frightfiction Chapter 186 Twin Swallow Hairpins
Chapter 186 Twin Swallow Hairpins
With the Lantern Festival over, the wedding of Yu Niang and Xu Shi was gradually put on the agenda.
After speaking with Xue Lan on the Lantern Festival, Xie Xiao acted very quickly. The next day, he revoked the honor bestowed upon Ji Jinjin and sent someone to Qianxiu Workshop to have the embroiderers change the embroidered portraits of Ji Jinjin into the military flag of the Shengyu Army.
Everything was proceeding according to Xue Lan's plan, but it was a bit tough on He Xiuzhang and Yu Niang. As soon as the emperor's decree came down, the embroiderers had to rush to revise the embroidery patterns.
Because the two of them were too busy, Xue Lan took over the task of finishing up Yu Niang's wedding dress from He Xiu Zhang.
When Xue Lan first made this suggestion, He Xiuzhang was still a little worried. It wasn't until Xue Lan demonstrated it in front of her that she felt at ease and handed the task over to Xue Lan.
For the next period of time, Xue Lan and Xue Tong returned to Ji Lan Xiao Zhu and took out the jewelry that Xue Lan had made over the past few days to sell.
Within days, a rumor began to circulate on the street.
The owner of the Silent Pavilion in the middle of the street is blind at a young age, but his needlework is incredibly skillful.
Someone approached her curiously and asked, "Young lady, what are you doing?" She softly replied:
"It's an older sister's wedding dress!"
When the willow branches sprouted and the spring imperial examinations were approaching, Xue Lan finally finished making Yu Niang's wedding dress and had it made at the same time. It was a pair of bronze hairpins.
The hairpins were decorated with two swallows, their movements graceful and lifelike. Xue Lan had originally intended to make silver hairpins, but silver hairpins were far too precious for Yu Niang. She probably wouldn't accept them, and even if she did, she would keep them hidden away, unwilling to wear them.
However, Xue Lan always believed that a woman's jewelry should be worn on her beautiful hair to appear lively and dynamic.
Otherwise, even the most gorgeous hairpins and the most vibrant flowers and plants will lose their vitality in a cold box.
The first purpose of any object created is to be used.
Beautiful jewelry adorns a woman's beauty, while solemn sacrificial vessels demonstrate the majesty of the clan.
Being flashy but impractical is a major taboo.
Xue Lan placed the pair of swallow hairpins in the jewelry box, quietly awaiting the day when Yu Niang would get married.
On the second day of the imperial examination, Qianxiufang finally completed the painting "The Hundred Battles of Luoxia Mountain".
The emperor was delighted after reading it and bestowed upon it a great many fine things.
Yu Niang can now marry Xu Shi with peace of mind.
The stars in the night sky were like pearls adorning the night. Yu Niang looked at her wedding dress by the bedside in her room.
At first, I examined it carefully, and then I stroked it gently.
The wedding dress was made by my mother, and the embroidery on it was exquisite.
Xue Lan had gathered the hem and cuffs of the dress. Although the girl couldn't see it, her needlework was impeccable; every stitch was perfectly concealed, almost invisible.
Tomorrow, she will wear this beautiful dress, which carries everyone's blessings, and marry Xu Shi.
The moment she thought of Xu Shi, two blushes rose on the woman's face, making her even more charming.
A soft knock came at the door. Yu Niang went to open it and saw Xue Lan standing outside. To avoid frightening anyone at night, the girl kept her eyes closed.
The girl was holding a small box in her hands. When she heard Yu Niang open the door, she revealed a gentle smile.
Xue Lan teased Yu Niang, "Thinking about getting married tomorrow, are you having trouble sleeping, Sister Yu Niang?"
Yu Niang's face flushed slightly: "No!"
"Sister, don't worry, not many people will be able to sleep in this courtyard tonight!" The girl said as she entered the house and placed the box she was carrying on the table.
Yu Niang walked over and asked curiously, "Lanlan, what is this?"
"Sister Yu Niang, open it and take a look!"
Yu Niang then opened the box in front of her, and what came into view was a pair of exquisitely crafted bronze hairpins.
There were two swallows flying about, so lifelike that the feathers on their wings were depicted with exquisite detail. Yu Niang dared not look away, as if the two swallows would fly away if she did.
“This is…” Yu Niang looked at Xue Lan.
Xue Lan smiled slightly, appearing exceptionally gentle under the warm yellow light: "This is for you."
Yu Niang suddenly felt uneasy. She knew that Xue Lan had a shop in the capital that sold exquisite jewelry, and that it had already made a name for itself in the capital.
This hairpin is so exquisite; it must be quite valuable.
"Lanlan, I can't accept this."
Yu Niang closed the box and pushed it in front of Xue Lan, expressing her refusal.
Xue Lan opened her eyes; her greyish-white pupils weren't so frightening in the candlelight. The girl rested her chin on her hand.
"This is a gift from Xiaotong. She is my only sister, and I have always been a bit indulgent towards her."
"Sister Yu Niang, Xue Lan is a silversmith, but I can only give you a pair of bronze hairpins. This is my craftsmanship, and it's also a token of my and Xiao Tong's affection. In the future, when you see these hairpins, please don't forget us, okay?"
Yu Niang grasped the key point in Xue Lan's words: "Are you leaving the capital?"
Xue Lan nodded, then pushed the box back in front of Yu Niang: "Father has a friend in the Dali Dynasty. He sent a letter a few days ago. Xiao Tong and I are going to the Dali Dynasty!"
Yu Niang asked Xue Lan, "When are you leaving?"
"I'm leaving the day after tomorrow! Sister Yu Niang, please accept this!"
Yu Niang did not refuse again. The reason why Xue Lan and Xue Tong could stay at her house was because the two of them had no elders before.
Once they went to the Great Court and had elders, the women, separated by thousands of miles, could never reunite.
As Xue Lan left Yu Niang's room, she said to Yu Niang, "Sister Yu Niang, may we meet again someday!"
The next morning, Yu Niang finished her makeup, took out the pair of swallow hairpins from the box, and asked He Xiuzhang to help her put them in her hair.
"Mother, your daughter is leaving!" Yu Niang's voice was choked with sobs. He Xiuzhang also silently shed tears behind her. She had raised Yu Niang alone, and now that her daughter was getting married, even she, who was always strong, could not help but shed tears.
The mother and daughter were immersed in a sorrowful atmosphere when the door was gently pushed open.
A small head peeked in through the door; it was Xue Tong.
The little girl was dressed up especially festively by Xue Lan today, wearing a peach-pink dress and a red ribbon tied in her hair.
"Sister Yu Niang, Sister Ci Huan and the others are here! Brother Xu Shi is here too!"
Looking at Xue Tong, Yu Niang wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and slowly rose from in front of the mirror: "Mother... your daughter is leaving!"
Upon hearing Yu Niang's words, Xue Tong consciously pushed open the door.
The wedding procession, complete with music and fanfare, had arrived outside. Yu Niang's sisters from Qianxiufang had all come, standing in the courtyard, each wearing their most beautiful clothes.
I came here to send off my best friend at her wedding!
Amidst the myriad flowers stood Yu Niang, dressed in red. Looking at the crowd before her, she said, "Logically, I should have covered my face with a veil before coming out, but I still wish to see you all!"
Her face showed not only joy but also reluctance.
Several girls from the embroidery workshop began to weep softly, and He Xiuzhang came up and covered her daughter's head with a veil. Amidst the joyous music and music, she sent her daughter into the sedan chair.
Xue Lan stood on the eaves of a building where the sedan chair would inevitably pass, her wide robe sleeves fluttering in the wind.
Xue Tong appeared beside her and asked, "Why aren't you watching it at home?"
Xue Lan slowly spoke: "I feel that I have committed too much killing, which may clash with the joyous occasion."
Xue Tong watched the joyful sedan chair disappear into the distance. She thought of her pair of swallow hairpins.
"May we be like the swallows on the beam, meeting year after year!"
"Xue Tong, it's time for us to leave the capital!"