Today, the entire household of Duke Wei’s residence had come in full force — all except for Xia Lan, who had gone to Luoyang to look into the flood situation; everyone else was present.

Though Princess Derong had stepped down from the carriage, her attention was fixed on her daughter Xia Yuan, who was climbing down behind her. Only after her daughter had gotten out did she notice that her son had been silent for a good while. Finding this odd, she turned around — and there she saw Lin Xiao and Qin Yao.

Derong wasn’t particularly surprised, since the whole family had come to the palace today precisely for Weijin’s acknowledgment of his new in-laws. Still, the expression on her son’s face left her heart aching just a little.

Last night, she had been discussing with her husband whether to bring Feng Chuyue along to the palace, when Second Young Master suddenly came home. These days he had been staying at the Supreme General’s manor almost constantly; no matter whether she, his mother, sent someone to fetch him, or Feng Chuyue tried in roundabout ways to learn his whereabouts, he simply refused to come home, preferring to waste his days at the government office instead.

After he came home last night, although he still refused to go to the inner quarters and instead slept a night in the outer study, this morning he had patiently sat through breakfast at home, and had even accompanied them into the palace today.

What was behind her son’s behavior this time? She hardly needed to think hard about it — the answer came to her almost at once.

With that thought, her gaze flickered, unconsciously sliding over to Qin Yao.

At yesterday’s wedding, the bride had held a fan in her hand, so Derong hadn’t had the chance to study her looks closely. Now that she finally saw her properly, she couldn’t help but take her in from head to toe.

She really was strikingly pretty — delicate brows and eyes, fair, soft skin, a pair of bright, lively eyes. Standing there, she looked as fresh and lovely as a white pear blossom, and rare for a young woman, every movement of hers carried a quick, spirited energy, full of vitality and utterly endearing. Honestly speaking, she wasn’t much inferior to Derong’s own daughter.

Having grown up in the palace since childhood, Derong had seen the most outstanding beauties this world had to offer, and had also personally witnessed several of her brothers choosing consorts. She knew that when a man’s heart was moved by a woman, it often came down to that first flash of attraction. Though her daughter was more gentle and dignified than this Miss Qu, she clearly lacked the lively, spirited energy that radiated from the girl.

Young men of noble birth like Weijin, accustomed to seeing proper, rigidly well-bred young ladies of good family, could hardly resist the novelty when they came across someone different. No wonder even her usually proud and unruly second son had made a fool of himself once over this Miss Qu.

Just thinking of this made Derong’s head throb with anger. That day, coming out from Duke Lu’s residence, no matter how she and her husband had pressed him, her son had kept a dark, silent face and offered not a single word of explanation. When they asked her eldest son, he too feigned ignorance.

Later, it was thanks to her daughter quietly telling her that her second brother had been fond of a Miss Qu for a long time. When Duke Lu’s birthday celebration finally came around and a group of students from the academy were invited to the banquet, wasn’t it possible that her second brother had originally meant to scheme his way toward Miss Qu, only to stumble unwittingly into Feng Chuyue’s trap instead?

Only after hearing her daughter’s words did Derong learn that a young lady surnamed Qu had become entangled with Second Young Master. What infuriated her most was that Weijin, too, had been so taken with this Miss Qu that he had set aside her own daughter and gone before his imperial uncle to beg for the marriage to be granted.

She didn’t even need to inquire carefully into this Miss Qu’s background — a moment’s thought was enough for her to guess that the girl was most likely the daughter of some lowborn family in Chang’an, who had used every scheme and trick to claw her way toward wealth and status, no different from a woman like Feng Chuyue.

Though she despised the girl’s character, she had neither the desire nor the inclination to deliberately make trouble for her.

For one thing, she had spent her whole life being shrewd and accommodating; there was simply no need to damage the harmony between her own family and Weijin’s father and son over some little chit of a girl.

She remembered that, back then, if she and Third Brother hadn’t been close since childhood, the Wei Guogong household would have met with utter ruin the moment Third Brother purged Fourth Brother — they would never have enjoyed so many years of peace, let alone eventually been summoned back to Chang’an.

Thus, over the years, she had always followed the principle of leaving herself room to maneuver in everything she did, and unless absolutely necessary, was extremely reluctant to openly break with anyone.

Besides, everything was already settled; making trouble for this Miss Qu now would be no different from making trouble for Weijin himself. Better, then, to put on as gracious a face as possible.

Thinking this, she suppressed the resentment in her heart and put on a most amiable smile, looking Qin Yao over warmly as she said to Lin Xiao, “Weijin, your new bride really is lovely. The moment your aunt saw her, she took to her right away — no wonder you went specially to your imperial uncle to beg for this marriage. I hear her father is the Court Astrologer — would the family name be Qu?”

Lin Xiao had been staring at Xia Di with an expressionless face. Hearing Derong’s words, he led Qin Yao forward to greet Duke Wei and Princess Derong properly, saying with a faint smile, “In answer to Aunt’s question, my wife’s family name is indeed Qu.”

His manner was neither warm nor cold, but utterly correct, leaving nothing for anyone to fault.

Watching this, Qin Yao smiled as well, bowing respectfully to Duke Wei and Princess Derong. “Greetings, Seventh Uncle, Seventh Aunt.”

Duke Wei stroked his beard and nodded. Derong stepped forward herself to help Qin Yao up, patting the back of her hand with a smile. “From now on we’re all one family. If you have nothing to do at home, come visit our residence often.”

Though Xia Di appeared to be looking elsewhere, she had been watching Qin Yao’s every move all along. Hearing her mother’s words, the hand resting at the side of her robe tightened unconsciously.

Qin Yao answered politely. Ever since the attack at Dayin Temple, she had held only one attitude toward the Xia family — respectful distance — and toward Xia Di, who had schemed against her, she felt nothing short of loathing. Had she not married Lin Xiao, she would not have wanted any dealings with the Xia family for the rest of her life, let alone visiting often.

Without a trace of obvious intent, Lin Xiao drew Qin Yao behind him, saying to Derong and Duke Wei, “It’s getting late. Father already went into the palace earlier — we should head in too.”

Xia Yuan had been standing quietly behind her mother. At Lin Xiao’s words, she covered her mouth with a handkerchief and gave a small cough, stepping forward to take her mother’s arm, saying softly, “Mother, it’s so windy out here, my head starts to ache if I stand in it too long.”

Derong said hastily, “Look at me, so caught up in greeting everyone that I forgot you haven’t fully recovered yet. Very well, let’s stop talking here and go in.”

Xia Di, who had not said a single word the whole time, strode off without so much as a backward glance, the first to head into the palace.

Princess Derong and the rest followed after.

Lin Xiao watched Xia Di’s retreating back coolly, not a trace of warmth in his eyes. After a long moment, his expression eased, and he turned to Qin Yao, saying gently, “Let’s go too.”

Qin Yao nodded and walked alongside him. After a while, something occurred to her, and she asked quietly, “When we see the Emperor in a moment, is there anything I should be careful not to say?”

Lin Xiao turned to look at her. Although she was clearly trying hard to stay calm, her expression still betrayed a hint of nervousness — no doubt this was her first time dealing with the Emperor, and she felt somewhat unsure of herself.

A wave of tenderness rose in Lin Xiao’s heart. He stopped walking and, using the cover of his sleeve, gave her hand a squeeze, saying gently, “Don’t be afraid. My imperial uncle rarely gives the younger generation a hard time. Whatever he asks, just answer honestly.”

Qin Yao’s heart settled. She tilted her head, thought it over, then said with a smile, “All right, I’ll just say as little as possible and act demure.” Lin Xiao couldn’t help but laugh, giving her nose a gentle pinch. “You’re already demure by nature — there’s no need to act it. Besides, with me here, what is there to be afraid of?”

Once inside the palace, the Emperor, Consort Yi, and the others were indeed already waiting.

The Emperor watched with a smile as Lin Xiao and Qin Yao finished their bows, studying Qin Yao with evident satisfaction. He bestowed a pair of jade qilin on her, saying with a laugh, “A fine son, a fine wife — may you live in mutual respect and harmony.”

Consort Yi also lavished praise on Qin Yao, gifting her a set of ruby headpieces.

Princess Derong and her husband gave a pair of mutton-fat jade bracelets.

As the father-in-law, Prince Lan could hardly join in praising his own daughter-in-law along with everyone else. He simply stood by, stroking his beard with a smile as he watched the handsome pair. Though glad at heart, he felt a touch of sorrow as well, thinking of how Weijin’s mother had passed away so early, never living to see her son’s wedding with her own eyes. Otherwise, who knew how happy she would have been today.

As his thoughts wandered, they slid unbidden to Cui Shi, and a wave of revulsion rose up in him like scum floating to the surface, as unpleasant as swallowing a fly. He hurriedly lifted his teacup and drank, forcing down the angry heat building in his chest.

Lin Xiao then led Qin Yao to pay her respects to the Crown Prince and Prince Wu.

Since neither of them was yet married, the gifts they had prepared weren’t the usual jewelry exchanged between married women. The Crown Prince gave a small glass screen painted with flowers and birds — only three or four inches tall, the flowers and birds inside lifelike, their colors shifting depending on the angle one viewed it from, a truly ingenious piece. Though too small to stand on the floor like an ordinary screen, set upon a desk or vanity it had its own particular charm.

Prince Wu, who excelled at painting and calligraphy, gave an authentic landscape painting by a great master of the previous dynasty.

Each gift was not only precious but thoughtfully chosen. As Qin Yao went through the rounds of greeting relatives, smiling and offering thanks, she found the whole business more exhausting than days of demon-hunting with her master.

As the younger sister, Kangping had not prepared a gift for Qin Yao; instead, Lin Xiao, on Qin Yao’s behalf, gave Kangping a miniature gold-threaded bow and arrows — small enough only for shooting birds, incapable of harming a person — yet Kangping was overjoyed all the same, laughing as she thanked Qin Yao warmly.

After the introductions were complete, Qin Yao and Lin Xiao stayed in the palace for a meal.

By the time they returned to Prince Lan’s manor, it was already past noon.

Prince Lan had always kept the habit of an afternoon nap; the moment he entered the manor, he went straight to Pear White Residence to rest.

Qin Yao watched Prince Lan’s retreating figure and thought to herself that her father-in-law was really quite easy to get along with. Give him a quiet, comfortable place where he could compose poetry without distraction, and he’d form his own little world, undisturbed by the outside, and disturbing no one in turn.

Lin Xiao brought Qin Yao back to Siru Studio, where Nanny Wen led a group of servants to attend to them as they washed their hands and faces and changed into everyday clothes.

The two of them sat facing each other on the couch by the window, drinking tea, a small table between them laden with various sweets. Qin Yao picked up a preserved plum to eat and asked Lin Xiao, “Are you off duty these next few days?”

Lin Xiao was dressed in a brocade robe the color of sea meeting sky, his hair held with nothing but a single white jade hairpin, looking both refined and noble. At her question, he set down his teacup and looked at Qin Yao. “Three days off. Tomorrow I’ll go with you for your first visit back to your family’s home, and after that I’ll return to the palace for my rotation.”

Qin Yao knew that Lin Xiao held an important post and couldn’t take much time off — three days was probably already pushing it. But still, being newly married, she couldn’t help privately wishing he could stay home with her a little longer.

Of course, this was something to keep to herself; she would never say it aloud, lest it affect Lin Xiao’s mood at work.

“When you’re on rotation, do you have to stay in the palace the whole night?” she asked, curious.

Lin Xiao paused with the teacup halfway to his lips and looked at Qin Yao, a hint of apology in his eyes. “Yes. If it’s my turn to lead the night patrol, I have to stay in the palace the whole night.”

Qin Yao didn’t dare let disappointment show on her face. She only nodded, popped a piece of purple-dragon cake into her mouth, and changed the subject with a smile. “This is really good. The sweets here at the manor are no worse than Debao Pastry Shop’s.”

Lin Xiao hesitated a moment, then rose and pulled Qin Yao into his arms, saying in a low voice, “Whenever I’m not on duty, I’ll be home with you.”

Qin Yao wrapped her arms around his waist and laughed softly into his chest. “Do I seem like the kind of person who absolutely needs to be accompanied? Just go do your duty with an easy mind — I’ll take good care of myself. Of course, if one day I get bored and want to go out, I’ll let you know ahead of time or something, and you’re not allowed to keep me cooped up.”

She knew well enough that this was said for nothing — Lin Xiao had always known how to respect her; he would never restrict her movements.

With one of them sitting and the other standing, Qin Yao’s head was level with Lin Xiao’s chest. As they talked, her hair brushed unintentionally against the thin fabric of his robe, and soon she noticed a change come over his body.

The change was too obvious to ignore. Even if she hadn’t understood such things before, after last night she certainly knew what it meant now.

She pushed him away and retreated further onto the couch, both embarrassed and exasperated, saying with a laugh, “You — you’re at it again! Let me tell you, don’t — don’t go getting any bad ideas. It’s still broad daylight!”

Lin Xiao, suppressing a laugh, reached out and caught her, pulling her into his arms, his face the picture of innocence. “What bad ideas? Spell it out for me.”

Qin Yao was still struggling, laughing as she protested, “As if I need to spell it out — you know perfectly well.”

Lin Xiao simply scooped her up sideways and carried her toward the bed, nipping at her ear, laughing low. “Good Yaoyao, since you understand so well, why not just give yourself to me, then.”