Re-embroidering life

Chapter 142 Pigments

The two of them were still pondering until they returned to Shen Garden. What theme should be embroidered on this state gift so that it would be both novel and show respect to Enoria and the delegation?

I think other embroidery workshops can embroider ordinary landscapes, figures, flowers, birds, insects and fish. No matter how exquisite the work is, it will be easily drowned out if the subject matter is similar.

Back home, Ji Wei was painting. She had just turned three, and ever since her little hands could hold a pen, she had never stopped scribbling, and the family had to buy a few rolls of new rice paper every day. Fortunately, Shui Qinghua opened an embroidery workshop, otherwise Ji Zimo's salary would not even be enough to buy pens, ink, paper and inkstone.

"Wei'er is so well behaved. At least she doesn't draw on the wall." Shen Xin looked at the villain with a smile and persuaded Shui Qinghua.

Shui Qinghua nodded. That was true. Wei'er was very sensible. She knew where her mother's minefields were and would never step on them. But it was really hard to tell what her ghostly drawings were all about.

Ji Wei not only loves to doodle, but also has a sharp tongue. The little kid who could make Concubine Liu look ridiculous at the age of two will now have more bad ideas.

Shui Qinghua thought that she and Shen Xin had racked their brains to come up with something that they couldn't figure out, but maybe the child would have some fresh ideas? Her daughter was the reincarnation of a golden boy.

She didn't care about her mother's face, she picked up Ji Wei and coaxed her, "Be good, Wei'er, give me an idea and I'll give you some cakes."

Ji Wei rolled her eyes and said, "Gao Gao, isn't that what my second sister likes to eat?"

Ji Rui heard the word "Gao Gao" and looked over eagerly.

Shui Qinghua avoided Ji Rui's pitiful eyes and coughed lightly: "Then what do you want?" Ji Wei thought for a while: "I want to make something, I need a few materials, mother, help me find them."

"Deal!" Shui Qinghua agreed readily. How difficult could it be to make a child's toy?

Ji Wei put her hands behind her back and walked with her short legs, imitating her father's way of pacing and thinking, which made Shen Xin and Shui Qinghua giggle.

"Embroider a portrait." Amidst the laughter, she opened her little mouth and uttered three words.

What? Shen Shui and the other looked at each other in bewilderment. They roughly understood that portraits were portraits of people. It was said that the painters in the palace often had to draw portraits for the empress dowager, His Majesty, and the ladies. But whose portraits should they embroider?

Ji Wei seemed a little impatient with this question: "Ask the delegation who they most respect, and then embroider that person's portrait." After saying that, she picked up the pen and started scribbling.

The more they thought about it, the more they felt that this idea was brilliant. Embroidering the person the delegation admired the most could show our dynasty's understanding and respect for them, and there would be no cultural barriers. When the delegation brought the embroidered portrait back, the nobleman would naturally have a good impression of our dynasty, which would be conducive to building relations between countries.

But who should I ask?

"There is one person who might be able to do this," Shui Qinghua said uncertainly, "My husband's mentor, the Imperial Academy's chief academician, Dong Daru."

The Imperial Academy not only accepts domestic students, but also foreign students, and also conducts cultural exchanges between countries. Dong Daru may have the opportunity to contact the delegation. But his identity is different now. He is the father of the Crown Princess and the future father-in-law of the emperor. Is he willing to help the younger generation?

Shui Qinghua decided to wait for Ji Zimo to come to Suzhou from Linhai before discussing this matter.

She remembered her promise to Ji Wei and asked casually, "What materials do you want?"

Ji Wei counted on her fingers: "Azurite, malachite, graphite, cinnabar, iron ochre, realgar, orpiment, lapis lazuli, muscovite, talc, resin, wax, linseed oil, egg white..."

Seeing that her mother's face was getting darker and darker and it was about to rain heavily, her voice became lower and lower and finally she stopped.

Shui Qinghua took a deep breath and said, "What are you going to do? Do you know how precious lapis lazuli is? There are also various strange stones. Where can I find them?"

Ji Wei lowered her head, kicked the wall with her toes, and grumbled with a pout, "I didn't ask you to find it all at once, so take your time."

Shui Qinghua thought about it and realized that since she had made the promise, she had to keep it, even if the person she was talking to was a three-year-old child.

"Okay, mom will find it for you!" Shui Qinghua patted her chest.

In the next two days, Shui Qinghua took the three children to the streets to look for stones every day. Shen Xin was not feeling well, so she rested at home.

After a few days, I bought some materials from calligraphy and painting shops and epigraphy shops, but I couldn't find lapis lazuli.

Fortunately, Ji Zimo came. He and Minister Ying had settled down in Linhai County. The county had allocated a temporary residence, and he planned to take his whole family there.

This arrangement was logical, but it would be inconvenient for her and Shen Xin to be separated for the next national ceremony. She tried to invite Shen Xin to live with her in Linhai, but Shen Xin was a little embarrassed: "After returning to Suzhou, I haven't visited my parents yet. I will come to Linhai to find you after I have discussed it with my family."

Shui Qinghua thought it was a good idea. The Shen family was a wealthy family with extensive connections. If Shen Xin interacted more with her family, she might be able to find a famous doctor. She didn't believe that Shen Xin would be terminally ill at such a young age.

The houses by the sea are a row of small courtyards with similar structures, which are reserved for public officials. Minister Ying and Ji Zimo each have one. The houses are simple but clean, located behind the county government office, in a prime location, and very convenient for daily life and travel.

Minister Ying was a third-rank official, so he lived in the largest apartment. Ji Zimo's apartment was slightly smaller, with only seven or eight rooms, barely enough to accommodate a large family. Fortunately, it was just a temporary residence, so the adults and children were not picky, and they just washed and cleaned up and settled in for the time being.

Shui Qinghua and Ji Zimo mentioned the matter of national gift. Ji Zimo pondered for a moment and said, "It's not a big deal. I just asked casually. Teacher should be willing to help." After that, he picked up the pen and wrote a letter to Dong Daru.

After writing the letter, Shui Qinghua told him about Ji Wei again. "What do you think she wants to do?"

Ji Zimo understood immediately: "These stones can be made into paints for painting."

"But," he changed the subject, as if puzzled, "You can buy ready-made pigments in calligraphy and painting shops. Why does she need to find raw stones? A three-year-old kid, is she going to use them for fun?"

"Give her lapis lazuli to play with too?" Shui Qinghua gasped.

Ji Zimo immediately shook his head: "That won't work! How about this, I'll ask her."

The next day, Ji Zimo found Ji Wei with a bunch of stones. "Wei'er, except for lapis lazuli and muscovite, the rest are here. Tell daddy what you want to do?"

Ji Wei didn't say anything, but looked at the stones one by one, and they looked very similar. After looking at them, she pushed all the stones into Ji Zimo's arms, "Daddy, help me crush them all into powder."

"No!" Ji Zimo was anxious, "Daddy is very busy. He will start supervising the construction of coastal defense tomorrow. You have to give Daddy a reason!"

Ji Wei wanted to say that she would go find Brother Little Gourd, but seeing her father's anxious and angry face, she decided not to challenge him and whispered, "I want to make a new kind of paint that you have never seen before."