The morning air in the Xiu manor courtyard was thick with the rich aroma of freshly prepared dishes.
A heavy dew enveloped the stone paths, blanketing the garden plants like a silken shroud. Birds chirped softly in the serene morning air, their song blending with the rhythmic rustling of paper.
Mo Lin sat at a stone table in the pavilion. Stacks of books and scrolls were neatly arranged by his side as he reviewed his scholarly notes. A porcelain teacup rested before him. He raised it to take a slow sip, then set it back down to flip to the next page.
He was far too immersed in his texts to notice the maidservants passing through the corridors, assisting Madam Xiu as she set the table for the morning meal. Madam Xiu smiled as she received the lacquer platters, arranging them neatly beside the others.
She instructed the servants to summon Xiu Qiu and the Lord, then stepped into the garden to fetch her son.
Stopping just beside him, she glanced down at the book he was reading. With a gentle smile, she placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Ā Lín, come inside and eat while the food is still warm," she said softly before turning back toward the hall.
"Yes, Mother."
Flipping one last page, Mo Lin closed the text and stood up. He nodded in gratitude to the servant who stepped forward to help pack his scrolls, then followed his mother's footsteps.
When he stepped inside the dining hall, Xiu Qiu was already circling the table like a predator stalking its prey. She stretched out her fingers to snatch a roasted duck leg, but her hand was sharply smacked away. Xiu Qiu recoiled instantly, rubbing her knuckles.
Pouting, she met her mother's stern side-eye. She quickly looked away, staring at the floorboards to avoid her mother's gaze. Mo Lin smiled at the familiar sight.
Noticing her brother, Xiu Qiu whined and marched over to him. "Lin Lin, look at what Mother did! My hand is all red," she pouted, holding up her wrist.
Mo Lin chuckled softly and patted her head to comfort her. "Be patient," he said gently.
"Haha! That smells incredible!" Their father's hearty voice echoed down the walkway just before he stepped into the room. He was still clad in his everyday robes, his hair bound up in a simple topknot, not yet changed into his formal court attire.
Licking his lips, Lord Xiu approached the table. He reached out a hand for the exact same piece of duck meat Xiu Qiu had targeted.
Smack!
A loud slap rang out, reprimanding the master of the house like a naughty child. Shocked, his hand froze in mid-air before he slowly retreated it. He turned to his wife, his eyes wide and pitiful like a scolded hound.
Mo Lin and Xiu Qiu chuckled. Madam Xiu rolled her eyes, gesturing for him to take his rightful place at the head of the table. "Come," she said, her expression softening into a smile as she urged them all to sit.
They nodded and took their seats after her. Mo Lin placed a choice piece of meat into his father's bowl, then another into his mother's, before they all finally raised their chopsticks.
While they relished the meal, his father cleared his throat. "Son."
Mo Lin looked up from his bowl.
"The first tier of the Imperial Examinations will commence soon. How do you feel regarding your preparation?" he asked.
Mo Lin lowered his chopsticks, chewing thoughtfully before answering. "I cannot say I feel anxious, Father. But I can assure you that I will do my absolute best."
His father let out a hearty laugh. "Good! That is excellent. Do your best, son. I shall await your good news."
"I am rooting for you too, Brother!" Xiu Qiu chimed in, pumping her fist in the air.
"Enough. Eat your food and maintain proper decorum at the table," Madam Xiu scolded both father and daughter.
Lord Xiu laughed, covering his mouth with his hands to show his wife he was being quiet, while playfully gesturing to their daughter to hush. Xiu Qiu responded with a dramatic, playful blink of her eyes.
Madam Xiu stared at them like a hawk before turning a sweet, gentle gaze toward Mo Lin.
"You will pass, my dear," she said softly. Mo Lin smiled and nodded.
_____
After the meal, the family dispersed. Mo Lin walked along the covered corridor with his father, who was now dressed in his official court robes. They walked in comfortable silence for a moment.
"I could not ask you yesterday—well, you know why," his father said, gesturing back toward the inner chambers to imply Mo Lin's mother. Mo Lin smiled in perfect understanding. "How did you fare while being away from the capital for so long? I trust there were no mishaps along the journey?"
"None at all, Father. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there," Mo Lin assured him.
His father nodded approvingly, patting Mo Lin proudly on the shoulder. "I received your academic results from the academy. Excellent job. That old rascal bragged about you so much, one would think you were his own flesh and blood. If I did not know better, I'd think he was making up for only having daughters."
The "old rascal" was none other than Elder Huang. Mo Lin knew exactly who his father meant; that very elder had spent months trying to arrange a marriage alliance between Mo Lin and one of his daughters.
Mo Lin chuckled while his father continued to grumble curses at a colleague who was likely already on his way to the palace, completely unaware he was being scolded from afar.
"We shall speak further regarding your exams when you are free later. For now, it is time for me to head out. Affairs of the Imperial Court cannot be delayed," his father said, adjusting his official belt.
"Let me see you to the carriage, Father," Mo Lin offered.
"Ah, no, no," his father waved his hands dismissively, stopping Mo Lin in his tracks. "I have already taken up too much of your morning. You must conserve your strength for your studies."
Mo Lin insisted, but his father would not hear of it.
"Go back inside. The servants will see me out," he coaxed.
Mo Lin reluctantly yielded. Bowing deeply with his hands clasped together in a respectful greeting, he said, "Safe journey, Father. I await your swift return from court."
His father patted his shoulder one last time, turned, and walked toward the main gates. Mo Lin watched his figure disappear down the path before heading back to his quarters.
—-_—---_—------_____—-_____—-_—---_
_Munch_
Mu Ying was happily devouring a steamed bun, holding one in each hand as she strolled down the bustling streets of the marketplace.
"Mmm! So good! Ai Han, do you want a bite?" Mu Ying asked, her mouth completely stuffed. She extended her hand, offering a bun that already had a massive bite taken out of it.
Ai Han stared at the mangled bun, her stomach instantly protesting. "No, thank you... I am quite full," she said with a sheepish smile, waving her hands frantically.
"You are missing out," Mu Ying mumbled before stuffing the rest of the bun into her mouth. Her cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk's as she basked in pure culinary ecstasy.
Ai Han sighed, shaking her head. "I seriously wonder how your elder brothers—especially your second brother—would react if they found out their supposedly petite, well-behaved sister acts like a common glutton in public."
A loud gulp echoed, followed by the sound of Mu Ying licking her fingers clean. "Well, what he does not know will not harm him. And he is never going to find out anyway," she replied flippantly. She dusted her hands, then suddenly stopped, lifting her nose to sniff the air.
"I smell fresh hand-pulled noodles! Come, let us go!" she cheered, excitedly hopping in the direction of the scent.
"Wait a moment! Are you seriously chasing down more food?" Ai Han cried out, grabbing the shoulder of the salivating girl.
Mu Ying looked at her as if she had just asked the strangest question in all of the Central Plains. "Well, are you not hungry?" she asked, her eyes sparkling.
"Don't change the subject! And no, I am definitely not hungry. We have already visited five different food stalls. Any more and I shall lose my stomach!"
"But I am hungry," Mu Ying pleaded, her eyes widening into a sad, doe-like expression.
Ai Han's left eye twitched. Was she hearing this correctly? "But you just ate!"
"Ate what?" Mu Ying feigned absolute innocence, looking incredibly deprived.
Ai Han shot her a flat glare that clearly communicated: Are you seriously asking me that right now? "Are you for real?" she asked, genuinely unable to comprehend the bottomless pit that was Mu Ying's stomach.
Finally giving up, Ai Han let out a defeated sigh. Mu Ying instantly beamed, knowing she had won yet another battle.
"Let us not waste any time. Come on!" Mu Ying urged, dragging her toward the noodle stall.
"Ah! What about your shop? We were supposed to check on the storefront!" Ai Han suddenly remembered. That was the entire reason they had come out to the market district in the first place, but a gluttonous appetite had completely derailed their plans.
"Do not worry! We will head over right after we eat. Besides, Enlai should already be there, so it is in perfectly good hands," Mu Ying dismissed easily. Sitting down at a wooden table, she shouted toward the cook, "Boss! Two bowls of noodles, please!"
"Coming right up, Young Miss!" the cook called back.
Mu Ying rubbed her hands together in pure delight. Ai Han slid into the bench opposite her, shaking her head in sheer disbelief as the steaming bowls were placed on the table. Without losing a single second, Mu Ying lowered her head and dived into her second breakfast.