When Qi Ying returned to Fenghe Courtyard, the seventh day hadn’t yet passed.

Qingji Mountain remained exactly the same as three years ago. The stone steps in the mountain were still one hundred and eight levels, the entrance to Fenghe Courtyard with its blue tiles and white walls still hung two lanterns – nothing had changed.

Turning from the garden into the flower hall, he could see from afar that the hall was brightly lit with very bright and lively lamplight. In the courtyard before the hall, Xue Tuan’er was pawing at a small embroidered ball with her little claws, while the maids found her adorable appearance amusing and were gathered around her, teasing and laughing.

Three years had passed, and Xue Tuan’er had also grown up, her size much larger than when she was small. Probably due to her master’s careful attention, she had been raised extremely well, grown quite plump, with fluffy snow-white fur all over her body. She looked like a round ball, and when she ran on the ground chasing the small ball, one couldn’t immediately distinguish which was the cat and which was the ball.

The maids were playing happily and for a moment didn’t notice that the Second Young Master had returned. Qing Zhu, following behind Qi Ying, saw their lack of propriety and coughed somewhat loudly as a reminder.

Those maids were none other than Shuipei, Fengshang, and Zijun.

Hearing Qing Zhu’s cough, they turned around and saw the young master standing at the courtyard gate. All were greatly startled and immediately stopped laughing, bowing to pay respects to Qi Ying. This cough also drew out Bai Song, who had originally been holding his sword while standing in a corner. He emerged from the inconspicuous shadows and also bowed to Qi Ying.

Qi Ying glanced at Bai Song and nodded, then casually waved his hand to indicate the maids were excused from formalities. He then walked into the flower hall, but didn’t see the person he was looking for. After turning around the screen and taking a seat, he asked lightly: “Where is your young lady?”

Three years had passed, and the changes in the maids weren’t great. Shuipei was still the one in charge. Hearing the young master’s question, she respectfully answered: “In reply to Young Master, Miss rushed to the kitchen as soon as she returned today and is personally making birthday noodles for Young Master. By our calculations, she should also…”

Before Shuipei could finish speaking, everyone heard footsteps from the courtyard. The maids exchanged glances, knowing their young lady had arrived. Shuipei simply closed her mouth and, together with Fengshang and Zijun, quietly retreated to the side.

Qi Ying also heard the commotion and looked up toward the flower hall entrance. Then he saw Shen Xiling emerge from behind the screen carrying a tray, momentarily dazzling everyone in the hall.

After three years had passed, that thin and frail little girl of yesteryear had become a young lady of brilliant beauty.

Actually, her features hadn’t changed much and were still similar to her childhood appearance. Those beautiful eyes still sparkled with rippling light, and the red beauty mark between her brows was still strikingly spiritual. What had changed was her demeanor. In childhood, due to her circumstances, she had always been somewhat timid and evasive, but now she had become more gentle and gracious, with an added touch of the charm unique to young ladies. Those eyes seemed to have learned to speak in these three years – with just a soft, gentle glance at you, they could immediately make one’s heart soften.

She had also grown taller – tall and slender. Today she wore a white silk dress with pearl embroidery, fitted at the waist, which better accentuated her beautiful figure. Her waist was so slender it seemed one could encircle it with one hand, yet she was full where she should be full, giving her an even more alluring quality.

She had a face as pure as the flying celestial maidens painted in Buddhist scriptures, yet her figure was like the fox spirits from storybook tales. Anyone who saw her would repeatedly sigh that Goddess Nüwa’s skill in molding clay figures was divinely inspired and unmatched, to be able to create such a beautiful person.

The screen behind her was painted with clusters of flowers. Standing there gracefully, she seemed to be positioned among painted colors and silk, appearing even more brilliant. At this moment, her gaze met Qi Ying’s, and those rippling beautiful eyes immediately brightened, filled with smiling joy. The entire flower hall seemed to become even brighter with her smile.

Shuipei, watching from the side, saw clearly that the moment Miss emerged from behind the screen, Young Master’s features also softened. The two exchanged a glance – it was clearly light and simple, yet watching it made her heart flutter.

…She even inexplicably felt a sense of lingering tenderness.

Her heart skipped a beat. She then saw Miss approach Young Master, gently place the food tray on the table, and greet Qi Ying, saying: “Young Master has returned.”

Her voice was soft and melodious, clear and pleasing to the ear.

Before she could fully bow, Qi Ying reached out to gently support her, a faint smile at the corners of his mouth as he shook his head, then pointed to the seat beside him to indicate she should sit.

Shen Xiling glanced at Qi Ying, a faint blush appearing on her face as she followed his gesture and sat in the chair beside him. She then heard him ask: “When did you return?”

“About an hour ago,” Shen Xiling answered. “I should have been earlier, but we encountered rain on the road today, which delayed us.”

She paused, then complained a little about the hardships and difficulties of the journey, even telling him how many times their carriage got stuck in mud.

Qi Ying listened throughout, and only after she finished did he nod, then look her up and down before withdrawing his gaze and saying lightly: “It’s good that you returned safely.”

His words were understated, yet everyone in the hall could hear an extra touch of gentleness in them.

This wasn’t new. Qing Zhu and Bai Song, who followed Qi Ying regularly, especially knew that in recent years, as Young Master’s position had grown higher and his power greater, his speech when conversing with others carried more coldness and intimidation. Only when speaking with Shen Xiling would his tone take on more gentleness. Today, for some reason, he seemed particularly tender.

Everyone kept their eyes on their noses and noses on their hearts, not daring to make a sound. They vaguely heard their young lady respond softly, then heard Young Master say: “The journey must have been tiring. You should rest after returning – why personally cook?”

Upon hearing this, their young lady seemed to just remember the dishes on the table. Everyone then heard the sound of bowls and dishes scraping against the table, presumably as she took the bowl from the food tray and pushed it in front of Young Master.

She said: “This had to be done… Young Master, please try it. Though I returned in haste today, I still simmered this soup for over an hour – it should be palatable.”

Actually, without her saying so, everyone knew these birthday noodles must taste excellent. After all, as soon as she carried them into the flower hall, that rich fragrance filled the entire hall, just like the birthday noodles she brought every year when Young Master celebrated his birthday.

This seemed to be an unspoken agreement between the two of them: she would definitely make birthday noodles for him, and Young Master, these three years, only ate birthday noodles made by her.

Qi Ying now looked at the bowl of noodles she had pushed toward him. The soup was a rich white color – an extremely fresh broth made from tender bamboo shoots, not only beautiful in color but rich in aroma.

Fat scallions finely chopped, fragrant oil slowly cooked, noodles like silk threads – she had made them with great care.

Tonight’s fatigue from socializing seemed to slowly dissipate in the fragrance of these noodles before him, and the vague pain in his stomach also seemed to gradually fade away. Qi Ying’s expression became even more gentle. He picked up chopsticks and took a piece of bamboo shoot, tasting it. The flavor slowly spread – still the same as in the past three years, so mellow yet fresh.

Her cooking had always been excellent.

He looked up at her and saw she was watching him with those eyes that had learned to speak, appearing both delighted and nervous, asking him: “…Is it delicious?”

Making his heart soften.

Qi Ying nodded, looking at her as he answered: “Yes, it’s delicious.”

He had always found her cooking delicious.

After Young Master spoke, Shuipei couldn’t help but secretly lift her eyelids to glance at the two of them, seeing them look at each other through the steaming heat from the bowl. It was just a brief moment – soon their young lady lowered her head with a slight blush, while Young Master continued watching her for a while longer after she looked away, only then returning his gaze to continue eating.

When Shuipei saw this scene, she somehow blushed… as if she had witnessed something very intimate and unspeakable.

She quickly averted her gaze.

By the time this meal was finished, it was already past midnight.

Coming out of the flower hall, Qing Zhu followed Young Master back to Huaijin Courtyard to attend to his changing clothes and rest. Just as he turned around and exited the courtyard gate, he saw Shuipei walking toward them.

Qing Zhu approached and asked: “Why are you here? Does Miss Fang have something else?”

Speaking truthfully, among everyone, Qing Zhu had changed the least in these three years.

Three years ago, when he was still a half-grown boy, he was already about the same height as Shuipei. Now three years later, even Shen Xiling had grown taller, but his height hadn’t increased at all – he was still about the same height as Shuipei, even slightly shorter than Shen Xiling.

His expression hadn’t changed either – still as serious and proper as in childhood. Though younger than Shuipei, he maintained a mature demeanor that could intimidate others.

Shuipei curtsied to Qing Zhu, then said: “My young lady would like to ask Young Master to come speak a few words. I wonder if Young Master has time?”

Just as she finished speaking, she turned her head and saw the lights in Huaijin Courtyard had been extinguished. Presumably Young Master had mostly already retired. Indeed, she heard Qing Zhu say: “It’s too late today. Young Master has already retired. Go tell Miss Fang that…”

Shuipei’s heart was feeling disappointed for their young lady when she saw that before Qing Zhu could finish speaking, the door of Huaijin Courtyard’s main room opened. Young Master stood in the doorway wearing outer robes, asking: “Where does your young lady want to meet?”

His voice was neither high nor low, his expression calm and peaceful, but Shuipei inexplicably felt Young Master was in a very good mood. Her heart settled, and she turned to Young Master, bowed, and restraining her smile, respectfully answered: “In reply to Young Master, at望园 (Wangyuan – Viewing Garden).”

When Qi Ying went to the appointment, Shen Xiling was sitting on the ground in the pavilion beside the small pond in Viewing Garden. A small red clay brazier was set up on the ground with a fire burning, and a small steamer basket was placed on the fire – no one knew what was being steamed inside.

Hearing movement, she turned toward the stone gate of Viewing Garden and saw Qi Ying walking in wearing outer robes.

Young Master’s phoenix eyes were sharp as tempered steel, walking toward her through the bamboo shadows under moonlight, creating a transcendent atmosphere.

But as soon as he entered the pavilion, he frowned and scolded her: “Why are you sitting on the ground again – get up.”

This word “again” had some history behind it.

These three years, Viewing Garden still had restrictions – others were not allowed to enter, but Shen Xiling had already become a regular here, often sitting in the pavilion for a while.

When Qi Ying was at Fenghe Courtyard, they would sometimes talk together in the garden. Sometimes when Qi Ying wasn’t there, she would occasionally come sit alone. When sitting alone it wasn’t much, but when the two talked together she felt they couldn’t do without eating and drinking. So later, somehow, she developed the bad habit of cooking things to eat in Viewing Garden, making the originally very tranquil garden quite full of domestic atmosphere.

Qi Ying actually didn’t object to her doing this. After all, her cooking suited his taste, and when she set up her small brazier to cook, it didn’t make him feel it was noisy – instead he always felt a sense of calm and peace, so he didn’t say it wasn’t allowed. It was just that when she cooked, she always habitually sat on the ground. The ground was cold and she had a weak constitution, so every month when that time came… she would suffer from severe abdominal pain.

He had long ago told her not to sit on the ground, but this little girl was always falsely obedient – when he was present she would agree as if she meant it, but once he turned around everything remained the same.

Shen Xiling looked at his frowning expression and pursed her lips, sitting on the ground with no intention of getting up, saying: “Didn’t Young Master have people install underfloor heating here? It’s very warm, not cold at all.”

There was indeed such a thing.

Because she was incorrigible, he had no way to deal with her, so later he simply had people install underfloor heating beneath the pavilion. Except for the very hot summer months, it was kept burning the other three seasons, in case she came to sit from time to time.

Installing underfloor heating beneath an outdoor pavilion and keeping it burning for three seasons every year – such a thing was unheard of anywhere, but he doted on her, so that’s how it was.

When Shen Xiling said this, her eyes held a somewhat coquettish meaning, both soft and gentle, making it impossible to harden one’s heart to scold her further. Qi Ying was also somewhat helpless with the little girl. He only sighed, then bent down to feel the temperature of the ground. It was warm to the touch – indeed warmer than ordinary seats. Only then did he withdraw his hand and didn’t insist on making her get up.

Author’s Note: Qi Ying: I’m sleeping. Qing Zhu: Yes, he’s sleeping. Shuipei: Ah this… Qing Zhu: Don’t look anymore, he’s really sleeping. Let’s go, let’s go. Shuipei: What a pity! Our young lady was originally going to ask for a date, looks like it’ll have to be postponed… Qi Ying: Wait – I’m awake. Qing Zhu: ? Are you targeting me because I’m short?