Chapter 9

On the other side, Xia Zhu gathered her skirts and quietly returned to the small courtyard of Wenzhu Pavilion.

Night had fallen, and Jiang Yunchan was sitting under the hexagonal palace lantern in the corridor, busy with her needlework.

Xia Zhu ran over and gave a soft scoff. "My lady, you wouldn't believe the commotion over at Wanxiang Hall!"

After the two old women had left, Xia Zhu, fearing they might cause further trouble, had followed them from a distance. She had vaguely heard them adding fuel to the fire, slandering her mistress before the Eldest Mistress. In truth, her mistress was naturally graceful and beautiful; even if her left cheek were truly scarred, with a little care, she would still be a celestial beauty. How could she possibly be the "water ghost" or "rakshasa" that everyone wanted to beat, as those hags described?

"Those two treacherous old things!" Xia Zhu snorted coldly.

Jiang Yunchan shook her head indifferently and continued her embroidery. In truth, she had long since seen that those two women were people of Song Jinlan. She hadn't exposed them before because, even if she had, they would only be replaced by two others to torment her; it would make little difference. Going back and forth would only deepen her entanglements with the Marquis's estate. It wasn't worth it. Thus, Jiang Yunchan pretended to know nothing and let them stir up trouble.

As for just now, Jiang Yunchan had deliberately prompted the women to go and beg for mercy before Song Jinlan. In order to claim credit, the women would inevitably exaggerate how unsightly Jiang Yunchan was, which would help her extinguish the Eldest Young Master's desire to take her as a concubine.

"Now that all is peaceful, doesn't that suit our wishes perfectly?" Jiang Yunchan tilted her head, blinking mischievously.

Xia Zhu gave a sullen "hmm." "It’s just a pity that we didn't get to deal with those two old women before they left!"

"You!" Jiang Yunchan tapped Xia Zhu’s forehead meaningfully. Considering what a sharp-tongued and ruthless character Song Jinlan was, would she care about the lives of two old servants? The women, Liu and Zhou, would surely not escape the fate of being sent to Cixin Nunnery.

Only then did Xia Zhu understand the subtext of her mistress's words. Her heart brightened, and she eagerly took the embroidery hoop from Jiang Yunchan. "My lady is frail; you should rest early. I’m in such a good mood today that I’ll finish the needlework overnight!"

"That won't do." Jiang Yunchan gently pushed Xia Zhu's hand away, lowering her eyes as a flush crept up behind her ears.

Seeing the lotus pattern on the fabric, Xia Zhu realized, "My lady is embroidering your own bridal gown? The Heir already sent over a set of phoenix coronet and robes this morning, saying they were made at the same time as the ones for the concubine he is taking. Wouldn't you like to take a look?"

Xia Zhu pointed to the rosewood chest resting against the wall. It was still open, reflecting a golden luster under the moonlight; it was clearly made of the finest gold-threaded cloud brocade, exquisite and eye-catching.

Jiang Yunchan, however, didn't spare it a glance and shook her head faintly. "Put it in the storeroom."

She didn't want to take anything from the Marquis's estate when she married. Even her dowry and personal belongings were assets left to her by her parents. As for the estate's belongings, not even a single thread should leave with her; it was better to remain unentangled.

Xia Zhu, unaware of Jiang Yunchan's inner thoughts, only watched her embroider stitch by stitch with great focus. She giggled, "I understand! A bridal gown must be embroidered by the bride herself and undressed by the husband; that is what makes for warm red curtains and mutual affection..."

"You little minx! Who taught you such nonsense!" Jiang Yunchan’s cheeks burned, and she covered her face in shyness.

"What's wrong with that? You and the future husband will be a family soon!" Xia Zhu, genuinely happy for her mistress, pried her hands apart. Her grape-like eyes darted around. "My lady has been restless for over ten years; now that you have finally achieved your wish, what is there to hide?"

Though they were mistress and servant in name, who was closer than the two of them?

With no one else in Wenzhu Pavilion, Jiang Yunchan didn't need to feign reserve. Biting her moist lip, she hesitated for a moment before taking a small bell from her sewing basket and placing it in Xia Zhu’s palm. "Is... this one good?"

The bell was shaped like a mandarin duck and made of silver, tied with a red cord. With a gentle movement, an ethereal sound resonated throughout the courtyard.

Xia Zhu was stunned for a moment, but seeing the crimson flush on Jiang Yunchan’s face spreading to her neck, she suddenly understood. In the Northern Sheng Dynasty, when a woman married, her family would prepare a bell to be tied around her ankle. Its purpose was to cover other sounds on the wedding night, sparing the couple from embarrassment and adding a touch of intimacy. With no parents, and Xia Zhu being an inexperienced girl, Jiang Yunchan had to arrange such things herself.

Xia Zhu felt a pang of guilt and shook the bell lightly. "This bell is not good enough!"

"Hm?" Jiang Yunchan looked up, startled.

Xia Zhu whispered into her ear with a smile, "Given the depth of your affection, I fear this bell is too fragile. It will break, cry, and fall silent after only a few moments..."

"Ah! You little minx! See if I don't tear your mouth!" Jiang Yunchan, flushed with anger, lunged to grab the bell.

Xia Zhu dodged and ran into the courtyard. "The bell is shy and crying! Shy and crying..."

The flower-like girl chased her through the courtyard, her laughter like silver bells, yet it could not drown out the intermittent ringing of the bell in her hand. In the vast night, the sound was like a surging spring tide, making even the peach trees outside Wenzhu Pavilion tremble. A pink petal spiraled down, landing on the shoulder of a young man standing alone under the tree.

"The bell sounds quite festive." Xie Yan picked up the petal from his shoulder, rubbing it slowly between his fingertips.

Behind him, Fucang couldn't help but nod in agreement. The cousin was always so steady and composed, cool and distant. He had almost forgotten that she was just a girl who had recently come of age, one who loved to laugh and talk. Influenced by the playful atmosphere of the mistress and servant, Fucang couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth. "She is just a young girl after all. Even a bell can amuse her so..."

Halfway through his sentence, Fucang caught a glimpse of the petal in Xie Yan's hand being crushed into pieces. Bright red juice meandered along his slender, jade-like fingertips, seeping into the gaps and dripping down.

As spring turned to summer, the last bit of spring on the branches had turned to mud at Xie Yan’s fingertips. The vibrant spring was clearly at its end.

Fucang’s expression turned solemn. He bowed and retreated two steps, waiting in silence for a moment before reporting, "Reporting to the Heir, the Loulan dancer has been sent to Minister Lin's mansion. The Minister will recognize her as his foster daughter in a few days. With this status, the dancer can marry into the Marquis's estate with dignity."

Xie Yan wiped the juice from his hands with a handkerchief, indifferently saying, "Mm." He continued, "The wedding banquet is the day after tomorrow. Invite the noble guests of the capital, and set up a three-day open banquet on the streets to share the joy with the neighbors."

"Understood!" Fucang replied, full of confusion. Not only had the Heir used his connections to gild the dancer, but he was also holding a grand wedding in the estate. Was this the style for taking a concubine? Could it be that the Heir had truly fallen for this Loulan dancer?

The cousin was about to get married, so it was a double celebration that the Heir had found his love. Fucang was pleased and presented a sachet to Xie Yan. "This was entrusted to a maid by the Loulan girl to be delivered to Xianyun Courtyard. Please take a look, my Heir."

On the pink sachet embroidered with a butterfly-and-flower pattern, eight small silver bells were attached. On the back, in very clumsy, crooked stitches, was a couplet: "In heaven, we wish to be birds flying wing to wing; on earth, we wish to be branches entwined."

Traces of blood were visible on the stitches, as if the needle had pricked her fingers. The Loulan people were not skilled at needlework, nor did they study poetry; this was the best effort of the foreign girl. The Heir was handsome and refined, and now everyone in the capital said the Heir was devoted only to her. It was no wonder the Loulan dancer had developed feelings.

"The Loulan girl said the silver bells were made by her own hand over three sleepless nights—nine in total, symbolizing 'everlasting.' Eight are on the sachet, and one is... worn on her ankle, for you to retrieve the day after tomorrow."

"So, it was meant to be worn on the ankle..." Xie Yan took the sachet and caressed the silver bells shaped like mandarin ducks. The sound was crisp, as melodious and lingering as the sound from Wenzhu Pavilion in the distance.

Xie Yan’s deep gaze turned toward Wenzhu Pavilion, his smile unfathomable. "Tell the Loulan girl: the sound of the silver bell is like heavenly music. My heart is pleased, and I look forward to enjoying it with her."

The young man was as radiant as the morning mist; his faint smile was as gentle as a merciful deity, so tender that one couldn't help but look away.

Fucang cupped his hands to acknowledge, but just as the word "Understood" left his lips, he saw Xie Yan’s fingers loosen. The pale pink sachet fell into the mud and rolled down the hillside.

"In the future, handle such matters as I have instructed, and do not report them to me!" Xie Yan tossed the words coldly and walked away with his hands behind his back.

As he walked down the slope, he inadvertently stepped on the sachet. It was instantly trampled into the mud, and the silver bells were crushed to pieces, no different from any other pebble on the road.

Xie Yan did not look back.

Finally, the wedding day arrived. As the east turned white, the sound of suona horns drifted through the sky. The Marquis's estate was draped in red silk, with drums and firecrackers roaring. Everywhere one looked was a vibrant, vital red.

In these two days, there had been no further movement from Wanxiang Hall. Xie Jin must have given up on Jiang Yunchan, the disfigured girl. Jiang Yunchan finally breathed a sigh of relief and opened the window to look out.

People were moving about in the peach blossom forest outside the courtyard. Wenzhu Pavilion was the most remote and quietest place in the estate, yet so many people had come. It was easy to imagine how lively the estate’s wedding and marriage would be today.

"My lady, you wouldn't believe it, but even the Crown Prince has arrived!" Xia Zhu exclaimed. "The Heir truly loves his new concubine! Word just came that he is too busy to see you off, but he has prepared the entire escort procession for you, so please be at ease."

Jiang Yunchan opened her mouth to refuse.

Xia Zhu added, "The Heir said that your marriage concerns the dignity of the Marquis's estate, so please do not decline."

Since it had been put this way, Jiang Yunchan could not refuse. Moreover, Xie Yan’s treatment of her had been impeccable. She had heard that Xie Jin had not caused trouble this time because the Heir had personally warned Wanxiang Hall. Her smooth departure from the estate was, in no small part, due to the Heir's help. Jiang Yunchan felt grateful to Xie Yan.

She took a bolt of fragrant cloud yarn from her dowry chest and handed it to Xia Zhu.