The leisurely days were never enough. Several female weavers and a group of palace maids and eunuchs were busy every day.
Sun Miaoqing would go over to check on the progress twice a day and offer her suggestions.
The rest of the time is spent either strolling in the garden enjoying the autumn scenery or playing mahjong. If I had a cell phone or computer, it would be an idyllic life.
(Punching and kicking is a mahjong playing style; there are also variations like exchanging three tiles.)
Sun Miaoqing stroked the white jade mahjong set in her hand. She had only used the ivory set for a few days before storing it away in the storeroom as a treasure.
These are rare, non-renewable items. Once they're worn out, there's no replacement, so we should use them sparingly in the future.
"I will have to return to the palace in a few days. I feel really melancholy. How wonderful it would be to stay in the garden forever."
Linglan said, "It's already late autumn, and the Yuanmingyuan is much colder than the inner palace. There are no fire dragons yet. If you continue to live in the garden, you'll complain again in a few days that it's too cold and you can't stand it."
Liuli said, "If Your Majesty likes it, why don't you persuade the Emperor to come to the Yuanmingyuan Garden earlier next year?"
Sun Miaoqing rested her chin on her hand, blinked in approval, and with her other hand, she played an eight of bamboo.
The palace maid Hongxiu came over to report, "This servant greets Your Highness the Imperial Concubine. May Your Highness be blessed with ten thousand years of happiness and peace."
"The weavers are all ready. Please come to the courtyard for inspection, Your Highness."
Sun Miaoqing put down the mahjong tiles in her hand. "Alright, I'll go take a look right away."
As the group approached, they immediately noticed the items set up in the middle of the courtyard: cloth, felt, carpets, blankets, quilts, cloaks, and other similar items.
"Greetings to Your Highness, may Your Highness enjoy boundless blessings and peace."
"Get up, everyone."
Sun Miaoqing walked to the front of the most eye-catching cloaks, each one different.
A cloak was made by braiding nearly a hundred strands of wool, each about a finger's width, dyeing them with pomegranate peel, and then cutting and sewing them together.
The craftsmanship is simple; anyone can make it once they've seen the design. It's also the thickest of these cloaks. However, its weight is also quite impressive; it could be used as a blanket to get through the winter.
The other was a vermilion cloak, with a string of colorful beads on each side of the collar. The hem was embroidered with crane patterns and edged with white rabbit fur.
This piece was made by soaking wool in soapberry water and then manually pressing it while it was soaking to make it more densely felted.
They finally managed to create a wool fabric similar to the wool coat material of the future. However, relying solely on manual labor and with limited time, they couldn't yet achieve the density of wool fabrics from hundreds of years later.
Because of the fabric, the embroidery on it looks a bit rough, but it still looks good from a distance.
Another piece was made by twisting wool into yarn and then weaving it, which was then dyed pinkish-purple. The edges of the cloak were wrapped in silk and embroidered with cloud patterns.
Fabric woven on a loom, upon close inspection, is not much different from fabric knitted with needles, except that it is thicker.
Sun Miaoqing nodded in satisfaction, "You've worked hard. I only said a few words, and you all actually got it done."
Zhang Nuzhi said with a smile, "It's all thanks to Your Majesty's grace. If we women were to think about it ourselves, we wouldn't be able to come up with these ideas even if we racked our brains."
Seeing Sun Miaoqing looking at the quilt next to her, she said, "Your Majesty, look at this quilt. The filling inside is made using the cotton-fluffing method. Four catties of wool is warmer than four catties of cotton."
"This blanket was made by embroiderers stitching combed wool stitch by stitch. The stitches are a bit stiff, but it's perfect for making a blanket or placing in front of the bed."
Sun Miaoqing nodded, pointed to the thin, yellowish-green quilt next to her, and asked, "That's right, how about this one over there?"
Zhang, the weaver, opened the quilt, revealing the felt inside. "Your Majesty, please look. This bed is similar to that vermilion cloak; both are made by pressing wool in soapberry water."
"It's just not as tightly packed as a cloak. This single layer of felt makes a perfect blanket for spring and summer. If it's winter, you can just fold it into several layers."
Sun Miaoqing said, "I think these felt pieces would be more practical to make into cotton-padded jackets or shoes than quilts."
Zhang Nuzhi said with a smile, "Your Majesty is absolutely right. I will try to make a set in a little while."
"Your Majesty, please take another look at this carpet. It is woven from several colors after being twisted into coarse yarn. If you want a more exquisite pattern, the embroiderers will have to put more effort into it in the future."
......
Zhang Nvzhi carefully described every item in the courtyard, and Sun Miaoqing was extremely satisfied.
What she saw before her was much better than she had expected.
"Everyone has worked hard this past month. As I said, as long as you do a good job, I will not be stingy with money."
"Everyone who has worked hard on this matter will receive an additional one hundred taels. The leaders will each receive an additional two hundred taels of silver. The Emperor will not forget your contributions."
"This humble servant/woman thanks Your Majesty and Your Highness the Imperial Concubine."
Sun Miaoqing said, "Get up, everyone. Pack your things away. Tomorrow, the Imperial Household Department will take them all back to the palace."
*
Before dawn the next day, Sun Miaoqing was woken up by Liuli. Fighting off sleepiness, she did her hair and casually stuck a dragonfly-shaped hair ornament in her hair.
The kingfisher feathers on the hairpin were not peacock feathers, but rather feathers that fell from the parrot kept by Consort Xin.
It's not anything particularly valuable, but it's fresh.
After everything was prepared, they rode back to the Forbidden City in a swaying carriage. As soon as they arrived at the palace gate, they saw Su Peisheng and his men guarding the place, but they couldn't even see the big fat orange dog.
It seems he's not in a hurry at all...
"This servant greets Consort Cheng. May Your Highness enjoy boundless blessings and peace."
"Please rise, Eunuch Su. You look much better than before."
Su Peisheng felt a warm glow in his heart when he thought of Cui Jinxi mending his clothes. How could he not feel good with his beloved by his side?
However, the Emperor is still waiting, so we can't linger at the palace gate.
"His Majesty has instructed me to stand guard at the palace gate and invite the Imperial Concubine to go directly to the Hall of Mental Cultivation upon her return to the palace."
"His Majesty is awaiting Your Highness's good news. Please, Your Highness, ascend the carriage."
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