The winter chill of Dongdu (the Eastern Capital) bit through the air as the Bai family’s carriage rumbled northward along the Jinshui River. After half an hour’s journey, the heavy wheels finally crossed into the prestigious Xuantai Ward.
This was a sanctuary for the realm’s elite, a place where only those of the Third Rank and above (high-ranking ministers and noblemen of the imperial court) were permitted to dwell. Here, every neighbor was a titan of the court, and every gate told a story of power. The Bai residence sat commandingly on Chang’an Street, the ward’s most vibrant artery. Before the main entrance, two massive stone lions stood in silent, lifelike majesty, their carved eyes watching the world.
News of their arrival had traveled fast; lookouts had already alerted the household. As the carriage halted, a dignified Guanjia (the head steward of a high-ranking household) and several elderly waiting-maids stood ready.
Bai Sihan peeked through the curtain, her heart dancing with a mix of awe and suppressed excitement. She watched as the mature steward bowed deeply toward her father’s carriage.
“Third Master, you have had a wearying journey,” the steward’s voice was polished and respectful. “The Old Lady, the Eldest Master, the Fourth Master, and their honored wives are all gathered in the main hall. They await your return for the reunion feast.”
From within the carriage, Bai Chaoke replied with a soft, measured tone, “I am grateful for Mother’s patience. Let us freshen up, and we shall pay our respects immediately.”
When Bai Chaoke finally stepped onto the stone stairs, his presence was one of stolid authority. At thirty, his face bore the mark of the bureaucracy—composed, perhaps a bit plain, lacking the sharp resolve of his eldest brother or the celebrated beauty of the fourth.Yet years of official service had taught him to keep his lips pursed and his words few, creating a cold aura that discouraged easy intimacy.
Inside the trailing carriage, Madam Shen [ Bai Choke’s Wife] was a whirlwind of nervous energy. She adjusted her Buyao (an exquisite “step-shake” hairpin with dangling charms that shimmer as the wearer walks) and smoothed her silks, her eyes sharp as she inspected her daughter. “The servants here belong to your Aunt,” she whispered urgently. “Do not let them look down on you. Do you understand?”
“I understand, Mother,” Sihan replied, her voice steady despite the flutter in her chest.
As they stepped out, the biting wind made them shiver, but Madam Shen’s eyes burned with a fierce light as she looked at the “Bai Mansion” plaque. I am back, she thought. And this time, I will not leave in disgrace.
Sihan, hoping to dazzle the staff with her beauty, had pointedly left her Weimao (a traditional hat with a hanging veil used by noblewomen to maintain modesty in public) behind. To her annoyance, the servants remained stoic, their eyes lowered in perfect discipline. Only when the steward’s maids stepped forward to bow—addressing them correctly as “Third Madam” and “Second Miss”—did their pride recover. They followed the servants inside, their chins tilted high.
On the other side Feng Jinlin arrived at Feng mansion like a whirlwind. He pulled the reins of his stallion, Zhuiyun (literally “Cloud Chaser”), making the beast rear up with a powerful neigh as he reached the gate . Which make the gatekeeper scrambled back in terror.
“Why are you always so easily frightened by Zhuiyun?” Jinlin laughed, his eyes bright with youthful vigor. His horse was a magnificent creature, with jet black boday save for four white “socks” at the hooves, which were shod in pure gold engraved with auspicious clouds.
“Second Young Master, Zhuiyun is so tall! I fear a single kick from it will sent me flying!” the servant joked, though he quickly took the reins as Jinlin tossed him a small ingot of silver. “Take care of him,” Jinlin called out, his Pifeng (a formal, long-sleeved outer cloak or cape) snapping in the wind. “I’ll be taking him fox hunting again soon.”
Inside the Ning’an Courtyard, Feng Jinyao heard that boisterous, beloved voice of her second brother as he entered . She forgot all decorum, sliding out of bed and rushing to the door without even careing to get herself a cloack in the middle of the winter.
“Where is A-Yao?” Jinlin’s voice boomed.
Xiuqiu, Jinyao’s maid, greeted him with a beaming smile. “The Miss is in her room! Master, you look famished.”
“I am starving,” he admitted. “We’ve been on Mingchi Mountain for days, eating the wind and rain.”
As he entered the room, his long hair caught the light. He inherited the legendary beauty of his mother; his face was a perfect blend of noble elegance and dashing spirit. Wrapped in a thick fox-fur cloak, his eyes sparkled like the coldest stars.
When Feng Jinyao saw him, her breath caught. Tears welled up, unbidden and hot. In her mind’s eye, she saw the ghost of his future—the dejected, defeated man he had become in her previous life. But here he was: vibrant, whole, and radiantly young.
“What are you doing out in the cold?” he asked anxiously, seeing her tear-streaked face.
Feng Jinyao didn’t speak. She simply threw herself into his arms, clinging to his waist as she had when they were children.
“Alright, alright,” Jinlin teased, though his hands were gentle. “Save these hugs for your future husband! Don’t cling to your brother like a little brat, or I’ll tell Eldest Brother to laugh at you.”
Feng Jinyao gave his waist a sharp pinch.
“Ouch! Still pinching? I’m covered in bruises from our childhood!” He laughed, the heavy atmosphere of her memories dissipating instantly as he began to tell the story of how he he had been hunting fire foxes to make winter cloaks for her and their mother.
As they sat for the meal,Feng Jinlin animatedly recounted his exploits, his face lit with the joy of the hunt. Feng Jinyao, however, watched him closely, a small frown beginning to mar her brow as she studied his expression.
Her second brother in her previous life had been just as flamboyant and unrestrained as ever. Yet fate, in its cruel design, had dealt him a tragic hand. He had been unexpectedly favored by the eldest princess of Changlin [a high-ranking imperial princess, known for her beauty and capricious power], who insisted on taking him as her consort. When sheer force failed to bend his will, she resorted to subtler, darker methods. Someone, secretly hired at her behest, tampered with his prized horse—his most loyal companion in countless competitions—causing him to break his leg. The accident not only ruined his career but ultimately led him to perish within the princess’s gilded halls, his despair absolute.
She could never erase from her memory the sight of her second brother’s emaciated frame before his death, his eyes hollow, stripped of their former brilliance, like an elderly man awaiting his inevitable end. And the one responsible, the eldest princess of Changlin, remained untouchable, her royal status shielding her from any justice.
Thinking of this, Feng Jinyao gripped her chopsticks with such force that they snapped with a sharp crack.
Feng Jinlin looked at her, eyebrows raised in puzzled amusement.
“From now on, rein in your wild ways. Be careful that your flamboyant nature does not offend some noble or powerful figure—or you will regret it!”
“Hahaha, Ayao [Feng Jinlin affectionate nickname spoken by only close realtives],” he said with a self-assured laugh, “are you speaking nonsense? Is there anyone in this Eastern Capital that I, Feng Er [affectionate nickname for the second son], would not dare offend?”
His words carried a brazen confidence, his smile bright yet unmistakably certain. Feng Jinlin’s eyes, the warm, peach-blossom hue so famed throughout the city, glimmered with mischief. On the surface, he appeared amiable to all; yet those who underestimated him soon learned that his genial nature was merely a mask.
In truth, everyone in the Eastern Capital knew better than to cross Feng Er. This smiling fox could make you regret your misstep without a trace, leaving you to wonder how you met your fate.
He was a legend in his own right. Born into the eminent Feng family [a leading aristocratic clan of the Northwest], his father served as the household patriarch, while his mother hailed from a prestigious family in the Eastern Capital. His maternal grandfather had been a prime minister across three dynasties. Yet Feng Jinlin’s upbringing was anything but formal; he seemed to have grown amidst the streets, wild and unrestrained.
He could make friends with anyone, and excelled at all manners of refined and daring pursuits. Archery, throwing arrows into a tiny pot, riding through crowded alleys, reveling with the sons of nobles—he had done it all. And when not stirring mischief, he could easily wield pen and sword alike, excelling in both literature and martial arts.
His prowess in archery and horsemanship was unmatched; tales persisted of a time when he faced eight archery instructors from the Imperial Guard—and emerged undefeated. The story alone made him famous throughout the Eastern Capital.
Yet despite his love for revelry, he was no tyrant. When confronted with injustice, he became like a streetwise magistrate, meting out fairness with an iron hand. Hence, he was both adored and feared, his reputation spanning from noble halls to the common markets.
Feng Jinlin’s handsome visage attracted countless admirers—from daughters of officials to women of humble families—but scandal never touched him. Any hint of impropriety would have been swiftly addressed by the Feng and Bai families, both deeply protective of their honor.
Feng Jinyao found herself at a loss for words. She understood that his nature was unshakable, and attempts to restrain him outright would be fruitless. So secretly, she resolved to someday show him the dire consequences that befell Princess Shang [the same eldest princess of Changlin who ruined her brother in the past].
During the meal, Feng Jinlin was his usual carefree self, while Feng Jinyao barely touched her food.
Afterward, the siblings made their way to Yunhai Courtyard to pay respects to Madam Feng [their mother, matriarch of the Feng family], who, upon seeing this mischievous son, scolded him lightly for his lack of decorum, only to be charmed into laughter by his sweet, silver-tongued words. Witnessing this heartwarming exchange, Feng Jinyao’s perpetually anxious heart finally settled, and she slept soundly that night without a single dream.
The next morning, she rose early, rousing her still-sleepy second brother and dragging him toward her maternal grandfather’s Bai residence [a grand, aristocratic estate of the Bai family, renowned for wealth and connections].
As dawn painted the Eastern Capital with soft light, the three main gates of the Bai residence, carved with intricate animal motifs [a sign of prestige and protection], stood wide open. Servants and maids, clad in neatly tailored winter uniforms [made to withstand the cold, as instructed by Madam Lin, eldest daughter-in-law of the Bai family], lined the pathway, smiling in welcome.
“Second Young Master Feng has arrived! Third Miss Feng has arrived!” came their crisp, respectful call.
The announcement stirred the crowd along the road, some gossipping eagerly:
“I heard it’s Old Madam Bai’s sixtieth birthday today—high-ranking officials and nobles all will be attending.”
“Truly, Old Madam Bai is blessed. Not only does her family wield military power, but her husband is impressive as well. Her eldest daughter is the Feng family’s treasure, and her sons are outstanding too.”
“Ah, it’s always better to be born into such a family.”
“Are you tempted, Sister Liu? Go persuade your brother Liu; perhaps you might marry into such a household as well.”
“Nonsense! I’ll tear your mouth apart if you say that again!”
“Alright, alright—today is Old Madam Bai’s birthday; focus on setting up the stall early. The day will be lively, no doubt.”
The crowd dispersed, resuming their tasks.
The Bai residence itself was a sprawling four-courtyard complex, with two side courtyards on each wing housing Bai Dalang[Bai’s eldest son] and Bai Silang’s [Bai’s fourth son] families [senior sons of the Bai household]. Bai Sanlang [Bai’s third son], the illegitimate son, had moved elsewhere after the family’s division, and they had arrived in Dongdu City for Old Madam Bai’s celebration the previous day.
Madam Lin [the First Madam of the Bai household] had repeatedly ordered the mansion to be cleaned and decorated, ensuring it gleamed. Red silk banners adorned every hall and courtyard, signaling a festival of joy.
Feng Jinyao and Feng Jinlin followed the servants through the hanging flower gate and along the covered corridors, pausing before a marble screen framed in rosewood. The screen radiated elegance and nobility, heralding the grandeur within.
The main house, a spacious five-room hall with carved beams and painted rafters, lay just beyond. Feng Jinyao took in every familiar detail—the windows, the plants, the doorways—and felt as though she had been transported into another world.
The curtain lifted, revealing three ladies, all resplendent.
“You two siblings arrived quite early! Breakfast was lavish today, and the aroma must have drawn you,” the first lady spoke warmly.
It was Madam Lin [First Madam of the Bai household], her round face serene and refined. Her hair, meticulously styled, gleamed under the morning light, adorned with a sapphire-and-kingfisher feather hairpin. A silver-fur coat embroidered with eight auspicious motifs draped her shoulders, and she carried a gilded hand warmer, greeting the siblings with grace.
Madam Feng [their mother, matriarch of the Feng family], ever fond of this eldest sister-in-law, always praised her with ease and eloquence, her smile genuine and disarming.
“Auntie is teasing us again, isn’t she? I am thick-skinned, so speak freely. But Ayao is shy, Auntie—please don’t tease her too much,” Feng Jinlin said, smiling.
“You are a doting brother,” Madam Lin replied gently. “Mother awaits you inside. She will be delighted to see you little rascals.”
“Of course! Grandmother always lights up when she sees me. Today, I must make her happy. A few gifts will suffice to please her,” Feng Jinlin said confidently.
Madam Lin laughed softly. “I always wondered how all the treasures we painstakingly acquired ended up in your pocket. You know Mother loves you, so indulge her. You are cleverer than anyone else!”
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