Jinghe Year Fifteen, the twelfth day of the first month. Clear skies.
A bamboo chair stood beneath the jujube tree in the Wei Residence's small courtyard.
Fu Niang curled up on it, wrapped in a silvery-red cloak, with only her fair little face showing.
She cradled a steaming bowl of longan and red jujube soup, sipping it in small mouthfuls.
Today, she wore her hair in a low bun, adorned with just one Silver Hairpin.
A stray lock fell beside her ear, setting off the cloak's fur collar.
Though she had grown a little since before, alas...
She still looked like a sticky rice dumpling fresh from the steamer.
Before long, Qu Niang brought a plate of osmanthus cakes from the kitchen and set it on the little table beside Fu Niang.
"Miss Feng, these cakes are freshly steamed. Have some while they're hot."
Fu Niang glanced at them and shook her head slightly.
"I don't want any."
"What's wrong?" Qu Niang asked in surprise.
"Aren't pastries your favorite whenever you visit?"
Fu Niang pursed her lips and gave no answer, merely tucking her little face farther into her cloak's collar until only her almond-shaped eyes remained, gazing toward the courtyard gate.
Qu Niang followed her gaze.
The gate was tightly shut. Outside, all was silent, without a soul in sight.
Understanding dawned on Qu Niang, and she could not help smiling.
"Miss Feng, the young master has the day off. Since he said he would come, he certainly will. What are you so anxious about?"
"Who's anxious? I'm not anxious at all."
Fu Niang's muffled voice emerged from within her cloak's collar.
"I didn't come looking for him just because Father, Mother, and my brothers have all left!"
Qu Niang suppressed a laugh and, without exposing her, turned