Moon's Whisper, Heart's Echo

5.The Tiger

"You still haven't found his residence?" Ji-soo's voice carried across the breakfast table with just a hint of reproach. She was arranging rice bowls, though her raised eyebrow spoke volumes.

"I've been somewhat occupied."

"Mmm." Ji-soo set down a dish of pickled radishes.

"On other topics completely irrelevant to—Min-joon-ah, not so fast! The rice isn't going anywhere."

Her son looked up from his breakfast, cheeks stuffed like a puppy. He managed to look both guilty and utterly unrepentant as he chewed with exaggerated slowness.

"Sorry, Eomma," he mumbled once he'd swallowed. "But Master Song says we're studying battle formations today, and I don't want to be late!"

"Battle formations?" Nandi shot a look at Ji-soo, who shrugged.

"Military history is a perfectly respectable subject for a young scholar," Ji-soo said, though her lips twitched. "Though perhaps we should suggest more focus on strategy than practical application? After last week's... incident."

Ah yes, the incident. Min-joon had somehow convinced three other boys that recreating the Battle of Hansando required actual water warfare. The resulting chaos had left Master Song's courtyard looking like it had survived a small flood.

"No battles today," Nandi said firmly. "We need to visit the market after your lessons. Master Chen's new silk shipment arrived yesterday, and I promised Lady Min I'd select some pieces for her daughter's wedding preparations."

Min-joon's face lit up. "Can we visit the puppet seller? He said he'd have new tiger puppets this week! And maybe we could see if the sweetmeat vendor—"

"We'll see," Nandi cut him off before his enthusiasm could build up too much momentum. "First, finish your breakfast. Properly," she added as he reached for his spoon with dangerous speed.

The morning passed in its usual rhythm. Min-joon departed for his lessons, practically vibrating with excitement about battle formations.

Nandi reviewed correspondence, made notes about potential matches, and tried to ignore Ji-soo's pointed comments about certain noble residences that might be worth investigating.

By mid-afternoon, after lessons—the sun had warmed the streets enough to make walking pleasant.

Min-joon practically danced ahead of her as they made their way toward the market, his energy seemingly undiminished by a full morning of studying.

"Eomma, look!" He pointed to where a street performer was manipulating a paper dragon, making it swoop and dive above an appreciative crowd. "Can we watch? Please?"

"After we finish our errands," Nandi promised. "Master Chen is expecting us, and then we need to—Min-joon?"

But he had already darted ahead, weaving through the crowd with the kind of agility that made mothers' hearts stop. Nandi quickened her pace, trying to keep his blue jacket in sight while maintaining some semblance of dignity.

The market crowd seemed to thicken suddenly - a group of servants carrying baskets, a line of scholars arguing about some ancient text, merchants calling their wares. Min-joon's small form disappeared completely behind a cart piled high with cabbages.

Nandi's heart jumped to her throat as she looked around, turning and dizzy. "Min-joon!" she called, no longer caring about dignity. "Min-joon-ah!"

"Looking for someone?" The voice carried a calm surety that made Nandi still despite her panic.

She turned to find the man from the spring, standing with that same practiced grace she remembered. One hand rested lightly on Min-joon's shoulder while her son beamed up at him, completely unfazed by his mother's obvious distress.