Bone Painting Coroner

An hour later, the bridal procession reached Prince Yi’s residence.

Jing Yi wore bright red wedding robes as he stood at the door waiting for them to arrive in high spirits.

When the palanquin was set down, he kicked the door and helped his bride down. [1] The two of them each held one end of a length of red silk between them.

Covered by the red veil, Ji Muqing couldn’t see anything and could only hear the sounds of cymbals and drums. She followed behind the matchmaker, stepped across the threshold, and entered Prince Yi’s household accompanied by a chorus of congratulations.

The marriage ceremony passed by in a blur. Ji Muqing then followed the matchmaker into the bridal chamber and was instructed to sit on the bed and wait for Prince Yi. She was not allowed to move, nor was she allowed to remove the veil over her head. She nodded obediently.

At the sound of the closing doors, she was finally left alone in the room. Ji Muqing opened her eyes, but all she could see were her own feet. The festive music had also faded away for now. The only thing that could be heard was the wind upon the creaking windows. The semi-rhythmic swing and creak sounded just like the embodiment of her current nervous feelings.

Even though the matchmaker had already told her multiple times what she should do in the bridal chamber, her mind was now a complete blank; she couldn’t think of anything.

The more she thought about it, the more anxious she became. Her heart felt as if it had jumped into her throat.

Outside, they started setting off fireworks. The fireworks burst into the sky, turning the pitch black sky into a multitude of brilliant colors. How lively!

Aside from Prince Yi’s residence, even the entire palace was filled with festivity. It was decorated with lanterns and colored banners, filled with the festive sounds of cymbals and drums, and accompanied by a sky full of fireworks.

The palace maids and eunuchs were also delighted; they all ran towards the pond to admire the fireworks, even at the risk of being reprimanded by their masters.

The only glaring exception to this festive atmosphere was the dilapidated Tongren Hall.

Jing Xian stood in the courtyard with a cloak around his shoulders and lifted his head to look at the exploding fireworks. He had already forgotten how long it had been since the last time he had seen fireworks. He could barely even remember when was the last time he had heard the festive sounds of cymbals and drums.

As the fireworks lit up the sky, their brilliance seemed to also sink into his fathomless dark eyes. How bright, how beautiful.

Jing Xian was undeniably a handsome man; he was even better looking than Jing Rong, especially with his warm, deep eyes. Although he was ill, he did not look listless. Instead, he was like the warm undercurrents of a deep pool; if one looked too long into his eyes, ripples would appear in one’s heart.

Boom! Another firework bloomed against the night sky.

Jing Xian’s lips slowly spread in a smile, but there was also a sense of mournfulness about him. His personal eunuch, Bi Lu came over and stood beside him quietly for a long time.

Jing Xian smiled slightly and commented lightly, “Prince Yi’s wedding is so lively. The roads outside must be covered in red, and the bridal procession must stretch for miles. There would be people carrying the bridal palanquin, the wedding gifts, playing the cymbals and drums, as well as people smiling and laughing. The matchmaker would lead the bride straight into the residence to perform the ceremonial three bows, then into the bridal chamber decorated with ornamental candles.

He described the scenes as if he had witnessed them in person.

Bi Lu replied, “Yes, it certainly is very lively outside. It’s not just Prince Yi’s residence, but even the palace is in a jubilant mood. Many palace maids and eunuchs have gone to the pond to admire the fireworks; the Imperial Garden is bustling with excitement. Would Your Highness like to go take a look?”

“Look? How can I go?” Jing Xian started mocking himself, “Would you carry me there or would you push me there? If I fainted while admiring the fireworks, wouldn’t I have to trouble others to carry me back? At that time, I would have dampened the festivities for everyone else, ruined the atmosphere, and disturbed Imperial Father. Wouldn’t I be at fault then?” He smiled.

Why would someone say that of themselves?

Bi Lu quickly added, “Your Highness’s health has been much better lately. Together with Young Master Mo’s medicine, I believe that Your Highness will get well before long.”

“You’ve already repeated these same words for the past fourteen years.”

“Your servant…”

“Enough, there’s no need to placate me. I’m clear what condition my body is in. There’s no need for you to keep repeating these useless platitudes. If I died, even immortals of the highest tier of heaven wouldn’t be able to help me.” He said lightly.

Bi Lu sighed and his eyes filled with sympathy. He stopped speaking and merely stood there, accompanying him in admiring the fireworks.

Soon after, the wind started to pick up. “Your Highness, why don’t you go indoors? It’s late at night and the wind is strong. It won’t be good if you catch a chill.”

“It’s fine.” He shook his head. “It’s been so long since the palace had last been so lively; I want to look at it a bit longer. If I don’t take the opportunity to look now, I may never again have the chance.” Who knows, by the time he finished admiring the fireworks, he’d be dead.

Anyway, Jing Xian had always maintained such an attitude: another day he lived, was another day won.

“Yes, this servant will accompany you.” The two of them stood there, one behind the other.

After a long while, Jing Xian suddenly said softly, “Now that Prince Yi has married the Ji family’s eldest daughter, his future position will be a lot more stable.”

“Your Highness, did you say something?”

“Nothing much.”

However, Bi Lu sighed, “When Your Highness leaves the palace, you’ll also be able to marry. When that happens, you’ll have a companion as well.”

Haha. Jing Xian laughed. He had already been trapped inside the palace for fourteen years and had long gotten used to the quiet loneliness. Passing all that time alone would still be more comfortable and carefree than fighting amongst those snakes in court. “I’ve scraped out my life for fourteen years here, and I’m used to it. Whoever others may be and whatever they may obtain doesn’t affect me at all; it’s the same whether or not I have a companion. Anyway, if I could die within Tongren Hall, it would be a good thing indeed!”

When he heard that, Bi Lu quickly spat several times to ward off the bad luck from those inauspicious words. “Your Highness, please don’t spout nonsense. Your Highness will surely live to a hundred. When your illness gets better, His Majesty would give the order to let Your Highness leave the palace.”

“It no longer matters whether I leave the palace or not.” He sighed again and looked up at the fireworks. He turned to asked Bi Li, “Is there anything of good quality left in my halls?”

“What does Your Highness mean?”

“For a gift.”

“That… no.”

Tongren Hall was probably the poorest place within the Imperial Palace, even more so than the cold palace. The only thing that they didn’t lack was coal, because years ago, the Emperor had ordered that Tongren Hall could be deprived of any supply but coal.

However, other than coal, they had nothing else to spare.

Wen Xian thought carefully. “Right, go to my room and wrap up that set of ‘Four Literary Treasures’.” [2]

“Your Highness intends to…?”

“Send it to Prince Yi’s residence as a congratulatory gift. How could I not send a gift for my Imperial Brother’s marriage?”

Bi Lu was shocked. “That set of ‘Four Literary Treasures’ is Your Highness’s favorite! This…”

“So what if it’s my favorite? Just send it there. It’s the only respectable thing that I can give.”

……

Sigh. Bi Lu’s shoulders slumped down. He could only acquiesce and go into the room to pack the gift.

Jing Xian wrapped the cloak more securely around himself. His already deep eyes darkened even further. “Jing Yi, oh, Jing Yi! You’re too impatient!”

…

Bi Lu sent someone to deliver that gift to Prince Yi’s residence. After someone accepted it, it was immediately tossed into the room used for storing gifts. As there were too many things inside, it quickly fell onto the floor and was even stepped on.

Nobody seemed to care about it.

[1] TLN: He's actually not being rude here. It's part of the wedding customs to kick the door before the bride steps down.

[2] Refers to brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.