A/N: This chapter is long, for a chapter not centred on romance and I wanted to explore Jen LuXian, as a character.
Chapter Eight - The Mockingbird Palace:
The residence of the mockingbird clan, was just like any other home in the Earth Kingdom. It retained the traditional elements, even on the outskirts of a modern city. The trickling water through bamboo instruments enhanced the tranquil atmosphere, as soon as Jen LuXian entered. His heart ached, as soon as the United Forces general left his side and had to leave, after taking his thanks from Master Qian. The earth shifu suspected, the sharp glare of Madam Qian was what scared the prince into leaving. Madam Qian wasn't pleased to have a firebender, let alone a member of the Fire Nation royal family, on her doorstep and wanting him to leave as soon as possible, before Zhu Iroh saw Madam Qian angry with righteous fury.
The young master understood, why Master and Madam Qian were hostile towards Zhu Iroh. He was a member of the royal family, whom caused their exile from Taku and loss of home and roots. Jen LuXian knew the Qian Clan's situation and allowed them their valid anger and pain. He remembered, a Jen Clan elder teaching Jen LuXian and his cousins about the city of Taku, what it used to be before the Fire Nation conquered the city. The Fire Nation killed the people of Taku, whom resisted their presence and members of the Qian Clan were murdered, before the remaining members of the clan fled east. It made Jen LuXian and his cousins sympathetic to the Qian Clan and their suffering. Being torn away from their home and roots burned from Taku forever. The Qian family survived, never wiped out like other clans, in the era of Avatar Kyoshi and benefitted from the opportunities this nation gave them.
In front of the main house, stood Master and Madam Qian, who were front and centre. Adorned in the fuschia pink hanfu robes of their clan, with silver detailing on the embroidery. The couple were surrounded by plain clothes servants and five members of the Qian Clan, standing on both sides of their parents, catching a woman in glasses standing in between her mother and father. Jen LuXian knew them all by name. Some noble families were more fruitful than others and the Qian family were no exception. Having found a place on the outskirts of the city, to settle down and plant new roots for future generations of their family. It was familiar to Jen LuXian, as it was just like his family, but different because the Qian family embraced modernist values, unlike his old-fashioned Jen Clan, who value the selflessness of the clan above individual wants.
The earthbending master out his fisted hand, in the palm of another hand to greet the members of the Qian Clan, in the traditional greeting of the Earth Kingdom. Just because the family lived a modernist lifestyle, it didn't mean they forgot their traditions, brought from the Earth Kingdom. Jen LuXian looked away, due to lack of eye contact towards other people and had a sense of shame, bringing a firebender in the Qian family's mansion, without thinking how it will offend members of the clan. The Jens and the Qians have been friends for generations, Jen LuXian may have ruined centuries of friendship, just because he wanted the firebender to be grateful towards his hosting family.
"Eldest Miss Heifen looks at me, like a maiden's dream. I offended the Qians in bringing a firebender to their doorstep, I should do something to make it up, before Master Qian writes to my uncle about this minor offence. I am here to strengthen ties between our families, not break them. His Royal Highness was good to me, apart from lifting me from the carriage, like a scene out of Mei-sister's romance novels. He stared at me throughout our journey, from the left and was attempting to control himself, was it because he could not sit still or was it something else about me that set him off?"
Jovial laughter erupted from the mouth of Master Qian (first name: Baijong), a portly man in the dress of his clan, but in two layers of robes. He was Uncle Han's greatest friend and ally, when it came to the politics between the Earth Kingdom noble families. Jen LuXian's eyes widened, because the laugh of the master, was no joking matter because it was a screen, to deceive his children before punishing them or was he just happy to see a member of the Jen Clan come out from the mountains and visit him. After all these years, from the wedding between the Jen and Pang families. When it was the last time the houses of the jade lotus and the silver mockingbird were seen together.
"...Still as shy and pliant as always, Xiao Xian." Master Qian said, after his jovial laughter ended, "Nothing like that viper mother of yours, apart from her face."
A stiffened frown was upon the face of Madam Qian, the master's wife for many decades and came from Taku. "A-Jong, still bitter about the serpent of Ba Sing Se. You should mind yourself in front of her only surviving offspring." Madam Qian said, in a bitter tone.
"Just a compliment to the young master, my dear. Nothing like his haughty mother, who thought she was above her princess cousins."
"Not in front of our guest."
"Of course, my dear."
The sniping comments stung Jen LuXian. He wasn't blind to his mother's flaws, but she was dead and Jen LuXian wanted to preserve all the good parts of her. In the Earth Kingdom, speaking ill of the dead was a taboo and considered disrespectful to slander the dead. The man knew his mother, Teng Jiao-Wen made enemies, as a young woman in the royal court of Ba Sing Se. Maybe marrying Jen LuXian's late father humbled his noble mother, enough to be kinder to people, especially when humility was one of the most important principles of the Jen Clan. He never wanted to know why, Madam Qian's upper lip stiffened at the mere mention of Jen LuXian's mother, but it was none of his business to pry into the affairs of other clans, especially one whose household he was staying in.
His eyes turned towards Madam Qian, gesturing towards the five members of the clan. Her children ranging from adults to the youngest pre-teens were to the front. The five children bowed towards Jen LuXian, one by one, stiff and respectfully, maybe in fear of being scolded by their mother, if the bow itself was incorrect. The master of the house was more lenient, due to absorbing the values of the United Republic and how the smallest things didn't matter to him. On the other hand, Madam Qian was more traditional and more likely to be critical, of whether her children made mistakes. Jen LuXian wondered, how his retinue were doing, while settling into their new accommodations and Kumi spending time with the best friend, she has been far away from for years.
"I am grateful, to represent my family in front of your humble home. I am grateful, to have this opportunity to learn from you." Jen LuXian said, in his most calming of tone. He was not sure, if his stay was going to go well, due to Madam Qian's hostility towards anyone with Fire Nation blood, and maybe the Qian children absorbing their parents and their attitudes about the world.
"It should not have taken this long, Xiao Xian. Damn...losing a bodyguard to a psychopath is hard enough for anyone to take." Master Qian interjected.
"You are too kind, Master Qian."
"You are more than just a guest. You are family, Xiao Xian. My family and yours have been friends for generations, since the days before the war started. When your family sheltered mine, for the centuries of friendship between our clans." Master Qian said, patting his hand against Jen LuXian's shoulder, in a harsh manner. It was similar to the backslapping gesture, the soldiers in the United Forces did to show friendship between each other.
Young Master Jen rubbed the side of his shoulder, it didn't hurt and couldn't reject it. He was a guest of the Qian Clan and he was representing his family. To be noted, General Iroh was not welcome in the Qian residence, as long as Madam Qian was in the household. The man was startled, being in a sea of pink fuscia robes, elaborate on the clan members and plain on the household staff. He contrasted badly, in his transient bluish green robes against the dark pink of the Qian Clan. There were great things appending in Jen LuXian's family; his cousin's wife Moyun was pregnant and the thought of a new Jen Clan heir excited his family, to the point of ignoring Jen LuXian, maybe for losing face for his entire family, by refusing to marry the way his cousin did.
The woman in circular glasses was Qian Heifen, the firstborn of Master and Madam Qian and the heir to this old clan. She was dressed in traditional hanfu robes, like the rest of her family. As the heir, she stood between her mother and father. Her cheeks reddened, by looking at Shifu Jen. He thought the eldest miss was a decent person, filial towards her parents and not the horror Setsuko Kimura was towards her family. Jen LuXian appreciated people, who were filial and respected their parents, because it demonstrated good values and how those values were the backbone of Earth Kingdom's society and culture. He never understood why; the new generation of young masters and ladies of the Republic City were unfilial to their families, to the point of losing face and disrespecting them in public, which was the curse of modernism in Republic City. It created a spoiled generation, who didn't respect their elders and their respective cultures anymore.
"It is great seeing you again, Young Master Jen." Qian Heifen said, in a stiffened tone. She was reverent, in showing the outmost respect to Jen LuXian, who was the only one, willing to talk to her in the celebrations of the marriage between Jen Chou and Pang Moyun. To Eldest Miss Qian, noble weddings were a dull affair and the Earth Kingdom nobility were harsher to her and her siblings, for living in the United Republic, calling them traitors behind their backs.
"Likewise, Elder Miss Qian." Jen LuXian replied.
"Fen'er, why don't you show the young master his accommodations." Madam Qian interjected, in a strident tone, but not to be belligerent towards her daughter.
"Yes, mother."
The elder miss looked away, after Jen LuXian heard sniggering from a young boy standing between two twin girls. Jen LuXian thought the young boy was only teasing his sister, as children generally do and he saw an instance of it on Air Temple Island, as sibling conflict was a fact of life. He was fortunate to love Chou enough, not to get into arguments with him about minor issues. For the earth shifu, his older cousin was easy-going and overprotective of his shy didi, from young and always stood in front of him, taking Jen LuXian's punishments for him, when they got into trouble. Jen LuXian never thought of how Chou would react, if the rumours from the Southern Water Tribe, of his relationship with Su Yong were confirmed to be true. His cousin was married to a woman and was a soon to be father, but Chou never absorbed the beliefs of the elders. When it came to same sex relations and those type of relationships being forbidden in public. Jen LuXian strongly believed Chou would still love him, even if Chou was told the entire truth and no detail was spared.
Jen LuXian sees the household disperse around the courtyard. He was not in Bao Yun anymore, where old-fashioned customs dictated the household. The man got a rude awakening, if he thought about offending Madam Qian again. Jen LuXian was always respectful towards his seniors and elders, but what happened was a mistake, a mistake a man Jen LuXian's age should not have made. His mind went array, when Zhu Iroh lifted him from the carriage, carrying him and a chink on his reinforced armour was visible. Jen LuXian armoured himself, after Su Yong's death, promising to never allow his heart to dictate his mind. His feelings were in his ribcage, and were going to stay there, until Zhu Iroh touched him on Air Temple Island. Life in the Qian household was just the beginning for Jen LuXian, but the dynamics of the family made him think. This was not the Qian Clan from his late grandfather Jen Qin's generation, but the one of the new generation and were more modernist than any other noble clan of Earth Kingdom blood.
The guest bedchambers of the main house were more elaborate than Jen LuXian thought. All the bed sheets and furniture were fuschia pink with silver detailing, which was normal for bed chambers in this estate and the bedchambers of the main clan members were more unique than this. Resting on his back, was all Jen LuXian did in the day, almost falling asleep in His Royal Highness's carriage, because he was not on his usual time, as a nomadic teacher. So tired, as the muscles in Jen LuXian's body ached, to the point he needed one of those massages, Ning Renshu was always rattling about at Tian Tang, the resort village on the edge of the Su Oku Grove, and a rest haven for weary travellers from all over the world.
Jen LuXian sighed, at the thought of the acquaintances he made in Omashu. He was a lonely boy, until he was approached by Guo Yufei, the heir to his family with excitement about Jen LuXian duelling against royalty and not being punished for it. The earth shifu found the elite of Omashu to be different, more relaxed and open-minded about things forbidden in other parts of the Earth Kingdom. As long as the young masters and ladies were filial and obeyed their parents, they got the freedoms their Ba Sing Se counterparts only dream of. With Guo Yufei came Ning Renshu and Duan Shiqin, boys who have known each other, since childhood and played in the royal palace of Omashu, with the prince Fu Cheng, who was as sociable as an angry platypus bear. Jen LuXian was one of the only people, outside the Omashu royal family, whom Fu Cheng treated well, maybe it was a deep admiration for him as a strong bender and a man of strict noble discipline, just like he was.
"I never thought A-Cheng, who spent most of his time in the military barracks, to be interested in sex. Brother Ning said, the stone-faced prince would make a good suitor for me and will take care of me for the rest of my life. I never saw A-Cheng, the same way I saw Su Yong after reading a volume of longyang given to me by Brother Ning, who was as shameless, as any firebender from their motherland. I care for people, the world and I want someone, who shared the same values, goals and dreams, not because they desire me physically."
There was chatter outside the window, as the chatter of servants was easy to hear through open windows. Jen LuXian was not used to the aura of the Qian household, as it was different to his household in Bao Yun or the Daojing household in Gaoling. He hated the house of the golden serpent, because the Daojings were the worst sort of nobles; staunch royalists who believed in the divine right of the royal family and looked down on families, whom they saw as traitors to the crown. Jen LuXian was glad to be blacklisted from the Daojing household, just like any Beifong is unwelcome to them. He never wanted to go back to Gaoling, as long as he lived, because of what happened to him. The earth shifu was more self-conscious of his body and being touched, as a result of almost being sexually assaulted. At least, the Qians treated Jen LuXian well, despite the mistake he made in offending Madam Qian, with the presence of the Fire Nation prince in the Qian family home.
The doors of the chambers opened, for Kumi to appear with a smile on her face. She was in uniform and looked less tired, than she was before. Jen LuXian knew Kumi was very fond of Ayeka, her best friend and the kyoshi warrior, who worked at the residence, as a rotating bodyguard for the Qian Clan. He sat up from the bed, he was lying down on to rest his aching muscles. The man knew his serving retinue integrated with the household servants, as it was the norm to do so. Jen LuXian had seen them together, the two kyoshi warriors, who were away from each other for years, acting like they were never separated from one another. Jen LuXian envied them, because they got that respite of happiness, while Jen LuXian was too jaded and too cold to open up to anyone.
"The servants in this household are so rude, especially towards royalty." Kumi said, in a dull tone with her arms folded.
"What about your friend?" Jen LuXian asked.
"Ayeka is fine, she has been in the household for years. The servants consider her one of them."
"Don't put yourself in Madam Qian's firing line. It was my fault that happened."
"It's just a mistake, I'm sure Master Qian will forgive you."
"I'm more worried about my family knowing. I caused this offence towards the Qians, not even a day in the city and I offended Madam Qian."
"The old lady will forgive you and it doesn't matter anyways."
"What are your plans, warrior maid?"
"Ayeka and I are planning on going out together, it's the first time we have seen each other, since I left the city."
"I hope you have a great time."
The warrior maid's tongue tutted, in a way that resembled an elderly lady ashamed of her grandchildren's foolish choices. "You will not hull yourself in here, while Ayeka and I are having fun. You are coming with us, even if this crosses the line between bodyguard and senior."
"Modernity...it's too strange and otherworldly for me. I will not go."
"I know. I will be fired if I force you, but...I can't stand you looking so jittered and stone-faced. It makes you look cold and unapproachable to people." Kumi said, her voice raising with a tingle of sadness in it, "I want you to have as much fun as everyone else."
There was an ache in Jen LuXian's chest. He was not angry at Kumi, for speaking out of turn. Jen LuXian did not mind Kumi leaving the Qian residence to go out with her friend, but he did not want to leave himself. There was no need to leave, when Jen LuXian had to earn Madam Qian's forgiveness, for the offence he caused her. All he had known about Master Qian's wife was her coming from Taku and from an important family. The warrior maid's shoulders were lowered, and had a sense of wellness about her, from the time relaxing in the residence, before he arrived later than his retinue members. Kumi stood near the curtained canopy of the earth shifu's bed, not too close to him, but close enough to tell him things that cannot be heard by anyone, especially not the Qian household servants littering around the main house.
"I heard from Daiya, one of Madam Qian's personal maids called the prince a pervert for staring at you." Kumi said quietly, knowing to lower her voice in an unknown household.
"Appalling...I never thought Master Qian, my uncle's greatest friend would allow his household staff to speak this way. In my own household, the servants kept things to themselves and were smarter about gossiping in their own quarters and not in the halls of the main residence." Jen LuXian muttered.
"We have to live with them."
"It's not a crime to look at someone."
"With what happened to you, Young Master Jen. I would be careful, but I'm sure Master Qian would not allow his household staff to be awful towards you."
"There is a swing in the residence's gardens. I want to entertain myself on it."
"I thought swings were for noble maidens."
"Master Qian does have three daughters."
The kyoshi warrior rolled her eyes. Kumi must have felt slighted when Jen LuXian took the prince's offer, to ride in the carriage with him alone. "How was the carriage ride? Did you see anything cool? Was the general rude to you?"
"No...he was courteous as always. Why would he be rude to me?"
"For a guy, who fought a civil war and had to bury the dead. It can turn any good person into a mean person."
"I buried dead waterbenders and non-benders, am I a terrible person."
"Cold and unapproachable, of course. Not a bad person, you never told Daiya, I hated her cooking to spare her feelings."
"I'm more worried about Daiya poisoning you, if I told her the truth. She doesn't like being criticised, especially by an outsider like you."
"Would she do that?"
"There are rumours of cooks in the Daojing household, poisoning the enemies of the Daojing family. Madam Daojing denies it, when a noble person asks her about it."
"Thank Kyoshi, I was never put in that household. I would have been dismissed in two days, did you see the way those Daojing young masters looked at us, disgusting elephant-rats..." The kyoshi warrior said, with repulsion in her tone.
The young master understood why Kumi, felt the way she did. Her job was to protect him from the leering eyes of anyone, who objectified him. Killing the two Daojing household guards made Kumi fearless, as it sent a message that Young Master Jen, was not to be stared at like a cat-peacock. Jen LuXian's hand grasped onto Kumi's left hand; her hand was calloused from using her weapons regularly and the harsh training she had undergone in the Kyoshi Dojo. She was still a young lady and her hands were roughed, like a long-time soldier. Guilt washed over him, with Jen LuXian being the reason why Kumi's hands were like that, because of needing protection. It has been four years, since Kumi came into Jen LuXian's service and maybe, it was time to release her, before the earth shifu ruined more of her life.
Unlike Jen LuXian, the warrior maid had a life in Republic City, before she became his bodyguard. She had friends and another life, that was unknown to Jen LuXian. It would not be right, to allow Kumi a taste of happiness, before taking her back to the Earth Kingdom and staying with him forever. It worked for someone like Su Yong, who wanted to provide for his family and working as a bodyguard for a young master, was one of the best jobs for a non-bender in the Earth Kingdom. For someone like Kumi, she was young and had a life ahead of her. Taking Kumi away from the friend she loved and the life she had, was something Jen LuXian never wanted to do. The warrior maid was paid well and saved her money to do whatever she wanted, maybe saving the money and planning a new life, with the kyoshi sister, she loved talking about every moment of the day.
"Taking my hand, Young Master Jen. How bold of you." Kumi said, in a coy manner.
The earthbending master let go, of the warrior maid's hand, not realising he was holding it. "My apologies, it was unbecoming of me."
"It doesn't matter. You are the only man, I will allow to hold my hand."
"Only woman outside my family. Never liked girls holding my hand, always pushed their offers away."
"Ayeka is letting me sleep in her room, she has extra room. I can't be like your old bodyguard and sleep in the bed with you."
Jen LuXian never would have thought of it. The warrior maid, who loved women to sleep in the same bed, with him as a man. It only happened once, and never again because of how uncomfortable it was for them, due to the fact Jen LuXian was still mourning for Su Yong and Kumi was homesick for Republic City. They never continued the practice. It was better for Jen LuXian not to get attached to Kumi, because one day she will want to leave his service, being young and having a life ahead of her. He was happy to have Kumi around, even though it was not for long, because bodyguards usually last three years, before they leave and Kumi lasted longer than the replacements, his paternal aunt Madam Jen put in front of him years ago.
The earth shifu would rather rest the day away, but it would give the Qian family a bad view of him. A lazy young master was worse than a spoiled young master. It was important for a guest to socialise with their hosts or hosting family, especially Qian Heifen, who was excited to see him again. He could not afford to ignore his hosts, and allow this opportunity to slip from his fingers. Jen LuXian was an earthbender and could fight with dao swords, but his family wanted Kumi to protect him, when travelling to another nation with unknown factors. In a way, they were right because what happened in Gaoling, proved there were people, who wanted to hurt Jen LuXian because of his fallen status or out of spite, which meant Jen LuXian needed the warrior maid. It was nice to have someone to talk to, who wasn't bitter and tunnel-minded like Su Yong. Someone who was open enough, to consider other perspectives, than their own, which was the kind of person Jen LuXian wanted in his life.
Kumi could help him navigate this strange household and this strange city with him.
The dining settee was dissimilar to the one in Bao Yun. The Qian family used what was called long tables, which was the furniture used in this nation and the Water Tribes. All sides were layered with food and the whiffs of seasoned cuts of meat cut up, made the young master's stomach rumble, despite having tea and mochi cakes earlier. Jen LuXian saw familiar foods across the banquet table, as he had food like this in Bao Yun, where the cooking methods were traditional than this household. Shifu Jen's plate was filled to the brim with food, with Master Qian sitting at the head of the table, in twin seats and Madam Qian sitting next to him. The last platters of food were brought in, revealing them to be bowls of noodle soups, with small spring onion flickers in the middle of the bowls and the longer entrees were filled with seafood, such as marinated fish of all types, fried to a crisp with seasoned meat inside and lightly seasoned shrimps at the centre of the banquet table.
On the left side of Master Qian was his eldest Qian Heifen, whose plate had no meat, unlike the rest of her family members. Jen LuXian knew Elder Miss Qian has been a vegetarian, since her teens and was more spiritual in her faith. Next to Madam Qian was her eldest son Qian Shenyang, a common friend of Jen LuXian's cousin Chou and was his sworn brother at his wedding ceremony. The Eldest Young Master of the Qian Clan always sat beside his mother, as the heir of the clan always sat next to the head of the household. In the past, Jen LuXian usually sat with his youngest cousin, Jen Meiling at meal times, because he was the son of a second son. The earth shifu had the fortunate of sitting next to Qian Heifen, who seemed pleased by the change of seating, because she usually sat next to her younger sister Qian Mingshan and the change in seating, was in no doubt a clan leader heeding to the wishes of his heiress.
The mockingbird master's twin daughters, Qian Mingyue and Qian Mingshan sat opposite each other. The two girls looked similar, but the shape of their faces made it easier for people to tell them apart. Jen LuXian was glad the girls were safe and home, but they must have suffered, from the terrible experience of being kidnapped by Equalists. The Qian family went through all the paces, to try and please their most important guest and they did. With his customary chopsticks in hand and putting a piece of marinated fish into Jen LuXian's mouth, it satisfied the short period of hunger. Jen LuXian lived the ascetic lifestyle and devoted himself into spiritual faith, to the point his elders smiled. He never found pleasure in food, as other people did, because of the nature of his lifestyle, but the Qians were using food, as a way to welcome him into their household.
Jen LuXian caught the boredom, on the face of Qian Guangli, the youngest child of the Qian family. The boy was twelve years old, the same age as young Jinora and he glared at his older sister. The young master was bemused at why a child of twelve namedays, had the gall to be bitter towards his sister. He saw that kind of face on Jen Meiling, when she was barred from her father's office, when he meet with the mayor of Chiyo Town and the sail traders. Jen LuXian understood because trade, leadership and politics were to be passed down to Jen Chou, as it was his place, as the heir of the Jen Clan. The earth shifu didn't see Jen Meiling being interested in any kind of leadership role, despite being the secondary heir after her brother and being an earthbender herself, it was one of the things Jen LuXian missed because of being away from Bao Yun.
In the Jen Clan, the rule was the eldest child inherits. Jen LuXian knew the rules in other clans were different, but the Qian Clan also followed the equal primogeniture rule. Other clans dismiss the eldest daughters in favour of younger sons, because of traditionalist views and customs. The noodle soup served was bursting of flavour, and the cooks did a pleasant job in balancing the flavours in the vegetables, as three slices of beef were eaten as well. It made Jen LuXian miss Great Aunt Ruyi's home fried wontons, whether savoury or sweet, because there was a way she made them that was unlike any wontons in the world. Whiffs of the cooked and hot vegetable side dishes, was enough for the Little Young Master Qian to dive in with his chopsticks, without a care for propriety and had thrown his manners out the window, but any hungry boy would for the sake of food in front of him.
The stiffened upper lip of Madam Qian appeared again, this time not at Jen LuXian, but at her youngest son. "Li'er...where are your manners. Ask your brother or your sisters to pass the entree of vegetables to you." Madam Qian said, in a stiffened tone. Suppressant of her visible anger at her youngest son's poor manners.
"My apologies, noble mother." Qian Guangli replied.
"That's better."
"My dear, you are too harsh on the boy." Master Qian interjected.
"If you were not so lenient with him, then you wouldn't have noticed his manners slipping away, A-Jong."
"Li'er is a growing boy and he didn't mean any harm."
A flash of fury was upon the face of Qian Mingyue, the eldest of the twins, at the sight of the entree of mushroom dumplings with sweet chilli ginger and sesame dipping sauce finished, knowing Qian Guangli took the last two dumplings in a rush, before his sisters and brother did. These mushroom dumplings were flavourful and well made, pastry golden brown and mushroom filling was softened, not seeping with oil and were delicious to eat. No wonder why they were popular in this household, to the point of two siblings fighting to for the last ones. As the guest, Jen LuXian got to take as much as he wanted, even though it made Qian Guangli and Qian Mingyue jealous, to the point of crossing their arms and slouching, out of the eye of their mother.
"Mushroom dumplings are a stable in our household, and the cause of many conflicts." Qian Heifen said, in a lowered voice at the young master's side.
Jen LuXian noticed, the Eldest Miss was keen to talk to him, without her face changing colour. The oval-shaped glasses upon her face, made her an outcast as no one in the Earth Kingdom's noble society wore them unless they were officials in the royal palaces of Omashu and Ba Sing Se. "Chou-brother and I were never that bad, to the point of taking food from each other." Jen LuXian replied.
"They are not so bad, but with mushroom dumplings is when they turn into angry unagis."
"Your youngest sister...has she always had that habit of playing with her food."
"Not really...A-Shan had a more difficult time, especially with what happened in the civil war. Mother insisted a specialist in mind sickness to be appointed, seeing the twins never escaped the Equalist prison in their minds. We all do our best to give them the space, and the help they need. They are only young girls and it shouldn't have happened to them."
"I'm perplexed..."
"The girls and A-Li are in school. Shenyang and I have jobs, to teach us about responsibilities and how the world works. Only the last two generations of our family were working, since they arrived here from Bao Yun and father hates laziness most of all, because of the hard work he and mother have done, to provide us the lifestyle previous generations of our family dreamed of. I know the Jen Clan value a useful woman, with the women I met in your household."
A slight upturn of Jen LuXian's lips, was something all the Qian Clan members saw, from where they were sitting on the settee. "Do you have any regular acquaintances, Miss Qian?" Jen LuXian asked. Usually it was normal for a guest to ask questions, about their hosting family, as it was a way for noble families to socialise with each other, outside of weddings, funerals and big celebrations. Qian Heifen was the same age as Jen LuXian, but her brother Shenyang was three years younger than him.
"I have many friends in my line of work, especially the friends I made from my schooling years."
"Is it different from the Earth Kingdom, when you visit there?"
"We have cousins in Taku, whom we visit in the summer. Mother's family is in government there."
"I'm thankful for the hospitality of your family, Eldest Miss Qian."
"Just...don't bring General Iroh here again. Father may look jovial on the outside, but any firebender's presence offends him, considering the long century of exile our family went through, just take better care next time, Young Master Jen."
"It was my mistake and I will make up for it."
"Father would have been angry at anyone else, be thankful your last name is Jen." Qian Heifen said hollowly.
A shout was heard from across the room, and it happened to come from Young Master Qian, the older one Shenyang and not the twelve year old boy Guangli wolfing down his food. "A-Fen...don't hog all of Young Master Jen's attention to yourself." Young Master Qian said, raising his voice and being laced with envy.
The young master in fuschia pink and silver robes, didn't see his mother's refined face turn to a glare, with her hand clenched into a fist. A noble madam never showed how visibly angry or upset they were, unless it came to the poor manners of their children or the face of the family being on the line. "Yang'er...do not shout at your sister. Young Master Jen will not leave tomorrow, everyone will have their turn to spend time with him."
Jen LuXian encountered young masters like this before. Petty and jealous and harmless. It was the curse, of being born into a noble family with pre-existing expectations and standards to fulfil. The Qians being a clan in exile for a century were fortunate enough, to raise the future generation in new values, new traditions and new loyalties to an emerging nation. Jen LuXian glanced at the face of Eldest Young Master Qian; he was handsome and the straight nose of the Qians was prominent on his face. Qian Shenyang was younger than Jen LuXian, which had an element of excitement and his attention seeking roused his thoughts a moment longer than necessary. As a teacher, Jen LuXian had shameless thoughts in disciplining spoiled and jealous young masters, who wanted to impress him, give him lavish gifts, defend his honour and were petty towards their siblings over him.
The earthbending shifu had a certain type, he gravitated towards. He liked the ones, who were courteous and respected him. Jen LuXian was used to being disrespected, by his own peers and society for being a failure and a stain on his family. Travelling around the Earth Kingdom and the islands between the eastern and southern air temples was the only way, he could get any peace and isolate from people and the world, which shames him, instead of giving him compassion, after Su Yong's death. Society scorned Jen LuXian for daring to mourn for a servant, and being unfilial to his family. People whispered, counting down the days Jen Han will banish his unfilial nephew and cleanse the shame from the Jen Clan. Jen LuXian was fortunate, the Qian family treated him nicely, making him a part of their family, despite being a guest in their household and the city their forefathers made home for the family.
Qian Heifen chuckled, knowing being sat next to Jen LuXian, meant she had the right to his time and attention, unlike her brother, who sulked in the background. "Have you been to Ba Sing Se, after the passing of your parents." The Eldest Miss said, in a sympathetic tone.
"No...I have been twice and never again." Jen LuXian replied.
"I went on a trip myself, to look at the university, but mother hated the idea."
"Mother would never let you stay in Ba Sing Se. The royal family is rotten and the Earth Queen's heirs are weak and bend like poor foundation." Qian Shenyang interjected, "Some clan masters will throw their daughters at Elder Prince Mu without a second thought."
"I'm thankful to have a brother, who supports me."
"Chou and I are fortunate Meiling-sister is too young to leave Bao Yun, without a procession."
"Young Miss Jen should have the opportunity to travel, not be cloistered by her mother and father."
"Outside the mountains of Bao Yun are cruel, especially to unaccompanied girls."
The man was right, outside of Bao Yun region was unfriendly to travellers and young girls without protection. Jen LuXian saw it for himself, when he started hearing of waterbenders being snatched from their homes. Young brides were the favourite victim of the Crimson Matron, especially forcing them to marry her male disciples to gift them Earth Kingdom wives in exchange for their loyalty to her, to pursue the Crimson Matron's goal in bringing bloodbending out of the shadows. Bloodbending left a mark on Jen LuXian, giving him a valid reason to hate it and to shame anyone, who practiced it. His life was saved by bloodbending from a kind-hearted waterbender. Jen LuXian did not know anymore, despite having healed from what happened to him five years ago, but the scars were still there and everything changed for him.
Jen LuXian was an oddity, a man who always had a sour look on his face. His was a cold beauty, when he got older, losing his spring gentleness as a youth to age and bitterness. The burst of flavour from the fried, marinated shrimps melted on his tongue and between his teeth. If the food was like this in this household, Jen LuXian will enjoy staying here. Jovial shouts between the Qian offspring and their parents gave a feeling of family and home, similar to the family of the last airbenders. Family mattered, no matter what part of society or culture and Jen LuXian's heart ached for home, for the old mountain ranges and the shouts from Jen Chou, which made Jen LuXian miss his homeland even more. This household was going to be his home, for the time he was in the city, but it was like swapping this family for his own, by the way they were and his eyes saw reflections of his own family within them.
PS: Taku was a city in the northwestern Earth Kingdom, before it's currently a part of the United Republic of Nations. The city appeared in the ATLA episode The Blue Spirit and I wanted to develop the city more in current day, because Taku will appear more. This city will be explored further down, the story when the main plot begins, as it was one of the first cities the Fire Nation invaded.
儿 (Er) is a Chinese suffix that means child. It's a suffix put in front of someone's name and used for close friends and children. In the chapter, Madam Qian uses Fen'er, Yang'er and Li'er to address her children Qian Heifen, Qian Shenyang and Qian Guangli, especially when she calls them. It's not out of order to do so because the Jen and the Qian families have been friends for generations.
弟弟 (Didi) is the Chinese meaning for Little or Younger Brother. Jen Chou and Jen LuXian are cousins, but were raised like brothers and it's why he is referred to his cousin's didi.
小 (Xiao) is the Chinese term for little, small or young. It's appended to a person's given name, to show familiarity and affection towards somemone. Master Qian calls Jen Luxian "Xiao Xian" because the man has known him, since he was a child and Qian Baijong attended the wedding between Jen LuXian's parents and is best friends with Jen Han. Xiao Xian is what he is called, when Jen LuXian is travellling through the Earth Kingdom by old aunties in various places, to cover up his identity and used an abbreviation of his courtesy name (Zhu Xian) to fit in where he travels to.
- Eldest Miss is a honorfic used by Earth Kingdom society, to address the eldest daughter of any noble family.
- In the Rise Of Kyoshi, the Earth Kingdom dialect is different in the north and the south. Jen LuXian usually speaks the northern dialect, but travelling around the Earth Kingdom in his years, as a nomadic teacher. He picked up the southern dialect when spending his years in the southern Earth Kingdom, which makes him bilingual enough to understand the different dialects of the kingdom.
- Not everyone will forgive the Fire Nation. The Qian family were exiled from their homeland for a century, and the current generation of the family still hold bitterness towards firebenders and the Fire Nation because of their exile. The Qian household servants are like their employers, being rude and saying things about Iroh, which Jen LuXian knows are not true.