At some point, Xu Lingyi had quietly come to stand beside Shiyiniang.

He was road-worn from travel… a little darker than before, a little thinner — yet his spirits were excellent, and the gaze he fixed on her was bright and steady: “Let us go and wash up, so we can pay our respects to the Grand Madam.”

She could not quite say why, but his words brought a faint flush to her cheeks. She gave a quiet “mm” and walked shoulder to shoulder with Xu Lingyi, following behind Jin Ge’er and Yingniang.

“…So Eldest Cousin Sister is going to the Medicine King Temple on the eighth day of the fourth month?” Jin Ge’er was chattering away with Yingniang. “I’ve been there with Grandmother a few times. The incense traffic isn’t the most popular, but the goods for sale are the best. Not like Daxiangguo Temple, where they claim the prayer beads are sandalwood but they’re actually made of willow wood.”

Jin Ge’er appeared casual, but the corner of his eye kept sneaking glances behind him.

Seeing his mother walking quietly by his father’s side, he let out a long, slow breath of relief.

How true it was — the more one said, the more one erred.

He would have to work on this habit from now on.

Thinking this, he asked Yingniang cheerfully, “What was there to do while I was away from the household?”

Yingniang thought for a moment and smiled. “The third-of-the-third Spring Banquet! It was very lively that day…”

And just like that, the conversation was passed over to Yingniang.

Seeing the two of them talking with such ease, Xu Lingyi and Shiyiniang exchanged a quiet glance.

Maids, wives, and matrons along the way all bobbed curtsies as the two passed.

Zhi Hong, with two small maids in tow, was rushing toward them with a flustered look; her roving gaze suddenly landed on the two figures, and all three of them let out a simultaneous breath of relief.

“Marquis, Madam, Sixth Young Master, Eldest Young Miss!” She hurried to pay her respects. “The Grand Madam has heard the Marquis has returned and is heading this way. The servants went to the back quarters to pass word, but couldn’t find the Marquis or Madam or Sixth Young Master…”

“We know,” Xu Lingyi said in a composed tone. “We’re heading back to the rooms right now.”

Zhi Hong curtsied and left with one of the small maids.

Xu Lingyi cast Shiyiniang a sidelong, amused look — as if to say: See, it was your dragging things out that delayed the washing up and made the Grand Madam send people to look…

Shiyiniang shot him a look, then couldn’t help laughing.

The amusement in Xu Lingyi’s eyes deepened, and his gaze grew brighter.

Shiyiniang’s heart gave a sudden flutter. She averted her eyes and quickened her steps to catch up with her son: “Why did you come back so soon?”

“We’d seen everything there was to see, so we came back early.” Jin Ge’er’s answer was vague, and he quickly changed the subject. “Mother, I want to go to the Medicine King Temple tomorrow too!”

“Of course!” Shiyiniang smiled. “Just remember not to run off on your own. And take good care of Eldest Cousin Sister.”

“Count on me, Mother!” Jin Ge’er promised at once.

The three of them talked and laughed as they walked toward the main courtyard.

Xu Lingyi walked behind, his eyes full of warmth as he watched their retreating figures.

No sooner had they entered the room than the Grand Madam arrived.

Xu Lingyi and Jin Ge’er hurried forward to kneel before her.

The Grand Madam took one hand on each of them. “You’re back, you’re back!” Tears began to fall unbidden.

“Mother, it is written that while one’s parents are living, one should not travel far.” Xu Lingyi’s eyes grew wet at the corners, and he knelt before the Grand Madam once more. “It was my lack of filial piety — I caused you to worry.”

Jin Ge’er, seeing this, quickly knelt down alongside him.

The Grand Madam bent down to help Xu Lingyi up, then with tears and a smile urged Jin Ge’er to rise as well. Then she and Xu Lingyi sat side by side on the large kang by the window, studying him closely.

Xu Lingyi sat quietly and smiled, letting his mother look at him as long as she wished.

“Darker, and thinner!” the Grand Madam said, and her tears fell again.

Shiyiniang quickly handed over a handkerchief.

The Grand Madam took it and had barely dried her eyes when she thought of something, and the tears fell again.

“Mother, look — am I not perfectly well?” Xu Lingyi said in a choked voice, and then could say no more.

Everyone in the room felt their eyes grow damp; even two of the small maids had covered their mouths and were weeping silently.

“Grandmother, Grandmother!” Jin Ge’er suddenly appeared in front of the Grand Madam. “Look and see — am I thinner? Am I darker?” He grinned at her, and the sorrowful mood was instantly broken.

The Grand Madam knew perfectly well that her grandson was trying to cheer her up.

“Oh my!” With tears and laughter both at once, the Grand Madam gathered Jin Ge’er in her arms. “My dear boy, let Grandmother have a good look.” And looking more carefully, the Grand Madam’s expression changed. “Why have you become so thin? Was there nothing to eat along the way? Where on earth did you go?” Her gaze shifted to Xu Lingyi with unmistakable suspicion.

“We just walked around the Jiayuguan area,” Xu Lingyi quickly said. “How could there be nothing to eat? — Jin Ge’er eats three large flatbread buns in one sitting. Otherwise, how would he have grown so tall?”

The Grand Madam’s expression still carried a trace of doubt.

“It’s true!” Jin Ge’er laughed. “Cuo Yang said I ate more in one day than his whole family eats together.”

“Cuo Yang?” The Grand Madam looked at Xu Lingyi in puzzlement.

“An orphan Jin Ge’er picked up at Jiayuguan,” Xu Lingyi said with a smile. “About the same age as Jin Ge’er, and very sharp. Jin Ge’er wanted to bring him back, and I agreed.”

While they were still talking, Xu Sizhun arrived carrying the child.

“Father.” He greeted Xu Lingyi with respectful courtesy and called to Jin Ge’er with a smile: “Sixth Brother.”

Both Xu Lingyi and Jin Ge’er turned their eyes to the baby the wet nurse was holding.

The wet nurse, reading the room quickly, brought Ting Ge’er over to Xu Lingyi.

Xu Lingyi smiled and clasped the child’s small, plump hand. Ting Ge’er, who had already learned to recognize faces, stared up at Xu Lingyi with wide, blank eyes — utterly adorable.

Xu Lingyi couldn’t help but be charmed.

Jin Ge’er came running over. “Let me hold him!”

The wet nurse dared not hesitate, but her eyes flicked toward Jiang Shi.

Jiang Shi hesitated and looked toward Xu Sizhun.

Xu Sizhun had not noticed any of this. He was smiling fondly as he watched Jin Ge’er clumsily gather Ting Ge’er into his arms and coo at him, “I’m your Sixth Uncle — say Sixth Uncle!”

Ting Ge’er tilted his head, blinking steadily at Jin Ge’er.

Shiyiniang hurried over and took the child. “Ting Ge’er can’t talk yet!” She then handed the baby to the wet nurse and, without drawing attention to it, nudged her son aside. “All right — go and wash up. You’re covered in dust from head to toe. Don’t go sneezing over Ting Ge’er.”

Jin Ge’er grinned and went to the Grand Madam. “Grandmother, I’m going to have a bath. Once I’m done, let’s go see what I brought back — there are so many good things. Don’t go away!” Then, as if suddenly remembering, he called out to everyone else in the room: “There’s something for everyone — if you leave, you lose your share!”

The Grand Madam nodded eagerly again and again. “Good, good, good — I’m not going anywhere, I’m not going anywhere.”

Everyone burst into laughter.

The sorrowful mood dispersed like smoke on the wind.

The Grand Madam smiled and patted Xu Lingyi’s hand. “You haven’t washed up yet either — go and change your clothes.” Then she instructed Shiyiniang, “Tell the kitchen to make a few dishes that Old Fourth and Jin Ge’er are fond of. We’ll all dine here this evening.”

Shiyiniang smiled and agreed.

On the way, they ran into Fifth Madam coming with the children. Before Fifth Madam could say a word, Shen Ge’er had already darted up to Shiyiniang. “Fourth Aunt, Sixth Brother is back!”

“Yes he is!” With Jin Ge’er away, Shen Ge’er hadn’t known what to do with himself and had constantly found his way over to ask when Jin Ge’er was coming home. Shiyiniang patted his head affectionately. “He’s having a bath — he’ll be done shortly.”

Shen Ge’er gave an obedient “Yes,” but once inside the room his eyes darted about, and he said to the Grand Madam, “Let me go and see what’s keeping Sixth Brother in the bath — what if he’s fallen into the chamber pot?” And then he disappeared into the bathing room in a flash.

A burst of commotion erupted from within the bathing room.

Everyone outside burst into laughter.

Sharing out gifts, swapping strange stories of the journey… It went on until Xu Lingkuan came hurrying back, and there was another round of warm greetings and catching up. Then everyone gathered in the main hall for the evening meal. Little Yingying and Ting Ge’er had long since fallen asleep; Xiang Shi and Jiang Shi left with the children. Xu Lingyi, Xu Lingkuan, Shiyiniang, and Fifth Madam sat around the Grand Madam, listening to Xu Lingyi recount his travels since leaving home. Xin Jie’er, Xu Sijie, Yingniang, Shen Ge’er, and Cheng Ge’er clustered in the main hall, murmuring and laughing among themselves — as festive as New Year’s Eve. It was only when the Grand Madam yawned several times in a row that everyone finally began to take their leave.

Xu Lingyi walked the Grand Madam back to her rooms.

Shen Ge’er wanted to stay the night with Jin Ge’er.

“Fine by me,” Xu Lingkuan said without concern. “Just don’t fight.”

The two of them thanked Xu Lingkuan happily over and over, and Fifth Madam couldn’t help laughing at the sight.

Shiyiniang saw the guests out and went to make up Jin Ge’er’s bed. Yingniang followed behind Shiyiniang, passing things as they were needed.

Jin Ge’er appeared at her side and asked Shiyiniang, “Mother, when can I move to the outer court?” His anticipation was plain.

“You want to move out very much?” Shiyiniang put on a half-feigned, half-sincere look of displeasure.

“Ah, it’s not that!” Jin Ge’er quickly said. “I was just asking. Hasn’t Mother always told me to be prepared before the time comes? I’m only thinking ahead.”

Shiyiniang looked at the excitement he was trying to conceal in his eyes, and felt a sudden swell of emotion.

Her son had truly grown up… yet he was only ten years old this year. Was it not too early for the nest to empty so soon?

She turned this over in her mind, pulled him tightly against her shoulder, and for a long while said nothing.

Xu Lingyi came home at midnight. Shiyiniang was sitting up in bed, still waiting for him.

The dim lamplight fell across her — still and gentle.

“Didn’t I tell you to sleep early?” Coming back to her after crossing those desert wastelands, he found her as fine and delicate as porcelain. He touched her face, and was moved to extra care without thinking, his voice softer than usual. “Were you afraid I wouldn’t come back?” He gave a faint smile — a teasing edge to it, half-tender — and lightly kissed her cheek.

Shiyiniang did not move.

Her bright eyes, clear as autumn water, fixed on Xu Lingyi. “Marquis, what exactly are your intentions?” Her voice carried an undisguised weight of concern.

Xu Lingyi froze.

“Taking Jin Ge’er to Jizhou, Datong, Xuantong, Jiayuguan — and bringing back Miao people’s ornaments.” She gripped his sleeve tightly. “Don’t tell me you only wanted to broaden your son’s horizons.” Her fingers had gone white. “I taught him to read maps so he could travel to famous mountains and rivers — not to march to war on every front. I taught him martial arts so he could build his strength and not be pushed around — not to lead armies into battle and drench the land in blood for ten miles.” She said this, and found the sight before her growing blurred. She turned her face away.