After Ji Yingying examined the drawing, Zhao Xiuyuan took out a one-foot square sample brocade from the bamboo tube: “Our best weavers worked through the nights for ten days to make this.”
The sample brocade had an emerald-blue base. The bright moon and waves below were woven in two shades of silver-white. The chrysanthemum stood gracefully by the water, swaying elegantly. The branches and leaves showed a perfect balance between density and sparseness. The flower center was golden yellow, with petals in pink-purple. Made with top-grade silk threads, it emitted a brilliance that remained soft and gentle.
Emerald-blue, silver-white, golden-yellow, and peach-pink purple. These strongly contrasting colors woven into one brocade created something both magnificent and refined.
Since it was a sample, Ji Yingying held it directly up to the sunlight streaming through the window, moving it left and right to appreciate it.
Shu brocade weaving used warp threads for patterns. The resulting brocades showed bright, vivid colors with prominent patterns that had a relief-like, three-dimensional quality. Viewed from different angles, the colors would shift with changing light.
As Ji Yingying moved the sample, the chrysanthemum seemed to come alive. It was as if an evening breeze swept across the brocade, scattering several petals. The scattered, flying petals appeared natural and lifelike. One could imagine how dazzling it would be when woven into a three-foot-tall brocade painting.
She understood that the Zhao family had matched the silk threads themselves and woven the sample. Zhao Xiuyuan showed it to her to ask if she could think of ways to improve the color matching to enhance the brocade further.
She examined it for nearly half an hour before setting down the brocade with a sigh: “Brother Xiuyuan, the sample’s colors are already perfect. Even if I tried, I couldn’t match better colors than these.”
Zhao Xiuyuan let out a relieved breath: “If even you can’t think of better color combinations, we can start the weaving.”
Ji Yingying only smiled without answering. She could try her best to think if better colors were possible, but not yet married into the Zhao family, she couldn’t freely comment on their affairs.
The Zhao family’s brocade excelled in its artistic conception. But without seeing the Yang family’s “Ten Pattern Brocade,” Ji Yingying couldn’t be certain the Zhao family would win the competition.
After Zhao Xiuyuan left, she sat dazed in the small room, her mind filled with thoughts of the Lingjiang Xian chrysanthemum brocade. She felt she had other ideas but couldn’t quite sort them out.
“Miss, it’s noon,” Xiang’er reminded her softly.
Ji Yingying came to her senses: “Let’s go back.”
She returned home with Xiang’er through the shop’s back door. Outside the back door was a courtyard surrounded by storerooms. Past the entrance hall was the Ji family’s front courtyard.
Under the eaves of her elder brother Ji Yaoting’s study stood two pots of chrysanthemums. One was Er Qiao, and the other was Fen He. Both had spherical blooms. Er Qiao was named for its mix of white and pink petals, while Fen He had pink petals resembling lotus buds.
Ji Yingying looked at them for several moments, the thoughts in her mind growing stronger yet remaining elusive: “Xiang’er, have someone move these chrysanthemums to my courtyard.”
Perhaps, by watching them, she would figure it out.
Families in the dyeing business had a natural love for color. After becoming a widow, Madam Ji’s only pastime was growing flowers. She grew different flowers for different seasons. Ji Yingying had all the potted flowers moved into her small side courtyard, creating a spectacular display of colors.
Three days passed, and both Madam Ji and Ji Yaoting thought Ji Yingying had become obsessed. Besides eating and sleeping, she just stared at those flowers. They had no idea what she was trying to see.
From the second floor of Teng Garden, Zhao Xiuyuan could see the riot of colors through the Chinese parasol tree branches. He felt touched yet puzzled. If even a color-matching expert like Ji Yingying said she couldn’t match better colors, what was she still pondering? Did she think the brocade was somehow lacking?
If Ji Yingying, who didn’t understand brocade weaving or how to identify brocade quality, thought the piece was insufficient, Zhao Xiuyuan immediately felt less confident about winning the competition. He was incredibly frustrated. What exactly was lacking in this brocade?
He began drawing new drafts in his study. By day’s end, the room was littered with discarded bamboo paper. Zhao Xiuyuan set down his brush in dejection. Not one draft could compare to the Lingjiang Xian chrysanthemum design.
Less than two months remained until the competition on the ninth day of the tenth month. Elder Master Zhao urged Zhao Xiuyuan to begin weaving in the Treasure Collection Pavilion.
“Grandfather, I want to wait a bit longer. Second Miss Ji seems to think this brocade is still lacking. I want to wait and see what ideas she might have,” Zhao Xiuyuan decided to give Ji Yingying a few more days.
Hearing the reason, Elder Master Zhao frowned: “Grandson, do you believe Second Miss Ji is thinking about our brocade? Not just happily appreciating flowers?”
Zhao Binsung wanted to laugh: “Second Young Master, even if Second Miss Ji is a color-matching expert, didn’t she say herself that she couldn’t match better colors than this brocade?”
At this point, doubt appeared in Elder Master Zhao’s eyes: “Grandson, you must not rely too heavily on Second Miss Ji. Don’t forget that understanding brocade craftsmanship and being able to judge brocade quality at a glance should be your ability. To question your skills just because Second Miss Ji has filled her garden with chrysanthemums to admire—this makes me doubt your capability.”
These words struck Zhao Xiuyuan’s heart like a hammer. He accepted the lesson silently, shocked to his core. When had he started relying so much on Ji Yingying?
Elder Master Zhao snorted coldly: “Go back and think carefully about your grandfather’s words. Even if mediocre, the head of the Zhao family must never be without his judgment.”
Zhao Xiuyuan stumbled back to Teng Garden. His grandfather’s words filled him with shame and confusion. Could he not create stunning brocades without Ji Yingying? No, it wasn’t like that. She only helped with color matching, and only gave suggestions. She couldn’t weave brocade, didn’t understand brocade.
He went upstairs without lighting any lamps, standing quietly by the window gazing toward the Ji residence.
It was when he was twelve that he first met Ji Yingying alone at Song Xian Bridge to release lanterns. He clearly remembered giving her a square brocade handkerchief that day. His design of fish playing among lotus flowers had earned his grandfather’s praise. He had intended to give it to her, but before he could speak, Ji Yingying glanced at the handkerchief and said: “Why are these fish staring with dead eyes? They look like they’re about to float belly-up.”
He had blushed furiously with embarrassment. Indignantly, he said: “Can you weave? If not, don’t criticize.”
Ji Yingying naturally wouldn’t back down and bet him one string of cash. Two days later, by Huanhua Stream, Ji Yingying brought an embroidered handkerchief. She had embroidered the same fish playing among lotus flowers.
He was amazed to discover she had memorized his pattern. Placing the two handkerchiefs together, his fish indeed had dead-looking eyes. He dutifully handed over a plum blossom-shaped small silver ingot his grandfather had given him for the New Year. Ji Yingying happily accepted it, and then showed off how to properly match colors.
Over time, Zhao Xiuyuan developed a habit. When weaving brocade paintings, he always sought Ji Yingying’s advice on color matching. Just like now with the chrysanthemum brocade for the competition. Only when Ji Yingying said she couldn’t match better colors did he feel at ease.
“Grandfather is right. This isn’t right of me,” Zhao Xiuyuan closed his eyes in pain.
Seeking Ji Yingying’s advice wasn’t wrong. His error was in relying on her too much.
Zhao Xiuyuan made an immediate decision and left Teng Garden. After reporting to his grandfather, he entered the weaving workshop in the Treasure Collection Pavilion that very night.