Chapter 87: Secret words in the secret room reveal the life story, and the six righteous men are sworn brothers for life
The air after the rain carried the freshness of grass and trees. In Xiaoyanzi's boudoir, the jasmine flowers on the windowsill were covered with water droplets, and their fragrance was faint. Ziwei had just wiped her face with the rose cream that Madam Fang had sent. Her complexion looked better than before, but her fingers were still tightly grasping the jade pendant engraved with a lotus flower, and her fingertips were white.
Xiaoyanzi led Xiaojian to the warm room behind the screen. This was where they would talk quietly. It was covered with thick Persian carpets, and in the corner stood a small antique display case filled with the trinkets Xiaojian had brought from Jiangnan. She tiptoed to close the carved wooden door of the warm room, her voice muffled like a mosquito's hum, "Brother, Ziwei's father is truly the emperor, there's no doubt about it."
Xiao Jian had just picked up a jade ruyi from the antique display case to play with, but upon hearing this, his hand paused, nearly dropping it on the carpet. He turned and stared at Xiao Yanzi, his brows knitted into a frown. "Are you sure? You can't say that."
"Of course I'm sure!" Xiaoyanzi stamped her feet anxiously, the red pompom on her braid brushing against Xiao Jian's sleeve. "Ziwei's mother's name is Xia Yuhe. Back when the Emperor was still Prince Bao, he was taking shelter from the rain at Daming Lake in Jinan and met Ziwei's mother. They were discussing poetry in a pavilion, and the Emperor held an umbrella for her and said her name resembled a lotus in the rain. And then... Ziwei was born." She gestured like a storyteller, "Ziwei has a fan and scroll inscribed by the Emperor, signed 'Hongli' – that's the Emperor's name!"
Xiao Jian's fingertips traced the lines on the jade ruyi, and he pondered, "When Prince Bao was stationed in Jinan, there were indeed rumors that he had met a remarkable woman in Daming Lake, but the palace never acknowledged it. I didn't expect..." He looked at Ziwei's figure behind the screen, his voice sank a little, "This is a huge matter. We must be extremely careful. There are many spies in the palace. If word gets out, Ziwei will be in danger."
"That's why I want them to become sworn brothers!" Xiaoyanzi tugged on Xiaojian's arm and shook it. "The four of us have already become sworn brothers. Now with Ziwei and Jinsuo, the six brothers and sisters are united as one. No one can bully us! Mother loves us the most and will definitely help keep this a secret."
As they were talking, Liu Hong's loud voice came from outside: "Xiaoyanzi! We're here! Where are the almond cakes your mother made?" Then Liu Qing's voice came: "Hong'er, stop yelling and behave yourself."
Xiaoyanzi's eyes lit up, and she pulled Xiaojian out: "Here we come! The ceremony is about to begin!"
An incense table had been set up in the boudoir. Three incense sticks hung from a red sandalwood incense burner, emitting curls of smoke. Nearby were apples, oranges, and Mrs. Fang's freshly steamed osmanthus cakes. Mrs. Fang, wearing a moon-white jacket embroidered with magnolia flowers and holding a red silk brocade box, smiled as she saw everyone gathered, saying, "Children, please stand up and line up by age."
The six people stood in order: Xiao Jian stood on the far left, his blue-gray long gown making him look tall and straight; followed by Liu Qing, wearing indigo shorts, looking neat and energetic; Xiaoyanzi wore a light red flowered skirt, with her braids swinging back and forth; Ziwei wore a light purple dress, stood straight, with nervousness and anticipation in her eyes; Liuhong wore a goose yellow cloth skirt, jumping up and down; Jinsuo stood on the far right, her blue vest washed cleanly, her hands nervously clutching the corners of her clothes.
Madam Fang opened the brocade box, revealing two jade pendants, the same delicate jade that Xiaoyanzi and the others wore around their necks. Each pendant had a small, elegant character for "righteousness" carved into it. "These are for Ziwei and Jinsuo," she said, holding one pendant out to Ziwei, her fingertips gently touching her hand. "Good girl, we'll be family from now on." She placed the other pendant on Jinsuo's fingertips, saying, "Follow your young lady and live a good life."
Ziwei and Jinsuo's eyes were red, and they said in unison, "Thank you, Auntie."
Xiaoyanzi picked up three incense sticks from the incense table and gave them to everyone. "Quick, worship with me!" She imitated the adults and bowed to the incense table in a loud and clear voice. "Today, Xiao Jian, Liu Qing, Fang Ci, Ziwei, Liu Hong, and Jinsuo voluntarily become siblings. We don't ask to be born on the same day, but we do ask to share the same heart!"
Liu Qing followed up with a shout: "We share happiness and hardships together! Anyone who changes their heart will be struck by lightning!"
Liu Hong shook her wrist, and a silver bell tied with a red string appeared on it, jingling: "And, and, from now on, when we go shopping and buy candy figures, we must share them together!" This made everyone laugh.
Xiao Jian cleared his throat and said solemnly, "Since we have become sworn brothers, we must remain loyal and righteous. If there is danger, we will not let each other down."
Ziwei clutched the jade pendant in front of her chest, her voice gentle but firm: "I, Ziwei, swear in the name of my mother that I will stand with my brothers and sisters in mind and heart."
Jinsuo also said: "Jinsuo is willing to follow the young lady and protect all the brothers and sisters."
The six people held incense sticks, bowed deeply three times before the table, and placed the incense sticks into the incense burner. Mrs. Fang smiled and took up six red ropes, each with a small jade pendant in the shape of a swallow, a lotus, or a willow leaf. She tied one around each person's wrist. "This is called the 'Six Harmony Ropes.' The jade pendants represent your individual feelings, and the red ropes represent the brotherly and sisterly bond." She pointed to the six elegant characters written on the rice paper on the table. "I've inscribed a pledge for you: 'Bound by sworn brotherhood, six hearts united as one.'"
"Sworn sisters, six hearts united as one!" Xiaoyanzi chanted the loudest, twirling around Ziwei and Jinsuo's hands, her braid brushing Liuhong's arm. "From now on, we'll be six siblings! I'm the third sister, Ziwei is the fourth, Liuhong is the fifth, and Jinsuo is the sixth!"
Liu Qing patted his chest and said, "If anyone dares to bully my sisters in the future, ask me for my fist first!" As he said that, he waved his arms, his muscles bulging.
Xiao Jian looked at his sisters laughing and playing, and a smile appeared on his lips. He said to Ziwei, "Don't worry, fourth sister, just stay at the Fang family. We will discuss the matter of finding your father in detail. With me here, I won't let you suffer any injustice."
Ziwei touched the red string around her wrist, the jade pendant warm against her skin. Looking at the sincere smiles before her, her fear gradually gave way to a warm feeling. She gently shook her wrist, and the sound of the silver bell mingled with the laughter of the crowd, like a warm song.
Mrs. Fang brought out freshly stewed rock sugar pears, the sweet aroma filling the air. "Come, have a taste! This is our family reunion soup." She looked at her six children sitting together drinking soup, her eyes filled with satisfaction. "From now on, we'll be a family. We'll help each other when we're in trouble, and our lives will surely get better and better."
The sunlight outside the window grew brighter, casting a warm glow on the red strings tied to each person's wrist. The laughter of the six siblings drifted from their boudoirs, past the crabapple trees in the courtyard, and soared into the azure sky. Their story, beginning with their sworn brotherhood, quietly unfolded on this spring day after the rain.
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