Qin Yao’s face burned. She glanced back at Wang Yingning and the others, and said quietly to Lin Xiao: “There are people everywhere right now — let go first, and later when there are fewer people, I’ll let you hold it again.”

Lin Xiao was privately amused. He couldn’t very well blame himself for the momentary lapse — it was that ever since the betrothal edict had come down, he had without thinking already begun to regard Qin Yao as his wife, and so his conduct had shed quite a few of its former restraints.

But now that his hand was already holding hers, there was really no reason to let go again. He lowered his gaze with a smile and said: “They’ve all already seen. If I let go now, wouldn’t that be trying to cover up the obvious?”

Liu Bingyu and the others, watching from a distance, saw that Qin Yao looked rather flustered. Finally realizing it was inappropriate to stay there any longer, they very tactfully boarded their carriage and swept off, leaving Qin Yao behind.

Lin Xiao watched it all with evident amusement, the smile in his eyes becoming more pronounced. “Your classmates are all very good.”

Qin Yao could not help but laugh herself. Without her friends’ audience, the awkwardness she’d been feeling eased considerably, and she looked Lin Xiao over properly.

Lin Xiao was fair-complexioned with a cool, composed bearing, and could carry off almost any color of clothing. Today’s bamboo-green round-collar robe patterned with flowing water and eight-treasure brocade in gold thread was the sort of style he habitually wore — neat and clean, making him appear all the more like a piece of fine jade.

Having just had her eyes so thoroughly broadened at Luoni Zhai, Qin Yao immediately recognized that the fabric of Lin Xiao’s robe was called flowing-cloud brocade, worth an extraordinary sum and beyond the reach of common people. Seeing him wear it with such casual ease, she found it simply and indescribably pleasing to behold.

What pleased Qin Yao most was that the pouch at Lin Xiao’s waist was the very one she had sewn with her own hands.

Lin Xiao followed Qin Yao’s gaze down to his own waist and shared in her smile. Since the day Qin Yao had given him that pouch, he had not taken it off once. Every time he thought of how every stitch and thread on that pouch had passed through Qin Yao’s hands, he wished he could wear it with him always.

He praised her: “You made it wonderfully — even Granny Wen couldn’t stop expressing her admiration.”

There is no greater joy in this world than having one’s earnest efforts recognized and praised. Although the tone of Lin Xiao’s voice carried an obvious note of encouragement, Qin Yao still broke into a wide, radiant smile.

Perhaps it was because the two of them had lived through so much together — Lin Xiao always seemed able to catch her every small thought. Every time they spent time together, Qin Yao would find herself smiling from the heart again and again. When it came down to it, they had known each other for not quite a full year, yet Qin Yao felt as though she and Lin Xiao had been acquainted for a very long time.

The two walked side by side, talking as they went, Lin Xiao’s hand never once loosening its hold.

“What were you doing in the shop just now — having clothes made?” Lin Xiao asked.

“Mm. A classmate brought me there. The clothes are beautiful, just a bit on the expensive side.”

Lin Xiao knew she was reluctant to spend her parents’ money. He turned his head to look at her and smiled. “Our A’Yao is now a person with shops under her name. The annual income from those shops is more than enough for you to buy whatever takes your fancy — a few pieces of clothing are a small matter. If you see something you like, just buy it.”

He had deliberately chosen several shops situated in busy, flourishing markets, dealing in the sorts of things a young woman would find appealing — cosmetics, jewelry, and even the Fuchun Zhai pastry shop that she and her senior martial brother loved — so that when Qin Yao came to deal with shop affairs later on, she would find it easier to manage.

Qin Yao went a deep red, and said to Lin Xiao with some embarrassment: “That coming-of-age gift yesterday was far too valuable — I didn’t even know what to say.”

She lowered her head to look at the toes of her shoes. All Lin Xiao could see was her clean, jade-smooth profile and the dark, lustrous softness of her hair. Her earlobe — white, full, and round as a pearl — bore a small magnolia jade earring that swayed gently with her downward bow, dancing lightly at her ear.

Lin Xiao adored this delicate and beautiful way of hers to the extreme. His heart stirred with a restless longing; he could barely stop himself from pulling her into his arms right then and pressing his lips to hers. In the end he held back, out of consideration for the many passersby, and merely reached out to touch the smooth coil of her hair, saying: “Between a husband and wife, there should be one heart and one body — there is no need for such formality.”

Qin Yao also knew that Lin Xiao did not wish to hear her say thank you. She raised her eyes to look at him, and saw the way he looked at her — as though she were some priceless and incomparable treasure in the world. Her heart filled at once like a stream of moonlight being poured into it, illuminating every corner of her innermost self, leaving not a trace of hesitation or doubt.

She pulled Lin Xiao forward by the hand and laughed: “Today it was you yourself who said you’d spend the whole day keeping me company. From now on, wherever we eat and whatever we do — it’s all up to my arrangements. No backing out at the last moment.”

Lin Xiao, naturally, had no grounds for refusal.

Since the betrothal edict had come down, he had had to oversee preparations for the Emperor’s autumn hunt while also preparing for his marriage to Qin Yao. Though the Ministry of Rites handled the specific details, Prince Lan was a person who kept his hands out of everything, and Cui Shi was being held in secret detention at the Court of Justice — all matters requiring the parties’ own decisions had ultimately fallen on Lin Xiao’s shoulders.

In recent days, Lin Xiao had hardly found time to visit Qin Yao, let alone sleep a full night’s sleep.

After wandering about all morning, Qin Yao was by now quite hungry. Passing an unassuming food stall, her eyes lit up. “The cold fish and the pickled fish belly here are wonderfully good. Shall we go in and try some?” Lin Xiao glanced toward the stall in the direction she was looking, and sure enough the place was bustling with customers, evidently well known. Since Qin Yao liked it, he said: “Let’s go.”

When the dishes arrived, Qin Yao picked out all the choicest, most tender morsels of fish and placed them in Lin Xiao’s bowl, then looked at him with a gaze full of expectation. “Try some.”

Lin Xiao raised his chopsticks and tasted a bite. The fish truly melted in the mouth — the preparation was exceptional. He smiled and nodded.

Qin Yao knew that years of deep-rooted upbringing had instilled in him the discipline of not speaking at meals, so this was already the most satisfied of expressions. Greatly encouraged, she ladled a bowl of fish broth for Lin Xiao as well, keeping herself busily and happily occupied.

Lin Xiao finished that meal in a state of profound contentment, body and spirit both at ease.

The two of them came out and continued to stroll without purpose through the streets of Chang’an. Even saying nothing and doing nothing, they felt an indescribable sense of warmth and ease.

Qin Yao thought of the Wei Duke’s manor’s capitulation in the matter of Xia Di’s marriage, and kept feeling that Lin Xiao’s hand must have been somewhere in the pushing and steering of it. With that thought turning in her mind, she could not help but ask: “The reason our betrothal proceeded so smoothly — did it have something to do with what happened in Xia’s family?”

Lin Xiao did not deny it. “Indeed. Precisely because it was necessary to spare Xia Di’s embarrassment, the Imperial Uncle arranged for all of our betrothals to be settled this early.”

Qin Yao was greatly surprised. “But didn’t the Wei Duke take an extremely unyielding stance before? Why did he ultimately agree to let his son marry Feng Chuyue?”

Lin Xiao felt a flash of displeasure at the mention of Xia Di’s name and said with a frown: “Two years ago, when the Wei Duke’s household was still in Shu, a local wealthy man’s younger son spoke with considerable disrespect about the Wei Duke’s family. Xia Di happened to overhear, and the two of them came to blows. Afterward, whether by intent or accident, Xia Di beat that man to death. The man’s parents refused to let the matter rest and had their people bind Xia Di and bring charges against him at the local county government. Under our dynasty’s laws, if one commits a crime during the period of one’s family’s banishment, the punishment is execution. The Wei Duke personally went to the county yamen to arrange matters. The county magistrate at the time was a man named Cheng — it is unclear what the Wei Duke promised him, but this man agreed to help the Wei Duke suppress the matter of Xia Di—”

Qin Yao was startled. “A murder case could be suppressed? The Wei Duke must have promised that Magistrate Cheng enormous benefits.”

“Indeed.” A contemptuous expression crossed Lin Xiao’s face. “Earlier this year, when the Wei Duke’s family were summoned back to Chang’an, they recalled the matter of Magistrate Cheng and ultimately felt it was a lingering risk. They sent someone to assassinate that magistrate. But this man narrowly escaped death, and after several months of recovery, he survived against all odds. Remembering how the Wei Duke had gone back on his word, he was filled with bitter resentment, and came to Chang’an to make trouble for the Wei Duke.”

Qin Yao understood immediately. From time immemorial, those with nothing to lose have no fear of those with everything — once this man, holding a minor position, had decided to turn against the Wei Duke, he would certainly bite down hard and refuse to let go. No wonder the Wei Duke’s household had been so quickly and completely gripped, as if a hand had closed around their soft underbelly, and changed their position so swiftly.

But how had this matter of leverage ended up in Lin Xiao’s hands?

Lin Xiao saw Qin Yao’s questioning gaze and said frankly: “When this man came to Chang’an, he had suffered greatly along the way. His old wound flared up and he collapsed in the city. He was found by my men during their patrol and taken in custody as a vagrant. When questioned, Magistrate Cheng thought his own life was near its end. So consumed was he by hatred, wanting to take Xia Di and the Wei Duke down with him to his grave, that without waiting for any form of interrogation, he confessed everything in one breath.”

Qin Yao nodded, then felt something was slightly off. “But wait — how did this man arrive so conveniently? Just when the matter of Feng Chuyue had arisen, he appeared in Chang’an?”

She turned to look at Lin Xiao. “Could it be that you had known from the start?”

“Yes. This man had come to Chang’an two months ago.” Lin Xiao looked at Qin Yao with calm composure. Had Xia Di not provoked him by touching something that went against the grain, he would never have used this matter as leverage.

Qin Yao thought it through in its entirety. She felt that Lin Xiao had calculated every step. For the Wei Duke and his wife, this was nothing more than exchanging an unsatisfactory daughter-in-law for the safety of the whole family. But for Xia Di — he had no choice but to use his own marriage as the bargaining piece. Knowing his temperament, every time he recalled this affair in the future, he would surely feel a suffocation he could not put into words.

Lin Xiao seemed to know what Qin Yao was thinking, and said evenly: “I not only intend for him to marry Feng Chuyue — I also intend for him to know that a sword hangs above his head at all times. Should he dare again to act with such unrestrained license in the future, he will die with nowhere to be buried.”

The two of them walked and wandered throughout the afternoon. Qin Yao, having been confined at home for so long, found everything fresh and new — she sampled many newly arrived street snacks, watched a round of acrobatic performances, and in the end bought an armful of small handmade trinkets from foreign vendors.

As dusk began to fall, Qin Yao, fearing her parents would worry, had no choice but to go home.

Lin Xiao said: “Chang Rong and the others have a carriage waiting at Chunming Gate — I’ll take you back to your manor in a while.”

Not far out of the Eastern Market, they could already see in the distance the carriage with the fine horses that had been used the last time, with Chang Rong, Wei Bo, and others standing by the horses in conversation.

When they saw Qin Yao and Lin Xiao approaching, Chang Rong came forward with a bright smile. “Young Heir. Miss Qu.”

Qin Yao, thinking of the pouch that his mother had made for her, said with genuine sincerity: “Please thank your mother for the pouch — she made it beautifully.”

Chang Rong scratched his head with a bashful grin. “My mother is just a person who can’t sit still. Once Miss Qu is married in, you’ll come to know her well.”

Lin Xiao, seeing it was getting late, helped Qin Yao up into the carriage. “Get in — it’s not early.”

Qin Yao climbed in and sat down. She then heard Lin Xiao outside speaking in a low voice with Chang Rong for a few sentences — then he lifted the curtain and also came up, and with great ease and naturalness seated himself right at Qin Yao’s side.

Qin Yao moved aside a little awkwardly and said softly: “Aren’t you riding?”

A faint redness crept to the base of Lin Xiao’s ear. He made a nonchalant sound of acknowledgment, and with a long reach of his arm, pulled Qin Yao — who had been inching toward the corner — into his embrace.

Qin Yao’s body tilted involuntarily, and her head landed just against Lin Xiao’s chest. Faintly, at her ear, she could sense a subtle vibration. Listening carefully, she realized — it was Lin Xiao’s heartbeat.

As Qin Yao listened to the sound growing clearly more rapid with every passing moment, the shyness and tension she had been feeling gradually, unexpectedly began to ease.

So it seemed that in these tender moments between them, it was not only her — Lin Xiao’s heart also beat this fast.

With that thought in her mind, the corners of her lips, without her knowing, quietly curved upward.