By the time Jiang Shi hurried back to Danbozhai, the sky had already grown dark.

Xu Sizhun was waiting for her. “Why did you take so long?” he said, handing her a hand warmer. “It’s so cold outside, and you didn’t even take a hand warmer with you. What would we do if you caught a chill?”

Yuan Baozhu’s wife, who was following behind Jiang Shi, exchanged a glance with Jiang Shi’s personal maid Baozhu, and both saw joy and relief in each other’s eyes.

Ever since the engagement was settled, Xu Sizhun had often visited the Jiang family during the New Year. Every time Jiang Bo’s wife mentioned Xu Sizhun, she described him as pure-hearted and honest. But after saying the same things again and again with no new words to add, Jiang Song’s wife quietly worried to herself: *All they ever say is that he’s honest — nothing else. Could this child be a bit slow-witted?* She couldn’t help feeling a little anxious. Just before the wedding, Jiang Song’s wife had even specially instructed Yuan Baozhu’s wife: “Young people don’t always know how to get along — you’ll need to mediate between them… The son-in-law doesn’t say much, so let the young miss do more of the talking…”

Yet no one had expected that although the son-in-law was a man of few words, around the young miss he had endless things to say. He was also gentle and easygoing with people, warm and attentive toward the young miss — a true harmony of hearts, like the music of a lute and zither playing in unison. All the attendants who had accompanied the bride let out a long, collective breath of relief.

“When I was bringing gifts to Grandmother and Mother, it wouldn’t have been proper to carry a hand warmer.” Jiang Shi’s gaze as she looked at her husband sparkled with a cheerful light. “I’ll make sure to wear more layers next time I go out.” Then she said, “When I went to visit Fifth Aunt, I happened to run into Xin Jie’er, who had come to show Fifth Aunt her needlework. When she heard I had brought some incense, she immediately opened the box.” Cradling the hand warmer, Jiang Shi walked side by side with Xu Sizhun, their shoulders close together as they slowly made their way into the inner chamber. “I brought her rose incense, and she loved it. She said it smelled much better than the scented water made at her own family’s home and asked if I had the recipe.”

“Did you give it to her?” Xu Sizhun looked at his wife with a smile, thinking her smile was as tranquil as moonlight — something he found very pleasing.

“How would I have a recipe?” Jiang Shi laughed. “My mother started making incense because one year when I came to your family’s home, I mentioned that your family’s scented water was wonderful. Mother tracked down an old formula and spent two or three years making it at home before it was right. At first I helped on the side, but I kept getting it wrong and eventually lost patience. Looking back now, I really should have learned it properly from Mother — then I wouldn’t have been in the awkward position of Second Sister asking and me having nothing to offer. But I did tell Second Sister that when I get back, I’ll write a letter to An’le and ask Mother to send me the recipe.”

As they talked, the two of them reached the large platform bed by the window. Xu Sizhun helped Jiang Shi sit down on the edge of the bed.

“When I went to Second Aunt’s, she was working through an arithmetic problem. I had planned to quietly leave the gifts and slip away, but Jiexiang insisted on announcing me, which disturbed Second Aunt. Second Aunt was kind enough to ask me to stay for tea.” As Jiang Shi spoke, Biluo came in with a cheerful smile, carrying a tray of tea. Xu Sizhun took the cup Biluo brought him, set it in front of Jiang Shi first, then accepted his own cup from Biluo, took a gentle sip, and continued to listen attentively as Jiang Shi talked. “She brought up incense-making again. That’s why I was late getting back.”

“Second Aunt is also quite skilled at making incense,” Xu Sizhun said with a smile. “In earlier years, all the incense in our home was made by Second Aunt. These past couple of years, Second Aunt has become absorbed in stargazing, so she’s been making it less often. By the way, did Second Aunt tell you about her stargazing? Last time Sixth Brother went to visit, Second Aunt kept him there talking about the Big Dipper and the Great Bear. Sixth Brother had absolutely no interest in hearing any of it and was about to bolt — so Second Aunt brought out a ‘water-powered cart’ to coax him, and only then did Sixth Brother obediently agree to stay!”

“A ‘water-powered cart’?” Jiang Shi found this amusing. “What kind of ‘water-powered cart’?”

Xu Sizhun explained, “It’s a wooden carriage, about a foot high and two feet long, with a small bucket mounted on top. You pour water into the bucket, and the carriage moves on its own…”

“Oh! Second Aunt can make things like that too!” Jiang Shi’s eyes went wide. “Could we ask Second Aunt to show it to me? I’d love to see it for myself!” As she spoke, she tugged lightly on Xu Sizhun’s sleeve.

Xu Sizhun felt as though his heart, just like that sleeve, had been lifted gently into the air.

“Second Aunt may seem strict, but she’s actually very kind to people,” he said with a smile. “It’s too late today — I’ll accompany you there first thing tomorrow morning!”

Jiang Shi hesitated a little. “But husband, don’t you have class tomorrow?”

“It’s fine,” Xu Sizhun said quickly. “I’ll go ask Teacher Zhao for the day off a little later.”

“That… that doesn’t seem quite right!” Jiang Shi said uneasily. “If Father-in-law and Mother-in-law find out…”

Xu Sizhun laughed. “With snow this beautiful, even if I didn’t ask for time off, Teacher Zhao would probably cancel class himself and go admire the snow with three or four friends.”

Jiang Shi was quite surprised.

Although her own father was the headmaster of an academy, he attended class all the same — never arriving late or leaving early, let alone giving students an entire day off just to enjoy the snow.

She was about to say something when Yuan Baozhu’s wife quietly cleared her throat beside her and gently reminded them: “Fourth Young Master, Fourth Young Mistress, it’s getting late. We need to head over to the Grand Madam’s. It won’t do to keep the Grand Madam and Madam waiting.”

“Look at me, I almost forgot.” Jiang Shi quickly followed Yuan Baozhu’s wife to change clothes.

Yuan Baozhu’s wife quietly said, “Fourth Young Mistress, even ten li apart, customs differ — let alone the distance between Le’an and Yanjing. A tutor who wants to give students the day off — how could that ever be hidden from the Marquis and Madam? The Marquis and Madam said nothing, which clearly means they tacitly approved. You’ve just arrived, and on certain matters, it’s better not to speak up too quickly. You wouldn’t want to put Fourth Young Master in an awkward mood and damage the harmony between husband and wife.”

Jiang Shi gave a slight nod, and she and Xu Sizhun went to visit the Grand Madam. The following day, they went together to visit Second Madam.

The door to Second Madam’s study was tightly closed. Jiexiang said with a smile, “Let me go and inform Second Madam!”

This time, Jiang Shi held Jiexiang’s hand firmly. “Jiexiang, when my father is reading, he loses his temper if someone disturbs him. I really don’t want to upset Second Aunt!”

Jiexiang saw that she was sincere, and thought that since Headmaster Jiang was himself a scholar, he would surely understand Second Madam’s behavior and not fault her for the lack of propriety. Jiexiang didn’t press the matter further and, with a smile, brought out some snow pine tea that Second Madam had made to serve the guests. Jiang Shi found the tea quite distinctive and pulled Jiexiang aside to ask all sorts of questions about it. Xu Sizhun had come along to accompany Jiang Shi for a pleasant outing, and seeing how happy she was, he naturally went along with her. The two of them sat in Second Madam’s reception room for the better part of an hour, by which time Jiang Shi had learned exactly how the snow pine tea was made. They rose to take their leave of Jiexiang.

Xu Sizhun instructed Jiexiang, “Whenever Second Aunt has a free moment, please let us know. We’ll come back to visit properly then.”

“Husband, why don’t we come back on your day off?” Before Jiexiang could respond, Jiang Shi had already said with a gentle smile, “I can see from Second Aunt’s current state that she’s unlikely to have any spare time for a while.”

“Fourth Young Mistress, what a sharp eye you have,” Jiexiang said, genuinely impressed. “That arithmetic text — it really is quite a thick volume!”

“Then we’ll come back on my day off,” Xu Sizhun said agreeably, and he and Jiang Shi walked back to their quarters, chatting and laughing together.

When Second Madam came out for dinner that evening, Jiexiang told her about Xu Sizhun and Jiang Shi’s visit.

“Bring the ‘water-powered cart’ out and put it in the sitting room,” Second Madam said. “If they come again, just show it to them.” She paused in thought for a moment, then added, “This Jiang Shi — she’s quite good. She knows to encourage Zhun Ge to study.” But just as she reached that point, Second Madam’s tone paused. She pointed to a bowl of mountain mushroom soup on the table and said, “This is very good. Have them make another bowl tomorrow.” And with that, she quietly changed the subject.

When Xu Sizhun’s day off arrived, they were unable to make it after all — the year-end was approaching, the household was busy with many matters, and as Xiang Shi was pregnant, Lady Shiyi had asked Jiang Shi to help her learn how to manage household affairs. Jiang Shi had received some of this training at home, but nothing as complex as the Xu family’s affairs, and the rules of the two households were quite different. Jiang Shi dared not be careless and applied herself with full concentration. In the evenings she would sometimes still be discussing things with Yuan Baozhu’s wife. She certainly had no spare moments to go look at the water-powered cart.

“Then we’ll wait until Father comes home,” Xu Sizhun said to reassure Jiang Shi. “When Father returns, Sixth Brother will come back with him, and Mother will certainly take a few days to rest. You’ll have some free time then.”

But she couldn’t very well take her leisure just because her mother-in-law was busy with Sixth Uncle’s affairs, could she? Yet thinking of her husband’s good intentions…

“We’ll see when the time comes,” she said tactfully. “I don’t know yet what Mother’s plans are.”

Xu Sizhun nodded, finding his wife’s words reasonable.

On the day the Laba Festival porridge was served, Xu Lingyi and Jin Ge’er returned home.

“Was Baoding fun?” Lady Shiyi pulled her son close — he seemed to have grown a little taller — and pressed two firm kisses to his cheek before finally feeling at ease.

Jin Ge’er grinned.

Xu Lingyi gave his son a pat on the shoulder. “Go back to your room and wash up. We’re going to Grandmother’s to drink the Laba porridge.”

Jin Ge’er, laughing and cheerful, was swept along by a whole crowd of maids and serving women back to his room.

Xu Lingyi spread his arms wide and pulled Lady Shiyi into a tight embrace, planting two hearty kisses on her face.

“Goodness!” Lady Shiyi caught a glimpse out of the corner of her eye of the maids still in the room. “What has gotten into you!”

The maids all tactfully pressed their lips together in smiles and withdrew.

“You dote on him; I dote on you — it’s only natural!” Xu Lingyi made no move to let go, still smiling as he pressed two more kisses to her cheek.

Lady Shiyi’s face flushed a light pink.

“My lord, please go and freshen up!” she said, squirming to free herself. “Mother has been looking forward to your return every single day. She’s probably already heard the news by now. If you don’t go soon, Zhihong might come to fetch you.”

Xu Lingyi looked steadily into her eyes. “You wash up with me.” His deep, mellow voice dropped a few tones, taking on a faintly suggestive warmth.

Lady Shiyi turned her face aside and murmured a soft sound of assent, her cheeks suffused with color.

Xu Lingyi gave a low, quiet laugh and carried her in his arms into the washroom.

The Grand Madam had waited a long while without her son arriving to pay his respects, and she was growing anxious. “Why isn’t he here yet?” She rose from the bed, ready to go and see for herself.

“There’s no need to worry,” Nanny Du said with a smile, stepping forward to support the Grand Madam. “The Marquis only just arrived — of course he needs time to wash and change. Besides, Zhihong has already gone to hurry him along. Please be patient and wait a little while.” Though inwardly she too was puzzling over what was taking so long.

The Grand Madam had no choice but to sit back down. Feeling restless, she kept asking Yuban, “Is the Laba porridge ready?”

“Please don’t worry!” Yuban said quickly with a smile. “The small kitchen has been keeping it warm. The moment the Marquis arrives, we can eat.”

“It’s the dead of winter, and they’ve been traveling from outside,” the Grand Madam grumbled. “Keeping it warm isn’t enough — it needs to be piping hot.”

“I’ll go tell the kitchen right now.” Yuban acknowledged the instruction and turned to step outside.

But the curtain was suddenly swept open, and a figure in red burst through.

“Grandmother, Grandmother, I’m back!”

A bright, resonant voice, quick, eager footsteps, and all the energy in the world — who else could it be but Jin Ge’er!

—