Jiang Song pocketed the letter and snorted before even opening it. He hurried into the study and read the contents repeatedly under the lamp. He most cared whether his daughter’s health was good, next whether her husband had settled smoothly into his post, and then whether the Wei family treated her well.
The letter mentioned all that, but nothing about whether feelings between the young couple had warmed.
Jiang Song tapped the desk, picked up his brush, and wrote. First came a fierce reminder not to take the man before her for granted, followed by a gentle recounting of family matters.
The middle-aged man finished the reply with a smile on his lips, sealed it, and sent a messenger overnight to Yangzhou.
The setting sun glowed like molten gold. Jiang Yinyue accompanied Wei Ying along the riverbank where the flowers rippled like waves. Miaodie and the new maid Du Juan followed behind.
The four strolled and paused, admiring the fiery red river flowers under the sunset.
Suddenly, a voice both unfamiliar and somewhat familiar rang out, inquiring.
“Is Lightning Chaser well?”
Jiang Yinyue turned her head and saw Han Jian in lead-white robes leading a horse past.
“It’s you.” Jiang Yinyue hurried over with a beaming smile. There was no displeasure at meeting a rival; she still remembered how he had helped Wei Qin mount the horse last time. For a martial man, it was a small effort, but many were stingy with even that.
“Lightning Chaser is doing fine. It’s just that with a certain someone in Yangzhou, it’s inconvenient to take it out for a ride.”
“No need to imply anything.”
Han Jian’s protectiveness toward Yan Zhuyu was obvious.
Jiang Yinyue pursed her lips, slipping back into their familiar way of interacting. Her gaze swept over him, and she teased, “This outfit suits you well.”
The white softened the man’s fierceness.
Han Jian cupped his fists and coughed, a burly man embarrassed by the praise. Just then, a regretful murmur came from behind them.
“I forgot one ingredient for the medicine.”
This meant the four had to hurry back to the residence, ruining the leisurely stroll.
Wei Ying felt very guilty and fidgeted with her satchel. “Sister-in-law…”
“It’s fine.” Jiang Yinyue went over and took the little girl’s hand. “The sunny sunset won’t begrudge its beauty. We’ll come admire it another day.”
“I happen to need to go to the Wei Residence for some business. I can fetch the medicine for you.”
Han Jian spoke up suddenly.
Jiang Yinyue didn’t stand on ceremony. “Then I’ll trouble you.”
Han Jian nodded, mounted his horse, and left without delay.
Wei Ying didn’t recognize the fierce-looking burly man and asked about his identity.
Amid the gorgeous evening glow, Jiang Yinyue smiled helplessly. Han Jian was like a puppet on strings tied by his master from childhood, utterly obedient. But as he grew older, he gained his own awareness, no longer a puppet without a heartbeat.
Half an hour later, after delivering the medicine back to the Yan Mansion, Han Jian stood before Yan Zhuyu with a plate of freshly steamed shaomai.
Yan Zhuyu had suddenly craved shaomai from an old shop near the Wei Residence. She’d only mentioned it in passing, yet Han Jian returned with a paper bag. She was a bit surprised and smiled at the silent man, noticing his newly changed thin shirt.
It seemed like an imitation of the crown prince, but lacked the pure white or moon-white elegance.
Yan Zhuyu thought of a phrase: like an ugly woman trying to imitate a beauty.
“This color doesn’t suit you.”
Han Jian paused, then silently stepped back. “Thank you for the reminder, miss.”
Soon after, he changed back into his usual old clothes, upsetting his two younger sisters.
It was spring in full bloom, and that robe was new clothes they had specially prepared for their brother.
Han Jian offered no explanation. His burly frame looked a bit dejected in the sunset.
As Yan Zhuyu stepped out of the room, a hunting dog suddenly charged out, barking madly. “Woof! Woof! Woof!” A quick-handed servant yanked it back.
“This servant was careless… Please show mercy, Milady…”
Yan Zhuyu looked at this hunting hound that resembled the Crown Prince’s beloved dog Qi Bao by seven parts and stopped Han Jian, who wanted to step forward. “This little beast looks quite young.”
“In response to Milady, it is one and a half years old.”
“No wonder it bounces around like a lively calf.”
Unlike Qi Bao, which lay in the Eastern Palace all day. No matter how she teased it, the fourteen-year-old dog showed no reaction, listless and spiritless.
Ever since Yan Zhuyu returned to the estate to visit family, all the young ladies of the Yan Family, regardless of age, had moved out of their boudoirs to other courtyards temporarily.
All because of Yan Zhuyu’s single sentence: “I want some peace and quiet.”
Soon, the female servant Han Yan finished writing a hundred invitations, clenched her trembling fingers, and said, “Milady, the invitations for the Wives of the Three Divisions Commanders…”
“I’ll write those myself.”
The wives of the Provincial Governor, the Surveillance Commissioner, and the Guard Commander all resided in Jiangning. Yan Zhuyu wanted to host a Lixia Banquet to establish her authority, so she needed influential noblewomen and ladies to bolster the scene. The Wives of the Three Divisions Commanders were the perfect choice.
They were, after all, the spouses of high-ranking second-grade officials.
The Crown Prince was still in Yangzhou, so she believed the three ladies would not dare refuse her invitations.
Yan Zhuyu let the other female servant Han Xun trim her nails while she carefully considered the guest list, hesitating over whether to invite Jiang Yinyue.
If she didn’t invite her, it would make her seem petty.
When Jiang Yinyue sent Wei Ying back to the residence, the little girl could not hide her joy—the delight of someone who had secluded herself for years finally gaining a playmate.
The Wei Family’s eldest daughter, Wei Huan, was astonished to see her younger cousin transformed into a little chatterbox, no longer a silent gourd. She could not help but exclaim, “Sister-in-law truly has a way.”
Jiang Yinyue smiled without a word. When she returned to Hanlan Courtyard, she saw Wei Qin chopping wood in the courtyard. His coarse cloth shirt was tucked at his waist, sleeves rolled up to his elbows.
A pair of long legs slightly bent, axe rose and fell.
The wood pieces scattered evenly on the ground.
Lady Gu gently wiped her son’s forehead beside him. When she saw her daughter-in-law return, she held back a smile and retreated to her room, leaving space alone for the young couple.
Jiang Yinyue slowly walked to Wei Qin’s side as he continued chopping wood. She saw the thin sweat beading on his forehead and thought that perhaps her mother-in-law was peeking from the shadows, so she took out her embroidered handkerchief and wiped his brow for him.
Wei Qin lifted his gaze.
Their eyes met.
The thin sweat on the man’s forehead was like the slight dampness of spring, spreading to Jiang Yinyue’s back.
Just an ordinary gaze made her retreat in defeat.
That sudden kiss had ultimately pierced the hazy window paper, forcing Jiang Yinyue to reevaluate this marriage forced upon her by her father.
“You’re sweating. Let me wipe it for you.”
She gripped the handkerchief and scrubbed vigorously at Wei Qin’s forehead, putting on a serious face to mask her inner panic.
In her impression, Wei Qin had always been taciturn. She didn’t know when it started, but a hidden aggression had appeared in his eyes.
“You’re not allowed to… to… again…”
The hand clutching the handkerchief paused on the man’s forehead until he stepped back, and only then did she awkwardly withdraw it.
Wei Qin continued chopping wood. After stacking it against the wall, he pulled over the woman who stood rooted in place, lost in indecision. “It was my rudeness. It won’t happen again.”
Jiang Yinyue turned her head in surprise. For some reason, she felt a sense of anticlimax, as if she had gotten an answer. This man gave up so quickly…
“Oh.”
She gave an awkward smile, her cheeks and jaw stiffening.
But Wei Qin’s next words oddly dispelled the inexplicable disappointment that had just arisen in her.
“I won’t offend you again without your permission.”
Lost in a fog, Jiang Yinyue suddenly met the evening glow slanting through the clouds and saw the light. She cleared her throat, clasped her hands behind her back, and paced the courtyard like a proper lady, silently digesting her fluctuating emotions.
It was also like tacitly permitting Wei Qin’s gradual approach.
Provided that the approach was gradual, giving her time to adapt.
The gentle breeze warmed softly. The young lady pacing alone did not know when a small flower woven from green grass appeared by her ear, forming a rainbow with that flower garland.
“Did anyone from the Salt Transport Office give you trouble today?”
Wei Qin did not deny it, which was expected.
Jiang Yinyue had transformed amid rumors and gossip. She understood the plight of being targeted and, out of chivalrous spirit, planned to take Wei Qin out for a drink.
All hardships could be drowned in one gulp of wine.
“But I’m not drinking.”
She crossed her arms, putting on a properly serious demeanor.
Since it was her suggestion, Wei Qin naturally would not dampen her spirits easily. They went to that same yellow wine shop from before. Seeing the only wine table inside occupied by diners, they bought two small jars of yellow wine to take back and taste.
Night fell, stars dotted the sky. The long alley, not brightly lit, was quiet and still, with occasional dog barks echoing over the walls.
Wei Qin squatted in front of Jiang Yinyue again, just like last time in the snow.
The young lady, who had walked until somewhat tired, did not act coy. She carried one jar of wine in each hand and climbed onto Wei Qin’s back.
Her view lifted higher. She tilted her head to gaze at the starry river, drawing a bit closer to the myriad stars.
The bright moon elongated their overlapping shadows, while the projections of the two wine jars on the ground swayed unsteadily to either side.
With words flowing freely, Jiang Yinyue cast aside the awkwardness between them. She chattered nonstop into Wei Qin’s ear like spilling beans—mostly words of comfort, even though Wei Qin felt no discomfort from being excluded.
The iron walls of his heart were not so easily breached.
But with someone comforting at his side, who wouldn’t want to accept that care?
Wei Qin was no exception. He listened quietly, nodding occasionally.
At the alley’s fork, Wei Xichen watched the pair’s receding figures. His hands hanging at his sides felt somewhat cold.
That quick-witted little charmer had once been his little childhood sweetheart.
Flowers withered and bloomed again, spring light still bright and beautiful. It was just that the green plums had bloomed on another branch.