I also offered a graceful bow before following Wei Qingming back to the calligraphy and painting stall. As soon as we reached the proprietor, the panic and anxiety on the young boy’s face vanished instantly. He reached out toward Wei Qingming with a beaming smile, asking for a reward. Only then did I realize that even the child’s arrival to demand payment for the painting had been a calculated ruse. I felt a mix of amusement and a burgeoning warmth in my heart.
Wei Qingming gave him a few spirit crystal fragments and unfurled the painting to examine it closely, though she frequently squinted at me with a smile. Seeing the grin at the corners of her mouth deepen, and feeling the weight of that meaningful gaze, I grew self-conscious. I gave her a light shove and glared. “You could have just pretended not to see them. Why did you have to go over and exchange pleasantries? And carrying a painting around—what kind of refined scholar are you trying to play?”
She actually laughed out loud, though her voice remained casual as she asked, “If you know it’s an act, why do you still care so much? Are you really going to be jealous of your own past self?”
“I do care, and I will be jealous!” I retorted righteously, snatching the painting from her hands to look at it myself. Having teased me enough and knowing that further prodding would lead to genuine exasperation, the Commander simply pursed her lips in a smile and said no more.
Li Sixun was a true scion of the Tang imperial clan, renowned in his time for his illustrious military achievements, yet his paintings were incredibly delicate. As I was carefully studying the unique, fine-lined brushwork and the brilliant blue-and-green mineral pigments characteristic of the Li father and son, I heard her speak softly. “Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve. I have to visit the Wen family in the evening.”
Her voice was full of apology and reluctance. I understood, however; she hadn't returned to the capital in six years, and by grandly announcing her presence to bring me to the gathering of her peers a month ago, it would be unseemly not to pay her respects to the Wen family, who had raised her with such kindness. As for me, with my awkward status, I naturally could not accompany her to see the Old Matron Wen.
I had long since reconciled myself to this. I smiled and said, “I’ve already prepared the New Year’s gifts for you. When we get back, have Hong Lu find Muyu to collect them from the storehouse.” Seeing her remain silent, I added, “It’s really nothing. I’ll have a whole family accompanying me! Just come back early after you’ve finished your kowtows.”
“Mm, alright.” Only then did she smile, reaching out to pat my head. “It is just that I am loath to spend the New Year’s Eve vigil without A-Zhi. This is, after all...”
“Our first New Year!” I reached up with both hands, cupping her face and rubbing her cheeks playfully to smooth away the underlying worry. “We must spend it happily!”
“You two,” the stall owner said impatiently, “are you buying the painting or not?”
I stuck out my tongue, stuffed the scroll back into her hands, and said with a giggle, “I won’t disturb your appreciation of the arts,” before bolting off to browse elsewhere. Behind me, I heard Lu Kaifeng laugh and say, “We should buy it regardless.” With that, he generously produced the coin...
In the evening, the Commanders and Chiliarchs of Yingzhao Temple gathered for a vegetarian feast. This was the final assembly before the year’s end, a time not only to summarize everyone’s merits for the year and receive rewards from the Inner Court but also to receive personal gratuities from Mr. Feng. The subordinates of the Commanders looked forward to this day all year. Usually, aside from their meager official stipends, their income depended entirely on how generous their particular superior was. This year-end bonus, however, was a fixed sum, nearly equivalent to half a year’s salary for a fifth-rank capital official. However, judging by the remark Chu Jiangheng had left before departing, the assembly would still involve official business; the distribution of rewards for merit would likely wait until the very end.
Back at home, I was also overwhelmed with work. Many dishes for tomorrow’s New Year’s Eve feast had to be started now. As for the sacrifices for the gods, the paper-cuts for the windows, the candies and snacks for the children, the Zhong Kui talismans, the peach-wood charms for the doors, the "Welcoming Spring" plaques, and the little pouches for "lucky money"—dozens of items in total—Muyu had overseen the preparation of everything. She led me around to inspect it all until my eyes grew dizzy.
“That’s enough!” I said, feeling that things were finally settled. I waved a hand. “This is fine. Everything is ready—”
Before I could finish, Yanhui and Lanrao entered the storehouse, each carrying a thick stack of ledgers. As Muyu deactivated the seals to open the inner chamber door, she said, “The Miss needs to review the New Year’s gift list one more time.”
I stared at the mountain of shimmering, golden treasures, feeling my vision go dark. I even felt that rolling in a pile of money wasn't so joyful after all...
The snow began to fall again. At first, it was just thin wisps drifting like willow catkins, but it gradually turned into swirling, heavy flakes. This world of cold, flying blossoms reflected the lights of every household in the dark night, taking on a touch of warmth.
The snow suddenly became so thick and heavy that the fragile tips of the plum and pear trees in the courtyard could no longer bear the weight. Many snapped with occasional crisp cracks. Muyu and I sat by the sound of those intermittent snaps, reviewing ledgers and account books while sipping tea and chatting.
Near the hour of the Rooster, I finally heard the sound of several people treading through the wind and snow. Their footsteps were light and hurried, carrying an air of joy. Outside the courtyard gate, Wei Qingming’s voice drifted through the storm, sounding more elegant and affectionate than usual. “The year’s business is concluded. Tell the brothers to enjoy themselves tomorrow; there is no need to come here.”
Chiliarchs Zhou and Yuan laughed heartily in agreement. Hong Lu smiled and said, “A watch must still be kept, but it has already been arranged.”
“Our Master earned the most merit this year. To be able to follow the Master is the greatest fortune of my life!” Chiliarch Zhou said happily. “Even Master Hou cannot compare...”
Chiliarch Yuan hurriedly nudged him, and only then did Chiliarch Zhou fall silent, though he was still beaming. Wei Qingming shook her head. “You must not say such things. Brother Hou was burdened with the duty of guarding the Palace City and simply had no time for other matters.” Her tone softened further, carrying a hint of a smile. “It is because all of you braved the wind and rain, risking your lives, that we have reached where we are today. I shall continue to rely on you in the future. I shall host a drink for everyone on the fifth day of the new year.”
The men cheered and thanked her in unison. “We wish the Master a Happy New Year! May all things go as you wish, and may you have peace, health, and boundless fortune!”
“Good,” Wei Qingming laughed. “Take care, brothers. I will see you after the New Year.”
“Take care, Master,” Luo Cheng added.
The four of them walked off, shoulders together, chatting and laughing. They likely had a long-planned drinking session ahead of them tonight. The year’s tense duties were finally over, and I was infected by their joy. Without even stopping to put on extra clothes, I grabbed an umbrella and ran out.
“Miss!” Muyu quickly set down the tea she was brewing and followed with a heavy cloak.
Wei Qingming had just opened the courtyard gate. Before she could step inside, she saw me running toward her excitedly with the umbrella. She was charmed by the wide smile on my face, but her brow furrowed when she noticed I was only wearing a thin, half-worn everyday jacket. She casually pulled open the black fox-fur cloak draped over her shoulders. Thus, the place I rushed into was her warm, fragrant embrace.
She took the opportunity to wrap me inside the cloak, holding me against her side. She leaned down to whisper in my ear, “What’s the rush? It’s cold out.”
I struggled to hold the umbrella high to cover her head, giggling. “My family’s Commander is on holiday!”
She smiled. “A-Zhi is even happier than I am.”
She carried me into the house wrapped like that. Muyu followed silently for a few steps, clutching the cloak in her arms, then tactfully withdrew.
As soon as we pushed open the bedroom door, Wei Qingming remarked, “What a fresh scent. Did you move a cypress tree indoors?”
“You really have the nose of a hound!” I laughed, pulling her by the hand past layers of screens to our innermost living quarters. In the center stood a large vase holding a meticulously pruned cypress branch. On a side table sat a spread of golden-yellow and reddish-orange fruits—round, plump persimmons and tangerines. The pine nuts Muyu and I had been snacking on while checking the accounts hadn't been cleared away yet, and the tea was still steaming warmly.
“I thought you wouldn't be back until after midnight,” I said with a smile. “I was planning to make this ‘All Things Auspicious’ decoration with Muyu to wait for you.”
Cypress (*Bai*), Persimmon (*Shi*), and Tangerine (*Ju/Ji*) were used to invoke the auspicious phrase *Baishi Ji*—"May a hundred matters be auspicious." This was a small decoration every household had for the New Year, usually bought ready-made: a small bundle of cypress twigs adorned with dried persimmons and stuck into a tangerine. They were quite cute on a table. Seeing that we had plenty of cypress trees in the garden, I had a sudden whim to use a whole branch to make a half-person-tall arrangement. Since we had fresh persimmons shipped from the south, there was no need for dried ones.
Wei Qingming smiled and sat with me at the table. We picked out persimmons and tangerines, tied them with colorful silk ribbons, and carefully fastened them to the cypress branch. In her hands, the verdant cypress leaves and the dripping orange-red fruits looked even more beautiful. It was hard to resist eating them, so I peeled a persimmon and started snacking.
She was patiently trimming a few spots on the cypress branch with scissors. When she looked up and saw my cheeks bulging as I ate the persimmon, her eyes crinkled into a smile. She leaned over and kissed the corner of my mouth. Only then did I realize I had persimmon juice on my face.
“A-Zhi...” she murmured my name.
The snow continued to fall. These beautiful flying blossoms that blanketed the world would eventually fade; perhaps they would only reflect the dawn of tomorrow and would not last until the New Year’s sunset. Before my eyes, on my lips, and in my heart, her warmth was so precious. Sometimes I felt a lonely sense that happiness was always something borrowed. But wasn't she thinking the same thing? All we could do was enjoy the blossoms while they bloomed and love with all our hearts.
New Year’s Eve is a day belonging to the gods. Although our household usually ignored taboos, today we had to be a bit more particular and try to follow the rules. One must bathe after waking. The hot spring in the garden had long been prepared. As soon as I opened my eyes, I scrambled out of bed to claim the "first water," only to find that Zhu Yixin and Nie Xueqing were already soaking inside...
“Get down here!” I was still bending over by the edge of the pool to shed my clothes when Zhu Yixin swam to the shore with a mischievous grin. Without warning, she reached out a "black hand" toward my ankle, intending to yank me in. I had practiced martial arts for years, after all, and easily dodged her. However, the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind—the one who truly struck was Chief Nie from beneath the water, turning me completely into a drowned cat...
“Sister Qing!” I yelled in fury. “Taking advantage of someone in a vulnerable position! Bullying the small!”
“It’s because your kung fu isn't up to par!” Nie Xueqing chuckled.
The three of us splashed and pushed each other around while bathing, and I listened to them chat about matters of the heart. First, Zhu Yixin asked Nie Xueqing with a giggle, “Sister Qing, what are your plans for the New Year?”
“Plans? I have plenty,” Chief Nie said, pouring wine from a flask on a floating tray. She began to count them off. “For the northern business, I’ll open two more routes. In the south, I’ve recently acquired several carriage firms, inns, and pawnshops; I need to manage them well. There’s too much to do at the end of the year to find time for cultivation, so I’ll probably go into seclusion next summer...”
“Hey!” Zhu Yixin snatched the flask from her and poured the wine for her. “Sister, you know that’s not what I want to hear! Are you going back south after the New Year? What about my Eldest Brother?”
I pretended not to understand and chimed in with a smile, “Perfect, Eldest Brother is going back to the mountain anyway.”
Zhu Yixin glared at me. I made a face at her. Sister Qing smiled leisurely and said, “Let him be. I think things are quite good as they are now.” With that, she leaned back against a rock and stretched comfortably. “Marrying and taking a wife... it’s honestly too much trouble.”
This was indeed Sister Qing’s classic style. Zhu Yixin knew better than to press further, only saying, “I just feel a bit bad for Eldest Brother. He’s spent his whole life revolving around us; it’s as if he’s never considered himself. Everyone has their joys and sorrows, but I can never tell what he’s thinking. If he’s unhappy, who does he talk to?”
Hearing this, Nie Xueqing sat up straight and nodded. “Fine. If he truly has intentions toward me, I will not fail him.”
Zhu Yixin and I said in unison, “What? He hasn't expressed anything?”
“No.” Nie Xueqing shrugged, possessing the air of "if he’s not in a hurry, I’m certainly not."
Zhu Yixin and I looked at each other, both thinking: *Is this what middle-aged romance looks like?*
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
百事吉 | All Things Auspicious | A New Year decoration made of cypress (bai), persimmons (shi), and tangerines (ju/ji), forming a pun on "a hundred matters being auspicious."
碎灵晶 | Spirit crystal fragments | A form of currency in this Xianxia setting.
李思训 | Li Sixun | A famous Tang Dynasty painter known for the "gold and green" landscape style.
英招寺 | Yingzhao Temple | The organization/bureau Wei Qingming serves in.
令使 | Commander | A high-ranking title/rank within Yingzhao Temple.
千总 | Chiliarch | A military rank, here a subordinate to the Commander.
内廷 | Inner Court | The inner part of the imperial palace.
钟馗 | Zhong Kui | A deity in Chinese mythology known as a vanquisher of ghosts and evil beings.
桃符 | Peach-wood charms | Traditional door decorations used to ward off evil.
压岁钱 | Lucky money | Money given to children in red envelopes during the Lunar New Year.
鸿陆 | Hong Lu | One of Wei Qingming's subordinates.
周、袁 | Zhou, Yuan | Surnames of two Chiliarchs under Wei Qingming.
罗成 | Luo Cheng | One of Wei Qingming's subordinates.
朱绎心 | Zhu Yixin | A female character close to the protagonist.
聂雪晴 | Nie Xueqing | A female character, referred to as "Chief" (Dandangjia), likely a leader of a merchant group or sect.
