Outside the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, the sun slanted westward.
In the little garden beside the wall, crabapple blossoms weighed down the branches, pink and white blooms poised to fall.
Beneath the Corridor east of the hall entrance, the Scarlet Robe took on a layer of warm gold in the slanting sunlight.
Wei Nisheng stood there with his hands behind his back, silent, neither anxious nor impatient.
Wei Jing watched the crabapple petals fall and drift in the breeze before the steps.
Before long, a cheerful bustle sounded from inside the hall.
Princess Luyang's voice emerged first, carrying a smile.
"All right, all right, I won't see you out. Otherwise you'll call me a nag again."
Then came Fu Niang's soft reply. The palace attendants escorted her to the entrance, and she stepped over the threshold.
Seeing her emerge, Wei Nisheng took two steps out from beneath the Corridor, stopped before the stairs, and called out.
"Fu Niang."
Fu Niang looked up at his voice, startled at first, then smiling.
Sunset spread across the roof ridges; he stood beneath the covered walkway.
Under the crabapple blossoms, a young man waited for his wife.
Perhaps it was because their wedding date had been settled, or because this secluded part of the Palace was deserted, but Fu Niang grew unusually bold.
"My dear Wei!"
She waved and called out: my dear Wei.
The lingering blush on Fu Niang's face had yet to fade when fresh rosy clouds colored it.
Then she ran up to Wei Nisheng with quick little steps and smiled brightly.
"Why are you waiting here like this?
I thought you'd be like Grandpa, talking business for ages, leaving me to..."
Before Fu Niang could finish, Wei Nisheng cut in.
"Because I'm 'Wei Punctual'!"
"With my future