Chapter 9 Gift (Part 1)
Ling Tianshui changed the subject and spoke first, "Today is the County Master's birthday, so let's congratulate her first. While on the march, I came across a beautifully shaped cane, so I had it crafted by a craftsman and gave it to the County Master as a birthday gift."
As he spoke, he took out the box he had brought with him, opened it, and handed it to her, saying, "Although it is jewelry, it is not something precious, such as gold or jade. If the county lady likes it, she can wear it for fun."
Inside was indeed a piece of ivory-colored rattan, about the thickness of two little fingers, originally grown around a tree, naturally shaped like a spiral arm bracelet. Now, the outer bark had been peeled off and polished to a smooth sheen, with only lotus flower patterns carved at the ends, giving it a simple and calm appearance.
Seeing that he gave this thing, everyone laughed secretly, thinking that the rough soldiers really didn't understand women. How could the county lady use such jewelry?
Only after Qiandeng picked up the armlets did he feel something was wrong with their weight. He glanced at Ling Tianshui and saw him nod slightly, so he picked them up and put them on his hands.
The ivory vines twisted around her slender arms, making her wrists look even whiter than snow, and even more charming.
Qiandeng pulled up her sleeves to block everyone's sight, and her fingertips slid quietly over the lotus pattern, finding an imperceptible crack at the bottom and gently parted it.
A cold light hidden in the vine's heart suddenly shot out, and the dark green light flowed like water waves.
They turned out to be two slender steel blades, made of tempered steel, hammered thousands of times to a point of extreme toughness. They were strong enough to be inserted into the hollowed-out vines, disguised as a pair of inconspicuous armlets. But when pulled out, they were a pair of straight, slender blades.
Qiandeng estimated the length of the armlet after it was stretched. It was not much different from the short spear used by her grandfather, which was just right for her to perform the family's inherited spear skills.
There is even a three-sided blood groove on the Bailian Blade, making it an extremely sharp weapon for bleeding.
Qian Deng was slightly surprised to receive such a gift on her birthday. She looked up at Ling Tianshui, but he simply asked, "Is it appropriate?"
"Very good, thank you for your trouble, Mr. Ling."
He was a man who had actually seen blood on the battlefield. How could he know that a woman like her, trapped in the prosperous and splendor of Chang'an, would never have the chance to use such a thing in her life.
Qian Deng thought that even though he was busy with military affairs, he still cared about her and was considerate enough to break a vine for her during the march.
"Brother Tianshui gave me the armlet, I'll give you this." Shangluo followed him closely, took out a cinnabar pendant from his arms, and handed it to Qiandeng, "County Lady, I ran away from home without taking anything valuable, but luckily I brought this."
The cinnabar pendant was half the size of a palm, bright red, and carved into the shape of a vermilion bird with its wings spread.
"Cinnabar can ward off evil and dispel disasters. If the county lady carries it with her, everything will surely go smoothly and all disasters and difficulties will be eliminated!"
Qian Deng took it with both hands and smiled, saying, "Thank you, young master Shang, for your kind words. I will accept it."
"What I prepared for the county lady is not as precious as the one from Shangluo." Meng Lanxi took a small pot of orchids from the side. The pot was only the size of a palm and could be played with in the hand. The orchids planted in it were also slender and small, with an extremely elegant posture.
The orchids were in full bloom, and the goose yellow flower hearts exuded a rich fragrance. Qiandeng held it in his palm and smelled it for a long time, feeling relaxed.
"I searched the secluded valleys near Chang'an and found this 'Distant Mountain Floating Mist' in Wangchuan. The county lady can place it on her desk indoors and admire it for a while when she is tired. It will help soothe her and help her sleep."
Qian Deng held the orchid in her hands and thanked it with a smile: "Thank you, Mr. Meng, for your kindness."
"Then, I hope the county lady will accept this modest gift from Xiyang." Xue Xiyang handed over a scroll, his charming eyebrows slightly raised and filled with a gentle smile. "This is a small painting I drew. If the county lady likes it and hangs it on her desk in the study, it would be my honor."
"Master Xue's talent is well-known in the capital. Everyone says that your music, chess, calligraphy, and painting are all top-notch. It is my honor to be able to learn from Master Xue's writings."
Qian Deng said this as he opened the scroll he had sent him, slowly revealing the contents inside.
The painting depicts Qujiang Lake, ablaze with spring fireworks. Beneath willow branches, amidst the misty waters, five figures ride horses, enjoying a spring outing amidst a dazzling display of flowers.
The faces of the family of five came alive under Xue Xiyang's masterful brushwork.
The one leading the family on horseback was Prince Changhua, and following closely behind him was Princess Changhua, reining in her horse and looking back with a concerned look on her face. The Crown Prince was holding the reins of the pony behind him. Qiandeng, who was riding the pony, was only about ten years old. She hugged the horse's neck, raised her head and smiled innocently at her family. Lady Qi, who was accompanying her, carefully raised her hand to protect her, so as not to get her daughter hurt.
Looking at these familiar people and the familiar scenery, Qiandeng's eyes couldn't help but turn red. He looked diagonally across and compared the scene with the picture. His voice choked with sobs, he said, "This is... the scene of our family visiting here seven years ago."
"That's right. I had just arrived in Chang'an and was visiting Qujiang Lake when I happened to run into the county lord and his family." Xue Xiyang spoke softly, his eyes filled with sadness and nostalgia. "I lost my mother when I was young and left home when I was a teenager. So, when I saw the happy and harmonious scene of the county lord and his family, I've always kept it in my heart. I can't forget this happy and warm scene."
Qiandeng rerolled the scroll, held it in his arms, and said softly, "Thank you, Master Xue. I will hang it in the study and look after it every day."
Seeing Qiandeng's gloomy expression, everyone looked at the scroll in her hand and fell silent for a moment.
"Worldly affairs are like fleeting clouds, and those who have gone are gone. The county lady should look ahead and have a bright future." Finally, Yan Penglai broke the silence and opened a soft black cloth bundle in his hand, revealing a lotus cushion inside.
"These are the scraps of robes I collected from high-ranking monks in major temples in the capital. I sewed them together into a hundred-ply cushion, which embodies the power of compassion. I heard that the county lady often has trouble sleeping at night, so I gave this cushion to her. If you feel uneasy, you can sit quietly and meditate, which may be beneficial."
Everyone's mouth twitched slightly, and they were all speechless.
The county princess was in her prime, on her seventeenth birthday, but he gave her a meditation cushion and advised her to meditate and chant scriptures like him, with a pure mind and few desires?
As expected, no one could predict what was going on in the mind of this immortal cultivator.
"Haha, this gift from Mr. Yan is really unique." Ji Linyou laughed twice to break the awkwardness.
Only Meng Lanxi showed a look of surprise. She said "Huh" and seemed to be thinking about something, but in the end she said nothing.
Qiandeng took the cushion and saw that the pieces of cloth used for the cushion were not much bigger than a fingernail. They were carefully sewn together with fine stitches, and arranged into the shape of a blooming lotus according to the depth of color, newness and oldness. It was extremely delicate, which attracted her attention.
Her heart moved slightly. She looked at the cushion, then at the ethereal and otherworldly angel in front of her, as if she were not affected by the mundane world. She asked softly, "Is this... sewn by Lord Yan himself?"
Yan Penglai, whose mind was always wandering in the heavens, had a look of embarrassment on his face when his eyes met hers.
Just when Qiandeng thought she had seen it wrong, he quickly turned away and said with lowered eyes, "I helped my mother with needlework when I was a child, so I'm not very good at it anymore."
Everyone was surprised when they saw the plain jade crown on his head, the cloth shoes on his feet that were not stained by mud, and the clothes that were so clean that even the hem was not a speck of dust.
This young man, who was as clean and clear as flawless white jade, would actually pick up needle and thread to sew such a complicated futon for the county lady.
Qian Deng thanked him profusely, "This cushion is so fine, it truly demonstrates Mr. Yan's generosity. I...will try it out when I feel down in the future."
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