Qiao Songlin and I were vastly different in height, build, and martial style, and we had even used contrasting colors to distinguish ourselves. It should have been easy to tell us apart, yet from everyone’s reactions, it seemed no one had realized we had been swapped! It truly was a contest of illusions; I hadn’t even realized when I myself had fallen under his spell.
Zhu Yixin was still making a "shame on you" gesture at me, thinking she was mocking him. "You can’t even beat Azhi! For shame, for shame!"
Just as he reached her, Qiao Songlin pulled back his hood to reveal his true face. Zhu Yixin’s breath hitched, and she nearly choked.
He swept the persimmon from the tip of his sword, and its juice dripped into a bowl he conjured out of thin air, transforming into a light rice wine which he handed to her. So that was where the wine was!
Zhu Yixin took a sip, then frowned. "Even the wine is fake? This is just water!"
"In business, one should aim for a steady stream," Qiao Songlin said calmly. "Don't always expect the God of Wealth to shower you with gold from the heavens."
Zhu Yixin was so incensed she threw the bowl of water at him, and we all burst into laughter.
When it was Eldest Brother’s turn, he didn't use any illusions. Instead, following our customs from south of the Yuan River, he affectionately released a dozen sky lanterns to pray for blessings. Finally, it was Lu Lingfeng’s turn for the grand finale. We were all on edge, fearing she might mimic Zhu Yixin’s "Ten Thousand Galloping Horses" with a "Ten Thousand Wailing Ghosts." Instead, she stepped forward and, with a stoic expression, summoned a circular mirror.
The mirror erupted in brilliant light, projecting a massive silhouette that slowly materialized in the air, growing clearer by the second.
Both Zhu Yixin and I were stunned. Without thinking, Zhu Yixin blurted out, "Second Sister, you’ve really outdone yourself. You actually dared to conjure Master? You’re playing a dangerous game!"
"Hmm?" the figure said leisurely, a mischievous smirk on her face. "Who said anything about playing games?"
"Ahhh!" Zhu Yixin shrieked in terror. "Master? Is it really you?"
While we were all caught in a daze of shock, Nie Xueqing was the first to speak, offering a polite smile. "Perfected One Huan, a Happy New Year to you!"
"Head of the Nie Family, Happy New Year," Master replied with a rare moment of solemnity before asking sneakily, "Do my dear disciples miss their master? How does it feel to live off the wealthy in the capital?"
We stared up at that beautiful, massive face that took up half the sky, and no one answered her. Only Lu Kaifeng spoke gently, "The disciples are all well. Is Master settling in comfortably at the Chief Chieftain’s residence?"
"It’ll do, it’ll do." Master’s expression was anything but "settling"; her smile grew even more radiant. "At the start of the new year, you disciples must strive in your cultivation and make great progress, so that on behalf of your master..."
Before she could finish, fireworks suddenly erupted in the sky. Amidst the loud crackling, her nonsense about "raking in more money for Master" was completely drowned out, leaving her words a muffled blur. Another figure appeared on the horizon, brushing past Master’s phantom and soaring through the brilliant light and shadow.
Wei Qingming, riding a Snow-winged Cloud Qilin, flew in from outside the garden. With a meaningful, faint smile on her lips, she landed with effortless grace. Not a moment sooner, not a moment later—she had interrupted Master’s lecture right on cue. This woman had absolutely done it on purpose.
I now understood profoundly: when it came to acting suave, no one surpassed Lord Wei. Furthermore, Master had played a trick on her when we returned to the mountain; though she didn't say it, she certainly held a grudge!
One of Master’s eyes was as large as half a house. She glared straight at Wei Qingming but couldn't quite find a way to lash out. Her eyes darted around before she said snidely, "So it’s my son-in-law. Hello there! Why didn't I see you just now?"
"I went to my maternal grandfather’s house to pay New Year greetings and have only just returned." Wei Qingming produced a cup of wine with a flick of her wrist, filled it, and offered a toast. "I pray from afar for the Perfected One’s health and eternal peace."
Master gave a cold snort of disdain.
Wei Qingming was not bothered. She drained the cup herself and continued, "The gifts I prepared were delivered to the Chief Chieftain’s wife a few days ago. I expect the Perfected One will receive them shortly."
Upon hearing there were gifts, Master’s expression visibly softened, though she still huffed and did not respond. Just then, a servant called out from her end, "Perfected One Huan! The fireworks from the foot of the mountain—they say you set them off for us! When they burst, they’re full of gold and jewels..."
"Children, see you next year!" Master didn't even wait for the servant to finish. She tossed out a hasty farewell and vanished instantly to go scavenge for treasure.
Zhu Yixin covered her mouth and laughed. "So the real God of Wealth is right here."
Well-acquainted with Master’s temperament, everyone shared a knowing smile.
I sidled up to Wei Qingming, my smile blooming like a flower. "Why are you back so early? I thought I wouldn't see you until next year at the earliest."
"I brought you the New Year’s money from my grandmother." As she spoke, Wei Qingming took a pair of gold and silver ingots from a small red-and-gold pouch for herself, then tied the pouch shut and handed it to me. She squinted with a smile. "After all, it is gold and silver. Once it’s warmed in my pocket, I find it hard to give away."
She even remembered my gratitude and attachment to Old Madam Wen. Clutching the pouch containing a pair of ingots identical to the ones in her hand, my heart felt sweet. I scolded her playfully, "You big tycoon, always teasing! Where do you get all these mischievous words?"
"Hey, hey, hey!" Zhu Yixin and Nie Xiaoyan, holding wine cups and a flask, shoved us apart with mischievous grins. "A-Qing hasn't finished her wine yet! It’s getting late; once we drink, we’re all heading back to our rooms!"
"Very well." Wei Qingming followed the flow, taking the cup and offering auspicious wishes with a gentle smile before draining it.
Everyone exchanged toasts with her, and the New Year’s Eve dinner finally came to an end as we went our separate ways. Muyu set out tea and late-night snacks in our room before taking her leave.
"Is everyone in the Wen family well?" I asked. "And my brother? Has there been any news?"
"The Wen family is well. Grandmother is in good health. Although Minister Wen is slightly indisposed, it is merely an old ailment and nothing to worry about for now. As for that letter forged in your brother’s name, I am investigating it with Mr. Feng."
I kept finding things to ask just to keep the conversation going. Lord Wei answered in a few words, then looked at me and beckoned with a smile. "Come here."
"Hmm?" I blinked and obediently snuggled into her arms. She held me, leaning down to whisper softly in my ear, "There is no need to worry about anything. We will think about next year’s matters when next year comes." She added with an ambiguous lilt, "I slipped away from the feast early because I didn't want other matters to take up our time..."
The meaning behind her words seemed all too clear. Blushing, I poked her forehead lightly. "What improper things are you thinking about now?"
She let out a soft laugh and slowly raised her hand. My heart hammered against my ribs, fearing she was about to play another trick.
Instead, the Lord Envoy simply held her hand out in the air as if to cast a spell. I watched for several breaths, but nothing happened. She seemed a bit surprised herself and frowned.
I grew nervous, thinking her internal injuries might be acting up, when a small cluster of illusory fireworks bloomed in her hand. Once the light faded, a tiny fish scale floated in her palm. One look and I understood—it was the Sinking Gold Scale, a rare treasure necessary for Huanzhen’s advancement. Looking back at her beaming face, there was no trace of the surprise from a moment ago; she had clearly been teasing me again.
"There were some complications in sending people to find it. It only arrived an hour ago; I almost didn't make it in time," she said. "However, the quality of this piece is excellent. I suppose good things come to those who wait."
This item was incredibly rare; Master had searched for four or five years without success. Just as I was wondering how to thank her, she smiled and placed the Sinking Gold Scale in my palm, speaking first. "Are you going to thank me? It is I who should thank Azhi for always being by my side."
I buried my face in the crook of her neck so she wouldn't see that I was close to tears, and said playfully, "Oh dear, I’m the one who came empty-handed. Who told you to have a birthday on the Lantern Festival? They’re just too close together."
This time, she was truly surprised. She held me tighter. "The fifteenth of the first lunar month... I truly haven't remembered that birthday for many years." Then, she narrowed her eyes and looked down at me, feigning dissatisfaction. "One can be punished for multiple crimes at once, but one cannot give multiple gifts at once?"
I giggled triumphantly and spread my hands like a rogue. "There is nothing for today!"
"Hmm..." She nodded. "It seems you won't confess unless I use force." She reached out as if to search me, but in truth, she was trying to tickle me. I wouldn't let her have her way, and after a bout of laughing and playing, we both tumbled onto the couch, nearly knocking over the table full of candies and preserves.
The atmosphere was becoming increasingly charged. I wondered distractedly if this counted as disrespecting the gods, then figured I had already been muddled enough this morning—why not just let things take their course? Suddenly, firecrackers erupted outside the window. It wasn't the batch we had set off after dinner; Lord Wei had likely arranged this long ago.
She looked into my eyes and smiled. "Azhi, these past six months are the first time I’ve known what it means to be alive. Having you by my side is truly wonderful. In the new year..."
She paused briefly before continuing, "I am here for you."
Her voice was gentle and steady, causing all my worries to scatter. They were no longer needed; I felt only an immense sense of peace.
"Mm." I smiled back. "And I am here for you."
"Though someone came empty-handed..." Her words drifted between our lips, ethereal and light, "there are some gifts that can be given at any time..."
The next morning, the whole family gathered for breakfast. As soon as I stepped into the dining hall, I sensed something strange in the air. After observing for a while, I realized there was an awkwardness between Eldest Brother and the Head of the Nie Family... no, it was more accurate to say Eldest Brother was unilaterally avoiding her.
I found an opportunity to tug on Zhu Yixin’s sleeve. Before I could even ask, she cleared her throat and said, "We were supposed to stay up separately to see the New Year in, but after you two left, we gathered to play cards."
"And then?"
She cleared her throat again. "Everyone drank quite a bit. It seems Big Brother walked back to the courtyard with Sister Qing; their paths were partially the same, after all."
Hearing this, what was there left to misunderstand? I shook my head, stifling a laugh. "We should just pretend we don't know, right?"
On the morning of the New Year, the officials held a grand court assembly, and in the afternoon, they received foreign envoys. The Shiying Mission and the Imperial Grandson, who had been the talk of the capital lately, were finally going to meet the Emperor officially. According to the customs of previous years, Wei Qingming would go to the Beizhai residence around dinner time to pay New Year greetings to Mr. Feng. This time, naturally, I would go with her.
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
双柑斗酒 | Two Oranges and a Gallon of Wine | A literary allusion to enjoying spring scenery with simple refreshments.
百事吉 | All Things Auspicious | A decorative arrangement of fruits (persimmons and oranges) used for New Year blessings.
细水长流 | A Steady Stream | Literally "thin water flows long"; a metaphor for frugality or steady, long-term progress/relationships.
沅水 | Yuan River | A major river in Hunan province.
祈福明灯 | Sky Lanterns | Also known as Kongming lanterns, used for making wishes.
万马奔腾 | Ten Thousand Galloping Horses | A grand, powerful illusion or technique.
万鬼夜哭 | Ten Thousand Wailing Ghosts | A dark, frightening illusion or technique.
桓真人 | Perfected One Huan | Azhi's master. "Zhenren" is a title for a high-level Daoist cultivator.
雪翼云麒 | Snow-winged Cloud Qilin | A mythical auspicious beast used as a mount.
沉金鳞 | Sinking Gold Scale | A rare material needed for the advancement of Azhi's spirit beast/technique.
正旦 | New Year's Day | The first day of the lunar year.
大朝 | Grand Court Assembly | A formal gathering of officials on major holidays.
矢鹰 | Shiying / Arrow Eagle | Likely the name of a foreign tribe or kingdom (Arrow Eagle).
王太孙 | Imperial Grandson | The son of the Crown Prince; the Emperor's grandson and potential heir.
备斋 | Beizhai | The name of a residence or study.
