Threads 424-Shenglu 3

Ling Qi embraced Hanyi tightly, her nose full of the wintergreen scent of her junior sister’s hair. Said junior sister squirmed as she hugged her back, patting her shoulders. She could feel the increased chill as her sister’s snow white cheeks flushed a dark blue.

“C’mon, Big Sis. Not in front of everybody!” Hanyi whispered.

Ling Qi snorted. She gave her sister a final hard squeeze before straightening up, resting her hand on Hanyi’s head. They stood at the edge of Shenglu where the temporary stables had been set up. Workers and merchants passed them by with lowered heads. Bao Qian looked on, amused from the driver’s seat of his wagon.

“Be well, my sister. Perform your duties diligently, and bring honor to the Ling clan on your journey.”

Moons, she sounded so old, talking like this.

Ling Qi rested both of her hands on Hanyi’s shoulders, looked her in the eyes, and smiled.

“And have fun, of course. Don’t trouble Sir Bao too much.”

“I’m not going to trouble him at all!” Hanyi whined.

Ling Qi looked at her.

Hanyi looked back.

Ling Qi held her gaze.

Her junior sister looked away. “… I’ll be good.”

Ling Qi ruffled her hair. “I know, little sister. See you in a few months.”

It still ached to let her family go, but it was a good ache in its way. She couldn’t keep Hanyi tied to her hip.

“I will do my best to keep your junior from a crooked path,” Bao Qian said wryly. “And I bid you farewell, too, Lady Ling. The road goes ever on, but it leads back around in time.”

“It does. Bao Qian, thank you for taking care of my sister.”

He nodded cheerfully as Hanyi climbed into the back of his wagon and pulled his driver’s hat down more firmly on his head. With a tug of the reins, he got the horses moving, sending the wagon rumbling into motion as it left the yard and slowly turned to trundle down the road going north.

Ling Qi remained where she was, unmindful of the respectful berth the mortals and low cultivators left around her, until the colorful vehicle began to vanish over the top of the nearest hill. Only then did she turn to go, beginning to consider the work on her desk today.

She had filed for the import route for the chestnuts, of course, but she also had to write back to several correspondents, file through the invitations Lady Cai had received for their visit to Xiangmen for the Duchess’ wedding, and…

Near the gates of Shenglu, she paused and turned her head, looking back over her shoulder at the northern road. She recognized that qi.

Wait. Was that horse pink?

***​

As it turned out, the shade was lavender. The horse was a handsome stallion with a healthy, shiny coat, a broad chest, and the finest mane she had ever seen. The dark purple hair in his mane tumbled down in wavy locks that would put those of many a noblewoman to shame.

Lin Hai, naturally, perched on the horse’s back without reins or saddle. He beamed down at her, his own hair a permed cloud of gold-tipped black, and he wore a high collared and downright indecent outer robe with nothing beneath. The robe’s flared lower half left his midriff bare.

She refused to look lower than that. She might have gotten better, but there were limits to decency, and those were not pants. They looked more like paint than silk. Which she didn’t see because she was not looking.

A beat of silence passed in her thoughts.

… She missed Sixiang.

Lin Hai slid from his horses back to land gracefully before her, sketching a small bow. “I do apologize for the sudden arrival, Lady Ling, but I was quite certain you would want my delivery as soon as possible.”

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“I understand, and thank you for your speed. Why did you not fly?”

“Because my friend here has not gotten out in ages.” Lin Hai stroked his stallion’s mane, and the stallion tossed his head proudly. “And also, I knew from Lady Cai’s missives that you are beginning some spiritually delicate work. I did not want to cause any disruption.”