Capítulo 20: Equals
Days continued to pass but now with Lu Yanlin slotted in. She seemed perfectly at home in this estate turned military camp, her elegant demeanor as she comfortably moved about the courtyard in a swish of delicate fabrics was a stark contrast to the simple and unrefined environment she was in. She had even become comfortable with visiting Fei Li, always politely requesting entry as she came to fetch Lu Qinyi, who would still occasionally try to hide from eating meals on days where he wasn't feeling as well. It never worked. One stern look and he would give in, reluctantly eating whatever she shoved in his hands. But on account of Lu Yanlin's interventions, he was looking better and better as the days passed. Lu Yanlin would sit and chat with Fei Li for a little afterwards before leaving again.
Fei Li found he didn't actually mind her company all that much. She spoke respectfully and lightly with anyone who wasn't her annoying little brother. She didn't hold the same uncomfortable position of general like Lu Qinyi, nor did she pester him like the other did. She also didn't hold grievances toward him like Yang Xun and Zhao Mei. This made her the most pleasant to converse with. Since it had been a long time since he could have such company, Fei Li had even accepted the other's invitation to have tea in the courtyard.
It was a warm day and sunshine pooled in the snowy courtyard. Since Lu Qinyi was off doing work, two bodyguards stood behind Lu Yanlin, as well as the regular guards who kept their eyes on the two. It seemed Lu Qinyi truly didn't trust him. Fei Li sipped at his tea. It was still steaming for now but with the chilly winter air, it would surely cool down quickly. He truly missed those cups carved from warming stone. It seemed Lu Yanlin was thinking similarly as she commented, "I might have to ask Lin An to warm the tea again soon. It really is rather cautious to only permit you to use wood, even for Siyu. Whatever did you do to earn this treatment?"
Fei Li considered a moment, after all this was quite the thing to admit to Lu Qinyi's sister, but he still replied nonchalantly, "I threatened General Lu with a hairpin."
But Lu Yanlin didn't think much of it, only commenting lightly, "Ahh. So that's why he has started wearing wooden hairpins more often than his jade ones."
And yet, Fei Li noted with mild amusement that Lu Yanlin was still wearing her complimenting jade and gold hairpins, as if they were confident he wouldn't get close enough to get a hold of them. He took another slow sip of tea as he gazed at that gold that glinted in the rays of sunshine.
"He prefers jade normally then?"
"Mm. He quite likes jade, it's one of the few things he learnt from our parents."
"I'm curious at how two nobles with comfortable lives that aren't in need of anything, and without anything notable about them, end up with a distinguished court official and a general for children."
She smiled at that, running her fingertip along the rim of her teacup. "It's quite the mystery how our no good parents ended up with accomplished children. The truth of the matter is quite simple however. I simply have a sense of work ethic and responsibility that my parents didn't possess. I wasn't content with wasting my life away doing nothing. As for Siyu, well, he was restless even as a child. My parents couldn't think of anything to vent out that uncontrollable energy and eventually resorted to hiring someone to teach him the sword. He loved it all too much and ended up finding his love for military affairs, much to our parents dismay. I'm just pleased he is doing something with himself."
"You aren't afraid of him dying? Worse yet, he may lose the war and your entire family would be caught up in the aftermath."
"Siyu isn't the type to be held back, he would have found his way into danger one way or another. If he dies, then he was incompetent. He couldn't have been held back from becoming a general either. Worrying over whether he loses or not would gain nothing." True to her words, she seemed calm and at ease with the matter, speaking without concern. Fei Li had to admit he was slightly impressed. "What of you General Fei? Are your family worried?"
Fei Li shook his head, unconsciously tightening his hold on his teacup as he thought of his family. "My father is a military man himself. For him, my position as general is an honor to the family name, regardless of whether I win or lose. However, if I won it would bring the family fame and power. As for my mother, she believes greatly in the cause of uniting the countries. She believes wholeheartedly that I will win." He emitted the more unpleasant details that if he lost the war, he would bring shame to the family name, fail the purpose his life had been given and, in the eyes of his mother, his life would be forfeit. He truly wouldn't be able to ever face his mother if he lost as he would surely be worse than dead to her. He unknowingly frowned, just slightly, as he thought of this, discomfort weighing down on him.
"Ah I see, how nice that your parents support and believe in you in such a way. Siyu has to avoid our parents these days and keep visits short as they always have an earful for him about the topic. They've always greatly disapproved."
Nice? It was far from nice. But Fei Li only responded vaguely to the utterly incorrect statement Lu Yanlin had just spoken, his gaze off to the side and mind elsewhere.
Just as Lu Yanlin seemed about to talk further, Lu Qinyi strolled up. "You both seem to be getting along well. Mind if I join?"
She frowned slightly, a disapproving expression on her face as she saw him. "Finished your meeting this early?"
Lu Qinyi glanced aside, avoiding looking at her, a slanted grin on his face as he scratched lightly at his cheek. "Does it count as finished if I walked out?"
"You walked out on your work? Did I raise such an irresponsible, lazy and shameless brother? How awful of me." Lu Yanlin drawled with a false pout on her face as if she were truly ashamed of herself.
Lu Qinyi frowned at her round about scolding. She truly knew how to poke at him. "You're so harsh Yanlin-Jiejie... It isn't like I walked out of anything important."
"Are you implying that you wouldn't walk out of an important meeting? You wouldn't lie to me, would you Siyu?"
He flinched at her darkening tone, frowning further as if he were the one being wronged here. "Jiejie..."
"Don't you 'jiejie' me. Daiyu said you were behind on your reports again and Yang Xun said you had been skipping some training sessions since Commander Xiao was lost. Is this true?"
"I... ah..." Lu Qinyi didn't meet her accusing gaze, shifting his weight between his feet uncomfortably. His voice was rather quiet as he admitted, "Maybe."
"Maybe or yes?"
Lu Qinyi cursed under his breath. "Zhao Mei and Yang Ye are a couple of unloyal traitors for selling me out like this..." he sighed, unable to hold out in an interrogation by his elder sister, who he feared and respected more than both his parents. "Yes, it's true."
"You know Daiyu likes me more. Yang Xun let it slip on accident. Neither of them are responsible for your slacking off. And you're supposed to be a general? What a disappointment you are. What am I supporting you for?"
Lu Qinyi toed the snow by his foot, his head lowered. "Ah... sorry Yanlin..."
Fei Li watched on with some amusement as General Lu got scolded by his sister, lightly sipping at his tea as he glanced between them without a word.
"I have no need for your apologies. I need you not to bring me shame as your elder sister and the next head of our family." She then hid her irritation with him behind a cool smile that was a thousand times worse. "You should work hard to make up for what you've fallen behind on. Why don't you start with working on your arm strength?"
Lu Qinyi finally looked up at her, brows furrowed slightly.
Lu Yanlin nodded toward the tree in the courtyard. "Go on."
Lu Qinyi glanced at Fei Li then back at his sister with a desperate look in his eye. But she smiled at him mercilessly, not relenting even an inch.
"You're cruel Yanlin. That heavenly appearance of yours hides a cold hearted demon." He complained bitterly but obediently unclasped his cloak, passing it to Lu Yanlin. He refused to look over at Fei Li as he rolled up his sleeves, walking over to the bottom of the tree and jumping up to catch one of the sturdier branches. He hooked one foot around the back of the ankle of the other to steady himself while he did pull ups, still muttering to himself.
"Hm, that's better." Lu Yanlin purred in satisfaction, folding his cloak neatly before resting it on her lap. She glanced him over to ensure his form was proper before turning her attention back to Fei Li. "Where were we?"
Fei Li raised an eyebrow slightly as he observed passively. He shifted his gaze to Lu Yanlin. "It seems you have him well under control."
She smiled further as she lifted her teacup to her lips to sip delicately. "If I didn't, there would be no one in this world who could keep him in line. If I couldn't keep him decent, who knows what headaches he would give our family. Even now he's still a handful."
"Then, you're the next head of the Lu family?" It wasn't strange Fei Li found this surprising, normally that position went to the first born male as usually women of the family married into other households. By Lu Yanlin's age, it would have been normal for her to already have another family but that didn't seem to be the case.
"Mhmm. I have no wish to marry. My family has a secure enough position, especially with both my own and Siyu's positions. Instead, I wish to be the next head of the family. Siyu has no objections as he doesn't care for it and our parents accept the decision as well."
Fei Li hummed as he listened with interest. The whole family situation was a bit interesting but Lu Qinyi in particular was quite the character. His sister matched him in this regard, equally unyielding in her ways although more reasonable than her counterpart.
Yang Xun and Zhao Mei returned to the courtyard following the conclusion of the meeting. They paused as they saw Lu Qinyi hanging off the tree but seemed to quickly understand the situation and resumed walking over. Zhao Mei smiled faintly as she watched, feeling she was finally getting some retribution for all the hardships he caused her. Yang Xun raised his eyebrows, seeming to pity his general just a tad. "What did you do to anger Miss Lu this time?"
Lu Qinyi paused, holding himself up with his chin over the branch, so he could glare at the two. "This is all because you two dobbed on me! Yang Ye, I expected more of you, how could you tell her I missed training?"
"Oh, ah." Yang Xun rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry General."
Zhao Mei, of course, held no pity as she snorted. "Serves you right."
"Siyu, you should keep going. The longer you hold, the more your arms will shake." Lu Yanlin stated helpfully, her tone too cheery. Lu Qinyi could only frown further, sighing before he continued doing pull ups, now with an audience of four and the loyal guards who didn't dare look directly at their general.
Zhao Mei's smile deepened, seeming satisfied. She walked over to pour Lu Yanlin a fresh cup of tea, hardly sparing Fei Li a glance. "Are you sure you can't stay longer, Mingyu?"
Lu Yanlin sighed gently. "Unfortunately not. I can only be away from court duties for so long."
Zhao Mei glanced over at Lu Qinyi as she lamented, "What a shame."
Yang Xun chuckled softly at that. "It is a shame. It's been quite nice to have you around Miss Lu."
"You're too kind. Do either of you want tea?" Lu Yanlin offered.
Zhao Mei and Yang Xun both looked at Fei Li. Fei Li met their stares with no expression, harmlessly swirling the tea in his cup.
"No." Zhao Mei responded almost immediately, turning her gaze back to Lu Yanlin.
"I'm afraid we'll have to decline your offer, Miss Lu. We actually came to collect General Lu to discuss some things." Yang Xun replied with more tact after a moment.
"Ah, I see. That's fine. Siyu, why don't you come down now?"
Lu Qinyi dropped down without any hesitation, rubbing at his arm with a look of dissatisfaction. "General Fei, Yanlin." He said his farewells before quickly turning to leave.
"Siyu."
He froze, mouth twitching in irritation but he still turned to face Lu Yanlin, not looking directly at her. "Yes?"
She smiled easily, raising the cloak that had been on her lap. "It's cold, you shouldn't forget this."
Thanks to her punishment, Lu Qinyi didn't feel cold at all. Rather, he felt uncomfortably warm, to the point where he pulled at his collar to loosen its grip around his neck. Still, he stepped forward to swipe the cloak from her hand before leaving.
"Dear brother of mine, do be sure to finish those reports tonight, won't you?" She called after him, something threatening underneath her pleasant tone.
Lu Qinyi had to suppress the urge to shudder. "I will." He replied shortly, not turning back, giving a wave over his shoulder.
Yang Xun politely saluted and Zhao Mei gave a nod of farewell to Lu Yanlin. "Take care Miss Lu."
Just as they were both about to leave, they caught the slight frown on Lu Yanlin's face as she glanced at Fei Li then back at them.
Yang Xun understood, afterall, reading people was his specialty. He reluctantly turned to Fei Li, cupping his hands in a half hearted salute. "General Fei," he acknowledged dryly.
Zhao Mei however turned her face away. "He doesn't need your consideration, Mingyu. That brother of yours already treats him far more kindly than is deserved," she stated coldly before leaving without another word.
Yang Xun could only shrug at Lu Yanlin's disappointed click of her tongue. "You know what she's like." He consoled before turning to follow after.
"I hope you don't take offense, General Fei. Zhao Daiyu is an impressive character but she'd break long before she would bend. She's harder than stone."
Fei Li glanced after them, slow to reply. "It's alright. It isn't strange of her to not want to pay respects to the enemy general responsible for the death of her fellow soldiers. I'd dare say the strange ones are yourself and General Lu."
Lu Yanlin laughed softly for a moment. "Hardly. We simply understand that we're in no position to judge. Siyu and the others are responsible for the deaths of your men as well. As Siyu's sister and supporter, I'm not beyond responsibility either. Since we're equals in this aspect, why can't we treat one another with respect?"
Fei Li quirked an eyebrow as he turned her words in his mind. Although it was an unexpected view to have, he couldn't find fault in it. Especially when it was this respect that led to his comfortable treatment. He really couldn't complain, so he responded with a mild "Hm. I suppose."
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