Next morning

XYZ woke up to the sound of splashing water. She blinked her big eyes and sat up in bed. YQ was washing his face nearby. She grinned at him.

YQ, seeing that his XYZ was now awake, went to sit on the bed.

"I'm afraid it's back to work for me today. I'm sorry I can't stay here with you. But HAM needs my help." He told her.

"It's perfectly alright," XYZ replied, "I'll find something to do."

YQ laughed, "I'm sure you will! Just remember though, don't get in too much trouble while I'm gone!"

XYZ playfully punched his arm, saying, "Hey!"

Laughing, YQ left to perform his courtly duties.

XYZ dressed and got ready to pay her respects to LFY. Passing by the study, she saw that someone had brought her book of 'cheng-yu' over. Groaning, she picked it up from the desk. Flipping to the bookmarked page, she grinned as she remembered how frustrated ZW, EK, and YQ were when she misread all of it. Sighing, XYZ thought again, 'A promise is a promise' and resolutely left for Ci Ning Gong with the heavy book in hand.

At Fu's

ZW woke up and realized that EK wasn't next to her. Sitting up, she saw that he had left her a letter.

"My dearest ZW,

I'm sorry I am not here when you wake up. I hope you have a lovely day. Know that I'll be thinking of you. I should be back in time for lunch.

Your Er Kang"

Smiling at her husband's thoughtfulness, ZW started to get up. As she was placing decorations into her hair, she heard a knock at the door. Fu Jin came in and said, "My child, I know you must be lonely without EK here. Don't get up, sit." Joining ZW in front of the mirror and helping her with her hair pieces, she continued, "I remember myself in your shoes when I first married Fu Da Ye. It was a lonely time for me while he was away at court."

"E Niang," ZW replied, "Thank you for coming and understanding. I must admit, I'm not sure what to do with myself."

Fu Jin: "Why don't you join me for breakfast and we'll have a talk? I must confess, as wonderful as my boys are, I've always wanted a daughter to talk to. And now I have you!"

ZW grinned, "Of course!"

And the two women left, forging their mother-daughter bond.

At Ci Ning Gong

"Huan Zhu Ge Ge dao!"

XYZ walked in and saw, to her surprise, that Huang Hou Niang Niang was there as well. She paid her respects to both and then asked LFY, "Nai nai, I have a favor to ask you."

LFY was surprised, "What is it?" she asked.

XYZ: "Well…Since Huang Hou Niang Niang's here too, I suppose she could help me too."

The two older women looked at each, clearly mystified. XYZ sure was behaving strangely.

XYZ: "I know that everyone in this family knows how to use four-word phrases. Everyone, that is, besides me. And now that ZW's not here to explain it all to me, I thought maybe you two could help. Look, I even brought 'Cheng Yu Da Quan (The complete guide to Chen Yu)'!"

LFY looked at XYZ with new respect and nodded. "Of course I'll help you. But what would your HAM say if he finds out that we've turned you into a regular Ge Ge?"

XYZ laughed. "I don't think you need to worry about that! I don't think many Ge Ge's know wu gong."

She looked at Huang Hou, "Will you help me?"

Huang Hou's heart further softened at the sight of XYZ's innocent eyes.

"Of course I'll help! Though under one condition…You call me Huang E Niang. I know Ling Fei is probably a better mother figure, but I would feel much better if you would call me that."

LFY looked at Huang Hou and was glad to see that she was smiling. The icy barrier she had built around her heart was melting and LFY was happy that Huang Hou was recovering the warmer characteristics from early in her marriage.

"Alright, XYZ, bring the book up here. Your first lesson starts now."

Just then, Qing-er came in. "What lesson?" She asked after the proper greetings.

After everything was explained, Qing-er laughed, "I'm afraid we can't start with that book just yet. From what ZW tells me, we need to teach XYZ how to 'ren zi' (identify/recognize/read words) first."

LFY: "Surely it's not that bad? (pointing to something on the page) Here, what does this say?"

XYZ of course read it completely wrong and gave an outlandish explanation. Amid the laughter and head shaking that followed, LFY told Qing-er ruefully, "I guess you're right. In fact, I think it would be better if Qing-er taught XYZ, I don't think I can handle it at my age."

So it was that Qing-er became XYZ's private tutor. The two girls met every morning when YQ was away at court. They grew close and close until it was a common sight for them to be together. And the whole palace marveled at quiet, gentle Qing Ge Ge actually managing to silence the loud, boisterous Huan Zhu Ge Ge.

Same day, lunch at Fu's

Er Kang returned home to find Fu Jin and Zi Wei chatting over their embroidery. He grinned at the sight. "E Niang, it's nice to see you two so close."

ZW looked up and in her joy threw herself at EK, who, surprised at this uncharacteristic move, embraced her back. Fu Da Ye entered then and joined Fu Jin as they beamed at the happy couple.

Fu Da Ye: "At this rate, I think I will have a healthy grandson in no time."

ZW blushed and broke away. Er Kang also looked a little embarrassed.

Fu Jin laughed, "Don't rush them, they haven't even had time to be properly together yet. Let them enjoy their heaven on earth."

The couple smiled gratefully at her as the servants brought in lunch.

ZQ: "I would like to thank you, A Ma, E Niang, for making this home for me. I really do believe this is heaven on earth."

The older couple beamed even more and thought once again that their son couldn't have found a better wife.

Lunch at Jin Yang Gong

When Yong Qi returned home, he was surprised that XYZ was not there to greet him and instantly grew worried that something bad had happened to her. The sound of laughter coming from the study drew him towards that room. He was even more amazed when he saw XYZ with a brush in her hands and Qing-er reprimanding her brush strokes. He stood there and just stared. Qing-er looked up from XYZ's paper and saw him gaping like a fish out of water.

Qing-er: "Oh! Wu A Ge! You're back! Is it lunch time already?"

XYZ: "Yong-Qi! You won't believe what a hard tutor Qing-er is! She's even pickier than ZW about how pretty my handwriting should be!"

Noticing YQ's stunned look, XYZ laughed merrily.

Qing-er: "I'll go now and see about LFY's meal. XYZ, you'd better explain to Wu A Ge." So saying, she left.

YQ: "XYZ! What are you doing? Usually it takes me, ZQ, and EK to get you to pick up a brush. And now!"

XYZ looked at him sweetly, "I promised, didn't I? I said I'd be a new XYZ for you."

YQ smiled and hugged his wife. "Just don't change too much. I happen to like my wild XYZ."