Jinghe Year Fifteen, the fourth day of the fourth month. Clear skies.
As the first morning light broke through, the palace gates opened one after another.
Wei Nisheng boarded the carriage outside the Feng Residence. Fu Niang was already seated inside.
She wore a goose-yellow, wide-sleeved gauze gown with subtle floral patterns worked in gold, beneath a long silver-red Beizi adorned with gilded trailing vines. A plain silk chest wrap showed faintly at her neckline.
Her hair was arranged in a Twin Coiled Phoenix-and-Luan Bun, adorned with a gold filigree dangling hairpin set with pearls.
Two seasonal Crimson Peach Silk Flowers nestled at an angle beside her temples, and pure-gold earrings set with southern pearls hung from her ears.
A jeweled collar encircled her neck, and matching silver bracelets wound with fine wire graced her wrists.
The slightest lift of her hand sent out a delicate jingling, lending an even more refined nobility to her little face, already soft and fair as spring snow.
Fu Niang usually dressed simply.
Seeing her adorned like this today left Wei Nisheng momentarily stunned.
"What are you looking at?"
Under his gaze, the tips of Fu Niang's ears reddened slightly. She turned her head aside, feigning displeasure.
"Do you think I haven't dressed well enough?"
"I think you've dressed too well."
Wei Nisheng sat down opposite her. The carriage curtain fell, shutting out the spring sunshine.
"So well I hardly dare recognize you."
"Nonsense." Fu Niang chided him softly, but could not suppress the smile at her lips.
Then she reached up to straighten her cuffs, glanced down at her skirt, and said softly,
"Last night... I barely slept at all."
Wei Nisheng did not tease her. He merely reached out and covered the back of her hand where it rested on her knee.