The Ageless Dream

5.3 After Two Years (19)

The harmonious ambiance at the hilltop can melt a heart. As they were eating rice balls, each person speaking can make one another laugh. Midnight had passed, the red lanterns hanging on every willowy dark branch waved with the early spring breeze. Specks of snows were blown away from the crimson red petals of plum blossoms.

"No copper coin?" Xie Er eyed on her bowl. She has eaten many rice balls but the lucky copper coin cannot be found.

"Who got it?" Ying Zheng too have consumed too many that he cant eat another. He glanced at Li Si but the scholar shook his head.

"The lucky copper coin is in this rice ball! I won!" Dong Li Hua exclaimed. She used her chopstick to pick the copper coin from her bowl. It has been a tradition to insert lucky copper coin to a batch of rice ball. If one finds it, that means they will be lucky for the year.

"Here are your red envelopes." after the meal, Ying Zheng brought out three red envelopes from his sleeve pocket. He, of course wont forget to give Li Si a bonus since the young scholar stood to his side.

"Wah! This is so many!" Xie Er exclaimed, counting every banknote. "As I thought, serving your faction is enough to make me rich!"

"Ying Zheng, we should go. You have to be with Queen Dowager early this day to pay respects for your ancestors." Dong Li Hua reminded, placing everything back to the bamboo woven basket.

"Li Hua." Ying Zheng caught up to her left side while Li Si is on the right. He tugged at her sleeve as Dong Li Hua leaned down. "The Lantern Festival, can we go out? I have something to give you."

"But its dangerous. Furthermore, you have to host a banquet." she reminded however; Ying Zheng smiled in assurance.

"I can act like Im sick so Lü Buwei will have to host it instead."

"But-"

"Please?" Ying Zheng pleaded with puppy eyes; he knew he can defeat her with his charm.

"Fine. Just make sure Queen Dowager wont find me." Dong Li Hua shuddered recalling what had happened when she and Zhao Ji first met. A light laughter resonated, as the two looked behind, it was Xie Er who is laughing while Li Si is talking. Dong Li Hua smiled to see such scene. Back then, she was afraid Li Si wont reciprocate but seeing them get along, her worries receded.

Before the sun settled down at the Lantern Festival, Dong Li Hua brought Ying Zheng and Xie Er back to the hilltop they went during the New Year's eve. She made sure to tie a blindfold over their eyes so that they cant see her surprise.

"Here it is." Dong Li Hua smiled brilliantly before removing the blindfold. Xie Er and Ying Zheng blinked once their sight cleared, both of them cant contain their amazement.

"Look! It has the same height as mine!" Xie Er stood in front of the statue that mirrored her features. They were painted vividly with a lifelike size, reflecting both Xie Er and Ying Zheng's visage.

"How did you create this?" Ying Zheng asked in wonder. He traced his hand on his figure that is standing with a regal bearing, hands behind his back while wearing a crown and the dragon robe looked like the real one.

"Well, I first started with the neck until its toes and half an arm by making clay ropes that are not too dry or wet. The clay ropes were shaped into what the real body looks like. After making the main body, I used a flat wood to smoothen the surface and connect the difficult body parts such as the hand, elbow, robes, crown and the head. Since I have a good memory recalling faces, I just carved every detail of your disposition into the clay." Dong Li Hua explained then she reached out to Ying Zheng's statue, taking something from its sleeve pocket behind and giving it to Ying Zheng.

"This is?" Ying Zheng stared at the red tassel woven in flowery shapes and being held by a pearl while both of its ends were dangling. He found it suitable to add on his tiger tally that is inside the study hall.

"A tassel I weaved and held by a white pearl. It's the only thing I can afford." she scratched the back of her head then went to Xie Er's statue.

"Is this for me?" Xie Er asked with both eyes sparkling with joy. Around the neck of her statue is a golden lace necklace with round green jade pendant.

"Mhmm. A pearl and spherical pendant is auspicious during New Year since they are in the shape of circle as a sign of luck." Dong Li Hua took the necklace and tied it around Xie Er's neck. The young girl is overjoyed when she remembered something.

"I don't have any present. Sorry." she felt guilty not having anything to give in return.

"Its fine. As long as you two are happy. Both of you were like younger siblings of mine." Dong Li Hua ruffled Xie Er's hair when Ying Zheng held her hand.

"Since you gave me this, I am satisfied to everything Li Hua gives. This is a gift for you." Ying Zheng removed his hold and on top of Dong Li Hua's palm is a hair clip in the color of red, shaped as a rose made of ruby and three green jade leaves to surround it. There are three strings made of silver thread attached to it in different sizes from the long and shortest one. In every silver thread, it contains miniscule red roses. She stared at Ying Zheng with disbelief, how can he give her this?

"Ying Zheng, are you sure this... Is it not for your mother?" doubting him, Dong Li Hua doesn't want to get in trouble again.

"No. That is for you." he assured Dong Li Hua with a smile. Ying Zheng called the best palace artisan to craft that hair clip just for her.

"Sister Hua, it's so beautiful, ah. Try it!" Xie Er encouraged. She never thought Ying Zheng would present such gift.