Chen Chou first met Xu Dong back when he and Zhang xiong were first preparing for the Capital Examination, when they all got drawn into the series of weird cases that led up to a failed coup and everyone in the capital nearly dying from a mist of red pollen.

Their relationship has only been like this since Chen Chou and Zhang Ping moved to Yiping County, though.

Chen Chou and Xu Dong's arrangement through the years, and how everyone else arranged themselves too.

“Dong jie fights well as always,” Mu Nihuang said, smiling. “It’s been a while since we’ve sparred; perhaps you can give me a match, as well?”

Xia Dong had had her own year of mourning. She had tried to comfort herself with the knowledge that Nie Feng had died a hero, had given his life to prevent a rebellion, and had succeeded. All things being equal, though, she’d rather her husband were alive.

Xia Dong realized the silence had dragged on too long. The smile on Mu Nihuang’s face was slipping. Xia Dong found her own smile somewhere and gave Mu Nihuang a challenging bow. “I would be honored to spar with the princess,” she said. “Let us see if you have kept up your training, stuck in the south as you were.”