Zheng Wanqing woke up slowly from her sleep and subconsciously leaned to the side.

The quilt and pillow felt as cold as iron when my fingertips touched, and the remaining pine wood scent was so faint that it was almost difficult to capture.

She suddenly opened her eyes and stared at the empty bed for a moment, then she suddenly realized that Xie Yun had already taken the Chou hour special train north and should have arrived now.

"Madam, are you awake?" The maid knocked on the door lightly and came in holding a copper basin. She saw her master sitting with her arms wrapped in quilt, and she couldn't help but slow down her footsteps.

In early spring, the morning mist covered the courtyard like a veil.

Zheng Wanqing strolled along the corridor, the soles of her shoes making slight sounds on the blue bricks.

Outside the corridor, several old plum trees are leaning, and the scattered red petals on the branches are rustling in the cold wind, as if they are determined to retain the last bit of winter.

"Young Madam, be careful not to catch a cold." The maid hurried over with a grey woolen coat in her hands and saw her mistress leaning against the railing in a daze.

The morning dew soaked the hem of Zheng Wanqing's cheongsam, and dark water marks spread along the lines, but she was completely unaware.

A gust of wind blew through the hall, bringing a chill from the spring day into her collar, causing her to shiver unconsciously. She then took the coat as if awakened from a dream.

Turning around the corridor, a bright firelight could be seen from the door of the warm room.

Pushing the door open, I saw the fine silver charcoal burning in the charcoal basin, crackling, and wisps of sandalwood wafting from the stove.

She sat at her desk, the pen twirling around her fingertips, wanting to write a letter to him in Peking, but she didn't know where to start.

Suddenly, she sighed again and told the maid beside her: "First, get some homely clothes to change into. This skirt is soaked with dew, and it will be uncomfortable to write a letter in it."

Only after she put on the moon-white satin jacket did Zheng Wanqing start writing.

She carefully reminded people to put on more clothes as the weather in Peking was cold, and also wrote that the old plum trees in the mansion were about to wither, while the new willow trees were just beginning to sprout. Every word was filled with concern that she wanted to express but could not.

When writing the three words "hope for your early return", the tip of the pen paused slightly, and finally changed it to "may everything go well".

"If the young lady is bored," the maid was tidying up the bed curtains and glimpsed the sun rising higher outside the window, "why not invite a few ladies to come to your house to play cards?"

Zheng Wanqing shook her head. She imagined the wives of the officers with their hands painted red, clinking ivory cards at the card table and showing off their newly acquired South Sea pearls.

"No need." She blew the letter dry gently. "Go and get the new copy of 'Peking Scenery' that Adjutant Zhou sent, and ask the kitchen to prepare some refreshments."

The maidservant withdrew in response, and soon returned with a set of beautifully bound books.

The clock in the warm room was ticking. Zheng Wanqing was half leaning on a rattan chair. The west sunlight came through the window, casting mottled shadows on the pages of the book.

The description in the book was very interesting, but her eyes always drifted out the window unconsciously.

As the shadows gradually lengthened, Zheng Wanqing was startled to realize that her neck was already feeling a little sore.

She had just put down her book to stretch her muscles when the maid hurriedly lifted the curtain and came in with a bit of excitement in her eyes, "Madam, Adjutant Zhou is waiting in the front hall. He said that the young commander has a letter."

Zhou Lin walked into the hall in a neat military uniform. He took off his military cap and gave Zheng Wanqing a standard military salute.

"Madam, the young marshal sent a telegram saying that he has arrived safely in Peking." He took out a brown paper envelope from his inner pocket and presented it with both hands.

Zheng Wanqing hurriedly took the telegram and unfolded it, and when she saw the words "I hope you are safe, don't worry", her tense body relaxed a little.