Nie Huiming nodded with a smile, then waved Qin Rusu off. "You may withdraw. In a while, you'll come along with me to the banquet."
Qin Rusu froze for a moment, glanced at Xu Yu, and bowed before withdrawing.
Nie Huiming did not move, his gaze still resting on the top of Xu Yu's head. "The jade pendant."
Xu Yu turned to pick up the jade pendant and asked quietly, "How do I attach it?"
Nie Huiming took it and demonstrated once. "You hook the jade clasp directly onto the leather belt. Do you understand? Now you try."
Xu Yu tried to clasp it on but failed. She swallowed, then tried gripping the leather belt, and with a slight tug, Nie Huiming was pulled forward, his chest bumping against her forehead.
Her heart pounded wildly. Alarmed, she dared not lift her head—then she heard a burst of laughter.
"Try again," Nie Huiming said, smiling.
"I…" She raised her eyes and met his encouraging gaze, then lowered them again, carefully extending the jade pendant. This time, with a light click, it fastened on easily.
She looked up again, gazing at him with delight.
Nie Huiming stepped back two paces and said with a smile, "Let's have breakfast."
Xu Yu lowered her eyes and followed him to his seat, kneeling upright, picking up the ladle to serve him some minced meat soup.
He accepted it and said, "Have some yourself too."
"Thank you, my lord." Xu Yu knelt, cradling the warm bowl of soup, and took a small sip.
"Did you sleep well last night?"
"Mm. This servant knew we'd be going out today, so I slept the whole night through. I'm fully awake now—I absolutely won't doze off today."
"We're going out today. Are you nervous?"
Xu Yu glanced again at his elaborate attire and nodded slightly. "My lord must be attending some very important banquet today. This is the first time this servant has seen you dressed so formally. Actually, this servant wasn't slacking off earlier—I simply didn't know how to put on these garments."
"It's no matter. I could already tell you didn't know how."
Xu Yu remembered how she had nearly pulled him over just now, and hung her head in embarrassment.
"Today it's the Commandery Governor's invitation, at some restaurant's private courtyard. You won't need to do anything—just follow me and do as I say."
Xu Yu's embarrassment vanished instantly, replaced by anxiety. "Will there be any danger?"
"Rest assured. Even if things come to blows, it won't happen at such an open, formal banquet. This trip is them hosting a welcome dinner for me."
"This servant understands."
After breakfast, the dishes were cleared away, and Nie Huiming gave another instruction. "Go fetch the tasseled coronet and put it on me, then we can set off."
Xu Yu brought over the coronet from the table, knelt before him, and gently secured it onto his topknot. She asked softly, "These two cords—do they tie under the chin?"
"That's right." Nie Huiming lifted his chin.
Xu Yu leaned in slightly and carefully tied a knot under his chin, saying softly, "This servant will go get the bronze mirror."
"No need. This will do." Nie Huiming rose, hung his sword at his side, and strode toward the door. "Let's go. Go call that maid surnamed Qin."
Xu Yu quickly tidied her clothes and appearance, then jogged to the living quarters. "Rusu, my lord has called for the two of us to accompany him."
Qin Rusu gave her a look, then broke into her usual smile. "You had breakfast with my lord, didn't you? I always said he treats you differently, but you never believed me."
"Now's not the time for that—my lord is waiting outside." With that, Xu Yu hurried out the door.
Seeing her arrive, Nie Huiming turned and walked out.
The carriage was already harnessed. Nie Huiming stepped up into the carriage, while Xu Yu and Qin Rusu attended on either side, striding along to keep pace.
The sky had turned overcast again, with a biting wind howling, but fortunately the walking kept them warm enough that it wasn't too cold.
The carriage stopped before the gate of an elegant courtyard—it looked like a side entrance. The area before the gate was very quiet. After they knocked, a servant inside opened the door, removed the threshold, and welcomed the carriage in.
After proceeding a short distance, the carriage halted by the courtyard wall. Nie Huiming stepped down and continued on foot, with Xu Yu following immediately behind, carefully surveying the surroundings.
The place didn't seem large, but it was exquisitely decorated—even the floor tiles were carved with intricate patterns. Past the covered walkway was apparently the reception hall. Two beautiful maids came forward to greet them, ushering them through a small hall and around the screen wall to the main hall.
The hall was already full of guests. Everyone rose together and bowed: "Your humble officials greet Lord Assistant Palace Secretary."
Nie Huiming walked past them and took his seat at the head of the table with composure. "This is a private banquet. There's no need for such formality."
"Though it is a private banquet, proper courtesy cannot be discarded," said the Commandery Governor, taking his seat below. "We should have held a welcome banquet for the Lord Assistant Palace Secretary long ago, but there was a heavy snowfall recently, and many areas under my jurisdiction suffered damage. Add to that the year-end rush of affairs, and the matter was postponed again and again—until, before we knew it, it came to today."
"There's no need for explanations, Governor. The Colonel briefed me when I first arrived. I've been an official for many years—I can certainly understand such things."
"Yes, yes." The Governor turned to make introductions. "This is the Colonel and the Commandery Vice-Governor. Colonel, you have met His Lordship several times. As for the Vice-Governor—when Your Lordship arrived ahead of schedule, the rest of us had not yet returned to the city, and it was the Vice-Governor who received you. Does Your Lordship still remember?"
Nie Huiming looked over and said, "Of course I remember. Wasn't it the Vice-Governor who arranged my current lodgings? And these two maids behind me—were they also a gift from the Vice-Governor? I must thank the Vice-Governor for selecting such considerate, gentle, and charming maids for me. They add a touch of brightness to this winter when all things wither."
The Vice-Governor stepped forward with a fawning smile. "It is my honor to—"
The Governor cut him off. "Your Lordship has misunderstood. He didn't choose them. It was that gentleman there—the master of Quxiang Villa. He trained them well."
The man waiting outside the door entered and bowed. "Your humble commoner Lu Cheng pays his respects to Your Lordship."
The Governor continued, "Your Lordship was originally to lodge at the Regional Inspector's residence, but alas, the Regional Inspector met with a fatal incident. To preserve the evidence, and for Your Lordship's safety, we had no choice but to find another place. This merchant is the master of Quxiang Villa. Hearing that I was searching for lodgings for Your Lordship, he volunteered his own estate. When I went to see the place, I found it truly elegant and secluded, so I took the liberty of arranging for Your Lordship to stay there. How has Your Lordship found it? If it is not comfortable, I shall send men out at once to find other lodgings."
"Quxiang Villa is quite fine—and the maids in the villa are finer still," Nie Huiming said.
Only then did the hall relax. The Governor smiled. "If Your Lordship is pleased, why not have Lu Cheng present the maids to you as a gift? Your Lordship may bring them back to the capital."
"Wouldn't that be improper? If others found out, this official's hat on my head might not survive."
Lu Cheng answered at once, "Your Lordship need not worry. If Your Lordship is pleased, this humble commoner can arrange matters so that no one will ever know their origins."
Nie Huiming smiled. "Very well. Let me consider it."
The Commandery Governor said, "There's still a while before lunch. Why not have them bring some wine and refreshments first? Someone come."
At his command, the maids entered in orderly fashion. Xu Yu was curiously sneaking glances when suddenly, among the group of maids, she spotted her sister, Xu Yun.
Startled, and afraid of being seen by her sister, she hastily crouched down without a second thought.