Warm lamps in the cold of winter
On the thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month, the Wen family mansion was decorated with lanterns and colorful decoration
Xuanji stood under the corridor, watching the servants climb the wooden ladders and hang the large red lanterns one by one on the eaves. The bright red stood out against the snow, signaling the arrival of the New Year.
"Senior Sister Youwei!" Wen Xiang'er ran over, wrapped in an apricot-red cloak, her nose red from the cold. "Father ordered us to go to Wenxin Pavilion to write Spring Festival couplets."
Inside Wenxin Pavilion, the incense burner was burning warmly. Wen Tingyun sat upright in the main seat, while his wife slowly ground ink at the inkstone. Li Yi, Lu Jingxiu, Wen Jue, and the others had each taken their places at a table, with Wen Jue unfolding gold-flecked red paper.
Wen Tingyun smiled and said, "This year, you each composed a couplet with 'plum blossom' and 'year' as the themes."
Wen Jue took the lead and wrote: "Plum shadows peek through the window, seeking old verses; in the cold of winter, we brew wine and discuss new poems." His brushstrokes flowed like clouds and water, winning praise from everyone.
Lu Jingxiu pondered for a moment, then wrote: "The fragrance of plum blossoms subtly permeates the desk of books and zither; at year's end, the chessboard is gently tapped." Madam Wen nodded: "Quite the refined elegance of a hermit."
Li Yi's calligraphy was vigorous and powerful: "The plum blossom's integrity is revealed only after enduring frost; the sword's sharpness is only known after being honed in the cold of winter." Wen Jue couldn't help but praise, "Brother Li's couplet reveals true character."
When it was Xuanji's turn, her hand trembled slightly as she held the brush. This was not the sycophantic poetry she had written in the music academy; this was something truly meant to be pasted on the lintel. She dipped the brush in ink and wrote on the red paper: "The fragrance of plum blossoms subtly carries newly composed verses; the year's end frequently stirs up traces of old dreams."
Wen Jue exclaimed in admiration, "'Secretly crossing' and 'frequently startled' complement each other perfectly, a wonderful interplay of reality and illusion!" Wen Tingyun smiled and said, "This couplet is full of profound meaning and sentiment, truly showcasing your talent." He then personally hung the couplet under the eaves of the main hall.
A hint of surprise flashed across Li Yi's face, and he couldn't help but glance at Xuanji a few more times.
The New Year's Eve banquet was held in the main hall of the Wen family mansion. The huge hall had already been warmed by charcoal fires, making it as warm as spring. The air was filled with the steaming aroma of food, the mellow fragrance of wine, and a special atmosphere of warmth and liveliness that could only be found during the New Year.
On the huge round table, there is a whole sea bass symbolizing "abundance year after year". Next to it are pearl dumplings, eight-treasure duck, braised pork knuckle, and a plate of exquisitely made golden minced fish in front of Xuanji.
Her chopsticks hovered in mid-air, but a sudden memory pulled her back to that cold, damp New Year's Eve at the music academy years ago. The aroma was just as enticing, but it wafted from another table's banquet, unrelated to her.
Starving and seeing stars, she seized the opportunity when the nanny turned away, trembling as she grabbed half a cold, hard jujube cake from the offering table. Before she could even put it in her mouth, her wrist was gripped by an iron clamp. The ruler whistled down, her palm first going numb, then bursting with excruciating pain, swelling so badly she couldn't close it for a long time. The nanny's scolding and her sisters' low laughter mingled with the sporadic sounds of firecrackers outside the window, becoming her most profound memory of "New Year".
"Senior Sister! What are you daydreaming about? Quickly try this, it's made by Mother herself!" Wen Xiang'er's clear voice, like a silver bell, abruptly cut off the piercing memories. She hurriedly lowered her head, picked up a piece of goose breast, and used the chewing motion to hide the slight moisture welling up in her eyes. The goose breast was exceptionally delicious, yet she tasted a bittersweet feeling, as if from another world.
After the meal, Madam Wen called to Xuanji in a gentle voice, her eyes filled with tenderness. She took Xuanji's hand and placed a heavy brocade pouch in her palm. The pouch was a bright red, embroidered with intricate intertwined plum blossoms in gold and silver thread—it was a New Year's gift.
"You've grown another year older," Madam Wen gently patted the back of her hand, her voice filled with laughter, "May you have peace and joy."
At this moment, Wen Tingyun, who was standing to the side, also raised his cup slightly to her, his eyes clear and gentle, and said, "May you be diligent and tireless, and make progress in your wisdom."
Xuanji held the warm brocade pouch in her hand, and suddenly felt a cold, desolate corner of her heart warm up. So this was the taste of the New Year.
The New Year holidays always seem to fly by. In the blink of an eye, it's the Lantern Festival, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.
Chang'an City was brightly decorated with lanterns and colorful lights. The streets of Zhuque were bustling with people, and lanterns of all colors hung high, illuminating the night sky as if it were daytime. The Wen family members went out for a stroll together. Xuanji wore a lotus-colored cloak embroidered with plum blossoms, and a gilded hairpin given to her by Madam Wen was pinned in her hair. She walked slowly with the others.
As they approached the West Market, the crowd grew even denser. Wen Xiang'er pulled Lu Jingxiu to watch the lion dance, while Wen Jue squeezed through the crowd watching the acrobatic performances. In the blink of an eye, Xuanji and Li Yi ended up together.
Xuanji was a little flustered, but Li Yi naturally helped her avoid the oncoming tourists. Today, he was not wearing his usual serious dark robes, but instead wore an indigo round-necked blouse, with a white jade pendant hanging from his waist belt, which shone brightly under the lamp.
Xuanji nodded slightly in thanks, and the two walked side by side in silence. From afar came cheers; it was a riddle-solving contest, with dozens of colorful lanterns hanging, each bearing a red paper riddle. Those who guessed correctly could win a lantern.
"Shall we go take a look?" Li Yi suddenly asked.
Xuanji nodded, and the two squeezed to the front of the stage. The champion was an old man with white hair and beard, who stroked his beard with a smile and said, "Young man and lady, would you like to give it a try? Today, the prizes are divided into three levels—whoever guesses one riddle will receive a bamboo-ribbed paper lantern; whoever guesses ten riddles will receive a beast-shaped flower lantern; and if you can solve three of my most treasured riddles in a row, this gilded vermilion bird lantern will be given to the destined person." He pointed to a high place, where a palace lantern with a vermilion bird holding a pearl was slowly rotating on a golden hook, its shadow casting a halo of light like flowing clouds on the blue brick ground.
Li Yi suddenly pulled ten copper coins from his sleeve and placed them on the table: "Please give me a question."
Xuanji looked at him in surprise, only to see a slight smile on his lips: "Junior sister is quick-witted, why not give it a try?" His tone carried a rare encouragement.
Xuanji smiled and said, "I want that gilded Vermilion Bird Lamp."
The first riddle reads: "Ninety-nine (guess a Chinese character)."
Xuanji lightly traced a line with her fingertips inside her sleeve and blurted out, "White."
——One hundred minus one equals white.
The second riddle: "The setting sun, like blood, reflects on the mountains (guess a Chinese character)."
Li Yi's eyes flickered slightly, but he remained silent. Xuanji understood and said softly, "Years old."
The third one is the most tricky; the plain paper only depicts a half-moon shining on a lonely boat.
The champion laughed, "This riddle has been treasured by me for three years, and no one has yet solved it."
Xuanji gazed intently at the painting, suddenly recalling those sleepless nights spent in the music hall, and whispered, "...heart."
"A lone boat moored, longing for home."
"Wonderful!" the champion exclaimed, clapping his hands in praise. He personally took down the Vermilion Bird Palace Lantern, saying, "My lady is wise enough to deserve this lantern."
When the champion took down the Vermilion Bird Palace Lantern, the copper bells hanging from the tassels jingled. Xuanji took it with both hands, her fingertips tracing the delicate intertwined floral patterns on the gilded lantern frame—the craftsmanship was clearly the work of the time-honored "Yonghe Lantern Workshop" in the West Market.
"Junior Sister has a good eye," Li Yi suddenly said. "The last riddle is one that Junior Brother Du saw at Chongwen Hall last year."
Xuanji suddenly looked up and smiled at him, a smug, girlish look on her face. Li Yi rarely saw her so lively and charming, and was momentarily lost in thought.
On the way back, passing Qujiang Bridge, Wen Xiang'er was pestering Wen Jue to buy her a sugar figurine. Xuanji, carrying a palace lantern, quickly walked a few steps and held it up to Wen Tingyun and his wife: "This lantern... we would like to ask Master and Mistress to accept it."
Madam Wen exclaimed, the lamplight illuminating the fine lines at the corners of her eyes: "Such exquisite palace lanterns..."
"I've been thinking," Xuanji's voice trailed off, "that the design of this Vermilion Bird holding a pearl perfectly matches the 'Phoenix Facing the Sun' painting in Master's study."
Wen Tingyun paused. Last winter, he had indeed hung such a painting in his study—at that time, Xuanji was just learning composition and was peeking at it from the doorway while holding tea when he discovered her, causing her to spill half of her skirt in a panic.
"Good child, you're very thoughtful." Wen Tingyun took the palace lantern, handed it to the steward, and placed it on the carriage.
"Senior Sister, look!" Wen Xiang'er suddenly jumped back, holding up a dough figurine. "Doesn't it look like Senior Brother Li?" The figurine had a stern face, even the usual wrinkle between its brows was pinched out. Wen Jue, suppressing a laugh from behind, said, "Xiang'er insisted something was missing, so she had the old craftsman add three forehead wrinkles..."
Li Yi accepted the dough figurine expressionlessly, while Xuanji chuckled inwardly. He then noticed that apricot-red sachet had appeared at Li Yi's waist—the same one that had been tied to the Vermilion Bird Lantern earlier—and it was now swaying with his steps, standing out conspicuously against his indigo robes.
Suddenly, cheers arose in the distance. At the end of Zhuque Avenue, a twelve-zhang-tall lantern mountain was erected, and the candlelight shone through the silk gauze, illuminating the entire street as if it were daytime.
"Let's go see Aoshan!" Wen Xiang'er grabbed Lu Jingxiu's sleeve and ran forward. The crowd surged like a tide, and Xuanji was pushed forward by the flow of people. Unexpectedly, he stepped on a pebble and stumbled.
"Be careful." Li Yi steadied her again. His hand touched Xuanji's elbow briefly before pulling away. He handed her and Wen Xiang'er a bag of steaming hot fried dough twists he had bought. Golden sugar strands clung to the crispy dough, gleaming with a honey-like sheen under the lamplight. "Try some." As he handed over the oil-paper package, he dabbed a bit of sugar powder on his fingertips. "It's not as good as the jade dew dumplings from the old brand in the east of the city, but it's fresher."
Xuanji carefully took it and took a bite. Engrossed in gazing at Mount Ao, Xuanji didn't notice Li Yi had left for a moment. He didn't return until Li Yi returned with a rabbit lantern woven from bamboo strips.
"The prize from the riddles just now," he said casually, "was something Junior Sister Xiang'er insisted on."
The rabbit lantern was made with an endearing, clumsy charm; its eyes were two obsidian beads, which seemed to come alive in the candlelight. Just as Xuanji was about to take it, a loud "bang" rang out, and countless fireworks exploded in the night sky. Wen Xiang'er screamed and covered her ears, but couldn't bear to close her eyes—amidst the wildly dancing golden flames, the four large characters "天下太平" (Peace Under Heaven) were faintly visible; these were specially made imperial fireworks by the Imperial Household Department.
After watching the fireworks, Wen Tingyun said, "It's time to go back." He watched the crowd gradually disperse.
Wen Xiang'er hugged the rabbit lantern, her little face flushed red from the fireworks, and stomped her feet, shouting, "Play a little longer! I haven't seen the shadow puppet show yet!" The bamboo rabbit lantern in her hand swayed with her movements.
Madam Wen bent down to wipe the sugar stains from the corners of her mouth: "Look, the candied plums that Senior Brother Li bought are about to melt." As she spoke, she took out an oil paper package from her sleeve. Wen Xiang'er was immediately attracted by the sweet and sour aroma and temporarily forgot about her fuss.
Xuanji lagged a few steps behind and suddenly saw Wen Tingyun, beneath his wide sleeves, quietly holding his wife's hand. Their silhouettes were silhouetted against the fading lamplight, the hem of their robes gently lifted by the night breeze, revealing matching bamboo-green linings—clearly a carefully chosen attire. The gold-inlaid jade hairpin in his wife's hair swayed lightly with each step, occasionally brushing against the jade pendant at Wen Tingyun's waist, producing a clear, melodious sound.
Turning the corner, the stone lanterns in front of the Wen residence were already lit. Wen Xiang'er was asleep, nestled on Wen Jue's back, still clutching half a piece of uneaten fruit in her hand. Madam Wen turned to look at the two young people, then suddenly smiled at Wen Tingyun, "Husband, do you still remember the first time we watched the Lantern Festival..."
Wen Tingyun squeezed her hand but didn't answer. But Xuanji clearly saw that her master's usually serious eyes and brows were as soft as willow branches in early spring in the warm lantern light.
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