Chapter 21: The Lotus Wind Brings a Message, the Road to Beijing is Near
The late summer sunset dyed the Fang Mansion's lotus pond a golden crimson. The water droplets on the lotus leaves reflected the scattered light, like a pool of broken gold. The bamboo curtains in the study were half-rolled, and a draft streamed in, carrying the delicate fragrance of lotus blossoms, causing the rice paper on the desk to tremble gently. The fragrance of ink and flowers mingled, forming the last gentleness of Jiangnan.
Xiaoyanzi was crouching over her desk, painting a lotus leaf with a brush dipped in light ink. Just as she'd swept out two arcs, she was startled by the sound of footsteps behind her. Her hand trembled, and the ink dripped onto the rice paper, creating a small blob. She let out an annoyed "Ah!" and turned to see her father and brother approach. She quickly hid the painting in her arms, her cheeks puffing. "Dad, big brother, are you walking without making any noise?"
Fang Zhihang was holding an account book in his hand. Seeing his daughter was anxious to hide the painting, he walked to the table and sat down with a smile. He gently touched the corner of the painting exposed in her arms with his fingertips: "What are you hiding? Let Dad see if our Ci'er's painting skills have improved again." He put the account book on the table. The bamboo cover of the account book was rubbed to a shine, and the edges were a little worn.
Xiao Jian sat down next to his sister and helped her straighten her crooked pen holder. A few brushes were still soaking in the clear, celadon wash basin on the table. He glanced at the words "land transfer" on the account book and got a rough idea. He gently touched the back of his sister's hand under the table with his fingertips, signaling her to calm down.
Mrs. Li walked in with a plate of freshly cut water chestnuts. Seeing the three of them in the study, she placed the porcelain plate on the table and said with a smile, "These water chestnuts were just picked from the pond. They're so tender. Come and try some." She picked one up and offered it to Xiaoyanzi. Seeing her daughter staring blankly at the account book in her father's hand, she asked softly, "Zhihang, is there anything you want to tell the children?"
Fang Zhihang picked up a water chestnut and slowly peeled it, his fingertips stained with its tender white juice. He was silent for a moment, his eyes sweeping across the lotus pond outside the window, then settling on the two children. He spoke in a steady voice, "Ci'er, Yan'er, Daddy has something to tell you—we're moving to the capital in a few days."
"The capital?" Xiaoyanzi's brush plopped onto the inkstone, splattering ink onto the back of her hand. She was oblivious, her eyes wide open like a frightened deer. "Why do we have to go to the capital? Aren't we fine here? Master Zhang's cat hasn't had kittens yet, and I promised to build a nest for them!" She clutched Xiaojian's sleeve, her knuckles turning white. "Did I do something wrong? Can't we just move?"
Xiao Jian gently patted the back of her hand, signaling her not to get excited, and looked up at his father: "Dad, is it for your studies?" He knew that although his father's talent was well-known in Jiangnan, it was ultimately limited, and there might be a broader world in the capital.
Fang Zhihang nodded and handed the peeled water chestnuts to Xiaoyanzi, brushing his fingertips against her slightly trembling hand. "Yes, but not entirely. Dad wants you to see the wider world. Yan'er's martial arts and Ci'er's talents will have better benefits in the capital." He opened the account book and pointed at the handwriting on it. "Dad has already asked someone to sell the real estate and land here. The money has been paid, so don't worry."
Xiaoyanzi's eyes suddenly turned red. She lowered her head to look at the ink stain on the back of her hand, and cried in a voice: "Sold it? What about the grape trellis? And the flower jam jar I buried under the willow tree..." Those places that hid her childhood memories would no longer belong to her. Her heart seemed to be blocked by something, and it hurt dully.
Mrs. Li came over and squatted down to wipe the ink stains off the back of her hand. Her fingertips were warm. "Silly child, if you lose something, you can always find another one. The most important thing is to be together as a family." She picked up another booklet that Fang Zhihang had placed on the table and opened it for the children to see. "Your father has already arranged a place to live in the capital. It's a three-story house with a courtyard. There's an old locust tree in the backyard that's thicker than the grape trellis in our yard. You can make flower jam under the tree and swing on it."
"Really?" Little Swallow raised her head, tears still hanging on her eyelashes, but she stared at the sketch of the house in the pamphlet with sparkling eyes. "Is there a lotus pond? Is there a porch where you can play the piano?"
"We have everything." Fang Zhihang smiled and nodded, his tone full of confidence. "The front yard has your mother's favorite peonies planted in it, the middle yard has a study, and in the backyard, besides the old locust tree, there's an open space where your elder brother can practice swordsmanship, and you can play the piano under the porch. We also bought two acres of land next to the house and grow vegetables and fruits. It's as convenient as being at home." He closed the account book, his eyes gentle. "Dad has already sent the servants to clean it up in advance. We can move in directly when we arrive. No need to feel wronged."
Xiao Jian watched his sister's expression gradually calm down, and he felt relieved. He knew his sister was nostalgic, but he also understood his father's intentions, so he continued, "There are many snack shops in the capital, and there are also acrobatic troupes. Once you're settled, I'll take you to the temple fair. It's much more lively than the markets in Jiangnan."
Little Swallow sniffed, tears still falling, hitting the old locust tree on the sketch. It wasn't that she didn't yearn for the capital, but she couldn't bear to leave everything about Jiangnan—the minty scent of morning dew, the shadows of lotus blossoms in the sunset, the familiar smiles of her neighbors. But seeing the anticipation in her father's eyes, the water chestnuts in her mother's hands, and the gentle gaze of her brother, she knew it was a done deal.
"Then..." She bit her lower lip, her voice still choked, "Can you take away the rose sachet I embroidered? And the guqin given by the abbot, and the painting 'Spring Scenery in Jiangnan' that I painted..." She didn't want to throw away any of those warm objects.
"Take them all." Li pulled her into her arms and patted her back gently. "Your zither, your paintings, your sachets, your elder brother's sword, your father's books, we'll take everything to the capital." She looked at Fang Zhihang, her eyes full of tacit understanding. "Tomorrow I'll start packing your valuables. I'll put all your treasures in separate boxes and label them 'Ci'er's treasures' to make sure they don't get lost."
The setting sun filtered through the bamboo curtains, casting slender shadows on the ground, bringing the family's shadows very close. Little Swallow leaned against her mother's arms, inhaling the scent of soapberries on her clothes, and the grievances in her heart gradually faded. She watched her father make the final entry in the account book, and watched her brother quietly fold her ruined lotus leaf drawing and put it in a drawer. Suddenly, she felt that as long as her family was together, even traveling to the unfamiliar capital city would not be so scary.
"Then..." She hesitated for a moment and looked up at Fang Zhihang, "When I arrive in the capital, can I still learn music, chess, calligraphy and painting? I won't be forced to learn those rules, right?" The red tape in the palace in her previous life still frightened her. She was afraid that the rules of the capital would trap her.
Fang Zhihang put down his pen and nodded solemnly, "Of course. Dad asked you to go to the capital to broaden your horizons, not to let you suffer any grievances. What you want to learn and what you don't want to learn, we can discuss it as a family. No one can force you." He picked up the guqin on the table and gently plucked the lower string. The clear sound spread throughout the study. "Your guqin skills are so good. When you go to the capital, maybe you can meet friends who understand you."
As the piano music faded, the chirping of cicadas outside the window suddenly grew clearer, and the fragrance of the lotus flowers grew stronger. Little Swallow looked at her father's gentle eyes, her mother's smiling lips, and the encouragement in her brother's eyes. Finally, she nodded vigorously, reached out, picked up a water chestnut, and took a big bite. The sweet juice spread across her tongue, and her heart also sweetened.
"Then I'm going to finish the half-embroidered rose sachet and take it to the capital." She wiped her tears, her nose still red, but she smiled. "I'm also going to pick some rose seeds and plant them in the courtyard in the capital. Lots of flowers will bloom next year!"
Fang Zhihang looked at his daughter's eyes, which had brightened up again, and smiled with relief. He knew that this was the right step. No matter what the future held, as long as the family was united, even the longest road and the most unfamiliar place could become a warm home.
As dusk deepened, the lights in the study lit up, casting the family's silhouettes on the window paper. The breeze from the lotus pond still blew, carrying the last of Jiangnan's lotus fragrance, quietly seeping through the cracks in the window, as if leaving a final tender thought for the swallows about to depart. And in the distance, the capital, with its unknown bustle and anticipation, stood at the end of the road, quietly awaiting the family's arrival.
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