CHAPTERS
"The Empress Dowager sent word through her eunuchs that she wanted to visit you, but she was turned away by Eunuch Su. She probably saw how calm Eunuch Su was and didn't say much. She has merely been reciting scriptures and practicing Buddhism with Jingfei every day. A soldier guarding the western gate of the palace went home and said he had drowned after getting drunk and falling into a river at night." Leaning against his bed, his eyes still covered with bandages, Xie Yi appeared pale and weary, but…- 643.5 K • Completed
- In the warm study, pages had already skillfully set up tables and arranged chairs, laying out paper, inkstands, and various pots and mortars filled with colored pigments. Two pages carried over the box of paints, which turned out to be a large solid blackwood chest, quite heavy. Xie Fei hadn't expected such an elaborate setup and smiled. "I'm truly indebted to you for such a generous gift." Xu Chun could only offer a few humble words. Xie Fei smiled and took Xu Chun's hand, leading him to the table…
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- Chapter 14 - Appreciating Paintings Upon his return to the Duke Jing Estate, Xu Chun indeed instructed the steward to prepare a set of traditional Chinese painting materials. He chose a conventional painting and a pair of plum vases, which were decent enough. His heart, however, wasn't truly in these gifts. Instead, he had the steward select valuable ingredients such as bird's nest, fish maw, and donkey-hide gelatin, and ordered Xia Chao to personally deliver them to Grandma Liu at Bamboo Branch Workshop…
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- Beyond the glass window, the sky was bright, while within the room, the aroma of medicine lingered. Donghai carefully heated an acupuncture moxa stick to a red glow, swiftly applying it to Xie Yi's Fengchi and shoulder acupoints. This was the moxibustion treatment prescribed by Doctor Zhou Biao, which took about half an hour each time. Xie Yi had his outer robe completely unfastened, revealing his slender body. The smooth, fair skin, after being treated with the hot moxa stick, was left with speckles…
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- Qiu Hu arrived at Dengcao Alley and, following instructions, approached the third house where he found a family surnamed Su. He knocked on the door, and after a while, a young servant came out to answer. The boy seemed well-trained, bowed and asked, "My master is not at home. May I ask who has business? Please leave a note first, my master said he would reply one by one." Qiu Hu handed over the box, "I was invited by someone to look for an official named Fang Zixing. Please relay this message, it's…
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- Exhausted and amidst the chaos, Xie Yi eventually fell asleep, or perhaps he fainted, because just before losing consciousness, he saw Xu Chun staring at him, tears in his eyes, pleading, "Brother Helan, please don't sleep..." His breathing was labored, yet he still reassured Xu Chun, "It's alright, I'm just tired, I need some rest." Death would indeed bring peace, but seeing the cat-like eyes looking at him, filled with tears, he couldn't bear it, thinking that even if he had to die, it shouldn't be…
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- After leaving the house with a full stomach, He Zhiqiu headed straight to his creditor's home without stopping. He paid back the fifty taels of silver, reclaimed the mortgaged deed, then exchanged the remaining ten taels into small change. Taking advantage of the New Year, he visited each creditor's home to repay the debts he owed, presented gifts to his teacher, bought medicine for his mother along with some meat, chicken, and rice. After completing these tasks in one go, he returned home, only to hear…
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- In the study, He Zhiqiu watched the young servant boy bring over steaming tea and freshly baked Hu cakes, smiling as he said, "Scholar, please have some refreshments. My employer still has a few accounts to settle. Once they're done, they'll come to see you." He Zhiqiu hadn't eaten a grain of rice since early morning and had endured the cold for half a day. He was truly famished now, his stomach growling even louder at the sight of the fragrant Hu cakes on the plate. Seeing the servant boy place the tea…
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- Autumn passed quickly, and before they knew it, winter had arrived, and the court was on break for the New Year. The New Year was a rare time when the mansion enjoyed peace and tranquility, as all the preparations for the festive season, ancestral worship, banquets, and entertaining guests was left to Lady Sheng, the national duke's wife, to handle. Ordinarily, people said that ordinary folks found the New Year's Eve hard to get through, but who would have thought that even in wealthy households, the…
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- Qiu Hu led him downstairs to the flower hall, "The food has been laid out below. Please follow me, esteemed guests, to have some hot soup and warm your bodies." Xie Yi got up and went downstairs, glancing at Donghai, the servant boy who was waiting nearby. This child was about the same age as Qiu Hu, yet he remained silent, an interesting contrast to the talkative and clever Qiu Hu. The flower hall was very open, and it still featured large green glass windows and a set of black lacquer furniture…
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