birthday
The two slept in each other's arms. Even in his sleep, Lin Xu could feel his arms wrapped around her chest from behind, and Dou Yanxun's soft whispers from time to time. He was always a very light sleeper, but a very good sleeper, usually quiet all night long, rarely appearing so restless.
Lin Xu understood, and at daybreak she instructed Zhu Ling to pack up some of the best tonics from the storeroom and send them to Feng Daizhu in both her and Dou Yanxun's names. Lin Xu was still deeply saddened by Feng Daizhu's willingness to commit suicide. Even if she were saved, she feared she would have no future, and she didn't want Feng Daizhu to suffer further torment at home at the hands of the Bai mother and son.
A few days later, Lin Xu's sixteenth birthday arrived. Having only recently moved in, she hadn't quite settled in yet. When Steward Qi came to inquire about her preferences, Lin Xu thought for a moment and simply said, "Keep everything simple."
That being said, she is now the most distinguished lady in Laining County, and naturally, the wives of the county magistrate, the noblewomen of the local gentry, and the wives of Dou Yanxun's colleagues whom he often sees... will all come to celebrate. After much thought, Steward Qi decided to hold a birthday banquet for her in the back courtyard of the county government office, and specially invited song and dance performances, as well as the most fashionable opera troupe in Mujing at the time, to make the event more impressive.
Lin Xu was both amused and exasperated. She never had the leisure to listen to opera. She always felt sleepy after just a few lines of those slurred and incoherent tunes.
But seeing Steward Qi constantly moving between the courtyards, discussing and making arrangements with the servants and attendants, she didn't want to discourage him. Dou Yanxun had a good eye for people; although Steward Qi was somewhat old, he was very considerate and respectful in his dealings with others, and Lin Xu found him very satisfactory. Gradually, she began to entrust him with some household matters.
On July 16th, the weather was bright and sunny. A stage was set up early in the back garden. This was Lin Xu's first birthday since they came to Laining. The news spread like wildfire. The local gentry not only wanted to catch a glimpse of the beautiful face of the usually low-key and quiet county magistrate's wife, but also wanted to curry favor with her and establish a relationship with her.
So when Lin Xu opened his eyes and saw the table piled high with congratulatory gifts, he was quite taken aback.
Granny Qin was busy arranging for the servants to take wave after wave of newly arrived congratulatory gifts into the storeroom when she saw Lin Xu sitting on the edge of the bed, looking dazed. She couldn't help but chuckle, lowered the curtain, and came to help her wash up.
"The weather is fine today; it is truly an auspicious day for your birthday, Madam."
Now, even the old woman Qin, who used to affectionately call her "Miss," has changed her address, now respectfully calling her "Madam." Lin Xu looked at herself in the mirror; her cheeks were soft and flushed with a faint pink, her appearance exactly the same as in her previous life, but her eyes held a new gentleness and composure.
She spoke softly, "Why are you being so formal, Granny? Just call me Miss as always. Among all of Xu'er's family, you are the one who has watched me grow up since I was a child."
Granny Qin was getting on in years, and her eyes would always well up with tears when she talked about the past. As she combed Lin Xu's hair neatly with a comb, she sighed:
"...If Madam were alive today, she would be very pleased to see how beautiful and poised Miss is."
The two chatted idly as Zhu Ling brought over the clothes Lin Xu was to wear that day. She had selected two outfits based on Lin Xu's hairstyle and makeup. Lin Xu glanced at them and pointed to a light pink silk jacket over a light blue bodice, paired with a moon-white pleated skirt. Even with such a grand birthday banquet, she still felt uncomfortable and preferred simple clothing and accessories.
Dou Yanxun went to the front yard early in the morning to handle official business. Before leaving, he specifically instructed the servants not to disturb her. Lin Xu knew that he had been very tired these past few days. There were mountains of files and old cases from the past few years. He also had to take time out of his daytime to celebrate her birthday. So she didn't ask anyone to invite him. After having a simple breakfast, she sat in the courtyard and watched the servants bustling around.
The guests began to arrive at the mansion one after another after they had just finished drinking a cup of tea.
They were all the wives of the county's registrars and county constables. Several well-known wives of wealthy men in Laining also came. Lin Xu looked at them, each dressed in their finest clothes and with exquisite makeup. He, the birthday boy, was the one with the lightest makeup among them.
Magistrate Sun was quite old, and his wife was over forty, plump and wearing a light green jacket with a thick layer of lead powder on her face. Lin Xu had heard some stories about Magistrate Sun. He had heard that he came to Laining as magistrate when he was around thirty years old, hoping to be promoted to magistrate. However, he never expected that while one magistrate after another came and went, he would remain in the position of magistrate.
Lin Xu had originally thought that Madam Sun would be unfriendly to her because of this matter, but to her surprise, Madam Sun spoke very kindly. Seeing that she was young and could not talk to some of the gentry's wives, she helped her out from the side, which Lin Xu appreciated.
The opera troupe was already prepared, and the women greeted each other and sat down to listen to the performance. Manager Qi had specifically asked Lin Xu for his opinion on the several plays he had arranged, but Lin Xu simply waved his hand, saying that he didn't know much about them and that Manager Qi could arrange them himself.
She sat in the center, absentmindedly drinking her tea. Madam Sun sat beside her, while some elderly gentry and wives of wealthy landowners sat not far behind Lin Xu, talking quietly and glancing at her from time to time.
Feeling the subtle or direct gazes around him, Lin Xu couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable. Madam Sun then took Lin Xu's hand and said, "The ladies are all amazed by your beauty and appearance. Beforehand, everyone knew that a very young but handsome magistrate had arrived, so naturally everyone was curious about the magistrate's wife. Today, I see that everyone is praising your beauty..."
Madam Sun lowered her voice again and said, "...In my opinion, Lord Dou and you are truly a perfect match, a match made in heaven."
Lin Xu smiled. The musician on the stage gently plucked the strings, and after playing a piece called "Fisherman's Evening," the performance changed to a variety show, which was about the Queen Mother of the West's banquet at Yaochi.
Lin Xu listened quietly, with many eyes watching her. She was too embarrassed to doze off, so she sat upright. After some time, Zhu Ling tiptoed up to her and whispered in her ear:
"Madam, the Second Master is waiting for you behind the artificial hill."
Lin Xu turned around. Several banana trees beside the stage were growing well, covering most of the artificial hill in the distance. But upon closer inspection, he could still vaguely see the dark blue hem of a dress fluttering in the wind.
Lin Xu put down his teacup and got up to go over. He walked around the crowd and walked behind the rockery. There he saw Dou Yanxun standing by the lake with his hands behind his back. He was wearing a dark blue silk robe with a round neck, but he exuded a refined and elegant air. His half-tied black hair swayed in the breeze by the lake and floated behind him.
Seeing Lin Xu walk in, Dou Yanxun reached out his hand and took her hand in his as she approached.
He smiled knowingly, "Are you tired of listening to the opera?"
Lin Xu was a little embarrassed to tell him that she never liked listening to these operas, but then she saw Dou Yanxun raise his hand and gently stroke the tip of her nose. She was dressed very simply today, with only a pure white magnolia in her hair and two magnolia earrings, yet she looked exceptionally ethereal, like a green lotus covered with a thin layer of frost on a snowy night, soft and pitiful.
"Have you finished dealing with the official documents, my husband?"
She saw a pile of documents waiting to be processed on his desk yesterday. If he didn't finish them each day, new ones would pile up the next day. She felt that he seemed to have lost some weight in just a few days.
Dou Yanxun looked at her, a warm smile playing on his lips:
"How can any of those compare to seeing the God of Longevity?"
Lin Xu couldn't help but twitch her forehead. She was only sixteen years old. Even if she had lived a lifetime longer than others, it would only be four years more. How could she be called a birthday celebrant? She wasn't even an old woman with gray hair yet.
Dou Yanxun remained silent, only smiling at her. Lin Xu couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed. Although the two were standing behind the artificial hill, the guests at today's banquet were quite gossipy, and they might have seen everything they were doing.
Lin Xu thought for a moment, then gestured for Dou Yanxun to stand behind the artificial hill so that the towering, jagged rocks would provide some cover. Unexpectedly, Dou Yanxun raised an eyebrow at her:
"Is it really so difficult for you, Madam, to restrain yourself in broad daylight?"
Upon hearing this, she was immediately furious and didn't want to talk to him anymore. Dou Yanxun, however, held her hand tightly and refused to let go, instead pulling her forward.
"...Where are we going?"
She left halfway through the play, and now that she's been away for so long, others must have noticed. She wondered if she'd be accused of poor hospitality. Just then, Dou Yanxun pulled her along a path, the mimosa trees in the courtyard emitting a sweet fragrance.
He took her hand, and the two of them weaved through the branches, their clothes becoming fragrant with the scent.
"—I'll take you somewhere."
Lin Xu could only follow behind him, avoiding the servants as they walked out of the side gate of the mansion. A black wooden carriage was already parked at the gate, indicating that Dou Yanxun had arranged everything in advance.
She didn't know what he was trying to tell her. No matter how she asked, Dou Yanxun just shook his head and remained silent. They sped along, with only the sound of the wind outside the curtain. Before long, the carriage stopped, and the coachman respectfully asked them to get off. Lin Xu raised her eyes, but was stunned for a moment.
She didn't know how long they had been traveling. It was afternoon when they left the manor, but now it was already dusk. As far as the eye could see, there was a vast expanse of scenery. The carriage stopped at the top of the mountain. She got off the carriage with Dou Yanxun's help, and saw the outline of the city walls as jagged silhouettes against the gray sky.
The lights in the distance were hazy, and the night breeze gently caressed her face. The locust trees on the mountaintop rustled down their fragrant blossoms, which quickly covered her shoulders.
And beneath your feet lies the entirety of Laining.
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