Imperial City, Shoukang Palace.
Inside the hall, agarwood was burning in a gilded incense burner, and the curling green smoke made the palace with its carved beams and painted rafters seem even more secluded.
Concubine Shoukang leaned against a rosewood carved couch, her fingertips gently fiddling with a string of Buddhist beads, her eyes fixed on the brocade boxes lined up in front of her.
"Aunt, these..." Ding Xinwan knelt aside, her almond-shaped eyes slightly opened, a little surprised.
As the brocade boxes were opened one by one, the brilliance of jewels instantly illuminated her face - a phoenix hairpin inlaid with red rubies, jade drop earrings, a forbidden step inlaid with gold and jade... Each piece was a treasure, some of which even the ladies in the palace might not have.
"It's all for you."
Concubine Shoukang spoke in a soft voice, her fingertips stroking a jade-inlaid hairpin, the feathers of which were so blue that water seemed to drip out of them.
"My aunt is too old to wear such bright things."
Ding Xinwan pursed her lips and said softly, "But these are too valuable."
Concubine Shoukang looked at her beautiful niece, and a trace of loving care appeared at the corners of her eyes.
"Silly girl, what are these valuables? If some of the jewelry had not been recorded in the inner palace, your aunt would have wanted to give you all the good things in the dressing box."
She gently took Ding Xinwan's hand and pinned the kingfisher-embellished hairpin in the girl's black hair.
"You are the only precious jewel in your father's eye. Now that he has promised you a good boy like Xue's Sanlang, your aunt can finally let go of her worries."
Ding Xinwan's cheeks flushed slightly, and her fingers twisted the handkerchief unconsciously: "Brother Ji Yan, it's really great."
"That's right!" Concubine Shoukang smiled. "That child is not only handsome, but also the third place winner in this year's imperial examination."
At this moment, the concubine suddenly stopped talking and took out a small red sandalwood box from the bottom of the brocade box. "Keep this close to you."
A mutton-fat jade peace locket lay quietly in the box. The jade was as smooth as solidified fat and emitted a soft glow under the candlelight.
"This is?"
"It was a gift from the late emperor." Concubine Shoukang's voice suddenly deepened. "At that time, your grandfather made military achievements in the northwest, and the late emperor specially gifted this pair of jade buttons. One was given to your father, and I have kept the other."
Ding Xinwan gently stroked the warm jade button, and suddenly remembered something. She looked up and said, "Aunt, the old lady of the Marquis' Mansion left for her ancestral home in the north the day before yesterday. She said she would not return to the capital until before the wedding."
A trace of worry flashed in Concubine Shoukang's eyes: "Why do you suddenly want to go to the ancestral home?"
"I heard that the heavy rain a few days ago washed away the old marquis's tomb, and the coffin was even moved."
Ding Xinwan carefully put the jade button away. "The old lady said she would go back to preside over the memorial service in person, and she brought her sick sister Shanqiu with her, saying that she wanted the ancestors to bless her for a speedy recovery."
Upon hearing this, Concubine Shoukang's tense shoulders relaxed slightly and a kind smile appeared on her lips again.
"I see. Madam Hong has always been very particular about etiquette, so this kind of thing should really be handled personally."
She patted her niece's hand gently and said, "Just prepare for your marriage. When the old lady comes back, your aunt will give you some more money."
Ding Xinwan smiled sweetly: "Thank you, aunt. Brother Ji Yan said that the old lady will be back in September at the latest and will definitely not delay the wedding."
"That's good." Concubine Shoukang nodded slightly, but looked out the window thoughtfully.
…
In the deacon's room of the Ministry of Revenue, the midday sun shone through the carved window lattices, casting tiny spots of light on the blue brick floor.
Several men in official uniforms sat upright beside the dining table made of rosewood desks.
"Master Xue, please take a seat." Zhao Mingde, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, attentively ushered Xue Jiyan to his seat. "We've been busy today, so I've asked the kitchen to prepare a few seasonal side dishes."
Xue Jiyan nodded slightly, his moon-white official uniform making his face look like a jade.
The mutton-fat jade peace locket hanging around his waist swayed slightly with his movements, emitting a warm luster in the sunlight.
"Tanhua Xue is having a double blessing right now," said Zhou Qin, the steward, as he poured tea with a smile. "Not only has he been recognized by the Emperor as the Tanhua, but he's also been betrothed to General Ding's daughter."
There was a sudden chorus of agreement at the table. Xue Jiyan raised the corner of his lips slightly, picked up the teacup and took a sip: "Thank you for your grace."
The young eunuch bowed and brought a plate of golden fried venison with ginger sauce. The aroma was fragrant and he said respectfully, "Master Xue, this dish is cooked to perfection. Please try it."
Xue Jiyan lowered his eyes slightly and smiled faintly: "Thank you, but I don't eat ginger."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Mingde, the Minister of Revenue, asked with a hint of concern, "Master Xue actually has such a dietary restriction?"
Xue Jiyan's fingertips gently stroked the edge of the teacup, his tone calm.
"When I was young, I had a serious illness. A sage said I needed to live in a place with strong yang energy for a year to recover. My father took me to the military camp for a year. After I came back, I was well, but ever since then, I have broken out in rashes all over my body whenever I eat ginger, and I can't touch it anymore."
Before he finished speaking, footsteps were heard outside the door. Xia Zhongmai, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department, walked in, followed by two young eunuchs.
He was originally smiling, but when he heard Xue Jiyan's words, he paused slightly and a strange look flashed in his eyes.
"Oh, are you all having dinner?"
Xia Zhong smiled and bowed, but his eyes fell on Xue Jiyan inconspicuously, looking at his figure carefully.
Xue Jiyan's expression remained normal: "Manager Xia."
Xia Zhong narrowed his eyes slightly, half smiling, "Just now, Master Xue mentioned that he served in the army as a child. It was quite curious. I wonder which military camp he was in back then?"
Xue Jiyan's eyes flickered slightly, but his tone remained calm: "My father has some connections with General Ding in the Northwest Camp, so I asked him to take care of it."
Xia Zhong said "Oh" and nodded meaningfully: "I see."
He said no more, exchanged a few words with everyone, and then left on the pretext of being busy with official business.
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