A newly steamed tray of small corner zongzi was placed on the table, and the heat had not yet dispersed.
On the long celadon plate were six pieces in total, sweet and savory arranged in two neat rows. The left side was tied with pale red strings, the right side with green strings. The last one was wrapped with a fine golden thread tied into a delicate knot, the loose end pressed down neatly. Only a small portion of the bamboo leaves had been peeled back, yet the fragrance of glutinous rice had already drifted out first. The fillings inside were more refined than in previous years.
Wen Yunyi lightly tapped the leftmost red-string zongzi with a silver chopstick. She lifted a thin edge of bamboo leaf, revealing pale yellow chestnut paste mixed with finely crushed osmanthus. The fragrance was light, but it reached the nose first.
Qing Tao stood nearby, already unable to resist, staring longingly at the zongzi tied with the fine golden thread at the end of the plate. Wen Yunyi noticed and casually pushed it toward her.
“Try the last one.”
Qing Tao did not expect it to be for her. Her eyes brightened instantly, and she quickly picked it up and peeled it open. Inside was ham and fresh bamboo shoots. The bamboo shoots were finely diced, the salty savoriness of the ham had seeped into the glutinous rice, yet the taste remained clean and light. After one bite, she could not help but exclaim, “Ah! This is good!”
Madam Wang laughed. “Earlier, the Young Madam said this flavor was prepared for those who prefer lighter tastes. I was still worried it might not be flavorful enough, but now it seems just right.”
As she finished speaking, a report came from outside—Xu Mingshu had arrived.
Before she even entered, her laughter came first.
“Sister-in-law! I heard the manor made new zongzi this year!”
Xu Mingshu wore a light yellow thin jacket embroidered with small clustered flowers, paired with a tender willow-green skirt. Her palm-sized face was lit by the sunlight, her almond eyes bright with excitement. The moment she saw the plate of small corner zongzi, she quickened her steps.
“These are them?”
As a young lady, she was naturally drawn to delicate and refined things. Wen Yunyi did not stop her, only pointed with her chopsticks at the two red-string ones.
“Try them.”
Xu Mingshu first picked the osmanthus chestnut one. After one bite, her eyes curved immediately.
“This is good! Much better than the overly sweet ones from previous years.”
She was usually picky, so such direct praise was rare. Qing Tao could not help but smile as well.
Xu Mingshu then turned her attention to the newly prepared sachets.
They were arranged in two layers according to color. The upper row consisted of lighter tones—bean green, pale pink, soft yellow, and snow violet. The embroidery was restrained, not the usual dense floral work, but small branch motifs, half-bloomed pomegranate flowers, and slender vine patterns. The tassels were understated, giving the sachets a light and lively appearance.
At a glance, she picked out the bean-green sachet embroidered with a small pomegranate branch motif. When she lifted it, the tassel swayed, the pale honey-colored thread making her fingers look even fairer.
“This is for me?” she asked, looking at Wen Yunyi with unconcealed delight.
“If it’s not for you, who else would it be for?” Wen Yunyi replied calmly while organizing the festival lists at hand. “The pomegranate motif is lively, and paired with bean green it feels energetic. If the tassel were adorned with gold beads, it would look too frivolous. This is just right.”
Xu Mingshu looked down again and realized it truly suited her better than the peach-pink begonia sachet she had liked before.
Yet she still pretended casually, “You actually understand this.”
Wen Yunyi did not respond. Instead, she picked out another moon-white sachet embroidered with fine honeysuckle patterns and placed it into a separate small box.
Xu Mingshu immediately noticed. “Whose is this one?”
“Your brother’s.”
The answer was given as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Xu Mingshu blinked, then laughed.
“Sister-in-law even prepared one for my brother?”
Wen Yunyi finally looked up. “During the Dragon Boat Festival, wearing mugwort sachets is customary. Your brother usually wears plain colors. Too bright would be overpowering, too dark would look dull. This moon-white base is clean, and inside it is mugwort, angelica, and a small amount of borneol. The scent is light and will not clash with his ink fragrance.”
Qing Tao quietly marveled at the detail.
To her, it felt as though Wen Yunyi were painting a picture rather than matching accessories.
Xu Mingshu held her sachet and glanced again at the one prepared for Xu Jinzhi. Though she had a playful temperament, she was not unreasonable.
“It does suit Brother quite well,” she admitted.
Wen Yunyi simply put the sachet into the box and said nothing more.
Afterward, five-colored threads, festival gift boxes, mugwort bundles, and calamus for door hanging were all delivered.
The threads for the women were bright and lively, wrapped around wrists with elegance. Duchess’s gifts were more subdued—jade-colored sachets, small white jade beads, and standard sweet and savory zongzi arranged on lacquered gold plates. Even the servants received complete sets: a small sachet, a bundle of five-colored thread, a pair of mugwort sprigs, and two small corner zongzi, neatly wrapped in plain paper.
It was Wen Yunyi’s idea, inspired by modern gift packaging—less quantity, more order. What mattered was not extravagance, but clarity and thoughtfulness, so that each person felt properly considered.
On Dragon Boat Festival day, the Duchess indeed felt better than before, her cough much lighter.
She sat in the Main Chamber early in the morning as each household came to pay respects and collect festival gifts. Jiang Yunzhi arrived early as usual, personally delivering a warm bowl of snow pear and dried tangerine peel soup. After drinking it, the Duchess felt her throat ease and her expression softened.
She noticed Xu Mingshu’s wrist already wrapped in a new five-colored thread, and the bean-green pomegranate sachet hanging at her waist, swaying lightly as she moved.
“That one is good,” the Duchess said.
Xu Mingshu immediately lifted it proudly. “Sister-in-law picked it for me.”
Hearing this, the Duchess felt even more pleased.
When other servants brought in the festival gifts, she examined them one by one. Everything was properly arranged by household, orderly and thoughtful, without confusion. Even the servants’ portions were neatly prepared.
“This year’s Dragon Boat Festival has been handled very well,” she said. After drinking another sip of Jiang Yunzhi’s soup, she sighed. “Each one more reassuring than the last.”
Jiang Yunzhi sat below, her cheeks faintly red at the praise. Her attire was simple and refreshing—an ivory-white robe with a light tea-colored jasmine sachet at her waist. Her fingers lightly touched it, but her expression carried a subtle complexity.
At that moment, she saw Wen Yunyi standing under the corridor, quietly discussing mugwort distribution with Danzhi. The wind lifted her skirt slightly. Her expression remained calm, as if all of this order and harmony had always been exactly as it should be.
After the greetings dispersed, Xu Jinzhi entered.
He wore a plain moon-white robe today. Wen Yunyi asked Bai Lan to bring out the moon-white honeysuckle sachet and personally handed it to him.
“Something for the festival,” she said. “The mugwort scent is light and harmless.”
Xu Jinzhi took it without much question. He removed the sachet at his waist and replaced it with hers. The white jade beads fell gently against the pale fabric, looking unexpectedly well-matched.
Xu Mingshu laughed from the side. “This one suits you better, Brother.”
Xu Jinzhi smiled faintly, his gaze lingering briefly on Wen Yunyi.
She remained composed, as if giving him a sachet and distributing festival food were no different.
By afternoon, a small banquet was set. The elders sat together, the younger generation at another table, and the young ladies enjoyed small zongzi and delicate pastries. Xu Mingshu ate two red bean and dried tangerine peel zongzi and even tried the ham bamboo shoot flavor, nearly being scolded by the Duchess for lacking manners. Yet all dishes were served correctly, without a single mistake.
The Duchess felt satisfied and even her cough seemed lighter.
After the banquet dispersed, Xu Jinzhi passed through the corridor. Jiang Yunzhi appeared from the opposite side holding a small sachet.
She stopped when she saw him, her face slowly turning red.
“Your Highness,” she called softly. “I… I made a mugwort sachet last night. The stitching isn’t very good, but I thought it would suit the festival. If Your Highness does not wish to wear it, you may just keep it…”
Before she could finish, Xu Jinzhi had already taken it.
He hesitated only briefly before replacing the one at his waist with hers.
The green sachet hung against his moon-white robe.
Jiang Yunzhi’s eyes lit up with quiet joy. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
Xu Jinzhi simply acknowledged her.
When he turned into the corridor and saw Wen Yunyi standing in the distance, his steps paused slightly.
She was speaking with Guiqiong, holding a festival record book. Her gaze briefly swept over him—and over the sachet at his waist.
Only for a moment.
Then she looked away.
“Make sure the remaining zongzi are recorded properly. Send a portion of something light to Mother’s room tonight,” she said calmly, as if she had seen nothing at all.
Xu Jinzhi stood there for a moment.
Only then did a faint, inexplicable discomfort rise in his chest.
It was subtle—but hard to ignore.