The third strike of the mao hour's clapper sounded.
Wen Xiang had been on night duty; she dozed intermittently through the night on the couch in the right annex of the study.
When she opened her eyes, the left annex was brightly lit with candles.
Wen Xiang knew that Wen Qiao had not slept all night.
She fastened her outer robe and skirt, and went to the desk.
The shattered glazed revolving lantern that Wen Qiao had brought back was already repaired.
From a distance, the gaps between the glass shards were hardly visible; it looked like a whole, intact lantern.
She also saw that Wen Qiao's ten fingers were all wrapped in plain cloth strips, with plum blossom-like blood spots seeping through.
Wen Xiang let out a soft exclamation.
"This lamp should have been glued slowly over three to five days, but the young master insisted on finishing it in one night, and your hands are like this. Why not skip the academy today and stay home to catch up on sleep?"
The candlelight was soft, but the youth's cool brows and eyes exuded aloofness. He only rubbed his brow a few times to steady himself.
"Just one night's vigil, it's nothing. When the other lamp arrives, place them together. Take good care of them—don't let anything happen to this pair."
Wen Xiang acknowledged, then remembered something to ask.
"Yesterday, you sent someone home to fetch that precious zither, 'Golden Sound and Jade Resonance.' Why didn't you bring it back in its case as usual?"
"That zither was used to trade for a lamp. Just cross it off the inventory register."
After speaking, Wen Qiao went to bathe and change.
Wen Xiang felt a deep regret. That was such a fine zither—the one he played the most, often maintaining and polishing it, not allowing anyone else to touch it carelessly. Once, someone had offered the genuine "Orchid Pavilion Preface" calligraphy in exchange, but he had refused. And now he exchanged it for a lamp.
At about quarter past one, Lady Sang arrived at Ximo Pavilion to personally search for a book her younger son Wen Yu wanted.
Seeing a pair of glazed revolving lanterns on the desk, all twelve zodiac deities complete, she thought that Yuanyuan had been upset yesterday over Princess Shanyang breaking the lantern. Now this was perfect—not only was the broken lantern repaired to its original state, but the other lost lantern had also been found.
Lady Sang ordered her maids to take the two lanterns.
Wen Xiang stepped forward and said, "The young master instructed before leaving for the academy that these two lanterns were to be given to the young lady when he returned."
Lady Sang said, "I'm just finding the books for A Yu; later I'll pass by Jiangxue Residence where Yuanyuan stays on my way to his courtyard. I'll take the lanterns along and let Yuanyuan cheer up sooner."
Hearing this, Wen Xiang couldn't block Lady Sang's kind gesture.
After leaving Ximo Pavilion, Lady Sang headed to Jiangxue Residence.
On the way, she thought it over.
If she said the lanterns were from A Qiao, and Princess Shanyang found out, she might think the cousins were too involved, making her dislike Yuanyuan even more. There was no telling how many fights would break out between Yuanyuan and Princess Shanyang.
But if she said the lanterns were from Xiao Lin, Yuanyuan would surely understand his feelings for her. Her elder sister also wanted Yuanyuan as her daughter-in-law. Wouldn't that be mutually beneficial and help fulfill this destined golden jade union?
Lady Sang rehearsed her words mentally, then went to her niece's room and had the maids show her the lanterns.
Jiang Xuesui, who had been downcast, transformed sorrow into joy. She bent over the table to examine the two lanterns again and again.
"Aunt, where did you come from? And who asked you to bring these two lanterns to me?"
Lady Sang smiled. "At noon, I was at Prince Duan's Mansion dining with the Consort Dowager. As for these lanterns, one was repaired by Xiao Lin overnight, and the other was found after much effort by him. I'm glad you like them, Yuanyuan."
"He put so much effort into this. How should I thank him?" Jiang Xuesui stared at the repaired lantern, noticing a few barely visible blood spots in the gaps between the fragments.
"Just thank him in person and say a few heartfelt words, and he'll be happy," Lady Sang said.
Jiang Xuesui chatted with Lady Sang for another quarter of an hour before Lady Sang left.
Hailan came in and saw her young lady sewing a fan case.
"The sun must be rising in the west. Didn't you always hate embroidering coiled dragon patterns? You complained about too many silk thread colors and the complex pattern requiring frequent splitting and changing of threads. For whom are you putting so much thought into this work?"
"Xiao Lin likes coiled dragon patterns. I'm making a fan case as a return gift to thank him." Jiang Xuesui threaded her needle and told Hailan the story of the two lanterns on the table.
Hailan listened and nodded, deeply moved.
"In just one night and half a day, he repaired one lantern and found the other. Prince Duan must have gone to great trouble. I'm afraid one fan case won't be enough to thank him. Making fan cases for him for a lifetime might barely repay his feelings for you."
Jiang Xuesui frowned and met Hailan's eyes.
"Let's keep one matter separate. He is he, I am I. If you believe in that golden jade fate too, I'll be angry with you."
Hailan forced a smile.
"I've thought carefully for you. Prince Duan's Mansion has a simple household—just the Consort Dowager and the Prince. The Consort Dowager is reasonable and never puts on airs with you. All these years, she has treated you like a daughter. Where can you find such a kind mother-in-law? Let me give you an example, and you'll know how easy it is to be a new wife in Prince Duan's Mansion."
"What example?"
"Lady Sang." Hailan helped Jiang Xuesui split the thread, dividing one strand into sixteen. "If Lady Sang were your mother-in-law, you'd have endless suffering. She favors her younger son. If you were her eldest daughter-in-law, you'd get no benefits, and she might even take from you to give to others. If you were her younger son's wife, she wouldn't want him to suffer any grievance, so naturally you'd be the one to bear all the hardships."
Jiang Xuesui agreed deeply. Thinking of having a mother-in-law like Lady Sang, she'd rather hang herself. But then she thought of Wen Qiao—a young man of such talent and looks—countless ladies in the capital would line up to hang themselves for him, which struck her as rather amusing.
"Aunt, I don't understand. Elder cousin is far superior to Cousin Yu in every way. Why does Aunt favor the worse one and neglect the better?"
Hailan sighed.
"When Lady Sang gave birth to the eldest young master and eldest young lady, she didn't have her husband's favor—it was the most difficult time of her life. The eldest young master was born with a cold disorder, the eldest young lady with a mental affliction. They couldn't even bring her comfort in her time of need. Especially when she gave birth to the eldest young master, he came out feet first. But when she gave birth to the fifth young master, her husband had returned to her, and they were harmonious—it was her most glorious time. The fifth young master was healthy and was named the heir, becoming her only hope. This child, who added brilliance to her success, she naturally adored to death."
"So that's it. Seeing elder cousin and eldest sister must remind her of her own most desperate and miserable times." Jiang Xuesui's heart ached even more for innocent Wen Qiao and Wen Yuan'ai. "When I become a mother in the future, I won't play favorites."