17. Chapter Seventeen

The outskirts of the capital had been blanketed in snow all night. The next day, everyone set out to return to the city, but the journey was far more difficult than when they had left. Thick snow lined the mountain paths on both sides, piled high and gleaming white. The branches and treetops bore the marks of the heavy snowfall, the world around them vast and desolate. The wind howled through the empty expanse, with not even a single bird in sight.

After a long, winding journey, they finally arrived at the city gates. Once the gates swung open, the group dispersed—some heading home, others to their schools. When Qi Yunmiao had left the city the previous day, she had brought her book trunk to the outskirts, so today she did not return home immediately but went straight to the Song family’s academy with Song Qingyu. After classes ended in the afternoon, she would then go home.

Despite the heavy snowfall in the outskirts the night before, there was no sign of snow in the capital city on this day. Qi Yunmiao stayed at the Song household until afternoon. When classes were dismissed and she returned home, Lin Zhouyi was already waiting.

Qi Yunmiao had missed an entire day of training yesterday, so Lin Zhouyi instructed her to first hold a horse stance for the length of a single incense stick.

"An incense stick?" Qi Yunmiao asked in surprise.

Usually, Lin Zhouyi was lenient with her youth, having her hold the horse stance only for fifteen minutes at first, then after other exercises, another fifteen minutes, marking the end of practice. But this time, she demanded a full incense stick’s worth of standing right from the start.

Lin Zhouyi raised an eyebrow and asked, "What, can’t you manage it?"

"No," Qi Yunmiao shook her head, of course not meaning that she couldn’t.

She understood that Lin Zhouyi had her hold the horse stance to train her physical stability and mental focus. For an archer, if one cannot maintain bodily control and steadiness, the arrow’s flight would inevitably be erratic and beyond one’s intent.

Taking a deep breath, Qi Yunmiao began the horse stance as instructed.

She stood by the lotus pond in the prime minister’s residence. When she first arrived, the lotus pond was lush and green, but after several months it had lost its vigor. Withered and yellowed stems emerged from the clear water, the round, tender lotus leaves now shriveled and wrinkled like crumpled sheets of paper discarded during her calligraphy practice.

Facing the wide expanse of water, she fixed her gaze on a single point and focused intently, refusing to let her attention wander.

Luckily, the cold weather had made even the usually lively fish reluctant to break the surface, so the pond offered no distractions.

Immersed in concentration, a quarter of an hour passed swiftly.

—

At the moment of the Shen hour’s first quarter, Pei Ze’s carriage arrived home. He handed some items brought back from the Imperial Academy to the servants, instructing them to carry them inside. Cloaked in a heavy cape and clutching a rolled painting, he headed toward his own courtyard.

Passing through the garden, he had not noticed the slender figure beside the artificial rockery until Lin Zhouyi’s sudden voice caught his attention.

"Keep your body straight, don’t tremble!"

"When holding the horse stance, you must look the part. Have I been too lenient with you before?"

Such stern shouts were impossible for Pei Ze to ignore.

He furrowed his brow slightly, turning his head toward the sound, and saw the young girl holding the horse stance by the rockery.

Back at home, Qi Yunmiao had changed into a pale blue outfit suitable for training. Standing before her was a woman dressed in tight black attire, her hair pulled into a high ponytail, wearing the strict expression of a stern instructor.

Although Pei Ze knew Qi Yunmiao was learning martial arts, he had never actually witnessed her training.

This time, it happened by chance.

Standing on the lotus pond side, he couldn’t help but watch her for a moment.

Qi Yunmiao’s horse stance was, to put it mildly, not very good.

Whether she had just started or had been holding it for some time was unclear. If just starting, her level was quite poor; if she had already held it for a quarter of an hour, it was somewhat understandable.

There were martial arts classes at the Imperial Academy; the six arts for gentlemen included lessons related to the training ground. Thus, Pei Ze himself was familiar with the exercises Qi Yunmiao now practiced.

From a distance, he saw her legs still trembling slightly.

—

Lin Zhouyi’s gaze was stern and unyielding. Only when the hourglass in her hand ran out did she say to Qi Yunmiao, "Alright, the incense time is up. Get up and stretch your limbs."

Qi Yunmiao exhaled deeply.

Finally, she could straighten her legs.

"Master, an incense stick feels a bit too long for me," Qi Yunmiao’s soft voice came.

"I’ve been too lenient with you before," Lin Zhouyi replied, hands clasped behind her back. "From now on, our training will follow the incense stick standard. For martial artists, if your body isn’t stable, you’re essentially handing your life over to your enemy. Understand?"

Qi Yunmiao could only nod.

Afterwards, Pei Ze remained at the lotus pond side, watching as Qi Yunmiao, under Lin Zhouyi’s guidance, began stretching her limbs and joints.

Girls generally had more flexibility than boys, and many movements that were difficult for him, she managed well.

Next came running.

Lin Zhouyi told her to run two laps around the garden before practicing archery.

As dusk began to fall, Qi Yunmiao had only completed half of her training.

Pei Ze couldn’t help but smile slightly.

He had underestimated Qi Yunmiao.

He had known she was to learn martial arts, but hadn’t realized how diligently she trained.

As she started running past his side of the garden, Pei Ze cradled his scroll in one arm, not intending to watch further.

That evening, when Qi Yunmiao finished training, darkness had completely fallen.

She bid farewell to Lin Zhouyi and dragged her weary body back to her small courtyard. Aunt Fang greeted her, "The kitchen has made fresh bamboo shoot and old duck stew today, along with fried quail, roasted lamb, and rouge goose breast. Miss, wash your hands and come eat!"

"So many dishes?" Qi Yunmiao glanced at the table piled high with food, surprised.

Since her mother and Pei Xun had left, Pei Ze no longer lived at home, leaving her alone. Though the kitchen continued to serve fresh, delicious dishes daily, it was usually just four dishes and a soup, plus a few appetizers.

Tonight, however, the table was laden with four or five meat dishes alone, plus some rare winter greens—a dazzling spread that dazzled the eyes.

"Master returned today," Aunt Fang said. "He specially instructed the kitchen to prepare extra dishes."

"Ah!" Qi Yunmiao realized it was because Pei Ze was back.

As Aunt Fang served her, she added, "Master rarely comes home. Miss, you should eat quickly. These dried bamboo shoots were sun-dried all spring and have been kept a year—they’re at their tastiest now."

"Alright!" Qi Yunmiao didn’t hesitate. After washing her hands and sitting down, she devoured the entire feast.

Later, under candlelight, after finishing her homework, she unusually did not collapse onto her bed to sleep immediately.

She pondered: since Pei Ze had returned, perhaps she should thank him.

After all, it was thanks to him that she had been able to leave the Duke of Dingguo’s mansion so swiftly.

Thinking back on the scene, she wasn’t sure how much longer she would have had to stand in the snow if he hadn’t arrived just in time.

Originally, she hadn’t planned to thank Pei Ze especially, but today at the Song household, Wen Tingyao had given her two fragrant sachets, said to calm the mind and aid sleep—just right for someone who trained after school.

A good night’s rest meant energy for the next day.

With two sachets, she could keep one and give the other to Pei Ze.

Sitting by the candlelight, she contemplated the two sachets before her and finally resolved to visit him.

Pei Ze usually stayed at the Imperial Academy and rarely came home. Now that he was back, who knew when he would return next time?

Without hesitation, she took a lantern and walked alone toward his courtyard as night fell.

—

Remembering the direction of his courtyard, she arrived and, rather than entering immediately, called out politely at the gate.

Pei Ze had just come out of the purification chamber, his hair loose and damp, having changed into his nighttime clothes. He casually threw a cloak over them and approached Qi Yunmiao.

"You looking for me?" he asked.

Qi Yunmiao had never seen Pei Ze like this before.

The young man, freshly out of the purification chamber, his long hair cascading down his back; clear droplets still clinging to his neck and chest, disappearing beneath the collar; lanterns hung before the small courtyard glowed brighter than hers, illuminating him under the moonlight like a figure carved from jade.

She stared at him for a long moment, then said, "Brother, this is for you."

She handed him the fragrant sachet.

"What’s this?" Pei Ze looked down at the sachet.

"It’s a sachet Aunt Song gave me today, said it calms the mind and helps sleep. She gave me two, so I thought I’d give you one to thank you for saving me yesterday," Qi Yunmiao explained.

"You thank me by giving me someone else’s things?" Pei Ze’s tone carried a hint of displeasure at her thoughtfulness.

Qi Yunmiao hurried to explain, "I didn’t know what else to give you. Aunt just happened to give me the sachets, and I thought everyone could use something to help them sleep..."

"Enough," Pei Ze interrupted, taking the sachet without wanting to hear more.

"I accept it. You may go now."

"…Oh."

Caught off guard by his curt dismissal, Qi Yunmiao watched him take the sachet, then turn and enter the courtyard. She held her lantern and, without lingering, turned to leave.

On the way back, she felt a little unreal.

She had seen a Pei Ze completely different from usual.

She pinched herself, wondering if it was just an illusion.

But when the pain registered clearly, she knew it was no illusion.

She had truly seen Pei Ze with his hair loose.

Not like the usual towering mountain pine at all.

Yet she couldn’t quite say how it was different.

Dazed, she returned to her own courtyard.

Aunt Fang helped her wash up and tucked her in.

The next morning, Qi Yunmiao forgot everything about the previous night.

Her days were busy—school, martial arts training, homework—leaving no spare time.

That night, after training and returning to her small courtyard, Aunt Fang was once again laying out dishes.

Seeing the table piled high, Qi Yunmiao asked, "Is Brother still home today?"

Aunt Fang looked up in surprise. "Master moved back from the Imperial Academy yesterday. Didn’t Miss know?"

"Ah? He moved back home?" Qi Yunmiao blinked, completely unaware.