Chapter 231: Red silk decorations, laughter fills the house
The corridors of Shufangzhai were already draped with red silk, fluttering in the wind like dancing flames. The winter sun filtered through the carved window lattices, casting diamond-shaped patches of light on the blue brick floor. The silvery charcoal in the stove burned brightly, mingling with the delicate fragrance of winter plum blossoms on the table, filling the room with a warm warmth.
Ziwei sat at an embroidery frame by the window, holding a handkerchief embroidered with gold thread depicting mandarin ducks playing in the water. The stitches were intricate, and the gold thread shimmered softly in the sunlight. Across from her, Jinsuo placed her folded red veil into a brocade box, the pearl tassels rustling softly. "Princess, do you think this veil is the right size? Yesterday, Concubine Ling specially sent a box of pearls, saying that adding more beads would make it even more festive."
"That's enough," Ziwei put down the embroidery needle and rubbed her wrist. "If you add any more, it will be too heavy. If Xiaoyanzi wears such a heavy veil, she will probably walk with her legs twisted." As soon as she finished speaking, she heard crisp laughter coming from the gate of the courtyard. A red cloak flashed, and Xiaoyanzi jumped in, holding a food box in her hand, which contained sweet cakes she had just brought from Fang's house.
"Sister is saying bad things about me!" Little Swallow put her lunch box on the table, picked up a piece of candy and stuffed it into her mouth, mumbling, "I'm so good at light martial arts that I can fly even with a ten-pound veil!" She moved closer to the embroidery frame and looked at the mandarin ducks on the handkerchief. Her eyes lit up. "These mandarin ducks are so beautiful! Is this for Brother Erkang?"
Ziwei blushed slightly and nodded gently, "I'm thinking of giving it to him as a keepsake for our wedding." As she spoke, Erkang walked in, feeling cold, but he handed Ziwei a hand warmer. His eyes fell on the embroidered handkerchief, and they were full of tenderness. "I just came back from the Ministry of Works. The Emperor said the wedding car's decorations have been modified to suit our preferences, and the words 'a perfect match' are embroidered on the curtains."
"Really?" Ziwei looked up in surprise. Erkang smiled and scratched the tip of her nose. "Why would I lie to you? I told you to take a look at the design and change it if you're not satisfied." Xiaoyanzi clapped her hands, "I want to see it too! My wedding car will be painted all over with crabapple blossoms and have wind chimes hanging on it. It'll go 'ding dong' when I move!"
"I've prepared it for you a long time ago." Yongqi followed him in, holding a roll of blueprints in his hand. When he unfolded it, he saw a gorgeously decorated carriage with branches of crabapples painted on the body and small silver bells hanging beside the wheels. "I specially asked someone to add crabapple flowers yesterday. Do you like them?" He was wearing a dark blue uniform with a little snow on his collar. It was obvious that he had braved the snow to see the carriage design.
Xiaoyanzi snatched the blueprint and smiled, her eyes narrowing into slits. "I love it! It's even better than I imagined!" She suddenly remembered something and tugged at Yongqi's sleeve as they ran out. "Let's go check out the dowry box my mother prepared for me. It just arrived at Shufangzhai, and there are so many fun things inside!"
Not long after they ran out, Xiao Jian and Qing'er arrived. Xiao Jian was holding a wooden box containing a jade pendant he had asked a friend to find him. It was transparent and warm, with the word "peace" engraved on it. Qing'er was holding an embroidered cloak with dark patterns of clouds and cranes on the lake blue satin. It was for Xiao Jian to wear on his wedding day.
"I just came from the Fang Mansion. My uncle and aunt are putting a red seal on Xiaoyanzi's dowry box." Xiao Jian handed the jade pendant to Ziwei, "This is for you and Xiaoyanzi. Wear it on your wedding to ward off evil spirits." Qing'er sat down next to Ziwei, picked up her unfinished embroidery handkerchief, and whispered, "Your stitches are really good! I can't even learn it."
"Sister Qing'er, you're too polite," Ziwei smiled and shook her head, "The cloud crane cloak you embroidered is the most beautiful. The last time I saw Brother Xiao Jian holding it in his hand, his eyes widened." Qing'er's cheeks flushed slightly, and she secretly glanced at Xiao Jian. Xiao Jian was lowering his head to add charcoal to the stove, but his ears were secretly red.
From outside the corridor came the voice of the little stool boy: "Little table, quickly hang the red silk higher! The Fifth Prince said he wants the whole Shufangzhai to be red!" Then the little mosquito's catchphrase: "Wow, boom, boom, this red silk is more lively than the New Year's Eve in the slums!" Everyone laughed when they heard it. Ziwei smiled and said: "This Shufangzhai is really feeling more and more like home."
As they were talking, Yongqi came back holding Xiaoyanzi's hand. Xiaoyanzi was holding a red lacquer box in which were several golden hairpins. The beads dazzled people's eyes: "This is the most precious jewelry my mother gave me. She asked me to choose two to wear for my wedding. Can you help me see which one looks good?" She put the hairpins on her head, and the beads hung down to the tip of her nose, which made everyone laugh.
Yongqi reluctantly helped her straighten her crooked hairpin, his fingertips brushing against her earlobe, and both of them blushed. Sunlight streamed through the window lattice onto them, red silk dancing in the wind. The occasional crackle of charcoal in the stove, mingled with the laughter that filled the room, was like a gentle song, singing of impending fulfillment.
From afar came the sounds of palace musicians tuning their instruments. The bright and festive tunes of flutes and suonas blended with the laughter from Shufangzhai. The winter Forbidden City, shorn of its former majesty due to the impending weddings, was now filled with red silk, laughter, and overflowing anticipation. Even the chill wind had softened.
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