He conducted all his affairs with this same thoroughness and care. Years of navigating the currents of officialdom had long since shaped it into habit. Even when calling on his betrothed, he would first send a formal card asking whether it was convenient.

He had hosted his colleagues the night before, not returning home until midnight, with no time to report to his grandmother and mother. The following morning at the daily greeting, he mentioned in passing his nighttime encounter with Jiang Heng. The Grand Lady’s face showed a flicker of disdain. “This Marquis Jiang is a peculiar man — first he let a concubine run amok, and now that the match is confirmed, he is in a rush to bring the girl back. It seems he tried the Shuguo Duke’s household and found the door shut in his face, then went to seek you out. Such a face is rather ugly to behold.” She set down her blue-and-white porcelain cup and accepted the cloth offered by a maidservant, dabbing her lips. “To speak plainly — were it not for the palace’s order, I would not have looked twice at this match. If Yuyang County Princess were still alive, there would be something to say — but now that she is gone, what does this Jiang Heng amount to? He is nothing more than a nameless minor official from Cangzhou!”

Every person naturally has their own perspective. What made the Grand Lady especially displeased with this match was that the order had come from the Empress Dowager’s mouth.

An old rival — surely she could not allow her to have things her own way! When the late Emperor had been alive, the Empress Dowager had not been especially favored — it was she herself and two other ladies who had been more beloved. Wei Meiren and Zheng Xianfei — one had borne no children, the other had only daughters — and both had voluntarily gone to tend the imperial tombs. As for herself, her son had been enfeoffed as Prince Liang but had not been chosen to succeed to the throne. After the late Emperor’s passing, she had moved out of the palace to live with her son and grandchildren.

For a competitive spirit, the will to win and lose never dies. After the defeat in the struggle for the heir apparent’s position, she had managed tolerably well by keeping the sight of her rival out of her view — but now the Empress Dowager had extended her reach into her inner household. The meaning behind it required no words, and yet there was no way to resist. The more she thought about it, the more infuriating it became.

It was natural for an elder to have some grievances to air, but he saw things clearly enough. No matter who he married, he could not escape such arrangements. The best course was to take things in stride, so life could be lived on manageable terms.

He smiled and said a few words of comfort, then withdrew from the garden and proceeded along the wooden corridor toward the front of the house. Before he had gone far, he came face-to-face with Hui Cun.

Hui Cun was his sister by the same mother, having just reached the age of adulthood this year. She was promised to the Left Guard General Geng Fangzhi, and they were only waiting for her elder brother’s wedding to be completed before beginning preparations for hers. But though the match was settled, her temperament was still that of a child — a pampered princess raised at home, pure as water. Seeing him, she called out “Elder Brother” and came running eagerly toward him, holding out both hands for him to look. “Guess what this is?”

He looked down. “A walnut with a window cut into it.” But behind that little window, there seemed to be something — he genuinely could not make out what treasure she had gotten hold of.

Hui Cun blinked her large, bright eyes and said with a laugh, “My sister-in-law gave it to me! It was delivered to the door yesterday, and when I came back from Uncle’s house, Mother had someone bring it to my room.”

As she spoke, she opened the walnut. Inside was a thatched cottage, white snow and red plum trees, and even a small frozen pond in front of the house with a thin layer of snowflakes settled on the ice. It was a miniature world — more rounded and beautiful than reality, as though anyone who lived inside it might spend their whole life free from care.

“Elder Brother, isn’t it wonderful? Isn’t it delightful?” Hui Cun cradled it with great care and sighed with genuine admiration. “I really never expected — what gifted hands Sister-in-law has. She must be a most interesting person. Our household is going to be so lively from now on. Even Mother says it is well-made.”

He listened to all of this, then looked a little puzzled. “Which sister-in-law?”

Hui Cun said, “Which other sister-in-law would there be? Elder Brother’s wife, of course.”

Elder Brother’s wife? He thought for a moment before realizing she meant Jiang Yun Pan. The little walnut was indeed exquisitely made — the plaster within blended with vibrant pigments, giving everything a fresh and flourishing quality. Hui Cun was clearly very fond of this new sister-in-law — the woman had not yet crossed the threshold, and she was already full of eager anticipation.

“Young master,” — at this point Bi Xie came in, stood at the foot of the steps, clasped his hands, and reported upward — “the carriage is ready and waiting only for young master to depart.”

He said good, and stepped down from the corridor. As he walked, he asked whether the calling card had been delivered to the Shuguo Duke’s household.

Bi Xie said yes. “Chang Song was sent to deliver it. Once Chang Song is back, we will know whether the young lady is free.”

He nodded, and thought again of that walnut house with its white snow and red plum. The days of a girl in her inner chambers — one might say they were quite leisurely, and yet, when there was a pastime worth pursuing, they were probably also rather busily spent.

He boarded the carriage to the Bodyguard Directorate. Court was not in session today, but official business at the yamen still needed attending. The two locations were not too far apart — in about the time it takes for two sticks of incense to burn, the carriage was at the office gate. Bi Xie rolled up the bamboo curtain and brought the stepping stool. He lifted his robe hem and stepped down from the carriage, and entering the hall found the Duke of Chenguo already seated. He had a smile ready, and said, “Elder Brother finished drilling his troops already?”

The Duke of Chenguo gave a sound of agreement. “It is too hot — I had them assembled at the fifth watch to drill early, so it could be done before the heat set in.” He glanced at the water-clock on the table, laughing. “Your arrival time at your post is impressively late — I’ve been waiting here for you quite a while, and only now you come.”

He was as unhurried as ever. He sat down and washed his hands, and with perfect leisure set about grinding tea leaf into powder. Noticing the Duke of Chenguo standing, he glanced up with a small smile. “Elder Brother, have a seat — I’ve been given some excellent Lv Wu tea. Let me prepare a cup for you to try.”

This was simply how he was — an ease and refinement at odds with the ways of officialdom. The Duke of Chenguo had no choice but to sit down across from him and watch him take out a handled rabbit-fur tea bowl, spoon in the powdered tea, and pour in the water. Those clean white hands worked the tea whisk in a fine sieve-like motion, and the dark green, concentrated liquid gradually rose into a froth of fine bubbles. The fragrance wafted gently outward with the vapor.

The Duke of Chenguo watched with downcast eyes, his thoughts elsewhere. In a low voice he said, “His Majesty intends to reform the capital’s garrison forces. The former Bodyguard Directorate and the Palace Guard Directorate effectively controlled all escort and patrol duties in the capital and surrounding imperial city. Now, with the situation as murky as it is, the Bodyguard Directorate has been split into a Cavalry Command and an Infantry Command, and on my side a Palace Guard Command has been carved out as well. The more offices there are, the more people share the power — and the military authority is being trimmed down again and again. Sooner or later, the axe will fall on our heads too.”

He showed no sign of anxiety. After the seventh infusion, he set the bowl before the Duke of Chenguo, the froth still billowing like drifting snow on water. He gestured toward it. “Elder Brother, drink your tea.”

The Duke of Chenguo took up the dark-glazed bowl and took a gentle sip. The mellow flavor spread across his tongue, carrying with it a faint and wistful quality, and he could not help but murmur — fine tea.

The man seated across from him smoothed his sleeves with an unhurried expression, then spoke seriously. “His Majesty’s new policy aims to divide power. The yamen now has many new faces — all transferred in from other posts as reserve-rank officials. My view is this: at the moment, with the situation so tense, things may not in fact be bad for you and me. Of the Li clan’s legitimate male descendants, there are only the three of us. Holding heavy military power has always been a mark against us. Now that the Bodyguard Directorate and Palace Guard have been partitioned, the Heavenly Virtue Army is not yet showing movement — Third Elder Brother is more unsettled than we are. Elder Brother need not overthink it. The worst that can come of the various garrison divisions is still nothing compared to the Heavenly Virtue Army losing three-tenths of its forces to the Pinglu Army. Our share of the change is small beside that.”

Hearing him put it this way, the Duke of Chenguo’s mind settled. On reflection, it was indeed as he said. The Emperor was wary of everyone, and those in the capital, being easier to keep watch over, were in a somewhat better position. The Chuguo Duke, Li Yu Jian, stationed far away in Fengzhou, ought to be the more anxious of them all.

The three of them as cousins had never fallen into a three-way standoff. Li Yu Jian’s father, Prince Yong, had always been a difficult man to deal with, and Li Yu Jian took after him — brave but headstrong, who had been in open and covert rivalry with the Duke of Chenguo for many years. As for Li Chenjian, he was the youngest, and from childhood had trailed after his elder brother; even now, though enfeoffed and in command of an office, he still deferred to his elder brother in all matters. Of the three cousins, it was Li Chenjian and the Duke of Chenguo who were the closest.

True enough — in all things, one must not act in haste. If they were anxious, there were others who were more anxious still. The authority of the two Directorates had been divided, and yet they could sit here drinking tea in leisure. Word getting out, it seemed, could at least temporarily ease the Emperor’s ever-restless heart.

Since official matters required no more discussion, the talk turned to private ones. The Duke of Chenguo, having left after sending Jiang Heng into the private chamber the previous night, had not heard what passed between them afterward, and now pressed Li Chenjian to tell him. “What did Marquis Jiang say to you? After I brought him in I left — I imagine it was about the marriage again?”

Li Chenjian nodded. “Which is why I am going to the Shuguo Duke’s household today, to hear the Jiang family young lady’s view on the matter.”

The Duke of Chenguo laughed. “The six rites are done, the wedding procession is all that remains — and you still call her ‘the young lady’?”

He grew slightly self-conscious, and said with a touch of sheepishness, “If not ‘the young lady,’ then what?” He thought a moment, then gave a soft sound. “That’s right — her given name is Si Si. Quite lovely, isn’t it?”

The Duke of Chenguo could barely hold back his laughter. A man who had had no experience of women, looking toward that not-yet-arrived wife with such full hope and warmth.

Ah — such feeling was rare indeed. He himself had once devoted his whole heart to his wife in the same way. But his wife was of the most decorous great-family sort — commanding in public, a force to reckon with — but as for the day-to-day life of it, she was a bit lacking in spark. As the years passed, the feeling had slowly receded, until all that remained was the respect and esteem one owed to a proper wife.

Speaking of vivid spirits — it brought to mind something else. The Duke of Chenguo laughed, saying, “I hear your young lady has become quite the celebrated figure in the capital. The other day when I came home, I found Jingcun fiddling with a little walnut house, saying it was a small gift the Kaiguo Marquis young lady had sent to every noble girl. Jingcun was so delighted she kept saying Ji Fu’s elder brother has found himself a wonderful wife, and that once you’re married next month, she intends to come stay at your household for a few days and follow along with sister-in-law to make qian kun walnut houses.”

Li Chenjian smiled. “That would be lovely — let them keep each other company in the inner chambers. Having lively company makes the days less dull.”

But the Duke of Chenguo teased him mercilessly. “You say that now, but once your wife is truly surrounded by them all the time, I suspect you will be sulking, jealous of your younger sisters monopolizing her.”

Two brothers chatting like this about family matters — as long as there was no politics in it, it was the most pleasant of times.

The Duke of Chenguo sat a while longer before rising to take his leave. Li Chenjian saw him to the door, then turned back to find Chang Song running in from outside, catching his breath, and reporting, “Young master, the card has been delivered. The young lady says she will await young master’s visit.”

He nodded with quiet satisfaction and went back into the yamen to attend to official business. The morning passed in a flurry — by the time everything was arranged, the sun was directly overhead.

The yamen provided a meal, and he ate a few mouthfuls in a perfunctory way, then had the page prepare the carriage to head for the Shuguo Duke’s household. The summer heat was at its peak, and it was better to arrive early, finish the conversation, and not keep the young lady from her afternoon rest.

In truth, calling on her again and again was not entirely proper. When the match had first been arranged with the Shuguo Duke’s legitimate daughter, he had the impression he had only come once, the day the betrothal gifts were sent — and in the two or three years that followed, while he was stationed in Xizhou as Regional Commander, he had found no occasion that warranted coming again. Now this match, with all its attendant domestic entanglements, had brought him calling on the Shuguo Madam as well, obliging him to offer repeated apologies for the intrusion, on such a sweltering day, into their distinguished household.

A man of such clear and radiant character — if he could not be a son-in-law, he would make an excellent nephew-in-law. Madam Ming smiled and said, “What a thing to say — it is that spineless brother-in-law of mine who went looking for you. Otherwise, why would I trouble you to come and play mediator?”

She led him toward the inner courtyard. Between the front and back courts there was a wooden-trellis covered walkway, and at the boundary stood a pavilion rendered with great refinement — fitted with straight-lattice sliding doors and bamboo curtains to form a small and intimate tea room, just the right size for receiving guests and conversation.

He came along the wooden walkway, and from a distance he could already make out a figure standing before the pavilion. She wore a high-waisted garment in the color of rosy sea-sky, and across her chest, pale-frosted sash ribbons floated and swayed with the gentle breeze. She always had this quality of still, untroubled calm. As he drew near, she showed not the slightest trace of unease — steady and composed, she gave him a proper curtsy and said, “Your Grace the Duke of Weiguo.”

He returned the courtesy. “I am sorry to disturb the young lady’s peace.”

Yun Pan inclined her head slightly. “The Duke is too kind — please, won’t you speak inside?” She stepped aside and offered her arm to support Madam Ming.

Madam Ming, perceptive as ever, knew perfectly well this was not the time to linger. She laughed and made her excuses: “I still have a few things to sort out up front — I won’t keep you company.” With that she caught Qin Dan’s eye and gave her a meaningful blink — Qin Dan immediately understood, and took Madam Ming’s arm and withdrew from the tea room.

That left just the two of them. Both felt a certain awkwardness, and after a quick glance at one another, both looked away.

Fortunately, Yun Pan was composed and did not lose her bearing on account of it. She calmly gestured for the Duke of Weiguo to be seated, poured a cup of fruit tea that had been prepared in advance, and presented it to him with both hands. “Please, Your Grace, have some tea.”

He gave a slight nod. “Thank you.”

The two of them sat facing one another, the air between them thick with an indefinable awkwardness.

In the end it was Li Chenjian who spoke first. Choosing his words with care, he said, “My reason for calling on the young lady today is that I saw her honorable father last night. He spoke to me of holding a wedding banquet and, from the sound of his words, intends for it to be held in Youzhou. But since the young lady is not returning to the Kaiguo Marquis household, there would be no proper occasion for such a banquet. He therefore entrusted me with this matter, and I have come to ask the young lady’s wishes.”

As expected, they had ultimately brought this to his door. In truth, Yun Pan had long anticipated that Liu Shi would not take things lying down and would urge her father to make one last attempt.

To have the household’s private disgraces spill out and be laid before someone else — it was deeply embarrassing.

Yun Pan resented her father for his lack of backbone, but since she would be sharing her life with the man before her, there was no point in concealing anything. She weighed her words and said, “Your household conducted the six rites through the Shuguo Duke’s household — the Kaiguo Marquis household was never involved in any of it. Therefore the wedding banquet ought not to be held in Youzhou. There is nothing I need to hide before the Duke. The day I was shut out of my own home, I could have stepped through the gate in a single step, yet I made a great detour and went to my Aunt instead. Is it possible I had no resentment? Half a month ago, Uncle stood before the three gates of the palace and unleashed a great tirade of curses — which was what finally shamed my father into calling at the household. But my father made his meaning perfectly plain: he did not want me to return — he wished Aunt to act on my behalf in all things. And now he wants to bring me back. What sense does that make?”

She had spoken with some agitation — the resentment swelled like a tide, and the slight press of her lips told of the hurt she carried.

She must have realized she had shown something of herself, and quickly composed her expression again, steadied her breath, and said, “My mother passed away last year — I expect the Duke has heard as well. The household is now entirely in the hands of a concubine. If I were to return, my Aunt would have no say, and who knows what that concubine might cook up — I dare not even imagine. Marriage is one of life’s great events, and I have no wish to have outsiders managing it on my behalf. If something is not done properly, I would not be able to face the Duke either. So may the Duke please convey to my father on my behalf: I do not intend to leave from the Kaiguo Marquis household. First, my father is burdened with official duties, and I would not wish to add to his troubles. Second, the distance between Youzhou and the capital is a hundred miles in this sweltering heat — the expense and labor of traveling between the two would be entirely impractical.”

Having said all of this, she had made her thoughts and her position plainly clear. The Duke of Weiguo, having heard her out, said good. “The young lady’s meaning is understood. I will convey it to Marquis Jiang, and the young lady need not trouble herself further. There is, however, one matter on which I would like to offer a thought. Marquis Jiang is, after all, your father — and he is still living. If the wedding entirely bypasses him, I fear he will find it difficult to save face. As for returning to that household — you need not if you do not wish. But you cannot simply leave it unattended either. If Marquis Jiang is entirely taken over by that woman’s maneuvering, it will end up damaging your reputation as well, and by the time you wish to address it, it will be too late.”

Yun Pan listened quietly as he laid out his thinking. When she let her feelings lead her astray, she needed someone like this to call her back in time.

Thinking it over carefully, it was indeed unavoidable. Father and daughter were bound by blood — one could not cut that tie simply by wishing it. The Kaiguo Marquis household had already become a laughingstock in two cities. If left to decay unchecked, it would sooner or later be ruined in Liu Shi’s hands.

She truly could not afford to be too absolute about this. If she severed all relations with her father, any attempt to manage the affairs of the Marquis household afterward would be far more difficult. That household was what her mother had built through countless hardships — she should at least hold it steady, keep its standing intact. To do no less was to honor her mother’s labors.

“I was not thinking clearly enough — I have made the Duke laugh at me.” She lowered her head with a flush of color in her cheeks. “You are right. My father gave me the gift of life and raised me — if I were truly to bypass him entirely, what people would say would not be good either.”

A person who can accept sound counsel is always one of clear mind and generous spirit. He smiled slightly. “And what does the young lady think is the best solution?”

Yun Pan considered for a brief moment, then said, “With that concubine still in the Marquis household, it is not convenient for me to return there. Allow me to consult with my Uncle and Aunt first. If they agree, then please invite my father to come here and see me leave from this household.”

This was indeed a solution that satisfied everyone. It kept the Marquis household’s concubine and the concubine’s children entirely out of the picture, while still preserving Jiang Heng’s dignity.

It was the first time the two of them had formally resolved a matter together. To be able to exchange thoughts freely, to consult and discuss with one another — it gave the impression of two well-matched minds. Each held their own understanding of things, and expressed it openly. Where there were gaps in the reasoning, they were corrected. What was well-reasoned, they followed and refined. For a marriage with an uncertain future ahead, this was not a bad beginning.

They sat in quiet companionship, drinking tea together. Though the capital’s afternoon was hot, a small breeze drifted into the tea room.

On the short table, a rough-glazed ceramic vase held two lotus flowers — one tall and one short. The breeze caught them, and the flower buds trembled gently.