Luo Shiyiniang stepped down from the carriage, and Jin Ge’er immediately launched himself at her: “Mother, carry me, carry me!”

Nanny Gu beside him quickly smiled and coaxed him, “Shall your wet nurse carry you instead?”

Jin Ge’er shook his head like a rattle drum. “Mother, carry me, carry me!”

Luo Shiyiniang smiled and scooped Jin Ge’er up. “This old, and still acting spoiled!”

Jin Ge’er buried his face in his mother’s shoulder, his expression content and blissful.

Nanny Gu looked hesitant. “Madam, the Marquis said you are not to carry Sixth Young Master. He is getting heavier and heavier…”

“It’s all right!” Luo Shiyiniang smiled as she passed through the gate into the main courtyard. “I’ve carried him since he was small. I don’t find him heavy at all.” As she spoke, Xu Siyu and Xu Sijie, who had received word of her return, came around from the side passage beside the ear room.

They respectfully bowed to Luo Shiyiniang.

Jin Ge’er twisted around and called out “Brothers” to Xu Siyu and Xu Sijie, then clung to his mother and refused to get down.

Luo Shiyiniang knew her son was being playfully clingy and did not press him. She smiled and kissed Jin Ge’er on the cheek, then asked Xu Sijie, “How is your teapot coming along?”

“I made one this morning, but I forgot to leave a hole between the body and the spout, so the water couldn’t pour out.” Xu Sijie looked slightly bashful. “So I made another one.”

Mother and son talked as they went inside together, entering the western side room.

Luo Shiyiniang set Jin Ge’er down on the large kang by the window.

Jin Ge’er scrambled down immediately and ran to Nanny Gu. “My snacks, my snacks!”

Nanny Gu quickly took a cowhide paper box from the small maidservant following behind her. “Your snacks are right here!”

Jin Ge’er opened the box, grabbed a piece of pastry, and held it out to Xu Siyu, who was standing beside the kang.

Xu Siyu stared at Jin Ge’er in surprise. “For me?”

Jin Ge’er nodded. “Brother, eat a snack!”

Xu Siyu found it hard to believe.

In the several days since he had come home, he had witnessed firsthand just how “stingy” Jin Ge’er was with things that belonged to him.

He accepted the pastry, his movements looking a little careful and tentative.

It was a red bean cake, pressed into the shape of a Chinese rose blossom.

“Grand Madam Gan made them,” Luo Shiyiniang said with a smile. “Sweet without being cloying — quite delicious. Last time Jin Ge’er visited, he ate a couple extra pieces, and Grand Madam Gan took note. This time when we went to see her, she specially made two extra boxes for us to take home. I took the opportunity to ask her for the red bean cake recipe, so someday we can try making them ourselves.”

As she was speaking, Jin Ge’er had already grabbed another piece of pastry from the box and held it out to Xu Sijie. “Brother, eat a snack!”

Xu Sijie had spent more time with Jin Ge’er and knew that as long as something wasn’t the only one of its kind, Jin Ge’er was actually quite “generous” about sharing with others.

He accepted the pastry with a smile and took out a handkerchief to wipe Jin Ge’er’s hands.

Jin Ge’er, however, seemed a bit impatient and shook his hand free, running back to Nanny Gu’s side. He grabbed another piece of pastry from the box and ran back to the edge of the kang, holding it up to Luo Shiyiniang. “Mother, eat a snack.”

Luo Shiyiniang smiled and patted her son on the head. “You eat it, Mother doesn’t want any!”

Jin Ge’er refused to take no for an answer and insisted Luo Shiyiniang accept the red bean cake.

Luo Shiyiniang had no choice but to take it.

Jin Ge’er then padded off to get another piece, scrambled up onto the kang, and sat down to eat.

Everyone watching burst into laughter.

Jin Ge’er looked up, his cheeks puffed out with pastry, and stared around the room in complete bewilderment, as if asking why everyone was laughing.

The laughter in the room grew even louder.

Then a mellow voice asked from outside, “What happened? Such merriment!”

Before anyone could react, Jin Ge’er had already leapt to his feet. “Father, Father!”

A man wearing a sapphire-blue pongee silk robe walked in, his expression mild and warm, the ghost of a faint smile at the corners of his brow — none other than Xu Lingyi.

He stepped forward and scooped up Jin Ge’er.

Jin Ge’er promptly shoved his half-eaten red bean cake toward Xu Lingyi’s mouth. “Father, eat a snack!”

Xu Lingyi chuckled and, following Jin Ge’er’s gesture, took a small bite.

Xu Siyu and Xu Sijie quickly stepped forward to greet him, and Luo Shiyiniang also rose from the kang and told the maidservants to bring tea.

Xu Lingyi settled onto the kang and asked Luo Shiyiniang, “Why are you only back now?”

Luo Shiyiniang smiled. “I ran into Fourth Madam Tang at the Gan Family’s and we chatted for a while. Afterward I also paid a visit to Princess Fucheng’s residence, so I came back late.”

“Why did you suddenly think to visit Princess Fucheng’s residence?” Xu Lingyi asked in surprise. “Has something happened with the Zhou Family?”

“Nothing particularly important!” Luo Shiyiniang placed the tea a maidservant had brought before Xu Lingyi. “I thought, since I was already out, I might as well stop by.”

Xu Sijie was still somewhat bewildered and stood quietly listening. Xu Siyu, however, caught a deeper undertone in the words, and exchanged a glance with Xu Sijie. Taking advantage of the moment when Xu Lingyi lifted his teacup to drink, they rose and took their leave.

Ever since the day Xu Lingyi had gone with Xu Siyu to pay respects to the Star of Literature, whenever Xu Lingyi recalled how he had said not a single word the whole way there, while Xu Siyu had concealed beneath his outwardly calm and reserved composure an irrepressible joy, Xu Lingyi had been left with a feeling he could not quite name.

Looking around and seeing three of his four sons present, he considered for a moment, then told Xu Siyu and Xu Sijie to stay for dinner. He further instructed Luo Shiyiniang, “Call Zhun Ge’er over as well!”

Luo Shiyiniang very much enjoyed the warmth of everyone gathered together for a meal, and smiled as she sent someone to call for Xu Sizhun and told the kitchen to add more dishes.

That evening, Luo Shiyiniang asked Xu Lingyi, “Is there some good news about the Wang Family?”

“Elder Dou wrote a memorial defending Wang Jiubao.” Xu Lingyi set down the book he had been half-reading, and smiled as he looked over at Luo Shiyiniang sitting on the edge of the bed braiding her hair, teasing her, “I didn’t expect you to learn how to read expressions.”

“The Marquis was holding Jin Ge’er and laughing so happily today — even a blind person would know you were in good spirits!” Luo Shiyiniang said with a gentle pout. “How could I not tell?”

Xu Lingyi put down his book, swept Luo Shiyiniang up in one arm, and tossed her onto the bed, pressing himself over her immediately after.

“It’s so hot!” Luo Shiyiniang grumbled, pushing at him.

“Is it hot?” The smile rose from the depths of Xu Lingyi’s eyes. He leaned close to Luo Shiyiniang’s ear and said suggestively, “Then take your clothes off — it’s not as though anyone else is here…” He let out a low laugh. “It’s not as if I haven’t seen…”

Luo Shiyiniang could not help flushing crimson.

That scoundrel, a couple of days ago, had actually carried her in front of the Western-style mirror… and gotten a thorough, unobstructed look…

“Marquis!” The scene from that day seemed to float before her eyes. Her whole body went soft, and her voice carried a quality that was both reluctant to speak and unable to stop.

Xu Lingyi bit her ear and laughed. His hands, practiced and sure, undid her lapels, revealing beneath them a pale white silk breast band embroidered with green water-grass patterns.

“The rose-red one with the peony embroidery is much prettier!” he murmured in her ear, half-pulling aside the breast band, letting the small crimson blush at the fullness show at the border of the green water-grass embroidery, the whole picture suffused with a lush and intoxicating allure, a hidden, burning desire rising in his heart like fire.

Luo Shiyiniang pushed at him. “If it doesn’t look nice, then wait until tomorrow when I’ve changed into the rose-red one, and the Marquis can look then!” She moved to turn away, but Xu Lingyi caught that small crimson blush between his lips.

She drew in a sharp breath.

Felt her body grow even softer.

Xu Lingyi laughed softly, toying with that blush on his tongue for a moment before he finally raised his head. “No meat, but fish and shrimp aren’t bad either. I have always been very accommodating toward you!”

That scoundrel — he loved nothing more than taking advantage and then acting smug about it. Her skin was not thick enough to match his, and in a battle of words, she was simply no match for him.

Luo Shiyiniang simply said nothing and bit him on the shoulder.

He laughed heartily, rolled onto his back against the headrest pillow, and fixed her with a burning gaze. “Come, come to me!”

He wanted her to come to him willingly!

Then he would tease her and say she had thrown herself into his arms!

Luo Shiyiniang gave him a sidelong look.

Xu Lingyi suppressed his amusement with difficulty, lowered his voice, and coaxed her. “Be good, come to me!” The richness of his voice, softened low, took on a note of enticement.

Luo Shiyiniang shot him a fierce glare, then could not help breaking into a smile…

It was nearly dawn before Luo Shiyiniang had a chance to speak with him.

“Binju came very early this morning. She said the child is plump and fair, with not a mark anywhere on him — he doesn’t look like the child of a family living in hardship. So she didn’t dare bring him into the residence yet. She wants to wait a little while longer, until the baby loses some of his chubby plumpness and doesn’t look quite so conspicuous, and then bring him to show you.” Saying this, she added with some worry, “I hope the Wang Family won’t blame us for not taking good care of the child when they see him looking thin!”

Ever since Binju had returned that day, there had been no news at all. They had not dared make inquiries either. Although Xu Lingyi had not asked, she could tell he had been a little anxious — sometimes things did not go according to plan. Otherwise, why would there be the expression “just in case”?

Xu Lingyi was somewhat surprised. “I didn’t expect Wan Daxian’s wife to be so thoughtful!”

Luo Shiyiniang let out a soft laugh at that. “Hardly! It was all Wan Daxian’s idea. She took one look at the baby and wanted to bring him right over…” Recalling the way Binju had said this with her face flushed bright red, she laughed again. “She has been with Wan Daxian, and she has grown considerably. It shows — you become like the company you keep.” Her tone was one of genuine satisfaction.

Xu Lingyi laughed as well, and teased her. “Then what about you — who do you take after?”

Luo Shiyiniang simply played along and put on a solemn expression. “Does the Marquis not know? Everyone in the household says I have grown increasingly stern — whenever they encounter me they have to be on their absolute best behavior…”

Xu Lingyi burst out laughing and ruffled her hair, which his hands had already thoroughly disheveled. “Close your eyes and sleep. Don’t worry yourself over the Wang Family’s affairs. I am here.” His voice was very tender.

Luo Shiyiniang did not want to move so much as a little finger. She said nothing more, closed her eyes, and curled up asleep in his arms.

But within just a couple of days, the situation took a sudden turn.

The Court of Judicial Review confirmed nineteen charges against Wang Jiubao. The Wang Family was stripped of all their property, Wang Jiubao and several of his most capable subordinates who had accepted the court’s amnesty alongside him were sentenced to death, and his wife and children were exiled to Liaodong.

When the news came, Xu Lingyi’s face became as dark and still as standing water.

That place was a desolate wasteland, fit only for soldiers who had failed to distinguish themselves in the military. Since Xu Lingyi’s two successive victories, those with whom he had forged bonds of absolute trust had mostly been granted titles, made their names, and been appointed to posts in prosperous regions. In Liaodong, he had no one he could entrust anything to.

Luo Shiyiniang stepped softly to stand behind him, wrapped her arms around his waist, and pressed her face against his back.

“Marquis,” she said gently, “are you worried about the Emperor’s intentions in exiling the Wang Family to Liaodong?”

—