Jiafu snuggled a little deeper into the man’s embrace, pressing herself closer, closed her eyes, and fell asleep again.

When she woke again, it was probably around noon. She was alone in bed, but Pei You’an was not far from the door outside. She knew this because she could hear his voice talking with Yang Yun. Though she couldn’t make out what they were saying, their voices carried into the room intermittently—pleasant to the ear, pleasing to the heart.

The fire in the stove burned vigorously. Jiafu lay naked under the quilt, warm from the inside out. Every strand of hair, every inch of skin was comfortable and content.

The scene of struggling through the snow last night now seemed unreal when she thought of it.

She had never known she could walk so well, managing to trudge through ankle-deep snow for eight or nine li in one go.

In the past, this would have been unthinkable.

Two slender arms, like tender lotus roots, emerged from under the quilt as Jiafu lazily stretched, slowly sitting up. Looking down for her clothes, she saw that those she had taken off last night were gone. Instead, a clean set had been placed beside her pillow, complete with undergarments to socks. Pei You’an must have taken them from her bundle after he got up.

She gave a small yawn, reaching for the clothes, when she heard his footsteps at the door. Then, the door was gently pushed open.

Jiafu quickly slipped back under the quilt, closing her eyes, pretending to still be asleep.

He closed the door, tiptoed in, seemed to check the stove, then came to the bedside and sat down gently.

Although her eyes were closed, Jiafu could sense that he was silently gazing at her.

Fortunately, she was sleeping with her back facing outward and her face inward. Otherwise, being looked at like this, even ten of her couldn’t have kept up the pretense.

A moment later, Jiafu felt the man behind her slowly bend forward. She couldn’t guess what he was about to do. Before she could react, she felt a warmth on her back—he had gently placed a kiss on her exposed bare back, then pulled the quilt higher to cover the snow-white shoulder and back that hadn’t been tucked in. His movements were incredibly gentle, as if afraid of waking her.

After doing this, he stood up, seemingly about to leave.

The secret kiss on her back made Jiafu’s heart pound like a deer. She could no longer hold back, letting out a soft chuckle, opening her eyes, and climbing out from under the quilt. Her two bare arms embraced him, and as her soft body pressed against him, the strength in his waist gave way. His legs weakened, and he fell back onto the bed.

The poor old bed leg, which had groaned and struggled for quite some time last night, again made a pitiful “creak.”

Jiafu flipped over, lying on his chest, half-squinting her just-awakened eyes with a cat-like charm, proudly lifting her beautiful little chin at him.

“You stole a kiss from me while I was asleep!”

The bottom of Pei You’an’s eyes flickered with joyful, scattered light. He smiled, raised his hand, and through the quilt, lightly patted her bottom.

“Pretending to sleep when you’re awake—how naughty. Are you hungry? Let’s get up.”

But Jiafu wasn’t so obedient. She clung to him, refusing to let go. Only after quite some coaxing did she finally release him.

Pei You’an helped her put on her clothes one by one. When it came to her socks, his hand paused.

Her feet, once like lotus petals, pure and flawless, were now covered with red, swollen chilblains. The tops of her feet were also swollen, like two steamed buns, looking extremely pitiful.

Jiafu curled her toes slightly and smiled: “They just get itchy sometimes, but they don’t hurt. It’s fine.”

Pei You’an remained silent, only cupping her feet in his palms, massaging the soles for a moment. Then he took a jar of ointment, applied it to the chilblains, and massaged again for a while, before gently helping her put on her socks. Finally, he took a new pair of cotton shoes that Jiafu had prepared for him before this journey and helped her into them.

With her feet suffering from chilblains and swelling, wearing her shoes would have been quite uncomfortable. She didn’t know what kind of fierce determination had driven her to persist in walking all the way here last night. Off the bed, she stood on tiptoe and kissed his chin, saying “Big Cousin, you’re so good to me,” then shuffled in those oversized shoes that were almost like slippers, making “pat-pat” sounds as she tried walking a few steps. Happy as a little girl, she walked to the table, peered at the account books there, and saw they were just jumbled records of the forage yard’s daily transactions. Thinking of how late into the night he had been working on these things while sick, and comparing it to what he used to do, it was truly like a dragon in shallow water or using a butcher’s knife to kill a chicken. She couldn’t help but feel a touch of sadness.

Pei You’an smiled and said: “War horses are precious, and the forage yard concerns matters of war horses, so there can’t be the slightest negligence. This place is also good.”

Jiafu loved him not only for his past brilliance and commanding presence but even more for his broad-minded equanimity in the face of favor or disgrace.

By comparison, it was she who had underestimated him. She smiled: “Big Cousin, teach me how to handle these documents, and I’ll help you in the future.”

Pei You’an nodded with a smile, went to open the door, and called out. Soon, Tanxiang and Muxiang brought in hot water. After Jiafu washed her face and combed her hair, she ate in the room. Seeing that the snow had stopped and the sky was clear outside, she refused to stay cooped up and wanted to see the surroundings of the forage yard.

Unable to dissuade her, Pei You’an wrapped her in a thick cloak, opened the door, and led her out.

The forage yard covered a vast area. The east side was the granary, and the west side was the horse farm, where several hundred horses were currently kept. Pei You’an brought her to the entrance of the horse farm, then stopped, smiling: “It’s not clean inside. Let’s go back.”

Jiafu was too enthusiastic to turn back, so Pei You’an had no choice but to continue the tour with her.

Although there was no war at present, in the ice and snow, many war horses suffered from frostbitten hooves or were difficult to heal due to old age and injuries. They were constantly sent here. If their legs couldn’t be healed, making them unable to charge in battle, they were considered useless to the army. Keeping them would waste fodder, and according to usual practice, they would be slaughtered for military rations.

Pei You’an had served in the army since his youth and was naturally accustomed to this military method of disposal. But since coming here, under his attentive care and treatment, in just two short months, dozens of war horses had gradually regained their health.

As Jiafu went in, she saw that the stables were very clean, with rows of war horses kept inside. In the distance, two old soldiers were adding fodder. Seeing him bringing his wife who had just arrived last night, they hurried over, greeting the couple respectfully.

Pei You’an asked them a few questions about matters, telling them to continue their work. Then, as if remembering something, he gestured for Jiafu to follow, leading her to a warm shed and pointing for her to look.

Inside was a chestnut horse with a glossy coat, very beautiful. Looking closely, its body was smaller than the other horses outside, but its belly was larger.

Jiafu didn’t understand at first, then suddenly realized and exclaimed with delight: “Is there a foal in her belly?”

Pei You’an nodded with a smile: “Some time ago she wouldn’t eat or drink. Thinking she was sick, they sent her here.”

Jiafu was very happy: “Can I feed her?” Seeing him agree, she quickly gathered a handful of beans and carefully approached to feed the horse. Her palm was tickled by the horse’s wet, warm tongue, making her giggle continuously.

She liked this place, even though it was surrounded by vast wilderness, ice, and snow, and the house they lived in was old and drafty. She genuinely loved it from the bottom of her heart.

After feeding the horse and washing her hands, she was led out by Pei You’an. In high spirits, she walked in the snow, listening to the crunching sound, almost wanting to twirl and cheer.

But Pei You’an feared she would catch a cold and forcibly took her back to the house. Worried she might get bored, he had the two maids keep her company while he busied himself repairing the cracks in the doors and windows of the house, including those in the maids’ room. He also found a large wooden tub from somewhere and spent the afternoon hammering away. Before dark, all the drafts in the house had been fixed, and Jiafu had a tub for a comfortable hot bath, placed in the corner of the room with a curtain hung in front, creating a simple bathing area.

After dinner, Pei You’an went on his routine inspection around the forage yard and hadn’t returned yet. Jiafu prepared medicine for him on the stove, then personally replaced the somewhat hard old bedding with the soft quilts and blankets she had brought. She also drew the newly hung curtains. The teapot bubbled on the stove, and though outside was a vast uninhabited wilderness, cold, this small room made her feel so warm and cozy.