After several days of northerly winds, Yingzhou welcomed its first snowfall of the winter. Xin Jiuwei stood under the eaves, watching the courtyard gradually covered with a layer of silvery white, her breath condensing into white mist in the cold air.
"Miss, a letter has arrived from Yuncheng!" Xin Kui trotted over, holding a letter sealed with wax in her hands, her cheeks red from the cold. "The messenger said that the old master and his party have already set off and are expected to arrive in Yingzhou in five days."
Xin Jiuwei took the letter, her fingertips touching Xin Kui's icy hand, and she couldn't help but frown: "In this cold weather, why aren't you wearing the mink gloves I gave you?"
Xin Kui lowered her head and smiled, "This servant is reluctant to use it, such a fine thing..."
"Silly girl." Xin Jiuwei shook her head helplessly, took her hand and rubbed it. "Things are made to be used. How can you embroider those handkerchiefs if your hands are frozen?"
A flicker of emotion crossed Xin Kui's eyes. Just as she was about to speak, she caught sight of a figure at the other end of the corridor and froze. Xin Jiuwei followed her gaze and saw Xin Yunzhou striding towards them, his shoulders still covered in unmelted snowflakes, clearly having just returned from outside.
"Sister!" Xin Yunzhou's eyes lit up when she saw them, and she quickened her pace to walk over. "I just came back from the south of the city. All the New Year's goods you wanted have been ordered. The shopkeeper said they will be delivered to your residence in three days."
As he spoke, his gaze unconsciously drifted towards Xin Kui. Xin Jiuwei noticed this, secretly amused, but outwardly remained composed: "Thank you for your hard work, brother. By the way, Father asked you to come back to the study; he said he wants to discuss receiving Grandfather."
"I'll go right away." Xin Yunzhou nodded, but hesitated and didn't move, his eyes darting towards Xin Kui. "Um... Miss Xin, it's cold, please wear more clothes."
Xin Kui's face flushed red, and she lowered her head to reply, "Yes." Xin Yunzhou seemed to want to say something more, but in the end, he just scratched his head, turned around, and strode away.
After he had walked away, Xin Jiuwei chuckled softly, "Looks like my silly brother has finally come to his senses."
"Miss!" Xin Kui blushed deeply, her voice barely audible, "Young Master... he was just concerned about the servants..."
Xin Jiuwei raised an eyebrow: "Oh? Then who is that hairpin he's holding for?"
Xin Kui looked up abruptly, her eyes filled with disbelief: "A hairpin?"
"I saw it clearly just now. He had a brocade box sticking out of his sleeve, and it was embroidered with the words 'Magnolia Pavilion'," Xin Jiuwei said with a smile. "That's the most famous jewelry shop in Yingzhou, specializing in top-quality hairpins."
Xin Kui stood frozen in place, her eyes flashing with a complex mix of emotions—surprise, trepidation, and above all, unease. She bit her lower lip and whispered, "Miss... how could someone of my status be worthy of..."
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Xin Jiuwei interrupted her seriously. "In my eyes, you've long been one of my sisters. As for what your brother thinks, wait until he musters the courage to tell you himself."
Tears welled up in Xin Kui's eyes, and she was about to speak when a familiar sound of footsteps came from the courtyard gate. The two turned around at the same time and saw Xiao Xun walking in through the snow wearing a dark cloak, a few snowflakes on his shoulders, his handsome face slightly red from the cold.
"Why did you come on such a cold day?" Xin Jiuwei complained, but her eyes were full of smiles.
Xiao Xun walked to the veranda, shook the snow off his cloak, and took out an oil paper package from his pocket: "Freshly roasted chestnuts. I thought someone loved them, so I quickly brought them over."
The paper package was opened, and a sweet, warm aroma wafted out. Xin Jiuwei's eyes lit up, and she was about to reach for it when Xiao Xun deliberately held it up high: "Say thank you first."
"You..." Xin Jiuwei glared at him, but gave in when she smelled the alluring aroma, "...Thank you."
Xiao Xun then handed over the chestnuts with satisfaction, turning to Xin Kui and saying, "Miss Xin, would you like to try some? I bought quite a few."
Xin Kui quickly waved her hand: "This servant wouldn't dare..."
"What do you mean 'dare' or 'don't dare'?" Xin Jiuwei shoved a handful of chestnuts into her hand. "They're best eaten hot." She then peeled one herself, popped it into her mouth, and squinted her eyes in satisfaction. "So sweet."
Xiao Xun watched her gluttonous eating, his eyes filled with doting affection. He took off his cloak and casually draped it over Xin Jiuwei's shoulders: "Standing in such a draft wearing so little, aren't you afraid of catching a cold?"
Xin Jiuwei was about to retort when she suddenly noticed an exquisite brocade pouch hanging from his waist. The stitches were fine and dense, and it was embroidered with a sprig of red plum blossom. It was the very pouch she had casually embroidered for him last month. She hadn't expected him to have carried it with him all this time, and her heart warmed at the thought.
"What are you looking at?" Xiao Xun noticed her gaze, smiled, and patted the brocade pouch. "Someone's embroidery skills are so poor that I'm embarrassed to show it to others."
"Then give it back to me!" Xin Jiuwei made a move to snatch it.
Xiao Xun nimbly took a step back: "What's the point of taking back something you've given away?" He blinked. "Unless... you offer something even better in return."
Xin Jiuwei snorted, but couldn't hide the smile on her lips: "Dream on."
Xin Kui watched the two bickering, her eyes filled with envy. She quietly took a few steps back, not wanting to disturb them. Xin Jiuwei, however, turned and called to her, "Xin Kui, go and fetch that gray squirrel fur coat from my room, and make a pot of hot tea."
Xin Kui accepted the order and left. Xiao Xun watched her retreating figure, lost in thought: "Your brother and her..."
"The blockhead's finally figured it out," Xin Jiuwei peeled another chestnut. "But he's so slow and dawdling; it's frustrating to watch."
Xiao Xun chuckled, "Feelings can't be rushed." He suddenly reached out and gently wiped Xin Jiuwei's lips with his thumb, "They're stained with sugar."
This sudden intimacy made Xin Jiuwei's heart skip a beat, and her cheeks instantly flushed. Xiao Xun, however, nonchalantly withdrew his hand and instead pointed to a plum tree in the courtyard: "Look, the buds are all formed; they should bloom in a few days."
Xin Jiuwei followed his finger and saw that the old plum tree was indeed covered with tiny flower buds, looking particularly vibrant in the snow. Suddenly remembering something, she turned and asked, "By the way, are you really not going back to the capital for the New Year?"
Xiao Xun shook his head: "Father has granted me permission to stay in Yingzhou a little longer." He paused, his voice lowering slightly, "Besides... I'm reluctant to leave."
These words were spoken very softly, yet they struck Xin Jiuwei's heart with tremendous force. She lowered her eyelashes, concealing the tremor in her heart: "Who asked you to stay..."
Xiao Xun smiled without saying a word, simply gazing at her flushed earlobes with tenderness in his eyes.
Xin Kui returned quickly, bringing not only a fur coat and hot tea, but also a plate of snacks. The three sat on the veranda, enjoying the snow and chatting in a warm and harmonious atmosphere. It wasn't until the sun was setting that Xiao Xun got up to take his leave.
"I'll come again tomorrow." He helped Xin Jiuwei pull her cloak tighter and said in a low voice, "I have something for you."
Xin Jiuwei asked curiously, "What is it?"
"It's a secret." Xiao Xun smiled mysteriously, turned around and stepped into the swirling snow, his figure quickly disappearing into the white.
Xin Kui tidied up the tea set and whispered, "Young Master Xiao is so kind to Miss."
Xin Jiuwei gazed in the direction he had left, a smile unconsciously creeping onto her lips: "He just loves to keep things mysterious..."
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