High-class Spring Joy

The vast majority of young ladies and noblewomen frowned, looking astonished.

"Who is she? Why is she dressed as a maid? I don't remember any young lady I don't recognize suddenly appearing in Bianjing City?"

"Yes, I've never seen her before, never seen her at all. She's probably just some maidservant who's delusional enough to think she can show her face in front of the princess and the empress dowager."

"A mere maidservant... dares to compare herself to us?"

Jiang Qingge and Jiang Qingyun had different expressions, but they both had their eyes fixed on Qing Yuan, staring intently at her.

Jiang Qingyun spoke first: "You, a mere servant, dare to compete with all these ladies from noble families and high-ranking noble households? You're not worthy! You, a servant, get out of here right now!"

When she said that, several others agreed, all believing that Qingyuan, a mere servant, was not worthy of such a title.

Qingyuan remained calm and said, "Your Highness, Your Highness did not stipulate that only ladies from noble families could embroider Buddha images. Although I come from a humble background, I am sincere to Your Highness and the Empress Dowager."

"You say you're being sincere, but what's the value of your sincerity? You're utterly shameless!"

After gaining the approval of the young ladies, Jiang Qingyun raised her voice even higher: "Aren't you afraid of tarnishing our image?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Princess Jing'an's gaze shifted from Qingyuan to Jiang Qingyun: "I haven't even spoken, yet you're already refuting me. What, would you like to sit in my seat?"

Jiang Qingyun was usually all bark and no bite, and after being spoken to by Princess Jing'an, he immediately knelt down and begged for forgiveness.

Seeing the situation was turning sour, Jiang Qingge quickly stepped forward and replied, "Your Highness, that's not what I meant. I just wanted to say that Your Highness hasn't specified any social status requirements; maids, young ladies, even guards and servants can participate. However, Your Highness, as a maid, if she doesn't demonstrate some skill in embroidery, wouldn't that be unfair to the other ladies? Besides, if just anyone can participate with poor embroidery skills, wouldn't that be a waste of Your Highness's time?"

Princess Jing'an looked at Qing Yuan: "Do you have any proof?"

She really doesn't like wasting time.

"This servant has it." After saying that, Qingyuan walked up to the third young lady of the Song family: "This Guanyin giving a child painting was embroidered by this servant. Later, it was sold to Hongxiu Manor. If the princess does not believe me, she can ask any manager of Hongxiu Manor."

Just as everyone was about to question it, a soft, somewhat timid voice rang out: "No... there's no need to look for anyone. This Guanyin giving a child painting was ordered by my father from Hongxiu Shop. My Song family has never been good at needlework, and we were afraid that our embroidery would frighten the princess and the empress dowager, so we bought it."

His words stirred up a huge wave of discussion.

"What?! That...that Guanyin giving a child picture, she actually embroidered it? Her embroidery is so good?"

"It's unbelievable that a maid can embroider so well."

"Alright, the credentials are ready. Since I haven't specified the identity, let her compete."

As soon as Princess Jing'an raised her hand, Chief Steward Li, who was standing to the side, went down and began to evaluate the paintings one by one.

Chief Steward Li is the head of the Imperial Treasure Office. In the decades he has served in the palace, he has seen all kinds of treasures. It can be said that he has seen mountains and piles of treasures. Naturally, his eyesight and speed in distinguishing them are also excellent.

Before half an incense stick had burned, Steward Li had selected the best painting:

"Princess, the embroidery of Amitabha Buddha by the eldest daughter of the Jiang family is of the highest quality. Please take a look."

Princess Jing'an glanced at it and said, "It's not bad; it does capture some of the spirit of the subject."

However… she always felt that something was missing.

Now that she had finished reading, Princess Jing'an's gaze fell on Qingyuan.

Qingyuan had nowhere to display her work, so she stood there waiting for Steward Li to finish looking at it. Just as she was about to find a place to show off her embroidery, she heard the old woman beside her say:

"Here you are."

The nanny took the embroidered portrait from Qingyuan's hands. As soon as Qingyuan looked up, she met Princess Jing'an's eyes.

To everyone's surprise, Princess Jing'an's expression changed slightly when she saw the Buddha image embroidered by Qingyuan, and her eyes showed amazement: "Steward Li, come and take a look."

"Yes." Steward Li hurriedly stepped forward to take a look, and his eyes also flashed with amazement: "This...this is hair embroidery? To be able to embroider with real human hair so lifelike and still retain the spirit, this old servant has rarely seen such embroidery in the palace."

Steward Li's words immediately sparked a discussion among the group of noble ladies. They were all surprised and curious, while some disapproved but dared not lash out. Jiang Qingyun was one of them, and could only glare fiercely at Qingyuan.

Steward Li was truly perplexed: "Princess, in my humble opinion, the two are equally excellent. Miss Jiang's piece wins in terms of creativity; the Amitabha Buddha is most suitable as a birthday gift for the Empress Dowager, and the embroidery is also superb. However, this young lady... her embroidery is truly exceptional, but the only problem is that she embroidered the less common Medicine Buddha, which I'm afraid the Empress Dowager won't like."

Qingyuan's heart sank to the bottom, not ignoring Jiang Qingge's disdainful gaze beside her.

next moment.

Princess Jing'an said, "Then we'll take them all! Whether it's good or not, whether you like them or not, your mother will judge."

Qingyuan seemed to come alive again, the tension subsided, and she met Jiang Qingge's cold gaze, slowly curving her lips into a smile.

-

The purpose of the spring outing banquet was not solely for enjoying the spring scenery, but rather for other purposes. Once Princess Jing'an had chosen her preferred Buddha statue, the banquet would conclude.

After the group of noble ladies had gone far away, Qingyuan was overjoyed, clutching the hundred taels of silver notes that Princess Jing'an had just given her.

All told, it's 349 taels now, another step closer. If the Empress Dowager also chooses the Buddha image she embroidered in half a month, then there will definitely be a reward.

Soon, very soon she will be able to redeem herself!

Qingyuan was full of energy. She hadn't gone far when she saw Zheji pushing Chu Jingxian away not far ahead. She quickly ran forward.

"master!"

Qingyuan called out, and Chu Jingxian was taken aback for a moment: "Why are you suddenly shouting like that?"

"It's a promise, I'm just borrowing the Third Young Master's auspicious words!" Qingyuan said with a smile. "The Young Master predicted it beforehand, he's practically a prophet, even more so than the fortune tellers at the entrance of Xiangguo Temple, so I call the Young Master Master."

Chu Jingxian: ...

Zheji couldn't help but chuckle. The fortune tellers at the entrance of Xiangguo Temple were charlatans!