Night visit (repair)
She gently smoothed the pattern on the hem of her skirt with her fingertips, then looked up.
The entire Yanbo Residence is quite luxurious, with all the tables, chairs, and stools made of golden nanmu wood, whose fine grain immediately reveals their superior quality.
The faint afterglow of the setting sun filtered into the hall through the carved and inlaid glazed windows. Golden gauze curtains swayed gently in the wind. In the distance, antique shelves filled with various treasures and curios, along with two screens on the left and right, separated the outer hall from the inner room.
Compared to the simple and understated style of the entire Dou family mansion, the eldest branch's residence is remarkably elegant and graceful.
Feng Daizhu took a sip of tea and smiled:
"Sister-in-law, you're being too kind today. You can just come and sit here. We sisters can chat casually. There's no need to bring so much stuff. It makes me feel embarrassed."
Lin Xu smiled and said:
“Now that my sister-in-law is pregnant, she should eat more nourishing medicinal meals to replenish her blood and qi. I went out to buy some things today and happened to see some suitable ones, so I quickly brought them over. Besides, my sister-in-law must be taking good care of herself now. If she stays at home quietly all the time, she may get bored. So I brought some interesting things to help her pass the time.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Zhu Ling and Rong Wei, with great tact, presented the things they had prepared earlier.
The two women held a scroll in their hands, which turned out to be a beautiful painting of beauties and horses, executed with exquisite brushwork and magnificent ink wash. As the scroll was slowly unfurled, the breathtaking scenery of the northern frontier in autumn, with its endless yellow sand, lush forests, and towering mountains, came to life on the paper.
Deep within the forest ablaze with autumn colors, a nimble yet spirited woman in red gallops on horseback, her eyes brimming with carefree joy.
Feng Daizhu stared blankly at the scroll, and after a long while, her eyes welled up with tears.
She said, quite surprised, "This is..."
Lin Xu asked softly, "Does sister-in-law like this painting?"
Feng Daizhu took a deep breath, then raised her head, her eyes filled with a complex expression. She struggled to hold back her sobs, her voice trembling as she said:
"I'm not afraid to tell you, Xu'er, but the woman in this painting reminds me a bit of myself from the past... Back then, I was young and thought I could live a life as free and unrestrained as this, but little did I know that I would gradually become trapped in this deep mansion... In the end, I became a caged bird with a broken arm, with no hope of ever returning..."
Realizing she had misspoke, Feng Daizhu quickly covered up her words, forcing a smile to hide the hint of desolation in her eyes. She then stood up and walked closer to the painting to examine it closely.
Her fingertips trembled slightly as she gently stroked the figure of the woman on horseback on the scroll. After a long silence, only a very distant sigh remained.
Lin Xu looked at her quietly and said softly:
"This painting is by Mr. Gu of Wenmotang, a famous artist in Mujing. The painting is exquisite, delicate yet bold. Such a work depicting the scenery of the northern frontier is rare in Mujing, which is full of the charm of the south. It just so happens that Xuer was fortunate enough to find this painting a few days ago. I thought that my sister-in-law would like it, so I specially brought it back to give to her."
Upon hearing this, Feng Daizhu gently stroked the edge of the painting with her fingers, as if she wanted to deeply engrave the scene in the painting into her heart.
Although Gu Baosheng is a rare master of calligraphy and painting in this dynasty, he has become increasingly reclusive in recent years, making his original works, which are already priceless, even more difficult to find and not easily acquired. Lin Xu must have put in a great deal of effort to find this painting.
She felt grateful, and her gaze towards Lin Xu softened. "Sister-in-law, you've really gone to great lengths. I imagine you've had a lot of difficulties since you first arrived, and I should be the one taking good care of you. Yet you still care so much about your sister-in-law, which makes me feel ashamed."
Lin Xu said calmly:
"Sister-in-law, you flatter me. It's just a token of my appreciation. Besides, as family, it's only natural for us to care for each other. Actually, you are still as beautiful as the woman in the painting. So I think... perhaps one day, you can ride your horse again and gallop across that vast world."
Feng Daizhu seemed touched by Lin Xu's words, her eyes widening for a moment before she curled her lips into a self-deprecating smile and whispered:
"How could this be... especially given my current condition... However, I am grateful for your kind words, sister-in-law, which reminded me of the old days before I was married."
A faint sadness shrouded her eyes, and a touch of unusual tenderness seemed to creep onto her brows.
Lin Xu smiled gently and continued:
“Sister-in-law is a very sentimental person, so Xu’er is willing to be close to her. In the future, if you feel bored in the mansion, you might as well come to the other courtyard for a short visit. Although it is quiet and secluded there, we sisters-in-law can chat and relieve our boredom, and we can also look after each other.”
A bright smile finally appeared on Feng Daizhu's gloomy face, and she nodded repeatedly, saying:
"Indeed. It's rare to find a confidant like me. If my sister-in-law doesn't mind, I'd be happy to bother you often."
A strange light flashed in Lin Xu's eyes, and he slowly curled the corners of his lips into a smile.
The two drank two more cups of tea, and as evening approached, she could not stay any longer. After sitting for a short while, she took her leave. But as she turned to leave, Feng Daizhu spoke up:
"Sister-in-law, please wait a moment."
Lin Xu turned around upon hearing the sound.
But then Feng Daizhu raised her hand to signal, and Zhao Mama, who had disappeared a moment ago, quickly stepped forward and carefully presented several exquisite wooden boxes in her hands.
But as each of the wooden boxes was opened, a very unique fragrance gently wafted out.
The interior was lined with red velvet, upon which were displayed a multitude of precious spices, items not commonly found in the Central Plains. The surrounding area was also adorned with delicate amber and pearls, evoking the desolate and profound atmosphere of the northern lands.
In addition, there are several ornaments carved from the finest mutton fat jade, in various shapes, including a round and exquisite jade gourd and a lifelike jade dove. Each one has a warm and lustrous color and is a rare and exquisite piece.
Feng Daizhu said softly, "These are all my dowry items that I brought from my own home. They have a distinct northern style and are just for my own enjoyment and to express my longing for you. Today, I feel ashamed to receive such a generous gift from you, so I'm giving you these small trinkets as a return gift. They are not valuable, but they might be nice to look at and have some fun. I hope you won't find them offensive."
Lin Xu smiled gently:
“Sister-in-law, why be so modest? I just think that the autumn hunt scene in the north complements your heroic figure. I don’t expect any return gift, especially since it’s such an exquisite item from the north.”
She accepted the wooden box with both hands, her gaze slowly sweeping over the exquisite and warm objects, her eyes gentle and graceful, her every gesture full of humility.
Feng Daizhu gazed at her silently, hesitant to speak, her expression showing some hesitation. After a moment, she finally sighed and slowly began to speak:
"Actually, there is another thing that makes me uneasy."
Her eyes sparkled, yet she looked at Lin Xu with utmost sincerity, and said softly:
"I am truly sorry about the search for the jade disc that night. The servants were careless and I was anxious, which resulted in disturbing my sister-in-law's peace and quiet late into the night. I was really inappropriate. Although a long time has passed, I have never had the opportunity to apologize to my sister-in-law in person."
Lin Xu was slightly taken aback, and then lowered her eyes after a moment. Her eyes were slightly rippling, just like the moonlight that had somehow spread outside the window, possessing a gentleness that was hard to match.
She said softly, "Sister-in-law, there's no need to be so polite. The matter of the jade disc is long gone, and Xu'er has never taken it to heart. It's just that you're six months pregnant now, and if this matter disturbs your peace of mind, that's what worries me."
Upon hearing this, a complex emotion flashed across Feng Daizhu's eyes. She sighed softly, as if a thousand words were stuck in her throat, but in the end, she only smiled.
“My sister-in-law is a very understanding person. Before she got married, my father repeatedly warned me that the customs and etiquette in the Central Plains might be different from those in our area, let alone the powerful families of Mujing. At the time, I thought my father was just being reserved, but now that I am truly in this deep courtyard, looking at this vast sky above me, I understand what it feels like. I have endured hardship alone in the past... Perhaps it is because I am so close to my sister-in-law, I can’t bear to see her walking on thin ice here, following in my footsteps.”
She paused slightly at this point, as if unwilling to say more.
Lin Xu raised her eyes, her gaze clear and gentle, and said softly:
"Thank you for your advice, sister-in-law. I will keep such words of wisdom in mind. Now that I am a wife, I can only be more careful and cautious, lest I fail to observe proper etiquette. As long as there are people in this household I can rely on, I can be fearless in the future."
Feng Daizhu smiled, revealing her teeth, but her eyes held a deep, unfathomable melancholy.
"My sister-in-law is intelligent. Mother is strict in managing the household, and she has her own set of principles for everything. We younger generations must carefully consider everything to even begin to understand. If you encounter any difficulties, don't hesitate to come to me..."
Lin Xu nodded slightly upon hearing this.
After Lin Xu and his maid left, Yanbo Residence fell silent once more. Feng Daizhu leaned back in her chair, glanced at the painting again, and a complex thought arose in her mind.
Seeing tears welling in her eyes, Granny Zhao stepped forward and offered her an embroidered handkerchief. Feng Daizhu gently wiped away her tears, and after a long pause, hesitated before saying:
"...She came at just the right time today. Do you think she discovered something?"
.
The crescent moon hung low in the sky, and all was silent except for a single tinderbox that illuminated the endless night. Inside the storeroom on the west side of the courtyard, flickering light cast a shadow, reflecting a remarkably slender figure.
Lin Xu stood in a corner of the storeroom, placing the tinder she had brought by the window. She took a deep breath, carefully moved aside the neatly stacked boxes of various colors, and her gaze fell on a mahogany box in the corner that was already covered with a lot of dust.
That was her dowry, and only this one box contained what she wanted. After searching for a long time, Lin Xu's eyes lit up slightly when she saw the last item in a pile of calligraphy and paintings. She then gently picked up a scroll wrapped in silk and tied with yellow silk thread.
The scroll was exquisitely crafted, with fine gold thread embroidered along the edges of the silk, making it a treasured item.
She slowly unfurled the scroll in her hands, her gaze gradually softening.
In the painting before me, the distant mountains are verdant and the pines stand proudly. Nearby, two or three adorable birds perch on the loquat branches. The rain has wet the loquats, but the birds still greedily eat them. Their wings are slightly spread, as if they want to fly but haven't yet, making them both cute and lifelike.
At the end of the scroll, the seal left by the famous artist Zhang Zuo is still bright red.
This painting became widely circulated as soon as it was created. It was appreciated and collected by several famous calligraphers and painters. Dozens of seals adorn the entire scroll, all of which belong to renowned connoisseurs who collected this painting.
The last two seals, perhaps because they are the most recent, are particularly bright red and eye-catching. One of them is engraved with the name of Minister Wen. However, before this seal, there was a monogram seal that read "Wenmo Private Seal".
Wen Qinian gifted Lin Xu this treasured painting to her on the day she came of age. Judging from the seal, before him, the owner of this painting should have been another famous figure in Mujing City.
Gu Baosheng, a renowned calligrapher and painter who manages the Wenmotang Studio.
Lin Xu still clearly remembers seeing his mother sitting quietly and copying this painting when he was young. His mother was especially skilled in meticulous brushwork and often copied works by famous modern artists in her spare time.
She is always extremely focused when she paints, and her already gentle and graceful features become even more delicate. However, her painting style is the opposite of her personality, instead possessing a kind of unforgettable tenacity and serenity.
Even after many years, Lin Xu has never forgotten it.
More than ten years have passed since her mother left, but she has always remained a dignified and elegant figure in her heart. Even though her image has become blurred over the years, it still often evokes the most vulnerable part of her heart.
Born and raised in Mujing, she was mischievous in her youth and became intimately familiar with every brick and tile in the capital. Before her death, Liang Shuangyu often took her to visit some reclusive scholars in Mujing, including Gu Baosheng, who has now withdrawn from the world.
Was it just a coincidence that this painting reappeared in front of him through Wen Qinian's hands?
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