You expect me to serve your mistress? The mistress is driving this scumbag and his entire family cra

Chapter 80 Double-sided Embroidery of a Hundred Birds Among Flowers

Just as the mother and daughter were about to turn back to their residence, they saw two riders galloping away and stopping right in front of the Duke's mansion. The riders dismounted, tossed their horses to their servants, and excitedly rushed into the mansion.

Liang Jiang recognized the person at a glance. It was none other than Liang Wendong, the only son of the Liang family and the legitimate son of Liang Erye.

I heard that he went on a long trip these past two days and was not at the Duke's mansion. Judging from his travel-worn appearance, he must have just returned to the capital.

Liang Wendong also saw Madam Liang and Liang Jiang standing at the door. He was taken aback, paused slightly, and called out in surprise, "Auntie."

Then he asked bluntly, "What are you doing here?"

Madam Liang replied, "Your elder sister and I moved back to the Duke's mansion yesterday."

Liang Wendong's face instantly darkened, and he gave a dry, forced smile: "As expected."

His tone carried a hint of sarcasm, and the meaning was obvious.

Madam Liang didn't mind: "I heard you went on a long trip these past few days. You must have just returned. You must be tired. Go home quickly."

Liang Wendong said with some pride, "Yes, I made a trip to Yaozhou on my grandmother's orders."

Liang Jiang raised an eyebrow: "You went to find Madam Liu?"

“Indeed,” Liang Wendong said smugly, shaking the bundle tied to his chest at Liang Jiang again. “I have fulfilled my mission and received a gift from Madam Liu. I heard it is worth a thousand gold pieces.”

Liang Jiang never expected that her sister Liu would actually know Liang Su and be willing to give her her embroidery as a gift.

He nodded and said, "Indeed, Madam Liu's embroidery is priceless."

As they were talking, Liang Su heard that Liang Wendong had returned to the mansion and immediately came out to greet him. She excitedly snatched the bundle from Liang Wendong's shoulder, her hands trembling with excitement.

"Great! I knew Madam Liu would give me this face. Is it an embroidered image of Guanyin?"

Liang Wendong shook his head: "Madam Liu said she never embroiders Guanyin, but she still gave me a painting of a hundred birds among flowers."

Liang Su was slightly disappointed: "But the Prince of Pingxi specifically requested only the Guanyin painting."

Liang Wendong said proudly, "You don't know this, but this 'Hundred Birds Among Flowers' embroidery is a rare double-sided embroidery. The needlework is exquisite and lifelike. I believe that if Prince Pingxi sees it, he will definitely look at you with new eyes."

Upon hearing the news, the people in the manor gathered around, and the Second Madam urged Liang Su, "Open it quickly, so that we can all see it too."

Liang Su's palms were sweating with excitement. She wiped them with a handkerchief again and again before carefully opening the bundle, taking out the embroidery, and opening it in front of everyone.

The embroidery features various birds on both sides, but the designs on each side are completely different. When the two sides are put together, it creates a scene of birds flying among flowers.

The gold and silver threads are so finely detailed and lifelike.

Especially the color matching and the outlining of the lines, every detail shows the embroiderer's profound needlework skills.

Everyone immediately praised it highly.

The second lady clapped her hands in delight: "A hundred birds flying among the flowers symbolizes a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix and a long life. It would be perfect to use it as a screen for the kang (heated brick bed) to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday."

Liang Jiang glanced at it and saw that the entire embroidery used no less than twenty different stitches and dozens of different embroidery threads. It was indeed the work of her own Sister Liu's embroidery workshop.

After all, the clothes, handkerchiefs, purses, and sachets I've worn since childhood were mostly made by Sister Liu's embroidery workshop, so I'm very familiar with them.

Seeing how much they were making a fuss, I'll never use the handkerchief Sister Liu gave me to wipe my nose again.

Liang Su glanced at Liang Jiang and saw that she was also looking at it seriously, so she asked sourly, "Big sister, you actually know how to embroider? I thought you only liked fighting and wrestling and didn't know how to use a needle and thread."

Liang Jiang said self-deprecatingly, "I may not have eaten pork, but I've always seen pigs run. I can at least barely distinguish between good and bad embroidery."

Liang Su carefully put away the embroidery as if it were a precious treasure: "Tch, who is Madam Liu? Does she have the right to comment on her?"

Liang Jiang asked curiously, "Is Madam Liu really your master?"

“Of course, she doesn’t easily accept apprentices.” Liang Jiang gave a light “Oh”.

"What are you talking about?" Liang Su questioned.

"Of course I'm envious."

The second wife said proudly, "Madam Liu is extremely strict in accepting disciples; ordinary people cannot catch her eye. My Liangsu has had this talent since childhood."

“What she envies isn’t my skill,” Liang Su said sarcastically. “What she envies is that I can gain the favor of the Prince of Pingxi through this embroidery.”

The second wife beamed, "How can you talk like that? Your aunt is still here; wouldn't that make her lose face?"

Lady Liang said calmly, "Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. Liang Su's embroidery skills have indeed improved greatly, but my Liang Jiang doesn't have that talent. Liang Jiang, let's go back."

Liang Jiang nodded, and the mother and daughter entered the mansion. The second aunt was still smugly scolding Liang Su: "Look at you, you should restrain your sharpness a bit in the future, otherwise you will make your eldest sister look worthless, how embarrassing."

Then Liang Wendong asked the Second Madam, "Mother, are they really going to stay in the Duke's mansion and never leave?"

The second wife lowered her voice and said something.

Galangal is nothing more than a laughing stock.

An embroidery piece seemed to breathe life into the Duke's mansion.

The second room was filled with joy all day long, with everyone praising Liang Su for her skillful hands and gentle, intelligent nature.

Then, Master Liang, accompanied by the meticulously dressed Liang Su, went to the Pingxi Prince's Mansion to present a visiting card. Unfortunately, the Pingxi Prince's Mansion had guests and did not receive them, saying that they would visit the mansion in person another day.

The Prince of Pingxi's refusal to see her left Liang Su somewhat disappointed, feeling that the embroidery didn't seem to be that important to Gu Xizhi.

I was trying to be friendly, but they didn't reciprocate.

But she still treasured that embroidery, closing the door and staring at it day and night, studying its stitches and color scheme.

Looking left and right, I couldn't resist the urge to try it myself. I carefully selected more than a dozen color schemes and, in a blank space, imitated the style of the whole embroidery pattern to embroider a thrush. On the reverse side, I embroidered a peony.

The second wife was summoned to admire the work, and she naturally praised it highly, saying that Liang Su's embroidery was so lifelike that it was comparable to that of Madam Liu.

Liang Su was even more smug, eagerly anticipating Gu Xizhi's personal visit.

Unbeknownst to her, the Marquis of Huaiyuan's residence was currently in chaos and turmoil. Gu Xizhi, too, had no time to concern herself with the embroidery.

Because Xie Fubai, the heir of the Marquis of Huaiyuan's mansion, was flogged the next day, and his head might be in danger.

Liang Jiang didn't know about Xie Fubai at first; it was Lu Xingzhan who came to see her that night and told her about it.

Lu Xingzhan never beat around the bush when talking to her, and first brought up the matter of the Black Wind Temple.

The robbers were handed over to the Jingzhao Yin's office by Liang Jiang. After interrogation, they confessed to their past misdeeds.

However, the robber knew nothing about who was behind the assassination and had no valuable clues.

During the morning court session, the Prefect of the Capital reported the case truthfully to the Emperor.

The emperor was very pleased to hear that Lady Liang and Liang Jiang were still alive.

In addition, given the extent of the crimes committed by these robbers, the authorities decided to show leniency and not pursue the matter further.

The case is now closed.

Lu Xingzhan then brought up the matter Liang Jiang had entrusted to him: "The person I sent to my master's wife has returned. Your cousin really is an imposter."

(End of this chapter)