"Li'er!"
"Miss, it's the Young Master," Xiqiu chirped, peeking out the window.
"Brother, I'm in the study!"
"Young Master."
"Greetings, Young Master."
Xiqiu and Hongshang bowed and quickly retreated to prepare tea. Mo Lixia glanced at her brother before returning her focus to her calligraphy, meticulously practicing her brushstrokes.
"Why are you back so early today, Brother?"
Zhanchen sat down and handed a bundle to Lixia. It was a pristine, snow-white fox fur. "Nothing much to do... Here, do you like it?"
Lixia's eyes lit up. She picked up the fur and nuzzled her face against its softness. "Where did this come from, Brother?"
"I got it during a hunt a few days ago."
"Thank you!" She paused, then asked with a mischievous grin, "Does Sister-in-law have one too?"
Zhanchen laughed helplessly and gave her forehead a gentle flick. "You've learned to be quite the rascal. Of course she has one; I hunted hers personally."
"Wait, so mine wasn't hunted by you?" Lixia teased.
"No, this one was a gift from Prince Kang."
Lixia's brow furrowed. "Prince Kang?"
"We went out together a few days ago. He heard you had returned, so consider this a congratulatory gift."
"But... didn't Xiqiu say Prince Kang is... well, that he can't walk? How could he go hunting?" Lixia asked curiously.
This time, Zhanchen gave her a proper (but playful) knock on the head. "Who says someone who can't walk can't hunt?"
Lixia rolled her eyes. "I did."
"You... Prince Kang is far more formidable than your brother, even with his healthy legs. He just sits there, and as long as prey appears, his arrows never miss. Not a single one escapes him."
"That impressive?" Lixia was genuinely surprised.
"Indeed." Zhanchen smiled, looking over her writing. "Mmm, your handwriting is improving."
"The writing is fine, but I still can't draw for the life of me," she sighed.
"I offered to find you a teacher, but you refused. Changed your mind?"
"Most teachers are too stiff and boring. I'd rather just practice blindly on my own."
Zhanchen nodded. As the tea and snacks arrived, he took a bite of a pastry and added, "By the way, Princess Mutong wants to invite you to view the plum blossoms at the West City."
"When?"
"It's not set yet. I was just passing the message. I ran into them today, and she asked me to check with you."
"Li'er, you should go," Zhanchen encouraged. "You've been back for a while now; it's time you made some friends. I heard Miss Yang will be there too."
Lixia thought of the two girls she had seen at the shop. "Alright, I'll go."
"Good. I'll have the steward send a reply. Oh, and since you and Snowy are getting married soon, and she's so busy, does she even have time to prepare her dowry?"
"She doesn't have much time, but besides the wedding dress, I've already sent people to handle everything else for her."
"Hmph! Brother is already doting on his wife before she's even through the door. I guess there's no room for your sister anymore," Lixia pouted.
"Sigh... how many men in this world are as good as Father and me? If you ever find one, you'll forget your brother in a heartbeat."
Zhanchen laughed heartily. "Is our Li'er thinking of marriage? Maybe I should talk to Father and Mother tonight and have them start looking. I have a few brothers-in-arms who—"
"Brother! What are you talking about? I was just making a comparison!" Lixia stood up, her face flushing crimson.
"Haha! Look at that red face! If that's not thinking of marriage, what is?" Zhanchen stood and patted her shoulder, his tone turning sincere. "You'll find a good man, Li'er. I believe it."
Lixia pursed her lips, clutching the white fox fur. "If I really can't find one... I might as well marry that crippled Prince Kang. At least he... might still be a virgin."
"Pffft! Cough, cough!" Zhanchen practically choked on his pastry.
"Miss!" Xiqiu rushed forward, her face turning beet-red as she covered Lixia's mouth. Hongshang lowered her head, hiding her burning face in her hands.
Lixia had effectively shocked everyone into silence.
The Plum Blossom Outing
As late autumn began to fade, the heavens offered a rare, sunny day. Lixia woke up before dawn to prepare food. To her, a plum blossom outing was essentially a picnic—scenery combined with a BBQ sounded like the perfect atmosphere.
"Miss, Miss Yang and Princess Mutong are already waiting at the gate!" Steward Mo shouted as he ran toward her.
"I'm coming, Uncle Mo!" Lixia had wanted to bring Mochen, but he was busy practicing swordplay with her brother. She decided to bring A'Mu instead.
Lixia wore a pale purple cotton dress her mother had made, topped with a white cloak she had hand-sewn herself, featuring abstract patterns she'd printed using the "apple-stamp" method. Her hair was styled in a simple, elegant half-up look.
At the gate, a lavish carriage was waiting. Two young ladies stood there, surrounded by maids and guards.
"You must be Miss Mo. I am Yi Mutong," the girl greeted her. She was plump, but her skin was like a peeled egg, and her eyes sparkled with intelligence. When she smiled, two deep dimples appeared on her cheeks, making her look like a celestial being. Her only insecurity was her weight.
"Greetings, Princess," Lixia said, offering a simple nod and a smile. Her parents had never forced her to learn the rigid etiquette of the court, and Lixia preferred it that way.
"Don't be so formal with us," Mutong said warmly. "Just call me Mutong."
Yang Yufu stood beside her, looking fresh and elegant in a blue pleated skirt. "Miss Mo, don't be a stranger. My family loved the mushroom sauce you sent over. Come, let the three of us share one carriage!"
Lixia nodded and signaled Xiqiu and Hongshang to take the second carriage, which was packed with their picnic supplies.
Inside the carriage, the atmosphere was initially a bit quiet. Mutong was shy, Yufu was modest, and Lixia was used to being a loner.
"Wait... that looks exactly like the drawing on the pillows!" Yang Yufu suddenly pointed at the furry lump in Lixia's arms.
"It really does," Mutong added, leaning in.
"This is my pet, a chinchilla," Lixia explained. "The shop calls them 'Dragon Cats'."
"So it's real! Wait... does that mean the drawings on the pillows were done by you, Li'er?"