Ji Yingying woke up after a satisfying sleep, feeling refreshed throughout. She opened her eyes. The snow made the window paper gleam brilliantly white. As she sat up, remembering last night’s events, she couldn’t help but smile.
“Young Miss, are you feeling better?” Ling’er lifted the bed curtains and, seeing Ji Yingying’s smiling face and rosy cheeks, said happily, “Young Miss looks much better than yesterday.”
“Yes. Another day’s rest and I’ll be completely recovered. Find my thick cloak—I’ll have breakfast with Mother so she won’t worry.”
Ji Yingying got up, feeling an impulse to open the window again: “Let me see if it’s stopped snowing.”
“Young Miss, the snow has stopped. But just open the window briefly for fresh air—don’t catch another chill,” Ling’er replied while making the bed.
She wasn’t interested in seeing the clear sky after the snow. Not wanting to risk falling ill again, Ji Yingying only opened half the window. The gentle winter sunlight spread across the snow-covered ground behind the house. A winter plum branch stood planted in the snow, its yellow silk-like petals gathering all the sunlight on its branches. A faint fragrance drifted in with the wind.
Ji Yingying gazed at it dreamily before gently closing the window.
When returning the betrothal gifts, she had made him a pair of deerskin boots. She had trimmed the boot tops with cyan satin and embroidered winter plum blossoms with yellow thread as decoration. He was telling her he had worn the shoes she made.
“Young Miss, what’s making you so happy?”
Ji Yingying nodded seriously: “The crucian carp porridge last night was delicious.”
Ling’er fastened her cloak strings and gave her a hand warmer to hold as they left the room. On the way, she couldn’t help but worry: “Young Miss, yesterday’s fish was sent by Young Master Zhu. It’s so cold that we were lucky to get two fish, and they all went into the porridge. If you want more today, we’ll have to try our luck at the market to see if anyone’s selling fish.”
“I don’t want any today.” She was just amused remembering Yang Jingyuan’s clumsy excuse.
At the main house, they met Ji Yaoting and Fourth Lady Zhang paying their morning respects to Madam Ji. Seeing Ji Yingying’s smiling face and bright eyes, they all relaxed: “Why not rest in your room longer, until you’re fully recovered?”
Ji Yingying went forward to link arms with Fourth Lady Zhang, smiling: “I’m almost completely better, see? Let Mother see for herself and put her mind at ease.”
The three entered the room, and sure enough, Madam Ji was delighted, ordering the kitchen to bring Ji Yingying’s breakfast to eat together.
With the New Year approaching, the shops needed to close for inventory. After breakfast, Ji Yaoting left for the shop. Ji Yingying and Fourth Lady Zhang stayed to keep Madam Ji company.
Before even a cup of tea’s worth of time had passed, Ji Yaoting returned.
“Did something happen?” After all the recent events, Madam Ji immediately became alert.
Ji Yaoting hurriedly said: “Nothing’s wrong. Well, not exactly nothing…”
His hesitation only raised more suspicions.
“Brother, what exactly happened?”
Ji Yaoting glanced at her, took a deep breath, and said: “I came back to tell Fourth Lady. To instruct the kitchen. Today, our household… all several dozen people will be having fish soup and fish porridge.”
The three women looked at each other in confusion, watching him curiously.
Ji Yaoting spread his hands, giving a strained smile: “Our dear son-in-law-to-be, apparently worried our Second Miss couldn’t get fresh crucian carp for porridge, sent two dan early this morning.”
“Two dan?!” Madam Ji and Ji Yingying exclaimed simultaneously.
“Two dan!”
Ji Yaoting emphasized, looking at his sister with an amused expression: “That Yang Jingyuan is quite well-informed! Yesterday Young Master Zhu had his friends catch two fish, and today he sends two dan. Xiangyou said his young master dreamed last night that someone told him to eat crucian carp porridge, so he found fishermen early this morning to catch some. Said he’d ensure our Second Miss could have as many bowls of fish porridge as she wanted!”
“Who appeared in his dreams? I’m not a pig, needing two dan of fresh fish for porridge!” Ji Yingying felt uncomfortable under her brother’s stare. Thinking of lying on the same bed as Yang Jingyuan last night, she suddenly felt embarrassed and hurriedly ran back to her room with Ling’er.
That day, the several dozen members of the Ji household had their fill of milky-white fish soup and fish porridge garnished with ginger strips and tender green onions. Nanny Tian even directed the kitchen maids to fry several plates of fish fillets.
The next day, Xiangyou came again with fish. Again two dan, about a hundred jin. It startled Ji Yaoting, who only accepted ten jin. The rest was given to Prosperity Ji to distribute among the neighbors. After repeatedly thanking Yang Jingyuan, he noticed Xiangyou still lingering, reluctant to leave. Ji Yaoting understood—since the couple couldn’t meet, this was his way of seeking a response from his sister.
He had Xiangyou wait in the front hall while he rushed to tell his sister in the back courtyard.
Ji Yingying thought for a moment, then drew a picture, folded it, and asked her brother to pass it on.
“What did you draw?” Ji Yaoting was very curious.
Ji Yingying wouldn’t tell him: “None of your business.”
Xiangyou excitedly received the reply and rode back.
On white bamboo paper, she had sketched a man in light ink. Arrow-sleeved robe, expression proud and self-satisfied. One hand behind his back, the other gesturing. Beside him, a large table piled mountain-high with chicken, duck, fish, and meat.
If she hadn’t drawn his hair clasp’s gold cage as a gold ingot, Yang Jingyuan might have appreciated it more. His finger tapped repeatedly on the words in the corner—”More money than sense, eat whatever you like”—indignantly asking: “Who’s senseless?”
Xiangyou hadn’t seen what was drawn and said anxiously: “Young Master, today Ji Yaoting only accepted ten jin and distributed the rest to the neighbors. Please don’t send any more.”
“If Young Master Zhu doesn’t send any, I won’t either.” Yang Jingyuan’s lips quirked up. After pacing the room, he asked Xiangyou, “She didn’t say if it was good?”
Xiangyou’s face fell: “Young Master, I didn’t see Second Miss Ji!”
“Then if we see her, we can ask her directly?” Yang Jingyuan stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Xiangyou’s jaw dropped, his face so worried it could wring water.
Yang Jingyuan looked at him curiously: “What’s that expression for?”
Xiangyou forced a dry smile: “I was just agreeing with Young Master’s words.”
“You also think we can go ask her in person?” Yang Jingyuan rubbed his hands together, his gaze drifting toward the window.
Are you hoping for nightfall so you can climb walls again? Xiangyou’s legs gave out and he knelt before him, declaring firmly: “Young Master, once was enough—meeting too often brings bad luck! Even if Young Master beats me to death, I must stop you from sneaking out at night!”
Would it bring bad luck? Yang Jingyuan bent down to meet Xiangyou’s gaze.
Xiangyou stared back unblinking—ha, he didn’t want to freeze solid again! He wouldn’t back down!
Yang Jingyuan straightened up, saying dejectedly: “Fine. I’ll restrain myself.”
Heaven above, Buddha be praised… Just as Xiangyou was secretly rejoicing at avoiding disaster, he heard his young master say indignantly: “If she’s ungrateful, fine, but to call me senseless and wasteful! I must ask her about this in person!”
Xiangyou sucked in a sharp breath, his heart sinking. He reacted lightning-fast, immediately saying: “Yes, Young Master must ask her in person. How can she treat kindness like a donkey’s liver and lungs? I’ll stay at the mansion, so when Madam discovers Young Master’s nighttime departure, I can explain to her.”
“Good idea! Just say I went drinking with Sang Shisi.”
Just as he finished speaking, Sang Shisi’s voice came from the doorway: “Ah, how did you know I was looking for you to drink?”