What would be good about it? She did not know — just watching peach blossoms, drinking wine, exchanging a few jokes, and stealing a glance at him standing beneath the flowering trees in the warm spring breeze. But perhaps it was just regret — this wretch made so little effort, not properly attending a single one of the twenty-four banquets. So she had never even had the chance to watch a beautiful spring bloom with him.

On the other hand, Han Yueqi was not as blunt as Lingbo about reconnecting the thread of fate, and only smiled: “Rest assured — I won’t force wine on any of you. Who drinks and who does not — the flower lots will decide.”

As she spoke, she tossed a handful of ivory lots onto the table — they turned out to be a set of flower name lots, and the girls’ eyes immediately lit up.

“I’ve long heard of the custom in the capital of using flower name lots for divination, but I’ve never seen it with my own eyes.” A’Cuo immediately picked one up curiously: “Does each lot represent a flower? I hear they also have prophecy verses on them — are there duplicates? Are they truly accurate?”

Han Yueqi brought out the lot canister as well, and smilingly explained to her: “These flower name lots — we used to play with them a great deal in those days. And yet I somehow never played myself. Either there weren’t enough people, or there were too many people and no time, and it would get passed over for something else. So I had not played once by the time I was engaged — truly a regret. That is why, taking advantage of having plenty of people today, we shall play, and consider it fulfilling a wish from my younger years.”

Having said as much, everyone naturally sat down to play. Han Yueqi first made clear: “Playing this game requires sincerity above all. No matter what lot one draws, one must not be upset. If the words on the lot are auspicious, then naturally all things will go well. If unfavorable, simply treat it as a pastime and do not take it to heart.”

She too had the spirit for play, and naturally everyone indulged her. In truth none of the girls had played before — even Fu Yunrui was full of enthusiasm, saying: “I played once when I was young, but there were too many people, and I drew the same one as someone else. It was taken from me — they said it wasn’t mine.”

Everyone was puzzled at first, but Lingbo was the first to understand: “That was when you were playing with Lu Wanyang’s group, wasn’t it.”

“Yes.” Fu Yunrui admitted with slight embarrassment: “I drew the same one as Lu Wanyang. She said it was hers and I had no right to it, then took it away.”

Yin Hongxuan’s expression went cold at hearing this — only a person like her, with such a gentle nature, would not feel particularly indignant.

“Which verse was it?” Everyone immediately asked, but she would not say. Fortunately, the maidservants poured the wine and the dishes were all served. Han Yueqi, as hostess, immediately handed the lot canister to her, saying: “Then it’s perfect — let Yunrui draw first, to make up for the regret of those years.”

Yunrui could not demur, and took the canister. She was earnest and devout about it — she closed her eyes and shook the canister for quite a while, and a lot fell out onto the brocade. Everyone hurried to look. She picked it up and looked at it, and immediately her eyes went wide.

“This is truly uncanny,” she said in astonishment. “Can the flower name lots truly be this accurate? How is it this verse again?”

Han Yueqi was the first to take it and look — she immediately doubled over with laughter, saying: “This verse, you girls had better not look at.”

Hearing her say this, the others were naturally fine, but Shen Biwei paid no attention to such things and was the first to snatch it, immediately reading aloud: ” ‘The fruit of the pepper and catalpa tree, flourishing and overflowing the measure.’ Is this not from the Book of Songs? The next line is: ‘That fine and noble person, large and without equal.’ Gathering pepper — that is the cornelian cherry. Some say it symbolizes a woman bearing many children; others say it depicts the meeting of man and woman. What did Lu Wanyang know about anything? She would grab this?”

She too was an unmarried young lady; from the moment she began discussing childbearing, Han Yueqi had already been making sounds of disapproval. Seeing her this way, she said: “Look at what comes after — that is what Lu Wanyang grabbed.”

“The one who draws this lot shall enjoy boundless late blessings; her children and grandchildren shall be of incomparable distinction.” Shen Biwei read aloud again.

Fu Yunrui’s face went thoroughly red. Even after several years of marriage, her retiring nature remained unchanged, and she immediately tried to snatch it back, saying: “Everyone, please stop teasing.”

“No, no — that won’t do.” Han Yueqi immediately pressed it down and laughed: “It is written on the lot itself: all at the table must offer a shared cup of congratulation. You are to be blessed with a distinguished child — should we not take a proper look at this lot?”

“There is no need for a distinguished child.” Fu Yunrui protested with reddened face: “Stop joking — I am perfectly happy with A’Man.”

Yin Hongxuan also said: “Yes — A’Man is our distinguished child. Yunrui’s health is not good; we do not want other children.”

He was ordinarily as taciturn as a sealed gourd, and for him to say such a thing was a surprise to everyone — even Shen Biwei looked at him with new respect. Han Yueqi would not let the moment pass and immediately teased: “I think it is not children at all — it must be the meeting of man and woman.”

Everyone there was a young woman — they all wanted to laugh but did not quite dare. Only the young couple were both not gifted at repartee, and were teased by Han Yueqi until they both turned red as fire. She had the maidservant pour wine and urged: “You two drink first — if the blessed ones won’t drink, how dare the rest of us?”

After all the laughter and commotion, the table grew lively. Everyone drank together, and even Cui Jingyu was not a spoilsport. Han Yueqi even deliberately teased him: “General Cui — I wonder how your capacity for wine is now. I remember it being quite impressive in those days.”

“Brother Cui’s capacity is excellent — a thousand cups without drunkenness at the victory banquet!” Wei Yushan immediately chimed in.

Cui Jingyu said nothing, only drinking quietly. Huiquan Spring wine of this sort, something all the ladies could drink, was naturally like plain water to him. Han Yueqi’s teasing was naturally not about that.

Ye Qinglan sat quietly across from him, seemingly unmoved even by Wei Yushan’s words.

She would no longer watch over how much he drank, as she once had four years ago.

After everyone had drunk a cup, Han Yueqi immediately urged Fu Yunrui to throw the dice. The dice rolled out a two — it was Shen Biwei’s turn. She needed no urging and immediately grabbed the lot canister and shook it vigorously, then drew a lot, glanced at it, and immediately let out a cold laugh: “I knew it would be something like this.”

Ye Lingbo immediately snatched it to look, looked, and laughed, saying: “Madam Shen can rest easy now.”

A’Cuo and Yanyan rushed to look. It was Han Yueqi who took it back and read it aloud: “‘Darkly muted violet, softly shimmering gold. I wish to drift in a golden parrot cup, and rise into your white jade hall.’ It is chrysanthemum. And then it says: ‘The chrysanthemum is reclusive and elegant, possessing the noble air of a gentleman. The one who draws this lot shall be destined for a distinguished husband. Those who drew peach blossom drink one cup; all at the table drink one cup in congratulation.’ “

“Keep reading and I’ll break this wretched lot in two,” Shen Biwei immediately lost her temper.

Only Ye Lingbo could, at such a moment, laugh and press her back down, coaxing: “All right, all right — you don’t like the verse, so don’t believe it, yes? If anything, this flower name lot is quite accurate. Aside from chrysanthemum, what could match your stubborn temperament? Sit down — we’ll all drink a cup with you.”

“Then you’d better draw osmanthus.” Han Yueqi also smiled and said: “Perfect — both bloom in autumn, they make a fine pair. Not for nothing have you two been close from childhood to this day.”

Ye Lingbo, ever adept at navigating all circumstances, immediately said: “Then Sister Han and my sister must also be a pair — I wonder what they are. Let’s see whether these flower name lots are truly accurate.”

At these words, even Qinglan was moved. She and Han Yueqi had been friends from childhood to now, and it was rare for them to quarrel like this. She also knew that in the matter of Shen Yunze, although Han Yueqi said nothing, she had been deeply hurt within. However skilled at being a wife, she was still only a young woman of twenty-four — how could she be unaffected by her husband’s betrayal?

She herself had chosen this of all moments to quarrel with her. It had been truly wrong of her.

And yet the flower name lots were this uncanny. After Shen Biwei threw the dice, it came up as nine — it was Han Yueqi’s turn. She had not expected her turn to come so soon. She took the lot canister and gave it a shake, and a lot fell out onto the brocade.

She picked it up herself and looked at it, and immediately smiled — though the smile carried a touch of sadness.

“Uncannily accurate.” She read: ” ‘Of all things, the winter plum is most to be resented — forever destined to be last year’s flower.’ Plum blossom — noble and pure. The one who draws this lot drinks alone. No companions needed.”

“How is there no prophecy verse?” Shen Biwei still asked, and was pinched by Ye Lingbo, who then fell silent.

Ye Lingbo raised her cup and urged: “Sister Han, you’ve always loved plum blossom best, haven’t you? So the plum blossom knows Sister’s character as well — the most fitting match. Let me drink a cup with Sister.”

“I’ll drink a cup too.” Shen Biwei immediately said.

Han Yueqi only smiled faintly.

“Never mind — having drawn the plum blossom lot, I am already more than content. This verse also suits me: while everyone else moves forward, only I still linger over last year’s flowers — that is rather tiresome of me, is it not? Exactly right to scold me so. Regrettably, the plum blossoms in winter, destined to have no companions.”

She raised her cup, just about to drink it all at once, when a hand reached over and pressed down on her cup.

Ye Qinglan, reaching past Ye Lingbo, smiled gently at her.

” ‘How many times has winter come, longing for spring’s return, and even the plum blossoms shed their tears.’ ” She smiled calmly: “Li Yishan’s verse is fine enough, yet I prefer the Lady of Ease. Who says only flowers that bloom in the same season can be friends? I say the plum blossom is a flower that heralds spring — all the flowers of the year may be friends with the plum blossom. I’ll drink this cup with you.”

Qinglan raised her cup and drank it all at once. Han Yueqi also let fall her tears, and the two drank together. Without waiting for Han Yueqi to throw the dice, Qinglan herself took up the lot canister and said: “Let me draw the next one.”

She took one out by hand. On the ivory flower lot, a poem was engraved in small vermillion characters, with a boneless floral painting and prophecy verse engraved on the back — exquisite at a glance. Lingbo could not wait for Qinglan to read it aloud and leaned over to look at the verse on the lot. Once she made out the words, she drew a sharp breath.

No wonder people believed in the flower name lots. Even she, who had never believed in fate, felt a chill run through her today.

Were it her, she could not have sat here with such equanimity and, in the presence of the very person she had once been meant to marry but had not, read these words aloud.

But Qinglan was perfectly capable of it.

She sat calmly on the brocade cushion and, without haste, read aloud: ” ‘In those days she would not be wedded to the east wind; all her rosy garments shed, her heart bitter within.’ The one who draws this lot is destined for a late marriage. No need to drink. All others at the table drink one cup each, to bid the east wind farewell.”

There was a brief moment of silence at the table.

Only Shen Biwei, fearless as ever, could still say: “It is the lotus.”

“It is the lotus.” Qinglan answered calmly — she could even carry the faintest smile, lowering her eyes as she recited the entire poem from memory, under Cui Jingyu’s gaze.

“It is a verse by He Zhu, with one character changed.” She recited: ” ‘The willows circle the pond, the mandarin ducks part at the water’s edge. Green water-plants swell and block the lotus boat’s path. No bee nor butterfly is drawn to the hidden fragrance. All her rosy garments shed, her heart bitter within. Light reflected in returning waves, passing clouds trailing rain. Lingering, as if speaking to the poet. In those days she would not be wedded to the spring wind — for no reason at all, she was led astray by the autumn wind.’ “

Lingbo did not know how she managed to keep smiling.

But she forced a smile and said: “Whoever made these lots was not very learned, I think — how do two lines get combined into one? That doesn’t quite work, does it? How does refusing to marry the east wind lead directly to all her rosy garments shed and heart bitter?”

But she also understood why. Because the original intent was to marry, and in the end she did not — so she put on the red garments, and then removed them entirely. When the lotus sheds all its rosy garments, what remains is the seed pod — and the heart of the lotus seed is indeed bitter.

And Cui Jingyu’s courtesy name was Dongzhao. Now, as a young man ennobled as a marquis, how glorious and prosperous his fortunes were — perfectly matching the meaning of the east wind.

Word for word accurate. Phrase for phrase accurate. As though it had been fashioned specifically for Qinglan. Even she, gifted with words and eloquence, felt only bitterness in her mouth now, with nothing to say.

It was that character Shen Biwei who still had the leisure to discuss poetry, saying: “Writing it this way is not a sign of poor learning, actually. I have heard that lately people outside have been writing combined-line verse — this is exactly the form. Two lines are woven into one; as long as the tones and rhyme are met, sometimes it sounds even better than the original poems. Take the line: ‘Would you compare West Lake to the beauty Xi Zi — let us also invite the bright moon to speak of years to come’ — it is very elegant and witty.”

Ye Lingbo wanted to glare at her, and could only pinch her twice to keep her from saying more.

She was so busy managing Shen Biwei that she did not notice Han Yueqi — ever since she had defeated Lu Wanyang, she had fully unlocked herself, as it were — and now, perhaps emboldened by the wine, she no longer maintained the pretense at all. She laughed and said: “I cannot compose poetry, but I can write combined-line verse. I recall that General Cui is also learned — shall we hear this line of mine: ‘In those days she would not be wedded to the east wind, laughing she entered the foreign beauty’s wine-house.’ Is it elegant? Is it witty?”

The table fell silent for a moment.

Ye Lingbo knew the story of “laughing she entered the foreign beauty’s wine-house,” and immediately looked toward Cui Jingyu. His face was like frost, his expression unmoved. He only said: “I do not understand Madam Shen’s meaning.”

“Best not to understand.” Han Yueqi smiled: “The flower is before you — pluck it while you can; do not wait until there are no flowers left to pluck. You are young — there is no end of good time you can afford to squander. Not understanding matters little…”

“Yueqi is drunk.” Qinglan signaled Ye Lingbo. Ye Lingbo quickly pressed down Han Yueqi’s cup, and smiled: “Sister Han, I haven’t drawn my lot yet — save me some wine. Perhaps everyone will have to drink three cups on my behalf.”

“Yes, yes, of course — Lingbo will surely draw something wonderful.” Han Yueqi then obediently complied.

Ye Lingbo therefore took up the lot canister. On the surface she was composed, but in truth she too was wary of these flower name lots — mainly because they were too uncanny. If they were truly accurate for each and every one, what would come of it? Everyone at the table still knew nothing of her and Pei Zhao’s situation. She could not have his affair with Pei Zhao revealed to everyone.

As for drawing something inauspicious — she was not afraid of that. What could be worse than a flowing peach blossom? There would be a beginning but no end. That much was settled.

The white ivory lot sticks tumbled and turned again and again in the canister, and none would come out. Lingbo was just puzzling over it when her hand tilted, and one lot slipped out.

This lot had fallen with its reverse side facing up. She was sharp-eyed and caught a glimpse of the yellow on the back. Her heart gave a jolt.

Osmanthus.

Truly accurate enough to be frightening.

But she was Ye Lingbo after all. Her expression remained still as she picked up the lot. In truth, she felt there was little suspense left — but looking at the verse on the front, she still paused.

Shen Biwei leaned in and rested against her shoulder, and read it aloud.

” ‘What need is there for pale green or deep red? She is, by nature, the foremost flower of all.’ ” She laughed: “We were just speaking of the Lady of Ease, and here comes the Lady of Ease. It truly matches mine — ‘Darkly muted, lightly golden, nature soft and gentle, presence sparse, traces far, only fragrance remains’ — and mine, ‘darkly muted violet, softly shimmering gold’ — so alike, both using dim and muted tones to convey color. That is the habit of Tang-style verse. Only this osmanthus is quite audacious — it’s actually a rebuke, isn’t it?”