Li Shiyue stayed in the Bisha Pavilion of Shousong Hall for almost ten days before being allowed to return to her residence, Chengyu Pavilion, by the old lady Li.
Chengyu Pavilion was once the residence of Madam Xu before she married. However, over the years, the things inside had become old and worn. With the consent of Madam Xu, Madam Yang simply renovated Chengyu Pavilion inside and out and added many new items.
In the main room stood a tall, three-panel screen painted with pine, cypress, crane, and orchid designs, separating the bedroom from the inner room. In front of the screen was a huanghuali rocking chair with rose and phoenix designs, facing the door. On the other side was a small black lacquered table with tea sets on it. A square carpet with vermilion and blue bird patterns was laid out underfoot, and in the center was a brazier covered with gold thread. Sitting in the rocking chair, warming oneself by the fire, and enjoying the snow scene in winter would be quite pleasant.
The east and west rooms were draped in light blue curtains, with a thin white veil sandwiched between them, tied with delicate crystal necklaces, preventing the room from appearing somber. Beside the window in the corridor stood a wide, carved wooden couch, with a small square rosewood table in the center and soft, comfortable cushions on either side. Directly opposite were two rosewood chairs with intricate patterns. Against one wall was a shelf displaying some pretty trinkets, and on another low rosewood cabinet sat a pair of white jade porcelain vases.
The west room is smaller than the east room. There is an ebony and rosewood desk with the Four Treasures of the Workshop on it. There is a row of cabinets on the inside with various books on them. There are two low cabinets by the window with a few plum blossoms on them. The back wall is decorated with a beautifully carved picture of sunset and spring outing.
Li Shiyue looked at the layout, which was exactly the same as she remembered, and walked around the screen into the back room. Unlike the front, which was divided into two sides, there was a corridor in the middle, also with three screens. The west side was the bathing area.
On the reddish-brown floor, square stools were placed on either side of the screen, each bearing two pots of beautifully blooming hibiscus. Behind the screen was a doorway with a full moon above and perpendicular to the ground below, also draped in light blue curtains and white gauze. Above the doorway were exquisitely carved openwork ruyi cloud patterns. Directly opposite was a round table. To the right, separated by the same curtains and white gauze, stood a mahogany bed with carved cloud patterns, its bedding still brand new.
A large dressing table with four or five layers of mahogany drawers stood near the window. It was full, much of it sent by the Crown Princess from the palace. There were also two cabinets, presumably for storing her clothes.
There's another floor on the second floor, but the staircase is in the long corridor outside the main room, with more than twenty red-lacquered wooden steps. Pushing open the door, you'll find a round table in the center, furnished with round stools and various trinkets—perfect for sisters and friends to chat and drink tea. In summer, the windows can be opened to let in cool air. To the north is a small lake, surrounded by willow trees; windows on the south side offer a view of the north side of the garden.
Perhaps to relieve boredom, Madam Yang even ordered a swing to be built in the courtyard, with grapevines hanging on it, so that they could taste the fruit when it blossomed and bore fruit the following year.
For several days in a row, heavy snow fell, and Li Shiyue didn't like to go out. She usually stayed in Shousong Hall and Chengyu Pavilion, and became increasingly reluctant to move around.
Xu Lingzi took off her cloak and walked in, only to see Li Shiyue sitting cross-legged on a low rosewood couch. The charcoal brazier was burning brightly, and Chunling and Liandong were carrying a plate of roasted chestnuts beside her.
"My cousin is here."
Li Shiyue's eyes lit up, and she pushed the freshly roasted chestnuts toward Xu Lingzi: "Try them quickly, Lian Dong's roasted chestnuts are so sweet, Chun Ling has eaten several."
Lian Dong was a maid personally arranged by Madam Xu, and she was a bit older than Chun Ling.
Xu Lingzi didn't stand on ceremony. She sat on the other side, peeled one, and put it in her mouth. It was indeed very sweet.
"Chunling seems to have gained weight again. She's been indulging in food as the New Year approaches."
Chunling blushed and lowered her head to add charcoal to the fire.
Li Shiyue smiled slightly: "Yes, some of them are a bit too small. The new clothes that were delivered yesterday are all a bit too small."
"Then let's redo it."
Xu Lingzi picked up another one and teased, "You have no idea you're the most sought-after person in the household now."
Li Shiyue blinked, not understanding what Xu Lingzi meant.
But Xu Lingzi suppressed a laugh and mimicked the gossip in the mansion: "More than a hundred chests were carried into the storeroom. Now everyone knows that marrying a cousin from the Xu family means becoming incredibly wealthy."
As Xu Lingzi spoke, she leaned closer to Li Shiyue, a sly smile on her face, and raised her eyebrows mischievously: "Don't you have any feelings for any of my brothers? Don't you like any of them? Second Brother is too cold. Although Seventh Brother is younger than you, I would be very willing for you to be my sister-in-law."
"Even if my two brothers don't work out, what about my fifth brother? He's very reliable."
Li Shiyue blushed, put the peeled chestnut meat in her hand into Xu Lingzi's mouth, and said angrily, "If you say that again, I won't talk to you anymore."
Xu Lingzi chuckled and swallowed, then leaned back, saying, "I won't say anymore."
If I anger my little cousin and can't appease her, I'll be at a loss.
"In a few days, the household will be preparing for the New Year. Is there anything you want? You can ask your second brother to take us out of the mansion to have a look around. You haven't been to the capital yet, have you?"
Have I ever visited the capital? I've never actually done so.
Li Shiyue skillfully peeled a chestnut and asked thoughtfully, "I heard that my tenth cousin's confinement is still in effect. It's not good for everyone to spend New Year's Eve together while she's locked in her room, is it?"
Xu Lingzi tilted her head and looked at her: "What, have you taken pity on me?"
“New Year’s Eve is a festival for family reunion. Even if my tenth cousin made a mistake, she is still a member of the Xu family. How can we leave her behind when everyone is reunited?”
Xu Lingzi nodded: "That makes sense, but you just don't know it yet."
She said mysteriously, "This morning, my second brother checked the book that Shi Niang was copying. He found that her handwriting was messy, so he was confined to his quarters and only released on New Year's Eve."
"Moreover, Shi Niang knows that the Emperor personally bestowed the calligraphy upon you, and the commotion in the West Courtyard these past few days has been quite significant."
"Is that so?" Li Shiyue had a faint smile on her lips, seemingly lost in thought, as she toyed with the chestnut meat between her fingers for a long time.
·
After several days of snow and wind, the sun shone brightly overhead, while dark clouds hung low in the distance, suggesting an impending snowstorm.
Li Shiyue sat in the east room of Chengyu Pavilion, looked up and said, "Chunling, come with me for a walk."
Chunling didn't know where Li Shiyue wanted to go, so she followed slowly behind, glancing at the quiet surroundings from time to time.
They encountered two old women traveling together ahead. Suddenly, Li Shiyue, with Chunling in tow, hurriedly hid behind a pillar. The two old women then went off in another direction.
The front of the building was near the north wall of the Duke's mansion, close to the garden, and contained few living bedrooms. Li Shiyue lifted her skirt and walked lightly; it wasn't far from her Chengyu Pavilion.
Reaching the stone-gray wall in front, Li Shiyue cautiously peeked out with one eye to get a clear look at the north wall.
The mansion was usually divided into inner and outer sections, but this north wall was unique, with a side gate specifically for servants. So there was only one wall here. Few people in the Duke's mansion knew this.
During the day, the old women patrolled together, listening to the voices of the two old women fade into the distance until no sound could be heard anymore. From under the eaves on the other side, two petite figures dressed in men's robes emerged, and upon closer inspection, the face of the person in front could be clearly seen.
Chunling covered her mouth in surprise, trying not to make a sound.
The person dressed in the robes of a young master in front is none other than Xu Lingwan, whom we haven't seen for many days and who should have been under house arrest!
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