Qi Surong's eyes. She didn't want to cause trouble, but someone wanted to make her live in peace. Do you want to use your remarks to force her into a difficult position
Looking at the drawings on the table, she suddenly felt proud. Since you can't avoid it, then fight it!
After thinking for a long time, Qi Surong decided to prepare three pictures, one of landscape, one of pavilion and one of flowers. This was to prevent anyone from disturbing her, so she drew two more pictures as alternatives. In more than two months, it was naturally impossible for her to embroider three pictures. She could only focus on one picture and use the others as a diversion.
After making up her mind, she sent someone to reply to Feng Zhan and accepted the task. There was only one condition, that is, the embroidery pattern must be kept secret and cannot be disclosed to anyone.
The envoy originally ordered embroidery from Yunrong Xiuzhuang in a private capacity, and had no special requirements for the pattern of the embroidery, so Qi Surong could do it easily.
Feng Zhan was naturally very happy after receiving the reply. He first replied to the emperor, and then informed the envoys about the matter.
Apart from this, he never disclosed the details of the matter to anyone else, but three days later, the matter was still widely known in the streets.
It is undoubtedly a matter of great honor for the people that foreign envoys admire Wei Guo's embroidery art. Qi Surong accepted this commission in the name of "Yunrong", which instantly 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 paying attention, the greater the pressure on Qi Surong. If the embroidery cannot be handed over in the end, Yunrong Xiuzhuang will be ruined and the Qi family will be in danger.
Qi Surong expected this to happen from the beginning.
Opportunities often coexist with crises. If there is no destruction, there will be no establishment; if there is no danger, there will be no success.
Once she has decided, she will abandon all distracting thoughts and fears and stick to the end.
Luo Mansion.
"Go, try your best to destroy Qi Surong's embroidery." Luo Yanyi ordered, "Whether it's burning or cutting, just don't let her finish the embroidery."
"Miss, isn't this not good?" an attendant said carefully, "I heard that Master Feng has 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 stupid?" Luo Yanyi said angrily, "If you can't sneak in, won't you think of other ways? For example, bribe the hawkers who deliver rice and vegetables, and put some poison in the rice and vegetables. Or give other things to the Qi family Someone is causing some trouble and making his family feel restless... What can you do to think of something?"
"Yes, yes, what the lady said is true." The attendant agreed bravely, but he was secretly complaining in his heart. If he was caught, his life might not be saved.
"In that case, why are you still dawdling? Let me do it quickly!"
Several attendants immediately jumped out.
Taiwei Mansion.
"You guys keep an eye on the Qi family and report to me any changes." Liu Qian'er said to several servants, "Be sure to find out what kind of silk thread Qi Surong uses for embroidery."
"yes."
"This matter must not be made public, and my father and brothers must not be informed."
"Yes, don't worry, little guy."
"Okay, you go ahead." Liu Qian'er waved her hands towards 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 of embroidery thread there are in the capital?"
"Miss Hui," the man called "Uncle Zhong" said respectfully, "As far as the old servant knows, there are a total of forty-six colors of embroidery thread in the capital."
"How long does it take to produce a new batch of embroidery thread?"
"It takes half a month."
“Which color is the least?”
"The three colors of blue, green and purple are the least, because these three colors are the most difficult to blend." Uncle Zhong replied, "It is difficult to control the depth and color separation."
"So, if I want to purchase these three colors of silk threads, how much money will it cost?"
A trace of 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, as well as five suppliers of fabric materials. If we want to monopolize These three types of embroidery thread cost at least tens of thousands taels."
"Ten thousand taels?" Liu Qian'er's mouth showed a smile. Although she couldn't come up with tens of thousands taels at once, if she combined with Luo Yanyi and several other noble ladies, and shared it, each of them would only be a few thousand taels.
Liu Qian'er had some calculations in her mind and was just waiting for the results of the investigation by her subordinates.
In order to ensure nothing went wrong, Feng Zhan specially sent guards to stay near Qi's house.
In this way, some people with evil intentions can't get in, and Gu Jinyun can't sneak in secretly to have private meetings with beautiful women.
However, he knew that these two months were very critical for the Qi family, and Su Rong had to complete this embroidery within a limited time.
The embroidery thread used for this embroidery must be the best. Qi Surong selected it personally, and finally selected the embroidery thread sold by two embroidery shops.
She needs a lot of embroidery thread, and the quality and color must be consistent. She will definitely not get it all at one time, but if she orders multiple times, she is afraid that others will tamper with it secretly. After careful consideration, Qi Surong decided to buy a few more colors, making it unclear which ones she needed.
In the first half of the month, Qi Surong's embroidery went smoothly. She typed out the first drafts of three patterns, and chose landscapes, which were majestic and graceful.
Qi Surong embroidered every stitch carefully, making sure it was perfect and there was no room for error.
Once you focus, you are fully engaged.
It wasn't until the second time I purchased embroidery thread that I was surprised to find that almost all the three colors of embroidery thread - blue, green and purple - had been bought up in the capital.
Her face changed slightly. She didn't expect those people to be so wealthy and monopolize all these colors in one go.
She looked through her drawings carefully and found that these three colors were essential.
The three patterns are either grand or gorgeous, with blue water, green leaves, and purple wadding. Each has its own characteristics and is indispensable.
Even if the picture is changed, I am afraid it will be difficult to abandon these three colors. What's more, more than half a month has passed, and Qi Surong doesn't have much time to delay.
She immediately sent people to search for new sources of supplies. However, the new embroidery threads either did not match the color or were of poor quality.
This embroidery was embroidered for foreign envoys, and no flaws were allowed.
Gu Jinyun learned about the situation and went out to buy embroidery thread for her. However, due to different blending methods, the colors were always slightly different.
After all this work, seven or eight days passed before I knew it, and only one-third of the embroidery was completed.
Not only that, the Qi family has been in constant turmoil for the past few days, and people come to trouble the Qi family from time to time. There were also people making trouble at Yunrong Xiuzhuang, and business plummeted. Qi's father was not very annoyed. His temper got worse and he almost got into another lawsuit.
Qi Surong was in a dilemma.
"Rong'er, what should we do?" Qi's mother sobbed slightly, her eyes full of worry.
Qi Surong looked at the embroidery pictures on the embroidery stand with a calm expression.
"Rong'er, if this embroidery cannot be completed..."
"No, I have to finish it!" Qi Surong said firmly.
"Then what are your plans?"
Qi Surong stood up slowly, picked up the scissors on the side, and suddenly raised her hand to embroider the picture. She heard a sizzling sound, and a long gash was cut in the fine silk.
"Rong'er, what are you doing?" Qi's mother was shocked. Time is not enough. Now that the entire embroidery has been destroyed, isn't there no hope at all
Qi Surong closed her eyes and then opened them, revealing a strange light.
"So what if there are no blue, green, or purple?" she said firmly, "Even with the simplest colors, I can still embroider the best!"
"Rong'er, you..."
"There is still more than a month, enough time for me to start all over again!" Rather than continue to waste 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 least amount of embroidery thread, she uses the largest amount of embroidery thread for embroidery.
Then, she said to her parents: "Mom and Dad, I have to leave the Qi family for a while until this embroidery is completed."
"Where do you plan to go?" Father Qi frowned, "In the Qi family, at least there are guards guarding it, and outsiders cannot sneak in, but if you go out alone, you may be in danger."
"Dad, don't worry, the place I am going to is absolutely safe and very private." Qi Surong replied, "Once I leave, the people who harassed the Qi family will stop, and they will focus their energy on finding my whereabouts."
"Are you sure?" Father Qi asked seriously.
"Yes." Qi Surong nodded affirmatively, her beautiful face showing confidence.
"Okay then, go ahead."
"Remember to bring more maids with you." Mother Qi warned.
Qi Surong smiled and said, "Mom, I'm not going to visit relatives. Bringing a maid would be a big target and could easily expose my whereabouts."
"But you are from a daughter's family..." Qi's mother looked worried.
"Don't worry, mother, my daughter has her own sense of proportion."
When Qi's mother was about to say something, Qi's father interrupted: "Don't say too much. My daughter should have already been worried about it."
Qi Surong nodded and smiled.
A few days later, Qi Surong suddenly disappeared from home, but no one noticed at all. Everyone thought that she was still doing embroidery behind closed doors, and the servants of the Qi family were still buying embroidery threads from everywhere. Nothing seemed to have changed.
However, where did Qi Surong go