Chapter 146: Chapter 61: Yuehuan Borrows a Book
Yueyao returned to Lian Mansion, just in time for the afternoon embroidery lesson. After class that day, she stayed behind, planning to ask Embroidery Lady Mah some questions.
Embroidery Lady Mah found it strange, as Yueyao usually left as soon as class ended. Yueyao said with a smile, “My younger brother has gone to private school; he only comes back for two days each month. I’ll have more time to devote to embroidery.” It didn’t matter that she went back to Lanxi Courtyard later since Tingzheng wasn’t there.
Embroidery Lady Mah smiled and said, “So you’ll have more time to practice from now on?”
Yueyao nodded, “Yes, I’ll have time from now on.” Since she had started learning, she wanted to do it well; Yueyao was determined to master all of Gu embroidery. She was grateful that her previous instructor at the Nunnery, who happened to be a Suzhou embroideress, gave her a solid foundation. This was the reason she hadn’t fallen behind others, and now, learning Su embroidery was more efficient.
With Brother Zheng gone from Lanxi Courtyard, the quiet calm returned. Yueyao found it a little odd at first, but with so much to do, she didn’t have the leisure to feel sentimental. Her days were busy with study; her evenings were occupied with either embroidery or calligraphy practice. She also planned to start painting again in a couple of days.
Nanny Deng said in a low voice, “Miss, it’s fine to learn embroidery, but you don’t need to rely on this craft for a living in the future.” Nanny Deng saw that aside from Yueyao’s daily instructions and classes, she spent all spare time—including an hour each day dedicated to calligraphy—on embroidery. Nanny Deng couldn’t understand why her mistress took such a keen interest in embroidery, but she knew embroidering at night was very harmful to the eyes.
Yueyao replied with a smile, “Don’t worry, Nanny; I’m aware of my limits.” No one could predict the situation three years from now. She hoped to meet Mr. Mah’s expectations as quickly as possible and then ask him to teach her the techniques of Gu embroidery.
Yueyao and the others got two days off each month. Even on those days, she did not relax. After practicing her writing in the morning and taking a break, she would head to the studio.
Yueyao held a brush, looking at the pristine Xuan Paper. She first sketched the scene she wanted in her mind, then lightly outlined the positions on the paper before finally putting the brush to the surface.
Hua Lei saw her mistress staring at the Xuan Paper for a long time, her eyes moving about, yet hesitating to start. When she finally began, the drawing was completed in no time.
Amazed, Hua Lei said, “Miss, is this our courtyard?” Her mistress had managed to transfer their very own courtyard to paper.
Yueyao replied with a smile, “Can you recognize this is our courtyard?”
Hua Lei chuckled, “Miss, you even included the fish tank with goldfish in it; how could I not recognize it? Miss, your painting really is excellent.” She spent every day in the courtyard; not recognizing it would be foolish.
Yueyao found it quite amusing, “You understand how to appreciate paintings now? Then tell me, what’s good about this painting?” It wasn’t that Yueyao looked down on Hua Lei, but rather that Hua Lei was a complete outsider to painting.
Hua Lei shook her head, “I couldn’t say exactly why it’s good, but it just feels right to me. Seeing the painting of our courtyard makes me feel very close and comfortable.”
Yueyao was struck by a thought and suddenly recalled the anecdote of Bai Juyi reading his poems. It was said that whenever Bai Juyi wrote a poem, he would recite it to an illiterate old woman. If she did not like it, he would revise it until she did, only then considering the poem complete. Yueyao couldn’t help but think that perhaps painting should follow the same principle. Paintings did not have to be mysterious, cold, sparse, and removed from the world; they could be just as natural and simple.
As Yueyao reflected deeply, she considered pursuing a style that was natural and unpretentious. If it was well received, this could be a viable path. But she furrowed her brow; creating an entirely new mode of artistic expression wouldn’t be easy.
Seeing Yueyao lost in thought again, Hua Lei nudged her, “Miss, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?” Hua Lei’s biggest fear was when Yueyao became absent-minded.
Yueyao shook her head, “I’m fine.” After speaking, Yueyao threw the painting she was holding into the brazier, quickly turning it into ash.
Hua Lei had wanted to snatch the painting from the brazier, but Yueyao stopped her. As Hua Lei watched the painting turn to a pile of ashes, she looked pained, “Miss, such a good painting… why burn it? It’s truly a pity.” She liked the painting so much and wondered how her mistress could bear to destroy it.
Yueyao said indifferently, “If I’m not satisfied with it, naturally I must burn it.” Unless she was one hundred percent content with her work, she wouldn’t keep a single piece.