Chapter 50: Like a neighbor rinsing a stone by a flowing stream, I gaze at my beloved through the window. ...
Life is gradually becoming new.
After two days of running around, the two houses in Bowei Lane were finally settled. The houses are next to each other and are both magnificent three-courtyard houses.
First, there is a rather grand gate, leading to the front yard. To the left are the servants' quarters, and to the right are the stables. A water trough reflects the sun, and flowers and trees are planted in the corner courtyard, with a winding stream flowing through it, reminiscent of the elegant charm of the Orchid Pavilion.
Further in through the gate, one sees a covered walkway encircling the main building, with exquisitely carved hanging flower gates. Beyond the hanging flower gates is a blue stone path leading directly to the main building, flanked by clear ponds with waterside pavilions overlooking the water, and symmetrical east and west wing rooms.
Behind the main house, there is a quiet backyard, which is much more elegant and refined than the small courtyard that could be seen from the beginning of the embroidery alley.
A few days ago, when discussing the name of the council, she felt that it was too crude, so she entrusted the task of naming it to Yi Ruxu, who had just returned from court.
After a moment's thought, he smiled and said, "You are usually so refined, how about calling it Shushiju (淨石居)? My place is next to a stream, so I'll call it Zhenliuju (枕流居), which perfectly matches the story of 'Shushiju and Zhenliuju' (淨石枕流).
At this moment, Su Jinxiu stood in front of her own door, watching the craftsman carefully nailing the plaque personally inscribed by Yi Ruxu onto the lintel, and a sense of belonging welled up within her.
It's just that living in such a large three-courtyard house by one person is still a bit empty; it would be just right for two people.
Feeling lonely, Su Jinxiu bought two young maids who were originally destined for prostitution. She named one "Buyue" and the other "Caiyun" to help with cleaning the courtyard. Actually, there wasn't much hard work. She could wash clothes and do whatever she could herself. She treated the two girls like younger sisters, and over time, she even taught them some embroidery in her spare time.
After being reminded by Yi Ruxu, Su Jinxiu realized that the large mansion was only inhabited by her and two maids, which posed a security risk. So Yi Ruxu transferred several loyal servants from his own residence to guard the outer courtyard and also take care of the stables.
However, the loyal servants sent by Yi Ruxu had been trained to be far too well-behaved.
Whenever Su Jinxiu returned home, they would kneel on one knee, bow their heads, and say in unison, "Welcome back, Master!"
That solemn demeanor always left Su Jinxiu at a loss. Over time, she developed a habit of peeking around to make sure no one was guarding the door before sneaking in, so as not to receive such a grand welcome again.
It's my own yard, but every time I go back, it feels like I'm doing something wrong.
The gentle steed in the stable that the servants cared for was one she had personally chosen at the horse market a few days earlier. She took a liking to it, and every time she stroked it, the horse would affectionately rub against her paw, as if they were very compatible.
When Su Jinxiu received this fine horse, she was overjoyed and immediately took it home to show Yi Ruxu.
Upon seeing the horse's magnificent appearance, Yi Ruxu asked, "Does this fine steed have a name?"
Looking at the horse's bright red coat, Su Jinxiu casually said, "Let's call it Jujube Cake!"
Upon hearing this, Yi Ruxu was first taken aback, then laughed and cried at the same time: "How could you come up with such a name for such a magnificent and tall horse?"
As he spoke, he looked at the horse more closely and saw that its coat was glossy and red, indeed like a freshly steamed date cake. He nodded and smiled, "Well, well, that's quite fitting."
Su Jinxiu secretly thought that when she had some free time in the future, she would ask Yi Ruxu to teach her how to ride. That way, she wouldn't have to keep hitching rides on other people's carriages.
Just then, I heard familiar footsteps behind me.
Su Jinxiu turned around and saw Yi Ruxu, dressed in casual clothes, walking towards her with a gentle smile on his face. The craftsman beside him was already carrying another plaque with the name "Zhenliuju" and was preparing to install it next door.
"Is this plaque nailed securely?" Yi Ruxu walked to her side, his gaze falling on the characters on the lintel.
Su Jinxiu nodded, a warm feeling welling up in her heart: "It's secure, thank you for your trouble, Brother Ruxu."
Upon hearing this, Yi Ruxu's eyes flashed with concern: "Although the new house needs to be tidied up, don't overwork yourself. If you need anything, just let me know."
Su Jinxiu laughed even more happily: "How could I dare? Brother Ruxu is now a scholar of the Hanlin Academy, please don't flatter me."
Yi Ruxu shook her head helplessly: "Don't give me that. My summer clothes this year, and those official robes with tears in them, still need the Pavilion Master's skillful hands!"
The two exchanged a smile, gave each other a comical bow, and then went back to their respective courtyards to attend to their household affairs.
With the new house completed, preparations for the housewarming party were put on the agenda.
As for Yi Ruxu, being in officialdom, he had to be extra cautious in his actions. He only invited his fellow officials and set up two tables, not daring to hold a grand event to avoid attracting criticism. He prepared the finest wine and, in accordance with official etiquette, gave each person an exquisite inkstone as a gift, which was both a token of his goodwill and in accordance with custom.
Su Jinxiu's side was much more lively. She invited only close friends and old acquaintances from the embroidery workshop, so she didn't need to worry about what others thought and went all out with a grand feast. She set up five or six tables in the courtyard for the relocation banquet, with all the dishes ordered from Fanlou—a complete Manchu-Han Imperial Feast, a Dragon and Phoenix Auspicious Feast, a rich and impressive array of dishes. She also prepared generous gifts for each of the women, including the most fashionable hairpins and jewelry, as well as her own homemade perfumes and hand creams—exquisite and thoughtful.
When Yi Ruxu sent someone to deliver the housewarming invitation to the Feng residence, he was quite hesitant. Although he and the top scholar were both Jinshi graduates in the same year and should have been close, he harbored resentment because of Qiaoniang's affair. Not sending it might invite criticism, but sending it would feel awkward. After much deliberation, he finally sent it.
The servant, carrying the invitation, arrived at the Crane Cry Pavilion at the Feng residence. After searching around, he couldn't find Feng Chen. He asked the servants and learned that he was at the Listening Pine Pavilion, the courtyard where Shi Yunyu was temporarily residing at the Feng residence.
Feng Chen leaned against the doorway, watching Shi Yunyu working on documents at her desk, and said with dissatisfaction, "Didn't you promise me a few days ago that you would give me advice on how to get along with her?"
Shi Yunyu didn't even look up, and said helplessly, "My ancestors, look at me like this, how can I leave? The ritual procedures for the Bathing Orchid Festival haven't been finalized yet."
Feng Chen snorted angrily, about to speak again, when a servant rushed in, greeted her, and respectfully handed her the invitation. Seeing it was from Yi Ruxu, and remembering he was one of her dead men, Feng Chen immediately wanted to tear it up.
"Hey, what's that?" Shi Yunyu happened to look up and stopped him in time.
Feng Chen said irritably, "What else could it be? Her lover moved and asked me to come and congratulate him. Why would I go? Just to make trouble for myself?"
Shi Yunyu put down her pen, walked to the door, and patted him on the shoulder: "You don't understand. The more important it is at times like this, the more you should go, and you should dress up even more brilliantly than him, showing the demeanor of an empress. Think about it, he will definitely invite Qiaoqiao to his housewarming party. When she sees you looking radiant and so dignified, she will definitely look at you differently. If you always act so childish, you will never win over any girl, and you deserve to be single."
Feng Chen seemed to be deep in thought.
The next day, some of the newly made fashionable men's robes at Huayun Pavilion were sold out as soon as they were hung up, and a servant of unknown origin bought them all.
The servant neither introduced himself nor asked about the price, but simply said, "I'll take it all," and casually handed over a thick stack of silver notes, worth over a hundred taels of silver. This was the entire season's worth of goods that Huayun Pavilion had prepared to sell, yet it was all so generously swept away. Su Jinxiu and the embroiderers were dumbfounded, thinking it was a miracle from their worshipped God of Wealth.
Today was auspicious for the opening, and Su Jinxiu earned a hundred gold coins in the morning. So she stopped watching over the front hall and turned back to the attic to embroider the wedding dress.
This was Ying Bumei's instruction before she left, telling her to finish the embroidery within three months. As she worked with her needle and thread, she thought about their scheme and couldn't help but feel uneasy.
But this was the best option for now, so she took a deep breath and decided to trust him one more time.
As I was embroidering, I suddenly heard the sound of raindrops outside the window.
Su Jinxiu put down her embroidery needle and pushed the window open halfway. The fresh air after the rain rushed in, and the hollyhocks under the corridor were in full bloom, bright and beautiful.
She was momentarily silent, then hurriedly looked away.
But when the gaze returns to the desk, a pair of Moho dolls are seen leaning against each other.
On the day she moved out of Xiuxiang, Su Jinxiu packed all the items related to him into an old wooden box. Inside were the tokens of their love that they had once treasured, the hundred or so letters filled with longing and unforgettable memories, a few half-worn clothes he had left behind, and a piece of plain paper that he often used.
Each and every one of these events is like a past dream.
She had summoned a junk collector and paid him to take the box of trash away. But now the two dolls had reappeared on her desk, simply because she couldn't bear to part with them. Unwilling to bring them home and spend every day with them, only to add to her sorrow, she temporarily hid them in the attic of Huayun Pavilion.
From beginning to end, she was the only one who couldn't bear to part with it.
Now that he has moved on, he should learn to adapt to his new life.
Why should she be the only one stuck in the same place? She thought that perhaps the reason she was in such a tangled mess was because she had never accepted a new relationship.
Yi Ruxu was an exceptionally good person, pure and sincere. She was deeply grateful for this chance encounter and didn't want to let him down.
Out with the old, in with the new. When summer comes, if someone extends a hand to her again, she will try to hold it.
Thinking this, she wiped her cheeks, lowered her head, and continued embroidering the twin lotus flowers on her wedding dress.
Until dusk settled outside the window and darkness entered the curtains.
She was so focused on her embroidery, her silver needle moving freely between the silk threads, that she didn't notice the figure quietly standing under the bamboo shadows outside the window.
For as long as she embroidered, the person outside the window quietly stayed with her and watched.
Author's Note: No, no, no, no! The male lead immediately tries to win him back. [shrug]
Yeah, I guess he'll go crazy if he finds out the two people are neighbors [rainbow fart]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com