Reborn as the Weakest Heiress, I Gave My Inheritance to the Enemy's Daughter novel · Chapter 20 of 24
Chapter 20: Night of Lanterns
The courtyard of Cloud Pine had never looked so beautiful.
Hundreds of paper lanterns hung from the eaves, the rails, the trunks of the old pines, red and gold and white, glowing against the dark.
Festival fires burned in iron bowls along the paving.
Three hundred disciples in clean grey stood in ranks, and on the cushions before the Pine Hall sat the Seven Peaks, in their silks and their cold courtesies.
Zhaoxue stood at the top of the steps in the pale blue robe she had died in.
She had not meant to choose it.
Her hand rested lightly on the green jade disc at her chest, under the cloth, where nobody could see.
At the foot of the steps stood Linxia, black-robed, ponytail high, sword on her hip, looking straight ahead.
She had not looked at Zhaoxue once since the stairs.
Zhaoxue knew exactly what it cost her.
In the doorway of the hall, in a carved chair, Master Feng sat with his chin on his chest and his eyes closed.
A bowl of sleep-root lay half-spilled at his knee.
Mo Zhenhai sat on the guest cushions without a sword, heavy and relaxed, a cup of rice wine in his fist.
The Master of the Third Peak watched the east gate over the rim of her pipe.
"The welcome," Ning Zhiyuan said, behind her.
He had come up the steps so quietly she had not heard him.
He stood at her shoulder in new grey robes and a wide silk sash, smiling at the crowd.
"Shimei. It's time."
Zhaoxue turned to face the courtyard.
"Cloud Pine thanks the Seven Peaks for coming," she said, and her voice carried clear. "And thanks Mo Zhenhai of Salt Tide Hall, who has come in peace to our house."
A murmur.
"By the old custom, the Hall Steward carries the Seal in the procession of lanterns. My father has asked it."
She reached into her sleeve.
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