That question from Shi Ting gave Yan Qing a moment’s pause.

She had known for a long time that Shi Ting, sharp and perceptive as he was, could not possibly have failed to notice that she was different from ordinary people. Setting everything else aside, the strange remarks and unusual phrases that slipped from her lips from time to time would alone have been enough to give him pause.

Yet even knowing full well that something about her didn’t add up, he never pressed her to dig up the roots. In the end, it came down to trust — he had long decided that no matter where she had come from, it didn’t much concern him.

“You don’t have to answer. I already know — you read it in a book.” Before Yan Qing could even open her mouth, Shi Ting supplied the answer himself.

Shi Ting smiled. “Let’s leave that. Another game — or are you too afraid, defeated one?”

“Of course I’ll play again — do you think I’m frightened of you?”

Yan Qing picked up her pieces. “Back then on the train to Taishan, there was also a murder case — you still remember that, don’t you?”

“That was a genuine coincidence at the time — though looking back, perhaps it was fate.” Shi Ting placed his piece. “Even if we hadn’t met then, some other occasion would have come along eventually.”

As the two spoke, they exchanged a glance, and in that meeting of eyes, something stirred — a quiet tenderness that needed no words to make itself understood.

At two in the afternoon, after six hours of clacking along the rails, the train’s loudspeaker at last crackled to life with the conductor’s voice echoing through the carriages: “Taishan Station — arriving now! Passengers getting off, please take all your belongings. If you haven’t purchased a full ticket, please do so now!”

Jing Zhi and Jin Shan came into the compartment. “Miss, we’re nearly there.”

Shi Ting and Yan Qing were already packed and ready. Jin Shan carried a trunk in each hand, which was a great relief to Jing Zhi.

Outside the station, a car had been waiting for some time. The driver was a man from the local branch office who went by the nickname Monkey — and not only did he have a monkey’s birth year to his name, his agility matched it perfectly. Word had it that he could scale a tree twenty meters high with his bare hands in a matter of seconds.

Monkey drove to the front of the Wen Mansion, then hopped out to help Jin Shan with the luggage. Once it was all unloaded, he turned and gave Shi Ting a sharp salute. “Director Shi, I’ll be heading back then.”

“Thank you for your trouble.”

“No trouble at all — it’s the least I could do.” Monkey said his farewells to Yan Qing as well and drove off.

Yan Qing noticed that Shi Ting showed no sign of moving on. She leaned close and asked quietly, “And where will you be staying?”

Shi Ting looked at the red-lacquered gates before them. “Wherever you’re staying.”

Yan Qing was taken aback. “We may be engaged, but we haven’t truly married yet. Is this appropriate?”

“Why ever not?” Shi Ting reassured her. “Your uncle isn’t about to eat anyone alive, is he?”

“Of course not.” Yan Qing touched her own cheek. “I just feel a little awkward about it.”

“Silly girl.” Shi Ting ruffled her hair. “I can promise you — the moment your uncle sets eyes on me, he’ll be more pleased to see me than he is to see you.”

“You’re sure?” Yan Qing was still doubtful. At that very moment, the gate swung open from within, and Wen Xu came out beaming to greet them, with Wen Yan by his side.

Yan Qing was overjoyed to see familiar faces and quickly moved forward. “Uncle! Yan.”

“Qingqing, you’re finally here.” Wen Yan bent down to give her a hug. “Father has been going on about you day and night — my ears have grown calluses from hearing it.”

Wen Xu laughed. “This child exaggerates. I was not going on about it every single day.”

Then he turned and looked at Yan Qing with kind, gentle eyes. “Still no weight on you. Still so fragile-looking. If Yan Xu has been neglecting you, I’ll have something to say about it.”

“Father treats me wonderfully — don’t wrong him like that, Uncle.” Yan Qing rushed to defend Yan Xu.

As Wen Xu spoke, he finally noticed that two other people were standing at a little distance. The young man in front was tall and upright, distinguished in bearing — clearly not an ordinary person. He remembered this young man: he had visited the Wen household before, his family name was Shi and his given name Ting, and he had introduced himself as Yan Qing’s friend. He had also rescued Yan Qing during the lantern festival. Wen Xu had intended to thank him with a substantial sum, but had been firmly refused.

“Mr. Shi?” Wen Xu clasped his hands in greeting. “I didn’t notice you just now — I hope you’ll forgive my discourtesy.”

Shi Ting walked over and returned the greeting. “Uncle doesn’t need to stand on ceremony. I could see you and your niece had a great deal to catch up on — I didn’t want to interrupt.”

Hearing Shi Ting address him directly as “Uncle,” Wen Xu’s mind filled with a stream of bewildered questions. How extraordinarily familiar — what kind of person just addresses a near-stranger like that? The last time they had met, this Mr. Shi had been notably reserved, keeping a certain distance from people.

Just as Wen Xu was standing there at a loss, Yan Qing spoke up. “Uncle, I forgot to introduce you — this is Shi Ting.”

“I remember Mr. Shi — we met last time.”

“This time it’s different.” Yan Qing felt a little shy; a faint blush rose to her cheeks. “Shi Ting and I are engaged.”

Both Wen Xu and Wen Yan were surprised. Wen Yan promptly covered her mouth with a laugh. “Qingqing, that’s not very kind of you — something this important and you don’t even send a telegram to let us know. Now look at this — you’ve brought your fiancé right through the door, and Father hasn’t prepared a thing. He’ll be beside himself.”

Knowing Wen Yan was teasing her on purpose, Yan Qing couldn’t help poking her in her slender waist.

Wen Xu came to himself, and a look of delight broke across his face. “Please, come inside, come inside. It’s bitterly cold out here — we shouldn’t be standing around talking.”

Wen Xu had an attendant take the luggage and personally accompanied Shi Ting inside. When Shi Ting wasn’t looking, he gave him a quiet once-over — and the closer he looked, the more pleased he was. The delight in his eyes was impossible to conceal.

“Mr. Shi, please, come in.”

Shi Ting said, “Uncle doesn’t need to be so formal. My courtesy name is Xingzhi — please call me that.”

“Very well. Since you are Qingqing’s intended, we are family. I won’t stand on ceremony. Come, Xingzhi, please sit.”

Watching Wen Xu escort Shi Ting into the main hall, Yan Qing — his own niece — found herself left behind. She couldn’t help smiling ruefully. “How is it that Uncle is more welcoming to someone he barely knows than he is to me?”

Wen Yan laughed. “It’s what they call a mother-in-law adoring the prospective son-in-law. My Aunt passed away, so Father has taken on the role of the ‘mother-in-law.'”

Yan Qing was so amused she covered her mouth and laughed along.

The group entered the main hall, and Wen Xu immediately instructed the servants to add coal to the radiant-floor heater.

Winter in the north was bitterly cold, and wealthy households relied on such heaters for warmth. When properly stoked, the rooms felt as warm as a spring day.

Jing Zhi helped Yan Qing out of her overcoat and stood quietly to one side.

“Xingzhi came all the way with Qingqing without any advance notice — I’m afraid I’ve had nothing prepared, and must have been rather remiss in my hospitality.”

Shi Ting said, “Uncle is too kind. We are family — there is no need to stand on ceremony. It is Yan Qing and I who should be sorry — I’m afraid we’re about to impose on you for a few days.”

“If you tell me not to be formal, then don’t you be formal either — let us all simply set ceremony aside.” Wen Xu gave a hearty laugh. Looking at the handsome young man before him, his pleasure only deepened. He was a man of the world and could tell at a glance that only a household of standing could produce someone of such exceptional appearance and character. This Shi Family was clearly prosperous. Yan Qing would want for nothing if she married into it.

With this thought in mind, Wen Xu spoke up and asked, “Xingzhi, where is your home, and what line of work are you in?”

Shi Ting replied, “My family is in Shun Cheng. I currently work at the Military Police Directorate.”

“The Military Police Directorate — that’s a fine institution. They’ve earned an excellent reputation among the people in recent years.” Wen Xu said with admiration. “Work hard. There’ll be opportunities for advancement in time.”

Yan Qing, listening from the side, could not suppress a smile. “Uncle.”

Wen Xu turned to her with a slightly dissatisfied look. “I’m in the middle of a conversation with Xingzhi. What are you smiling at, child?”

Yan Qing said, “You asked him where his home was, but not who his father is. You asked where he works, but not what position he holds.”

Wen Xu paused and looked at Shi Ting. “Well then…”

Shi Ting inclined his head calmly. “My father is Shi Kai.”

“Shi Kai?” Wen Xu was taken aback. “The Marshal?”

“The very same.”

Wen Xu swallowed. The surprise had clearly been considerable. “And your position at the Military Police Directorate is…”

“Director of the Military Police Directorate.” Shi Ting replied with composed courtesy.

Wen Xu felt a flash of embarrassment. He clasped his hands respectfully. “So it is Director Shi.”

Yan Qing smiled. “Uncle, you said just now there was no need to stand on ceremony with him — and now you’re being ceremonious again.”

Wen Xu had addressed Shi Ting without knowing his identity. Now that he knew Shi Ting was the Marshal’s son, how could he not be astonished?

“Yan Qing is quite right,” Shi Ting said warmly. “Uncle need not concern himself with who I am. Consider me simply your niece’s future husband — no rank or title is necessary between us.”

Wen Xu thought back to the last time he had encountered Shi Ting, when he had actually attempted to express gratitude with money for rescuing Yan Qing. Looking back now, it was almost laughable. The Marshal’s own son — why would he have taken the slightest interest in whatever sum Wen Xu might have offered?

Still, Wen Xu observed that Shi Ting was warm and gracious, without a trace of arrogance or the airs of a pampered young master. He was inwardly full of admiration. With such distinguished origins and yet so accomplished at his age — this was truly a dragon among men, rare in any generation.

“Father, you’ve been holding our future brother-in-law in conversation this whole time — haven’t you thought to ask whether they’re hungry? Please have the kitchen prepare some food.” Wen Yan spoke up to remind him.

“Right, right — I’ll go and give the kitchen instructions now.” Wen Xu smiled. “Xingzhi, I’m curious how well you hold your liquor — tonight we must have a proper drink together.”

Shi Ting said, “I defer entirely to Uncle’s wishes.”

Wen Xu laughed with great satisfaction.

After the conversation concluded, Wen Xu had the rooms prepared.

Yan Qing was given the west-facing side room, close to Wen Yan’s quarters. Shi Ting was given the south-courtyard side room, which had an excellent aspect.

At dinner, Wen Xu’s wife came in leading a small boy by the hand. Madam Wen was a handsome woman who looked no older than twenty-five or twenty-six — only a few years older than Wen Yan herself.

Wen Yan’s mother had died young, and Wen Xu had no taste for romantic dalliance, so in time he had elevated his former concubine to the position of official wife — the woman who was now Madam Wen.

The little boy was Wen Yan’s younger half-brother, whose pet name was Niannian.

Seeing mother and child appear, Wen Xu quickly introduced them. “This is my wife and my son.”

Yan Qing quickly dipped her head in greeting. “Good evening, Aunt.”

Madam Wen, née Mo Yunhua, hurried forward to help her. “Qingqing doesn’t need to be so formal. I heard the moment you were arriving today and have been wanting to come and see you — but Niannian hasn’t been well and wouldn’t let me out of his sight. He’s feeling a bit better now, so I came right over.”

She gave Niannian a little tug. “Niannian, say hello to your sister.”

Niannian looked a little listless — clearly he was truly unwell. He parted his small lips. “Hello, Sister.”

“And who is this?” Mo Yunhua looked at Shi Ting.

Wen Xu said, “He is Qingqing’s intended, family name Shi. You may call him Xingzhi, as I do.”

“So Qingqing is already engaged.” Mo Yunhua smiled. She looked toward Wen Yan. “Yan should probably get a move on.”

Wen Yan gave a light laugh and said nothing more.

—