“Madam.”

Hearing her voice, the maidservant pushed open the door and came in.

Qiao Mu looked up, saw it was the same face as before, and her eyebrows drooped in disappointment.

“It’s nothing. Go on out.”

She waved a hand and lay back down.

If she’d known these ungrateful men had no conscience, she never would have agreed to stay behind.

On New Year’s Eve, she’d eaten alone, slept alone, and woken up alone — was that an easy thing to bear?

Seeing her mistress looking utterly listless, the maidservant crept forward cautiously.

“Madam, are you really alright?

Are you hungry, perhaps?”

“Not hungry — I’m so annoyed I could burst!”

Qiao Mu flipped over with a huff, hugging her blanket, her back turned to the door.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside.

“Who made our treasure angry?

Who was it?

Come out obediently and face your punishment!”

Feng Jiu’er strode in with light, brisk steps.

Managing to accomplish so much today had left her thoroughly satisfied.

“Xiao Mei, who upset Madam?”

Xiao Yingtao went straight to the bedside and sat down.

She leaned in toward the person on the bed and reached out to tug at the blanket.

Feng Jiu’er sat down by the table, felt the teapot, and then picked up a cup to pour herself some tea.

“Miss Jiu’er, Miss Xiao Yingtao, you’re back.”

The maidservant cupped her hands toward the two of them.

“I don’t really know what’s wrong with Madam either. She had just woken up and seemed upset about something — maybe she had a nightmare.”

“You had a nightmare?”

Xiao Yingtao tugged at the blanket again.

“You’re the one having a nightmare!”

Qiao Mu muttered, hugging the blanket tighter, still refusing to turn around.

“Time for a late-night snack — we’re having sweet rice dumplings tonight.”

Xiao Yingtao gave the shape under the blanket a little shake.

“Go away! I want to rest.”

Qiao Mu shoved Xiao Yingtao’s arm.

“You just had a nightmare, and now you want to sleep more?”

Feng Jiu’er, taking a sip of tea, teased her softly.

“I said I didn’t!”

Qiao Mu still refused to turn around.

Xiao Yingtao gently rubbed her head, then leaned in close to her ear and said, “Qin Chun and the others have been preparing tonight’s rice dumplings for a long time.”

“There’s red bean, black sesame, peanut, and — my favorite — chestnut flavor.”

Just as Qiao Mu started to turn over, Xiao Yingtao straightened up and pulled back a little, putting some distance between them.

Sure enough, the woman shot upright on the bed at once.

“Chestnut flavor is the one I like! You can have your red bean! Xiao Mei, get my clothes ready — I’m going to go eat rice dumplings.”

“Yes, Madam.”

The maidservant bowed with a smile.

She’d known all along — as long as Miss Jiu’er and Miss Xiao Yingtao came back, Madam would be just fine.

The maidservant prepared washing supplies for Qiao Mu, and Xiao Yingtao personally helped groom and dress the beautiful lady.

Before long, the maidservant pushed open the door of the room.

Stepping out from the inner chamber, Qiao Mu could already hear the commotion outside — it seemed this reunion night wasn’t as lonely as she’d imagined.

The door of the room was pushed open, and as Qiao Mu looked up, her spirits instantly lifted.

At the courtyard gate stood a tall figure on horseback.

The man rode in, glanced around inside, then leapt down from his horse and handed the reins to a servant who had come up to meet him.

Feng Jiang looked somewhat worn from travel — one glance was enough to tell he’d ridden a long way.

“Brother-in-law is back.”

A woman’s voice rang out across the courtyard.

In an instant, all the girls gathered together turned to look outside.

Qiao Mu glanced at everyone, then stepped forward and hurried toward Feng Jiang.

The two of them met, and the man’s long arms swept forward, gently pulling the woman into his embrace.

“Wife, aren’t you cold?

Let’s go inside, shall we?”

“I’m not cold.”

Qiao Mu looked up. “What’s the situation at the North City Gate?”

Feng Jiang bent down, pressed a kiss to Qiao Mu’s forehead, and pulled her close as they walked back inside.

“I can handle it. There’s no need for you to trouble yourself.”