Bone Painting Coroner

Chapter 95 - Kabe-don

Ji Yunshu squinted her eyes into pretty crescents and flashed a glance at Wei Yi, slightly annoyed by the wording of his remark. But since he went through the pain to make two lanterns, she decided to forgive him.

She turned around and ordered to Luan'er, "Could you go fetch some flour paste, paper, and stationery for a drawing?"

"Yes, I'll go right away, Young Miss," answered Luan'er as she went away to fetch the items Ji Yunshu needed.

Wei Yi dropped his chin on his hands and asked, "Shu'er, what do you need these things for?"

Ji Yunshu flattened the paper on the desk, dipped the brushes in the aquarelle, and started to slowly work on a sheet of paper. Wei Yi was surprised and observed her silently.

The tip of the brush traced delicate arcs against the white background. Each point and stroke was carefully arranged. It was not long before the rough shape of a thin branch of plum flowers in full blossom appeared on paper. Ji Yunshu dipped the brush in red ink and slowly sculpted the flower petals. As she continued to work on the drawing, a faint fragrance subtly spread through the air, carried by a gentle wind which blew into the room, as if one of the vivid petals was swept off the sheet of paper. It was a drawing worthy of Ji Yunshu's fame.

Finally, Ji Yunshu dropped her brush and fanned gently with her sleeves, thus drying the last stroke of ink.

"Shu'er, your drawing is very pretty," complemented Wei Yi. His face almost touching the paper as he craned his neck to examine the drawing closely.

Ji Yunshu gave him the drawing, "Cut this paper into eight pieces with identical sizes and stick them to the sides of the lantern."

"Do we really need to cut it?"

"It'll look better this way."

Wei Yi didn't quite understand Ji Yunshu's explanation, but he nevertheless obeyed her suggestion and followed Luan'er to proceed with the task.

Ji Yunshu picked up her brush and produced yet another drawing. She cut it into eight pieces, just like the first one and fixed them to a second lantern. The pieces connected into a sphere and the eight sides of the lantern became a canvas upon which the spray of plum flowers extended infinitely.

Dusk fell gradually outside.

After Wei Yi shouted in impatience to go outside, Ji Yunshu finally agreed to his request and they left the Wei Mansion with Luan'er. They brought the two lanterns with them. The amber glow from the candle flame within the lanterns accentuated the beauty of the flowers on the paper.

The sea of lanterns on the side of the main street shone just like the stars in the nightly sky above them. They were of different shapes and colours, but they were all hung from a single string which ran along the road into the distance. It reminded Ji Yunshu of a rather familiar sight: Christmas. The street was filled with people, and one could only see an endless forest of human heads in every direction.

Ji Yunshu strolled with Wei Yi and Luan'er toward the Hall of Gathering Frost, surrounded by well-dressed couples; It would have been more appropriate to call it a Lovers' Festival rather than a Lantern Festival.

"Shu'er, look!" Wei Yi was very excited. He approached a shop and tried on a theater mask. He mimicked the way the actors moved on the stage.

"Do you like it?" asked Ji Yunshu with a laugh.

"Yes," Wei Yi nodded.

Ji Yunshu took out some silver and paid for the mask, "Here, my gift to you."

But Wei Yi was only getting started on causing his share of trouble. He ran into every corner of the street without stopping, and Ji Yunshu almost lost sight of him several times. The objects, toys, and food that they bought accumulated in their arms as they made their way to the Hall of Gathering Frost.