The Tainted Jade of Gusu

Chapter 5: Anticipation

“Wangji didn’t join us for tea, Xichen?” Lan Qiren observed as he poured the fragrant tea in small porcelain cups for himself and his older of the two nephews. 

“No Shu-fu,” Xichen took the cup gracefully and held it in his hand, “The disciple I sent to Jingshi to inform him about the evening tea returned and told me that Wangji refused to join us.”

“That seems extremely unusual for Wangji. Is everything alright with him?” there was a hint of worry in Lan Qiren’s voice. 

“It has been snowing for the past few days incessantly . Wangji might be a little under the weather.”

“Under the weather?” Lan Qiren arched his eyebrow, “ Wangji has a decently good constitution aside from his … “

“Shu-fu.” Xichen interrupted politely.

“Ahem, what I meant is, it is pretty unheard of for cultivators getting under the weather, and Wangji has a strong constitution, even by cultivation world standards.”

“Shu-fu,” Lan Xichen gently put the empty teacup down, “Wangji is only human, after all.”

Lan Qiren sipped tea in silence. After he had finished, he set the teacup down and stroked his beard. Finally, he got up from his seat and fetched a porcelain jar from one of the shelves. As he set it down on the tea-table, he turned to Xichen.

“It was thoughtless of me. If Wangji is under the weather, I should ensure his rapid recovery.”

“Shu-fu is always concerned for our well being,” Xichen smiled as he watched Lan Qiren set a fresh kettle of water to boil, and add dried ginger and a little honey to the pot and stir. “ Should I get something to eat as well?”

“We don’t know what Wangji would like to eat. Especially if he’s feeling unwell.”

“Actually,” good natured humour twinkled in Xichen’s obsidian eyes, “I think I know  the exact food that will lift Wangji’s spirits.” 

And thus, Lan Xichen found himself carrying a kettle of hot ginger tea, a porcelain teacup, and a bowl filled with loquats preserved in cane sugar syrup  towards Jingshi. 

This was a small, rather austere part of the entire residence, located near the rear mountains . It was a simple, rectangular cottage , with dark sandalwood framework, and huge windows hung with translucent curtains that almost covered the entirety of the walls, thus ensuring an abundance of sunlight during the day and moonlight or lantern-light during the night. Wangji never liked darkness. 

Overlooking the cottage, was a small pool, which had a thin film of ice over it . It was primarily a bathing pool, but Wangji never used it for any other purpose than keeping decorative koi fish during the warmer months. The bunnies that usually hopped around in abundance were nestled in their burrows, they were the only living beings other than Lan Xichen who had access to the inside of the Jingshi. There was a magnolia tree that overlooked the window adjacent to the bed. It was winter now, and powdery snow hung from the branches. Yet, strangely enough, the tree seemed to be laden with little white buds, almost as if it was monsoon  . The tree flowered beautifully every year, but this year, it seemed a little too eager, waiting impatiently with numerous blossoms, like it was having a hard time containing its force and mirth of vitality. The sight struck him as a little unusual. It was not the magnolia season.

Xichen lowered the tray gently on the front porch of Jingshi, and knocked on the door. 

The door creaked open ever so slightly, and he pushed it open . The first thing he noticed about Wangji was his slightly flushed face, and the fact that he was not wearing the outer layer of the robe.