At the end of March, Cloud Mist Mountain was lush with greenery and caressed by gentle breezes, attracting many young ladies and scholarly gentlemen for a spring outing.
On the uphill path, He Shi and He Weiyu walked ahead, followed by Wei Rao and Lu Zhuo.
Wei Rao quietly asked Lu Zhuo, "How did you lure Second Master Qi here? Cloud Mist Mountain is so vast—how can you ensure he’ll run into us?"
Lu Zhuo chuckled. "He has no wife or children to tie him down, nor any unsavory habits like visiting brothels. On his days off, he enjoys nothing more than hunting, horseback riding, and drinking. Five days ago, I had someone spread the word that snow foxes have been spotted in Cloud Mist Mountain. The news has already reached the ears of avid hunters. With no better pastime, he’s bound to come today."
Wei Rao said, "Even if he comes, he’ll be off in the mountains searching for prey…"
Lu Zhuo pointed toward Cloud Mist Temple halfway up the mountain. "Have you ever tried the vegetarian dishes at the temple?"
Wei Rao nodded. She often visited Cloud Mist Mountain and had sampled the temple’s vegetarian meals several times.
Lu Zhuo explained, "There’s a dish there called Golden-Edged Cabbage. It’s stir-fried with dried red chilies for flavor, and when served, the edges of the cabbage turn golden—both fresh and spicy. Qi Zhongkai loves this dish. Every time he comes to Cloud Mist Mountain, he orders it. With a bite of Golden-Edged Cabbage and a mouthful of steamed bun, he can easily down seven or eight buns in one meal."
The steamed buns at Cloud Mist Temple were round and large. Could Qi Zhongkai really eat seven or eight of them with just one plate of cabbage?
Wei Rao was stunned. Ahead of them, He Weiyu, who had been eavesdropping, imagined the scene of a dark-faced door god incessantly stuffing steamed buns into his mouth and began to have second thoughts. She knew Qi Zhongkai came from a prestigious family and that marrying him would be a blessing, but if he looked too intimidating, she worried she wouldn’t be able to bear it.
Feeling nervous and exhausted from the climb, He Weiyu’s legs began to tremble.
The group paused to rest at a roadside pavilion from time to time before continuing their ascent, eventually arriving at Cloud Mist Temple.
After offering incense and prayers, and strolling through the temple grounds, it was time for lunch.
As if fate had intervened, just as Lu Zhuo and the others reached the vegetarian hall, a booming voice called out from behind, "Shoucheng?"
Wei Rao felt genuinely happy for He Weiyu at this stroke of luck.
He Weiyu had never met Qi Zhongkai nor heard him speak. Walking at the front while supporting her aunt, she turned around curiously upon hearing someone call her cousin’s courtesy name. She saw a man in dark brocade robes striding toward them—taller than her cousin and even more robust, like a small mountain. His skin was wheat-toned, with sharp eyebrows and fierce eyes, exuding an air of formidable authority.
Sharp eyebrows and fierce eyes?
He Weiyu’s heart skipped a beat. At that moment, He Shi whispered in her ear, "This is Second Master Qi."
He Weiyu’s face flushed instantly.
So this was what Second Master Qi looked like. She had imagined him as a ferocious door god, but in reality, he was merely… quite loud.
"Ah, the Marchioness and Madam are here as well," Qi Zhongkai said after greeting Lu Zhuo, noticing the ladies ahead. He didn’t dwell on it—he had proposed to the Marchioness before, but after being rejected, he had let it go. He had even attended Lu Zhuo’s wedding banquet; why would he feel awkward now? The Second Master of the Marquis of Pingxi’s household was always one to act decisively and move on without hesitation.
Wei Rao, standing beside Lu Zhuo, smiled and nodded at him.
The ladies wore veils over their faces, so Qi Zhongkai did not scrutinize them. After exchanging greetings, he asked Lu Zhuo, "Here for the vegetarian meal as well?"Lu Zhuo said, "Yes, we came to offer incense today. We'll return after the meal. Brother Qi, are you here hunting again?"
Qi Zhongkai replied, "Exactly. I heard there are snow foxes here, but after searching all morning, I haven't even seen a single snow fox hair."
Lu Zhuo chuckled, "I've never seen a snow fox either. It seems they're truly elusive."
Qi Zhongkai snorted dismissively.
Cloud Mist Temple had two dining halls: one for the monks and another for devotees. The latter was a spacious hall filled with neat rows of tables. Regardless of status, all devotees had to eat here together, with no distinction between noble and commoner.
Lu Zhuo chose a corner in the southeast of the hall where it was less crowded. He and Qi Zhongkai sat at one table, while Wei Rao and the two other women sat at the adjacent inner table. Their servants maintained a respectful distance.
When a monk brought tea, Wei Rao, He Shi, and He Weiyu finally removed their veils.
Though scheming was involved, they couldn't be too obvious. He Shi sat facing Wei Rao, with He Weiyu seated on her inner side, placing He Shi between Qi Zhongkai and He Weiyu. Unless one deliberately craned their neck, neither could see the other.
Qi Zhongkai wasn't trying to look anyway. He didn't even glance at Wei Rao, engrossed in lively conversation with Lu Zhuo. When the food arrived, Qi Zhongkai grabbed a steamed bun with one hand and picked up golden-edged cabbage with his chopsticks in the other, eating with great relish.
Lu Zhuo shot Wei Rao a meaningful glance.
Wei Rao smiled. Compared to Lu Zhuo's gentlemanly demeanor, Qi Zhongkai seemed like a wild man. Yet his unrestrained freedom made his eating style appear not crude but rather appetite-whetting.
Wei Rao used serving chopsticks to place a cabbage slice in He Shi's bowl. "Mother, try this too."
She then gave one to the perpetually nervous He Weiyu.
He Shi took a bite - it was extremely spicy! She quickly bit into her steamed bun.
He Weiyu was completely distracted, alternating between worrying that Qi Zhongkai might look at her, worrying that he wouldn't, and worrying that he might look but not be interested. So when Wei Rao served her food, He Weiyu ate without thinking - and unfortunately, a mouthful of spicy juice hit her throat...
He Weiyu abruptly put down her chopsticks, covering her mouth as she turned away coughing. The more she tried to suppress it, the worse her coughing became.
Both Lu Zhuo and Qi Zhongkai looked over.
"Was it too spicy? Quick, drink some tea!" He Shi said anxiously. Whether her niece was uncomfortable or not, such breach of etiquette would surely make Second Master Qi lose interest?
As He Shi flustered about, He Weiyu's physical discomfort and emotional distress made tears stream down her face.
When He Shi stood up to pat her back, Qi Zhongkai finally got a clear view of Lu Zhuo's cousin who was raised in deep seclusion. Her pear-blossom fair face was flushed red from the spice, glistening tears continuously flowing. Seemingly concerned about propriety, her moist eyes glanced toward him in panic...
Those tearful eyes, unclear whether expressing fear or seeking help, made Qi Zhongkai's heartbeat suddenly accelerate. He bitterly wished he had some miraculous medicine to immediately relieve her suffering - he would have rushed over to feed it to her.
"There there, it's alright now. Why are you crying?"
When He Weiyu's coughing finally subsided, He Shi sat back down, comforting her niece while sighing inwardly.She had already given up hope, and He Weiyu felt even more so. Her aunt, cousin, and cousin's wife had all schemed together to help her, yet she had made such a fool of herself in front of Qi Zhongkai.
Guilt, regret, and grievance—how could He Weiyu hold back her tears?
"Mother, I'll accompany my cousin for a walk outside," Wei Rao said, standing up.
Before He Shi could nod, He Weiyu sprang to her feet, covering her face with a handkerchief as she sobbed and rushed out.
Wei Rao immediately followed her.
Qi Zhongkai was dumbfounded. Was this cousin really so prone to tears? All because she had choked on a chili pepper?
He Shi said apologetically, "Weiyu rarely goes out. Today, she was discourteous in front of you, Second Master. Please don't laugh at her."
Qi Zhongkai suddenly understood—Miss He was worried he would mock her.
"Aunt, you worry too much. This... even drinking water can make someone choke. It's perfectly normal, not at all discourteous," Qi Zhongkai said sincerely.
He Shi forced a smile, already resigned to the situation.
Qi Zhongkai, however, gazed in the direction where Wei Rao and He Weiyu had gone. The thought that Miss He was crying because she feared his disdain made him restless. He wanted to explain to her—he was a rough man, not some delicate, fastidious pretty boy like Lu Zhuo. How could he possibly care about such a trivial matter?
"Brother Qi, please eat. Don't mind them," Lu Zhuo said nonchalantly.
Qi Zhongkai looked at him in disbelief. How could Lu Zhuo still have an appetite when his own cousin was crying like that?
Qi Zhongkai had lost his appetite. After a moment's thought, he picked up the quiver beside him and said, "Never mind. I'm intruding here. I'll go back to the mountains to hunt for the snow fox."
With that, Qi Zhongkai bid farewell to He Shi and strode away.
He Shi was frantic, wanting her son to stop Qi Zhongkai, but Lu Zhuo shook his head with a smile, signaling his mother to stay calm.
Meanwhile, as Qi Zhongkai stepped out of the dining hall, his sharp eyes quickly spotted Wei Rao and He Weiyu under a cluster of emerald bamboo in the southeast corner. Wei Rao had one hand on He Weiyu's shoulder and was using a handkerchief to wipe her tears with the other. He Weiyu wore a white gown, and against the green bamboo, she looked like a delicate white flower—fragile and pitiable.
Qi Zhongkai clenched his fist and walked toward the two women.
Wei Rao noticed him and whispered to He Weiyu, "Cousin, stop crying. Second Master is coming."
He Weiyu was startled. She wiped her face and tidied her hair as quickly as possible, then hid behind Wei Rao, too embarrassed to face anyone.
He Weiyu was beautiful, but her beauty alone wasn't what set her apart from other beauties. What truly moved people was her timid, pitiable vulnerability. When she cried, it only enhanced her charm.
So, how could Wei Rao let her hide? She deliberately stepped aside, exposing He Weiyu.
The blush of shame on He Weiyu's face spread all the way down to her neck.
"Second Master, why have you come?" Wei Rao asked awkwardly.
Qi Zhongkai looked at He Weiyu, who seemed to wish she could vanish into the ground, and scratched his head. "Well, I've eaten my fill. I'm going back to hunt. You two should return for your meal soon."
He Weiyu looked up in surprise. Was he leaving already?
As she lifted her head, Qi Zhongkai got a clear view of her face. If Wei Rao was like a peony under the bright sun, He Weiyu was like a fragile white pear blossom in a gentle rain. Qi Zhongkai admired Wei Rao's beauty, but faced with He Weiyu like this, he actually felt a pang of heartache and wanted to comfort her, to tell her to stop crying.As soon as the thought arose, Qi Zhongkai spoke it aloud, addressing He Weiyu: "Miss He, you needn't worry about being impolite in front of me. I'm a rough fellow—just ask Shoucheng if you don't believe me. If anyone's to be laughed at, it would be me. What just happened means nothing in my eyes..."
Just then, two pilgrims entered the courtyard gate of the vegetarian hall.
Qi Zhongkai nodded to Wei Rao, then took his leave with his quiver on his back.
He Weiyu stared wistfully at his retreating figure, only lowering her head like a startled fawn when Qi Zhongkai glanced back before stepping through the gateway.
Once Qi Zhongkai was out of sight, Wei Rao smiled and took He Weiyu's arm, teasing in a low voice: "Cousin, I only realized today that Second Master Qi can be gentle too. His gaze never left your face earlier—if those people hadn't come, I doubt he would have been willing to leave."
Hope rekindled in He Weiyu's heart: "Really?"
Wei Rao dabbed the corners of He Weiyu's eyes with her handkerchief, laughing: "Just wait and see."
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