Snow fell thick over Ye City.
At the same moment Lu Su had been speaking elsewhere, inside a small courtyard residence within the city, Cai Zhenji carefully pushed a coal briquette deeper into the brazier before her.
The briquette caught the flame and slowly reddened. A small clay pot resting above the fire soon began to release a faint sweetness into the air.
She let out a soft sigh.
"Truly we were fortunate to receive General Ma's care."
Xin Xianying did not think much of it. Though dressed in winter clothing, she held a fan in her hand and waved it casually, driving away the strange smell from the burning coal. The breeze she stirred also made the flame inside the brazier leap higher.
Using a cloth to protect her hand, she carefully lifted the lid of the small pot and greedily inhaled the fragrance of fruit mixed with sugar.
Shaking her head, she said,
"We are merely women, not warriors fighting on the battlefield. Why would anyone bother harming us?"
The remark sounded simple, yet Cai Zhenji understood the deeper meaning.
Xin Xianying's father, Xin Pi, had reportedly rendered great merit during the recent capture of the city.
As for herself, her husband Yang Dao served as the Administrator of Shangdang. After General Ma Chao seized Huguan Pass, Yang Dao was still needed to stabilize the region. Because of this, the safety of their entire household was guaranteed.
That naturally included her elder sister.
Still…
Xin Xianying picked up the spoon beside her and dipped it carefully into the jar, tasting a little of the preserved fruit syrup.
Her eyes immediately curved like crescent moons.
She scooped another spoonful and blew on it gently while saying with feeling,
"The method for making these canned fruits is not even complicated. Why had no one discovered it before?"
After cooling it slightly, she brought the spoon toward Cai Zhenji's lips.
Cai's younger lady smiled and tapped her forehead lightly.
"You think it simple, but Elder Sister has said the same about mathematics. Principles of calculation lie everywhere. One only needs to bend down and pick them up."
"Yet for generations people pass them by as though they were nothing."
"The achievements of the past go unrecognized. Later generations then gain fame by chance."
"One must never become arrogant because of that."
"Ah, I know, I know."
Xin Xianying leaned back to dodge the finger and muttered,
"Perhaps the reason we gained General Ma's favor in Huguan is entirely because of Elder Sister's learning."
Cai Zhenji could not help turning her head toward the woman who had remained quietly reading since the beginning.
Her own heart suspected the same might be true.
When Huguan City had fallen, chaos reigned for a time. If the three of them had died in the confusion, even Xin Pi would have had little ground to accuse anyone afterward.
Yet the disorder lasted barely half an hour before Ma Chao suppressed it.
Some Qiang cavalry who had crossed the line were executed on the spot. The fierce people of Shangdang were thus given a close view of what the warriors of Liang Province called "Splendid Ma Chao."
After that display, when Ma Chao later visited Yang Dao and requested his assistance in maintaining order for the sake of the common people, the matter seemed only natural.
There had been one small difference.
After hearing that Elder Sister had been reading certain books brought from the south, Ma Chao had asked about them with interest.
From that moment onward, the famous warrior's attitude had grown noticeably more respectful.
Yang Dao once asked about it in curiosity.
Ma Chao only replied with a single sentence.
"If someone can fully comprehend the heavenly books written by the Military Advisor, how could she be an ordinary person?"
Because of that remark, after the Son of Heaven seized the city, Elder Sister considered matters carefully and ultimately returned to Ye City, the place she had once resisted so strongly, choosing to live quietly in seclusion.
Xin Xianying's teasing words did not cause any change in Cai Wenji's expression. She merely held the page between her fingers and thought for a moment before saying,
"Xianying, cook two more jars of preserved fruit later. Send them to our neighbor, Lady Zhen."
"Elder Sister, Lord Liu is famous for his benevolence. Surely he would not allow an orphaned widow to lack for food."
Xin Xianying had meant to refuse, but seeing Cai Wenji's insistence she quickly yielded.
"Very well, very well."
"Her husband commanded a great army yet did not loose a single arrow before turning around and fleeing, leaving his wife and children behind."
"Lady Zhen truly is pitiful."
"Still, since we also possess the same kind heart as Lord Liu, what choice do we have?"
Even Cai Wenji could not maintain her calm expression at that. She reached out and tapped Xin Xianying lightly on the head.
"Enough chatter. Go."
Watching Xin Xianying run inside to fetch the jars with her usual lack of seriousness, Cai Zhenji sighed softly.
"If Lady Zhen's husband had truly returned to attack Ye City, then once General Ma Chao marched down from Shangdang the two forces would have struck from both sides."
"It would surely have been defeat."
Cai Wenji turned another page of her book.
"At that time the hearts of Ye City's people were unsettled."
"Perhaps the city would fall within half a day."
"Perhaps it would take two days."
"Perhaps ten."
"Who could know?"
"In any case, that possibility has already passed. Speaking of it now serves no purpose."
After dismissing the topic, Cai Wenji spoke again with rare admiration.
"With Ma Chao leading the Qiang cavalry of Liang Province, less than a month after departing Shangdang he captured Guangping, Julu, Zhao, Anping, and Changshan in succession."
"Qinghe, Hejian, Zhongshan, and Bohai all surrendered at the mere sight of his army."
"With a single campaign his fame spread far and wide."
Though there was a hint of borrowing another's prestige in such victories, one could also see the matter differently.
If he had not first broken through Shangdang, he would never even have had the chance to borrow that prestige.
Cai Zhenji had little interest in military affairs. She leaned forward slightly and suggested,
"Elder Sister, Lord Liu has already been in Ye City for more than ten days."
"The people's hearts have settled. There are also many curious things brought from the south."
"Why not go out and take a look? Remaining here…"
Lowering her head, she saw the book in her sister's hands.
It was no longer the ones Xin Xianying had bought earlier.
After Ye City became stable, a female official named Li Shu had visited their residence and delivered these books, saying they were gifts sent by order of Duke Xuande.
If the earlier books could at least be read in small portions during idle moments, the current ones were difficult even to recognize completely, let alone understand.
Cai Wenji smiled faintly.
"To read here and seek the principles within these texts without distraction…"
"This has been my dream for nearly thirty years."
Cai Zhenji fell silent.
Looking into her sister's eyes, she suddenly felt a trace of pity. Her voice softened.
"These books written by capable men under Lord Liu… what are the principles within them like?"
Cai Wenji moved her slightly stiff neck, then leaned her head gently against her sister's waist.
Her smile was peaceful.
"These principles…"
"They can be seen."
"They can be touched."
"They can be smelled."
"Raise your head and you see them."
"Lower your head and they are there."
"Every breath we take is connected to them."
Cai Zhenji did not truly understand her sister's words.
But seeing her sister happy made her happy as well.
At that moment Xin Xianying returned carrying two jars of preserved fruit. She began shouting even before reaching them.
"Just now Lord Liu sent an invitation."
"In a few days there will be a Little New Year banquet."
"Are the two Elder Sisters going or not?"
Cai Wenji and Cai Zhenji looked at each other.
"Little New Year banquet?"
…
"Little New Year banquet?"
"What is Little New Year?"
Liu Xie, wearing only a thin robe, pondered the phrase but could not understand it.
Night had already fallen. Snow continued to drift down outside.
Beneath the floors and within the walls of the bedchamber ran heating channels. Warm air from burning coal briquettes traveled through them, filling the entire room with comforting heat.
A soft body pressed gently against his back.
Two delicate hands rested lightly over his heart.
The voice behind him was soft.
"If Bohe does not understand, why not invite Imperial Uncle and ask him?"
The only reply was silence.