By the time Wei Nisheng left the study, dusk was falling, and the lanterns beneath the Feng Residence's covered walkway had just been lit.
He was about to step down the stairs when, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a pale-yellow figure behind a pillar.
She was holding something and peeking around the pillar toward him.
"Fu Niang, I can see you."
"You're home today. Did the palace lady give you a day off?"
The little figure froze, then slowly, reluctantly edged out from behind the pillar.
She had changed clothes, replacing the pale-yellow outer jacket she had worn during the day with a moon-white short tunic.
Below it was a jade-green skirt, and her hair had not been dressed into a formal bun.
It was simply pinned up with a plain silver hairpin, a few loose strands hanging beside her ears.
"I... I didn't come looking for you." Before Wei Nisheng could speak, Fu Niang seized the initiative.
"Grandpa said he wanted some pastries. I-I brought them."
"My teacher asked for them?" Wei Nisheng looked at the pastries on the plate. "He didn't mention wanting pastries just now."
"Th-that's..." Fu Niang stammered. "That's because Grandpa forgot!"
"Anyway, anyway, I'm just here to deliver them!"
Without waiting for Wei Nisheng to react, she shoved the tray into his hands and turned to run.
"Fu Niang," Wei Nisheng called after her.
Fu Niang stopped and looked back.
"Did you make this mung bean soup?" he asked.
"No! Auntie Wang in the kitchen made it!"
"What about the osmanthus cake?"
"A-Auntie Wang made that too!"
Wei Nisheng smiled without exposing her lie.
He had eaten the osmanthus cake made by Auntie Wang at the Feng Residence before. Her pieces had never been cut this neatly.
Besides, Auntie Wang liked