Chapter 230: The Warm Feelings of the Old Servant, Looking Forward to the Wedding
The afternoon sun slanted into the Fang Mansion's courtyard, warming the blue brick floor. Wintersweet blossoms were in full bloom in the corner, their golden petals bathed in sunlight and emitting a refreshing fragrance. Little Swallow squatted beside her red-lacquered dowry chest, gesturing with a silver hairpin. The beads jingled, illuminating her cheeks.
"Princess, do you think this hairpin suits her?" Mingyue approached, holding a diamond-shaped mirror. The girl in the mirror had her hair tied up in a half-tied bun, with beads dangling from her ears, swaying gently with her movements. Xiaoyanzi blinked at the mirror and was about to speak when a head popped in from the courtyard gate. She had twin buns, wore a blue cotton-padded jacket, and held a gilded lacquer tray. It was Chuntao, Fang's mother's maid.
"Miss!" Chuntao walked in with a smile. On the lacquer tray were several plates of freshly baked cakes: steaming osmanthus cakes and sugar cakes sprinkled with sesame seeds. "Madam asked me to bring you some freshly made cakes, saying you didn't eat much this morning and wanted something to fill your stomach." She placed the lacquer tray on the stone table and her eyes fell on the hairpin worn by Xiaoyanzi. Her eyes lit up. "This hairpin is so beautiful! Is it the one given by the Empress?"
Xiaoyanzi took off her hairpin and thrust it into Chuntao's hand. "Try it! The Empress said it symbolizes 'flowers blooming at every step,' and that wearing it when you get married will bring you many children and happiness." Chuntao waved her hands away, her cheeks flushing. "No, no, no! This is the young lady's dowry, how could I touch it?" She carefully placed the hairpin back into the jewelry box, her fingers lightly brushing over the gold and silver hairpins and bracelets inside. "Mrs. Madam has been talking about how she wants to include the best craftsmanship from Jiangnan in your dowry. She even made twenty pairs of embroidered shoes alone."
"My mother just loves to worry." Xiaoyanzi picked up a piece of osmanthus cake and stuffed it into her mouth, mumbling, "I live in the palace, just across the wall from our home. If I want to eat the cakes made by my mother, I can just walk there. Why does she need to bring so much?" She looked at Chuntao, her eyes full of smiles. "Chuntao, thank you for accompanying my mother all these years. She's not in good health, and it's all thanks to your careful care."
Chuntao's eyes turned slightly red, and she quickly wiped them with a handkerchief. "What are you talking about, young lady? I grew up in the Fang Mansion, and Madam treats me like her own daughter." She looked down at the corner of her clothes and said softly, "Madam just said that after you and Prince Rong get married, she will let me visit the palace often and bring you some fresh food. From now on... from now on, you can't call me 'Young Lady' anymore. You should call me 'Prince Rong's Consort'."
"It doesn't matter what you call me." Xiaoyanzi took her hand, her palm warm. "In my heart, you are still the Chuntao who accompanied me to climb trees and dig bird nests." She remembered when she was a child in Jiangnan, Chuntao always helped her sneak out to play without telling Fang's mother. The two of them caught fish by the river and secretly picked loquats in the yard. Those days were as sweet as honey.
"But the rules can't be broken." Chun Tao smiled and pulled her hand back, picked up a piece of candy and handed it to her. "Prince Rong is the prince appointed by the emperor himself, and you are the princess. From now on, the servants in the mansion must address you according to the rules. However, in private, I will still call you 'Little Swallow', please don't punish me."
"As a punishment to you?" Xiaoyanzi raised her eyebrows while biting the candy cake. "As a punishment to you, you have to accompany me to eat ten pieces of osmanthus cake!" The two were laughing when Fang's mother came out from the corridor holding the hand of the maid. She was wearing a maroon brocade jacket with a lotus embroidered on the collar. When she saw the scene in the yard, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes smoothed out.
"What are you two whispering about? Why are you laughing so happily?" Fang's mother walked over to the stone table and sat down. Chuntao hurried forward to give her a back massage. "The cakes are still warm. Ci'er, have a couple more. You're getting married in a few days, and you won't have time to relax like this."
"Mother, Chuntao said she wants to call me Princess from now on." Xiaoyanzi sat down next to Fang's mother and rested her head on her shoulder. "It's better to call me Ci'er."
Mother Fang patted her hands, her eyes full of love. "You will always be my Ci'er in your mother's home. Now that you are in the palace, you must abide by the rules." She looked at Chuntao and said, "You are a thoughtful child. Go visit the palace often and help Ci'er with the management. She has a lively personality and I'm afraid she won't even be able to sort out the account books."
"Don't worry, Madam. I will definitely visit often." Chun Tao agreed with a smile. "After the New Year, when the corner gate of the palace is repaired, I will send your cakes to the princess every day so that she can have a taste of home in the palace."
Sunlight streamed through the branches of the wintersweet tree, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Little Swallow nibbled at a sweet-scented osmanthus cake, gazing at her mother's gentle profile and listening to Chuntao's clear laughter, her heart warmed. The "happiness" character on the dowry chest shone bright red in the sunlight. In the distance, the jingle of craftsmen repairing the corner gate mingled with the aroma of food wafting from the guesthouse, like a heartwarming song of impending reunion and joy.
The red lanterns under the corridor were swaying gently in the wind, casting red light on everyone's face, and even the air was filled with sweet joy - in a few days, she would wear her wedding dress and set out from this home where she had lived for sixteen years to go to the palace next door. But home would always be just across the wall, waiting for her to return at any time.
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