Spring in the Hall of Paintings

Laughter echoed from within the Fucha residence, with the sound of joy drifting out from time to time. The young maids stationed at the door wore smiles on their faces, unable to resist peeking inside out of curiosity. Experienced women and older servants often sighed in admiration, remarking that as long as she was present, the old lady would surely be happy, unable to stop smiling. “She” referred to Fucha Zhuohua, who had married out of the Fucha family and was now the wife of Rongxuan, the deputy commander of the Fengtai Military Camp.

Grandmother Fucha, dressed in a loose-fitting qipao and wearing a jade hairpin, held Yun Wei close. She kept fiddling with the brown headband, adorned with gemstones, in her hand, continuously praising, “Such fine craftsmanship, Yun Wei, dear. I have many headbands from my great-aunt, but I have never seen one so exquisitely made. This…”

“Is it double-sided embroidery?” Grandmother Fucha brought the headband closer to her eyes and examined it carefully. “It’s double-sided embroidery, isn’t it? Wasn’t it lost long ago? Yun Wei, my dear granddaughter, where did you learn this?”

Yun Wei’s voice was as soft as always, her cherry lips curving upward as she explained, “Great-grandmother, it was taught by Mama Lin.”

“Only someone with real skill can learn double-sided embroidery.”

Grandmother Fucha wore an expression of admiration and turned to explain to the several daughters-in-law standing nearby, “The reason double-sided embroidery is so difficult to learn and was lost over time is because it requires not only great technical skill but, more importantly, it demands a high level of talent from the embroiderer. Without exceptional memory and intuition, it cannot be learned.”

As these words were spoken, a woman dressed in a peony-patterned stand-collar qipao stepped forward from the side and approached the old lady. The old lady handed the headband to her, and the woman smiled, saying, “Thanks to your insight, I’ve learned something today. If you hadn’t pointed it out, we might not have known that this is double-sided embroidery. It shows that we haven’t seen much of the world—just know that the embroidery looks beautiful but couldn’t explain why.”

“Tsk, tsk. Not only is Yun Wei a delicate beauty, but her embroidery skills are also excellent. What’s more, she was personally raised by our aunt, so her character is naturally impeccable. Truly, she’s someone who tugs at the heartstrings.”

“Second Aunt, you flatter me. It’s just a small skill, done to show my filial piety to Great-grandmother.”

With her striking beauty and graceful demeanor, Yun Wei exuded an air of elegance. Even when sitting leisurely, her posture was graceful and captivating. Her every movement flowed like a gentle stream, and her soft-spoken words, though seemingly coquettish, carried a certain charm that was hard to ignore. The woman nodded repeatedly, her tone implying, “Yun Wei, you are a fine young lady.”

Fucha smiled, clearly pleased to receive praise from her cousin’s wife, Ma Qi. It was a compliment that shone on her face.

The old lady patted her second daughter-in-law’s hand, understanding that this was her approval of the marriage, and laughed, “Exactly. Only Zhuohua knows how to raise children properly. Cheng Wu is a good child too, inheriting his father’s business. In the future, he will become a fierce general.”

The old lady turned to Fucha and asked, “I vaguely remember Ma Qi mentioning that Rongxuan is highly valued by Shangguan. His evaluations are always top-tier. It seems he’s quite capable.”

“Not as good as Second Cousin,” Fucha replied.

Ma Qi’s wife, Irgen Juoluo, spoke softly to Yun Wei, growing increasingly impressed. Yun Wei’s beauty was striking—obviously a natural beauty, and her actions and demeanor carried a certain dignity. When she spoke, her words were careful and polished, and though they seemed sweet and teasing, they held an allure that was uniquely hers.

Irgen Juoluo was a true Manchu noblewoman who could not stand girls who acted overly coy or coquettish. However, when Yun Wei spoke, her words made her heart blossom with joy. She couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of affection for her, unsure of how to express her care.

Originally, the old lady had considered arranging this marriage, but Irgen Juoluo was hesitant, feeling that the Tong family’s status was slightly lower. The most famous daughter of the Tong family was Yun Lan, not the lesser-known Yun Wei. She had intended to politely refuse, but after meeting Yun Wei today, she silently decided otherwise. A girl like Yun Wei, so outstanding yet not arrogant, instead exuding an air of calm and elegance, was rare to find. She thought to herself, such a girl should be left for her precious son.

Moreover, the old lady’s earlier words had served as a reminder. Yun Wei’s father, Rongxuan, had a promising future, and his career was far from limited. The generals in the Fengtai military camp, which protected the capital, were among the emperor’s most trusted figures. Yun Wei’s older brother, Cheng Wu, was often praised by others for his excellent equestrian skills, ranking among the best of his generation, with a bright future ahead. And then, of course, there was the distinguished heritage of the Tong family.

It was well known in the capital that the emperor had ties with the Tong family matriarch, and although the details were unclear, the mystery made it all the more believable. The Tong family matriarch was of noble descent, and her family still held the title of “Prince of the Town.” With such a background, her son’s career would benefit greatly from the assistance of his wife’s family. Irgen Juoluo thought it over and was extremely satisfied.

“I can see that my second sister-in-law wants to treat Yun Wei like her own daughter,” Irgen Juoluo said, squeezing Yun Wei’s small hand, which was as soft as cotton. She smiled and continued, “Third sister-in-law, you’re mistaken. I don’t just treat Yun Wei like a daughter.”

Yun Wei felt a bit confused but had an inkling of what was happening. Her fair face seemed to glow with a soft layer of pink, her dark eyes sparkling like stars fallen from the sky. A shy smile graced her lips, like a wild orchid blooming in a quiet valley. The lively conversation around them stopped, and everyone fell silent, staring at Yun Wei.

After a long while, the old lady spoke, summarizing the situation. “This girl, this girl, is better kept hidden in the boudoir.”

Irgen Juoluo’s heart tightened as she remembered that Yun Wei was an eligible candidate for the imperial selection of maidens. With such beauty, could she really be overlooked? And wouldn’t the Tong family want to make use of their daughter to climb higher in the ranks? How could she know about Yun Lan’s reputation otherwise? If the Tong family had no such ambitions, why did Fucha seem to show interest in forming a marriage alliance?

Fucha seemed to sense Irgen Juoluo’s thoughts and casually said, “Our family’s old lady always says that the glory of the Tong family comes from military achievements. It’s because of this that Yun Wei’s father spent more than ten years in Jiangnan working hard. The third branch’s daughter, Lan, is clever and beautiful, and she has earned the favor of the emperor’s concubines. Through these connections, the third branch was able to rise in the ranks. While this was a good thing, it ended up displeasing the old lady, who scolded Lan harshly, saying that relying on a daughter to climb the ranks was not the proper way. I’ve thought about it, and since Wei Wei has been raised delicately, it might be better for her to be in a family where we know her well.”

“Your family’s old lady is a wise woman. No wonder the Tong family has prospered,” Irgen Juoluo said, impressed.

The old lady Fucha sighed repeatedly. She had heard of the style of the Juoluo family before and held great respect for them. After losing her husband, Juoluo had relied on no one from her natal family, resolutely refusing to remarry, and she had raised her three sons to be accomplished—something not easily achieved.

“Indeed,” Fucha said, “Mother has also been thinking about Aunt. She even had me bring some gifts and mentioned that she would like to meet with you whenever there is time.”

At this, Fucha finally presented the gift box tied with red satin. Fucha’s grandmother smiled and said, “It’s been a few years since we last met. It would be nice to catch up.”

Fucha’s grandmother opened the box, her eyes lighting up as she nodded and said, “She’s thoughtful.”

She then beckoned to one of her granddaughters and said, “Huixin, take your sister Yun Wei for a walk in the garden.”

“Yes, Grandmother.”

The graceful young girl stepped forward and took Yun Wei’s hand, smiling sweetly. “Yun Wei, our new garden is really beautiful.”

Seeing Fucha nod, Yun Wei softly replied, “Thank you, Huixin.”