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

Wei Kuangzan nodded.

In the backyard, under the osmanthus tree.

The petals fell all over the ground, pink and white, like a layer of brocade.

Wei Gui walked ahead, with Li Ju following two steps behind. The maids kept their distance, not daring to get too close.

The osmanthus flowers were in full bloom, their branches reaching out to the porch and brushing against her shoulders.

She stopped and turned around.

Li Ju also stopped.

The two stood facing each other, two steps apart.

He looked at her, and she looked at him.

She had grown taller since the last time we met.

Last year on the Luo River, she looked him in the eye. Today, standing under the osmanthus tree, he found himself having to slightly raise his eyes to see them clearly.

She was taller than him.

It wasn't much higher, just a little bit. But that little bit made his heart skip a beat.

"You've grown taller," he said.

Wei Gui lowered his eyes, a slight smile curving his lips: "You too."

"I didn't. You've grown."

Wei Gui didn't reply, his ears turning slightly red.

There was silence for a moment.

Li Ju took something out of his sleeve, wrapped in a plain handkerchief.

He opened the white handkerchief, revealing a white jade hairpin. The hairpin head was carved with an orchid, its petals outstretched, its branches and leaves delicate and graceful, the carving exquisite.

"I wanted to give you this at the White Horse Temple last time, but I didn't dare." He handed over the hairpin. "I'm making up for it today."

Wei Gui took the hairpin, placed it in his palm, and looked down at it.

The jade was warm and lustrous, with clear orchid patterns. She looked at it for a moment, then tucked the hairpin into her sleeve.

"Thank you, Attendant Li," she said, her voice as soft as the wind rustling through flower petals.

The two remained silent for a moment.

Li Ju looked into her eyes and said softly, "Give me some more time. Once I'm promoted to the fifth rank, I'll come to your door to propose marriage. At that time, all six rites will be complete, and it will be a proper and respectable affair. I won't let you suffer the slightest grievance, and no one will have a single word of gossip."

Wei Gui raised his eyes and looked at him.

Osmanthus blossoms drifted down, landing on her shoulder and on his sleeve.

She didn't speak, but simply nodded slightly.

Then, she whispered, "I'll wait for you."

Three words.

It was as light as a sigh, yet as heavy as a vow.

Li Ju's heart pounded wildly, almost leaping out of his chest. He clenched his fists, resisting the urge to step forward.

"It won't be long," he said.

Wei Gui nodded again.

From afar came Wei Nizi's voice, drawn out: "Sister—Ah Lang is calling you back—"

Wei Gui raised his head and glanced at Li Ju.

"You should go," she said softly.

Li Ju nodded, took a step back, and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Lady Wei, farewell."

"Be careful on the road."

He turned and walked out along the corridor.

After taking a few steps, I couldn't help but turn back.

She stood beneath the osmanthus tree, petals falling onto her shoulders and hair. The autumn sun's afterglow shone from the west, bathing her figure in a pale golden light.

She looked at him.

He looked at her.

He took a deep breath, turned around, and strode out.

He never looked back.

Wei Gui stood there, watching him disappear at the end of the corridor.

The osmanthus blossoms are still falling, landing in her palm.

She looked down at the petals in her palm and gently held them.

Wei Nizi peeked out from the corner of the corridor and saw Wei Gui still standing under the tree. He then tiptoed over.

"Sister, he's gone."

Wei Gui did not answer.

"You've been standing there for a long time." Wei Nizi leaned closer, tilting his head to look at her. "Sister, were you crying?"

"No." Wei Gui turned around and walked into the house.

Your eyes are red.

"It was blown by the wind."

Wei Nizi followed behind her, giggling, without exposing her.

Wei Gui returned to his room, closed the door, and leaned against it.

She took the white jade hairpin from her sleeve, held it up to her eyes, and looked at it again and again.

The orchid with its hairpin-shaped petals spread out as if it were alive.

She carefully put the hairpin into her dressing case, placing it together with the jade piece engraved with "Chang Le · Huai Run".

When Li Ju returned from the Imperial Water Conservancy Bureau, the sun was still high in the sky.

It's been quite quiet lately. The campaign against Liaodong has just ended, the canal transport has been suspended, the river embankments are intact, and there's nothing major happening in the government offices.

He approved a few documents and then got up and went home.

Pushing open the courtyard gate, the stone table and benches under the old locust tree remained the same, except that there were now a few sparrows on the table, which fluttered away as soon as he entered.

He changed into casual clothes, sat down at the stone table, and picked up a book to read.

Before I could read more than a few pages, I heard the sound of carriages and horses outside the courtyard gate, followed by urgent and frequent knocking.

He got up and opened the door.

Wei Feng stood outside the door, followed by a long line of servants—carrying chests, moving tables and chairs, and carrying utensils—a grand procession that blocked the alleyway.

"General Wei, this is—" Li Ju was taken aback.

Wei Feng smiled and cupped his hands in greeting: "Li Ye Zhe, I'm here on my uncle's orders to add some things to the new house. You've just started your own household, and the house is all empty; that's not right."

Before Li Ju could refuse, Wei Feng waved his hand, and the servants filed in.

A huanghuali wood desk was brought in, paired with a round-backed chair; the wood grain was warm and the workmanship was exquisite.

A sandalwood screen, carved with landscapes, with five panels connected together, was placed in the main hall, instantly brightening the entire room.

Two bronze incense burners, with their simple and antique design, are placed on the table.

There were also beds, clothes racks, tables, stools, and chairs—all of them were fine items.

Finally, two maids entered. They were about fifteen or sixteen years old, with delicate features and demure expressions. They bowed to Li Ju.

"This is my uncle's idea," Wei Feng said. "You live alone and need someone to take care of you. These two are servants of the Wei family; they know the rules and are trustworthy."

Li Ju looked at the furniture and utensils filling the room, then at the two maids, and bowed, saying, "Lord Wei's generosity is too much for me to accept."

"What's there to be ashamed of?" Wei Feng patted him on the shoulder. "Your uncle said that you are an official of the imperial court, and if you live in such a shabby place, it will be a disgrace to the court. You can use these things as you please."

Before Li Ju could say anything more, Wei Feng pulled him down to sit at the new desk and said with a smile, "There's more, don't rush."

Another servant entered from outside, carrying a small box. Wei Feng took it, placed it on the table, and opened it.

Inside was a set of scholar's objects—one Duan inkstone, two brushes and two ink sticks, one brush washer, and one pair of jade paperweights.

The inkstone is made of fine old pit Duan stone, the ink is made of Huizhou pine soot ink, and the brush washer is made of celadon with a warm and jade-like glaze.

"This set was chosen by Gui-mei herself," Wei Feng said in a low voice, a smile playing on his lips. "She said your handwriting is good, so you should use a good inkstone."

Li Ju's heart skipped a beat. He reached out and touched the Duan inkstone. His fingertips touched the cool stone surface, as if he had touched something soft.

"And there's more." Wei Feng took out another brocade box from the trunk, opened it, and inside was a tea set—six white porcelain teacups, a teapot, a tea spoon, and a tea scoop, all of which were simple and elegant.

"She picked it out too," Wei Feng said. "She said you love tea, and this set suits you."

Li Ju gently closed the brocade box and placed it aside.

"And there's more." Wei Feng smiled and took out a blue cloth package from the bottom of the box, then opened it.

Inside were a pair of knee pads, a pair of wrist guards, and a hand warmer.

The knee and wrist guards are made of indigo-blue fabric with a thick cotton lining and fine stitching.

The hand warmer is made of copper, small and exquisite, with an orchid engraved on the bottom.

"She made these herself," Wei Feng said. "She said that your knees and wrists are prone to getting cold when you patrol the river embankment in winter, so these hand warmers are for you to use in the duty room."

Li Ju picked up each item and examined it, then put them back one by one.

"I thank Lady Wei on behalf of Li." His voice was steady, but his fingers trembled slightly.

Wei Feng saw this, smiled, and didn't say anything.

Just then, a small head peeked in from outside the courtyard gate.

Wei Nizi.

She was wearing a light yellow jacket, with matching hair ribbons tied in her double buns, and carrying a string of candied hawthorns in her hand. She skipped in, looking around curiously.

"Li Huairun, your house is so small!" She turned around, ran to the study door, and peeked inside. "You have quite a few books, though."

Before Li Ju could speak, she had already slipped inside, touched the books on the bookshelf, pulled one out, flipped through it, and put it back.

After coming out, he ran to the courtyard, sat on the stone bench under the old locust tree, looked up at the tree canopy, and squinted his eyes.

"This stone bench is so cold." She stood up, patted her skirt, and said to Wei Feng, "Brother, if my sister lives here in the future, I want to come too."