"Yes," the eunuch said respectfully.
To finish the embroidery before the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, Si Junlin asked Qingcao to bring the embroidery frame. She planned to have something to do while listening to the concubines' nonsense so as not to be so bored.
She sat down on the chair. Even if the concubines were reluctant, they still had to bow respectfully to her.
"Yo! Empress, what are you doing?" After bowing, one of the concubines began to sneer.
Another concubine in green clothes said, "Concubine Hua, isn't it obvious? The Empress is going to use embroidery to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday just like us."
"Alas... I advise you, Empress, not to waste your efforts. The Empress Dowager won't even glance at your embroidery," Concubine Hua said regretfully.
To be honest, she took a fancy to the pattern on the embroidery frame in Si Junlin's hand. Although the pattern was not yet completed, judging from the design concept, it was definitely unique.
It was a pity that she didn't know where Si Junlin got this pattern. Without knowing its origin, she had to find a way to get it.
What Concubine Hua could think of, the other concubines with good embroidery skills naturally also thought of. However... it was definitely not okay to snatch it openly. After all, this was the Empress's palace. So they had to find other ways.
Si Junlin sneered, "Whether the Empress Dowager will look at my embroidery or not, it represents my heartfelt wishes. No matter what the Empress Dowager thinks, I just need to offer my sincere feelings."
Hearing Si Junlin's so - called "stubborn" words, the other concubines just sneered disdainfully.
Concubine Mei had held it in for so long that she finally couldn't bear it anymore. She sneered contemptuously, "Your embroidery skills are just so - so. You still have the nerve to show it off? Don't you forget your background. With your bulky appearance, what kind of embroidery do you think you can produce?"
Maybe because she had lost the Emperor's favor, Concubine Mei now seemed to have shed her false appearance, and her ugly true face was fully exposed.
Si Junlin thought that if Concubine Mei had shown such a face from the beginning, she probably wouldn't even have looked at her, let alone favored her and given her the chance to kill her own child.
"So, it seems that Concubine Mei thinks her embroidery is a masterpiece?" Si Junlin curled her lips with a disdainful smile.
Stimulated by her smile, Concubine Mei raised her head proudly, "Naturally. I've been learning female handicrafts since I was a child. How can a vulgar woman like you compare with me?"
Si Junlin turned to Qingcao and said, "Qingcao, go and get the silk handkerchief that was sent here yesterday."
Qingcao agreed and turned to leave.
"What, what are you going to do?" Concubine Mei looked at Si Junlin's calm expression and suddenly had a bad premonition in her heart.
Si Junlin didn't say anything. She just sneered and looked at Concubine Mei indifferently.
Qingcao came back holding the silk handkerchief and bowed respectfully to Si Junlin, "Empress, the silk handkerchief has been fetched."
"Unfold it," Si Junlin ordered.
Qingcao and Hongmei unfolded a piece of silk handkerchief together, revealing the vivid patterns inside.
"Concubine Mei, how does your embroidery compare with this?" Si Junlin's expression seemed mocking.
This was a top - grade product that could be presented to the palace. The craftsmanship was naturally superb. The embroiderers had exhausted their lifelong skills, which an ordinary boudoir girl could never compare with.
"What, what do you mean?"
"Nothing. I just want to tell you, Concubine Mei, that there is no so - called number one in the world. No matter how well you embroider, you can't compare with the embroiderers in the embroidery workshop. So, you have nothing to show off," Si Junlin said calmly.
Concubine Mei was immediately rendered speechless.
Si Junlin yawned, "Alright, ladies. Instead of caring about me and how to please the Empress Dowager, you'd better prepare your own gifts well. It would be bad if you accidentally lose face."
The concubines left angrily, grinding their teeth.
Qingcong looked at their backs and said worriedly, "Empress, did you go a bit too far today? Didn't you say that balance is the most important thing in the harem?"
Si Junlin looked back at Qingcao in surprise. When she did, she found that not only Qingcao but also the others had worried expressions in their eyes.
She seemed to understand that the maids in Su Wan'er's palace were different from those in other palaces.
She could completely discuss her ideas with them.
"It's okay. They can't unite. Not to mention that there are different factions among them, just the fact that they have the same goal in mind makes it impossible for them to unite," Si Junlin said calmly.
Qingcao and Hongmei stared blankly at her.
Si Junlin felt a bit uncomfortable under their gazes and couldn't help asking, "What's wrong with you two?"
"No, we just think that the Empress is more amazing than before. You even know about the affairs in the court," Qingcao and Hongmei exchanged a look, and finally Qingcao explained.
Si Junlin was slightly taken aback and then waved her hand, "No need for compliments. Let me arrange the following things for you."
"Please give your orders, Empress," all the servants knelt in front of Si Junlin.
Si Junlin waved her hand casually, "Get up."
After everyone got up, Si Junlin said, "I noticed that some of those concubines were restless today. They may try to get my pattern."
"We will surely defend the Empress's pattern to the death," everyone said one after another.
"No need. Later, I will send someone to bring a traced drawing. When someone comes to inquire or asks for your help, don't refuse. Of course, you can also ask for a high price, but what you give them must be this traced drawing. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Empress."
Sure enough, as Si Junlin expected, after she distributed the traced drawings in the morning, in the afternoon, someone took advantage of her going out to find Su Wan'er and came to find the maids in the back courtyard.
The first person to come was Qingcao's fellow - villager. She and Qingcao entered the palace at the same time. However, since they were assigned to different palaces later, they rarely contacted each other.
Hearing that she was coming to find her, a look of understanding flashed in Qingcao's eyes.
After greeting the people in the palace, she went out.
When she came to the palace gate, her fellow - villager greeted her, "A Rong."
"Baoju, our identities are different now. Don't call me by my childhood name anymore," Qingcao stopped her and seriously reminded her to pay attention to their different identities.
Baoju could only nod, "Haha, yes, yes. I was so excited to see you that I forgot."