The day of Xiao Nanhui’s twentieth birthday was an ordinary one.
The Marquis of Qinghuai’s manor was sparsely populated, with only a few familiar faces to be seen. There was no grand celebration to speak of, but the old steward had ordered the kitchens to prepare her favorite spicy wide noodles first thing in the morning, waiting for her to wake before sending them over. Usually, after finishing her noodles, the General would present her with a gift. During times of war, the gift would be sent from the military camp; otherwise, it would be given in the small courtyard of the manor.
Her birthday fell on the ninth day of the fourth month, the time when the camellias in Que City were at their peak. Upon receiving her gift in the courtyard, she would mention how the golden camellias at Yongye Temple in the south of the city were in full bloom and invite the General to go and admire them. The General would then instruct the old steward to prepare a carriage, mentioning that they would return to the manor for dinner by dusk.
The General was not a strong drinker, yet wine was always served with dinner on this night. He would ask for a jar of Pear Blossom White, but she would quietly order it to be swapped for Cloud Leaf Fresh.
Cloud Leaf Fresh had a rich flavor and was not easy to get drunk on, yet the General managed to find himself intoxicated every year. Once drunk, he would pull her aside under the moonlight and whisper things until she instructed the steward to help him to his quarters. Thus, the day would end.
Xiao Nanhui opened her eyes. The scrolling branch patterns on the bed curtains above her seemed more vibrant than usual, as if trembling with anticipation.
Since arriving at the Marquis of Qinghuai’s manor fourteen years ago, she had spent every birthday this way. After more than a decade, she still looked forward to this day with the same fervor. When the day finally ended, she would begin a new countdown, hoping for the arrival of the next year’s celebration. If she could, she wished for the years to continue like this forever.
She took a deep breath, threw back the covers, and climbed out of bed.
That girl Bolao never woke this early; she wouldn't crawl out of bed until the sun was high in the sky. There were few maids or servants in the manor, so she handled her own washing and dressing—a habit she had grown accustomed to over the years.
Spring seemed to have arrived earlier than usual this year. The weather was warm enough to make one drowsy. Xiao Nanhui slurped her noodles with contentment, glancing toward the doorway from time to time, wondering why she hadn't seen Dujuan yet.
Dujuan was Xiao Zhun’s head maid. Her temperament was far better than Bolao’s, and she managed all the manor’s affairs, large and small, acting as a sort of assistant steward. Normally, Dujuan would have arrived with the gift by now.
A momentary distraction caused the chili oil to sting her throat. She began to cough, grabbing the teapot nearby to gulp down several mouthfuls of water. Through her tear-blurred vision, she saw a figure approaching from the distance, but it was not the silhouette of a woman.
The old steward, Chen Cai, walked briskly across the courtyard. He gave a hurried bow and said in a low voice, "The Marquis sent word. He was summoned by His Majesty early this morning and asks that the Young Miss does not wait for him. He also said there is no need for you to go to the camp today; you may make your own arrangements."
One "no need" after another. Xiao Nanhui suppressed the urge to cough, swallowing her confusion along with it.
"Thank you, Uncle Chen. I’ll head to Yanfu Street after I finish eating. If my foster father returns, please send someone for me."
Chen Cai nodded and withdrew. Xiao Nanhui stared at the half-finished bowl of steaming noodles, her appetite suddenly vanishing.
This year, her favorite play had not followed the script.
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 肖南回 | Xiao Nanhui | The female protagonist. |
| 青怀候府 | Qinghuai Marquis Manor | The residence of the Marquis of Qinghuai. |
| 阙城 | Que City | The city where the story is set. |
| 永业寺 | Yongye Temple | A temple known for its camellias. |
| 梨花白 | Pear Blossom White | A type of wine (Lihua Bai). |
| 云叶鲜 | Cloud Leaf Fresh | A type of wine (Yunye Xian). |
| 伯劳 | Bolao | Xiao Nanhui's maid (named after the Shrike bird). |
| 杜鹃 | Dujuan | Xiao Zhun's head maid (named after the Cuckoo bird). |
| 肖准 | Xiao Zhun | The Marquis of Qinghuai, Xiao Nanhui's foster father. |
| 陈偲 | Chen Cai | The old steward of the manor. |
| 燕扶街 | Yanfu Street | A street in the city. |
