Princess's Wedding Banquet
After dealing with Xu Rong's matter, Pei Qingwu temporarily handed over the daily operation of the shop to Qian Tao and the increasingly composed Wen Baizhi.
He then calmed down and focused on preparing a unique full-moon gift for Princess Shouchun's newborn daughter—a quilt with a hundred blessings.
This "Hundred Blessings Quilt," as the name suggests, must be embroidered with one hundred different "福" (blessing) characters, along with various auspicious patterns, symbolizing that all the blessings in the world are gathered upon the young lady, protecting her peace and prosperity.
This is not just a gift, but a beautiful wish that took a lot of time and effort to make.
Silk is soft and gentle on the skin, while cotton is absorbent and breathable, making it ideal for a baby's delicate skin.
She set up her embroidery frame under the sunniest veranda in the courtyard and carefully stretched the fabric taut.
Every morning, she would sit in front of the embroidery frame, thread the needle, and begin her day's embroidery.
Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, casting a soft glow on her focused profile.
With her eyes lowered and her expression focused, her slender hands held an embroidery needle, moving it back and forth across the smooth fabric.
She puts her heart and soul into every character of "福" (fortune/blessing), whether it's in seal script, clerical script, or regular script, striving for a variety of forms and full of artistic expression.
Some are round and full "Fu" characters, some are long and elegant "Fu" characters, and some even cleverly combine the "Fu" character with auspicious patterns such as bats, peaches, and swastikas, adding even more interest.
The silk threads were also selected in a variety of colors: vermilion, golden brown, royal blue, and sapphire...
The different "福" characters create a unified yet varied effect.
In addition to the character "福" (fortune/blessing), she also meticulously embroidered lotus patterns, pomegranate patterns symbolizing "many children and many blessings," and vases representing "peace" on the four corners and the central axis of the quilt.
Every stitch, every thread, embodies her patience, ingenuity, and sincerest blessings.
I often sit for most of the day without even noticing that my neck is sore.
On this warm afternoon, Pei Qingwu was engrossed in her embroidery frame, her fingers deftly guiding the gold thread as she outlined the final stroke of a complex seal script character for "fortune".
The sunlight bathed her in a pale golden glow, and a few stray hairs fell beside her cheeks, swaying gently with her soft breaths.
She was focused, her lips slightly pursed, and her long eyelashes cast a small shadow under her eyes. She was completely immersed in her work, as serene and beautiful as a meticulously painted portrait of a lady, beyond compare.
When Gu Heng walked over gently carrying a small stew pot, this was the scene he saw.
He unconsciously slowed his pace, afraid of disturbing this peaceful beauty.
Because Pei Qingwu had faint dark circles under her eyes, Gu Heng felt sorry for her hard work these days, so he specially asked Yin Lan for advice and made this medicinal dish with black-boned chicken, goji berries, chrysanthemum and cassia seeds, which is the best for clearing the mind and improving eyesight.
Pei Qingwu noticed his approach and looked up from her tedious needlework.
The sunlight was a bit dazzling, so she squinted slightly. When she saw it was him, a smile appeared on her face: "Aheng, you've come."
Gu Heng placed the stew pot on a small table beside him and said softly, "Sister, take a rest. I've stewed some medicinal food for you; it's good for your eyes."
Pei Qingwu did not immediately take it. She put down the needle and thread in her hand and rubbed her slightly sore eyes.
Then she tilted her head up, her voice soft with a hint of dependence and coquetry, and said, "My arms are sore, I have no strength... Ah Heng, will you feed me?"
Her voice carried a hint of languor from work, her eyes were clear, and she stared straight at him with an undeniable expectation.
Gu Heng's heart instantly melted.
How could he possibly say no? He quickly replied, "Okay."
As he spoke, he picked up the stew pot, stirred it gently with a porcelain spoon, scooped up a spoonful, carefully blew on it to cool it down, and then brought it to Pei Qingwu's lips.
The medicinal cuisine carries a faint herbal fragrance and the sweetness of goji berries.
Pei Qingwu opened his mouth and slowly drank from his hand.
The warm soup slid down my throat, and the warmth instantly spread to my limbs and bones, even relieving the dryness in my eyes.
"Is it good?" Gu Heng asked nervously.
“Yes,” Pei Qingwu nodded, her eyes crinkling with a smile, “Our Aheng’s cooking skills are getting better and better.”
"I'm glad my sister likes it."
Soon, the bowl of medicinal food was empty.
After finishing his drink, Pei Qingwu rested for a while before continuing to sew the quilt.
Gu Heng peeked over and said, "Sister, it's almost done!"
"Yes, look, isn't it beautiful?"
"Beautiful, sister's hands are so skillful." Gu Heng said, putting his arm around Pei Qingwu and rubbing against her arm like a puppy.
Before we knew it, the day of the wedding banquet arrived.
Pei Qingwu got up very early to do her makeup in front of the mirror.
She knew that today's occasion was solemn, and her attire needed to be appropriate yet dignified.
Qiantao helped her with her hair, styling it into a fashionable high bun. The bun wasn't overly decorated, except for a gold and kingfisher feather hairpin and a few small pearl flowers, making it elegant yet noble.
Her face was covered with fine lead powder, making it even and fair. Her eyebrows were drawn with ink, resembling distant mountains. A light touch of slanted red was applied under her eyelids, like the morning glow reflecting on snow. Her lips were adorned with full, vermilion lipstick, making them look delicate and alluring.
She chose a lake-blue brocade half-sleeved top with a beaded peacock pattern, over which was a moon-white high-waisted ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress). The hem of the skirt was embroidered with fine intertwined vine and scroll patterns in silver thread, making it shimmer and shine with every movement, and was extremely beautiful.
A silver-painted shawl draped over her arm added to her graceful appearance.
After finishing her makeup, she stood in front of the mirror and examined herself, finding herself fairly satisfied.
Just as she was about to get up, Pei Qingwu suddenly remembered something and took out an exquisite porcelain box from her dressing case. Inside was her usual face powder, which carried a light plum blossom scent.
She dipped her finger in the mixture and gently patted it onto her neck and wrists.
Just then, Gu Heng finished packing and came over to ask if they were ready to leave.
Today he also changed into a brand new indigo-blue round-necked robe, which made his figure stand tall and his face even more handsome.
When Pei Qingwu saw him come in, a sly glint flashed in his eyes.
She beckoned to him: "Aheng, come here."
Gu Heng, not understanding why, approached as instructed.
Pei Qingwu tilted her head slightly, bringing her slender neck and wrists, which were coated with perfume powder, closer to him. Her eyes sparkled as she softly asked, "Smell this perfume powder today. Is the scent pleasant? Is it too overpowering?"
She was very close, and the clear, slightly sweet plum blossom scent drifted into Gu Heng's nostrils.
It was a silent teasing, like a feather gently scratching at the tip of his heart.
Gu Heng's breathing paused almost imperceptibly, and his Adam's apple bobbed.
He subconsciously leaned forward slightly, seemingly trying to discern the fragrance, but his gaze involuntarily fell on the lines of her neck so close to his own. He felt that her fair skin, accentuated by the perfume, appeared even more radiant and alluring.
“No, it won’t…” His voice was a little hoarse: “It smells very… very good.”
After saying that, he almost hastily straightened up, his ears already blushing, and dared not meet her smiling gaze again.
Pei Qingwu took in his subtle reaction, a satisfied smile playing on her lips, before casually saying, "In that case, let's set off."
Accompanied by Gu Heng and Qian Tao, who was also dressed up, Pei Qingwu arrived at the princess's residence by carriage.
Today, the Princess's Mansion is brightly decorated and filled with guests. Almost all the prominent officials, gentry, and wealthy merchants in Qinzhou City are present, and the gate is bustling with carriages and horses.
Pei Qingwu handed over the invitation and was led inside by a maid.
The mansion was decorated in the most luxurious and festive way. Pei Qingwu was composed and did not show any fear among the group of noble people in fine clothes.
When it came time to present the gift, she personally carried the Hundred Blessings Quilt, which had taken a long time to make and was the result of her painstaking efforts, to the front of the room.
This "Hundred Blessings" quilt features fine stitches and exquisite embroidery, symbolizing good fortune. The silk and cotton fabric have a soft sheen, and the hundred "blessing" characters in different shapes are interwoven with intricate auspicious patterns, showing both meticulous attention to detail and understated elegance.
A murmur of admiration immediately rose from the surroundings.
Upon seeing this, Princess Shouchun's eyes indeed revealed a look of surprise and delight.
She gently stroked the exquisite embroidery on the quilt, nodding repeatedly: "Master Pei is so thoughtful! I love this gift! It's more to my liking than any gold, silver, or jewels!"
At this moment, she was in a very good mood and immediately instructed the wet nurse: "Go and bring Yu Nu here so that Master Pei can also have a look at her."
A short while later, the wet nurse came over carrying the swaddled baby.
The little child was wrapped in a brocade quilt, with fair and delicate skin, a rosy face, and a pair of big, dark eyes curiously looking around. Her little mouth was slightly pouting, and she was as cute as a chubby baby in a New Year's painting.
Looking at the exquisitely beautiful baby, Pei Qingwu's heart softened, and a gentle smile appeared on his face. He couldn't help but softly praise, "The little lady is truly lovely and blessed."
Seeing that she liked it and hearing the auspicious words, the princess smiled even more broadly.
After presenting the gifts, Pei Qingwu was about to find a seat when he was spotted by the sharp-eyed Zhao Wan and Li Yinzhu.
The two men smiled and led her to an elegant tea room specially set up for women. The room was filled with warm fragrance and set with exquisite tea and snacks.
"Sister Pei, your outfit today is truly elegant and refined!" Zhao Wan said with a smile, holding her hand.
Li Yinzhu nodded in agreement: "That's right, when you showed off your Hundred Blessings Quilt just now, it outshone all of us! The princess was absolutely captivated by it."
The three young ladies sat together, sipping fragrant tea, eating snacks, and chatting idly in a harmonious atmosphere.
Amidst the boisterous wedding banquet, this tea room became a rare haven of peace and tranquility for them.
While they were talking, an unexpected incident occurred.
Just then, a servant from the princess's residence stumbled in through the gate, his face bearing obvious marks from being whipped.
"Your Highness, something terrible has happened! The Prince Consort got into a fight with someone and was beaten."
Upon hearing this, the princess jumped up in alarm.
Zhao Wan was also astonished: "Who dares to hit the prince consort?!"
No matter what, Princess Shouchun was still a princess, not to mention that her husband Wu Cheng was from a military family and held a high rank in the army. Who would be so arrogant?
The servant stammered, "The Yang family said... what is a prince consort? Even if a princess comes, he's not afraid..."
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