After finishing her duties at the Collection Storage, Yang Wan went directly to the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
As she exited the Extreme Gate, the magnificent glazed tiles atop the Hall of Supreme Harmony’s roof entered her view.
Yang Wan had seen the existing Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City, but never its appearance during the Ming Dynasty.
At this time, it was still only half-finished under Deng Ying’s supervision.
Though its scale was grand, the exterior remained plain.
The sundials and standard measures had not yet been placed on either side of the imperial steps. Of the six double-eaved pavilions along the imperial way, only their bases had been completed. The stone remained unpolished, exposing grayish-white foundations amid the splendid halls and pavilions. Even so, one could still sense the dedication its builders had poured into it.
Yang Wan entered the felt tent beneath the moonlight terrace. Just past noon, the craftsmen were occupied with various tasks. Only two artisans remained in the tent discussing technical issues. Seeing Yang Wan enter, they hurriedly put down their drawings to greet her.
“The young lady has arrived.”
These men weren’t palace eunuchs. They were older, with the roughness of those who had spent their lives in construction. They spoke directly but not rudely.
Yang Wan smiled and nodded to them. “I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
“Not at all, please sit, young lady.”
After saying this, they realized that with Deng Ying absent, there was hardly room to step into the tent. They felt somewhat embarrassed. “Ah… when the master is here, he can’t stand mess. Once he leaves, we rough folk can’t keep up. But the tea belongs to our master – let us pour you a cup.”
“Thank you.”
Yang Wan wasn’t particular and casually found a place to sit among the piles of wood and stone.
“I’ve come to collect something the master left here.”
“Oh, that strange box?”
The person pouring tea heard this and walked over with the cup, chiding: “What strange box? The master spent several nights making it.”
The first man quickly agreed: “Yes, yes, not strange – just a style we hadn’t seen before. I’ll go fetch it for the young lady.”
Yang Wan accepted the tea and took a sip, looking up to ask the tea pourer: “He made it at night?”
“Yes, these days the construction work has been too busy. We guessed you needed it urgently.”
Yang Wan smiled at this. “So the masters think I’m being inconsiderate.”
“Hey now.”
The man picked up scattered drawings from the ground, dusting them off: “Who are we to comment on the master’s affairs?”
Just then, the craftsman returned with the box, chiming in: “That’s right, we’re just rough folk. We hear those unpleasant palace rumors but can’t make sense of them. Young lady, you’re from the palace, and so is the master. You like him, and he treats you well – what’s wrong with that, right?”
Yang Wan listened and smiled. “Right.”
The man placed the box before Yang Wan. “Please take a look, young lady.”
Yang Wan pulled the drawer box onto her lap.
Indeed, Deng Ying had managed to realize her hurriedly drawn design.
The box was made of nanmu wood, apparently using leftover materials Deng Ying had on hand.
Below were three levels of double drawers, topped by a small cabinet with double doors. When Yang Wan opened the cabinet doors, she vaguely noticed something carved in the dark corners.
“Oh? What’s this…”
She moved her hand into the light and looked closely, discovering a fingernail-sized lotus flower carved in the most obscure corner, as if meant to remain hidden.
“How did he manage to carve in such a tricky spot?”
The two craftsmen came over to look, and one proudly said: “Our master’s handiwork – that’s not something just anyone can match.”
Yang Wan was still examining the lotus flower. “But he told me earlier that he wasn’t as skilled as you all at making these things.”
“What? He said that to you?”
“Yes.”
Yang Wan tried reaching in to touch the lotus and found its edges smooth, not sharp at all. Looking at the box itself, though not yet lacquered, the surface was extremely smooth, requiring countless rounds of sanding to achieve such a texture. As she marveled at the exquisite craftsmanship, she didn’t notice the expression of exasperation gradually appearing on the face of the craftsman who had fetched the box.
“Frustrating.”
He muttered.
The person beside him bumped his shoulder: “What are you frustrated about?”
“Heh.”
The man looked at Yang Wan and lowered his voice: “The master usually speaks so plainly, but facing the young lady, he becomes completely tongue-tied.”
The person beside him crossed his arms and rolled his eyes.
“If the master can’t speak, you think you can?”
“I… well, I was just helping speak for the master, wasn’t I?”
“By the way.”
Yang Wan finally put down the box and turned to see their faces flushed red. She paused, “You two…”
“It’s nothing, please continue, young lady.”
“Oh, it’s nothing. I just wanted to ask when the master left.”