The Moon Over Tang Dynasty

Chapter 23: Big trees are easy to rely on and stability is hard to find

March has always been the favorite season for Chang'an people. First is the Shangsi Festival on the third day of March, and then the Peony Festival on the fifth day of March. As usual, the people of Chang'an came out of the city. Wherever the smoke and water were bright, there was a bustling scene of fresh clothes and colorful curtains. It is unknown how many romantic stories were created and how many beautiful poems were left behind.

 It’s just that all of this has nothing to do with Liuli. The third day of the lunar month was the day when the two Pei families hired each other. She had completely forgotten about the Shangsi Festival, but on the way back to An's house, she was a little surprised why the street was so quiet; on the fifth day of the lunar month, the An family's female family went to Daci'en While visiting the temple to enjoy the flowers, she resolutely refused her aunt’s offer to take her with her. Da Ci'en Temple... What a joke, let alone the peonies, even if a "Mona Lisa" suddenly appeared on the wall there, she was not going to look at it. For people without strength, keeping a low profile is the way to go!

These days, she still goes to the West Market at noon and comes back just before the market closes. The first few paintings she made have been delivered before, and as expected, more people come here. She also made a new kind of ribbon with flowers and babies in it, which was perfect for wedding quilts. She ordered a dozen of them in the past few days. Another kind of ribbon is also suitable for the crane's ribbon. Quite popular. However, the best-selling one is the Peony Valerian. Even though Liuli was careful not to use the silver paint on the sample fabrics sold in the store, all the female customers who came here still liked it. Liuli counted this month's income and couldn't help but feel secretly happy.

On this day, when Liuli handed over the newly painted eight-treasure cloud-patterned longevity character for a guest to shopkeeper Shi, shopkeeper Shi smiled and said, "Now we have to buy a few more engravers." Liuli also laughed. Engraving took several times longer than drawings. At her current speed, the engraving was really hard to keep up with - it took more than half a month to carve all six hunting pictures. However, the craftsmen at this time were either miscellaneous households registered with the government, or the merchants' own servants or subordinates. The advantage was that there was no danger of subordinates changing jobs, but the disadvantage was that it was not ordinary difficulty to buy a suitable skilled craftsman.

Thinking of the hunting map, Liuli couldn't help but feel a little lost. It had been more than ten days, and Pei Jiu hadn't appeared again. Naturally, she couldn't find the answers to all her questions... While she was thinking about it, she suddenly heard shopkeeper Shi laughing: "Mrs. Wu, it's been a long time." No, is this your master?"

Liuli hurriedly raised her head to see if it was Mrs. Wu who hadn't been here for more than ten days? She was dressed brightly and had a smile on her face. She was holding Little Yueniang's hand, followed by the handsome young man Helan Minzhi. Before Liuli came forward to greet her, she smiled and said, "Mom, what do you think of Yueniang's dress?"

Liuli lowered her head and saw that Yueniang was wearing a small gauze skirt with peony and valerian layers, which was also divided into four pieces and covered with a plain skirt. When Yueniang saw Liuli's gaze, she turned around with a smile, the veil flew up, and the peonies became more vivid. Liuli nodded and smiled: "Yue Niang is really like a peony fairy today."

Yueniang was a little embarrassed after receiving the compliment, so she turned around and hid behind He Lanmin, then stuck her head out and smiled. Minzhi also laughed and rubbed her head gently. Mrs. Wu then smiled and said: "Ever since I made this skirt for Yueniang, she couldn't bear to take it off. I managed to coax her to change it the day before yesterday. Today I heard that she was coming over, so I took it out again..." While talking and laughing, she was talking Went to Liuli's studio at the back.

Liuli noticed that Mrs. Wu was wearing an eight-piece skirt with colorful scattered flowers and valerian. The composition was exquisite and the dyeing was bright. What was rare was that it also had a unique halo effect of Valerian. Could it be that it was actually a horse Two dyeing methods were used for the cloth? The more Liuli looked at it, the more surprised she became. After letting Mrs. Wu sit down on the couch, she sighed: "Madam's dress today is so gorgeous!"

Mrs. Wu's face suddenly turned slightly red, but she turned back to the maid and said, "Why don't you quickly bring it to Auntie?"

Liuli was startled. The maid had already walked over, holding a small box in her hands. Liuli was puzzled, so she took it into her hand and opened it, only to see inside was a Butterfly Bu Yao with engraved gold and jade pieces. Although it was not very big, the curly grass pattern on the butterfly's wings was as thin as a hair, and the jade pieces decorated with it were as thin as a hair. Like cicada wings, the workmanship is so delicate that Liuli has never seen before. She couldn't help being shocked and said hurriedly: "How dare you do this?" She took two steps and wanted to return it to Mrs. Wu.

Mrs. Wu waved her hand and said with a smile: "It has nothing to do with me. My sister gave it to you. You said that day that you could use this jade to make a gauze dress with wide sleeves. When I got home, I cut one according to your drawing. She I wore this gauze dress at the peony party a few days ago, and it was indeed the most beautiful. I won a lot of rewards. I heard that you painted the jade and the gauze dress was your idea, so I asked me to take it with me. I gave you this step, saying that your skillful hands and wisdom are exactly what you need."

 It was...Wu Zetian who rewarded her? Liuli stayed there, feeling her throat was tight and unable to speak a word.

Mrs. Wu thought for a while and then said: "My sister is usually the most generous and cheerful. I don't know how many rewards she has to give out in a year. It's just a small step, not worth anything. If you continue to push back, wouldn't you be looking down on her?" ?”

 Looking down on her? Even if I borrow ten of my courage, I wouldn’t dare! Liuli knew it was time to shirk, but he didn't want to reveal the girl's identity after listening to Mrs. Wu's wishes, so she could only lower her head and said: "Then Liuli has the audacity to thank you!"

Mrs. Wu smiled and nodded, "That's it. My sister also wants to ask you, can you draw embroidery patterns?"

Liuli pondered for a moment and nodded, "Liuli is willing to give it a try." She only understood a few days ago that there are not many guarantees for civilian women in this era, and I'm afraid it would be safer to find a big tree to lean on - Is there any tree in the world that is more reliable than the future queen?

Mrs. Wu clapped her hands and said with a smile: "That would be even better. My sister said that although the things from her embroidery shop are rich and gorgeous, they are mostly old-fashioned and not as novel as yours. It's hard to imagine how the silver light on the stamens came out. Yes, the look of the gauze dress is also elegant and unique. I might have to bother you to draw some new looks and make some new clothes for her in the future. Don’t worry, she won’t treat you badly!”

 In other words, she will engage in fashion design for the future Queen? Liuli felt that her heart couldn't help but beat a little, and she suppressed her emotions and said with a smile: "I really wish to do it, but I don't dare to invite you." Mrs. Wu smiled brightly, but the corners of her eyes and eyebrows were a little more coquettish than before. Then he pointed to the hunting pictures on the wall and asked, "Is this screen ready?"

Liuli shook her head, "At least it will take more than half a month."

Minzhi and Yueniang were kneeling on the mat in a polite manner. Listening to Mrs. Wu and Liuli talking about the clothes, Minzhi became a little impatient and interrupted: "Mom, when are we going to buy bows and arrows?"

Mrs. Wu was startled and said with a smile: "Let's go now." Then she said to Liuli: "Minzhi bought a bow and arrows and has to go to school. We will talk about the screen later."

Liuli also smiled and said: "Young gentleman, do you want to buy a bow and arrow for practicing riding and archery? My uncle happens to know the owner of the largest bow and arrow shop in the West City. If Madam finds it convenient, why don't you find Liuli to find a smart guy to accompany Madam and Young Master? go."

Mrs. Wu thought for a while, nodded and smiled: "I'm here to help you."

Minzhi also laughed, stood up and walked out, but Yueniang stretched out her hand and shouted, "Brother!" Minzhi stopped in a hurry, turned around and took Yueniang's hand, pulled her up, and squeezed her again. He pinched her nose and said, "Can't you get up even now?"

Liuli glanced back and saw that the two children's faces were full of smiles and they looked as cute as golden boys. She sighed inwardly and went out to find the most clever clerk in the store. After giving some instructions, she finally Let him lead Mrs. Wu and his party. After they left the door, Liuli talked to shopkeeper Shi about the rigid schedule for a long time, and suddenly heard some commotion outside.

Ruyi Jiayan was originally located at the corner of the four "well"-shaped intersections in Xishi City, facing the south gate of Xishi City. At this time, pedestrians on this road were seen running away, and a group of Lubo people came from a distance. , the ceremonial guards were neatly arranged, and the momentum was solemn. Liuli couldn't help but wonder: There are many treasures in the West Market, and there are usually nobles in white dragon fish costumes coming here to enjoy and buy, but they have never seen such people wearing full ceremonial carriages and horses to go shopping. I don't know where they are. The noble family is so stupid...

She saw the ceremonial guard getting closer and closer, and Liuli looked more and more familiar. She was surprised and suspicious in her heart, when the team actually stopped in front of Ruyi Jia Vale, and the carriages and horses formed a tight circle around the entrance of the store. More than a dozen people The maids immediately rushed into Ruyi Jiaval, and separated the several customers who were selecting cloth in the store, as well as Liuli and the shopkeeper.

As soon as the ceremonial guard was over, a gorgeous car with a purple roof and jade panels slowly drove up from behind. When the car curtain was lifted, two women in Tsing Yi stood out. One person raised the curtain high on one side, and two more A maidservant rushed up from behind and put down the two-step step stool. Then two maidservants in yellow shirts slowly walked out of the car, supporting a lady. Surrounded by the maids, a dark purple embroidered eight-piece long skirt floated from the car to the ground like a flowing cloud. It paused for a while before floating to Jia Vale's shop. A fragrant fragrance suddenly filled the entire store.

Liuli could see clearly that this noble lady was about forty years old, with a half-updo, and a red gold nine-tree flower crown on her head, which reflected a snow-white face with long eyebrows and plump cheeks. Rich and arrogant. She first glanced around the store casually, and when she saw the peony-leafed silk hanging in the most conspicuous place in the store, she narrowed her eyes slightly and nodded.

The maid in yellow shirt next to the noble lady stepped forward and said loudly: "Who is the boss of this shop?"

Shopkeeper Shi hurriedly stepped forward and said with a smile on his face: "That's it, little man. May I ask if you have any orders?"

The maid in yellow gave him a cold look from the corner of her eye: "My wife heard that the peony valerian in your shop was painted by a new painter. Here is twenty gold. My wife wants that painter." !”

 (End of this chapter)