After Ren Yaoqi realized what was happening, her first reaction was shock, thinking there might be some conspiracy against Xiao Jinglin. But after reading the entire letter, Ren Yaoqi dismissed this concern, because from beginning to end, the letter contained nothing important – it only greeted her, mentioned a few amusing incidents about Silly Girl, then reminded her that many people had caught colds recently and advised her to go out less.

Ren Yaoqi was stunned for a long while, then suddenly had an inspiration and turned the envelope upside down, shaking it over her desk. Out fell a bright red, plump red bean.

Ren Yaoqi: “……”

She stared at that letter written in Xiao Jinglin’s handwriting for a long while, then saw the particularly eye-catching four characters “My Dearest, As If Meeting You” at the beginning of the letter, and couldn’t help but blush.

After hesitating for a long while, Ren Yaoqi finally picked up her brush to reply. She didn’t expose the true identity of the letter writer, only mentioned a few trivial matters, then also advised the other party to take care of their health. At the end of the letter, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but mischievously add: “Seeing your handwriting today with soft, weak brushstrokes, no longer possessing the free-spirited vigor of the past – is this due to your state of mind?” Then she suppressed her laughter, sealed the letter, and had someone deliver it to the Yanbei Prince’s Residence.

The next day, Ren Yaoqi received another letter from the Yanbei Prince’s Residence, supposedly sent by Princess Xiao. When she opened it, she couldn’t help but be astonished – this time, there wasn’t a single word in the letter. Instead, like the letters she used to send to Xiao Jinglin, it was filled with small drawings. Though executed with just a few strokes, both people and objects were drawn very vividly and lifelike.

Most of the drawings showed Xiao Jinglin playing with Silly Girl, but in one drawing appeared the silhouette of a man. The man was standing behind a woman flying a kite. Both were drawn only as back silhouettes with no visible faces, yet one could sense that the man’s gaze remained fixed on the woman in front of him, tender and affectionate.

Ren Yaoqi looked at that drawing for a long while and couldn’t help but gently tap the man’s head with her finger. When she realized what she’d done, she felt as if her finger had been scalded by something, as if those taps hadn’t landed on paper but had truly tapped someone’s forehead.

She locked the letter together with the previous red bean in the drawer under her desk.

When writing a reply, Ren Yaoqi thought and thought, not knowing what to write. After sitting in the study for half an hour, she finally put a blank sheet of paper in the envelope. Originally, she intended to send the letter back like that, but at the last moment, perhaps infected by the direct and intense emotions expressed in the drawings, she opened a five-grain sachet she wore for protection, picked out a red bean, and put it in the envelope before sealing it.

But not long after the letter was sent, Ren Yaoqi regretted it, feeling that her behavior today had been influenced by someone and was rather bold. Coming to her senses, Ren Yaoqi hurriedly sent Pingguo to retrieve the letter, but unfortunately, the messenger to the Yanbei Prince’s Residence was quick-footed and fast-paced. Despite Pingguo’s efforts, she couldn’t catch up, and that letter containing blank paper and a red bean was delivered to someone’s desk.

Seeing Pingguo’s dejected, regretful, yet cautious appearance, Ren Yaoqi suddenly felt she’d been acting rather inexplicably lately, so she simply decided not to worry about it anymore.

That night, snow suddenly began falling. After snowing all night, by early morning, the entire Yunyang City had become a world of ice sculptures and jade carvings. That day, no letter came from the Yanbei Prince’s Residence. Originally, Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin didn’t exchange letters daily anyway, so Ren Yaoqi didn’t pay it much mind.

On the third day, Madam Xu sent an invitation for Li Shi and the Ren sisters to attend a warming gathering. Such gatherings were nothing more than groups of madams and young ladies drinking tea, chatting, and admiring snow scenery together. These warming gatherings were particularly numerous every winter, especially after snowfall. People tended to be more subdued in winter, but became active again when snow fell, as if winter snow froze not only harmful insects in the fields but also the lazy bugs in people.

Madam Xu’s warming gathering wasn’t held at her own home – she had borrowed a plum grove at Yunyang Academy. Treading through snow to seek plums was an extremely elegant affair.

Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua composed poetry and played drinking games with talented ladies like Liu Menghan. Although Ren Yaoqi didn’t enjoy composing poetry and couplets, under the influence of Third Master Ren and Master Pei, she could produce a few presentable poems about plum blossoms and snow when with her female companions.

After drinking several cups of sweet fruit wine, Ren Yaoqi’s cheeks flushed slightly. She had originally thought this fruit wine was similar to what she’d drunk with Xiao Jinglin before – sweet fruit juice. She hadn’t expected that although the Xu family’s fruit wine had a very mild alcohol taste, it truly contained alcohol, though generally not enough to intoxicate anyone.

However, Ren Yaoqi wasn’t just anyone – her alcohol tolerance was extremely poor; half a cup could knock her down. So while others were fine after drinking fruit wine, only she became flushed, though it wasn’t serious.

Seeing Liu Menghan and another young lady engaged in heated poetic competition, Ren Yaoqi stood up wanting to go outside for a walk to dispel the alcohol’s effects. She told Ren Yaohua she was going to freshen up, then took Pingguo and Sangshen out of the warm room.

Outside, grain-sized snow was still falling, and today was particularly cold. Pingguo stepped forward to carefully help Ren Yaoqi put on her hood, handed her a small hand warmer to hold, then supported her as she walked carefully.

Ren Yaoqi had originally just wanted to stand outside briefly, letting the wind blow away the alcohol’s effects before going back in, when she saw Hongying walking toward her through the snow. While other maids at this time had all put on thick cotton jackets against the cold, Xiangqin, that girl even wished she could wrap herself up like a rice dumpling – Hongying still dressed lightly.

She carried no umbrella and wore no hat. Walking along, her hair and shoulders were covered with snowflakes, yet she seemed unconcerned. Upon seeing Ren Yaoqi, she appeared to have just gotten snow in her eyes from the wind. She paused, blinked, then came forward to bow: “Greetings to Third Miss Ren. My master requests your presence.”

Ren Yaoqi was very happy to see Hongying – she hadn’t seen Xiao Jinglin for two months and hadn’t expected to encounter her here today. She had Hongying lead the way while she slowly followed, supported by Pingguo.

However, today’s Hongying seemed even more silent and taciturn than usual. Ren Yaoqi didn’t pay it much mind – Hongying had never been talkative anyway.

Hongying led Ren Yaoqi to the plum grove.

At this time, the plum grove was at its most beautiful moment of the year – red and pink buds beginning to bloom, auspicious snow like silver garments. The grove was very tranquil, with silent falling snow. Ren Yaoqi looked around and was about to ask Hongying where Xiao Jinglin was when she saw someone emerge from the grove. She was stunned and couldn’t help but stand frozen in place.

Xiao Jingxi approached wearing a dark-colored fur-lined cloak.