On the seventeenth day of the third month in Jinghe Year Sixteen, the jujube leaves in the Wei Residence's little courtyard were freshly green, the sun warm and the breeze gentle.
Wei Nisheng was home on his day off, reviewing no documents and receiving no visitors.
He merely sprawled on a couch with a book laid over him, slept soundly until he woke naturally, then went to sit quietly in the study, gazing out the window.
"Husband." Fu Niang came in carrying tea and smiled with pursed lips at the sight of him.
"You're holding your book upside down."
"Nonsense." Wei Nisheng glanced down. Sure enough, it was upside down.
Unfortunately, he turned it right side up without a flicker of embarrassment. "Reading upside down has its own peculiar charm."
"Yes, yes, of course." Fu Niang approached with a smile and set the tea on the desk. Suddenly, she took a letter from her sleeve and waved it before his eyes.
"Guess what this is."
"What?"
"A letter from home in Hangzhou." Fu Niang's eyes sparkled. "My elder brother sent it."
"Oh?" Wei Nisheng reached for it. "Let me see."
"No." Fu Niang drew back her hand, hiding the letter with a smile. "Drink your tea first."
Wei Nisheng shook his head with a chuckle, lifted the tea, and took a sip. "Can I have it now?"
Only then did Fu Niang hand him the letter. Rather than leave, she went around to his side and stood on tiptoe to look.
"Why stand so far away?" Wei Nisheng slipped an arm around her waist and gently drew her into his embrace, settling her on his lap.
"We'll read it together."
"Wh-what are you doing..." Fu Niang's face flushed crimson, and she struggled to rise.
"In broad daylight, beneath a