As winter deepened, the capital grew colder by the day.
Thankfully, the *dilong* (heated underfloor heating) kept the rooms warm, otherwise Lu Nianfu felt she would have to spend the entire winter curled up on the *kang*. A young monk from Huangjue Temple delivered a few auspicious dates, and Lu Nianfu chose the closest one, the sixth day of the twelfth lunar month. With only a few days left, the maids in the house busied themselves with preparations.
Lu Nianfu held Qingya's dowry list, considering what else might be needed to add a few more items for her.
Qingya found it difficult to manage her own wedding affairs, but she was not idle. She sat by the door on a small stool, her face etched with worry, doing needlework. Large items like embroidered quilts and wedding dresses were handled by the embroidery room, and small items like pouches and handkerchiefs were helped with by the ladies in the household. However, the inner shirts and shoes she had to make for Wang Shoucheng herself.
Lu Nianfu took a moment to glance at them. The stitches were uneven, and that was excusable. But when she cut a thread, the knot left behind was as big as a pimple. She wondered if Wang Shoucheng would feel uncomfortable wearing them. She tutted twice, "It's fortunate these are inner garments. If they were worn on the outside, it's likely the entire capital would know that the shopkeeper of Xiangdai Pavilion is marrying an extremely unvirtuous wife."
Qingya was displeased. "What kind of ridiculous custom is it to have to personally make two inner shirts and two pairs of shoes for one's husband before marriage? Aren't bought ones much better than homemade?"
It was too difficult for her hands, accustomed to wielding a large saber, to handle a needle.
Lu Nianfu teased her, "Are they testing the bride's needlework skills? If you give him these clothes, Wang Shoucheng might come to break off the engagement tomorrow."
"Hmph, he knows I'm not virtuous, doesn't he? He's making a huge profit marrying me. Who in the capital doesn't know that I am your most favored maid, and so many people are eager to curry favor with me?"
"That's true. Qingya, you can still regret it if you want."
Qingya: "......Regret what?"
Lu Nianfu's expression turned serious. "I've already sent someone to Shun Tian Fu to nullify your servant status. From now on, you will no longer be a maid. Given our relationship, you could marry a minor official of the seventh or eighth rank and be a madam. Not to mention others, Song Ming has proposed to you twice."
Qingya took some effort to thread a needle again. "Forget about being a madam. With my personality, I can't manage that. I'd rather marry a wealthy man and live freely."
"What about Song Ming?"
"Alas, he's just saying it for fun; it's not to be taken seriously."
"Why can't it be taken seriously? I saw his proposal and thought he was quite sincere."
Qingya waved her hand. "Then tell me, what does he like about me? It can't be that he misses the days when I used to beat him, can it?"
Lu Nianfu glanced at her and said meaningfully, "Perhaps he wants to fight back!"
Having read countless storybooks, Qingya understood instantly and returned a meaningful glance. "Miss, you've truly become bad. Was it the son-in-law who taught you?"
"Ahem." Lu Nianfu quickly changed the subject. "Let's talk business. I actually think Song Ming is more suitable. Although he doesn't earn as much as Wang Shoucheng, he is an official, after all."
"I naturally know that an official's wife is more imposing than a shopkeeper's wife. But when it comes to marriage, isn't it about feelings? Ah, please don't use Song Ming as an example with me. It feels strange to talk about it."
They were brothers, yet here they were discussing the possibility of becoming a couple. The more they talked, the more awkward it became.
"What are you discussing?" Situ Yan entered the room, accompanied by a gust of wind and snow, and casually took off his fox fur cloak.
Qingya could babble with Lu Nianfu, but she couldn't with Situ Yan. She found an excuse and quickly slipped away.
Lu Nianfu took the fox fur cloak from his hands and hung it up. "Why are you getting off work so early today?"
Situ Yan hugged her already showing belly from behind, nuzzling his face against her neck. "The Crown Prince has returned to the capital. I'll be leaving for Shanxi in a few days."
"Leaving in a few days? Then you'll be spending the New Year in Shanxi?"
"I didn't expect it either. The Crown Prince is so useless. He could have at least pretended to fight a few battles to delay it until after the New Year. I'm sorry to trouble you, you'll have to spend the New Year alone this year."
"I'm staying at home, and everything is prioritized for me. What's there to be sorry about? It's you who will have to make do with food, clothing, and lodging when you're out on your travels. That's what's truly troublesome."
Situ Yan held out his hand to her. "Then, my dear wife, can you allocate a bit more pocket money to let your husband live more comfortably outside?"
Lu Nianfu looked at his outstretched palm and couldn't help but slap it. "You say it's truly troublesome, but when have I ever withheld money from you?"
"Isn't this just to highlight your family status?" He rubbed her belly. "I've already spoken to the Emperor. You're pregnant, so you don't need to come to the palace for New Year's Eve. You don't need to pay New Year's calls to the various consorts either. Situ Jue and I have never been on good terms, and now I've slapped the Crown Prince's face. The Empress and the Noble Consort might be plotting something and want to take it out on you."
Lu Nianfu disliked going to the palace too. She breathed a sigh of relief at his words. "That's wonderful, but will the censors impeach us for disregarding seniority?"
"Don't worry, they wouldn't dare." Situ Yan was quite confident about this. He dared to slap the Crown Prince's face, so why would those censors dare to annoy him with such trivial matters?