My wife, Wei Gui, was 1.9 meters tall and fought against the Tang dynasty for the throne.

Li Ju put down his cup and looked at Wei Feng.

"I appreciate General Wei's kindness," he said, "but I have no interest in marriage right now. I'm still young and want to make a name for myself first. We can talk about these things later when I've achieved some success."

Wei Feng looked at him, his gaze deepening.

He didn't press further, but simply smiled and picked up his glass: "Then I won't force you. Come on, have another drink."

The two drank another glass.

Wei Feng put down his cup and suddenly said, "Prime Minister Li, after the autumn sacrifice tomorrow, the Wei family is hosting a family banquet. If you're free, why don't you come and join us?"

Li Ju was taken aback: "General Wei, this is a family banquet of the Wei family, and I am just an outsider—"

"A life-saving grace, and you consider me an outsider?" Wei Feng interrupted him. "If it weren't for you, I, Wei Feng, would be buried long ago. What's a family dinner compared to that?"

Li Ju remained silent for a moment.

The Wei family is having a banquet. Wei Gui must be there.

"Since General Wei has said so, I, Li, will respectfully comply," he said. "However, my status is lowly, and I fear it may be inconvenient."

"If I say it's convenient, then it's convenient." Wei Feng poured him a full glass of wine. "After the memorial ceremony tomorrow, I'll have someone waiting for you at the entrance of the Wei residence."

Li Ju nodded: "Okay."

Wei Feng smiled, said nothing more, and simply raised his glass to clink with his.

After drinking two jugs of wine, it got completely dark.

The two walked out of the tavern, and Wei Feng patted Li Ju on the shoulder: "Li Cheng, see you tomorrow."

See you tomorrow.

Wei Feng picked up the empty wine jar, turned and left. After taking a few steps, he turned back and glanced at Li Ju.

He didn't say anything, but his eyes conveyed two words—he understood.

Li Ju stood there, leading his horse, watching Wei Feng's figure disappear into the night.

Then he untied the package on the saddle and opened a corner of it.

It was an autumn garment. The fabric was dark silk, with fine, steady stitches. A small magnolia was embroidered at the neckline, barely noticeable unless you looked closely.

He rewrapped the package, hung it back on the saddle, and took the letter from his bosom.

The letter was folded neatly and then unfolded.

Li Langjun's esteemed assessment:

I am greatly pleased to hear of your promotion to Assistant Director of the Water Conservancy Bureau. My cousin has already recounted the details of the Liyang incident. You single-handedly protected the Liyang granary and safeguarded 100,000 units of military provisions; this merit not only benefits the court but also the Wei family. On behalf of the clan, I express my gratitude.

With the cold weather approaching, I've made a winter coat by hand. The stitching is rough, but I hope you won't reject it.

The autumn ancestral worship ceremony is approaching, and you are also returning home to pay respects to your ancestors. May you have a safe journey.

Wei Gui bowed.

There were no extra words, but Li Ju read it three times.

He folded the letter, put it in his bosom, and placed it together with the lock of black hair and the jade pendant.

Then he mounted his horse and headed home.

When Li Ju returned to the Li family residence, it was already completely dark.

He went to the main hall first. Li Xiaochang was sitting behind a desk with a book in his hand. When he saw him come in, he put down the book and looked him up and down.

"You're back?"

"Yes." Li Ju bowed. "Father."

Li Xiaochang's tone was gentler than before, but he still maintained the air of a father.

"I heard you did a good job at the Water Conservancy Bureau. I've also heard about what happened in Liyang. Securing the provisions for an army of 100,000 is a great achievement for the Li family."

"I dare not take credit; it is thanks to the superior's skillful management."

Li Xiaochang waved his hand, ignoring the comment, and changed the subject.

"You are now in the Imperial Water Conservancy Bureau, handling both canal transport and water conservancy. The Li family has several estates around Luoyang that pay a considerable amount of taxes and corvée labor every year. Do you think you could—make some exceptions? Reduce some of the grain taxes and lighten some of the corvée labor. We're all family, so make things as convenient as possible."

Li Ju understood perfectly well. This was a common tactic used by powerful families—whichever government office their son held, that family would benefit from it. Everyone did it this way, and as long as it wasn't excessive, no one would say anything.

"I understand," he said. "What I can do, I will do myself."

Li Xiaochang nodded in satisfaction and said, "Dress properly on the day of the autumn sacrifice. You are now an official of the court, not like before. Don't let your clansmen laugh at you."

"Yes."

"Go."

Li Ju left the main hall, walked through the corridor, and returned to the side courtyard where he lived.

The courtyard wasn't large, but it was kept clean. He pushed open the door, lit the lamp, placed the blue cloth bundle on the bed, and untied it.

The thermal underwear was laid out, its dark silk surface gleaming warmly under the light, and it felt soft and warm to the touch.

He put on his thermal underwear.

It fits perfectly.

The sleeves were the perfect length, the shoulder line met just right, and the waist fit perfectly. It was like it was tailor-made.

He didn't know when she took his measurements. Maybe it was at Mangshan, maybe at Baima Temple. Maybe she just remembered them by sight—a single glance.

He stood under the lamp for a while, carefully took off his thermal underwear, folded it, and put it in the closet.

Then I walked to the window and opened it.

The night sky was clear, and the moonlight was bright, hanging above the courtyard wall. Its clear light shone down, making the bluestone path appear white.

He took out the love knot made of a lock of black hair from his pocket and placed it in his palm.

The faint fragrance is the same as the one I smelled at the White Horse Temple that day.

It's truly a blessing to be remembered by a woman like this after transmigrating.

He muttered a sentence to himself.

It was worth the time I spent in this life.

The Wei residence.

Wei Nizi lay on Wei Gui's couch, swinging his legs back and forth, chewing on candied fruit.

"Sister, we're going to Mangshan again tomorrow for the autumn festival."

"Hmm." Wei Gui sat by the window, holding a needle and thread, embroidering a brocade robe.

"Li Huairun is going too."

Wei Gui paused for a moment, then continued embroidering.

"Sister, do you think he might suddenly appear out of the roadside like last time?"

"That was a chance encounter," Wei Gui said.

"The first time was a chance encounter, but the second time wasn't." Wei Nizi sat up, her eyes sparkling. "Sister, do you want me to create another opportunity for you? Like last time, I'll pretend to fall, and you'll fall into his arms—"

"Wei Nizi." Wei Gui put down his needlework and looked at her. "If you keep talking nonsense, I won't take you tomorrow."

Wei Ni stuck out her tongue, then lay back down, muttering, "I'm not lying. You clearly want to see him."

Wei Gui ignored her and picked up her needle and thread again.

But she embroidered two stitches and then stopped.

Is there still such an opportunity?

On the day of the autumn sacrifice, the sky was clear and the air was fresh.

On the road to Mangshan, carriages and horses came and went in an endless stream. Families from all over Luoyang rushed up the mountain to worship their ancestors, with sedan chairs with green curtains and red-lacquered carriages lined up from the foot of the mountain all the way to the mountainside.

Li Ju rode behind the Li family's procession. Today he wore a new outfit—a moon-white round-necked robe, a black leather belt around his waist, and a white jade hairpin in his hair. It was a new garment his father had made; the material was fine, and he looked quite presentable.

But what he was thinking about was that thermal underwear.

Wearing it underneath, no one can see it. But it's close to the skin and very warm.

As they reached a fork in the road, the procession ahead slowed down. Li Ju looked up and saw a man standing by the roadside—Wei Feng. He was riding a chestnut horse, wearing a black brocade robe, and was waving at him.