There had been fewer clouds clotting the dusty blue sky the morning Lady Fang had left for her brother’s estate. The heavens had moved in such swift junction with her departure that even the least eloquent of religious philosophers could have stood to convince Rulin that the clouds’ movement had been a sign from the Lord on Heavens

When he clasped his hands behind his back and watched his wife depart without moving to wave her goodbye, he acted in such an impersonal manner of his own free-will, and when his eyes caught sight of the lacquered wooden carriage rolling ever so leisurely down the path his wife had taken when departing, the smile that rose to color and soften the firm line of his lips did so of its own accord.

How restlessly had he attended it.

There was an eagerness to his steps, a giddiness that almost felt strange, buzzing as it did just beneath his flesh, prickling his skin and chewing anxiously away at the muscles of his arms and legs. It pressed harshly at his patience, at the awful kindness that had infected his mind. He needn’t have been so thoughtful, waiting as he had. Patience was no reward, and for it little was ever given; the prickling giddiness of anxiety agitated the tender flesh of his stomach, and there was no comfort to be found in the sour taste of gastrointestinal acid.

With eager steps he got on, the carriage swiftly moving to the brothel he visited more frequently than his wife's bedchambers. The madam bowed, a smile gracing her red painted lips. "Ah, my lord, welcome back. Are you here for her?"

Rulin didn't even need to admit. Who else?

The madam guided him upstairs and to where his baobei sat, elegantly painting her face, a fresh set of tea right in front of her low legged table. With that, the madam stepped back.

"Beloved." He stepped forward, a smile like no other on his lips.

Fang
From Chinese 芳 (fāng) meaning "fragrant, virtuous, beautiful"

Ru From Chinese 儒 (rú) meaning "scholar"

Lin From Chinese 林 (lín) meaning "forest"