With her life-saving deeds and service to the base formally recorded, their marriage application was approved in short order. Yet Xia Yuge’s official reward remained nowhere to be seen—lost in silence, as if cast into the sea.
Still, starlight shines brightest when it appears late, and blossoms always open for those who wait. Xia Yuge did not let it trouble her in the slightest. She went on exactly as before, often walking the hills behind the base alongside the other officers’ wives—gathering firewood, foraging mushrooms, or picking wild berries.
One thing had changed: her medicinal dishes were no longer eaten alone. Whenever Lu Tingxiao returned from a mission, he came straight to her, and they shared every meal together. Others knew nothing of her healing skill, but Lu Tingxiao had felt its power firsthand.
That evening, shortly after Lu Tingxiao had taken his leave, the little fox stepped out from its spirit space.
“Mistress! Now that your marriage application has been approved at last when do you and Commander Lu intend to marry?” it asked, eyes sparkling with excitement.
“Soon, I expect,” Xia Yuge replied with a smile.
“Soon? How soon? The New Year is barely two months away! Surely… surely you do not mean to spend the holidays alone here in the guest house?”
“Have no fear that will not happen,” she reassured it. “Commander Lu told me only yesterday he has applied for an official residence. If all goes well, we should hear word any day now. Once we have a place, we shall settle it up nicely. And then… his family will be coming to visit. Help me think what gifts ought I prepare for them?”
“That is easy enough, Mistress! We have treasures aplenty tucked away in our space. Pull out a few choice pieces and you are done!” the fox replied, as if the answer were obvious.
“Xiao Jiu we cannot simply do that,” Xia Yuge chided gently. “Think of the life this body lived before I came into it. If I suddenly appear bearing rare treasures, I shall only draw suspicion upon myself. That would be nothing but trouble.”
“Ah—how could I have forgotten that? Do not worry, Mistress… let me think this through properly.”
“In truth, I had hoped to venture into the mountains once more,” Xia Yuge sighed. “But since what happened up there, the entire range is under strict guard. No one may enter the deep woods without written permission. At most, I may walk the outer slopes—gathering sticks and mushrooms. And that is all. How am I to find what I need now?”
“Leave it to me, Mistress! I am a fox rules meant for men mean nothing to me. And have we not that old rat roaming the woods as well? I shall bid him scour the hills whenever he can—hunting for treasures. Ginseng would be wonderful. Or precious lingzhi mushrooms—ancient and potent. That would serve perfectly well, would it not?”
“Indeed thank you both,” Xia Yuge said softly. She stroked the fox’s tail, especially the one that had only recently grown in. “And do not worry when next I have leave to visit the city, I shall seek out the markets, even the hidden ones. I shall hunt for things such as spirit-fruit—substances rich enough in energy to help you grow your remaining tails at last.”
Her heart ached for the little fox. Born to be a nine tailed spirit fox, yet here, where spiritual energy ran so thin, it could not manifest its full form. It was a hardship she meant to set right.
Knock knock knock!
Footsteps sounded outside, followed by a firm rapping at her door. Xia Yuge and the fox exchanged a glance; in an instant, the creature vanished back into its spirit space.
“Who is it?” she called out, alert and ready.
“Comrade Xia it is I, Lu Tingxiao.”
She smoothed her tunic and hastened to open the door. There stood Lu Tingxiao, returned once more.
“Commander Lu? I thought you had already gone. Has something happened? Is there an emergency?” she asked, smiling.
“No emergency,” he replied gently. “Only word from the Commissar—our housing allocation has come through. Three residences are available for us to choose from. I came to ask—which would you prefer?”
“What are the three? Do you have time now? If it would not be too much trouble… might I see them first?”
“By all means.”
“Give me but a moment I shall fetch a coat and be right out.”
She grabbed a warm outer garment and stepped out beside him. Winter was drawing near; the evenings had turned sharp and cool. She realised with a start that she had scarcely prepared a single winter garment. She would need to visit the supply depot in town though they sold only cloth, not finished clothing. Cloth meant nothing to her when she could not sew. She could hardly wrap herself in burlap!
Lu Tingxiao glanced at her, then spoke.
“Comrade Xia would you mind stopping briefly at my quarters? I have something I wish to collect.”
“Of course—lead on.”
It was but a small detour. She saw no reason to refuse.
As they were not yet wed, Lu Tingxiao lived in the single officers’ barracks—though as Commander, he shared a room with only one other: his partner and comrade, Cheng Dong. Cheng Dong had been called away by his father that morning and would not return until late.
Lu Tingxiao unlocked the door and ushered her inside. Though she had been at the base nearly three months, this was her first time seeing the inside of an officer’s room. Everything was immaculate uniform, orderly, and precise. His quilt was folded so perfectly it looked like a block of cut tofu.
“Please sit upon my bed while I fetch what I need. It shall take but a moment,” Lu Tingxiao said, gesturing toward his neatly made bunk.
“Thank you but I shall stand,” she replied, looking at that flawless surface. She could not bring herself to wrinkle such perfection.
Lu Tingxiao turned, puzzled. “Why do you stand? Come, sit.”
“It is quite all right standing suits me well enough,” she said. “Your bed is simply too perfect. It looks like a work of art. I should hate to disturb it.”
Seeing she would not be persuaded, Lu Tingxiao smiled, shook his head fondly, and walked to the bedside cabinet. He opened the drawer and drew out a coat a woman’s tunic.
“I bought this some time ago, while away on mission,” he said, handing it to her. “I had no way of knowing your preference, so I chose what seemed practical. Wear this for now—tomorrow, if you are free, I shall accompany you to town and we may choose together, properly.”
“You went on a mission… and bought this?” Xia Yuge stared, warmth rising in her chest. “You bought this… for me?”
She had expected a man like him stern, upright, soldierly through and through—would never think of such a thing. That he had taken the time to choose a garment for her… it touched her deeply. It was the last thing she had expected.
“Try it on,” he said, turning toward the door. “I shall step outside and wait. Let us see if it fits.”
He closed the door gently behind him.
Xia Yuge slipped off her old coat and drew the new one over her shoulders. It was a neat, well-cut tunic of fine cotton, in a style and colour she loved—more than that, it fit her as though measured stitch by stitch against her form. Not too loose, not too tight every curve and line matched her perfectly.
For a moment she wondered: had he commissioned it made for her alone? How else could it fit so exactly?
Her heart swelled. In this strange new world she had awakened into… this was the first person who had looked upon her and cared enough to give her something kind.