"Second Miss, you can't see the true beauty of these lanterns just yet. You have to wait until the night grows dark and the candles inside are lit to see their true craftsmanship."
The steward noticed Lu Zhaoling staring at the three lanterns and assumed she was quite fond of them.
However, these lanterns had been specially commissioned for the Retired Emperor's grand funeral. Would it really be appropriate to give them to her as a gift?
The steward considered taking a liberty and inviting the Second Miss to stay for dinner. Once night fell, he could light the lanterns and show her.
Regardless of what the world outside said, everyone within Prince Jin's Mansion recognized Lu Zhaoling as their future Princess Consort. They sincerely hoped she would marry into the estate without a hitch.
After all, the Prince suffered from a hidden ailment that others knew nothing about. For years, aside from seeking medical treatment, he had no interest in pursuing any lady. Finally, a girl had appeared within a one-foot radius of him, and their relationship had progressed so rapidly that everyone in the estate was beside themselves with joy.
They naturally had to treat her like the Princess Consort immediately.
As he was thinking this, he heard Lu Zhaoling speak. "Take the lanterns down."
"Ah? Take them down?"
But he had just hung them up!
Lu Zhaoling turned to look at him, meeting the steward's expression of utter bewilderment.
After only a moment's hesitation, however, the steward stepped forward to remove them. He reasoned that the future Princess Consort probably just wanted to admire the Thousand-work Lanterns up close. He had heard she was raised in the countryside, where they only had ordinary paper-pasted lanterns; she likely hadn't seen anything this exquisite before.
If she wanted to look, then let her look.
Having convinced himself, the steward took down one lantern and held it out to her. "Please have a look, Second Miss."
Lu Zhaoling didn't reach out to take it. "Put it on the ground. Take the other two down as well."
She wanted to see all of them?
The steward had slightly strained his back while hanging them earlier, but since Lu Zhaoling had given the word, he took down the remaining two lanterns.
By this time, Qingyin and Qingbao had sensed that something was amiss.
"Miss, is there something wrong with these lanterns?" Qingyin asked in a low voice.
Qingbao looked at the steward and asked directly, "Uncle Yun, were these lanterns sent by the Liu family?"
In all the years the Prince had been away from the capital, the mansion had essentially remained closed to guests, maintaining no contact with anyone. During festivals and holidays, the other households in the capital never bothered to send gifts to the estate.
In the past, while the mansion did hang lanterns from the Liu family, they were simply purchased from the Liu family's shops by servants. There was no personal interaction with the family themselves.
This was why they found it strange. Why would someone suddenly send over these Thousand-work Lanterns?
The steward shook his head. "They weren't sent by the Liu family. Marquis Qingfu sent someone to deliver them. The Marquis said he had bought all nine of the Thousand-work White Lanterns the Liu family had in stock. Knowing that our mansion needed to be decorated for the mourning period, he sent three over."
"Marquis Qingfu?" Qingbao cried out in surprise, looking toward Lu Zhaoling.
Lu Zhaoling raised an eyebrow. "Is he the father of that miserable, short-lived ghost I beat half to death the other day?"
Qingyin paused for a moment before replying, "Yes."
Lu Zhaoling clicked her tongue.
"Then it stands to reason that these three lanterns were sent to Prince Jin's Mansion because of me."
Did the people of Marquis Qingfu's estate hold a grudge against Prince Jin as well?
"Miss, do you mean Marquis Qingfu's estate is trying to get revenge on the Prince?" Qingyin asked.
After the imperial marriage edict was issued, the steward had learned how Lu Zhaoling and his Prince had met. Hearing this, he frowned at the lanterns on the ground. "Marquis Qingfu shouldn't have that kind of courage."
To seek revenge against the Prince?
"Hasn't your Prince been away from the capital for many years? Many people probably think that with the Retired Emperor gone, he has lost all his power and influence." Lu Zhaoling bent down to pick up one of the lanterns.
"That is an absurd way for them to think," the steward said, his face darkening.
"Fetch a bamboo basket and pack these three lanterns inside. I'm taking them back to deal with them," Lu Zhaoling commanded.
The steward was still lost. "But what exactly is wrong with these three lanterns?"
Lu Zhaoling glanced at him. "Don't be in such a hurry. I'll let you see for yourself soon enough."
Nanny Qing had been in the back courtyard doing embroidery, but upon hearing that Lu Zhaoling had arrived, she quickly put down her work and came to the front courtyard.
She finally laid eyes on the second Miss Lu.
With just one look, Nanny Qing felt that this young lady had clear, bright eyes and an extraordinary aura that immediately drew people to her.
However
Their Prince was definitely a superficial man! Looking at the Second Miss's face, it was no wonder the Prince had been so smitten from their very first meeting.
"Old servant greets the Second Miss."
Lu Zhaoling had just asked the steward to bring a sheet of white paper and a candle when she saw Nanny Qing bowing respectfully to her.
She truly liked the people of Prince Jin's Mansion. Compared to that nest of vipers in the Lu family, these people were quite lovely.
In her good mood, Lu Zhaoling reached out to help Nanny Qing up and gave her a brief look.
"No need for such formality. You and the steward have both been afflicted by nightmares recently. Although you have the Sleep-inducing Talisman I gave you before, those earlier nightmares were ultimately draining to your spirit and body. I'll draw a Vitality-nourishing Talisman for each of you."
The steward had been looking for a good time to ask for one of those Sleep-inducing Talismans himself. He hadn't expected Lu Zhaoling to bring it up voluntarily and even offer an extra talisman. His face wrinkled into a wide, joyous smile.
"Do I get one as well, old servant?" he asked hastily.
"Mhm, you do."
Nanny Qing was also startled. Qingyin and Qingbao knew she hadn't been sleeping well, so it wouldn't be strange if they had told Lu Zhaoling. But the steward hadn't said a word.
From Lu Zhaoling's words, it was clear she had seen it with her own eyes.
"Many thanks, Second Miss!"
Lu Zhaoling had Qingyin bring over a brush and talisman paper. They all moved into the main hall, taking the three lanterns with them.
The hall was grand and impressive. Hanging right in the center was a massive Painting of High Mountains, Pines, and Goshawk. The majestic aura of the mountains, trees, and the goshawk in the painting was palpable.
Lu Zhaoling nodded. "This is a good painting."
"The Prince painted this," Nanny Qing said with a proud smile.
A few years ago, the Emperor and the Second Prince had visited and remarked that the painting seemed too fierce. They said the pines and the goshawk didn't match and that the bird's expression was too predatory, making it uncomfortable to hang in a home.
She hadn't expected the Second Miss to actually like it.
Did this mean she and the Prince were truly a match made in heaven?
Lu Zhaoling's eyes lit up. She stepped closer to the painting and reached out to touch the signature.
A wisp of Gold-Purple Qi wound itself from the painting around her finger.
It was only a tiny thread!
But Lu Zhaoling was already delighted. She hadn't expected this to actually work!
"Prince Jin poured his heart and soul into this painting," she said with certainty.
Only by pouring one's heart and soul into a work, painting with absolute focus, could a trace of his fortune remain behind.
Nanny Qing's eyes sparkled. She hadn't expected the Second Miss to be able to see even that.
Years ago, before the Prince's leg was injured, he had the ambition to strike at the clouds and waves. This painting had been created during that time.
"Second Miss is truly the Prince's soulmate."
Lu Zhaoling withdrew her hand and turned to draw the talismans.
The moment she gripped the brush, her entire aura shifted abruptly.
When the two Vitality-nourishing Talismans were completed, a flash of golden light flickered across them.
Qingyin had already learned how to fold them and immediately folded the talismans into triangles.
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