After 4 long months, I am back with a new chapter! I've actually typed and retyped this chapter multiple times over the last few months and had a hard time deciding how to write it, so it may not be as good as other chapters and I apologize for this! I still hope you enjoy this chapter! I am determined to go all the way to the end with this fic!
How long will you be gone? When will you come back?
Koumei wants to ask these questions but instead keeps his mouth shut. He doesn't want to seem overbearing.
Yueying straps on another pack to the side of her horse just outside the stables. Koumei stands just a few feet away, watching her strap on her liuyedao in its scabbard around her waist.
"Lady Wang. Are you ready?" Hua asks.
"If you and the twins are, then I'm ready too." Yueying replies as she puts on a cloak, lifting the hood over her tied up black hair. She meets the second prince's eyes and smiles and approaches him.
"You look anxious, Koumei." She says. Koumei raises his fan closer to his face.
"You could say that I'm worried about your traveling conditions. It's nearing winter, especially in the mountains." He replies.
"We'll be fine. I'll try and come back within the coming week." Yueying says reassuringly.
"Safe travels." Koumei says as he watches her board her horse.
"I'll be back soon." Koumei hears Yueying say before she and her three companions lead their horses out of the palace gates.
As they leave, Yueying becomes aware of the youngest princess peering out at her from the bushes.
She peeks over her shoulder and spots her red hair poking out from behind a wall. Yueying catches the princess' eyes and smiles, mouthing out a quiet 'thank you' before returning her attention to the city gates that are visible from many blocks away.
Yueying has never been the one to be nervous when it comes to her family. However, she is terrified at the thought of facing them four years after leaving them without a word.
She stands in front of the teahouse and takes in the sight of customers coming in and out of what used to be a failing business.
The exterior has been redone. Yueying notes. The bleak, peeling wood that once gave structure to the building has been replaced with newer, darker wood. A bright red new banner with the character for tea written on it now stands in place for one that used to be bleak and faded.
Yueying fiddles with her fingers and takes a deep breath. They won't hate you, Yueying. She reminds herself.
Well if they do, they have a completely valid reason to do so. She counters herself and then shakes her head. Don't think like that!
As Yueying mulls over her worries, someone bumps into her.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" A masculine voice rings out. Yueying turns to see a young man with black hair tied into a short braid bending down to pick up a small bundle of tea leaves off of the ground. He is dressed in a simple grey-coloured tunic paired with black shoes, and is holding a cane in his hand that supports his weight as he picks up his bundle.
"It's quite alright." Yueying replies. The man stands up straight and she takes note of how tall he is. Yueying meets his eyes. They were brown - the same shade as hers. His face shape is awfully similar to hers and she could recognize that lopsided sheepish grin anywhere.
"Oh my goodness!" Yueying cries and her mouth drops open in surprise.
"Riying!"
"Yueying! B-big sister! You're - you're alive!" Riying yells and once again drops the bundle in his hand, then envelopes Yueying in a tight hug.
Yueying gets smothered in his chest and she hears his sobbing right next to her ear, and she can't help but get teary-eyed as well.
"Hey! Who said you could grow taller than me, huh?" Yueying asks between sniffles and wraps her own arms around him.
The commotion between the two garners attention, and soon a small crowd of curious onlookers gather around them.
Hua, Rin and Rei - who had been watching the whole interaction fondly get pushed back amongst the curious crowd.
"Wang Riying!" A shrill voice suddenly rings out from the entrance of the teahouse. The rough, straw bristles of a broom smacks Riying over the top of his head.
"Ow!" Riying hisses and releases Yueying from his tight hug. The small crowd plunges into silence.
"You dare keep the fact that you have a lover from your own parents!?" An older woman stands at the entrance with a hand on her hip. Her black hair is streaked with white and wrinkles form at the corners of her eyes as she scowls at Riying. Beside her, an older man holds the broom tight in his hands. His mostly black hair is arranged in a neat bun atop his head and the wrinkles on his face deepen as he frowns.
"Mother! Father! It's not what you think!" Riying explains as he rubs the top of his head. He places a hand on Yueying's back and nudges her forward into the view of their parents.
In the blink of an eye, Yueying finds herself in the middle of a tight hug yet again. Her mother smothers her face in sloppy kisses and her father cries silently as he murmurs words of relief.
Yueying hugs them both back just as tightly.
How silly of me. Yueying thinks. I didn't have anything to worry about.