"To be frank, no matter how well we embroider, we are still far inferior to the sisters who are by Mother's side!" Liu Niang received a wink from Qi Niang and said slowly, "It's just the filial piety of the four of us."
Her words of flattery struck a chord with Zhao.
Zhao nodded repeatedly, completely forgetting Anran's words and putting Anran's inability to do embroidery work to the back of her mind.
“That’s right. We sisters will work together and won’t delay Mother’s schedule,” Seventh Sister added with a smile.
An Ran could only remain silent.
If she continued, she would seem unreasonable. Moreover, she now realized that today's events were probably because Seventh Sister held a grudge against her and deliberately brought this up to provoke her.
I'm afraid this wasn't just Qi Niang's idea.
An Ran glanced at Sixth Sister without showing any emotion. Today, Sixth Sister and Seventh Sister were unusually harmonious, even close and friendly.
There are no eternal enemies or friends.
An Ran still remembers that in her previous life, Chen Qian's two concubines fought fiercely before An Ran entered the house, but after An Ran entered, they became as close as twin sisters.
It's all driven by profit!
With things having come to this point, An Ran had no choice but to reluctantly agree.
The four of them were going to Tingfengxuan for Master He's class, so they agreed to go to Qi Niang's place after lunch to discuss how to embroider.
There's always a solution.
******
Ningxue Courtyard.
Anran ate lunch while sighing and worrying.
Needlework skills are not acquired overnight. If we really take on this task according to Seventh Sister's wishes this time, we will suffer a great loss.
It's normal for Qi Niang to hate herself; the argument that day had clearly provoked her. Just those two rewards alone were enough to make the proud and arrogant Qi Niang feel resentful for a long time. But according to Qi Niang's usual behavior, she should have been jumping up and down, arguing with herself until the world turned upside down.
Today, Seventh Sister was very tactful, and even seemed to be using someone else to do her dirty work.
An Ran couldn't help but wonder if there was a "strategist" helping Qi Niang devise a plan this time.
After the four sisters dispersed yesterday, Shi Niang kept going in and out of Ningxue Courtyard. And judging from Shi Niang's behavior today, that was the most normal reaction. Looking at Liu Niang and Qi Niang, it seemed as if they already knew about this and were fully prepared.
It's likely that the person who advised Seventh Sister was Sixth Sister; no wonder their relationship was so good after only one day.
Why does Sixth Sister hate her so much? Is it just because they all came back from outside? Could it be that she's afraid she'll affect her status?
These questions swirled in An Ran's mind.
Wait a minute, what Sixth Sister and Seventh Sister both know... Tenth Sister wouldn't know?
After thinking it over, An Ran still felt that it was a conspiracy between Sixth Sister and Seventh Sister. As for whether Tenth Sister played a role in it, An Ran was not entirely sure.
The best course of action is simply to counter each move.
With that in mind, Anran ate lunch hastily and then went to the courtyard of Sixth Sister and Seventh Sister with Tenth Sister.
As soon as I entered, I saw Sixth Sister and Seventh Sister looking at the blueprints in front of the large kang (heated brick bed) by the window.
"Sixth Sister, Seventh Sister." Anran and Shi Niang greeted the two of them and then went over to take a look.
"I asked my mother, and it's about three feet long and one foot wide, a bit bigger than I expected." Although Seventh Sister said this, there was no sign of distress on her face. "Let's divide it up now and see what we should do."
An Ran glanced at the pattern in Liu Niang's hand again.
The image depicts Guanyin Bodhisattva, with a dignified and compassionate expression, seated cross-legged on a lotus platform, holding a vase. The artist is clearly a master; the flowing lines of her robes are elegant yet not frivolous, and Guanyin Bodhisattva's expression is captured with remarkable precision—dignified yet not stiff, her eyes filled with compassion as she gazes down upon all beings.
It is a masterpiece.
Of course, this also makes the embroidery more difficult.
"Seventh Sister, wait a minute," An Ran said. "Although it's all out of good or bad that we embroider, Mother wants to display it. If there are any mistakes, it won't look good. Why don't we take it to Master Han for her to take a look and ask her to make a decision?"
Master Han was the needlework teacher who taught the four sisters, so he should know each of their skill levels very well.
Seeing An Ran interrupt her, a smug glint flashed in Qi Niang's eyes. She smiled and looked at An Ran, saying, "Ninth Sister, you're mistaken. Embroidering a Guanyin statue requires sincerity... how can you let outsiders help?"
An Ran smiled and said, "How can asking Master Han to take a look and make some plans be considered insincere? In the end, it's still us sisters who are embroidering. What do you say, Sixth Sister?"
The sixth sister, who was called out, was taken aback at first, then a smile bloomed on her lips. "...Ninth sister is right."
Seventh Sister's face immediately showed displeasure.
The two had originally formed a defensive alliance, but Liu Niang's words clearly indicated that she was backing down at the last minute.
"Sixth Sister." Seventh Sister gave Sixth Sister a warning look, then sneered, "Sixth Sister also said this morning in front of Mother that it was our intention. Do we need outsiders to interfere?"
Sixth Sister was somewhat troubled.
Seventh Sister is too straightforward; she immediately shows her thoughts on her face. Even when I try to be tactful, she misunderstands me. But Ninth Sister's words are also impeccable. If I were to stop her from asking Master Han, and something went wrong, perhaps Zhao Shi wouldn't hold Seventh Sister accountable, but Sixth Sister wouldn't escape punishment.
"Sisters, it's about time," Shi Niang said with a smile, trying to smooth things over. "It's time for us to go to our master to learn the zither."
After finishing piano lessons, it's time for needlework; I need to settle things down today.
Seventh Sister snorted coldly, got up, straightened her clothes, and left first. Tenth Sister glanced apologetically at An Ran and Ninth Sister, indicating that she would go over and persuade Seventh Sister first.
Anran and Liu Niang followed behind.