FHJ - 20

Chapter 20: New Year’s Eve (1)

At last, it was New Year’s Eve.

The snow had finally ceased, and the sun emerged, casting a warm and cheerful glow. The servants of the Qi household bustled about joyfully, sweeping away dust to symbolize renewal, pasting spring couplets, and sealing the well—all customary rituals for the occasion.

Since returning to Jiankang, Zhao Yao had been staying with her mother at the Qi residence. Though she regretted not spending the New Year with her father, she was still delighted. Qi Ning and Qi Le doted on her, often visiting to keep her company, restoring the familiarity they had shared in childhood. The only downside was that her second cousin, Qi Ying, remained preoccupied even during the holiday. Despite being home, he was constantly tied up with official duties, spending entire days holed up in his study, leaving her unable to exchange more than a few words with him.

Zhao Yao’s mother, Lady Zhao, noticed her daughter’s melancholy and understood its cause. On New Year’s Eve, she visited Zhao Yao’s room and, seeing her still downcast, teased her gently: “What is this? Has our little Yao grown up already?”

Zhao Yao’s face flushed red as she pouted and buried herself in her mother’s arms, protesting, “Mother!”

Lady Zhao chuckled, stroking her daughter’s glossy black hair. “If you’re thinking of your second cousin, why not spend more time with him? Moping alone here won’t do you any good.”

Zhao Yao pouted again. “I’d like to find him, but Second Brother is always busy with official matters. Even at meals, he barely shows up—most times, he has servants bring food to his study. How can I possibly approach him?”

After a pause, her expression fell further. “I think Second Brother doesn’t like me anymore!”

“Nonsense,” Lady Zhao said, tapping her daughter’s nose playfully. “Since you were little, he’s always favored you. Remember the Dushan jade pi xiu? It was an incredibly precious object, yet when you broke it, he didn’t hold it against you. Have you ever seen him treat anyone else that way? He must truly adore you.”

Zhao Yao’s eyes brightened momentarily before dimming again. “But we hardly speak anymore…”

Lady Zhao smiled. “Today is New Year’s Eve—you’ll surely see him. If you behave, go freshen up now. Don’t let him see you looking disheveled.”

At these words, Zhao Yao perked up, imagining the scene of staying up late with her second cousin. A tender warmth blossomed in her heart. She beamed at her mother and obediently went to prepare herself.

Midway through her grooming, Qi Le’s voice echoed from the courtyard. A maid entered to relay his message: Fourth Master had come to invite Zhao Yao to play. Before Zhao Yao could respond, Lady Zhao interjected, “Tell Fourth Master that Yao isn’t feeling well today and won’t be able to join him. If he insists on visiting, say she’s already resting.”

The maid left to deliver the message. Zhao Yao looked at her mother quizzically. Lady Zhao dismissed the other maidservants and personally began styling her daughter’s hair. “Since your heart belongs to your second cousin, remember to keep your distance from other men. We don’t want misunderstandings. You’re no longer children—you must act with propriety.”

Zhao Yao muttered, “But Fourth Brother treats me so kindly…”

“What good does kindness do?” Lady Zhao sniffed. “He’s still a concubine-born son, and his playful nature won’t change. If you get too close to him, what future can you hope for? Yao, you’re a young lady now. These things require thought—you must plan ahead for yourself.”

She sighed deeply. “Look at our family. Your father, though from a reputable lineage, has spent years posted far away. Even this recent transfer back to Jiankang depended on your uncle’s approval. This vast Qi household—whom will it pass to? They say it’ll go to Qi Yun, but anyone with eyes knows he’s no match for your second cousin. In the end, it’ll fall to him. If you can marry him, our family’s future will truly be secure—do you understand?”

Zhao Yao was momentarily stunned. After some thought, she furrowed her brow and then nodded firmly. “Mother, don’t worry. I won’t grow close to Third Brother or Fourth Brother anymore.”

Lady Zhao smiled approvingly, pinning a decorative flower in her daughter’s hair. “Good girl.”

---

Qi Ying was truly busy.

Though it was the holiday season, his duties at the Privy Council remained pressing. While the nation celebrated the New Year, there was always the looming threat of a surprise attack from the Northern Wei. Thus, officials at the Privy Council continued their work diligently. As the newly appointed Vice Minister, Qi Ying couldn’t afford to slack off. He spent nearly all day in his study reviewing documents, often burning the midnight oil. Aside from a young servant named Qingzhu, he rarely saw anyone else.

Another troublesome matter weighed on his mind: the orphaned girl he had saved at Shen Qian’s request.

On that snowy night when Bai Song brought her back to Fenghe Garden, she had buried her parents, fulfilling Shen Qian’s final wish. By rights, Qi Ying had done all he needed to do. Yet the girl had knelt long into the night outside the gates of Fenghe Garden. Eventually, the night watchman found her unconscious in the snow and rushed her inside. The next morning, they reported to Qi Ying, asking what should be done with her.

She was gravely ill.

This was unsurprising. An eleven- or twelve-year-old girl, having lost both parents within a month, endured imprisonment, hardship, and hours kneeling in the freezing snow. How could she not fall severely ill? When Qi Ying visited her in the side chamber, he found her alarmingly thin, her face deathly pale, lying unconscious on the bed.

It was hard to say what Qi Ying felt at that moment.

The frailty of this child stirred pity, yet Qi Ying was often cold-hearted. He had already discerned her lack of will to live—he had scolded her harshly during their meeting in the Forgetful Chamber. Now, he even entertained thoughts of casting her out of Fenghe Garden to fend for herself. Yet as he stood by her bedside, staring at her for a long while, memories of his final encounter with Shen Qian resurfaced unbidden, leaving him with an inexplicable sense of responsibility toward the girl.

It was an absurd notion.

His acquaintance with Shen Qian had been superficial—a mere courtesy among noble families. Shen Qian’s request itself had been unexpected. By honoring it, Qi Ying had already gone above and beyond. He owed nothing more to Shen Xiling, especially since she was a fugitive. If discovered, Qi Ying himself would face consequences, and the Qi family might even suffer repercussions.

He knew he shouldn’t involve himself further. Yet after much deliberation, he refrained from ordering the servants to throw her out. Instead, he summoned a physician to tend to her. After the holidays ended, he returned to the main residence, leaving Fenghe Garden behind. Since then, he hadn’t seen Shen Xiling again. However, on this New Year’s Eve morning, a servant arrived from Fenghe Garden to report that Shen Xiling had contracted a severe cold. Her condition had worsened to the point where she could no longer take medicine, and her life was in peril. The servant asked what should be done.

At that moment, Qi Ying sat behind his desk in the study, surrounded by towering stacks of documents, with Qingzhu standing silently behind him. After a brief silence, an inexplicable surge of irritation overtook him. He snapped at the servant: “If that’s the case, send for a doctor! Why are you troubling me with this?”

Though Qi Ying was known for his cold and detached demeanor, he rarely lost his temper with the servants. Even Qingzhu, who had served him for years, was startled by his outburst, and the young servant trembled on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly in fear. Qi Ying pinched the bridge of his nose, his expression weary, and said, “Rise. Fetch another competent physician to tend to her. Ensure she survives.”

The servant scrambled up gratefully and nearly bolted from the study.

Qingzhu glanced at Qi Ying’s face but dared not speak, silently refilling his tea instead.

---

As night fell, the Qi household grew increasingly lively.

The Qi family was vast, with numerous brothers, uncles, and nephews. Though many relatives were stationed far from Jiankang and couldn’t return for the New Year, the banquet hall still hosted over a dozen tables. A stage had been erected, and a troupe of performers entertained the guests with music and plays, creating an atmosphere of festivity.

Lady Yao bustled about, balancing conversations with relatives while keeping an eye on the maidservants to ensure nothing went awry. It was exhausting work.

Before long, Zhao Yao entered the banquet hall alongside her mother, Lady Zhao. The maids removed her cloak, revealing a bright red floral jacket that accentuated her cherubic features, making her all the more endearing. She immediately rushed into Lady Yao’s arms, calling her “Auntie,” which brought a smile to Lady Yao’s face as she popped a piece of peanut candy into the girl’s mouth.

Just then, Qi Ning and Qi Le arrived, both dressed in fresh garments and exuding youthful vigor. Qi Ning teased Zhao Yao as soon as he entered: “Still eating? At this rate, you’ll turn into a little dumpling!”

Zhao Yao shot him a glare, pouting. “You’re the dumpling! I’m more like a tangyuan!”

Everyone laughed except Qi Le, who asked, “Earlier today, your maid said you had a headache. Are you feeling better now?”

Lady Yao, hearing this, looked concerned and turned to Zhao Yao. “A headache? What happened?”

Unsure how to respond, Zhao Yao hesitated, but her mother quickly interjected with a smile. “It’s nothing serious—just a bit of wind exposure last night. She’s fine now.”

Lady Yao nodded, reassured. “That’s good.”

They took their seats at the table. Zhao Yao scanned the room but didn’t see her second cousin, Qi Ying. Her face fell slightly as she tugged at Lady Yao’s sleeve and asked, “Auntie, where’s Second Brother? Why isn’t he here?”

Lady Yao looked around and realized Qi Ying was indeed absent. She sent a maid to fetch him, saying, “He’s just like his father—once he buries himself in official documents, there’s no pulling him out. He probably doesn’t even realize it’s New Year’s Eve. Don’t worry about him, Yao’er. Spend time with your Third and Fourth Brothers for now.”

Zhao Yao obediently nodded and watched as her aunt turned to greet others.

Soon after, Grandmother Qi arrived, supported by Qi Zhang, with Qi Yun following behind. Lady Qi, Qi Zhang’s birth mother, had celebrated her seventieth birthday the previous year. Her hair was streaked with gray, and she carried herself with a robust, commanding presence. Born into the Fu family, she had always been strong-willed, a trait that persisted even in old age. Known for her authoritative nature, she ruled the household with an iron fist until recent health issues forced her to delegate some responsibilities to Lady Yao. Qi Zhang was deeply filial, often attending to his mother during her illnesses and deferring to her wishes without question.

Their arrival instantly enlivened the banquet. As the current head of the Qi clan, Qi Zhang commanded respect, while Qi Yun was widely regarded as the heir apparent. As for Grandmother Qi, her influence was unmatched—those seeking favors from Qi Zhang often approached her first, knowing that pleasing her could smooth any path. Family members quickly gathered around the trio, further heightening the festive atmosphere.

Seated at the head of the hall, Grandmother Qi surveyed the room and noticed someone missing. Turning to those nearby, she asked, “Where’s Jingchen? Why isn’t he here?”

Lady Yao, seated beside the matriarch, replied, “I’ve already sent someone to fetch him. The boy is truly thoughtless to keep his elders waiting.”

“How can you say such a thing?” Grandmother Qi gently patted Lady Yao’s hand. “The poor child is simply exhausted. What harm is there in waiting a little longer?”

No sooner had she finished speaking than a maid announced the arrival of the second master. Grandmother Qi chuckled. “Ah, speak of the devil—he appears just as we mention him.”