Chapter 35: Stirring the Heartstrings
Du Heng had just lifted up his skirt and was about to step in when he heard Wanyi's heartfelt admiration. For a moment he didn't know whether to go forward or backward.
As he hesitated, the little girl guarding outside dutifully announced, "The young master is back."
Du Heng collected his thoughts and finally stepped into the house.
Wanyi let go of Su Ying's hand only after she heard her brother had returned. She stood obediently beside Cheng, but she still had a bright smile on her face and looked out the door with anticipation. She knew that if her brother knew that she was chosen, he would definitely be happier than her.
Su Ying also returned to Rong's side, with her head lowered, as quiet and calm as ever.
After Du Heng entered the house, he walked straight up to his grandmother, without looking away, and bowed to greet her, saying, "Grandma, your grandson is back."
The old lady watched Du Heng walk gracefully, his face calm, and a wave of comfort washed over her. Since her eldest son's passing, she had already experienced the grief of losing two children. If it weren't for Heng'er's consistent morning and evening greetings and diligent study over the past three years, giving her hope for the imperial examination, she didn't know what hope she would have had. Perhaps she would have died with her two sons long ago.
Now, all the hard work has paid off.
If the scriptures copied by my granddaughter are selected, there is no need to think too much. After I offer the scriptures, someone will definitely come to see them.
As for her grandson, she doesn't need to worry about him. He is steady and self-controlled, and just needs to wait for the spring exam to bear fruit.
She is grateful to God and the happiness of family life is just like this. She doesn't ask for much more!
The old lady smiled and said, "Wanyi, come, tell us your good news yourself."
Wanyi couldn't hold back any longer. Ever since her brother walked in, she had been hoping he would glance at her. But he was so rigid, walking upright and never looking away, as if even a glance to the side would be a breach of etiquette or even a serious offense.
Now that her grandmother had spoken, she happily ran to Du Heng and called him brother.
Just as he finished speaking, he remembered that the elders in the family were all present, so he coughed lightly and changed the subject: "Brother, my scripture has been selected!"
A smile appeared on Du Heng's calm face, as if a fallen leaf fell into a calm lake, causing ripples.
He said to his sister in a gentle voice, "I heard about it at the academy. Hard work pays off. I'm happy for you."
"So, what about the inkstone screen we agreed on?"
Wanyi's eyes flickered. She had long coveted the marble-framed, square inkstone screen on her brother's desk. They were a pair: his own painted red plum blossoms against the snow, and the other, painted snowy bamboo swaying in the wind, was stored in her brother's storeroom. Since she was born when plum blossoms were in bloom in the mansion, she had come to identify with the plum blossom. The last time she saw the red plum blossom screen in Du Heng's study, she had begged him to give it to her. Du Heng, seeing this, had used the screen as an incentive, urging her to study hard.
Du Heng had originally thought that regardless of whether Wanyi's scripture was selected or not, he would give her the inkstone screen afterwards. However, he didn't expect his sister to be selected. Naturally, he had no reason not to give it to her: "We agreed on this, how can we not count it? Just go and get it."
Du Heng's back was to Su Ying, and his voice was low and soft. Although Su Ying couldn't see his expression, she could hear the doting and natural closeness between them. Her heart couldn't help but move slightly, and a faint smile appeared on her face.
This Du Heng is really a good brother.
Before she could take her eyes away from his back, she saw him suddenly turn around, and their eyes met, and the smile on Su Ying's face was also seen by Du Heng.
Just before entering the house, he heard Wanyi say that Su Ying's dress was pleasing to the eye at first sight.
He didn't know much about women's clothing and didn't know why his sister praised him so much.
In his opinion, the only thing that could make people happy at first sight was the smile on her face at that moment, as light as the dew, like the moon and the wind, which could stir the heartstrings.
"Brother Heng, I have already given Ying'er a reward. As her cousin, you can just give her congratulations."
Second Aunt's words came to his ears at the right time, calming his mind and returning to clarity of mind.
Only then did he realize that he had lost his mind for a moment. His heart sank slightly, and he gathered himself together a little before bowing and saying, "Congratulations, Second Aunt, and Cousin Su Ying."
Then he bowed again to his grandmother and mother before leaving his grandmother's living room.
No one else saw what had just happened, but Rong Shi saw it clearly. Du Heng's expression was exactly the same as her husband's when he saw her lift her veil.
The men of the Du family all had a pair of clear eyes. When they looked at people, they were gentle and calm. However, once these reserved eyes showed intention, they would become like mist and clouds, like the reflection of mountains and rivers.
Rong was shocked and spoke up to cover for him. Fortunately, Heng'er had his back to his mother-in-law and sister-in-law at the time, so she was the only one who noticed the strangeness in his eyes.
A vague thought flashed through my mind: Could it be that Hengge loves Yinger?
Rong didn't dare to think about it, nor did she dare to jump to conclusions. She was so worried that she didn't even hear clearly what her mother-in-law said about the two girls' clothes.
Fortunately, she has always been taciturn in such occasions and has always respected the opinions of her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, so her silence at this time did not attract the attention of others.
Finally, the old lady gave Su Ying a small white jade hairpin engraved with a lotus, and Wanyi received a pair of white jade earrings the size of Job's tears.
Cheng also ordered two sets of plain satin dresses, Su Ying wore a smoky blue one and Wan Yi wore an orange lotus one.
The two sisters, one young and one pink, are like little lotus leaves in a pond, just blooming, bathed in the clear water, and untainted by the water.
After returning from the old lady's courtyard, Rong became a little absent-minded.
I remember that on Wanyi's birthday, Hengger and Yinger met for the first time. Just a few days later, Yinger went to the East Courtyard to copy scriptures, and in the afternoon she often went to the library to organize the book list.
After thinking about it, although she knew that the two of them had little in common, she could clearly see the unconscious movement in Heng'er's eyes.
After some thought, she felt it would be better to test Ying'er's opinion.
Rong asked Xiuyu to cook a sweet soup with red dates and longans, and she personally served a bowl of it and brought it to her niece's room.
At this time, Su Ying had just finished bathing after being helped by her maid. She changed into a moon-white dress and was sitting in front of a bronze mirror, gently wringing out her long hair with a handkerchief.
Her long, black hair flowed down smoothly. She gathered it to one side and dried it carefully, revealing a jade-white neck behind her ear. A closer look revealed a round, pink mole hidden behind Su Ying's ear, soft and gentle, like a touch of peach blossom.
Rong walked lightly, his eyes fell on that point, and his heart moved slightly.
I remember when Ying'er was one month old, my eldest sister, as per custom, invited a nun from Yandang Mountain to pray for her. The nun examined Ying'er in her cradle for a long time and noticed the mole behind her ear. She said, "This mole on your young lady's body is a sign of hidden blessings. She has a gentle yet resilient disposition. She doesn't fall in love easily, but once she does, she loves deeply and unrepentantly. Even with setbacks, she will eventually find a good match."
Rong couldn't help but sigh. She and her elder sister had both had bumpy love lives. If what the old nun said was true, she only hoped that Heng'er would not become a setback in Ying'er's life.
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