Accompanied by the sound of grinding gravel, the city gate slowly opened. Coming into view were Lou Yao in official robes and He Zhaojun with her swollen belly. The two groups of people inside and outside the city gate were all somewhat distracted. Shaoshang had kicked Cheng Shaoshang off the carriage two li from Yao County and climbed inside herself. Now she lifted the curtain slightly to peek out secretly.

Lou Yao stepped forward several paces, bowing to the ground according to propriety, addressing himself as this humble official and inviting everyone to enter the city. Cheng Shaoshang moved close to the carriage, saying in a low voice: “Look at the terrible idea you came up with. I remember Lou Yao used to call Marquis Huo ‘Brother Zicheng.'”

Shaoshang also lowered her voice: “What terrible idea! I originally planned to visit Lou Yao alone by myself, look and leave, completely unnoticed. Who knew it would turn out like this?!”

“Of all the plans you’ve made for yourself over the years, which one ever went smoothly?”

“Third Brother, you just go figure out your broken divinations!”

After finishing their whispered exchange, Shaoshang still had to get off the carriage to meet people.

Six years had passed in a flash. The former Young Master Lou had now grown to full stature, nearly as tall as Huo Buyi. Probably to display a county magistrate’s dignity, he’d even grown two wisps of faint mustache. Shaoshang had been full of worries, but upon seeing this facial hair, she laughed: “Why grow a beard when everything was fine? It ages you several years for no reason.”

Lou Yao had originally been somewhat uncomfortable, but hearing this familiar and uninhibited joking remark, carefree youthful memories seemed like yesterday. He also smiled: “I wanted to grow a beard back then too, but you insisted it was unbearably ugly. Didn’t your letter say you’d come next month? Why did you come early?”

Shaoshang laughed: “I’ll come whenever I want. Would you refuse to open the city gate? Hurry up and bring out fine wine and good food. If you slight your honored guests, I’ll pawn all the gold items I made for your child!”

Lou Yao was as good-tempered as ever: “Gold items or not, it’s all fine. We haven’t seen each other in so many years—I must treat you well no matter what, as long as you stop mocking my beard.”

Shaoshang was about to speak again when Huo Buyi behind her coughed lightly. She hurriedly said: “Growing a beard displays a grown man’s dignity—a trivial technique. Look at Lord Huo—he’s nearly thirty, right? Even without a long beard, who dares look down on him?!”

Her original intention was flattery, but to Huo Buyi’s ears it sounded like she was complaining about his age. His face immediately darkened, his eyes cold and gloomy, saying coolly: “Lady He, it’s been a long while. His Majesty was just recently thinking about the completed Worthy Ministers’ Shrine—your late father will be among the first group enshrined there.”

He Zhaojun’s expression was as haughty as ever. Supported by a maid, she curtsied slightly: “This humble wife thanks Marquis Huo. His Majesty’s profound grace and favor—the He family has no way to repay it. Stepmother wrote that every year people from the capital bestow rewards to our hometown. Once my youngest brother comes of age, he can receive an official title.”

Huo Buyi said: “How is Madam faring in Yao County?”

He Zhaojun glanced at her husband: “Can’t say good or bad—just ordinary days. Fortunately, the commandery magistrate above has old ties with Father and often provides care. Even though my husband lacks sufficient authority, at least he can maintain control.”

Seeing Lou Yao sigh lightly, Shaoshang thought: He Zhaojun is indeed still the same.

Lou Xi beside them emerged, saying indignantly: “Sister-in-law belittles Elder Brother too much! How can you say he relies entirely on the commandery magistrate’s care? Over these years, Elder Brother has encouraged agriculture and sericulture, built water conservancy projects. In terms of population growth and accumulated grain taxes, he’s among the top in all of Yu Province, often receiving Governor Liang’s commendations!”

Shaoshang’s eyes lit up: “You built water conservancy projects?”

Lou Yao smiled faintly: “Some of those blueprints you drew could actually be used.”

Past memories surged up—two youths who didn’t know the height of heaven or depth of earth, gathering together chattering about how to fulfill their ambitions in the future. Shaoshang’s eyes grew moist. She stepped forward and declared loudly: “Yao, though you’re in adverse circumstances, you haven’t become discouraged or dejected. Being a parent official to one place, bringing benefit to one place’s people—such broad-mindedness, I am not your equal.”

Lou Yao hadn’t heard such sincere and moving praise in so many years. He couldn’t help revealing his youthful habit, bashfully scratching his head: “Shaoshang, having you say this, these years I…”

Just as he was about to continue, Huo Buyi coughed heavily, his face covered with frost, as if he’d just returned from a trip through ice and snow.

Lou Yao and Shaoshang both had a strong survival instinct and simultaneously fell silent.

That evening, a welcoming banquet was laid out in the county office. Huo Buyi took the seat of honor as his due. The Cheng siblings sat facing the Lou-He couple, plus Lou Xi at the lowest seat.

Shaoshang calmed her emotions and had the martial maids carry out a chest—inside were gifts she’d prepared long ago. She smiled at the Lou-He couple: “Old friends unseen for many years—seeing the worthy couple’s demeanor unchanged brings comfort to this humble wife’s heart. Why not bring out the children for me to meet, so I can express my sincere intentions?”

She felt these words were quite elegant, but who knew He Zhaojun would sneer coldly again: “I dare not accept. This humble wife is incompetent. Though married to my husband for many years, I’ve only just now conceived.”

Everyone in the hall froze.

Having grown up under Lady Xiao’s influence, Cheng Shaoshang’s first reaction to the “when something goes wrong, it’s definitely Father’s fault” pattern was that Lou Yao really hadn’t worked hard enough at “the matter.” Shaoshang’s heart jumped nervously, wondering if they’d been discordant all these years? Only Huo Buyi’s thoughts turned, his expression gradually easing.

Shaoshang changed the subject: “Xi, are you visiting Yao County? Where’s your husband?” At this time, there was no clear distinction in hairstyle or dress between married and unmarried women. Lou Xi was a year younger than her—about twenty this year—so she guessed Lou Xi had come to visit her cousin’s home together with her husband.

Lou Xi seemed to have had unsatisfactory years, her eyes full of cold mockery and angry resentment. Since their reunion, aside from casting a few glances mixing love and resentment at Huo Buyi, she’d constantly worn an expression as if others owed her money. Now she said angrily: “Both parents passed away one after another. I’ve been in mourning until now and haven’t yet discussed a marriage!”

Shaoshang exclaimed: “Grand… ahem, your father and mother both passed away?”

Lou Yao said quietly: “Six years ago, Grand Uncle… Aunt returned to her parents’ home. One day while traveling, she was killed by bandits. Over two years ago, Uncle also died of melancholy illness.”

Shaoshang was dumbfounded. Shaoshang leaned over whispering: “Can you speak properly tonight? You keep bringing up sore points.”

“Let’s discuss proper business instead…” Shaoshang didn’t dare continue ‘reminiscing,’ pushing her brother away and forcing a smile to find conversation. “County Magistrate Lou, these past few days I encountered a group…”

He Zhaojun suddenly exclaimed, pressing her abdomen, her face showing pain. Lou Yao turned to see his wife’s skirt soaked, immediately calling loudly: “My wife is giving birth! Come quickly!”

Saying this, he swept up his wife horizontally and rushed toward the rear hall like the wind, not even having time to excuse himself to the guests. Then servants inside and outside the hall sprang into action, some walking, some running—complete chaos. Cheng Shaoshang saw his chance and slipped away.

Shaoshang stood blankly in place: “What… did I say wrong this time?” But she hadn’t said anything yet.

Huo Buyi slowly walked to her side, smiling: “You said nothing wrong. You care about their couple. We might as well follow and see.”

Shaoshang felt somewhat horrified: “Why are you suddenly so good-tempered…” Just now your face looked frozen over.

Huo Buyi smiled, pulling her to follow the direction the servants were running.

To welcome the honored guests, the county office had hung the long corridors full of bright red lanterns, illuminating people’s faces in crimson.

Shaoshang had drunk several cups of wine earlier. Now the wine’s effects surged up. Her body softly leaned against Huo Buyi’s arm as she said woodenly: “Don’t be hot and cold. It makes my heart uneasy.”

Huo Buyi said in a low voice: “You feeling uneasy? I don’t believe it. No one in the world can vex me more than you.”

“Really.” Shaoshang tugged his sleeve. “When you’re happy, my heart feels more at ease. When your face is cold, my heart grows vexed.”

Huo Buyi laughed lowly: “Before, I thought you were toying with me—a few words making me half-dead with anger, then a few more words coaxing me back around. You’d watch me from the side, sometimes angry, sometimes beside myself with joy, secretly pleased.”

“…Ah, how could that be?”

“Before, I was angry at being controlled by you. Later, after five years at the frontier, I finally realized—I’d rather let you anger me and coax me than be alone and lonely.”

Huo Buyi looked down to find the girl staring up at him blankly. He smiled and asked what was wrong.

Shaoshang shook her head: “I’ve been alone since childhood. I originally thought that people come into this world alone. Even if occasionally someone accompanies you, it won’t last long. Like passing through scenery—once you’ve seen the scenery, you must continue forward.”

Huo Buyi silently stroked her hair for a while, saying: “You’re thinking incorrectly.”

“I know.” Shaoshang said dully. “I feel like a dark black cavern. Except for me, everywhere around is brightly lit. Only me—forever pitch black.”

She raised her head, her face bright as sunset clouds. “Then you came, holding a fiercely blazing torch, illuminating the cavern completely. I knew this was tremendous good fortune, but didn’t know how to respond.”

Huo Buyi felt a wave of sadness. He understood what she meant—like a child accustomed to cold who, upon sudden warmth, doesn’t know what to do. He tightly embraced the girl’s soft waist, pressing his forehead down against the top of her head, saying lowly: “I’ve harmed you deeply, made you suffer much. But I also cannot let you go. I only hope that year after year to come, I can treat you well.”

Shaoshang couldn’t withstand the pressure of his forehead. Giggling, she buried her head in his chest: “Listen—over there shouting and calling in chaos, He Zhaojun is having severe labor pains. Yet here we are absorbed in ourselves. Isn’t that too inconsiderate?”

Huo Buyi suddenly sighed: “Now, besides hoping Yuan Shen has smooth sailing and good health, I’m also starting to hope He Zhaojun gives birth safely and Lou Yao lives to old age together with her. Being anxious about gains and losses like this—I really am getting old.”

Shaoshang said: “You’ve been hinting and warning me openly and covertly—do you think I don’t know? Just now when I said you’re nearly thirty, you were unhappy again. Alas, rest assured—aside from you, I’ve never once looked back in this life.” Whether parents or childhood, once those connections passed, they passed. She’d never thought of trying to recover anything.

The two walked and talked. Before long, they reached the county office’s rear courtyard. Maidservants went in and out. Lou Yao paced anxiously in circles in the courtyard—just short of wearing smoke into the blue bricks.

Huo Buyi tilted his head, whispering: “You asked why I’m suddenly so good-tempered—first, you didn’t know Lou Xi’s recent situation, didn’t know about Lou Jing couple’s deaths, weren’t even clear whether He Zhaojun had children. This shows you’ve had no contact with Lou Yao these years.”

Shaoshang sighed: “Avoiding suspicion. These years when things came up, I only corresponded with He Zhaojun, and never asked about their private matters. This time, I also thought that with matters past and settled, everyone could be calm and collected, so I came.”

Huo Buyi didn’t comment on her plan, continuing: “Second, with He Zhaojun’s temperament, if Lou Yao treated her coldly, she would have clamored about it long ago. But she only said she herself was incompetent, which shows Lou Yao treats her fairly harmoniously in daily life.”

“Right, right! Just now, though their words didn’t match well, Lou Yao remembered to add an extra layer of soft padding to He Zhaojun’s seat, and He Zhaojun reminded Lou Yao to have a bowl of soup before drinking wine.” Shaoshang remembered.

Huo Buyi chided: “Good that you know!”

The two sat by the courtyard edge waiting quietly, constantly reassuring Lou Yao. Shaoshang even contributed the elderly physician traveling with her convoy to assist with He Zhaojun’s delivery. After over half an hour more, cries of pain continuously came from the birthing room. Shaoshang was fine, but Huo Buyi’s expression grew increasingly grave.

The old physician emerged from the birthing room. Lou Yao rushed forward asking about the situation. The old physician said: “All is well. Your honored wife is young and robust, the fetal position is also correct. She should give birth soon.”

At this moment, a maidservant came out flustered, kneeling before Lou Yao: “Reporting to the magistrate, my mistress wishes to see Young Lady Cheng!”

“Ah, why see me?” Shaoshang was puzzled.

The maidservant said urgently: “My mistress says she won’t make it, and has deathbed matters to entrust to Young Lady Cheng!”

“But the physician said Zhaojun is perfectly fine!” Lou Yao’s voice changed with anxiety.

The old physician smiled wryly: “Women giving birth are always like this. We physicians think everything is acceptable, but they think they won’t make it.”

Huo Buyi kept a stern face: “Shaoshang, don’t go in. It’ll just add to the chaos.”—Deathbed entrustment? Entrust what? Did he think he couldn’t guess such an old clichéd story!

Shaoshang was still hesitating when suddenly a clear infant’s cry came from the birthing room, followed by another maidservant stumbling out, incoherent with joy: “Congratulations, magistrate! Congratulations, honored guests! My mistress has given birth—it’s a young master!”

Lou Yao was overjoyed beyond measure, dancing excitedly, bouncing around ordering rewards for everyone.

Shaoshang was dazed: “…Uh, do I still need to go in?”

Huo Buyi pulled her away irritably.