Chapter 228: Red Silk Fills the Courtyard, Snow Falls and Love Continues
The snow fell ever more densely, a thin layer of white accumulated on the green tiles of Shufangzhai. The red lanterns on the eaves were set off even more brilliantly by the snowy mist, like red fruits hanging from branches. Little Swallow, wearing the white fox cloak Yongqi had given her, squatted under the crabapple tree in the center of the courtyard, drawing circles in the snow with a branch, muttering, "I'm going to build the biggest snowman I can, taller than the door, with a red velvet hat and a red cloak, like a groom!"
"Be careful, your hands might get frozen." Yongqi came over with a hand warmer, squatted beside her, and pressed it into her hand. The warmth from the warmer penetrated the fabric, warming her fingertips until they numbed. He looked at the crooked circles on the snow, smiled, and picked up a branch to add a few strokes. "This is the body. It needs arms and legs." After he finished, he grabbed a handful of snow, rolled it into a ball, and placed it on the snowman. "This is how it looks."
Little Swallow leaned over to take a look, then suddenly clapped her hands and said, "It's missing a nose!" She turned and ran into the kitchen. A moment later, she came out holding a carrot and carefully stuck it into the snowman's face. "Look, look, does it look like Erkang?"
Yongqi was amused by her and was about to speak when he saw Erkang supporting Ziwei coming from the corridor. Ziwei was wearing a moon-white cloak with white fox fur trimmed on the edge, which made her face look even paler. She held a gilded lacquer box in her hands and stepped lightly on the snow, leaving shallow footprints. "Are you making a snowman?" She smiled and stopped. "It's snowing so hard, be careful not to catch a cold."
"It's not cold at all!" Xiaoyanzi handed the hand warmer to Ziwei, "Warm it up quickly! This belongs to Yongqi. I'll lend it to you to keep warm." She then skipped over to Erkang and stood on tiptoe to examine him. "Erkang, does this snowman look like you? Especially that carrot nose, it's just as straight as yours!"
Erkang shook his head helplessly, took out a brocade bag from his arms and handed it to Ziwei: "This is what my mother asked someone to find from the storehouse. She said it was the jade bracelet she wore when she got married. She asked me to pass it to you, saying it can ensure safety." When he opened the brocade bag, a pair of mutton-fat white jade bracelets lay inside. The jade was warm and smooth, and it glowed softly under the snow light.
Ziwei picked up the jade bracelet and rubbed it gently with her fingertips, her eyes slightly warm. "Fujin, you've taken so much trouble." She turned her head and looked inside the house. "Jinsuo just said that the Fang family sent several boxes of dowry. Inside are brocade and Suzhou embroidery from Jiangnan, as well as a quilt cover hand-embroidered by Fang Bo's mother."
"That's right!" Xiaoyanzi pulled Ziwei into the house, the hem of her cloak sweeping across the snow, stirring up a cloud of snow. "My mother loves you the most. Knowing that you like simple and elegant patterns, she specially asked the embroiderer to embroider a whole piece of orchids, saying it means 'a heart of orchid and a fine character'!"
The room was warm, and the silver charcoal in the charcoal basin was burning brightly, crackling. Against the wall were four large red-painted boxes with gold accents. The boxes were labeled "喜" (happiness) and the corners were covered with brass, making them look heavy. Jinsuo was squatting on the ground, carefully opening one of the boxes. Inside were several quilts, embroidered with patterns of "dragon and phoenix" and "mandarin ducks playing in the water", with fine stitching and bright colors. "Look, princess, this quilt feels so good to the touch. The embroiderers in Jiangnan are so skillful."
Ziwei squatted down and picked up a quilt embroidered with lotus flowers. She put her nose close to it and sniffed it. There was a faint scent of lavender: "It's the smell I like. Aunt Fang still remembers it." She remembered that when she first arrived at the Fang family, Aunt Fang always put a small bag of lavender next to her pillow, saying that it could calm the mind. Her heart felt warm as if there was a little sun in her arms.
"And this!" Xiaoyanzi pulled out a wooden box from another chest. Opening it, she saw several rolls of fine Hangzhou silk in colors like sky blue, moon white, and lotus purple, all the colors Ziwei often wore. "I told my mother that Ziwei looks best in plain colors, so she had everyone in the capital gather up all the plain silks!"
Yongqi walked in, holding a newly warmed cloak and gently placed it on Xiaoyanzi's shoulders. "Don't run around barefoot all the time; the floor tiles are cold." He glanced at the boxes full of dowry and said to Ziwei with a smile, "You'll be married in a few days. If you need anything, just let me know. The palace embroiderers and tailors are at your disposal."
"That's enough," Ziwei waved her hands quickly. "These are already too many. If we add more, there won't be enough space." She picked up a handkerchief embroidered with crabapple flowers. The crabapple tree on it was in full bloom, exactly the same as the one in the Shufangzhai courtyard. "Even this was thought of. Aunt Fang is really thoughtful."
As he was speaking, Xiao Jian came in through the curtains, his body shrouded in cold air, but in his hands he was holding an oil-paper bag. Snow water dripped down the ends of his hair, but he was completely unaware. He smiled and opened the bag, "Qing'er had someone send me some plum blossom cakes. They're fresh from the oven. Eat them while they're hot."
The plum blossom cake was steaming hot, sprinkled with sugar and sesame seeds, and shaped like a blooming plum blossom. Xiaoyanzi picked up a piece and stuffed it into her mouth. She gasped inwardly from the heat, but couldn't bear to spit it out. "Delicious! Sister Qing'er's cooking skills are getting better and better!"
"I bought it from a well-known street vendor," Xiao Jian wiped the snow off his face. "Qing'er wanted to deliver it herself, but I stopped her because the snow was so heavy that the roads were difficult to travel. She told you not to worry, the heater in the dowry is already filled with silver charcoal. Just carry it with you on your wedding day, and you'll definitely be warm."
Ziwei picked up a piece of plum blossom cake and took a gentle bite. The sweet aroma of rice mixed with the fragrance of osmanthus filled her mouth. "Thank Sister Qing'er for me." She looked out the window at the snow falling heavier and heavier and suddenly smiled. "Auspicious snow means a good harvest. This snow is really good, it seems to bring more happiness to our wedding."
Little Swallow ran to the window, opened it a crack, and peeked out. Snowflakes were falling thickly, painting the entire Forbidden City white. The palace walls in the distance were faintly visible through the snowy mist. The red walls and white snow were as beautiful as a painting. "That's right!" she smiled back at the others. "When the snow stops, let's build the biggest snowman in the yard and have it guard Shufangzhai for us. It'll always be bustling and lively!"
Yongqi walked over to her and closed the window for her to block out the cold wind. "Okay, I'll do as you say." He looked at her cheeks, which were flushed by the heat, and the smile in his eyes was as gentle as unmelted snow. "As long as you are here, this place will always be the most lively place."
Sparks occasionally popped from the charcoal brazier, filling the room with a warm glow. The trousseau lay quietly in a red lacquer chest, exuding the delicate fragrance of silk and spices. Outside the window, snowflakes drifted silently, laying a blanket of white for the impending wedding. Everyone's face wore a smile, their words tinged with anticipation. This snowy winter day, permeated by the warmth filling the room, felt both longer and warmer.
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