Shen Xiling’s parents’ resting place was in that secluded small courtyard where she and her mother had once lived. Getting there was actually quite easy, but Qi Ying was a cautious person who worried that if she went there frequently, it might attract attention. If someone with ulterior motives investigated and discovered she was Shen Qian’s orphan, matters would become extremely troublesome. Shen Xiling understood the stakes involved, so even though she deeply missed her parents, she only visited twice each year – once during Qingming for tomb sweeping, and once during the twelfth lunar month on their memorial day. Previously, Qi Ying would always accompany her on each visit. Though he wouldn’t enter the courtyard with her, he would wait outside, always making her heart feel warm.

This year he hadn’t come – only Bai Song had.

Shen Xiling had thought she would see Qi Ying today, but after waiting for quite some time at the foot of Qingji Mountain, she only saw Bai Song return alone.

She inevitably felt disappointed, yet still held onto hope, asking Bai Song: “Brother Bai, where is the young master?”

Bai Song remained expressionless as always, answering matter-of-factly: “The young master is still at the main residence.”

Shen Xiling pressed her lips together, acknowledged with a sound, thought for a moment, then tentatively asked: “Has he been… very busy lately?”

Bai Song paused briefly.

The young master was naturally busy – there wasn’t a time throughout the year when he wasn’t busy – but in his view, he wasn’t so busy that he couldn’t spare time to come see her. So he was somewhat hesitant about how to answer this question.

He felt he couldn’t answer truthfully, or else this young lady would be heartbroken.

Having made up his mind, Bai Song continued with his expressionless demeanor and said: “Mm, busy.”

Upon hearing he was very busy, Shen Xiling felt both relieved and began worrying about him, her brow furrowing as she asked: “Oh, I see… What is the young master busy with? Has something major happened?”

This year the north and south were so peaceful it was almost absurd – what major events could there be? After thinking for a long time, Bai Song couldn’t concoct any decent lie, so he could only say: “Don’t know, just busy.”

That made sense too – the matters the young master was busy with were all confidential; those around him wouldn’t necessarily know everything.

Shen Xiling nodded, then lowered her head slightly, asking in a low voice: “Today I sent the young master a letter. Brother Bai, do you know if the young master has read it?”

Bai Song, holding his sword, recalled what Qing Zhu had told him today – that after receiving the letter, the young master hadn’t even glanced at it. He felt that if she knew this, she would definitely be even more hurt and upset, and he couldn’t handle such trouble.

So he said again: “Don’t know.”

Shen Xiling responded with some disappointment, her slightly furrowed brow remaining unresolved. Seeing this situation, Bai Song worried she might continue questioning and expose his lies, so he said: “It’s getting late, let’s go.”

Shen Xiling came to her senses upon hearing this and nodded in agreement.

Going to the small courtyard to pay respects to her parents was a secret matter, so each time she brought no one else with her – not Shuipei, Fengshang, Zijun, or Liuzi. Only Bai Song and she went together.

Just like three years ago, when Bai Song had also accompanied her to bury her mother.

The small courtyard remained as she remembered it, but since her last visit was half a year ago, dust had inevitably accumulated inside the house. Having been uninhabited for so long, it appeared even more empty and desolate. In the garden, two grave mounds lay side by side, and the surrounding bamboo had completely lost all care, becoming wild bamboo. Fortunately they were hardy – most were still alive, even showing signs of overgrowth, appearing chaotic and unruly.

Bai Song stood guard outside the courtyard, vigilantly watching the surrounding activity, while Shen Xiling entered alone to pay her respects.

These twice-yearly “reunions” with her parents were precious to Shen Xiling.

She watched the paper money burn in the copper basin, then looked at the unmarked stone tablets before her parents’ graves, and her heart became very empty – both sorrowful and tender.

This small courtyard often appeared in her imagination during midnight dreams. In her dreams the courtyard was so large and the wooden gate so tall, yet when she came in recent years, she felt they had all become smaller – it was a very peculiar feeling.

Her parents’ faces and voices also seemed to gradually become unfamiliar. They seemed to have truly gone far away, yet also seemed to have been by her side just yesterday.

She knelt across from the fire basin in front of the grave mounds, beginning to tell her parents about her recent circumstances in detail.

She spoke of her business, of her studies, of… that person.

In her daily life she had no one to confide in; her secret joys and sorrows could only be hidden in her heart. Only when she came before her parents did she feel she had someone to depend on, wanting to tell them everything.

She liked him so very much.

She spoke to her parents about him with undisguisable sweetness, telling them about the day he fed her crab, and about when he took her out for autumn outings. Every look, every word of his she remembered and couldn’t help but tell her parents.

How she hoped they could meet him, but this was naturally a vain wish.

She was both joyful and sorrowful.

Father, Mother, your daughter is living very well now – you needn’t worry about me.

I’m truly living well, have properly grown up, and even have someone I care for. I just don’t know what he’s thinking – he’s very aloof and difficult to understand.

But he treats me very well. Aside from you two, no one has ever treated me so well.

Please bless him to always be safe and prosperous, and bless me…

…to be able to stay with him forever.

When Bai Song escorted Shen Xiling back to Fenghe Garden and returned to the main residence, it was already near midnight, yet the young master was still sitting in his study, not having rested.

As soon as Qing Zhu saw him, he came forward and said: “You’re finally back. The young master has been waiting for your report – quickly go in and give your account.”

Bai Song looked at the candlelight emanating from the study, stepped up the stairs, and called out “Young Master” at the door.

Qi Ying’s voice quickly came from inside: “Enter.”

Bai Song pushed open the door upon hearing this.

Inside the room, Qi Ying was sitting behind his desk reading by night.

In recent years, whenever he stayed up late, it was invariably to review official documents. To still be awake at this hour today yet holding a book scroll suggested he hadn’t suddenly developed an interest in reading, but was waiting for Bai Song’s report.

Indeed, as soon as Bai Song entered, he heard the young master ask: “Did you escort her back?”

Bai Song respectfully lowered his head and answered: “Escorted back, all went well.”

Qi Ying nodded, his gaze remaining on the book scroll in his hands, seeming to ask casually: “How was she today?”

Bai Song raised his head to look at him, remained silent for a moment, thought it over, then said: “Passable.”

“Passable” was not a particularly good word, indicating the situation wasn’t actually very good. Upon hearing this, Qi Ying set down his book scroll, his brow slightly furrowing as he asked: “What happened?”

Bai Song lowered his head again and answered truthfully: “She asked about the young master and seemed somewhat unhappy.”

Bai Song, a private retainer skilled in martial arts, was naturally not good with words. His speech was blunt and harsh, appearing coarse. The word “unhappy” was also inaccurate – Shen Xiling wasn’t “unhappy” but rather somewhat melancholy and dejected. His words didn’t express his meaning properly.

Qi Ying showed no reaction after hearing this, nor could one tell whether he noticed Bai Song’s improper word choice. Bai Song glanced at his expression, thought for a moment, then added: “She also asked when the young master would return.”

Actually, Shen Xiling hadn’t asked this today – this was Bai Song’s fabrication.

He was helping her again.

Not for any other reason, but because today’s scene of escorting her to pay respects to her parents also brought back memories of those snowy nights three years ago. He remembered when she was still a half-grown child, and this moved him somewhat.

Qi Ying remained silent for a while after hearing this, but said nothing. After quite some time, he merely waved his hand to indicate he should leave.

Seeing this, Bai Song naturally couldn’t say more. He bowed slightly to the young master, then turned and left the room.

After leaving, he looked back at the still-burning lamp in the room, and like Qing Zhu, a strange feeling arose in his heart.

The young master’s attitude toward that young lady seemed to have truly changed.

By the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, all officials had received a seven-day rest period to prepare for welcoming the New Year.

Those who came calling from this day until New Year’s Eve were people whose relationship with the Qi family was neither distant nor close – not so distant as to only merit early visits in mid-twelfth month, nor so close as to be able to visit on New Year’s Eve itself for congratulations.

The Zhao family occupied precisely such a position.

Three years ago, when Zhao Run had not yet been transferred back to Jiankang, his wife and daughter had returned first. Because the Zhao family residence wasn’t yet properly arranged at that time, they were able to spend New Year at the main residence once. But after that they no longer had such fortune, only being able to visit before New Year’s Eve to maintain connections with the Qi family’s nobles in hopes of gaining patronage.

Miss Zhao, Zhao Yao, naturally had to accompany her parents in calling.

Three years had passed and she had grown considerably. Even as a child she had bright eyes, white teeth, lovely eyes and a fine nose. Now grown up, she appeared even more charming and captivating, very beautiful indeed. She was a year older than Shen Xiling, had undergone the coming-of-age ceremony last year, and was now of marriageable age.

When their family arrived, the most delighted was Qi Le.

He was truly devoted – as a child his heart and eyes were full of his sister Yao, and now his infatuation remained unchanged. He eagerly followed behind her, wholeheartedly seeking to marry her.

According to the Zhao family’s original aspirations, they would naturally look down on Qi Le, a concubine’s son. However, Zhao Run remained at the fourth rank, his position in court neither high nor low. They couldn’t reach higher thresholds, so for the time being Qi Le had become quite a good choice.

Though he was a concubine’s son, he was still a Qi family member after all. Now he was about to take the spring imperial examinations, and if he subsequently passed the jinshi degree, his future would be limitless. His father was the current Left Chancellor, his two elder brothers were both second-rank officials – surely they wouldn’t really leave him aside without patronage?

Having calculated thus, Zhao Qishi felt this matter perhaps wasn’t so difficult to accept after all, gradually developing a tacit approval.

Zhao Yao herself was also reasonably satisfied with this marriage prospect.

Though in the past she had most liked Second Brother Qi, now she understood that was wishful thinking. She had learned to be sensible, knowing to lower her head and look at those around her.

Her Fourth Brother, though not of the very best birth, wasn’t bad either. The Qi family all had good looks – he appeared handsome too. Combined with his devotion to her and their childhood together ensuring they knew each other well, she felt no resistance. The two had essentially reached mutual understanding.

On this day’s visit, her parents went to pay respects to the Qi family elders. After she accompanied them to several places, Qi Le soon heard news of their family’s arrival and hurriedly ran out from his study.

Zhao Qishi wasn’t pedantic either. Seeing this situation, she tacitly allowed her daughter to speak privately with Fourth Qi for a few moments. Having received her mother’s nod, Zhao Yao with reddened cheeks went with Qi Le to stroll in the garden.

Though called a stroll, when young people of such age came together, how could there not be some intimacy?

The two hid behind artificial rocks secretly holding hands. Qi Le, looking at his sister Yao’s sweetly shy appearance, felt boundlessly happy and said to her: “Yao’er, you’ve finally come – you’ve kept me waiting!”

Zhao Yao, her hand firmly held by his, blushed as red as if blood might drip. Upon hearing his words, she reproached: “What good does my coming do? Don’t I still have to leave after seeing you once?”

Seeing her reproach, Qi Le cared tremendously and hurriedly coaxed: “Wait a bit longer for me. Once I pass the spring examinations, I’ll go to your house to propose marriage. Then after marrying you into our family, we can be together every day!”

His words were simple but sincere, able to delight the young lady.

Zhao Yao’s face and ears burned red as she “pfft”ed at him once, saying coquettishly: “Who agreed to marry you? Shameless!”

Qi Le naturally knew his sister Yao was speaking contrarily. His heart was so happy he couldn’t stop grinning foolishly, but after a while he noticed his sister showing worry, even hearing her say: “Can you pass the examination this year? Mother said if you have no official title, she won’t allow me to marry over…”

Upon hearing this, Qi Le nodded repeatedly, saying: “Aunt considers things properly – it should be so, it should be so. Sister, don’t worry. I thought this through long ago and have been studying desperately lately. This time I’ll definitely pass and absolutely won’t disappoint you!”

Author’s Note: In the time spent entangling with Second Qi, the children with Fourth Qi could already be old enough to buy soy sauce. Sister Yao’er is doing quite well indeed.