Chapter 44: Shocking news from the festival, building up mental defenses
Even before the morning mist had cleared, the corridors of the Fang family residence were already shrouded in a damp, chilly air. Xiaoyanzi sat on the stone steps, holding the heater. The warmth from the heater seeped through her coarse gloves, but it couldn't warm the chill in her heart. She had changed into a stone-blue cotton dress today, the hem embroidered with intricate twined branches. Madam Fang had specially had the embroiderer make it for her, fearing she might catch a cold. But she subconsciously wrapped herself tightly around her blue cloth cloak—the one Xiao Jian had given her yesterday, carrying the air of the courtyard's pinewood.
"Miss, Lord Liu from the Ministry of Rites has arrived." The butler hurried through the corridor, the hem of his long blue cloth gown damp with dew. "He said...he came to deliver the auspicious invitation for the rain-praying ceremony."
Xiaoyanzi's fingers, gripping the heater, suddenly tightened, the edge of the copper incense burner rubbing against her palm. She stood up almost immediately, her skirt sweeping across the orchid grass at the steps, stirring up a string of dewdrops. "I won't see you! Just say I'm sick!" As soon as she finished speaking, she dodged behind the rockery, the blue cloth strips at the end of her braids catching on the low branches in panic.
"Ci'er!" Fang Zhihang emerged from the main hall, his navy blue brocade robe meticulously tied at the collar, his face etched with worry. "Don't be rude! Lord Liu is here to announce an imperial decree." He waved behind the rockery, his voice low, "Come out quickly, don't let the court officials laugh at you."
Xiao Jian walked over calmly and helped Xiao Yanzi untie the snagged strip of cloth. The sleeve of his blue cotton robe brushed against her red cheek. "Don't be afraid, I'm here." His fingertips gently pinched her trembling wrist, and in a voice only the two of them could hear, he said, "Whatever you say later, respond first."
Xiaoyanzi bit her lower lip and walked out from behind the rockery. The hem of her stone-blue skirt was stained with some grass debris. She lowered her head, and her long eyelashes hid the resistance in her eyes. She could only hear her own rapid heartbeat, mixed with the voice of Lord Liu announcing the decree, exploding in the silent courtyard.
"...The loyal descendants of the Fang family are hereby granted special permission to participate in the rain-praying ceremony on the third day of next month, accompanying the emperor. This is decreed." Lord Liu put away the bright yellow imperial edict, a formulaic smile plastered on his face as his gaze flickered to Xiaoyanzi. "Miss Fang is truly blessed. This is a favor many families would beg for."
Fang Zhihang bowed to receive the imperial edict, his fingers trembling slightly on the edge. "Your Majesty, I… Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace." After seeing off Lord Liu, he looked at the imperial edict in his hand and sighed deeply, worry hidden in the folds of his brocade robe. "This ceremony is held at the Temple of Heaven, and the rules are stricter than those for a palace banquet. Ci'er, you…"
"I'm not going!" Xiaoyanzi finally raised her head, her eyes red, her stone-blue cotton skirt swaying slightly under her excited movements. "The last palace banquet was scary enough. Those people looked at me like I was a monkey. Now we're going to the Temple of Heaven. Who knows what kind of torture I'm going to get!" She clenched her fists, her nails digging deep into her palms. "Dad, can we go back to Jiangnan? Life here is too uncomfortable!"
Madam Fang quickly stepped forward, grasping her hand. Her fingertips caressed the corners of her red eyes. "Silly child, a gentleman's word is a true promise. How can you just say you won't go?" She smoothed her daughter's messy hair and spoke softly, "I'll have the tailor make you a thicker cloak and a hand warmer. You won't get cold."
Xiao Jian handed a cup of hot tea to his sister, the steam misting the collar of his blue cotton robe. "Although the Temple of Heaven's rituals are rigorous, with so many people watching, the Emperor might not pay much attention. We just stay by Father's side, talk less and keep our heads down, and we'll get through this." He looked at his sister's tightly pursed lips and added, "I've asked Escort Commander Zheng to inquire about the ritual procedures. I'll teach you the rules tonight."
Xiaoyanzi held the hot tea in her hand, but her fingertips were still cold. The steam from the tea made her eyes sore. The image of Rong Mama scolding her during the sacrifice at the Temple of Heaven in her previous life suddenly flashed through her mind. She turned her head abruptly, gazing at the gloomy sky outside the courtyard wall, and cried, "But I'm just afraid... those red walls and yellow tiles, just looking at them makes me breathless."
Smoke from the courtyard rose promptly in the afternoon, mingling with the sweet aroma of pancakes and wafting far into the distance. Xiaoyanzi squatted beside the stall, helping Liu Hong gather firewood. The cuffs of her gray shorts were stained with charcoal ash. She rubbed her frustrations into the dry, hard firewood, snapping off branches with a crack. "Sister Hong, I really don't want to go to that festival. I heard you have to kneel for hours, and your knees will be blue."
Liu Hong was simmering sweet noodle sauce, bubbling in the coarse porcelain pot, the aroma making Xiaodouzi swirl around nearby. She stirred the sauce with a long-handled spoon, staining her moon-white cloth gown with brown sauce stains. "That place sounds scary. The last time I went to sell pancakes near the Temple of Heaven, the sight of those guards from afar made me weak in the knees." She suddenly lowered her voice. "If all else fails, ask Brother Xiao Jian to find a way to get you a sick leave note? Just say...just say you've caught a cold?"
"It's useless." Xiaoyanzi sighed, picked up a small stone and drew circles on the ground. Her fingertips suddenly felt cold. She stared at the circles on the ground in a daze. In a trance, she saw herself and Ziwei in her previous life sitting on the kang table in Shufangzhai, sewing something with needle and thread in their hands - "Kneeling is easy"! At that time, there were many rules in the palace, and kneeling was required at every turn. They felt sorry for each other's knees, so they secretly found old cotton and coarse cloth and hurriedly sewed two thick cushions. The stitches were crooked and cotton wool was exposed at the edges, but they were so precious that they would secretly tuck them into the corners of their skirts before kneeling.
"Sister Xiaoyanzi, what's wrong with you?" Xiaodouzi waved his floury little hands in front of her eyes. "Your face is all pale."
Xiaoyanzi snapped back to her senses, feeling as if something had gently bumped her chest. She rubbed her burning eyes and smiled, pinching Xiaodouzi's face. "It's nothing, just some old memories coming to mind." She looked at the kneepad in Liu Hong's hand and spoke softly, "Sister Hong, could you sew this kneepad a little thicker? The thicker the better."
Seeing her dazed look, Liu Hong quickly put down the long-handled spoon and stuffed the cloth bag into her hands. "Don't worry, I stuffed it with three layers of cotton. It's thicker than the cotton cushion you brought last time." She poked the hard lump in the cloth bag. "I also added a layer of soft linen inside. It won't collapse easily, so you don't have to worry about kneeling for a long time."
Xiaoyanzi felt the bulging cotton in the cloth bag, and her nose suddenly felt sore. In her previous life, the "Easy to Kneel" had been sewn secretly, hidden away for fear of being discovered; in this life, the kneepads were made openly by Liu Hong, full of down-to-earth warmth. But no matter which one, it was all about retaining a little warmth and support amidst those cold rules.
"I kicked a stone on the ground for you, and it rolled into the coal stove. With a sizzle, white smoke billowed out. "Forget it, I'll just eat less and avoid having to report to the toilet."
Liu Qing returned with his empty cart, his blue shirt drenched in sweat. He lowered the cart and shouted, "Business is booming today! Shopkeeper Wang ordered another thirty pancakes and even said he'd introduce us to the restaurant!" Seeing Xiaoyanzi's gloomy expression, he scratched his head, "Are you still worried about things in the palace? How about... I go with you? I'll just say I'm your distant cousin, to give you some courage!"
"It would be even more troublesome if you went!" Xiaoyanzi was amused by him and smiled, the sadness in the corners of her eyes fading a little. "Those guards are very sharp-eyed. You look so tanned, it's obvious that you are not a scholar." She stood up, dusted off the dust, and clutched Liu Hong's knee pad cloth tightly in her hand. "But with this knee pad, I'm sure I can make it through this."
Fine sandalwood incense burned brightly in the gilded bronze censer in the imperial study. Qianlong flipped through the ceremony schedule handed to him by Eunuch Su, his fingertips gently tapping the words "Viewing Area for Officials and Their Families." The cuffs of his bright yellow dragon robe, delicately embroidered with golden dragons, gleamed faintly in the candlelight.
"Has the Fang family's location been arranged?" Without raising his head, he looked at the three words "Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests", which was the core area of the ceremony and had the best view.
Eunuch Su bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, according to rank, they will be seated in the second row on the east side, not far from the imperial steps, so they can both observe the ceremony and maintain their dignity." He stole a glance at the Emperor's expression, seeing his delight, and added, "I have specially arranged for a heater to be placed next to Miss Fang's seat, and also provided cushions."
Qianlong then raised his head, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips. "That's very thoughtful." He put down the process sheet, picked up the teacup and took a sip, the delicate fragrance of Longjing tea spreading on his tongue. "I'd like to take a look at the 'Jiangnan Scenery Records' that Fang Zhihang recently edited at the Hanlin Academy."
Eunuch Su understood that the emperor was looking for an opportunity to summon the Fang family again. He quickly replied, "I'll go get it right away." Just as he reached the door, he was stopped by the emperor again.
"On the day of the ceremony..." Qianlong's gaze drifted out the window, settling on the distant Temple of Heaven. "Tell the imperial kitchen to prepare some Jiangnan snacks, saying it's... a reward for the female attendees." He paused, his voice lowered. "Don't forget to add some osmanthus cake, make sure it's fluffy."
Eunuch Su's heart skipped a beat. The Emperor always loved northern pastries, so why was he suddenly thinking of Jiangnan sweet-scented osmanthus cake? He didn't dare ask further questions, but quickly bowed and replied, "I'll make a note of it." As he exited, he heard the Emperor pick up the painting of the courtyard again, his fingertips gently caressing the image of Little Swallow. The candlelight flickered in the shadow of the dragon throne.
The lights stayed on late into the night at the Fang residence. Xiao Jian was explaining the rituals to Xiao Yanzi. A hand-drawn map of the Temple of Heaven lay spread out on the table, and the cuffs of his blue cotton robe were stained with ink. "The ritual consists of welcoming the gods, laying down jade and silk, presenting the sacrificial offering, and performing the initial offerings... You must kneel down at every step. Just follow the others and don't look up."
Xiaoyanzi lay sprawled on the table, her stone-blue cotton skirt wrinkled. She circled a small corner on the map with a pen. "Can I just hide here? I'll make sure no one can see me." She touched the kneepad hidden in her sleeve pocket, her fingertips recalling the "easy kneeling" in her previous life, with the cotton wool exposed. Suddenly, she whispered, "Brother, what do you think...if I kneel for too long and can't stand steadily, will it be considered disrespectful to the Emperor?"
Xiao Jian paused his pen. Seeing the worry in her eyes didn't look fake, he put it down and ruffled her hair. "No. I'll stand behind you. If your legs get numb, I'll quietly help you up." He picked up the ink-colored cloak on the table and brushed his fingertips across the thick cashmere lining. "This cloak is long enough to cover your kneeling movements."
"Nonsense." Fang Zhihang walked in, carrying a dark-black cloak lined with thick cashmere. "That's a royal ceremony, with strict rules. No room for negligence." He placed the cloak on the table, his fingertips brushing over the delicate buttons. "I had it custom-made at the palace. It's windproof and warm. It's so windy that day, so don't let yourself get cold."
Mrs. Fang came in carrying a bowl of lotus seed soup, the pearls on her temples swaying gently with her steps. "Mother has prepared three hand warmers for you. Keep one next to your body, hide one in your cloak, and put one under the table. You'll definitely be safe." She sat down beside her daughter and smoothed her hair. "Don't worry, I'm here with you. If you feel really tired, just look at the pines and cypresses in the distance and think about the good old days in the compound."
The sweet aroma of lotus seed soup filled the room. Little Yanzi, looking at the concerned eyes of her parents and brothers, gradually felt her resistance fade. She pinched the kneepad Liu Hong had sewn for her, then touched the jade pendant with the word "righteousness" around her waist. The cool jade sobered her up a bit. In her previous life, the "easy kneeling" had been a covert comfort; in this life, the kneepad was an open and blatant warmth, a warmth she couldn't let down.
"I understand." She raised her head, her eyes still a little uneasy, but more determined. "I will be obedient and not cause trouble for the family."
Xiao Jian watched his sister feigning strength, his heart aching slightly. He pressed a piece of warm jade into her hand. On the jade was a small "peace" character engraved. "I asked Zheng Biaotou to get this from the jade shop. It's said to calm the mind. Take it with you."
Moonlight streamed through the window lattice, casting dappled shadows on the blue brick floor. Little Swallow clutched the warm jade, her palms gradually breaking out in sweat. She knew this unavoidable ceremony would be her most direct confrontation with the imperial court since her rebirth. Those gazes from behind the red walls and yellow tiles, those strict, icy rules, were like an invisible net, slowly tightening around her.
She looked at the map of the Temple of Heaven on her desk and suddenly thought of the old locust tree in the compound. On the day of the festival, the flowers there should be in bloom, right? Would Liu Qing and Liu Hong set up a stall beneath the tree, waiting for her to come back and eat freshly baked pancakes?
The jade-like warmth on her fingertips gradually warmed. Xiaoyanzi took a deep breath, suppressing her chaotic thoughts. No matter how many storms lay ahead, she would keep going—for her parents, for her brother, and for the warmth of the courtyard waiting for her return.
The night wind blew through the corridor, and the lanterns swayed gently in the wind, stretching the shadow of the Fang family very long, like a road leading to an unknown future, filled with anxiety and expectation in the silent moonlight.
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