Chapter 3

Later on the day of my brother’s release, Father was allowed to return home as well.

After long consideration, he wrote a calling card couched in the most restrained terms and sent it to the Li residence.

For one thing, an overly grateful message might lead people to believe that Lord Li had long-standing ties to our family and had shown favoritism in judging the case.

For another, our consciences would not let us leave his help unacknowledged. Li Jici was a good official.

Father had expected Li Jici to decline the gesture politely. He was now a favorite before the emperor and would surely want nothing to do with minor officials like us.

Unexpectedly, Li Jici declined only the thank-you gifts and accepted the calling card.

Five days later, on the twenty-third day of the sixth month, the peonies blazed with color and the orchids scented the air.

Li Jici—Lord Li himself—cordially invited my entire family to his residence to admire the flowers.

I thought the flowers at the Li residence must have bloomed exceptionally well that year. So well that Li Jici was willing to invite even strangers he barely knew into his home to see them.

My own spirits bloomed with them.

But on the twenty-second day of the sixth month, I dreamed again.

I returned to that lavish bedchamber.

His voice was softer and gentler than ever. “Jiaojiao, Jiaojiao, I’ve missed you so much.”

I tried to open my mouth. Something effortless while awake became as difficult as lifting a thousand-pound weight in the dream.

Dejected, I lowered my head.

The man noticed even that tiny movement. He cradled the back of my neck and asked softly, “What’s wrong? Are you unhappy?”

As we drew close, the restraint pressing on my throat dissolved into a thin mist, light as cotton fluff. I tried again and finally managed to speak.

I asked the question that mattered most to me. “Who are you?”

He laughed, as though I had asked something whose answer I should have known long ago.

Reaching out, he drew the half-closed bed curtain fully aside.

The warm yellow glow slowly widened, illuminating the shadowed bed.

First I saw the pale pink birthmark over the left side of his chest. It was tiny, no larger than a peach blossom.

Roundish, though more like a little peach.

Only then did I see the face above it, smiling at me with tender affection.

I stared at him, stunned and unblinking.

For several seconds, my mind went completely blank.

Then a crushing wave of mortification swept over me, turning me crimson from head to toe.

Those deep, icy eyes were now gentle as water.

Bathed in warm light, that familiar face was frightening no longer.

He watched my flaming cheeks with an amused smile, teasing me as only a lover would.

“I am your Li Jici, Jiaojiao.”