Though the Yu household had seen better days, it was still an old and established family. The proper appearances were kept.

The steward had been waiting at the front gate well ahead of time. When he saw the carriage pull to a stop, he hurried forward and bowed low. “The young miss is feeling under the weather and cannot bear the cold air — she regrets being unable to come out and welcome you herself. We hope you will forgive her.”

“Her health comes first, of course.” Hua Zhi returned with a gentle smile. “I have come without a prior invitation. The intrusion is already mine.”

The steward bent even lower. “Not at all. When the young miss received your calling card, she was most pleased.”

Hua Zhi smiled once more and said nothing further. The situation inside the Yu household was unclear, and any unnecessary words would be out of place.

The steward led them to the inner gate and handed them over to the head housekeeper waiting there.

The housekeeper bowed as well. “This way, please. The young miss is already expecting you.”

“Thank you.”

The housekeeper raised an eyebrow, mildly surprised inwardly. This young lady’s gentle and courteous manner was quite unlike those the young miss usually associated with.

The courtyard was deep and quiet. They passed through covered walkways connecting one courtyard to the next, and at last entered the main courtyard of the third inner enclosure. Hua Zhi found this quietly curious. By the custom of respectable households, the third inner enclosure was where the female members of the family resided. Even if Weiwei had lived there before, once she had received a husband into the household, she ought to have moved into the second inner enclosure.

“Please, this way, miss.”

Hua Zhi gave the housekeeper a nod of acknowledgment and stepped through. Shaoye followed close behind Huahua, quietly heightening her vigilance.

Inside the main hall, Yu Weiwei — looking not at all her usual self — came forward to greet them. Hua Zhi swept a quick glance over the attendant maids standing at attention around the room, then smiled and stepped forward, pulling Yu Weiwei into an embrace. “Did you ever think I’d come back?”

Weiwei was visibly taken aback. Even from their brief acquaintance, she could tell that Hua Ling was not the sort to wear her feelings so openly.

She was about to speak when she heard a murmur near her ear, so quiet it was barely a breath. “Is it safe to talk?”

Weiwei understood at once. She gave a brief, quiet reply — no — then smiled and said aloud, “I never imagined it. When I received your card, I was absolutely astonished. I thought the chances of us ever meeting again were practically none.”

The two of them stepped apart. Hua Zhi drew Shaoye forward and made the introduction. “This is my elder female cousin, Ling Niang. She rarely goes out. I brought her along for a few days of amusement.”

Shaoye dipped into a shy curtsy. “Miss Yu, forgive the intrusion.”

This was a side of Shaoye that was rarely seen. Even knowing it was all an act, Hua Zhi couldn’t help looking at her a moment longer. Opportunities like this didn’t come twice.

Yu Weiwei returned the curtsy and made no acknowledgment of the scar on Shaoye’s face — the kind of mark that young women tended to find devastating. “Jinyang may not have much, but it has no shortage of amusements. Ling Niang, you must make the most of your time here.”

Shaoye nodded and said nothing, maintaining her persona as a woman of few words.

The maids brought fragrant tea, fresh fruit, and pastries, then took their places standing along the sides. Yu Weiwei lifted her tea cup and gently brushed aside the floating tea foam, then looked up with a light smile. “What brings you back to Jinyang all of a sudden? Could it be that you’ve been missing its pleasures?”

“I have a business venture that’s reached Jinyang. I came to see how things are going.” Seeing Weiwei’s look of surprise, Hua Zhi laughed. “Why that expression? Is there some rule that says I can’t be in business?”

“Honestly, I can’t picture you as a merchant. I always thought you must be the daughter of some great family in the capital — a bearing like yours can’t be faked.”

“Great families are sustained by people, and people cannot live without the basics of daily life. Those who call money vulgar surely have plenty of vulgar people around them handling all the vulgar matters on their behalf — which is what gives them the nerve to say such things with a straight face.”

Yu Weiwei burst out laughing. Seeing Hua Ling again was a surprise in every way. “I suppose I’m one of those people who calls money vulgar.”

“You’re young. Young people have every right to say such things.”

Yu Weiwei looked at her, at that girlish hairstyle, somewhat at a loss. “A young unmarried lady saying this to a woman who is already married — don’t you find that a little awkward?”

“The way I see it, it’s a young lady who already manages her own affairs, speaking to a newly married woman who has not yet begun to manage hers.”

“…That is absolutely a twisted argument. Yet somehow it makes perfect sense.”

“It simply is perfectly sensible.” Hua Zhi gave a light lift of her brow. “Yesterday, when I was out playing, I ran into Miss Wang. She mentioned you haven’t been feeling well. You do look a bit pale — what’s the matter?”

“Just a bit of a chill. I didn’t want to pass it on to her, so I didn’t see her. Did she complain to you about it?”

“Not a complaint — concern, more like. Now that you’re married, are you still able to go out?”

“Jinyang has no custom forbidding married women from going out. But with the cold weather as it is, I’m worried that going out might let in a draft and make things worse. So I’ve been staying in for now.” As if on cue, a maid came forward and draped a cape over Weiwei’s shoulders. Weiwei pulled it snug and asked, “How long are you able to stay this time?”

“I’m using the business as an excuse for a bit of a holiday, so I haven’t set a fixed date to return.” A trace of regret touched Hua Zhi’s expression. “I was actually hoping we might be able to go out and enjoy ourselves together.”

“You make it sound as if being a little under the weather means I’m bedridden.” Weiwei gave her a reproachful look. “I’m already on the mend. A few more days of rest and I should be well enough to go out. You absolutely cannot leave so soon.”

“Who’s thinking of leaving?” A voice came from the doorway. Hua Zhi, who had been keeping a close eye on Weiwei, caught the change instantly — the ease that had been on her face vanished in a breath. Every line of her body drew tight. That told Hua Zhi all she needed to know. She turned to look at the man who had just entered from outside.

He wore a robe of rich sapphire blue. His appearance was refined and handsome, his manner warm. He was the kind of face that women found easy to be drawn to. Weiwei had no one in her heart, and a young girl who had never been touched by any romantic feeling should, by all reason, have a favorable impression of such a husband. Yet in truth, she was on guard against him.

Turning these thoughts over quietly, Hua Zhi rose and dipped into a curtsy. The smile she had been wearing composed itself into something appropriately distant — the manner a person naturally takes with a stranger.

Yu Weiwei stood as well, the corners of her lips curving into what appeared to be a soft, faintly sweet smile. “This is my husband, Qi Qiu. Husband, this is a good friend of mine from the capital.”

Since Hua Ling was an unmarried young lady, Weiwei did not offer her given name.

The two exchanged courteous greetings, each observing every proper formality without the slightest lapse.

With the master of the household now present, Hua Zhi knew it would be inappropriate to linger. She rose to take her leave. “Then please do rest well. I won’t keep you.”

“But you haven’t promised me yet — no leaving until I’m better.”

Hua Zhi showed a trace of reluctance. “I can’t stay in Jinyang indefinitely…”

Weiwei turned to look at Qi Qiu. “Husband, didn’t the doctor say I’m nearly recovered? Surely I’ll be well enough to go out soon?”

Qi Qiu took her hand with a gentle tenderness. “The doctor said you still need to rest properly. With the weather this cold, going out and catching a draft could make things worse. Better to wait until you’re fully recovered.”

“Husband…”

“Be good.” Qi Qiu turned a look of apologetic embarrassment toward Hua Zhi. “It’s my fault for not taking good enough care of Weiwei — she’s been confined to bed for so many days now. Why don’t you stay in Jinyang a while longer? Weiwei may well be recovered by then.”

“I’ll do my best.” Hua Zhi dipped into a curtsy. “Then I will take my leave for now.”

Qi Qiu offered polite apologies with every courtesy. “Please forgive us for any lack of hospitality.”

“Not at all.” Her gaze swept briefly to Weiwei’s hand half-concealed beneath her sleeve — fingers curled into a fist. Hua Zhi and Shaoye took their leave together.