Chapter 9: Table Lamp
She thought hopefully in her heart that Zhao Yan probably didn't know her well enough, so that's why he acted like this. She thought happily that if they could spend more time together and get to know each other better, would it be possible...
Thinking of this, she breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank you, husband."
Then she continued, "My husband, I didn't know about what happened yesterday regarding Minister He, so..."
That's why you say the wrong thing.
Zhao Yan looked over and said, "Let's not talk about it anymore."
The carriage moved slowly forward. After returning to the Zhao Mansion, Qiao Qingxian indeed brought Xu to apologize, and also prepared a gift for Yu Huatang. As for what it was, she didn't know.
Zhao Yan didn't say anything and refused their invitation again.
She returned to her room, thinking about everything that had happened today, and looked at the handkerchief for a long time.
She remembered that the candles Zhao Yan used at the Ministry of Industry were not as good as those at home. Last time, when she sent the colorful lanterns, she could still see a little light from Jing Yatang's side. In other words, Zhao Yan used that lantern...
He will be leaving the day after tomorrow. If I make him a Quanzhou lamp, he can take it to the Ministry of Works, so that he can see her things every day.
Once this idea came up, she could no longer get rid of it. She remembered that he had said that the brocade of the colorful lanterns was too gorgeous, so this time she would make a more elegant design and use green paint.
She asked Chu He to bring over the remaining bamboo strips from last time, and first made the frame. Considering the size of the table in the house, she modified the original bulky frame of the lamp and turned it into the shape of a lotus flower.
He then drew a lotus pattern on paper, attached bluish-white silk to it, and cut the silk cloth according to the pattern.
Then the cut paper and silk cloth are sprayed with water to tighten them, and then pasted on the frame, starting from the bottom upwards.
After the whole thing was pasted, she rubbed her sore neck. This step required precision, and it took her almost two hours to finish it.
The model of the lantern is already more than half completed. It is exactly an open lotus flower, with a white and green color, which is pleasing to the eye.
The night sky grew darker and she could hardly bear it anymore. She fell asleep several times, but she thought that she would have an excuse to send it tomorrow. She drank a few more sips of cold tea and woke up.
Drawing patterns was her weakest skill, so she drew several lotus patterns with ancient charm according to ancient books and pasted them on the leaves of the lantern.
Finally, she drew a small fish on the branch. She knew that he didn't like complicated things, so she only decorated the lamp with lace on the edge.
By the time the second watch bell rang, the lantern was finally finished.
She lit the wick, the candle flame danced, and the silk cloth was soaked in candlelight, adding a touch of mysterious poetry to the night.
The light shining through the hollowed-out paper-cuts twists around like a gossamer thread, giving the lotus pattern on the lamp surface a gilded edge.
The whole lamp is like a green lotus in the water, standing upright.
She checked it several more times, processed the fine lines, and finally smiled with satisfaction.
She carefully extinguished the lamp and lay down in a deep sleep.
She got up early the next morning. Although her eyes were still a little dark blue, she didn't care.
When they arrived at Lanyuan, Zhao Yan was looking through something and Bai Yi was also sorting things.
She clenched the lamp in her hand and said, "My husband is leaving tomorrow, and I'm afraid I won't be able to catch up. Last time, I heard from the servants that the candlelight in the Ministry of Works was a bit irritating to the eyes. This is the table lamp I modified. The light is clear and bright. Would you like to take it with you..."
Zhao Yan stopped flipping through the book, glanced at her, and finally replied, "Yeah."
She was secretly delighted and carefully placed the lamp on his desk, "Then my husband, I will go back first..."
Zhao Yan looked at the lamp in front of him for a long time. After she took a few steps, he finally spoke, "When you're at home, read more books. The illustration on the lamp you gave me last time wasn't very familiar. Practice more when you have time."
Yu Huatang clenched his hands tightly, thinking happily that he had carefully examined the colorful lanterns he had made.
She really had no talent in painting. When she was young, she followed her cousin to make lanterns. Her cousin laughed at her ugly paintings, which dragged down the originally exquisite and graceful colorful lanterns.
"Okay, I will definitely read some books about painting." Next time when she makes a lamp, she will let him see her progress.
Zhao Yan nodded, continued to flip through the book in his hand, and took the letter paper beside him, preparing to write a letter.
Seeing that he was busy, Yu Huatang had finished speaking and delivered the things, and no longer had the courage to stay.
She took a last look at the lamp standing on his desk, and a sweet feeling welled up in her heart. This was the closest moment for him to her things.
She walked out of the yard in small steps, and as she walked through the bamboo forest, she finally revealed the suppressed joy on her face.
That lotus lantern would accompany him day and night on her behalf. As long as he lit the lantern, he would know how much thought she put into it. He would definitely like it...
In the Orchid Garden, Zhao Yan handed the written letter to Anfu, "Go to the He residence right away and tell Minister He that the contents of the letter are very important. Ask him to send someone to investigate immediately."
An Fu took the letter and said with some confusion, "Sir, yesterday the master told you not to have any close contact with the He Mansion anymore. Just get by and it's fine..."
Zhao Yan's face turned cold. "Am I your master, or am I your master?"
Anfu immediately knelt down and said, "Of course it's my master."
Zhao Yan's eyes flashed with coldness. "If that's the case, why don't you go quickly?"
Anfu swallowed his worries and rode his horse to deliver the letter.
Bai Yi was packing her things. The young master would be returning to the Ministry of Works early tomorrow morning, so she had to pack up everything she needed to take with her.
She first packed her daily clothes and books, and then packed up the young master's favorite pen.
When I turned around, I saw that the window was closed, so I used a bamboo pole to prop it open. The corner of my clothes accidentally knocked the light strip on the table down, and the lotus lantern hit the ground with a "ding" sound.
Bai Yi immediately picked it up and examined it, then said guiltily, "Sir, I accidentally broke the lamp that Madam made."
Zhao Yan was looking for some books on water conservancy and didn't pay attention to what Bai Yi said. "If it's broken, just throw it away. It's no big deal."
"Go to father's study later and tell Madam Chang that I need some books on water conservancy and I'll get them this afternoon."
Bai Yi put the lamp into the compartment drawer, responded and left.
The next day, the gate of the prime minister's residence opened and closed again.
Zhao Yan returned to the Ministry of Works.
Yu Huatang looked at every plant and animal in Jing Yatang's home and lost his mood.
She stayed there like a bird waiting for his favor.
When he returned briefly, she leaped for joy.
When he left, she naturally folded her wings.
Everything in the prime minister's mansion remained the same. Day after day, she went there to pay her respects to her mother-in-law and chat with her second sister-in-law and fourth brother's wife about family matters. If they were willing to talk to her, she would say a few words.
When no one wanted to pay attention to her, she would go back to the yard to read. She could already recite the picture album that Zhao Yan asked her to look at before he left, and she had also practiced the styles in it many times in private.
Although it cannot be said to be exquisite craftsmanship, it can be said to be skillful and natural.
A few days later, she gave the newly made colorful lanterns to Mrs. Wang and asked her to help her see what kind of lanterns the customers liked.
Mrs. Wang thought for a moment and said, "In the past few months, more people have bought lamps. Some customers say that these lamps have a clear light source and are not straining the eyes even after reading for a long time. Young men are the most popular buyers."
Yu Huatang was secretly happy after hearing this. Since everyone said that this lamp was good, he would be very happy when he used it.
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