Leaving Yicheng, they traveled north. The weather grew colder and colder, and everyone changed into the winter clothing that Mu Xia had prepared with great care.

Lin Sui’an’s padded garments were all black narrow-sleeved short coats — warm and breathable, neat and trim, suited for movement. Fangke’s long padded robe of bright red was the most eye-catching of all, like a cheerful firecracker. Jin Ruo and Yita’s clothes were made in the latest Yangdu civil-and-military robe style, into which Mu Xia had poured his earnest hopes for the two of them — to study well and improve daily, with both scholarly and martial excellence. The Four Saints’ clothes were cut from the same design as Lin Sui’an’s, only in different colors: Green Dragon in teal, Vermilion Bird in crimson, White Tiger in ash, Black Tortoise in ash and white.

The most flamboyant and brilliant of all was, of course, Hua Yitang. Aside from Mu Xia, no one knew how many sets of clothing and accessories he actually possessed. They had been traveling for more than half a month, and not a single outfit had repeated. His base palette was invariably snow-white and immaculate, with painstaking detail in every flourish, endlessly varied — as could be seen just from the names of his garments alone.

Names such as: “Drifting Blossoms Float in Winter’s Chill Robe,” “One Night’s Clear Frost Fully Dyes the Boots,” “Pure Snow Bejeweled Cascade Hairpin,” “Jade-Green Tree Jade-White Bloom Spring Fan,” “Jade Staircase One Night Holds the Bright Moon” incense, and crowning it all — “Exchanging Light with the Moon in Auspicious Colors” fox-fur cloak: the fox fur, soft as snow, cradled Hua Yitang’s magnificent face like a frame, making him look just like a fox spirit.

With every additional degree of splendor in Hua Yitang’s clothing, Lin Sui’an felt one additional degree of worry in her heart. She didn’t know when his psychological dependence on gorgeous garments might improve — but she also understood that this matter could not be rushed. Proceeding gradually was the only way.

Passing through Pancheng and Liucheng, they reached the territory of Andu.

The day they arrived at Andu, they caught the city’s first snowfall of the season. The great and majestic city was wrapped in a brilliant expanse of white. Rooftop after rooftop extended like a vast sea of silver scales, stretching all the way to where sky and earth met.

Andu — established three hundred and seventy years ago, capital of the Tang Kingdom for over two hundred years. Eight rivers flowed through the city. Twenty-five great avenues crisscrossed it. Its resident population exceeded one million.

Whether in its sweeping scale, its magnificent architecture, its Vermilion Bird Avenue wider than two hundred meters, or its meticulously ordered ward-and-market layout, the clusters of temples and monasteries scattered like stars, or its thriving trade markets — every aspect bore witness to the central and irreplaceable role this ancient, multifaceted great city held within the Tang Kingdom.

Andu comprised one hundred and eight wards. Based on the character of “nobility in the east, wealth in the west” and “south sparse, north dense,” the city was broadly divided into the central district, the noble and wealthy district, the trade district, the core district, the common people’s district, and the outer district. The Andu Prefect’s Office was located in the central district at the northernmost end. The trade district was centered primarily around the East and West Markets, with the core district and the noble and wealthy district’s forty-four wards clustered around those two markets, and the common people’s district and outer district forming the surrounding perimeter.

The Hua Family’s Eight-Courtyard Estate in Andu was situated in Taiping Ward, separated from Xinglu Ward by the central axis of Vermilion Bird Street, directly across the avenue from the Andu Prefect’s Office. A quarter-hour’s walk to the West Market made it prime real estate in Andu.

Mu Xia chose not to enter through the Mingde Gate on Andu’s due south, but rather through the Jinguang Gate on the western side — closer to the West Market and Taiping Ward, and saving a shichen of travel.

Andu was currently one of only two major cities in the Tang Kingdom — the other being the Eastern Capital — that still strictly enforced a curfew. By the time they reached the Jinguang Gate, it was just past midday — the hour when both the East and West Markets opened. Standing beneath the city gate, they could hear the opening afternoon drums rolling out in deep, resonant waves. Compared to the dawn drum and the dusk drum, the afternoon drum was somewhat shorter — only thirty-six beats, lasting about half a shichen.

This half-shichen was the afternoon peak hour at Jinguang Gate (near the West Market) and Chunming Gate (near the East Market). The East Market, adjacent to the noble and wealthy district, dealt mainly in high-end goods — not seeking the best but seeking only the most expensive. The West Market primarily served ordinary people — vast in scale, varied in offerings, excellent value, and as the starting point of the Silk Road, it was the hub of foreign trade, with an especially large number of foreign merchants.

The Hua Family’s convoy of six carriages was ordinarily an imposing sight, but in the congested Andu afternoon peak it was entirely outclassed. The Four Saints’ cargo carts were separated from the rest by a camel train. Mu Xia stepped back into a supporting role and let Yita take the reins. Lin Sui’an had initially wondered at this arrangement, but she quickly understood why.

The scene at the city gate was hopelessly jammed — almost entirely foreign trade caravans. Horse heads pressed against camel rumps. Oxen pulling carts wore monkeys perched on their heads. Mules and donkeys clonked skulls. The snow-melt on the ground mixed with camel dung into a murky greenish mud. Progress was nearly impossible — every step a struggle. In such conditions, Yita’s gift for languages proved invaluable. She hollered her way through Persian, Tang-speech, Goryeo, Tocharian, Arabic, Fusan, Sanskrit, and several tongues no one could identify, squeezing and arguing her way through every gap until she had forced open a bloody path.

The Fusan merchant caravan next door was shouting curses and trying to cut in line. Lin Sui’an caught several of the words and was already annoyed when Hua Yitang threw open the carriage window and fired back a volley of words — louder than Yita, the tones rising and falling in lilting cadence like a song. The Fusan merchants were bewildered into silence. The Persian camel train ahead burst into a roar of laughter. The Tianzhu merchant convoy at the back started beating their leather drums, and the monkey on the ox’s head danced along to the rhythm.

More than a hundred caravans, amid such clamor and such crowding, slowly streamed through the Jinguang Gate. Once through the gate, the view opened up wide — the avenue stretching ahead was nearly four zhang across, broad and imposing. The caravans let out a collective breath of relief and picked up pace considerably. Past Qunxian Ward, they poured in a flood into the West Market.

Going east through Yanshou Ward brought them to the ward gate of Taiping Ward. The Hua Family Eight-Courtyard Estate’s guards and servants were lined up in welcome, having waited for some time. The Andu resident steward who led them was a woman past fifty, vigorous and full of spirit, with a warm and generous smile. Mu Xia held her in considerable respect — he made a point of stepping down from the carriage to bow to her, calling her “Steward Mu Sheng.”

The Hua Family Eight-Courtyard Estate occupied only one-third of the ward — the smallest footprint of any Hua estate in the five major cities. Perhaps to harmonize with Andu’s ancient and storied culture, the estate’s style was noticeably more elegant and restrained here. The clear waters of the Qingming Canal happened to pass directly through the estate, forming a natural Qingming Lake within the grounds. In winter, the lake’s surface froze over, white with snow and veiled in cold mist — an otherworldly scene.

After the long journey, everyone was thoroughly exhausted. They ate a hasty midday meal and retreated to their rooms to rest. Lin Sui’an collapsed into bed and slept for two full shichen.

When Lin Sui’an woke, it was nearly the hour of You. The sky outside was unusually dark — it looked as though snow would fall again soon. In her previous life, Lin Sui’an had grown up in the north, and she was well accustomed to Andu’s climate. Walking along the covered walkway, each breath of cold air left a cloud of white before her, and an odd and tender feeling of homesickness rose quietly in her heart.

The main hall had an underfloor heating system and was very warm. Only Hua Yitang was inside. Fangke was apparently still asleep. Mu Xia said Jin Ruo had taken Yita and the Four Saints into the city for a stroll, and they probably wouldn’t be back for some time.

Hua Yitang was dressed in a snow-colored padded robe, his hair bun loosely tied, his feet slipped into cotton slippers — the cotton slippers being a design Mu Xia had created himself based on Lin Sui’an’s descriptions, warm and convenient. They had proven quite popular in the household. Fangke in particular had stockpiled five pairs.

Hua Yitang was reading a letter.

The chairs of the Hua Family Eight-Courtyard Estate were all fitted with soft goose-down cushions — practically the original prototype of a lazy sofa. Lin Sui’an sank into one and yawned.

“My elder brother writes,” said Hua Yitang, “that the Longxi Bai Family has expressed interest in arranging a marriage alliance with the Yangdu Hua Family.”

Lin Sui’an started. “The Longxi Bai Family? Bai Ruyi’s family?”

“Bai Ruyi spent eight months as a Collator in the Eastern Capital. His broad learning, elegant literary talent, and quiet, modest character won the Emperor’s favor. Three months ago, he was promoted to the position of Remonstrance Official — eighth rank. Though the rank is not high, the position is that of a close minister to the Son of Heaven, with limitless prospects ahead. Since then, the head of the Bai Family has been making frequent overtures to my elder brother, expressing his wish to forge a matrimonial union between the two families.”

Lin Sui’an: “……”

Bai Ruyi really had it rough — always being used as a marriage chip.

“Wait — who is the Longxi Bai Family selecting?” Lin Sui’an’s heart gave a sudden leap. “Don’t tell me it’s Hua Sanniang?!”

Please no — that dashing young general Ling would be heartbroken!

“It is my second elder sister, Hua Yifeng.” Hua Yitang scratched his head. “Come to think of it, they’re both bookworms. They might actually be quite well-matched.”

Lin Sui’an breathed a sigh of relief. Good — General Ling’s future wife is safe for now.

“My elder brother also says he has traced some of the flow of the Cicada Shell lending money — most likely the batch that defrauded the Su Family of Suizhou. He is still investigating, and asks that while we are in Andu, we also keep watch. Any leads, and we are to communicate promptly.”

Lin Sui’an shrugged. This part was high-level financial intrigue — she was quite out of her depth there.

Hua Yitang turned to a new page. “My elder brother also writes that Hua the Fourth, you are an insufficient achiever and excessive wrecker of — ” He stopped abruptly.

Lin Sui’an was curious. “An insufficient achiever and excessive wrecker of what?”

Hua Yitang’s eyes swept rapidly across the rest of the letter’s contents. His face went scarlet in an instant. He hurriedly folded the letter, stuffed it back in the envelope, and tucked it into his breast pocket. “Ahem — nothing. Just the usual lecture about how I am unambitious and frittering my days away.”

Lin Sui’an stared at Hua Yitang’s deeply flushed face: I don’t believe a word of it!

Mu Xia came hurrying in, brushing snow from his shoulders, and presented a calling card. “This was sent by the Andu Prefect Jiamu. He has arranged a welcome banquet tonight at the third quarter of the hour of Xu at Chongyang Tower in Taiping Ward, and cordially invites Fourth Young Master and Lin Niangzi to attend.”

“I guessed this card would arrive right about now,” Hua Yitang said, standing and stretching. “Mu Xia — prepare my clothes.”

“Yes, Fourth Young Master.” Mu Xia bowed, then stepped back and to the side, and Steward Mu Sheng walked directly in front of Lin Sui’an. “Lin Niangzi — shall we go?”

Lin Sui’an pointed at her own nose. “I have to change clothes too?”

Steward Mu Sheng smiled warmly. “For the Andu Prefect’s welcome banquet, of course one must dress with care.”

“That — that really isn’t necessary —”

“The maids have had everything ready for some time. Lin Niangzi, you wouldn’t want to disappoint everyone, would you?”

Steward Mu Sheng was tall and slender — half a head taller than Lin Sui’an — with a kind smile that admitted no refusal. The maids under her were all pretty young women, chattering like birds as they flocked around Lin Sui’an, selecting robes, choosing boots and stockings, picking out hair ornaments, busy and delighted.

With Fangke’s painful precedent in mind, Lin Sui’an worried they might dress her up like a fluttering moth. But when the robes were put on her, she was surprised — the style was understated and elegant: narrow sleeves, short coat, cinched waist, fitted trousers, short boots. At the cuffs and hems, gold thread embroidered a pattern of entwined leafy vines. Lin Sui’an felt she recognized it — she had seen the same motif on Hua Yitang’s garments. It was evidently the Hua Family’s standard embroidery pattern.

Steward Mu Sheng spoke with feeling. “I never thought the day would come when I’d be preparing such a plain set of clothes. To be honest, I am still not quite used to it.”

Lin Sui’an: “……”

Her understanding of “plain” was quite different from theirs.

At first glance the outfit looked unremarkable, but as the light shifted, the surface of the fabric refracted into different hues — sometimes a faint lavender, sometimes a deep blue — and with more movement, a soft luminescence would ripple across it.

Good heavens — this fabric clearly costs a fortune!

Steward Mu Sheng seemed to read Lin Sui’an’s thoughts and smiled. “This is a new material from Yangdu called ‘Eastern Horizon at Dawn’ — named for that first sliver of sky before the sun rises. Fourth Young Master said it suited Lin Niangzi best, and had the Yangdu cloth shop send it post-haste.”

Lin Sui’an: “How — how much — actually, don’t tell me.”

Steward Mu Sheng laughed. “Since Fourth Young Master was in swaddling clothes, he has always loved gorgeous, showy things. To have him suddenly order something so plain — the Yangdu cloth shop thought the message had been sent in error, and had someone confirm it three times before they dared go ahead.”

“In swaddling clothes?” Lin Sui’an blinked. “Didn’t Hua Yitang only develop a taste for magnificent clothing after the age of six?”

Steward Mu Sheng laughed even harder. “When Fourth Young Master was born, I was the deputy steward of the Hua Family’s main estate in Yangdu. I remember it clearly — from the moment Fourth Young Master opened his eyes, he would only sleep on Shu brocade. And not just any Shu brocade — only first-grade Shu brocade would do. Second-grade and he simply would not sleep. By the time he could crawl, he grew even more particular — if the brocade beneath him did not suit his eyes in color or pattern, he would lie face-down and refuse to budge for a full shichen. In those days, the entire Hua estate nearly emptied out Yangdu’s entire supply of Shu brocade searching for patterns to please him. In the end, they had no choice but to dispatch Second Steward Hua Mu to Yidu specifically to open a Yangdu-to-Yidu Shu brocade trade route.”

Lin Sui’an: “……”

Wait — so Hua Yitang’s love of showy, magnificent garments was not the result of any childhood psychological trauma — it was simply innate?!

“Then his enormous appetite —”

“Fourth Young Master’s appetite was large from the start — three wet nurses couldn’t keep him fed. He ate well and grew well, with skin as pink and fair as could be. Everyone who saw him said that the Hua Family’s Fourth Young Master of Yangdu was born to a life of wealth and ease.” Steward Mu Sheng said proudly.

“Still, there was another reason why Fourth Young Master’s garments became more and more elaborate over time — beyond just his own preferences.”

“Oh?”

“Because Fourth Young Master is beautiful. Whatever fabric and style he wore would sell extraordinarily well afterward. So the master of the household ordered the Hua Family cloth shops and tailoring shops to always set aside a sample of every new design for Fourth Young Master to wear out when he strolled around the city. The effect was remarkable. Whatever was Fourth Young Master’s style — sold out within three days, without fail. Without exaggeration, at least half the business of the Hua Family cloth shops is owed to Fourth Young Master’s efforts.”

Lin Sui’an looked at herself in the mirror, eyes wide, a vein in her temple pulsing steadily.

When she returned to the main hall, Hua Yitang had finished dressing — radiant and luminous from head to toe. He stood with arms spread wide and toes lifted, allowing eight attendants bearing incense burners to circle around him in a slow orbit. In the curling tendrils of incense smoke, his expression was one of utter bliss.

Mu Xia supervised from the side. “This ‘Moon Soul Flower Spirit’ incense — perfectly matched with the ‘Dusky Distant Dusk Robe’ Fourth Young Master is wearing. One part less would be too faint, one part more too strong. Come now — step back three more paces. Yes, yes, just like that — walk a little faster — don’t forget the ‘Misty Willows Dancing Catkins’ cloak.”

Eight attendants circled until they were sweating from their heads, and still Mu Xia was unsatisfied. He stepped in to personally adjust Hua Yitang’s incense sachet. “Fourth Young Master, this new design is the Yangdu tailor shop’s masterwork of all their combined efforts. Whether it can claim a foothold in the Andu market depends entirely on Fourth Young Master’s performance today.”

Hua Yitang: “Rest easy. I shall wear it with flair, with character, outshining all of Andu — a stunning entrance!”

Lin Sui’an hugged Qian Jing and watched coldly from the side, her temple vein pulsing with increasing frequency.

Hua Yitang preened for her with great satisfaction. “Impressive? Beautiful?”

Lin Sui’an: “You were just born loving to show off, weren’t you?”

Hua Yitang: “Well now — with a face such as mine, it is only natural to contribute one’s part to the Hua Family enterprise.”

“That Lingwan Mirror gauze robe you had made —”

“After bathing, one admires oneself in the mirror. Perfectly fitting.”

Lin Sui’an’s head buzzed with aggravated static. She had really been worrying herself over nothing — feeling sympathy for this fellow. Ha. Even if the world were to end, a disaster like him would be leaping about, alive and well for a thousand generations!

Lin Sui’an stalked off in indignation. Hua Yitang dropped his flamboyant posture, let out a long breath, and turned to glance at Mu Xia and Steward Mu Sheng. Both lowered their heads and folded their hands in a respectful bow.

Side Story

The night before entering Andu, Hua Yitang called Mu Xia to his room.

“Who is the steward of the Hua Family’s Eight-Courtyard Estate in Andu?”

“In reply to Fourth Young Master — it is Steward Mu Sheng.”

“Good. Have a word with Steward Mu Sheng — ask her to find the right moment, in a natural way, to let Lin Sui’an know one thing.”

“What thing?”

“Tell her that my love of magnificent clothing and my large appetite were traits I was born with.”

“But Fourth Young Master — those two habits of yours were clearly only developed after you went missing at the age of six —”

Hua Yitang frowned.

Mu Xia understood. “Is Fourth Young Master regretting that he told Lin Niangzi of this?”

“The moonlight that night was too beautiful… it came out of me without my realizing… I do not think it was wrong to tell her… but…” Hua Yitang sighed. “Since that day, she has been sad and downcast, with a furrowed brow. She is sharp-witted — she must have figured out the truth… I truly cannot bear for her to grieve for me.”

Mu Xia looked at Hua Yitang’s unrivaled and brilliant face in the night, and felt that his mere fifteen-year-old scalp must already be sprouting white hairs.

“Fourth Young Master — why must you put yourself through such torment?”

“I would rather torment myself for a lifetime than see her suffer half a moment on my behalf.”

“Go and arrange it. Be careful — Lin Sui’an is not easily fooled. Do not let it show.”

“…Yes, sir.”