February arrived after the end of the first lunar month, and the wedding date was drawing closer. Fu Xinci suddenly felt a pang of pre-wedding jitters.
"...?"
No way? she asked herself, suppressing a laugh.
She had seen it all; how could she be afraid of marriage? She found the thought amusing.
However, she had been feeling a strange aversion to seeing Qi He these past few days, and she didn't know why.
Qi He seemed to sense her unusual mood. It happened to be his day off, so he suggested they take a walk on the hillside.
Fu Xinci didn't refuse, and Grandpa Meng readily agreed without a second thought.
Ning'er wanted to tag along but was stopped by Fang Shi, who had also noticed her daughter seemed a little different lately.
Alas, the two children were about to get married, and she didn't want her daughter to harbor any unhappiness.
By mid-February, the southern hillside near the mountains already showed signs of spring greenery.
Qi He found a spot sheltered from the wind and pulled Fu Xinci down to sit.
Neither of them spoke, just sat there quietly.
In that moment, Fu Xinci realized Qi He understood her well. She didn't want to talk, so he didn't, simply keeping her company.
The weather was excellent that day, the sun shone warmly, and occasionally a gentle breeze carrying hints of spring would rustle past.
Perhaps it was the bright sunshine, so gentle that it was hard to refuse, but before she knew it, Fu Xinci had fallen asleep, leaning on Qi He's shoulder.
She didn't know how long she slept, but she woke up in Qi He's arms.
Still groggy, her eyes not yet open, she felt two young lips brush her smooth forehead like a butterfly's kiss.
When she opened her eyes, the man showed no trace of guilt at being caught, just a silly giggle. There were no explanations, as if everything was perfectly natural.
Fu Xinci didn't speak either. Her arm rested on Qi He's knee, and she nestled into his embrace in what she considered the most comfortable position, closing her eyes to rest.
Qi He remained silent, his arms encircling his beloved girl, his chin resting gently in her hair.
Without a word exchanged between them, their hearts in sync, they savored the affection that existed between them.
It wasn't until the sun was high in the sky that Qi He reluctantly spoke, "Sister Fu, let's go back. Auntie should be waiting for us for lunch."
"Mhm."
They finished speaking and walked down the mountain hand in hand.
Ning'er, with Xiao Niu, had been watching from near the main gate towards the hillside. When he saw his sister and brother-in-law returning, he ran towards them with his short legs.
"Sister, brother-in-law."
"Yes."
"Here."
Even though Qi He hated to let go of Sister Fu's hand, he had to. He quickly strode forward, crouched down, scooped Ning'er up by the waist, and lifted him high.
Xiao Niu was extremely envious. That evening, when he returned to their room with his mother, he told her, "Mom, I want a brother-in-law too, just like Young Master Qi."
Xiao Niu's words stunned Zhang Shi, and it took her a while to understand what he meant.
"Mom?" Xiao Niu still couldn't let go of the idea.
Zhang Shi pondered for a moment before telling her son.
"Xiao Niu, you won't have a brother-in-law in this lifetime." Hearing his mother's words, Xiao Niu drooped his head, appearing somewhat unwilling to accept it.
Zhang Shi couldn't bear to see her son disappointed, so she comforted him, "Although our Xiao Niu can't have a brother-in-law, when our Xiao Niu grows up, he can be someone else's brother-in-law."
Xiao Niu didn't quite understand how he would be someone else's brother-in-law, but he felt that this was something he could accept.
Time flew by, and March arrived. On the slopes around Yingzui Cliff, mountain flowers swayed, and the gentle breeze carried a rich fragrance.
The fruit trees around the Meng family courtyard had also begun to blossom, attracting people from nearby to admire them.
Manager Jiang from the Thousand Household Office, after years of persuasion, had finally convinced his wife. He decided to bring his wife, concubines, and children to live with him with the arrival of spring.
The Jiang family's courtyard was very close to the Qi family's, just across the small river.
Madam Jiang, new to the area, was quite pleased with their courtyard.
Especially the crystal-clear glass windows, which completely dispelled any lingering resentment she might have harbored.
Manager Jiang had one wife and one concubine. His legal wife, Deng Xiuling, was thirty-two years old and had two sons and one daughter.
The eldest son, Jiang Yuanji, was sixteen and already engaged. The wedding was set for autumn, and the bride was Deng Xiuling's niece.
The eldest daughter, Jiang Yuzan, was fourteen, tall and stunningly beautiful.
The young girl had known she was pretty since she was young. Suitors had been knocking on the Jiang family's door since she was twelve.
Having heard so much praise, her standards had become quite high, and she was still unmarried.
The second son, Jiang Yuanxiang, was twelve and was said to be a studious young scholar.
Manager Jiang's concubine's surname was Gao. It was said she had been rescued from Japanese pirates several years ago.
Gao's family had all been killed by the pirates, leaving her alone and with no one to rely on. After being rescued by Manager Jiang, she regarded him as her savior and offered herself to him.
Now, Madam Gao had given birth to a daughter, Jiang Yuqiu, who was almost three years old and was greatly favored by Manager Jiang.
The Deng family was wealthy, and Deng Xiuling was generous. Moreover, Madam Gao had only given birth to one daughter, so the wife and concubine of the Jiang family got along quite harmoniously.
When Qi He, Fu Xinci, Ning'er, and Xiao Niu returned to the entrance of their home, they saw Ke'er coming out to look for them.
"Sister Xinci, Brother Qi, you're back just in time. Auntie asked me to find you for lunch."
"Okay, we'll be right back."
After speaking, Fu Xinci was about to enter the courtyard when her eyes caught sight of a handsome young man looking at them without any hesitation.
Fu Xinci found him unfamiliar and didn't pay him any mind, heading straight into her own courtyard.
After all, during the blooming season, many people came from nearby to admire the flowers.
Once, she even heard Uncle Qi mention that someone had ridden a horse just to come and see the flowers here.
Jiang Yuanji had not expected that such a small place as Yingzui Cliff would have not only a magnificent courtyard like the Meng family's but also a beauty like Miss Fu.
He had heard his father mention Miss Fu more than once. Although his father's words were always full of praise, he hadn't paid much attention.
In fact, he had secretly thought his father was exaggerating.
He was educated and had read many beautiful verses describing women.
He believed women should be virtuous and demure. If all women were like Miss Fu, a tigress, what joy would men have?
But had he misjudged today? Was the young lady he just saw indeed Miss Fu?
He found it hard to believe that this woman with her clear beauty and gentle, elegant demeanor could be the Miss Fu his father spoke of.
How was that possible?
This thought lingered in Jiang Yuanji's mind for the entire journey.