The parrot pecked down the birdseed from Yan Qing’s hand, and in high contentment bounced about singing, “Little star, little star.”

“Who is it?” Yan Qing put away the birdseed.

“A servant from the Liu household.”

“The Liu household?” Yan Qing considered a moment. “Would that be Liu Huan’s family — the top fabric merchant in Shun Cheng?”

“That’s right.”

Yan Qing went to the sitting room. A servant was standing there with proper decorum. Seeing her, he bowed in greeting. “Greetings, Sixth Miss. I am a servant of Mr. Liu Huan’s household. By the order of the master and mistress, you are invited to come visit the residence.”

At the poetry gathering some time ago, Yan Qing had formed an excellent impression of Madam Liu, Shi Xin. And having heard that she was Shi Ting’s own elder sister made her feel even more warmly toward her.

Yan Qing did not decline. “Since Mr. Liu and Madam have extended an invitation, give me a moment to prepare, and I can leave.”

“Sixth Miss need not hurry. I will wait.”

Yan Qing chose from her wardrobe a white ankle-length dress with a layered ruffle collar, with white calfskin shoes to match.

When Jing Zhi was helping her put on the shoes, the heel was a little narrow and needed a shoe horn to slip her foot in.

Watching Jing Zhi crouch down in an awkward position, Yan Qing instinctively lifted her right foot. Although it wasn’t much of a lift, Jing Zhi froze.

She rubbed her eyes vigorously, convinced she must have been mistaken. “Miss — just now… did you lift your foot by yourself just then?”

Yan Qing also looked in surprise at her own foot, and her expression quickly turned to joy. “Yes.”

“Miss, your foot can move on its own.” Jing Zhi called out happily to Murong. “Murong, come quick and see — the young miss lifted her foot by herself!”

Murong rushed over and crouched down. “Miss, let me look.”

Yan Qing didn’t want to rush things. She steadied herself inwardly, then slowly lowered her foot again. To anyone else this exceedingly simple movement would have been nothing at all — yet for Yan Qing it required an enormous expenditure of effort and strength.

A prickling sensation came to Murong’s eyes. “Miss, this is wonderful. Your legs truly can recover.”

Jing Zhi wiped her eyes. “I’m going to tell the Master this good news right now.”

“Jing Zhi.” Yan Qing stopped her. “Don’t tell anyone about this.”

“Why not?” Jing Zhi didn’t understand.

Yan Qing gave a faint smile, with a trace of sadness in it. “Because this is how you see people for who they really are.”

“See people for who they really are? What do you mean?”

Murong flicked her on the forehead. “Just do as the young miss says.”

Jing Zhi grinned. “All right, I promise to keep it absolutely secret.”

The mistress and her two maids arrived at the Liu Mansion by carriage. A servant promptly went in to announce them, and before long, Liu Huan and his wife Shi Xin came out to welcome them in person.

Shi Xin wore a midnight-blue padded qipao with white silk trim along the seams, her hair arranged in a fashionable coiled bun with a jeweled hairpin placed through the center.

Her complexion was fair, her brows fine and her eyes delicate, like a figure from a painting.

As for Liu Huan, though he was not tall, he carried himself with quiet refinement. Behind the round lenses of his spectacles, narrow eyes gleamed with the shrewdness of a man of commerce.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Shi Xin led Yan Qing inside.

Passing through a moon-arch gate brought them to the inner courtyard — the private quarters where the couple rested and went about their daily lives.

In the garden stood a banyan tree so thick that three people linking hands could just encircle it. Its canopy spread wide as a blanket, casting the ground beneath in a pool of cool shade.

Under the canopy sat a round marble table, its surface striated with natural patterns, worth no small sum. Several matching round stools were tied with thick cool-weather cushions embroidered with lifelike birds and flowers.

Shi Xin drew Yan Qing to sit at the round table, and a servant immediately brought tea.

“This is a black tea that Jing Xian brought back from overseas,” Shi Xin said, introducing it warmly. “Apparently it’s a variety favored by royalty, though I find it nothing particularly special.”

Jing Xian was Liu Huan’s courtesy name, and in the intimacy of Shi Xin’s way of referring to him, one could sense that the couple enjoyed a very deep affection.

Liu Huan said, “After I returned from overseas and saw the designs Miss Yan had drawn, I was deeply impressed, and could not wait to have my wife invite Miss Yan over. I hope we have not imposed too much.”

Yan Qing smiled. “Is Mr. Liu interested in non-woven fabric?”

“Non-woven fabric has low production costs, yet it is highly practical. If it can be put into production, it will replace many costly fabrics on the market.” Liu Huan’s eyes lit up with excitement when he spoke of textiles. “How did Miss Yan come to know this method of production?”

“A friend told me about it, as well.” Yan Qing answered carefully. “Now that I have given the formula to Mr. Liu, I will not interfere with how he chooses to develop non-woven fabric — but if Mr. Liu does succeed in producing it, I would ask him to make some surgical gowns and disposable face masks. The forensic examiners at the Military Police Bureau work day after day in worn-out surgical gowns, which is not only inconvenient but also hazardous to their health. As for cotton face masks — they ward off the cold, but they cannot stop bacteria.”

Liu Huan and Shi Xin looked at her in surprise. It had never occurred to them that Yan Qing had given away the production formula for non-woven fabric without expecting anything in return — all for the sake of surgical gowns, for the forensic examiners of the Military Police Bureau.

Liu Huan couldn’t help but express his admiration. “Miss Yan’s generosity and sense of public duty put me to shame. I give Miss Yan my word — as soon as non-woven fabric is successfully produced, the first batch will go toward making surgical gowns and face masks for you.”

“Then I am most grateful to Mr. Liu.”

The group continued to chat for a while, until Shi Xin glanced toward the back kitchen. “It’s almost noon. Please stay for lunch, Miss Yan. We’ve just taken on a new cook, and I haven’t had the chance to taste his cooking in quite some time.”

Yan Qing thought privately — a new cook, and you haven’t tasted his cooking in quite some time? Weren’t those two things contradictory?

Yan Qing was about to decline, but Shi Xin took her hand. “Sixth Miss, please don’t stand on ceremony — it’s just a simple meal.”

“Then I won’t presume to refuse.” Yan Qing could find no gracious way to insist, and stayed.

A servant soon set out bowls and chopsticks — white porcelain bowls with gold rims, and black bamboo chopsticks with gold filigree patterns at the top.

Once the place settings were arranged, several servants began bringing dishes in one after another, each covered with a silver dome.

“This dish is called oil-blasted double crispies,” a maid said, lifting the cover, and Shi Xin proceeded to make introductions. “Timing is everything with this dish. One second short and it’s undercooked; one second too long and it loses its crunch. Few cooks dare attempt it without considerable skill.”

The oil-blasted double crispies used the tips of pork tripe and sliced chicken gizzard, delicately prepared by the knife, then flash-fried in sizzling oil.

“This dish is braised sea cucumber. It uses the finest sea cucumber from the Taishan region — thick-fleshed, savory, and rich in nourishment. I understand that Miss Yan’s maternal uncle is from Taishan.”

“This one is my husband’s favorite — called First-Grade Tofu. Though it looks like plain tofu, the filling inside is exceptionally refined.”

Dish after dish was carried to the table, and with Shi Xin’s descriptions, each seemed to take on a life of its own.

“Master, Madam, all dishes have been served,” the servant said respectfully, standing to one side.

Shi Xin smiled. “And the cook?”

“Still washing up and changing clothes.”

“Then we’ll wait for him a moment.”

Yan Qing thought to herself — this Liu household certainly has particular ways. They even invite the cook to sit at the same table for meals.

After a while, someone came walking along the stone path from the rear courtyard. A sweep of green robe moved through the foliage, and the figure’s exceptional bearing drew even the butterflies fluttering closer.

“Ah, here comes the cook,” Shi Xin said with a smile, waving her hand.

Yan Qing turned around in curiosity — and a familiar figure entered her field of vision unexpectedly, making her heart skip two beats.

Shi Ting?

He was wearing a green long changshan robe, the standing collar making his posture seem all the more upright. His hair appeared to have been trimmed slightly shorter, revealing a neat hairline.

She had seen him in a dress shirt, in uniform, in a jacket — but this was the first time she had ever seen him in this traditional robe. The impression it gave was of a refined and cultured gentleman, warm as jade.

He seemed not in the least surprised to see her. Under her bewildered gaze, he walked over at an easy pace and sat down naturally in the seat beside her.

“No need for me to introduce you, I think,” Shi Xin said with a smile. “I’ve long heard Xing Zhi say that Miss Yan has helped the Military Police Bureau solve several major cases and is truly a great asset to them.”

Yan Qing hadn’t quite recovered from her surprise, and quickly replied, “You’re too kind.”

“All the dishes on this table are Xing Zhi’s handiwork.” Shi Xin’s face was radiant with pride. “He used to love cooking. Now that he’s busy with official matters, he spends less and less time in the kitchen — all told, it’s been half a year since I last had food made by his own hands. Miss Yan has come at just the right moment. Please join us and see how Xing Zhi’s cooking measures up.”

Yan Qing glanced discreetly at Shi Ting. He happened to be looking at her at the same moment. Compared to her own restraint, he appeared perfectly composed. “Eat.”

“Did you really make all of this?”

“Yes.” Shi Ting picked up a piece of sea cucumber and placed it in Yan Qing’s bowl. “Try some.”

Yan Qing noticed that Liu Huan and Shi Xin were both watching her with smiles, and her face immediately warmed. She quickly lowered her head.

To mask her embarrassment, she took refuge in eating. But what she hadn’t anticipated was that these dishes, already so appealing to the eye, were even more extraordinary to the taste — particularly the oil-blasted double crispies, crisp yet tender, the timing of the heat utterly masterful.

Yan Qing thought to herself — was there anything in this world this man could not do?

“Xing Zhi, don’t spend all your time giving food to Miss Yan. I notice you’ve barely eaten yourself.” Shi Xin said teasingly.

Shi Ting replied, “She’s thin-skinned. If I don’t put things in her bowl, she’ll be too shy to help herself.”

Yan Qing shot him a look that was meant as a reproach — but in the eyes of the onlookers, it came across as playful flirtation.

Liu Huan poured Shi Ting a cup of wine, and the two drank while discussing affairs of state.

Yan Qing watched Shi Ting hold his pale celadon wine cup and down cup after cup without so much as a change of color in his face. She found herself wondering privately — so he could drink wine too. Would he get drunk?

“No.” He seemed to read her thoughts, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly, his voice lowered.

Yan Qing felt thoroughly flustered, and buried her face in her rice bowl.

After the meal, the servants cleared the table and brought out fresh tea — this time green tea in place of black, its fragrance faint and refreshing, pleasant to the senses.

“Xing Zhi, take Miss Yan for a walk and see the grounds,” Shi Xin said. “The lotus flowers by the lake are in bloom right now. They’re at their most beautiful.”

“All right.” Shi Ting rose and pushed Yan Qing’s wheelchair forward. “I’ll take you to have a look.”

After the two departed, Liu Huan gave a helpless sigh. “Xin’er, are you deliberately trying to play matchmaker?”

“They’re a perfect match — handsome and accomplished, beautiful and intelligent.” Shi Xin smiled. “And they clearly have feelings for each other. I’m merely acting as a guiding hand.”

“Yet you know well enough that this Miss Yan of the Yan family has a marriage arrangement with your second brother, Shi Guang. Doing this — are you certain there’s no problem?”