"Sister-in-law, I didn't expect that you would have such a skill. You can actually embroider. There are not many people who know this technique nowadays. Although I don't understand it myself, your embroidery work... is really exquisite," said Huo Mei Shu.
Ever since Rong Dai went through this hardship and adjusted her attitude after realizing she was not the original owner of this body, having lived in the imperial harem for so many years, she was well-versed in the ways of the world.
Huo Mei Shu also liked talking to her more and more, and would sneak into her room whenever she had nothing to do.
Rong Dai's injured foot still could not touch the ground, as the bone was also damaged when Zuo Ran slashed her. Both of them also fell from quite a high place, which exacerbated the injury.
Looking at the work she had done over the past few days, Rong Dai used a Hangzhou silk handkerchief as the base material, embroidering a pattern of pine trees on a mountain, implying health and longevity.
"I'm quite interested in these things, although I was controlled by Zuo Ran, my mother still tried her best to let me learn whatever I wanted," she lied glibly. She had no choice, given the current circumstances.
If she suddenly gained a skill out of nowhere, it would seem too bizarre.
"Are you only making this for Grandma? I learned classical music, so I'm also interested in these things from our ancestors. It's just that any handcraft with some heritage value is so expensive it scares me to death," said Huo Mei Shu, sticking out her tongue as she looked at the handkerchief in her hand longingly.
"I didn't know what you would like either. For a lady, I embroidered a pattern of secluded orchids for you. This one is for Mother - peonies symbolizing wealth and nobility."
Seeing how her eyes lit up, Rong Dai breathed a small sigh of relief. She took out two embroidered handkerchiefs from the box and handed them to her.
Huo Mei Shu stroked the embroidery, full of admiration. "Sister-in-law, how come you never showed this skill before? If you put these up for sale, they would definitely sell like crazy! Do you know, nowadays those wealthy madams of prominent families like handmade items more and more, especially things passed down from our ancestors."
Of course Rong Dai knew about this. She had looked online earlier to research it. A purely hand-embroidered garment could be worth thousands or even tens of thousands, mainly depending on the artisan's skills.
She was very confident in her embroidery skills. Back when she voluntarily moved into the cold palace, the Emperor basically did not care whether she lived or died.
She could only take on odd jobs, making embroidered items to sell. In those ten years, the pieces she produced numbered at least a thousand, if not more.
She worked tirelessly night and day. As the saying goes, practice makes perfect, and her mother was originally an expert at embroidery. Having learned the true legacy, Rong Dai's skills naturally became more and more exquisite.
Although the silk threads here were very good, and the materials were also decent, some of the patterns required careful selection of fabrics and top-notch embroidery work.
Since she could not personally go and select each item, she could only practice for now to quickly get back into rhythm.
"What do you think if I take online orders? I can do phoenix coronets, bridal wear, and more. I originally studied design, so I'm also very interested in this. I'm recuperating at home now anyway, and was bored with nothing to do," said Rong Dai.
She really lacked money!
Although she had accepted this drama role, filming had not started yet. She had no money in her pocket at all.
Seeing that her debts kept growing, Rong Dai felt increasingly anxious, like an ant scurrying on a hot pan.
"Of course you can, although I heard embroiderers tend to hurt their eyes. It's fine as a hobby, but if you want to earn money from it, my big brother makes enough to support you for generations," Huo Mei Shu said, still delighted with the handkerchief.
Rong Dai smiled wryly. Although Huo Shao Ting earned a lot, that was not her money.
Her mother had said a woman should always have some private savings.
Although she had developed feelings for Huo Shao Ting, she was still trying her best to restrain herself, as she would still divorce him after a year.
So she must learn to be self-reliant this year. Her young sister-in-law was quite naive and did not overthink things, so it was easy to sound her out on many matters.
"Don't worry, I definitely won't ruin my eyes."
Otherwise, they would have gone blind long ago during those ten years in the cold palace. She had secret techniques to maintain her vision and embroidery skills at such a level.
"Alright then, I'll help you register an account and post some photos. But don't get your hopes up too much, sister-in-law. There aren't many people who can appreciate quality nowadays, and most embroidery is done by machines - too rigid. Handmade pieces are really rare, and many techniques have been lost," said Huo Mei Shu, seeing her insistence.
She took Rong Dai's phone and helped her register an online account, then posted the three finished handkerchiefs.
"It's fine, just to pass the time when I'm bored," said Rong Dai lightly, while feeling as anxious as an ant in her heart.
"Then I'll keep this handkerchief - thanks, sister-in-law!" Huo Mei Shu was overjoyed.
Rong Dai nodded and also handed her the one she embroidered for Mother-in-law: "Please help bring this one to Mother too. She's still upset, so I'll have to trouble you to coax her more."
"No problem," said Huo Mei Shu with a wink, humming a tune as she skipped out.
Rong Dai looked at her leg still in a plaster cast and sighed softly. With this leg injury, everything was difficult.
It had already been a week since returning to Shengjing. The online public opinion had been suppressed.
Firstly, because Huo Shao Ting acted ruthlessly, suing all the random rumormongers.
Secondly, because the official interrogation video was released, along with evidence of Zuo Ran harming many innocent young girls.
In addition, since Zuo Ran had offended the Huo clan this time, many who had not dared speak up previously for fear of Zuo Ran's retaliation all came forth with remaining evidence, suddenly shifting the tide of public opinion. Zuo Ran became a pariah online.
Rong Dai also registered and verified a Weibo account herself, briefly recounting the events, and with Huo Mei Shu's help, posted a video as well.
At first some people still tried to slander her, but they were soon cursed out by other netizens, with some even having their accounts exposed.
Rong Dai had not expected this perilous affair to be smoothed over so quickly either, lightening her mood as well.
She knew Huo Shao Ting had done a lot behind the scenes to suppress this matter for her sake, so she had to do her part too.
After some thought, she posted a picture of an embroidered handkerchief design draft, along with the caption: The past cannot be blamed, but the future can still be chased. Spring's hundreds of flowers, autumn moon, summer's cool breeze, winter's snow - persevere.
After posting, she turned off her phone screen and hopped on one foot to the desk, taking out a bag of materials belonging to the original owner that Huo Shao Ting had retrieved from Zuo Ran's residence. She looked through them carefully.
The original owner had studied design, but took a break from school after the death of Imperial Concubine Ya.
In her past life, she had studied poetry, music, chess, painting, and connoisseurship from a young age, so naturally had superb discernment. Looking at the original owner's design drafts, she also developed a strong interest, and gradually a very grand idea emerged in her mind.
Not all of her skills might be applicable here, but one or two fields she excelled in still held great value in this world.
Like embroidery, calligraphy, or musical instruments.
These could all become her cash cows to build her fortune. Rong Dai also felt fortunate that in this modern era, their ancestors' heritage had not been completely discarded.
However, she confirmed there were no historical records whatsoever in this world about the Kingdom of Shangyuan, where she came from. The poems and lyrics she was familiar with could be traced back to around the Qing Dynasty here, but Shangyuan was established in the 900s AD. This made her even more reluctant to reveal this secret.
