The carriage rolled slowly forward, with Xiang Xu driving the horse, riding alongside it.

The weather was bitterly cold, the harshest stretch of the entire winter. Looking outside, the houses and streets appeared desolate, all things drained of vitality beneath the lingering, unmelted ice and snow.

Hui Cun’s carriage window was half open, just enough for her to see Xiang Xu. When a person is uneasy, they need conversation, and so she said to him: “I wonder how my brother and sister-in-law are doing. Just yesterday I heard that my brother had been summoned for questioning by the Court of Judicial Review again. Surely His Majesty isn’t truly set on persecuting my brother to the very end, is he? My brother is such a careful person — how could there possibly be that many mistakes and oversights for them to seize upon? Big Brother, my brother will be all right, won’t he?”

In terms of address, Hui Cun followed Yun Pan’s example, calling Madam Ming “Auntie” and Xiang Xu “Big Brother.” It was precisely this warmth in her nature that made people feel this commandery princess was a real, living young woman — not a hollow shell wearing a title. A girl who ought to have been carefree had instead seen her family fall into grave misfortune, with both her grandmother and mother falling ill one after the other, leaving all the outside affairs for her to manage and navigate. It was genuinely difficult.

Xiang Xu naturally offered her reassurance: “In the current situation, no news is the best news. His Majesty is still watching and waiting. If he were truly set on targeting the Duke, he would not have issued a mere order of confinement. The Court of Judicial Review must go through its formalities regardless. I believe at the very least Duke Chengguo is still out here lending his support — it should not come to anything too harsh against the Duke.”

“But I fear that Big Brother may barely be able to protect himself, without the energy left to protect my brother,” Hui Cun said, her gaze drifting sadly to the bronze warming brazier inside the carriage. The intricate taotie relief carvings on its body were unsettling to look at for too long. She let out a soft sigh. “In truth, my brother is to be pitied. So young, and he has already endured so many hardships. In his early years in the military, he was struck by a stray arrow and nearly lost his life. And now he’s been placed under confinement again. If I had known things would turn out like this, it would have been better for him to become a civil official — a lifetime of peace and quiet, which would surely be preferable to one wave of trouble after another.”

Xiang Xu smiled slightly at her words. “Are civil officials free of rivalry? How many words flow from a civil official’s brush every day — if he had truly become a civil official, what was searched out would not have been merely a single character ‘edict.’ In this world, there are thieves who last a thousand years, but no guard that can hold for a thousand years. Even a person of upright conduct cannot withstand being framed by others. For now, we can only hope for His Majesty’s mercy, so that this matter passes quickly. The Court of Judicial Review’s summons may well be because the Princess Consort and Si Si’s plea in the palace had some effect — if His Majesty were to order a retrial of this case, that would actually be a good thing.”

The carriage drifted leisurely through the marketplace, and arrived at the entrance of Duke Chengguo’s residence. Xiang Xu dismounted to receive her, standing to the side and watching as the maidservants helped her down from the carriage.

Hui Cun had meant to invite him inside along with her, but on reflection it was not quite proper. She turned and bowed to him: “Thank you, Big Brother, for escorting me. It is freezing cold — please do head back now.” With that, she took Little Juan Bai by the hand and stepped through the gates of Duke Chengguo’s residence.

As it happened, Duke Chengguo was at home. The couple invited Hui Cun to the flower hall to talk, and after the maidservants had served tea, Lady Jing said: “I had just heard that our aunt was not feeling well and was about to go pay a visit — and here you are.”

Hui Cun said: “It is nothing serious, just a chill. The physician prescribed a remedy to induce sweating, and she will be fine once she has taken it. My sister-in-law is heavy with child, and the weather outside is terribly cold — the snow has all turned to ice. I slipped and slid the whole way here on foot. It is best that she remain at home to rest quietly, and wait until the weather warms before going out.”

Then she turned slightly, addressed the Duke as “Big Brother,” and said: “Today I received word from outside that the Court of Judicial Review has summoned my brother for questioning again. Grandmother and Mother are beside themselves with worry, but they are both ill at the moment and cannot come in person — so they sent me to inquire. Big Brother, how is my brother faring now? His health is poor. Surely the Court of Judicial Review would not mistreat him?”

Duke Chengguo replied: “The questioning was a matter from two days ago. By last evening they had already sent him back to the West Side Gate. I had people look into it — nothing was extracted from the interrogation. Since it was not a major matter, I did not notify the household, so as not to cause the Grand Dowager Lady and Auntie unnecessary worry. Please convey a message to the Princess Consort on my behalf: I have had Ji Fu’s situation under constant watch. Any whisper of movement, and I will receive word of it. Please tell the Princess Consort not to worry.”

Upon learning that Ji Fu had already been returned to the West Side Gate, Hui Cun could not help but let out a great sigh of relief. She nodded, saying that was good news. “As long as my brother and sister-in-law are together, I can rest easy.” Then she pressed further: “Does Big Brother know why he was suddenly summoned again? Could it be that because my mother and sister-in-law went to the palace to plead their case, His Majesty intends to retry the origins of that ‘edict’ character?”

But Duke Chengguo slowly shook his head. “The questioning was not for that reason. From what I understand, they interrogated him back and forth about military affairs in Xizhou, and even went over the grain and supply movements during that earthquake and disaster relief several times. In my view, the fact that the Court of Judicial Review was willing to send him back to the Side Gate means Ji Fu was able to withstand their scrutiny. He should be safe for a while to come — there should be no further action at least before the New Year.”

Hui Cun felt somewhat relieved in her heart, yet still lowered her head and murmured with complaint: “I don’t know what has come over His Majesty. In his earlier years he was gracious toward those beneath him, and very good to us younger generation — how has he become so suspicious now?”

It was because he was growing older, with no one on his knee to inherit his eternal legacy. The empire would sooner or later be surrendered to an outsider — though the surname Li would remain, in substance everything would have long since changed. For this reason, he was full of resentment and guarded against everyone. As long as he still drew breath, he would not allow anyone to covet his throne.

But time spares no one. When the age came to step down, no amount of reluctance could extend one’s days by even a little.

His Majesty’s condition was declining by the day. Who in the Imperial Medical Court did not have some trusted contact there? Whether Duke Chengguo or Duke Chuguo, they all knew it perfectly well. And so of late, the private maneuverings had grown ever more frequent, like a bundle of straw that had been dried under the sun for a long time — smoke already rising from beneath, the stalks even cracking and popping. Everyone knew: it had reached a flashpoint. Let the temperature rise by just a hair, and perhaps in the next instant it would all burst into roaring flame. Everyone felt a sense of crisis. Everyone was waiting for news from the palace. Next time — even if His Majesty did not die, but merely fell gravely ill as he had before — the fire would ignite. It would burn straight into the palace.

And so the capital was truly a strange place. On its surface, all was song, dance, and splendor — flowers in riotous bloom. Yet the imperial descendants and noble lords were each shrouded in shadow, their faces wearing exaggerated smiles, dancing day after day with shackles on their feet.

In truth, everyone had grown impatient. Everyone longed for a great fire to sweep clean this treacherous layer of dust and grime. And so no one contradicted Hui Cun’s words — at another time, someone might have reminded her to watch what she said. Now, no one would.

Lady Jing simply offered gentle reassurance: “The New Year is nearly upon us — all that matters is that things stay calm through the year’s end. With the Grand Dowager Lady and your aunt both ill, you are the one holding the household together. Younger Sister, if there is ever anything you cannot manage, just send word to me. As for what is outside, your Big Brother is keeping watch. As long as we guard the family and household well, we will have done right by the masters of our respective houses.”

This sister-in-law had always been the most considerate of people, her speech unhurried and measured, with a power to steady one’s heart.

Hui Cun looked at her, nodded, and said: “Sister-in-law, please also take care of yourself — do not tire yourself out. I came today simply to inquire about my brother’s situation at the Court of Judicial Review. Now that he has been returned, my mind is at ease. I will go back and report to Grandmother and Mother, so they need not worry themselves.”

Lady Jing said yes, and rose to see her out.

Hui Cun urged her to stay several times before following the maidservants toward the front courtyard.

Lady Jing watched her walk away into the distance, and sighed softly. “The Fourth Master and his wife are confined at the Side Gate, and it has driven the family to such anxiety. It is a lot to ask of Hui Cun — a young girl of the inner chambers, running about on her brother’s behalf like this.”

Duke Chengguo helped her back into her armchair, and frowned. “A few days ago, someone brought me a message, laying out in full detail the Third Master’s plans for after the New Year. Unfortunately, the messenger never revealed their identity — to this day I still don’t know who this person is.”

Lady Jing raised her eyes to look at her husband. “Who does His Grace think it might be?”

Duke Chengguo settled into a nearby seat, propped his elbow on the armrest, and slowly stroked his beard. “Although many in the court attach themselves to me, I know in my heart that those old hands of officialdom are each shrewder than the last. Not one of them would take such a risk and make themselves an outright enemy of the Third Master. Thinking it over and over, I can only think of Ji Fu. He has everything prepared. If he can use that ‘edict’ character to topple the Third Master, all will be well. But if that plan fails, he would have his planted contact reach out to me instead, to help me complete the greater undertaking.”

Lady Jing listened, and a shadow of something wistful crossed her face.

But Duke Chengguo was not a simple-minded man, and naturally he harbored his own suspicions. “At present, the situation is a three-way standoff, and any of us could fight it out to the end. Ji Fu’s vital strength was sapped when the Xizhou troops were transferred into the Lulong Army, and if it came to direct conflict, he would likely come off the worse. So he might stir up a confrontation between the Third Master and me — we wear each other down, and he reaps the benefits as the fisherman. That is not impossible. And even if one side wins, they would by then be exhausted and spent. If he then used the military power in his hands as leverage, he could, at that point, claim this empire with barely any effort at all.”

Lady Jing looked at her husband, and unlike him, she did not seem to regard this as a mortal threat. Her expression was serene as she said: “Setting aside everything the Fourth Master has done for the moment — I ask you, Your Grace: could you and the Third Master bury the hatchet today?”

Duke Chengguo said no.

“Since a confrontation is inevitable sooner or later, why not appreciate the favor done by the one who brought you word, instead of falling into the same suspicious habits as His Majesty?” Lady Jing gazed out at the courtyard and said in an unhurried voice: “There is no one in this world who does not act in their own interest. For Ji Fu to protect himself — that is perfectly understandable. Your Grace should know: he can support you, and he can also turn and side with the Third Master. Your military forces and connections — he knows them all clearly. If he were to work with the Third Master, would that not be far easier than going to all the trouble of planting informants close to the Third Master? Actually, knowing what Your Grace is thinking now, I find I can appreciate his reservations. No one can be certain that a person who is close to you in ordinary times will not become completely unrecognizable once they ascend to power. This is fundamentally a process of mutual testing. If Your Grace treats him with sincerity, he will trust you, and will surely treat you with sincerity in return. At a moment like this, instead of drawing people to your side, would keeping each other at arm’s length truly be a better outcome?”

Duke Chengguo had at first harbored genuine misgivings about that fourth brother of his, but after hearing Lady Jing’s words, something seemed to shift in him.

“You are right. For all these years, the Fourth Master has been my right arm. Brothers of one heart, always moving forward and stepping back together — how is it that the more critical the moment becomes, the more groundless suspicion creeps in?”

Lady Jing smiled gently, pressing her lips together. The good thing about Duke Chengguo was that he never clung stubbornly to his own opinion. As his wife, she frequently offered counsel, and he was willing to listen. She said warmly: “The ordinary man rules through force; the wise man rules through hearts. Though Ji Fu is confined right now, it is also a time for him to weigh his choices carefully. Whether in the days ahead he helps you rise to the top, or turns and goes against you — it all rests on a single thought in Your Grace’s mind.”

Duke Chengguo felt as though a veil had been lifted. He nodded and said: “I fully understand what you mean, my Lady. The troubles of these past few days — I see now there was no need for them at all.”

＊＊＊

Meanwhile, Hui Cun stepped out through the gates of Duke Chengguo’s residence and looked up to find Xiang Xu still pacing beside the carriage. She made a surprised sound. “Big Brother, why haven’t you gone back yet?”

He stopped at the sound of her voice. A gentleman of clarity and distinction — in that moment of turning, he carried an air like the sun breaking through clouds.

Seeing her come out, he came forward to inquire: “What did Duke Chengguo say? Is the Duke still being held at the Court of Judicial Review?”

In times like these, when every household was sweeping only its own doorstep, the fact that someone was still willing to concern himself with another family’s affairs at such an unsettled moment was itself proof enough of that person’s fine character.

Hui Cun walked down the steps and told him everything she had heard. “He was returned to the Side Gate last night. Unfortunately it was not for a retrial of that ‘edict’ character, and the Commander of the Mounted Guards is currently fine — no one seems concerned with what happened the day they came searching the residence.”

Xiang Xu lowered his eyelashes. “In that case… it is heaven’s will, and there is no use dwelling on it.” He then turned and glanced back at the carriage. “Is the Commandery Princess heading home now?”

Hui Cun said yes, then paused a moment in thought. “The New Year’s Eve is nearly upon us. I was thinking about whether it might be possible to send a food basket inside — it would be a comfort for my brother and sister-in-law to have a proper New Year. But I am afraid I won’t be able to persuade the guards at the gate on my own. Big Brother, if you happen to be free tomorrow, could you come with me?”

Xiang Xu agreed without a moment’s hesitation. “Tomorrow after court I will return at the Hour of Si. Once I’ve changed my clothes, we’ll go together.”

Hui Cun’s brow eased, and she smiled and nodded.

It was the first smile she had shown since the Duke’s household had met with its misfortune. Xiang Xu looked at her and, for reasons he could not quite name, found her familiar. Thinking carefully, he finally understood — this natural, unaffected manner of hers resembled Si Si from all those years ago. Young women shared something in common: no need for heavy makeup. A single bright laugh was the finest adornment of all.

That kind of laugh was contagious. He didn’t know why, but he found himself smiling along with her — standing at someone else’s gate, in the biting cold wind, for no clear reason at all.

“Go on home,” he said, and sent her up into the carriage.

Hui Cun took the hand warmer Little Juan Bai passed her. The carriage door closed, the heavy felt curtain half-lowered. Leaning to the side, she could still see his silhouette.

Perhaps she had been looking a little too long, for when the carriage started moving, she was still turning her head back. Little Juan Bai, watching her expression, covered her mouth to stifle a laugh and gave her a gentle nudge. “My Lady, you’d best not keep looking — you’ll see him again tomorrow, after all.”

At those words, Hui Cun flushed crimson. She shoved her back indignantly. “Don’t talk nonsense!”

When she arrived home, she relayed every word of Duke Chengguo’s account to the Princess Consort without omission, while gently offering comfort. “Mother, please don’t worry. As long as Brother has been returned to the Side Gate, there should be nothing gravely wrong. I will prepare some provisions to send over, and see if those guards can be persuaded to be flexible.”

The Princess Consort said yes. “You’ll have to open doors with money, as always. Have a few capable matrons go along with you — it wouldn’t be proper for a young girl like you to negotiate with those jailers yourself.”

But Hui Cun said there was no need. “Xiang Xu from the Xiang family will accompany me tomorrow. It was he who escorted me to Duke Chengguo’s residence earlier. The Duke and Duchess of Shuguo are both very concerned about my brother and sister-in-law.”

The Princess Consort gave a thoughtful “oh.” “That Xiang Xu — he seems like a steady and reliable sort.”

Hui Cun gave a casual reply, then went with the maidservants to prepare the things to be sent the following day.

The next morning at the Hour of Si, Xiang Xu arrived as promised. He was wearing a grey marmot-fur cloak with a blue-lotus velvet lining, standing on the steps outside the gate, waiting for her.

Hui Cun called the matrons to load the food baskets into the carriage, and said with a smile: “I’ve kept Big Brother waiting — let’s go!”

As before, she rode in the carriage while he rode on horseback. From the Duke’s residence to the West Side Gate was quite a long way. Hui Cun looked out through the small window. The northwestern wind was blowing the fox-fur edging of his hood back and forth. If she had known it would be this cold, she ought to have invited him to share the carriage. She wasn’t one of those prim, timid girls — and they were distant relatives, after all. Riding together was not entirely proper, but if they kept the door open, surely there was nothing wrong with that…

But it was all just idle thought; in the end she never quite dared to call out and invite him in.

After they had traveled a good stretch, they finally arrived at the entrance to the Side Gate passage. The guard on duty today was not the same one as before — this one was a lean, wiry man; lean being the operative word, his cheekbones jutting sharply beneath the skin. Seeing someone approach, he pressed a hand to his saber and stepped forward to look them over. The moment Hui Cun stepped down from the carriage, he understood the reason for the visit. He stepped back to where he had been standing, cupped his hands and said: “Visitors are not permitted to see those held in the passage. If it is for that purpose that you have come, there is no need to open your mouth—”

Before he could finish, Xiang Xu had pressed a silver ingot into his hand. “We understand the rules. We are not here to visit. We are simply bringing some everyday provisions — we hope the guard in charge might make an allowance.”

The guard had already taken some benefit from this party before, and here was another turn with more to gain. Inwardly he was quite satisfied, though his face had to wear a show of difficulty. He scratched his jaw and said: “It’s not that this humble one is looking to make trouble — it’s just that the rules are strict…”

Xiang Xu smiled. “Food for three meals a day and charcoal still have to be supplied inside regardless. If we send these things in, it saves money on the official account — which is also a benefit to the guard himself. Guard, more friends means more paths open to you. We are bound to cross paths again someday. I hope you might be kind enough to look the other way.”

The guard immediately found an easy way to comply, for he knew that anyone who came here to send things was either nobility or imperial kin. A humble runner like himself had no cause to make trouble for them. Besides, the strict rules had only really applied in the first few days after Duke Weiguo had been confined — after that, habit had softened things, and small accommodations could be made.

So he put on a grave face. “Just this once, then.” No sooner had he finished speaking than he saw the pages and matrons unload seven or eight bundles from the carriage all at once. He felt his tongue go numb and looked about in a panic. “This won’t do, this won’t do — there’s far too much. If all of this goes in, this can hardly be called a confinement — it would be outright comfortable living. I absolutely cannot allow this.” He pointed to the food basket. “Just the food is still manageable, since it is a festival occasion and that’s more easily explained. Everything else is out of the question.”

Xiang Xu looked at the pile and was somewhat caught between laughter and exasperation himself. The girl had no sense of the rules — she seemed to think goods could flow freely in and out without restriction. He stepped in to smooth things over. “There will be future opportunities. Save the rest for next time.” He took the food basket and two of the bundles and passed them over. “Just these few things — guard, let a little slip through your fingers, and what goes in, goes in.”

The guard had no choice. He looked left and right. It was so cold that even the beggars who usually crouched at the base of the wall were nowhere to be seen. Reluctantly, he took what was offered.

Hui Cun watched the guard carrying the bundles disappear into the depths of the passage, and exchanged a pleased glance with Xiang Xu. On the way back, she thanked him over and over. “If it hadn’t been for Big Brother today, I don’t think I could have managed that guard on my own.”

Xiang Xu was not a person who wore his feelings outwardly. He only said: “The Commandery Princess is too kind. I imagine there will be no more deliveries before the New Year — after that, if you have more things to send, I’ll accompany you again. Now that we’ve made arrangements with two of the guards, the people inside have most likely received some benefit as well. Next time should be much easier.”

Hui Cun said that was wonderful. The simple phrase “accompany you” carried with it a very warm, everyday kind of tenderness.