Chapter 13 Like pearls gathering jade, embodying refined virtue; like brocade overflowing with the fragrance of orchids. ...

The next day, the morning birds sang as usual.

Su Jinxiu opened her eyes, the throbbing pain in her forehead had not yet subsided, but the lingering taste of last night's argument filled her heart first.

With a sigh, she delicately lifted the silver hook of the curtain with her slender hand, and the spicy aroma of ginger and cinnamon wafted into her nostrils.

Curious, Su Jinxiu looked for the source and saw a bowl of ginger soup in a celadon glaze on the tray of the small stool by the bed. Steam rose from the bowl. As she picked it up to drink, she noticed a piece of plain paper at the bottom of the bowl, written in Wen Shiqin's vigorous running script.

"The breakfast is kept warm in the wok."

The few words brought a lump to her throat. Upon reflection, she realized she had also made a mistake yesterday. So she quickly washed her hands, changed into a light green silk dress, and went to apologize to Wen Shiqin.

However, she searched the entire courtyard, looking at every corner of the blue bricks, next to the embroidery frame, and even pushed open the door of the woodshed, but she still couldn't find Wen Shiqin.

The Zhenjun porridge on the stove was still steaming. She ate it with the melon scraps he had left, then picked up the bowl of ginger soup, which was at just the right temperature, and drank it all in one gulp. He must have warmed it up according to the time she woke up. The warmth flowed down her throat, but her guilt grew heavier in her heart.

With only three days left until the Shuyu Poetry Gathering, and unable to find Wen Shiqin anywhere, she turned around and sat back down in front of the embroidery frame.

The cloud and ink landscape skirt hanging on the rack is mostly embroidered. The scenery on the skirt is modeled after Li Gonglin's "Xiao Xiang Wo You Tu" (Lying Down and Traveling in Xiao Xiang). It uses black silk thread as the base and is carefully dyed with silver gray and lapis lazuli. With each stitch, ink is splashed into the silk, and the landscape comes to life.

She deliberately embroidered until dusk, and when she was exhausted, she sat on a low stool to doze off, intending to wait for Wen Shiqin to return. However, she eventually succumbed to sleepiness and fell asleep with her head tilted to the side.

When she woke up again, it was already dawn. She found herself lying in bed, the blankets tucked in tightly, and realized that he had come back the night before.

There was freshly brewed ginger soup, warmed jasmine leaves, and comb prints in the kitchen. Even the messy silk threads she was embroidering halfway through were arranged by color, but he was nowhere to be seen again.

Two days passed like this, and Wen Shiqin always returned while she was sleeping and left before she woke up.

As Su Jinxiu embroidered the landscape painting on her skirt, she couldn't help but wonder what he was busy with.

On the morning of the third day, the last distant mountain of the ink-splashed skirt was finally settled.

Su Jinxiu put down her embroidery needle, and coughed repeatedly. Although she had ginger soup to warm her up, she still caught a slight cold.

Looking at the complete Xiaoxiang scenery on her skirt, she suddenly felt empty inside and missed Wen Shiqin even more.

It is generally when people are vulnerable that they realize the value of cherishing the warmth in ordinary days as a form of comfort.

On the fourth day, Su Jinxiu had no interest in putting on makeup. She simply took the box of Jade Maiden Peach Blossom Cream from her vanity case, applied a thin layer, and then put on a light silk dress with a green belt tied around her waist. She wore a gauze robe over it, exuding an ethereal and fairy-like aura. She put on a veil and headed straight for Qinghui Pavilion, the venue for the Shuyu Poetry Gathering.

After entering, Su Jinxiu did not join the crowd, but chose to sit on a futon in a corner of the pavilion and quietly looked at the ink marks on the table.

This is the Shuyu Poetry Gathering held every six months in Bianjing. No visiting cards are required, and no one's background is questioned. Anyone with literary talent can enter. Over time, it has become an elegant event that literati and scholars compete to attend. There is even a saying that "one Shuyu gathering can make one famous throughout the capital."

The best poems written during the banquet would be included in the published "Shuyu Collection". This collection of poems often became a popular topic of conversation in the streets and alleys of Bianjing. From nobles to commoners, everyone considered it an honor to be included in the collection.

A gentle breeze suddenly arose outside the pavilion, carrying the fragrance of lotus blossoms from the pond as it swept past the vermilion railing. Everyone instinctively looked up and saw Yu Sheng approaching with light, quick steps. In the first two rounds of the competition, she had captivated everyone's attention with her eloquent and insightful words. Now, for the final round of judging by close friends, she had specially changed into a different outfit.

It was a dress with cloud and ink landscape design. The silk surface was like water and mist, and the varying shades of ink conveyed the solitude of an old man in a straw hat and raincoat on a lone boat, as well as the sense of spaciousness at the end of the watercourse, which perfectly captured the essence of the theme.

She walked to the zither table in the pavilion, knelt down, and with a gentle lift of her hand, melodious zither music flowed out.

The people before my eyes, the scenery on their clothes, the sounds between their fingers—all create an elegant and natural harmony.

"What a wonderful fusion of music and painting!" Someone in the crowd suddenly spoke up. It was Yuan Zhengming, the poet who was currently enjoying great popularity. He stood up with his wine cup in hand, shook his head with a smile, and said, "I was just worried about not having a reason to give you a poem, but now I do."

He paused for a moment, then spoke in a clear voice: "Ink stains the Xiaoxiang River, adorning a white skirt; fingertips play the zither, its melody falling like drifting clouds. No makeup is needed to enhance her beauty; her natural radiance illuminates the pavilions. Friends and confidants discuss the beauty of poetry and painting; her talent and elegance are subtly distinguished. Let us not say that romance is inferior to that of learned scholars; a single piece can captivate all who hear it."

As soon as the poem ended, the entire pavilion erupted in cheers. Yu Sheng's zither music finished its last note, and she looked up at Yuan Zhengming, her eyes filled with tenderness: "Brother Yuan, you understand this dress and this zither music better than I do myself."

Yuan Zhengming smiled and raised his glass: "We have known each other for many years. If you can't even appreciate this little bit of sentiment, then you are not worthy of being called a close friend."

After the poetry gathering ended, Yu Sheng took Su Jinxiu's hand and walked out, her tone full of praise: "Jinxiu, you really have a knack for business. Those embroidered clothes I wore earlier have already been included in poetry collections by scholars. I've also followed your advice and spread the name of Madam Su of Huayun Pavilion. Tomorrow, the pavilion will surely be overflowing with orders!"

Su Jinxiu smiled gently and said, "You are the greatest contributor. From now on, I will make as many embroidered garments as you need."

Yu Sheng was so excited that she immediately hugged her, and the gentle and self-effacing demeanor she had shown at the poetry gathering vanished completely, leaving Su Jinxiu both amused and exasperated.

Just as they stepped out of Qinghui Pavilion, they passed the rockery and suddenly heard a quarrel. Su Jinxiu made a shushing gesture, and Yu Sheng understood. The two of them then bent down and quietly approached.

Behind the artificial hill, the copper basin containing the dripping Guanyin statue was filled with overnight rain. The water surface was calm, reflecting the shadows of two banana leaves huddled together.

Amidst the commotion in front of the artificial hill, Ningzhu's sobs were particularly pitiful. Clutching the sleeve of Cui Cheng, the son of an official, tears streamed down her face: "Sanlang, do you know how to write the word 'concubine'?" Before she finished speaking, she suddenly raised her hand, the tip of her silver hairpin slashing her palm, then tearing the brocade from her sleeve, and using the blood to write on the stone: "Make me a slave!"

“But my family has already arranged a marriage for me with the eldest daughter of a high-ranking official, a friend of my father’s. I simply cannot disobey.” Cui Cheng’s face turned deathly pale. He reached out to take her hand, but Ningzhu forcefully shook it off. He hastily pulled a brocade box from his sleeve, and when he opened it, the glittering gold-inlaid jade bracelet was dazzling. “This is a gold-inlaid jade bracelet that my mother prepared for her future wife… I stole it for you. Please bear with it for a while, and wait for me…”

"Waiting for you in what way?" Ningzhu suddenly sneered. "Waiting for your wedding night? Waiting for you to become a high-ranking official?" She pushed the brocade box back, the blood from her fingertips smearing on the box, a shocking sight. "Cui Sanlang, if you truly care about me, you should know that what I want has never been these material possessions!"

Behind the banana leaf, the two small groups had already begun to discuss in hushed tones.

Yu Sheng curled her lip: "Look at Ningzhu, she still wants to force her way into becoming the principal wife? Doesn't she even know her place!"

Su Jinxiu sighed softly, "The most pitiful one is the eldest daughter of the Vice Minister's family... In the end, all the blame lies with Cui Cheng. He is a grown man who is indecisive and has affairs with many women, thus ruining two women."

As Yu Sheng was deep in thought, a cough suddenly came from behind them, startling the two of them. Su Jinxiu turned around and saw Ying Bumei, whose face was still swollen on one side. She quickly made a shushing gesture and then stole a glance at the rockery. Fortunately, the two of them were arguing fiercely and didn't notice.

Unexpectedly, Ying Bumei insisted on contradicting him, deliberately raising his voice and saying, "Oh, isn't this the one who shone brightly at the poetry gathering just now..."

Before he could finish speaking, Su Jinxiu and Yu Sheng grabbed his arms on either side and dragged him away without a word, pulling him towards the lakeside pavilion not far away.

Ying Bumei, supported by the two men, still laughed freely: "You two were so elegant and proper at the poetry gathering just now, and now you're eavesdropping here? How interesting."

Upon arriving at the pavilion in the middle of the lake, Su Jinxiu's gaze first fell on Ying Bumei's face. A few days ago, Wen Shiqin's punch was extremely powerful, and half of his cheek was still swollen, with even his temples turning bluish-purple, and the corners of his eyes still showing faint bruises.

A wave of guilt washed over Su Jinxiu, and she quickly pulled out a jar of celadon ointment from her sleeve. As she handed it over, her tone softened unconsciously, and she apologized with a smile: "This is an anti-swelling ointment that I specially found. It is said that if you apply it overnight, most of the bruise will disappear, and you will recover by tomorrow."

Ying Bumei crossed his arms, leaned against a pavilion pillar, and stared at the jar of ointment for a long while before saying, "Apply it to me."

Yu Sheng, who was watching from the side, was curious and was about to make a joke when Zhi Xia ran over and said that someone from the neighborhood was urging them to go back. So she had to say goodbye to them and quickly left.

Knowing she was in the wrong, Su Jinxiu obediently unscrewed the porcelain lid, took a small amount of milky white ointment, rubbed it in her palm, and the clear, refreshing fragrance of the medicine spread. She tiptoed closer, and just as her fingertips touched the bruise, she heard Ying Bumei suddenly gasp and complain in pain, "Why not use a little more force and just ruin this face for me? That would be much more peaceful."

"I'll be gentler." Su Jinxiu softened her voice, gently rubbing the bruise in circles with ointment on her fingertips, and couldn't help but defend Wen Shiqin: "Aqin... he didn't do it on purpose, he was probably just in a hurry that day..."

Even now, she still favors that brat. Ying Bumei was furious upon hearing this. He reached out and grabbed her wrist, forcing her palm to press tightly against the bruise. His tone became a few degrees heavier: "Look me in the eyes and say again that he didn't do it on purpose?"

“He clearly can’t tolerate you speaking to any man. He even hit me when I helped you get a job. What if some nobleman takes a liking to you in the future…”

"No way!" Su Jinxiu interrupted sharply.

Ying Bumei, who had been leaning against a pavilion pillar, straightened up upon hearing this. His usual carefree smile vanished abruptly, replaced by a stubborn seriousness as he asked, "How do you know it won't happen?" His peach blossom eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, as if he were determined to extract an answer from her. "Marriage is a matter of fate, not human will. How can you be so certain?"

Su Jinxiu turned her head away from that burning gaze: "Why not? If I can't find a true love, I'll remain unmarried for life." Before she finished speaking, she turned back, switching from defense to offense: "Did you return that sum of gold? And that day you helped me get a job... were you perhaps trying to use me?"

Such questioning, which already carries an answer, is actually superfluous. It's only because I've repeatedly agreed to his care and concern that I've unknowingly come to regard him as a friend and he's gained weight in my heart that I feel compelled to get to the bottom of things.

Once the question was posed, the clouds over the pavilion in the middle of the lake fell silent, and the sky and water remained still.

"yes."

Each word, once uttered, falls like a pearl falling from a stone; so frank and straightforward, without the slightest hint of detour.

"good."

Su Jinxiu suddenly moved her wrist, trying to pull her hand away from being gripped, but Ying Bumei held it even tighter.

His breathing suddenly became heavy, and the emotions surging in his eyes were like a raging storm, almost bursting out of his eyes, but he suppressed them and only asked in a low and urgent voice: "Don't you want to know why I changed my mind later?"

He used to be carefree and unrestrained, and even when he was nice to her, it was with a hint of cynicism. But at this moment, the emotions in his eyes were so intense that they startled her.

Ying Bumei's Adam's apple bobbed, and a thousand emotions surged in her eyes. The words "Because I can't bear to part with you" were stuck in her throat, about to burst out.

"Master Ying! Boss An has sent someone to find you, saying he has something urgent to discuss!" Yu Sheng's clear voice suddenly came from outside the corridor, breaking the tranquility of the pavilion.

Ying Bumei closed his eyes briefly, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in his eyes. He then released Su Jinxiu's wrist and followed Yu Sheng away without looking back.