Exiled to Lingnan, the Crown Prince's wife raises children, cultivates the land, and leads the

"Double-sided embroidery is indeed difficult, but surely not no one can do it?"

Cheng Qiqi smiled and thought when she saw Song Mingzhu again: Sure enough, she didn't check the almanac before going out.

Last time I was almost hit by her carriage, and this time when I came to deliver goods, I didn't expect to run into her again?

She wore her usual red coat and remained aloof as always.

"hehe."

Song Mingzhu sneered and said, "You mean, you can?"

Song Mingzhu's gaze swept over Cheng Qiqi from head to toe, her eyes filled with disdain. Cheng Qiqi was dressed in coarse linen clothes, looking utterly poor…

"I won't.

As soon as Cheng Qiqi finished speaking, Song Mingzhu's mocking smile deepened, and Cheng Qiqi continued, "My family will."

"Your home?"

Song Mingzhu raised an eyebrow slightly: "Perfect, I want a double-sided embroidered purse. If you can embroider it well, I'll give you one tael of silver!"

A purse?

A tael of silver?

Cheng Qiqi silently thought to herself, "Liu Suyi said that although double-sided embroidery is not easy, it only takes some time. A purse is only the size of a palm, and it's really good to exchange it for one or two taels of silver!"

"real?"

Cheng Qiqi's eyes sparkled as she looked at Yue Niang beside her and asked, "Yue Niang, can you really earn one tael of silver for embroidering a double-sided purse?"

Yue Niang: "..."

Double-sided embroidery is very valuable, but there are many different types!

For example, a beginner-level double-sided flower pattern, which is simple, costs only one or two hundred coins.

For a more advanced option, double-sided embroidery in different colors can cost three to five hundred coins.

There are even better double-sided designs with different colors and patterns, costing six or seven hundred coins.

The highest level is double-sided embroidery with three different colors, patterns, and stitches. This kind of embroidery is expensive and worth one or two taels of silver!

What Song Mingzhu wanted was a two-tone design with different colors on each side, which was far beyond what was priced.

"I'm a woman of my word, and I always keep my promises."

Song Mingzhu frowned in displeasure and gave the maid a meaningful look: "I need one butterfly and one hibiscus flower. If you can embroider them within half a month, one tael of silver is yours."

The maid handed over the pattern. Song Mingzhu wanted to order a purse for her coming-of-age ceremony, embroidered with her favorite butterflies and hibiscus flowers. However, Hongji Embroidery House couldn't embroider it.

If you want to do embroidery, you have to go to the provincial capital!

However, there wasn't enough time.

Song Mingzhu was initially unhappy because she couldn't get her custom-made double-sided embroidered purse, but as soon as she came out, she heard Cheng Qiqi's words and immediately mocked her.

"make a deal."

After looking at the design, Cheng Qiqi immediately agreed, saying, "Moon Lady, please write a contract so that we have proof when the goods are delivered."

Cheng Qiqi smiled, revealing her white teeth. One tael of silver for a double-sided embroidered purse—this deal seemed like a bargain no matter how you looked at it.

"Hmph, if you can embroider it, do you think I need your little bit of money?"

Seeing her expression, Song Mingzhu knew she was afraid she wouldn't pay. She smiled coldly and said, "Danruo, pay up."

"Yes."

The maid named Danruo immediately took out one tael of silver and handed it over.

"If you can't embroider it, then you..."

Song Mingzhu looked her up and down: "Since you can't afford to pay compensation, you'd better kowtow to me."

Smash your head?

This is incredibly insulting.

Yue Niang subconsciously glanced at Cheng Qiqi beside her.

Cheng Qiqi then asked, "What if I finish?"

"If I don't finish embroidering, I'll get a tael of silver back and have to kowtow. What if I finish it?"

Cheng Qiqi's eyes flickered slightly. She did not feel inferior in the slightest because Song Mingzhu was adorned with jewels and dressed in rich clothes. In her eyes, Song Mingzhu was just a fool with too much money.

If the village head and Granny Leng were there, they would probably find this scene strangely familiar.

"You get paid once it's finished?"

Song Mingzhu frowned. Was this person out of their mind?

"You are a young lady from a distinguished family, a daughter of a prominent clan."

Cheng Qiqi's words made Song Mingzhu straighten her back, raise her chin slightly, and her eyes seemed to say: You know that's good.

"As the saying goes, there's a reward for every punishment. One thousand coins is the payment for embroidering the handkerchief. If I don't finish, I have to kowtow. If I do finish, there should naturally be a reward, right?"

Before Song Mingzhu could react, she said with a smile, "Young Miss, you are of noble birth, kind-hearted, and of high moral character. You certainly wouldn't do something that only results in punishment without any reward, would you?"

Cheng Qiqi presented him with one compliment after another.

Song Mingzhu finally realized what was going on. Her gaze became more serious as she looked at Cheng Qiqi's face. Compared to her coarse linen clothes, Cheng Qiqi's face was actually quite pretty.

"Want a reward?"

Song Mingzhu's lips curled up, and she casually said, "You're right. I'm fair in my rewards and punishments. If you really finish the embroidery, I'll reward you..."

Song Mingzhu paused, her eyes darting around, and said, "I'll reward you with a piece of material."

"How about three-loom cloth?"

Song Mingzhu's face was beaming with joy. Three-spindle cloth, top-quality cotton cloth, as fine and dense as silk, costs one to two times more than ordinary cotton cloth!

It doesn't hold up well to dirt. If a regular gray cotton coat gets a little muddy, you can just pat it off and it won't be dirty anymore!

However, three-loom cloth is different; if even a drop of soy sauce spreads, the garment will be ruined.

"Thank you, Miss."

Cheng Qiqi didn't feel bad at all.

"Then hurry up and go embroider, Moon Lady, give her the materials."

Song Mingzhu left with her maid Danruo, without even glancing at Cheng Qiqi before she left.

"Danruo, immediately send someone to the prefectural city to find a way to order me a double-sided embroidered purse!" Song Mingzhu ordered as soon as she got into the carriage. Her coming-of-age ceremony must include a beautiful double-sided embroidered purse.

"Yes."

Danruo responded.

"You really want to embroider a pouch with different colors and patterns on both sides?"

Moon Lady said worriedly, "That Miss Song Mingzhu just now, her father is from near Chaosheng County, the eldest daughter of Governor Song. If she really can't embroider it, she might really have to kowtow..."

Yue Niang had a good impression of Cheng Qiqi. She came from a poor background but was neither humble nor arrogant. When she smiled, she looked like a pretty little sister next door.

"Don't worry, Moon Lady, since I've agreed, I'm sure I can do it."

Cheng Qiqi smiled and said, "Thank you, Yue Niang. But what kind of cloth is that three-spindle cloth?"

She asked curiously, "When Song Mingzhu mentioned the three-loom cloth just now, that playful look in her eyes seemed... rather strange?"

"The cloth is good, as fine as silk, but it gets dirty easily."

Moon Lady explained, "It's twice as expensive as ordinary cotton cloth."

Looking at the clothes on her body, Yue Niang thought that if she really wore this three-loom cloth, she probably wouldn't be suitable for working.

"That's great, perfect for making undergarments for my daughter."

Cheng Qiqi's eyes lit up. This is good material; it'll be perfect for making pajamas for her daughter.

My daughter has delicate skin, so her clothes should be comfortable.

"You have a daughter?"

Yue Niang was somewhat shocked. She looked at Cheng Qiqi as if she were a young girl who had not yet reached adulthood. She never expected that Cheng Qiqi would have a daughter.

Meanwhile, seeing Cheng Qiqi's joyful expression, her expression was complicated. Did she know that Song Mingzhu was using this piece of cloth as a reward to mock her lowly status?