The setting sun sank below the horizon.
Lights came on in the little courtyard in Twin Osmanthus Alley.
The plank bed in the main room had been dismantled and replaced with a redwood Canopied Bed, set against the inner corner and hung with pale blue mosquito netting; a dressing table with a standing bronze mirror had also appeared by the window.
The west wing had changed as well. All the old furniture had been thrown out and replaced with a brand-new desk, large bed, and chairs.
After bustling about and putting the room in order, Ye Jingtang sat at the desk facing the window. Looking at the moon outside, he still hadn't recovered from that afternoon's "fist technique to excite a villain."
By the time he finished learning the routine, he had practically felt out all of Third Madam's measurements. He didn't even know whether he had been learning martial arts or "learning a foreign language."
But that was the nature of hand-to-hand combat; physical contact was unavoidable. Calling it deliberate on Third Madam's part didn't quite fit either. After turning it over in his mind, all he could say was that Third Madam hadn't treated him as an outsider.
The courtyard was quiet. Niao Niao was very interested in the new bed, rolling back and forth across it and even grabbing the soft blanket to make a little nest beside the pillow, where the bird lay with claws pointing skyward to try it out.
After he had sat alone for a long while, voices finally came from the alley.
"Master's wife, why are you walking so slowly?"
"Oh. I was thinking about something. Your Brother Jingtang is back..."
Ye Jingtang gathered his wandering thoughts and looked up. Little Yunli, wearing a bamboo hat, ran in first. After a