#ashencranes

“I’d be a liar to claim I frequently come to temples to pray, not as often as I should, but I cannot change it. My mother cannot make the journey here so far up in the mountains, but when I was young, she occasionally mentioned the place, and I dared not continue my journey without visiting.”

Yúnfēi explained as they stepped down from the temple halls, and his gaze wandered over the many people who had wandered here to ask for all sorts of blessings. He was on a mission sent by the Lord he served to deliver a message to a friend who lived far from their nation but, thankfully, it was an allied one regardless, making the aide’s journey somewhat uncomplicated, if only long. Thus, he had more than welcomed the offer to share the road for some time after encountering the other at an inn roughly ten days ago.

“What about you? I heard it is very popular to pray for a long marriage and many children.” There was the hint of a teasing simple although it didn't fully show.

{ @ashendivinity ; } — sender gifts receiver a token of good luck / protection

Zhēn wondered if it was a more common tradition among Buwei's people. Where he came from, such tokens were more often given to family members or those dearest to you whenever they had to leave because of coming hardships. He remembered how his mother had given one to Xun when he first left home to join His Majesty's army. He knew his brother had laughed and told her there was no need for it, although he took it anyway. Maybe it was because Zhēn could remember the woman's face when he turned around and stepped outside. How the smile faltered and for the blink of an eye the whirlwind of pain and sorrow was written across the face of the one person he had never seen faltering before.

This token felt much more delicate, the materials speaking of a being made for nobility and not a stranger considered an enemy by some. Yet Zhēn ensured that his face showed deep appreciation, leaving no doubt with Buwei that he truly honoured this gift so that when he left, he could do so with ease. "I do not think there is all too much that could happen to me at your camp while you are gone, but with that there is absolutely no doubt," he replied in a cheerful, light voice. His fingers curled around the token for a moment before he moved to tie it to the pendant on his belt, the same one he wore when coming here. "A perfect fit. Ah, but I have nothing to offer in return," his brows knitted before he snapped his fingers and opened his pouch, pulling out a small package of bonbons he had purchased at the market, despite not liking sweets. He placed it in Buwei's hands. "For homesickness, sort of. Just make sure to come back soon, or I will drive everyone insane with talking too much."

@ashencranes asked: Listen, I'm gonna put my problems on you. [boyan at yijia]

If Yijia was tasked with counting the times Boyan didn't cause any problems, he'd be able to deliver the answer instantly. Whenever his friend knocked on his door, the trouble was to follow not even two steps behind him.

What was it this time? The man was way too bubbly as he danced through the threshold and while there was no angry mob following him, the scribe had a really bad feeling about it. He rose from the meditating position, sighed and straightened his robe. "Will I live long enough to experience you bringing me any good news, or am I asking for too much?"

“While I never grew up in the capitals of the great nations, I am quite familiar with the tales of the jiānghú and how, to many, it is a place of great honor and freedom in the eyes of children from nobility and poor families alike. The truth is far more complicated, though, and the dangers are overlooked by many.” Who would know better than Ruìqīng? After all, his shīfu was the hall master of children of nobility who ran away to escape fate, only realizing there was no easy place for them in the plains.

Realizing his features had turned far too serious, he hurried to smile at the other as he gave his steed a gentle pat to the side. “Not to give you reasons to worry. I am very familiar with the plains, and there are only so many places your acquaintance could be hiding. On horseback, we should have checked all of them by dusk.” When the other requested help, he didn’t inquire about the details, it was not his place.

{ @ashendivinity ; } — "I've been out of circulation so long, I've completely forgotten social niceties." — Hua Yongqi

“We all do missteps. I only advise you to be mindful of them as you encounter my lady mother. The Princess Jiāhé believes there are no excuses for forgetting manners regardless of standing.” The sister of their King was a complex woman, but he never dared to question her expectations. However, the Duke of Wén’ān was not known to be a man to take offense if social hierarchy was not perfectly performed outside of the palace. Who would he be to possibly question the traditions of such among other nations? There was a possibility they might handle it differently.

The servants bowed as they served tea and a few pastries that very likely had been made for his mother, but he heard upon his arrival that she had taken her grandchild to purchase new study supplies. He was growing fast and often required replacements. The Duke fixed his robes as he sat down and let the maid pour the tea before bowing and leaving.

“But let us return to the matter of your visit. I was told you specifically requested to meet me. Political visitors would rarely request an audience with me.” There were not many outside of their own court who knew about the close relationship between the Crown Prince and the Duke of Wén’ān, who grew up together as study companions. “How may I be of service to Captain Huà?”

{ @ashendivinity ; } — "I've been out of circulation so long, I've completely forgotten social niceties." — Hua Yongqi

“You have come far north; our nation here tends to be a little more stern and a little less polite. The concerns that may stir from the more reserved reaction are likely simply found in the temper of the people. Life here is a little more challenging, be it because of nature or the burdens. Although there has been stability for a long time, thanks to the old families residing here. I dare to say that was all.”

While her father was still bearing the title of viscount and they owned lands with a garrison, it had long since been empty. With the end of the original line of the Hé main family of the branch, there had been too many handings from one cousin to the next to uphold any tradition. Thus, except for the size of the estate, the old glory was long gone, and people here treated her with respect, but far from the social difference between common and lower nobility one may find elsewhere.

“Your wound is nothing to be concerned about. I will give you a powder I prepared myself, you can use, should the wound reopen,” Míngzé finally concluded after having looked at the other’s arm for a moment, replacing it with a fresh bandage. She made much of the medication herself; it would be too expensive to hire a physician for it, as her father was sick and often in pain. But as the widow of a military captain, she also studied other medicine to aid him. “It is late, why not remain here for the night? We have plenty of rooms to offer. I will ask Wǎn’ér to prepare one and a warm bath. It will be more pleasant for you to continue your journey in the morning.”

why on earth would you do that?

“I am an unwed woman; it would damage my reputation to be alone here at this hour,” she whispered, giving the guard a casual smile. The irony was that it was not too difficult to fake being a married woman, put up your hair a certain way, add an extra hairpin, and if you were outside of your usual environment, who could tell? She had come prepared.

Shūlán stopped again, humming as she picked up a dark blue fabric example, holding it in front of the tall man.

“Darling, I think this would suit you quite well! I keep telling you, our neighbors all keep frowning at you for only dressing in those dark colors! They think we cannot afford to get you nicer clothes.” She certainly was born for the role. Shūlán always dressed like the daughter of a common scholar; her manners and mastery of politeness never made anyone question who she was but created a pleasant image. A tall man, on the other hand, surely caught an eye.

“Here,” she stepped closer, holding it underneath his chin. “See? It’s definitely your color. We must purchase it, yes? It will go lovely with the garments you gifted me for our anniversary.” The merchant smiled. “Ah, yes! A wife always has the best eye; better not disagree.” Who knew? Maybe it was the merchant blood in her that made her rather convincing.

She cheerfully nodded to the merchant. “We take it, please wrap it for us. My husband is quite tall, so we'd better take a little more fabric!”

{ @ashendivinity ; } — ❝ i'm not trying to fix you. i'm just trying to be your friend. ❞

❝Maybe then, the young master's mistake is to deem a woman playing sad music is to indicate she feels sorrow in her heart. If in truth, those melodies are easier on the fingers and there is nothing my heart desired to confess to you. Thus, your gentle urgency for me to feel that I can speak openly might be wasted today.❞ Her voice was light as she adjusted the strings of her guzheng.

There was no hint of ill feelings in her words as she slightly shifted her weight to sit more comfortably again. ❝Then as friends, we should aim to solve it and lighten our hearts from those worries. I shall play a more lively tune for you, and in exchange, you dance for me.❞

A hint of mischief glittered in the eyes of the princess as she considered it for a moment before choosing a song that was often played during festivals. Something that invited the everyday people to forget the worries of the day and enjoy themselves under the warm light of lanterns lit in the city. As the song played, she looked up to meet Boyan's gaze with expectation.