"Granny, give this to the young lady." At this moment, the Empress suddenly called out.
Those around were startled, and Ji Wushang was even more surprised. How could she be so kind? She quickly knelt down and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty the Empress."
The Empress smiled at her, a faint smile playing on her lips.
At this moment, Huangfu Ting entered, nodded to everyone without disturbing them, and then walked up to the Empress and bowed, saying, "Empress Dowager."
"Please take a seat," the Empress said, her heart filled with joy as she looked at him.
Immediately, someone brought over a chaise lounge.
The young ladies around were overjoyed to see the Second Prince, Huangfu Ting, arrive, but they were also disappointed that they couldn't showcase their talents. If only Huangfu Ting would take a liking to them! They'd heard that the Empress was pressuring him to marry a concubine; this was a golden opportunity, since both of them were present!
Ji Wushang ignored the infatuated girls and went about her own business. Their thoughts about climbing the social ladder were none of her concern.
Ji Wushang saw that he had been given a wolf-hair brush and a plate of inkstone, all of which were placed on the small desk that had been moved there. He then politely bowed to the official in charge of the matter and thanked him.
The ladies around watched, whispering amongst themselves.
"What is she thinking? This is the main hall! They want needlework and embroidery, why did she have the matron bring inkstone and wolf-hair brush!"
"Not yet. Judging from her expression, do you think she can come up with any good ideas?"
"I don't think it'll work. What can she possibly do? Humph!"
"I think we should hurry up and think of a solution!"
...
Ji Wushang smiled, but just as he was carefully dipping his wolf-hair brush into the ink, Shangguan Feiyan, who was standing not far away, remembered that she had also been by Ji Wushang's side during that time. Back then, she had also faced such a large painting screen and finished the painting. But this was embroidery, not painting!
Shangguan Feiyan stepped forward at this moment, "Sister Wushang, what are you doing? This is embroidery, not painting."
Ji Wushang looked at her and gently pushed her aside with his hand. "Just watch." Ji Wushang said with a smile.
Ji Wushang walked in front of a painted screen as if no one else was around. The young ladies had no choice but to step aside when they saw Ji Wushang coming. Ji Wushang's actions meant that she had started doing needlework, so the painted screen belonged to her.
Some of the young ladies looked at Ji Wushang with smug satisfaction. Shangguan Feiyan was right. This was not painting, but embroidery. They did not believe that Ji Wushang had the ability to pierce the thick plywood with a needle.
Ji Wushang glanced at the time and immediately began painting on the screen, oblivious to everyone around him, painting a huge peony. The peony was entirely in ink, but it had a unique charm.
The Empress took a sip of tea, her phoenix fingers tapping lightly on the table from time to time. Her gaze was fixed on Ji Wushang. To be honest, she couldn't think of any way to embroider on this large screen. The reason she had someone give her this task was to tell them that no matter how they tried, they couldn't embroider a screen.
But Ji Wushang actually said he could embroider? Could he?
As Huangfu Ting watched Ji Wushang earnestly wielding her wolf-hair brush in front of the painting screen, he felt a sense of elegance about her. He never expected her painting skills to be so beautiful.
Ji Wushang wasn't tall enough to reach the seat on the painted screen, so he bowed to Granny Wang and said, "Granny, I'd like a stool. I'm not tall enough."
"Hmm." Granny Wang nodded. Since the Empress had already granted her request for the inkstone and wolf-hair brush, she would naturally provide the stool as well. To be honest, she was quite curious to see how the embroidery would turn out.
Ji Wushang watched as the eunuch brought over the stool. He moved the stool to the painted screen, stepped onto it, and continued painting. Before long, the entire screen was filled with his painting—a peony painting depicting heaven and earth.
Against the backdrop of the sky and the earth, Ji Wushang even painted a few wisps of breeze, which gently swayed the large black peony, making it appear to flow.
Ji Wushang watched as he got off the stool and tidied up his wolf-hair brush and inkstone.
Those around her were amazed by her painting skills, but they absolutely did not agree that this was a piece of needlework embroidery.
Ji Wushang smiled and took out the longest red silk thread and the longest embroidery needle from his embroidery bag.
Everyone's eyes were fixed on Ji Wushang, watching her next move. Ji Wushang remained unhurried. After threading the needle, she stepped onto the stool and began to outline the large, dark peony. Those around her saw that Ji Wushang's face was practically pressed against the painted screen; as she inserted the needle, she simultaneously used her mouth to guide it out!
Those around her couldn't believe it. How could she have come up with this? Was she really willing to sacrifice her face for victory? No, her face was still so sweet, and her skin was still so soft!
Some young ladies looked on, thinking they should try to imitate her, but their pushing and shoving was improper. Neither the Empress nor the Second Prince said anything, so Wang Mama had to have some more wolf-hair brushes and inkstones prepared.
Ji Wushang turned around and watched the young ladies scrambling for the painting. He smiled and glanced at the funnel. More than half the time had passed. Even if they could finish the painting in time, they definitely wouldn't have time to embroider like he did. They had no experience, and he was lazy. When his hands got tired at home, he would use his mouth to thread the needle.
Huangfu Ting's gaze drifted towards Ji Wushang, where he saw her holding a long embroidery needle with a red thread in her mouth. From this angle, she was exceptionally dazzling, and also possessed a unique and alluring charm.
Huangfu Ting realized his lapse in composure and immediately finished his tea. When he looked up, Ji Wushang was already continuing to embroider her large red peony. With the addition of needle and thread, the ink lines had been replaced by red, transforming it into a truly magnificent red peony.
Ji Wushang finally finished the last stitch, her mouth exhausted. She removed the embroidery needle from her mouth and then tied a knot in the thread. Her nimble hands shaped the knot into a butterfly shape, which, from a distance, looked like a butterfly flying on a large red peony, lively and even more beautiful.
Ji Wushang smiled and tied another knot, one he had deliberately left untied. After tying three, the painting of peonies and butterflies fluttering across the land was complete.
Ji Wushang was satisfied and was about to get down, but at that moment, whether someone deliberately came up and bumped into the stool or deliberately stepped on it, the stool wobbled and was about to fall down!
Ji Wushang was shocked and had no choice but to jump to the ground. The stool immediately fell over. Fortunately, he knew a little martial arts!
Those around were also taken aback, but the young ladies on the other side, seeing that Ji Wushang was completely unharmed, gave a cold snort.
Huangfu Ting watched, initially considering whether to intervene, but then noticed that she landed steadily. A question immediately arose in his mind: Did she know martial arts?
This woman is really something else!
Ji Wushang then turned her gaze to the couple, all daughters of high-ranking officials. She scrutinized them for a long time before turning away. The group of people felt a chill run down their spines under her cold, hateful gaze.
Shangguan Feiyan walked over. "Sister Wushang, are you alright? How did the stool suddenly fall?"
"It's nothing, just an accident." Ji Wushang said expressionlessly. "Time's up." Meaning, those people no longer needed to draw or learn from him!
Those around them stomped their feet in anger as they watched time seem to stand still.
Upon seeing the painting of peonies and butterflies fluttering in the sky, the Empress stepped forward and uttered only one word: "Good."
Huangfu Ting then turned his attention to Ji Wushang. Ji Wushang knew him and immediately went to the Empress's side, using that slight advantage to block him.
Seeing this, Huangfu Ting finally came to his senses. What the hell was wrong with him? Right, he had a mission! He had a mission!
"Today's winner is Miss Ji," Wang Mama announced after receiving a look from the Empress.
Most of the people around felt discouraged, but Shangguan Feiyan stepped forward and exclaimed, "Sister Wushang is amazing!"
"Thank you." Ji Wushang smiled.
Before long, Ji Wushang and the others stood in the main hall, listening to the final results of the past three days. Ji Wushang won first place without any suspense, while the other two won second and third place.
Ji Wushang was overjoyed. Finally, she could put her mother's mind at ease, and her needlework skills were finally recognized!
The young ladies were filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred, and Ji Wushang was also furious. These ungrateful wretches dared to plot against him? He would definitely get his revenge a thousandfold in the future!
Ji Wushang and Shangguan Feiyan returned and rode in the same carriage. However, just as they got into the carriage and were thinking of leaving the palace, they saw a man walking out of the palace. Ji Wushang recognized him as a palace eunuch.
"Miss Ji, please wait, the Empress requests your presence."
☆、141 Where to go from here? He suddenly appeared.
Ji Wushang looked at the rather tall eunuch and listened to his words; it didn't seem like he was trying to deceive her. Besides, someone in the palace must have already reported the good news to General Ji's mansion, saying that Ji Wushang had won the championship. She doubted that even the Empress would dare to do anything to her! Not going would be a great act of treason and give her a reason to be gossiped about.
"Thank you for leading the way, Eunuch Rong," Ji Wushang said, bowing slightly as he alighted from the carriage.
Shangguan Feiyan looked at him from the carriage. Ji Wushang thought for a moment. He definitely couldn't let her go with him to see the Empress, because the Empress only wanted him to go alone. Bringing Shangguan Feiyan along would probably make him disliked.
"Feiyan, why don't you go back first? My carriage will be here shortly," Ji Wushang said.
Shangguan Feiyan nodded, realizing that she should indeed go back, as it was getting late.
"Okay. Be careful in everything you do," Shangguan Feiyan said, then pulled the carriage curtain closed.
Ji Wushang watched the carriage drive out of the palace before turning to the eunuch and signaling that he could lead the way.
The old man nodded, saying that the young lady was indeed quite nice and knew how to be polite.
"Eunuch, did the Empress say to summon Wu Shang? What is it for?" Ji Wu Shang asked in a low voice. Seeing that no one was paying attention, she took out a silver ingot from her bosom and secretly stuffed it into the eunuch's hand.
The eunuch smiled and accepted the silver. "I don't know the details either. It's just that the Empress was unhappy when she learned that Miss Yao and Miss Yuan had left the palace due to illness. She heard that Miss Ji was present at the time, so she asked you to come and ask her some questions."
Ji Wushang nodded, "In that case, thank you for your guidance, Father-in-law." So that's what it was about. That makes things easier; this matter has nothing to do with me at all!
"What can we do to help? Please, young lady, come with us to meet Her Majesty the Empress as soon as possible. It would be disrespectful to keep Her Majesty waiting."
“Yes, what you say is right, Father-in-law.” Ji Wushang nodded, and then followed him quickly forward.
Upon arriving at the magnificent Ningfeng Palace, the eunuch gestured for Ji Wushang to enter before leaving immediately. Ji Wushang straightened her clothes before going in.
"Your Majesty, the eldest daughter of General Ji's mansion has arrived and is waiting outside the palace." A palace maid entered the Empress's inner palace and knelt down to greet her.
The Empress was reclining on the fragrant couch, her beautiful eyes half-closed. Two palace maids were massaging her to help her relax, while two others were peeling grapes and feeding them to her. Grapes shouldn't be in season at this time, but the fact that the Empress could eat them showed that she was still greatly favored by the Emperor, and that his requests would certainly be fulfilled.
The Empress stretched and her lips twitched slightly. "You may all leave. Then, after an incense stick has burned, you may let anyone in."
"Yes." The palace maids listened and tidied themselves up, then filed out.
Ji Wushang looked on, thinking he should ask, "Shouldn't this be a summons for me to go in? Why hasn't there been a response for so long?"
The wind was a bit biting, and Ji Wushang wasn't wearing many thick clothes, so he felt a little cold.
At this moment, a young palace maid came out. Ji Wushang went to greet her, but before Ji Wushang could speak, the maid said, "Miss Ji, Her Majesty the Empress is taking a nap. Please wait a moment."
Ji Wushang nodded. What kind of "rest" was this? They called him over, but then made him wait. Wasn't this just a show of force?
Ji Wushang didn't care at all. He watched the palace maid leave. He was standing right outside. He wasn't just standing; he could stand up on his own!
But just then, when he looked up, he saw Huangfu Yu and Huangfu Ting walking towards him. How could these two be here? He wanted to leave, but he couldn't.
The two men saw Ji Wushang, exchanged a glance, and immediately stepped forward. Ji Wushang quickly curtsied, "Greetings, Second Prince, Sixth Prince." Ji Wushang didn't understand why he always saw the two of them in this palace, while the other three princes and the seventh princess were nowhere to be seen.
Huangfu Yu looked her up and down, then said, "I heard you won the championship, congratulations!"
"Hehe, thank you, Sixth Prince." Ji Wushang looked at him, unsure whether to laugh or not.
"What are you doing here?" Huangfu Ting glanced at her; this shouldn't be a place for her.
"Your Highness, it was Her Majesty the Empress who instructed you to summon Wu Shang, and Wu Shang has come here to wait," Ji Wu Shang replied.
"Your mother sent you here, so why are you standing here in the wind?" Huangfu Yu narrowed his eyes, then looked into the inner palace.
Ji Wushang remained silent. This was clearly a show of force intended to teach him a lesson. Could he possibly speak up? Besides, what was his relationship with these two people? They had only met a few times and exchanged a few words with him. Did that mean they could be friends? If word got out, it would be too ridiculous, as if people would say that Ji Wushang was ignorant of his own limitations and dared to presume to associate with two princes!
"I'll go in and take a look," Huangfuyu said, looking at her.
Huangfu Ting then said, "Yu, don't be impulsive."
“Second brother!” Huangfu Yu turned around and glanced at him, then said, “I know what I’m doing.”
Ji Wushang smiled, wondering what these two brothers were up to.
Just as Huangfu Yu was about to go in, a palace maid came out from outside, bowing respectfully, "Second Prince, Sixth Prince, Miss Ji, Her Majesty the Empress wants you to come in."
Ji Wushang nodded. Indeed, some people are different. If they hadn't come, it would probably have taken quite a while.