Chapter 16

Qi Yunmiao returned to the Song family’s villa draped in Pei Ze’s heavy cloak.

The snow-white fox fur was thick and warm, yet far from light. Qi Yunmiao was petite; she had barely reached Pei Ze’s chest before, and now that he had grown taller, she looked even smaller beside him. Wrapped in his cloak, she resembled a clumsy little polar bear. Throughout the journey, if she didn't lift the hem, it would have dragged along the ground, becoming soiled. Thus, she had struggled quite a bit to make it back to the Song residence.

As soon as she entered the small courtyard she shared with Song Qingyu, she was greeted by a group of friends waiting for her. Song Xiao led the way, having waited for nearly half an hour. If Qi Yunmiao hadn't returned, he would have assumed she had met with disaster at the Duke of Ding’s manor.

Seeing her return, he rushed forward, followed by the other children, all eager to check on her. They chattered over one another, asking if she was hurt and if she had retrieved the shuttlecock. Qi Yunmiao reached into the white cloak and produced the peacock-feather shuttlecock.

Song Xiao was overjoyed. Seeing Qi Yunmiao buried under the massive cloak, he had assumed his shuttlecock was lost forever. He snatched it back and inspected it repeatedly. "You actually got it back?" he asked while examining it.

"Yes," Qi Yunmiao replied.

"Qi Yunmiao, you..." Song Xiao was so excited he didn't know what to say. He wanted to thank her, but felt shy; he suddenly remembered his promise to treat her to snacks for an entire year. "Qi Yunmiao, I keep my word! I’ll treat you to snacks for a whole year!" he shouted.

Qi Yunmiao didn't really care much for his snacks. Most of them were made by Lady Song, who often shared them with her anyway. She had only gone to retrieve the shuttlecock because she had lost the bet and intended to fulfill her end of the bargain.

"Alright, you have the item, now go. She’s frozen; let her wash up and take a hot bath."

Before Qi Yunmiao could respond to Song Xiao, a voice came from behind her, carrying a chill like the winter wind in the snow. She turned to glance at Pei Ze, who stood behind her. Song Xiao looked up at Pei Ze, as if only just realizing there was someone else trailing her. He tilted his head back and said respectfully, "Brother Pei!"

"Mm," Pei Ze replied with a calm expression. "Take them and leave. She needs to rest."

Song Xiao had a belly full of questions—what the Duke’s manor felt like, what the snowy scenery there looked like, whether the Duchess had given her a hard time—but with Pei Ze speaking, he dared not utter another word. After all, this was Pei Ze, a man who always wore a cold expression, was several years his senior, and was often in the company of his own elder brother. Most children in the capital knew he was not to be trifled with. Song Xiao clutched his shuttlecock, bid Qi Yunmiao a quick farewell, and scampered off, with the other children following like a flock of birds taking flight.

Qi Yunmiao watched them go, surprised by the sheer authority in Pei Ze’s voice. In an instant, the noisy courtyard was left with only her, Song Qingyu, and Pei Ze. She walked inside and returned the cloak. "Thank you, Brother," she said earnestly.

"Mm."

This was the second time today Pei Ze had heard her say that. It seemed that contrary to his wishes, the heavens always arranged exactly what he hoped to avoid. However, this time, he did not show the same disdain or annoyance as before. He simply took back his cloak and advised, "Rest well. Take a hot bath, and don't go anywhere else today."

Qi Yunmiao nodded, having intended to do just that. She watched as he turned to drape the cloak back over his own shoulders. She thought back on the day; she had been grateful enough that he had come to fetch her. She had told Song Qingyu that she would ask Pei Ze first, and if he refused, she would go to Lady Song. She had never expected him to come, let alone lend her his cloak. The garment that looked so awkward and bulky on her hung perfectly on his tall frame, appearing both elegant and warm.

As he turned to leave, Qi Yunmiao leaned against the doorframe and called out, "Brother!"

Pei Ze turned back.

Qi Yunmiao smiled and said, "Goodbye, Brother!"

Pei Ze was bewildered, but seeing the young girl leaning against the frame, smiling as bright and pure as a sunflower in midsummer, he offered a faint response before finally leaving the courtyard.

—

Qi Yunmiao spent a long time in the hot spring pool at the Song family’s villa—her first time ever experiencing one. Afterward, she lay comfortably in bed, chatting with Song Qingyu for hours. She did not step foot outside the courtyard for the rest of the day. Lady Song had installed a large window in their room, and just by propping it open, they could watch the snow falling over the world while tucked away in bed. The two girls played indoor games and shared secrets as the first snow of the capital descended.

The snow, which began as fine grains like sand, grew heavier and heavier as day turned to night, with individual flakes growing as large as goose feathers. It was incredibly cozy.

The only unexpected event of the day involved Lady Song. Originally, Lady Song had not known about the shuttlecock incident. She forbade the children from playing near the Duke’s manor, and Song Xiao had been too afraid to tell her that his shuttlecock had fallen inside and that Qi Yunmiao had gone to fetch it. However, someone must have let it slip, for Wen Tingyao eventually found out.

In the evening, she arrived at their small room with hot dinner. She took Qi Yunmiao’s hands, fretted over Song Xiao’s lack of maturity, promised to punish him severely the next day, and expressed her deep remorse and concern. Qi Yunmiao, however, didn't think it was a big deal; she had lost the game and chosen to play by the wall herself.

Wen Tingyao shook her head, looking at her with lingering affection. She knew well how difficult the ladies of the Duke of Ding’s manor could be; they were a group who lived to mock others. Unless necessary, she would never choose to associate with them. Yet, Song Xiao had known this and still encouraged others to go.

"Did the Duchess of Ding give you any trouble?" she asked.

Qi Yunmiao thought for a moment and replied truthfully, "They made fun of me and my mother."

Wen Tingyao was shocked, though not entirely surprised. "What did they say?"

The words were too ugly to repeat. Qi Yunmiao shook her head, feeling she couldn't say them aloud. She only added, "They mocked us, but I didn't let them have the last word. I fought back!"

Wen Tingyao was startled again. "What did you say?"

"Um..." Qi Yunmiao bit her lip. She couldn't tell her that, either. Wen Tingyao understood well enough. After sharing dinner with the girls, she left them to their rest.

She had planned to return to her own quarters, but as she looked at the swirling snow at night, she paused. She turned, signaled her servants to hold the umbrellas, and walked toward the southern wing of the estate.

—

The southern wing was where Pei Ze and Song Su resided. With the snow falling, Song Su had been in a poetic mood all day, pestering Pei Ze with his verses. When Wen Tingyao entered, Song Su had just finished another poem.

"Zhaolin?" Wen Tingyao called from the doorway.

"Mother?" Song Su looked up, surprised to see her at such an hour.

Wen Tingyao smiled. "Is Jingxuan here? I need to speak with him."

Song Su called out to Pei Ze, who emerged from behind a screen and bowed to Wen Tingyao. With a gentle smile, she waited until they were outside to take a deep breath. "Jingxuan, I’ve come to speak with you about Yunmiao."

"Are you referring to her trip to the Duke of Ding’s manor today?" Pei Ze asked.

Indeed, it was Pei Ze who had sent word to Wen Tingyao about the incident. Though Song Su and Song Xiao were brothers, they were polar opposites. Song Su was optimistic and took responsibility for his actions, while Song Xiao was lazy and cowardly. Pei Ze had little patience for the latter.

Wen Tingyao nodded. "I am glad you told me. Song Xiao does need discipline. But I am worried about Yunmiao. You know what the Duke’s manor is like. She is all alone at home; if they decide to target her, it would be far too easy..."

Qi Yunmiao would never agree to move into the Song household, so the purpose of Wen Tingyao’s visit was clear.

"The winter break for the Imperial Academy is only days away, Jingxuan. I don't know how close you and your sister are, but she is, after all, the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister and your sister..."

"I understand what you mean, Aunt," Pei Ze said.

Wen Tingyao paused, looking at him. He had interrupted her, but he was always an exceptionally sharp youth.

"Then think about it," she said. "If it is truly inconvenient for her to return to your home, I will find another way. I will ask if she is willing to stay at the Song estate for a few days. Regardless, it would be better than her being alone."

Pei Ze’s thin lips pressed into a straight line. It was the night of the capital’s first snow. Despite the heavy snowfall, the moonlight remained, a rare and beautiful sight. Under the interplay of snow and moonlight, he stood in silence for a long time.

Finally, he said, "Very well."