The maids behind the screen carried the candles and moved them around, causing the flames to flicker. The light and shadow projected onto the palace ceiling swayed and flickered, making the Buddha statue's form even more mysterious and unpredictable.
Everyone present looked up, gazing intently for a long time, their hearts filled with turbulent emotions.
But that's not all.
With a slight gesture, the people behind the screen changed again, removing the wooden panel behind the screen.
In an instant, the shimmering light of the pearl in the maid's hand shone through the screen.
Beside the seven Buddha statues, each with a different expression, appeared various patterns of the Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism, including lotus flowers, goldfish, and parasols.
The Buddha statue was solemn and compassionate, while the Eight Treasures of Buddhism subtly shifted with the flickering candlelight, casting light and shadow throughout the hall and around everyone.
The scene before me is far more than just shocking; it is almost a miracle, as if I were in heaven on earth.
Everyone stared silently at the changing light and shadow, feeling their hearts pounding like thunder, and not a single person uttered a word.
The Empress Dowager slowly rose from her throne and gently reached out her hand towards the light and shadow beside her. The lotus-shaped light and shadow were then projected directly onto her hand.
This was the first time the Empress Dowager had ever witnessed such a scene. She remained silent for a moment, then silently murmured "Amitabha," almost bursting into tears.
The Empress Dowager stared intently at the screen in front of her, and then knelt down before the Buddha statue of Shakyamuni carved in the center of the screen.
"Buddha above, you have bestowed a miracle on my birthday. It is truly my good fortune. May Buddha bless the region with favorable weather and abundant harvests, and peace throughout the four seasons."
After saying this with her hands clasped together, she closed her eyes and muttered some incantations.
Everyone was stunned by the scene before them. Seeing the Empress Dowager's actions, the Emperor finally rose from his throne and knelt beside her.
"Today's scene is truly a blessing from heaven for our hard work. May our hard work be blessed with favorable weather and abundant harvests, and may our country be prosperous and our people at peace."
After Emperor Guangqi finished speaking, everyone in the hall knelt down, including not only the court officials and imperial relatives, but also foreign envoys.
Prime Minister Lin spoke first: "Heaven has bestowed auspicious omens upon this land, blessing the region with favorable weather and abundant harvests, and ensuring peace and prosperity for the nation; I wish the Empress Dowager good health and longevity."
The others echoed, their deep voices almost resounding throughout the hall: "May the weather be favorable for the harvest, and may the country be prosperous and the people at peace."
"May the Empress Dowager enjoy good health and longevity."
The Empress Dowager lowered her head slightly, put her hands together, and said, "Amitabha."
After everyone finished speaking, the candlelight behind the screen gradually went out, and the lights in the four corners of the palace were lit again.
Everything returned to normal, but the scene from before seemed more like a dream.
The Empress Dowager helped the Emperor to his feet, then clutched her chest and sat back down in her previous seat, her expression still seemingly immersed in the lingering shock of what had just happened.
The screens were also carried by maids and arranged in a long strip from a circular pattern.
The candles were relit, and the light returned. The Empress Dowager leaned forward slightly, observing with great interest the dazzling array of screen designs before her.
Today was also the first time Song Xizhi had seen the finished screen. She narrowed her eyes slightly and couldn't help but admire it.
Whether in terms of craftsmanship, refinement, or aesthetics, this screen is an absolutely superb piece, far surpassing the vanity box from before.
This is a seven-sided screen made by A-Lian's older sister, Bai-Tan.
That's why she went to her maternal grandparents' house that day.
In fact, Song Xizhi only learned that Alian's older sister, Bai Tan, possessed this craft after the large lacquer and mother-of-pearl inlaid makeup box was created in his previous life.
A-Lian and Bai-Tan were born in a coastal area where local fishermen fished for pearls and, over a long period of time, used various types of seashells to create the art of lacquer mother-of-pearl inlay.
Originally, common small snails were used to decorate common cosmetic boxes and wooden crafts. Later, this craft gradually became popular in the local area, and the value of lacquer mother-of-pearl inlay rose. In order to meet the needs of nobles, craftsmen also added various rare sea snails, such as moon snails.
Later, it was even improved by incorporating precious materials such as gold and silver.
During the previous dynasty, Japanese pirates invaded, resulting in a massive naval battle. In that battle, almost all the men along the coast perished, and nearly all the artisans who made lacquer mother-of-pearl inlay died. This craft inexplicably declined.
Not only were many handicrafts made of lacquer and mother-of-pearl destroyed in that war.
The remaining artisans, due to economic hardship, lost their craft, and their work was no longer as beautiful as before. People didn't even know how to use it, so the lacquer mother-of-pearl inlay craft became neglected and disappeared into the long river of history.
In fact, the lacquer and mother-of-pearl inlaid dressing box that Prince Yu obtained was made by Bai Tan's ancestor. Bai Tan's ancestor survived that naval battle and secretly taught Bai Tan the craft of making lacquer and mother-of-pearl inlay.
However, no one was interested in the craft of lacquer mother-of-pearl inlay, and with this skill, one could not earn any money at all.
As a result, a famine struck the area, and Bai Tan had no choice but to flee with A Lian all the way to the capital.
On that very day, Song Xizhi happened to run into them.
Song Xizhi thought for a moment, then gently touched his chin again.
In my previous life, a minor official in the capital presented the Empress Dowager with a lacquer and mother-of-pearl inlaid makeup box, which greatly enhanced the reputation of the lacquer and mother-of-pearl inlay craft.
At that time, A-Lian was rescued by Song Ruoan, and her sister Bai Tan was also brought to the mansion.
Bai Tan had been seriously ill for a long time. In order to keep A Lian at bay, Song Ruoan only gave Bai Tan some strong medicine to prolong her life. In the end, however, she was beyond medical help.
When Bai Tan fell ill, she was in extreme pain. After learning medicine, Song Xizhi happened to witness her having an attack. Although he did not know Bai Tan's identity, he still treated her.
So she received a large lacquer screen inlaid with mother-of-pearl as a gift from Bai Tan.
When Song Xizhi saw this object, he was greatly shocked and asked Bai Tan about its popularity in the capital. Counterfeits of this object frequently appeared, and it was regarded as a rare treasure by the high-ranking officials and nobles of the capital.
Her craftsmanship is so exquisite, why doesn't she sell it to the public?
The money earned is secondary; what's more important is this craft, which shouldn't be lost.
Bai Tan just smiled and said she would consider it.
It was around that time that Song Xizhi had a heart-to-heart talk with Bai Tan and learned about her relationship with A Lian.
However, Song Xizhi never had the chance to see Bai Tan again. She was imprisoned in the courtyard by He Yunce and Song Ruoan, isolated from the world, and could no longer hear any news from the outside world.
As Song Xizhi thought about everything that had happened in his previous life, he looked at the screen in front of him with a somewhat dazed expression.
But at that moment, she suddenly felt a burning gaze fixed on her.
That gaze was sticky and cold, filled with genuine hatred, like a needle that seemed to want to pierce straight into her skin.
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