Chapter 439: Sharing Beauty With You
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Yu Youyao nodded. “I’ll get someone to send a letter to Third Miss Song.”
Nanny Xu could tell that Yu Youyao was not warm to the Zhenguo Marquis
Residence. In fact, she was a little cold. Although she was willing to help the
Zhenguo Marquis Residence, she was not as sincere as Old Madam Yu.
However!
Not only was Yu Youyao polite, but she was also generous. No one could tell what she was thinking.
Nanny Xu found it strange.
As far as she knew, Old Madam Song treated Yu Youyao extremely well. Ever since she entered the Yu Residence, Old Madam Song had given Yu Youyao many things.
From some rare tea, snacks, fruits, and food, to some more expensive pearl and jade accessories.
The Marquis’s wife was considered close to Yu Youyao, let alone Song Wanhui. The two of them hit it off very well, so it was normal for them to give each other gifts.
Logically speaking, Yu Youyao should be very close to the Song family.
However, Yu Youyao’s attitude was really confusing.
However, Nanny Xu did not probe further. Seeing that Yu Youyao’s interest was waning, she did not mention the Zhenguo Marquis Residence. “This morning, the Xie Residence sent a carriage of fruits over. They’re all rare items. There are peaches, pears, grapes, papayas, and a basket of green lychees. I ordered someone to send them to the ice cellar.”
At this time, many fruits were available in the market.
Most of the fruits in the capital were transported into the capital from elsewhere. As they were delayed on the way, many of them were no longer fresh when they arrived in the capital.
The fruits sent by the Xie Residence were of good quality and were all very fresh. They were probably not easy to obtain.
Yu Youyao’ s eyes flickered and she chuckled. “Pick some and send them to various places in the residence. The second branch should also have some.” Nanny Xu smiled and agreed.
Fresh and good quality fruits were very expensive things. It was also because Yu Youyao was generous with what she obtained at home. If it were anyone else, they would not bear to part with it.
With that, Yu Youyao went to the study.
Chun Xiao washed a plate of fruits and sent it over before leaving.
Yu Youyao ate a piece of peach. It was sweet and juicy, even better than the peaches she had eaten in the past.
At this moment, Yin San entered the house silently.
Yu Youyao smiled. “I knew it. Cousin gave me the fruits under the name of the Xie family. The land in Shandong is fertile and produces fruits. For example, the peaches in Feicheng are sweet and juicy. The pears in Guan County are crisp and refreshing. The grapes in Daze Mountain are round and sweet. The papayas in Li City are fragrant and soft. Every year, most of the fruits in the capital are shipped from Shandong. However, because the production of good quality fruits is limited, there aren’t many of them.”
The Yu Residence could also get some every year, but they only had a try.
This year, there was a rebellion in Shandong, and all kinds of fruits were even rarer in the capital.
No one else could eat them, but her cousin had given her a cart full of them.
Yin San nodded. “Young Master ordered someone to prepare it. The rain in
Shandong is good this year, and the fruits are better than in the past. If Young
Miss likes them, I’ll send some over next time.”
Yu Youyao was very happy. “That’s good. If it’s placed in the cold cellar, we don’t have to worry about them spoiling. We can eat them slowly.” Then, she changed the topic. “By the way, where’s Cousin’s letter? Quick, give it to me.”
Yin San took out the bag on his back and opened it. He handed a letter and a
square box to Yu Youyao.
Yu Youyao quickly took it and carefully opened the letter. “It’s August. The fruit is delicious, so I want to share the good taste with you. Don’t forget to try it!”
Yu Youyao counted each word. After counting the words, she couldn’t help but smile.
Although her cousin’s letters were always concise, when she read them carefully, she could feel his concern for her, which made her happy.
Yu Youyao carefully folded the letter and stuffed it back into the envelope. She picked up the square box from Yin San and was in no hurry to open it. “What’s this? Did Cousin specially ask you to pass it on?”
Yin San nodded and did not say anything.
Hence, Yu Youyao knew that the item in the square box must have been carefully prepared for her by her cousin. It must be extraordinary.
Filled with anticipation, she couldn’t wait to open the box and take out the cotton wool. From the wrapped silk handkerchief, she unwrapped an inkstone.
Yu Youyao’s eyes widened in shock. “This is a red silk inkstone. It’s only available in Qingzhou and Shandong!”
This red silk inkstone had a red silk ribbon. It was very bright and complex. It was extremely beautiful. Its surface was smooth and beautiful, and its red and yellow patterns were like birds, fish, clouds, mountains, and flowers.
Yu Youyao held the red silk inkstone, her eyes glued to it. “I’ve only seen relevant descriptions in books. This is the first time I’ve seen a real red silk inkstone. It’s said that the red silk inkstone is the only inkstone in the world that surpasses a Duan inkstone. It’s just that it’s too rare and its quality is too hard to come by, so the world doesn’t know much about it.”
Many great scholars in the past dynasties admired the red silk inkstone. There were many relevant records in books.
However, red silk inkstones were too rare, and it was very difficult to mine them. Therefore, the top inkstone was the Duan inkstone. The red silk inkstone was not in the rankings of the famous inkstones but its appearance was enough to prove its extraordinary status.
Yu Youyao praised, “Cousin, you’re really amazing. You can even get such a rare red silk inkstone.”
She took out some old ink and poured a little water into it. The ink strips were grounded and moisturized. The ink was oozing out, and her hand wiped it like cream. The cream was smooth, and the ink was as black as pure paint.
Yu Youyao smiled. “According to the ‘Inkstone Records’, there are three strange things about red silk inkstones!”
“Firstly, the stone is warm and smooth. It’s made of water, and there’s nourishing liquid in it. If you rub it with your hand, it’ll stick like a paste for a long time.”
“Secondly, when ink is poured on the stone, because of its strong and beautiful physique, the red silk inkstone is often smooth and the black ink is very pure.”
“Thirdly, ink dries quickly on other stones. If the red silk inkstone is used, the
ink will last for a few days.”
Yu Youyao took out the rose paper and wrote a reply with a brush in her hand.
When she wrote, she immediately felt that the ink paper was smooth and did not feel sluggish at all. The ink was spread on the paper and then dried. The ink brush was pure black and soft.
Yu Youyao exclaimed, “It really lives up to its reputation!”
She rambled on and wrote more than ten pages. They were all trivial matters at home, and she also mentioned that Song Mingzhao had vomited blood and fainted.
When she felt her wrist ache, Yu Youyao finally stopped writing.
When she read the reply again, she felt that she seemed to have written a lot.
However, on closer look, she felt that there was still a lot she had not finished.
Yu Youyao picked up her brush again, dipped it in ink, and wrote, “During the Golden Autumn, chrysanthemums bloom. Although I can’t enjoy the full moon with you, I’m willing to share its beauty with you!’
In a few days, it would be the Mid-Autumn Festival, and families would be reunited. Unfortunately, her cousin was in Shandong and couldn’t see the moon and eat mooncakes with her..
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