Song Qingshu placed her in a chair, then hurried into a nearby room. Judging by its furnishings, it had once been Granny Sun's room. He dismantled her bed, moved it beside the Cold Jade Bed, set it up again, spread the bedding, and helped Xiaolongnü onto it to rest.
When he saw jars upon jars of jade-bee honey in the room, Song Qingshu's eyes lit up. This was pure, natural honey, the kind that would not spoil even after years. He poured out half a bowl, mixed it with water, and fed it to Xiaolongnü. At last, a trace of color returned to her pale cheeks.
"Thank you." Though Xiaolongnü knew little of worldly matters, the vast ancient tomb was now empty save for the two of them. Saying nothing at all felt somewhat awkward.
Song Qingshu smiled. "We are not strangers, after all. Why be so polite with me?"
Xiaolongnü smiled faintly, then suddenly remembered something. "Brother-in-law, could you go to Grandmaster's room and bring me her gold-painted chest?"
Song Qingshu froze. Was it Lin Chaoying's dowry chest? Why did she want it now? Still, he naturally would not refuse such a small request. Smiling, he said, "You need not be so polite with your brother-in-law either."
Following her directions, he went to Lin Chaoying's room next door and carried over the bottommost of several chests beside the bed.
The chest was not particularly heavy and had no lock. Its exterior was painted red and traced with gold, its patterns graceful and refined.
Xiaolongnü said, "I heard Granny Sun say that this chest contained Grandmaster's dowry. Later, she never married, so these things naturally went unused."
Song Qingshu had already guessed what was inside. Hearing this, he merely nodded. Looking at the brightly decorated chest, he felt that beneath