Yao scrambled out of the bushes just before his mother could call his name, grinning as he ran up to grab her dress. Her words were cut off as he buried his face into her dress, but he felt as her hands landed on his back. 

“Mistress, we–”

“It’s fine, Lian. I know he likes to hide when I have to visit the main house.” His mother interrupted the servants, and Yao peeked out to see the servants bowing to his mother. He didn’t understand why she was important, only that she was and it made Yao chuckle. It was his mother’s importance that let him have his secrets. “For now, can you prepare some tea for us?”

“Yes Mistress.” As soon as the servants started to walk away, Yao stepped away from his mother’s dress, grinning as she looked down at him. Her long dark hair that matched his was tied back with a plain cord and her brown eyes and  smile were soft and tired like it always was. Yao bounced as he waited for her to speak and chuckled as she gently stroked his hair. 

“You have been to the lake.” Her soft words made Yao gasp and he quickly pulled back as she untangled something from his hair. It was a piece of grass, wet and limp from the water. “Can you swim, Yao?”

Yao hesitated, frowning as he looked away. He didn’t want his mother to figure out he always went down to the lake, but he also didn’t want to worry her by saying he didn’t know how. He continued playing with his clothing, eventually muttering under his breath. 

“A little bit.”

“Repeat that, Yao.”

“A little bit.” He said louder, still refusing to meet his mother’s gaze. “I didn’t go very far.”

“Still, I do not want you going into the lake when you cannot swim.” His mother stated matter-of-factly, and Yao nodded, reminding himself to check his hair from now on. She started to walk away and Yao followed, still playing with the edge of his shirt. His mother was never very harsh with him, and he knew she would give him a sweet with their tea, but he still felt bad about lying. 

Yao finally looked up, noticing the symbol that seemed tattooed on her arms. It wasn’t often that Yao could see it, as his mother usually wore sleeves long enough to hide it, but today, it seemed she didn’t notice that it wasn’t fully covered. Yao didn’t usually say anything whenever he noticed it, knowing his mother seemed to try and hide it, but he was annoyed that she had noticed the grass in his hair. 

“Ma, what is that on your arm?”

As soon as he spoke, his mother quickly pulled down her sleeves, covering the symbol completely. Yao leaned more to see her expression, but his mother was merely looking ahead, her expression the same as always. “Ma?”

“Nothing you need to worry about, Yao.” She finally said, smiling softly as she offered him her hand. He took it eagerly, still annoyed that he hadn’t seemed to shake her. Sometimes his mother seemed so fragile that she would blow away with the slightest breeze, other times he was reminded that she was as solid as a tree bending with the wind. 

“Mistress, there is a messenger for you.” 

“Alright, I will greet him.” Yao frowned as his mother released his hand, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead. “I will give you a candied plum with tea if you wait patiently for me.”

Yao crossed his arms, pouting as he turned his face away. “I want two.”

“Three if you wait quietly,” his mother offered and Yao felt his resolve sway. Why was she always so much better at this than he was? “And a candy after dinner if you don’t fuss.”

“Alright!” Yao agreed, bowing his head as he turned to continue walking with the servant. He wouldn’t have fussed anyway but if it earned him an extra piece of candy, then he was fine with letting his mother win. 

This time. 

***

Jie watched as her son disappeared into the residence before glancing down at the grass still in her hand. She had not expected such a simple piece of grass to affect her the way it did. To take her back to years she could never get back, when she and her siblings also played by that lake. Where she met him.

Slowly, Jie turned to make her way to the reception room. One of her handmaids followed her, but she could tell they were silently judging her. It was something she had gotten used to over the years, especially considering her age. Having her first child at nineteen with no sign of the father would have been enough to get her cast out, but the mark on her arms had saved her from that fate. Saved and doomed her at the same time.

Of course, her sister’s love for her also did a lot of the heavy lifting. Yin had put her position as head of their branch at risk to protect Jie, insisting they give her the two week period granted to all female cultivators when they fell pregnant. Even if she didn’t know who the father was, Yin loved all of her siblings fiercely, and that love had protected her nephew. 

Jie took a deep breath. Shr didn’t want to think about such awful things right now. She knew very well who the messenger was from and the thought made her heart pound. 

“Mistress Luoyin greets you.” Jie stepped into the room as she was introduced, and was unsurprised to see Tao Hua kneeling patiently as he waited. He stood as she entered, although she waved him back down as she sat on her own cushion. As soon as she was seated, the other servants left, leaving her alone with her guest. 

“How is your Master?” Jie managed to keep her voice steady, not wanting to give away any of the emotion that still swirled in her chest. Hua gave a small smile, bowing his head as he spoke. 

“He misses you dearly and hopes the winter treated both you and young Yao well,” the man spoke, reaching into his robes as he pulled out a letter and a small box. He carefully placed them on the floor between them, and Jie nodded, still doing her best to hide her emotions. “He offers his best wishes for Yao’s sixth birthday.”

“I am most grateful,” Jie bowed her head, swallowing all the words she wanted to say. Even if her sister had accepted her explanation that Yao’s father was a merchant who travelled and could not stay at the estate, she knew it was a flimsy excuse at best. Her deception depended on both her and Hua never letting the truth slip. “And his trip?”

“The Master hopes to visit around the 5th month.” Hua offered and Jie closed her eyes, doing her best to stay calm. “However, the road is difficult, and it may take longer. If he cannot visit, he will send a new message and apology.”

“I understand. Let your master know I look forward to his visit.” Jie offered, even if she knew no such visit was coming. A man would come to see her and Yao, but it would not be Yao’s father. Merely the only person they trusted to keep the secret and keep the illusion Jie had created. “You may leave.”

“Thank you Mistress.” Hua bowed once more before he stood and Jie watched as he left before looking down at the letter and box. Slowly, she reached for the paper, smiling as she saw the red cord it had been tied with. Carefully, she loosened it, reading the letter silently. 

My Lovely Jie,

Winter seems colder now that I can no longer spend them with you. I never thought I would miss the days when I kept away from my mother, but now I long to return to them. Yao seems to take after you the most, and I wish I could see his amber eyes shining with the intelligence he clearly has. I pray that he inherits your face and not mine.

The plum blossoms here opened at the new year, but the one I planted the year he was born bloomed late, as always. You would think it and him have a connection, even though he has never seen it. It should produce its first fruits this year, and I want you and him to have the first taste. As such, I have arranged to visit you in two months, when the plums should be ready to be picked.

I look forward to seeing you, in the place where love first bloomed. 

Your Steady Branch

Jie allowed herself a real smile, carefully resealing the paper. He was coming this time. She wasn’t sure how he had managed to find an excuse to leave, but she was glad it wouldn’t just be the stand-in this time. It had been too long since she had seen his face, too long since she had felt his arms around her. 

Love hadn’t felt dangerous then, when she didn’t know who he was and her marks had not yet manifested. Even once the truth was known, both of them had accepted it, not knowing it was already too late. They did what was expected  and yet Jie was already carrying his child. They both knew the future they wanted was gone, but this… This was the only way their love could be and Jie reached for the box.

Inside was a small  jade pendant, delicately carved in the shape of a plum blossom just beginning to bloom. Its soft green sheen caught the morning light, almost translucent at the edges. The details were so fine that Jie could see the subtle lines etched into each petal, giving it the appearance of having been plucked fresh from a branch. She lifted it gently from the box and found the silk cord beneath it; a soft cream, as if shaped from the purest milk. Not imperial white, not anything that could draw the wrong sort of attention, but it was a quiet luxury, carefully chosen.

A second compartment inside the box, cleverly hidden beneath a folded layer of dark velvet, revealed a smaller package wrapped in red paper with a gold-threaded knot tied at the center. Jie opened it with care, already suspecting what it might be. Inside lay a brush set, sized for a child’s hand with three finely made calligraphy brushes, each with its own carved handle. Nestled beside them was a small inkstone and a seal, its base already carved with the character for they had chosen the last time she had seen him, when Yao was still in her belly.

On its handle, a single line of calligraphy had been burned into the wood—subtle, for no one to notice unless they looked closely. Jie traced the words with the pad of her finger, lips parting slightly at the message:

For our Spring.

Her hand trembled slightly as she replaced both items back into the box, folding the velvet and silk cord carefully. The gifts were small, quiet things, but they carried a weight greater than anything gold or silver could offer. They had been chosen not to impress, but to hold meaning; to echo memory, longing, and a love that could not be spoken aloud.

“Mistress, Yao is getting restless.”

“I’m coming.” Jie carefully stored the gifts back in the box and stood, following her maid toward the tea room. 

***