Jinghe Fourteenth Year, November 30. No snow. A day off.
After days of overcast skies and snow, the weather finally cleared.
Thin sunlight fell sparsely through the bare jujube branches.
The small courtyard at the Wei Residence.
Wei Nisheng stood beneath the covered walkway, having made a rare change into informal clothes, with a Crane Cloak draped over them.
His hair was secured with a Silver Hairpin, and a plain cord was tied around his waist.
Fu Niang wore a honey-blend padded jacket, its collar trimmed with a dense fringe of white rabbit fur.
Over it, she wore short sandalwood Raccoon-Fur Sleeves edged with squirrel fur, with part of her Tulip Skirt showing beneath.
A Lying-Rabbit Hat perched on her head, making her little face look carved from jade.
At that moment, she was crouching beneath the jujube tree, stirring the thin layer of snow on the ground with her fingers.
She muttered something, her white breath blowing a small hollow in the snow before her.
Qingluo stood behind her, holding a Bed Warmer and watching with a smile.
"Young master, the carriage is ready."
Just then, Cui Fu poked his head through the gate and said with a broad grin,
"The weather's lovely today. A new temple fair has opened in the west of the city. It's bustling!"
Wei Nisheng was about to nod when hurried footsteps sounded outside the courtyard gate.
A boy in his early teens ran in, panting, with a visiting card held in his hand. He bowed to Wei Nisheng and said,
"Lord Wei, Lord Wang of the Censorate sent me to deliver this visiting card."
Wei Nisheng took the card and opened it. Wang Kan's neat, upright handwriting read,
[To my esteemed brother Zi'an: I, Kan, shall visit your residence at noon for