By the time he reached the Small Courtyard of the Wei Residence, the night was deep, and the courtyard lay dark and still.
Only the bare branches of the Jujube Tree swayed gently in the wind. Now and then, accumulated snow rustled to the ground, its faint sound clearly audible.
Cui Fu secured the carriage and tiptoed back to his room.
Qu Niang, who had gone to the Feng Residence earlier, was now in the main room.
When she saw Wei Nisheng enter, she rose and took a letter from her sleeve.
"Young master, Miss Feng had someone deliver this."
Wei Nisheng accepted it. As his fingertips touched the paper, he paused slightly.
It was finest-quality Chengxin Hall paper, delicately textured, with a faint hidden pattern.
On the envelope were the words, "For Young Master Wei's eyes only."
The handwriting was graceful, every stroke carefully formed, as though she had traced it several times before daring to put brush to paper.
"It's dark now. You should get some rest too," Wei Nisheng said, raising his head to Qu Niang.
Qu Niang answered with a smile, then returned to her room.
The study.
Wei Nisheng stepped beneath the lamplight, broke the seal, and drew out the letter to unfold it.
The paper had been folded with meticulous care, and writing filled the page.
The graceful handwriting in the first half carried a touch of childishness. Its rounded strokes made it unmistakably a woman's hand.
The corners of Wei Nisheng's mouth lifted slightly, and he began reading in a low voice.
[To Wei Zi'an:
Eunuch Wang came to our residence today to proclaim the imperial decree. His Majesty granted us a betrothal inscription in his own hand, and everyone in the household was delighted.
Father and Mother were overjoyed.
Father drank