After a good mile and a half, the horses began to walk at a slow pace. Mengyao chuckled as Longwei laughed out loud. To Mengyao; it was like reconnecting all over again. The soft jingles that came from Longwei’s golden strings of beads carried over to him like a sweet melody.

“I haven’t raced horses in a long time,” Longwei said, “That was definitely somethin’ I needed. And you said Madame Tung-Mei never took you horse racin’.”

Mengyao shook his head as he looked down the road to see the Yi Residence come into view. What he noticed and seemed perplexed at was the carriage that sat in front. It seemed gilded with gold and shades of violet.

“What’s up?”

“I’m guessing Madame Tung-Mei has a visitor,” Mengyao said as he led them both toward the stables. Mengyao jumped off Tao and placed her in her stable, where she almost collapsed. He chuckled as he patted her snout.

Longwei followed suit and placed Banye in the stable as well.

When the pair of them walked, they watched a man walk from the entrance to his carriage. He seemed to be...arguing?

“...the Lady of the House’s nephew! Yi Jianjun! And you dare throw me out!” the man shouted, throwing his sleeve back as he turned.

“With all due respect, no visitors are allowed unannounced while the Lady isn’t here, Young Master Yi. It’s best you come at a later time.”

He recognized that voice. It was Luli.

“Imputent maiden! If you were mine, I would have had you flogged for your disrespect!”

“I assure you, I'm not trying to disrespect you, Young Master Yi. Madame Tung-Mei was thorough in her directions: When she isn’t here, no one is allowed unless she knows of it first,” Luli calmly explained.

Mengyao and Longwei walked up to the scene. All they saw was the carriage beginning to move away from the front of the residence. With an eyebrow raised, he shook his head.

Right as he was about to greet Luli, he felt someone small latch onto his waist. He couldn’t help but smile as he looked down.

“Yao-gege!”

“Hello, Zhi’er. Did you miss me?” Mengyao asked, teasing a bit.

“Where’ve you been? I had to take on your duties and be “polite” to everyone,” Luli said, folding her arms.

Mengyao finally had a look at Luli and his eyes widened. If he didn’t know any better, he would have thought she was a noble lady! Her hair was done beautifully and her make up was amazing. The blue ruqun she wore with a light violet banbi made Mengyao’s face flush. Was this really his Luli-mei? Or was she replaced?

Luli raised her eyebrow. “Hey! Don’t stare at me! What’s wrong with you?!”

“No no! I’m sorry! I just...I don’t know if I like this imposter Luli or the real one more.”

Luli opened her mouth to yell at Mengyao before she noticed Longwei. Changing back into her graceful demeanor, she bowed to Longwei. “Young Master Duan. I wish i could invite you inside but with madame Tung-Mei away, I must respect my lady’s wishes and deny access.”

“I like this imposter more.”

“Please refrain from speaking, Yao-ge!” Luli said through gritted teeth with a smile on her face.

“What if he explains that he came here with Mengyao?” Peizhi asked.

Luli’s mouth twitched a bit. “Miss Peizhi, it’s still our Lady’s wishes. We cannot invite guests in when she doesn’t know of their arrival. I don’t want to turn him away but I must.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. I was droppin’ him off anyway. I think Banye can atleast go halfway toward my residence before we have to make camp,” Longwei said. “Oh! And you must be Peizhi, right?”

Peizhi nodded.

“Here,” he said, handing her a hairpin with a flower on the end. It looked as if it were made of pure gold. “For your hair. Gold would look nice on you.”

Peizhi smiled widely as she took the hairpin. She bounced as she looked at Longwei.

“Thankyouthankyouthankyou!” she said super fast before she darted inside the residence, causing Longwei to chuckle out. 

Luli shook her head. 

“Take care, Mengyao. Safe times to you.” Longwei gave Mengyao a bow.

Mengyao returned the bow before Longwei turned on his heel and walked back to the stables. Mengyao sighed. Was this how they’d officially say goodbye to one another? He wanted to tell Longwei that he was his long lost friend but it was better this way.

He knew it was. Even if it broke his heart just a bit.

“You look like a woman who’s losing her husband to war,” Luli commented.

Mengyao made a face. “I do not!”

“Yeah you do! The sigh, the longing look. Maybe you’re just a toad lusting for the swan’s flesh,” Luli said.

That caused Mengyao’s face and ears to flush pink as he ran inside after her. Luli ran as fast as she could through the courtyard, not being able to keep her laughter to herself as her ruqun fluttered in the wind.

--

Mengyao sighed as he went to his room. He wasn’t sure when Madame Tung-Mei was to return or even where she went. But for the moment being, he was back and could properly take care of the residence while she was away.

He placed his sword back onto the wall. He had to say, he was impressed with the sword during his fight with the bandits. It never gave threat that it’d break under the stress of battle. If he were to venture out more often, he’d definitely take it with him.

He sat on his bed and thought about it. He’d never traveled outside the Yi residence before let alone in the wilderness. If he had a companion maybe.

A companion.

He reached under his pillow and pulled out the tassel Longwei gave him. He stared at it for a long time and felt a smile creep onto his face. He thought about Longwei having the tassel he gave them when they were young.

He was surprised. Longwei was still his talkative and friendly self from childhood but there was something oddly different about him.

Longwei’s smiling face flashed in Mengyao’s mind. He had to admit: he certainly didn’t turn into the toad his older sister Luli said he’d be. He was tall and handsome now. His hair was a beautifully glossy black and his eyes were intense. But Longwei did seem like he was missing a part of himself.

All Longwei needed was a wife. A beautiful woman who had skin like white jade and was demure. Someone who could calm the dragon that was Longwei.

Weird. Why’d that thought make him a bit angry? He should want his friend to find someone!

He sighed as he lay back on his bed and looked at the ceiling, resting the tassel on his chest.