When we returned to Xie's house, the sun was already setting in the west.
The pendant clock in the corridor had just struck four times, and the lingering sound lingered in the warm hall.
Zheng Wanqing took off her cloak and handed it to the maid who came over to her. Her black hair was still tinged with the chill of early spring.
She smoothed her slightly messy hair and went straight to the kitchen.
The kitchen was filled with steam and several iron pots were bubbling on the stove.
Seeing Zheng Wanqing coming, the cooks immediately put down their work and stood with their hands hanging down.
The leader, Huang Ma, wiped her hands with her apron and said respectfully, "The Madam is here."
Zheng Wanqing raised her hand to signal: "You guys go ahead and do your thing, I just came to take a look."
She walked to the stove, opened the Qingying porcelain bowl, and the fresh aroma of crab roe immediately hit her face.
"Young Marshal loves to eat crab meat and lion's head soup," she picked up the silver spoon and stirred it gently, "Remember to add more water chestnuts, he loves the crispy texture the most."
As he spoke, he rolled up his sleeves, revealing his white wrist as smooth as jade, and personally scooped a spoonful of the broth to taste it.
Huang Ma rubbed her hands nervously and asked, "Madam, do you think this is okay?"
"It's sweet and delicious." Zheng Wanqing raised her lips slightly, "Thank you for your hard work."
Zheng Wanqing carefully examined a few more dishes, gave some pointers on the cooking time for a dish of fish fillet in vinegar, and then she quietly rolled up her sleeves and left.
Xie Yun was leaning on the leather sofa in the living room, reading a newspaper. He looked up when he heard footsteps and saw Zheng Wanqing approaching with a jar of wine. He immediately put down the newspaper and stood up to greet her.
"Why do you have to go get it in person?" he said as he took over the jar of Shaoxing Dongpu Kang red-printed old wine.
Zheng Wanqing had just untied half of the red silk string when Xie Yun's slender fingers lightly untied the red silk completely.
In an instant, the rich aroma of wine mixed with the unique sweet fragrance of Jiangnan glutinous rice filled the hall.
Xie Yun took a deep breath, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes: "Wine."
After saying this, he casually placed the wine jar on the coffee table. The heavy bottom of the jar hit the table top, making a dull "dong" sound.
Xie Yun took Zheng Wanqing's hand, led her back to the sofa, and put his arm around her and brought her to his lap.
"You disappeared as soon as you came back," he pinched her slightly cold fingertips, his tone filled with complaints, "So you went to the cellar. That place is cold and gloomy, let the servants go there."
Zheng Wanqing leaned on his shoulder and said, "I went to the kitchen and looked around. They were all your favorite dishes. Thinking about how you kept talking about this wine these days, I..."
"It's not like I won't come back." He pinched the tip of her small nose, his voice filled with helplessness and doting, "It's only two miles from the north to Tianjin, and the express train will take three hours to get there."
Zheng Wanqing leaned against his chest, listening to the steady and powerful heartbeat: "I know..." Before she finished speaking, her eyes turned slightly red.
She turned her head away to adjust his slightly open collar, and he grabbed her wrist.
"Wanqing..." Xie Yun stroked the red corners of her eyes with his thumb.
Zheng Wanqing saw the maid bringing in the dishes, and she quickly wiped her eyes and said with a forced smile, "It's time to eat."
After the maids had carefully arranged the dishes, Zheng Wanqing pulled Xie Yun to sit down at the rosewood round table.
In the green porcelain bowl on the table was a bowl of freshly-cooked fish fillets in vinegar, with the amber sauce still steaming.
Zheng Wanqing picked up the ivory chopsticks, carefully picked out the tenderest piece of fish belly meat, and gently placed it in his bowl.
"I heard that the temperature in Beijing has dropped significantly in the past few days," she said softly, her fingers stroking the lines on the chopsticks, "I'll have to prepare a few more woolen sweaters for you later."
"Madam, you are so considerate," he chuckled as he picked up a jade shrimp and fed it to her lips. The shrimp was still stained with crystal sauce, "I'm afraid it will make me miss home day and night."
Zheng Wanqing's ears turned slightly red, and she gently took a bite with his chopsticks.
After the meal, the maids cleared away the dishes and served tea.
Zheng Wanqing held the celadon teacup in her hand, staring out the window at the darkening night.
As the tea smoke rose, she stood up and said, "I'll go and count your belongings for you."
In the inner room, the mahogany trunk was wide open, and the insect-repellent sachets exuded a rich sandalwood scent.
Zheng Wanqing knelt on the carpet and folded the ironed shirts one by one.
Xie Yun's broad hands wrapped around her waist from behind, his chin resting on her shoulder, his breath carrying the mellow aroma of wine: "Let the servants do this."
His voice was muffled in the crook of her neck, vague and a little drunken.
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