Shiyiniang circled her arms around Xu Lingyi’s waist and pressed her face against his back.

“What is it?” Xu Lingyi was somewhat drowsy. “Are you unwell somewhere?”

“No.” Shiyiniang’s voice was slightly muffled. “I simply wanted to hold you.”

Xu Lingyi found himself unable to sleep anymore, and reached out to touch her face.

Her skin was smooth and soft — but dry, with no trace of tears.

“It is stifling hot.” In her earlier years Shiyiniang’s health had not been good, and Xu Lingyi had been made permanently skittish, not daring to let her grow too hot or too cold. On summer nights he did not dare use ice, and could only paper the windows with gauze and swap to hemp cloth bed curtains to let in the natural breeze. Seeing that Shiyiniang was perfectly fine, he pulled off his inner garment and tossed it to the foot of the bed, then groped beneath his pillow for a fan and gave it a few vigorous sweeps.

“Let me do it.” Shiyiniang propped herself up on one elbow and took the fan, fanning him at an unhurried, steady pace.

“I’ll do it myself. You fan like you are not fanning at all,” Xu Lingyi said. “And then you complain that your arm aches afterward.” He took the fan back from her and could not help adding: “I said to have a young maidservant beside us to fan, and you refused again… you really make things difficult.” He was still speaking when his shoulder was touched by a light, warm flicker.

Every muscle in his body tightened at once.

He was utterly taken aback, yet afraid he might be mistaken. He held his breath involuntarily.

Warm, soft lips, moving down along his spine, one slow kiss at a time… a tingling, numbing sensation spread from deep within his heart all the way out to his limbs.

He closed his eyes and savored the feeling for a moment.

“Moyan…” His body was almost instantly set alight.

“Mm.” Shiyiniang responded to him, her voice like a light wind at early dawn, drifting across his heart.

She encircled his waist again, her body pressed tightly against the clean lines of his back, allowing him to feel clearly the fullness of her chest against him.

Xu Lingyi gave a low, soft laugh.

So this was a first…

He was not a man inclined to contend with his own good fortune.

He turned over and lifted Shiyiniang on top of him.

In the darkness, his eyes were like black obsidian, flashing with a gleaming brilliance from time to time.

The hard planes of his body pressed against her softness.

This was his favorite position, and yet her least favorite.

She always felt that with one tilt of his head, she would be entirely, unmistakably on display before him.

Whenever this happened, she would cling fiercely to his neck, and only after he patiently coaxed her for a good long while would she grudgingly loosen her hold…

But this time… Shiyiniang bit her lip… and still buried herself in his arms.

Xu Lingyi laughed softly, and slowly began to undress her, guiding her inch by inch to take him wholly in…

“Let me see you. Yes…”

This time, he had his wish without any effort at all… and was met with eager cooperation from the start…

Gazing at that snow-white, translucent form, the slender waist, the soft and full curves of her — ripely sweet as a white peach, tracing arc after beautiful arc through the air — Xu Lingyi felt his heart clench, his desire mounting sharply. He felt his blood surge and roar, his throat grow dry and rough, his heart hammering wildly. He wanted her faster, yet faster… she pushed on like a spent arrow, growing slower and slower… her ink-black hair pressed damply against her temples, her trembling hands braced against his shoulders, her breathing rapid and urgent…

He had always known she could not be relied upon for this sort of thing…

Xu Lingyi muttered inwardly, even as his powerful hands had already encircled her waist… driving steadily up and down… the beautiful arcing curves gave way to surging, tumbling waves…

“Xu Lingyi…” Shiyiniang felt herself like a leaf in a wild storm of wind and rain, with no choice but to hold fast to his arms to keep from being swept away. “Slow down… I cannot bear it…” her body was already growing limp…

Xu Lingyi sat up and drew that vivid crimson bud of her chest into his mouth… Shiyiniang’s whole body drew taut, but his movements grew even wilder than before.

“Xu Lingyi…” with a note of tender reproach, and yet carrying a note of helpless, yielding softness, she trembled and collapsed against his chest… closing her eyes…

“And this has already done you in!” Xu Lingyi’s voice held a trace of teasing as it sounded low in her ear — but she no longer had the strength to pay any heed, her head swimming…

—

She slept so deeply that when she woke, the sky was just beginning to lighten, and the sounds of the maidservants moving about outside had already reached her.

She had slept so heavily.

A night without dreams — she did not seem to have shifted position even once; her left arm was numb and tingling. Yet her heart felt settled, at peace, still — her body like the first tender bud at the tip of a branch in early March, fresh and naturally at ease.

“You are awake!” The rich, deep voice of Xu Lingyi sounded above her head. “I thought you would sleep in.” There was the hint of a suppressed smile in his voice. “Last night, you could not be roused no matter how I tried… gave me quite a fright…”

Shiyiniang turned over and buried her face in Xu Lingyi’s chest, her arms circling his waist, the picture of reluctance to let go.

“What is it?” Xu Lingyi smiled faintly, lifting a lock of her hair that had fallen across the large crimson mandarin-duck pillow — smooth as silk — and bringing it lightly to his nose.

A faint, delicate scent of rose, lasting and full of meaning.

Shiyiniang sat up. “What a beautiful day today!”

Was it?

Xu Lingyi looked at the turmeric-yellow fine hemp bed curtains hanging utterly motionless.

First thing in the morning, not a whisper of wind — and this counted as beautiful weather?

He raised an eyebrow slightly, and Shiyiniang had already stepped out of bed with a happy smile, stretching lazily.

In the soft morning light, her graceful curves were like willow branches unfurling in a spring breeze — delicate yet resilient, full of supple, swaying beauty.

“So much to do today.” She turned her head, her skin luminous as snow, her smile in full bloom. “I need to bring out the oars and the boat canopy, the felt mats for the tables, the long rectangular huanglimu tables, the colorful porcelain vessels, and the sun-shielding roll awnings… Back in Yuhang in the rear garden there was also a lake, though very small — one could not go out on it, but many carp were kept in it. Sometimes Concubine would sit on the beauty bench and scatter fish food, drawing the carp into a splashing, jostling frenzy, and she would laugh with sheer delight… This time, we are going boating on Biyi Lake. What do you think?” She leaned over the edge of the bed and asked Xu Lingyi.

Xu Lingyi’s gaze, however, had been trailing down along the snowy expanse of her skin.

The vivid crest, seemingly just barely lifted, lay half-hidden and half-revealed within the folds of her moon-white underbodice, adding several more measures of bewitching allure.

He grasped both her arms, and she was pulled onto the bed. Through the underbodice, that vivid rosy tip was taken into his mouth… light footsteps drew closer and closer outside… no struggling, no reproach, no deflecting… Shiyiniang wrapped her pale arms gently around him and held him close, letting him take whatever he wished, even tilting her head down to press a tender kiss to the top of his head… Xu Lingyi seized the moment to slip a hand inside the underbodice, taking completely unrestrained liberties for a spell, before finally releasing her.

The white silk had been soaked through, the vivid color faintly visible beneath. He felt his heart and spirit in a state of trembling elation, and muttered several lines under his breath.

“What?” Shiyiniang had not heard him very clearly. She released Xu Lingyi and sat up, drawing her garment closed.

“I said,” Xu Lingyi muttered, his voice a little louder than before, “it would be wonderful if Concubine could come to Yanjing once every year. This time she has come in the summer — I say, the next time, she should come in the winter… with rain falling outside, we could nestle warm and cozy in the bedding, and I could take my time going over every inch…”

The more he spoke, the more outrageous it became.

Shiyiniang “tsk”-ed at him dismissively and turned away, retreating behind the screen to change her clothes.

Jin Ge’er came running in.

“Father, you are so lazy — not even out of bed yet.” He had already freshened up and dressed, wearing a short hemp-cloth jacket, his large eyes bright and sparkling with the vigorous freshness of morning. “When I came yesterday, you were in bed. The day before, too…” he said, tugging at his father. “Today you must get up quickly.”

Xu Lingyi burst out laughing, scooped the boy up into the air, and darted a glance at the sandalwood screen inlaid with white ivory carvings of celestial maidens scattering flowers, then lowered his voice: “Shall we go riding this afternoon?”

“Yes!” Jin Ge’er nearly shouted with excitement, and then remembering that his father had just spoken in a low voice, he hurriedly reined in his enthusiasm and whispered: “Is it that we cannot tell Mother?”

Xu Lingyi hesitated for a moment.

Jin Ge’er’s eyes shone with intent: “Father, if Mother asks, of course we will tell her. But if she does not ask — tomorrow, Maternal Grandmother, the aunts-in-law, Little Uncle, Auntie, all the elder cousins, younger cousins, and little cousins are all coming as guests. Mother is so busy — this little thing, we need not bother telling her.” He pressed his lips together and grinned slyly.

“You little schemer!” Xu Lingyi could not help laughing, but made no move to reprimand him.

Jin Ge’er’s smile gained a hint of self-satisfaction.

But Shiyiniang found out all the same.

“What did you go off to do this afternoon?” She had been busy all day, arranging every last detail of the next day’s banquet before finally sitting down to drink a cup of tea. “Do not tell me you went nowhere, or that you were practicing your forms at the Xiumu Courtyard — your shoes are positively filthy. It is impossible to get them that dirty inside the mansion.”

“How did Mother know my shoes were filthy…” Jin Ge’er stared at Shiyiniang in bewilderment, then quickly understood. “I know — it must have been Hongwen who told you.” His voice trailed off for a moment. “Or else A’jin.” He was somewhat indignant, and then thinking of how strict his mother was — even he himself did not dare to lie before his mother, let alone Hongwen and A’jin — he wilted like a frost-bitten eggplant, his spirit visibly deflated. “I went with Father…” he said, drawing the words out long, and casting a pitiful, pleading look at Xu Lingyi.

Xu Lingyi watched with amusement and said: “We went riding! Come to think of it, Zhun Ge’er had archery and riding practice today, so I brought Sijie and Jin Ge’er along as well. Let them move their bodies. Boys — what does it look like to be cooped up at home every day?”

Shiyiniang, whatever her feelings, would never undercut Xu Lingyi’s authority in front of the children. She smiled and said: “This afternoon when I didn’t see Jin Ge’er, I went to his room and found the dirty clothes and dirty shoes he had changed out of… it gave me quite a start.”

Xu Lingyi patted her on the shoulder. “It is all right — I was with Jin Ge’er myself.”

Shiyiniang also felt she had been rather more alarmed than the situation warranted.

She was worried for Jin Ge’er’s safety — but surely his father Xu Lingyi could not be any less worried than she was.

At the thought of this, she could not help but break into a bright, open smile.

Jin Ge’er relaxed with a long exhale.

Being with Father really was the best… with Father around, even Mother would give way…

He thought of the time he had wanted to help the dog, Sansan, give birth, and Grandmother had not allowed it — but when Father gave a single nod, Grandmother said nothing more at all… and Fifth Uncle. He had invited Shen Ge’er to go swimming, and Fifth Uncle had refused — but when Father said the word, Fifth Uncle not only agreed but went along with Father to take them to Biyi Lake… Jin Ge’er turned his gaze to his parents.

Mother was sitting on the large heated platform bed by the window; Father stood beside her, his expression entirely gentle, his head bowed in quiet conversation with her. Mother laughed, tilting her head to look up at Father, and the look in her eyes suddenly became very different…

Different in what way precisely, he could not quite say… in any case, it was not how she usually looked…

Jin Ge’er scratched his head.

He saw Father join in and laugh along with Mother.

That laughter going all the way down to the depths of his eyes… his whole face overflowing with a nameless, inexplicable joy…

Jin Ge’er was suddenly seized by a vague unease.

He rushed forward and threw himself into Shiyiniang’s arms. “Mother, Mother, I’m hungry.”

“Then let us have supper a little earlier.” Mother embraced him, her voice carrying a barely perceptible tenderness.

He quickly looked up at his father.

Father’s gaze rested on him, full of warm and laughing affection.

He did not know why, but Jin Ge’er suddenly felt completely at peace, brimming with contentment.

He sprawled out on the platform bed with the ease of a young lord.

“I want lion’s head meatballs, I want braised pork belly, I want soy-braised pork knuckle, I want crystal tripe slices…” he clamored on in cheerful disorder.

Xu Lingyi burst out laughing.

People said the older children got, the less interesting they became — but this little rascal only got more interesting with age!

Thinking this, he could not help ruffling his son’s head.

—

After the Mid-Autumn Festival passed, those on good terms with the Xu family began sending congratulatory gifts. The mansion gates, which had always been rather quiet, began to grow lively.

The Grand Madam had already stepped back from household affairs some years earlier. Although Xu Sizhun’s wedding was imminent, the old lady was entirely at ease with Shiyiniang managing the household, and did not involve herself in wedding affairs. As before, she would recite her sutras and make her offerings, or exchange idle talk with Nanny Du and the Second Madam, play with the grandchildren, and take a look at the garments the household had made for Madam Jiang and the trousseau list sent over by the Jiang family — her days passed in leisurely festivity. Shiyiniang, meanwhile, was entertaining one guest today and another tomorrow; though Fifth Madam was there to assist, she had precious little time to herself. Xu Lingyi was even busier, needless to say. Shiyiniang privately said to Hupo with a laugh: “It is fortunate that Zhun Ge’er is the heir, and that his wedding affairs must follow the protocol set down by the Ministry of Rites, with the ceremonial details of the welcome procession and banqueting managed by Head Steward Bai and Steward Zhao. Otherwise, we would only be busier still.”

Hupo smiled and brought Shiyiniang a cup of hot tea, saying: “If Fourth Young Master were not the heir, naturally his wedding would follow the precedent of Second Young Master’s — the household would not necessarily have so many guests, nor would the banquet necessarily need to seat so many tables, and I myself would not need to be nearly this busy.”

Shiyiniang laughed ruefully. “I suppose I had not thought that through.”

Qiuyu and the others covered their mouths in laughter.

“Mother, when I get married, I’ll let my wife manage things,” Jin Ge’er, who had been copying characters at his desk nearby, suddenly looked up and blurted out. “You and the Grand Madam will only need to stroll around and enjoy yourselves each day. That way you can sleep in every morning.” In recent days, when he came to pay his respects to his parents in the morning, his mother had sometimes not yet risen.

Shiyiniang had been thinking that as Xu Sizhun’s wedding drew near, it was not unusual for distinguished guests to come and offer congratulations — and if some occasion arose requiring the use of the small study, Jin Ge’er copying characters there would inevitably mean Xu Lingyi would have to bring him out to greet guests, which was not conducive to his studies. So she had Jin Ge’er copy his characters in her own inner room instead, while she herself received guests only in the front reception hall.

Everyone was momentarily stunned, then broke into peals of uncontrollable laughter.

Jin Ge’er was most displeased, and protested with a flush of red on his cheeks: “I am saying the truth!”

Shiyiniang hastily soothed the little one: “Very well, very well — I shall wait for Jin Ge’er to take a wife.”

Everyone laughed again.

Jin Ge’er’s cheeks puffed up like a toad’s.

—

Xu Siyu and his wife came hurrying back from Le’an.

“Mother!” When he performed the full bow of greeting to Shiyiniang, Xu Siyu gave Madam Xiang a steadying hand as she rose.

Shiyiniang’s heart stirred. She looked Madam Xiang up and down carefully, then smiled at Xu Siyu: “Is there something more you have to tell me?”

Xu Siyu and Madam Xiang both flushed crimson; the normally composed and collected Xu Siyu was as unsettled as if sitting on needles, and said in a murmur: “Rounen… she is with child.”

“Why didn’t you send word home?” Shiyiniang quickly had Qiuyu bring a chair with a back for Madam Xiang. “Being in this condition, why did you rush back in such haste?” She instructed Hupo to summon Imperial Physician Liu to come and take Madam Xiang’s pulse, sent someone to inform Xu Lingyi, and asked how many months along she was, whether the journey had been peaceful, and whether the pregnancy was going smoothly.

“It is four months now.” Madam Xiang was somewhat shy, but more than anything she was happy; she answered Shiyiniang’s questions in a low voice. “My husband was afraid the journey might be too jolting for me, so he waited until three months had passed before we set out — that is why we have only arrived now. My constitution is strong, and the journey went smoothly all the way. The pregnancy is going well — there is no need for Mother to worry.”

Shiyiniang, seeing her complexion was rosy and she showed no signs of anything amiss, had Fangxi go and fetch some ginseng, bird’s nest, gastrodia, and other tonics to send over to Madam Xiang’s quarters. She assigned the wife of Wan San and two experienced matrons to attend on Madam Xiang: “…For anything at all, just ask the wife of Wan San. Chen Ge’er grew up under her watch — she has experience. Do not be apprehensive.” She arranged for someone to send news to the Xiang family, instructed Madam Xiang to return to her room and rest properly, and herself accompanied Xu Siyu to pay their respects to the Grand Madam.

While they were speaking, Jin Ge’er’s eyes had been rolling busily, fixed on Madam Xiang. Seeing them about to go to the Grand Madam’s quarters, he insisted on going along as well. On the way, he asked Xu Siyu quietly: “Second Elder Brother, am I about to become an uncle?”

Xu Siyu laughed and patted his head.

Jin Ge’er dashed off in a flash — no amount of calling could bring him back. By the time Shiyiniang and Xu Siyu reached the Grand Madam’s quarters, the Grand Madam already knew everything, and was cheerfully whispering secrets with Jin Ge’er in confidential consultation.

“How could you be so thoughtless!” the Grand Madam chided Xu Siyu. “Being with child, she ought to rest and nurture the baby properly — not gallivanting about without a word to the family elders, making that long journey by road. It is fortunate that your wife has a strong constitution and can endure the jostling — if anything had gone wrong, I should not have let you off lightly.” Then she added: “Since you are back, your wife need not return to Le’an. Stay at home and rest properly!”

Xu Siyu gave an abashed smile.

The Grand Madam went to Xu Siyu’s rooms to see Madam Xiang.

The Second Madam, having heard the news, came hurrying over and offered the piece of Hetian jade that she had worn against her body for years to Madam Xiang: “I obtained this when I made a pilgrimage to Mount Wutai — the abbot there personally presented it to me, and said it had been blessed. Wear it on you, to keep you and the child safe.”

Madam Xiang accepted it with shy gratitude.

Fifth Madam came to visit Madam Xiang, bringing abalone, sea cucumber, and other nourishing foods.

Hupo came back with a reply: “The Marquis says he knows. He asks Second Young Mistress to rest and recuperate well.”

Everyone was radiant with joy, and the whole family sat down together in the Grand Madam’s quarters for a merry meal.

By the afternoon, Madam Xiang’s mother arrived.

With her daughter now with child, the stone weighing on Madam Xiang’s mother’s heart finally fell away. Mother and daughter were reunited, and there was naturally another round of hearty, long-missed conversation.

At this moment, the man who had been sent to deliver the invitation to Cangzhou returned and reported: “The eldest young mistress was very happy to hear that Fourth Young Master has had his wedding date set. The eldest young master says that in a few days he will bring the eldest young mistress and the two young masters to Yanjing to personally offer their congratulations.”

Since Zhen Jie’er’s marriage five years before, they had not seen each other. This was truly joy upon joy.

“Have them stay in the inner courtyard,” the Grand Madam said, very pleased, instructing Shiyiniang.

“I will have the Lijing Pavilion swept and prepared,” Shiyiniang said with a smile. “Let her stay in her old quarters.”

The Grand Madam nodded repeatedly, then furrowed her brow: “How is it that not one of them can spare me any worry? The children are so small — how can they endure the hardship of all that travel?”

After Zhen Jie’er gave birth to her first son Shao Anjing, she had given birth to her second son Shao Anxu at the end of the previous year — one was four years old, the other still only ten months.

After her complaints, the Grand Madam turned to Shiyiniang again: “My two great-grandsons by her — I have never laid eyes on either. Their father Shao Zhongran is such a fine-looking man, and our Zhen Jie’er is so pretty herself — the two children should be as lovely as carved jade.” The words carried a thread of longing.

Everyone laughed.

The Grand Madam took Shiyiniang to go and inspect the Lijing Pavilion and see if there was anything that needed adding.

Xu Lingyi had just seen off Elder Dou outside when the Emperor’s Third Son, Prince Yong, arrived to send Xu Sizhun congratulatory gifts and came in to pay his respects to the Grand Madam.

The Grand Madam and everyone hurried back, dressed in full formal attire according to their ranks, and received Prince Yong.

The Military Commissioner of Shandong, who had come specifically to offer congratulations to Xu Sizhun, could only wait with Steward Zhao in the outer study — and, as chance would have it, there he ran into Elder Dou…

The Xu household had by now become a constant stream of distinguished visitors.

By the time Wu Niang arrived from Wendeng with Xin Ge’er and Dian Jie’er, Zhen Jie’er had just returned to the mansion, and Shiyiniang barely had time to exchange a few words with her before Luo Da Nainai hosted a banquet for Wu Niang and the children. Shiyiniang had no time to attend, and sent Hupo to Gongxian Hutong with eight boxes of assorted gifts.

Zhen Jie’er’s two children both took after Shao Zhongran, with fine, handsome features. Not only the Grand Madam — even Xu Lingyi, seeing them, was very much charmed. Xu Siyu, Xu Sizhun, and Xu Sijie were fond of teasing the lively and adorable Xu Ge’er, while Jin Ge’er and Shen Ge’er led Jing Ge’er on romps all over the place, leaving Shiyiniang to repeatedly instruct the servants in their care: “Keep close watch on them. They are not to go near any water, and are not to go to Linqiong Manor to pick fruit… If Jing Ge’er gets so much as a scratch or a bump anywhere, I shall have something to say about it.”

“There is such a large group of people watching over him, and we are in our own rear garden — nothing will happen.” Zhen Jie’er hugged Shiyiniang’s arm and laughed, and asked after Jin Ge’er’s martial training: “…My husband asks Master Pang about it every time, and Master Pang only says he is progressing well. What is he like, exactly?”

“He has already begun to learn some basic hand and foot combat.” Shiyiniang smiled. “I do not understand these things myself, but going by your father’s manner, he seems very satisfied with the progress.”

“Then I am at ease.” Zhen Jie’er smiled. “I thought to myself at the time that Father would certainly already have his own candidate in mind. But my husband said, we should still show our own good intentions. I thought and thought, and in the end recommended Master Pang…”

During the days of this homecoming visit, Shao Zhongran had been kept by Xu Lingyi to help entertain the guests, while the two children were taken off by the Grand Madam and several of the brothers — there was nothing she could do, and she found herself with time on her hands. After calling on Wen Concubine a few times, she took to staying close at Shiyiniang’s side, sometimes helping receive guests, sometimes sitting with Shiyiniang in quiet conversation.

Shiyiniang kept thinking of the children, and from time to time sent maidservants to check on them.

“Mother is the same as ever, always worrying about this and that.” Zhen Jie’er could not help but feel something, and then suddenly a memory from her childhood surfaced — and without warning, her eyes reddened and her tears fell without the slightest signal.

Having become a mother herself, she had come to understand all the more deeply the difficulty of her mother’s position.

Zhen Jie’er felt only a congested heaviness in her heart. Yet thinking that this was the occasion of Fourth Elder Brother’s great happiness, carrying on this way would only make her mother sorrowful too. She hastily pulled out her handkerchief and dabbed at the corners of her eyes, and in her heart felt all the more deeply the kindness her mother had shown her — and thinking over these years of life in Cangzhou, felt she had a thousand words she had been wanting to say to her mother.

“Mother, may I sleep with you tonight?” She hugged Shiyiniang’s arm tightly, her eyes again brimming with tears. “I still remember when I was small, there was one time I came to your room for an afternoon nap… you made a pearl bracelet for me… you gave me a gold chrysanthemum hairpin… you took me to visit Hui Jie’er’s house… we were with Fang Jie’er — no, with the Crown Princess — together, and we secretly tried on your padded jacket…” Once that floodgate opened, she was amazed to find that so many things had happened, and each one had carried her life a little further from where it had been, and a little closer to where it was now…

Zhen Jie’er had shed her youthful rawness and become a woman with a resolute look about her brows and eyes, softened by a touch of warmth. Yet here she was, still acting like a little girl in Shiyiniang’s presence, wheedling and cajoling. Shiyiniang’s eyes, too, were touched with moisture.

“Of course!” She would be going away again, and who knew when they would next meet. Not wanting the mood to grow too sorrowful, she smiled and teased: “As long as you are willing to abandon your husband and Jing Ge’er and Xu Ge’er.”

“It is only one night,” Zhen Jie’er said, a smile lifting the corners of her mouth, and with it came a quality of settled certainty that belongs only to a woman who has known happiness. “Besides, the children have their wet nurses!”

Shiyiniang pressed her lips together in a smile.

Zhen Jie’er was a little embarrassed and protested fondly: “I am home at my mother’s now — of course I should spend one night as her daughter.”

“All right.” Chances to act like a daughter before one’s mother were not so plentiful. She had a bed made up for Zhen Jie’er.

Xu Lingyi stared wide-eyed. “Then where am I to sleep?”

Shiyiniang’s face colored. Afraid Zhen Jie’er might hear, she pushed him toward the door. “Go sleep wherever you like!”

—