YueQin was beyond relieved when MingYu was back up on his foot and roaming about. First thing on her mind, after seeing him in somewhat full health, was shopping. And even better than that - shopping with ZhiYi's money. Their first stop was none other than the fabrics of the Ma's, well known across the land as the fines silk shop in Wupei.
Ever since they arrived in the city, YueQin had been eyeing the building but never dared to step in by herself. Dressed in modest cotton clothes with nothing but dimes littering her pockets, she only walked by the shop, throwing hungry glances its way.
MingYu welcomed a happy and talkative YueQin as a distraction. He hadn't realised how well his imagination worked now that he realised the ZhiYi of his memory had been sad about his upcoming marriage.
What started as a flicker of hope had now ignited into a fiery inferno of what-ifs. The dam had broken, flooding his mind, drowning everything in questionable thoughts. And sleeping, eating, and breathing next to the man behind these scattered thoughts was taking its toll on MingYu's sanity and saliva glances.
PingZe seemed to have realised something was going on as he tried to keep ZhiYi occupied with his nonsense - to no avail. After the near-death experience, ZhiYi had latched onto MingYu's side, save for the times he had to use the outhouse.
MingYu kept his mind in check by changing the topic to the grand eunuch of his memory. Both brothers had looked at MingYu as if he had lost his damn mind. Why would have they paid any attention to a eunuch? Although they agreed that none of the other eunuchs used powder or rouge. MingYu was at a lost. He was sure he knew this man, but from where, he couldn't figure it out.
His thoughts came to a halt, as the crew stopped before a low-roofed building, with golden letters carved on the sign above them. They had arrived at Ma's fabric shop. It was smaller than what one would have expected from the place's reputation. It was only one story high, of dark wood and roof-tiles. Fabrics of all colours were neatly rolled up and stacked on shelves all the way to the ceiling.
Behind the counter sat a pitiful old man, who looked worn down from weather and life. He was measuring the fabric for a customer and spoke with a low wispy voice that was barely audible.
When YueQin leapt up the few stone-steps to see inside, a beefy woman stepped out. Her towering figure was dressed in deep red, flowy robes, with golden stitching of cherry blossom. She was wearing a stern frown and looked down her snout at YueQin.
"Welcome to Ma's." Her voice was low and thundering. YueQin nearly jumped out her skin.
"I'm madam Ma, how may I assist you?"
YueQin stuttered out her fabric requirements under madam Ma's murderous stare. Madam Ma breathed heavily as she stomped around her shop, pulling down fabrics in colours of lavender, then spread them out on the table.
MingYu and the brothers followed behind quietly. After YueQin was done with her colour palette, she was instructed to master Ma, who was waiting with his beady eyes and scissors, ready to measure and cut whatever his wife threw his way. He looked done and ready to roll down his own grave.
Madam Ma now turned her bug-eyes to the three, and they shuffled uneasily under her gaze. ZhiYi asked to see fabrics in darker colours, preferring night blue or pitch black. He followed madam Ma's scornful figure, and as he got far enough, MingYu pulled at PingZe and whispered,
"Why does he look for dark colours? Isn't he in mourning?"
A wicked smile pulled at PingZe's lips, and MingYu felt his brows twitching. His palms were sweating; he didn't like what PingZe's expression was entailing.
"Time flies by fast, soon that will be over too and he is free of restraints," PingZe said with a teasing grin. "He looks great in dark colours. Women swarm him like bees to a flower."
MingYu darkened at the thought, then knocked himself out of it. It was not his business if ZhiYi started another family or saw someone or - who was he kidding? The thought was not pleasing in the least!
PingZe snickered as he seemed to read MingYu's mind. "What are you steaming about? Shouldn't you be glad that he can finally find someone new to bring him happiness?"
He should... but MingYu didn't like the sound of that either!
ZhiYi had now raised his long lashes from across the shop and was looking at the two of them strangely. MingYu turned his gaze away, but he could still sense ZhiYi's stare. His skin tingled like a warm hand was caressing his spine, and MingYu shivered slightly.
"It's good that you are back in the mortal realm again. You might even get to attend his second wedding, too." PingZe mused aloud, plucking at MingYu's annoyance string. PingZe was the master at playing this instrument. He not only plucked the string, but he also played a whole melody with it. He enjoyed the way MingYu's brows quivered, and his lips pouted ever so slightly.
"Last time, ZhiYi married a beauty."
"I see." MingYu managed between his tight pursed lips. Realising his mobile hand had fisted so tightly his knuckles had turned white, he drew a deep breath in and scolded himself, relaxing his tensed shoulders.
"See what?" ZhiYi had now returned to their side, still staring at them with an unreadable expression.
"Nothing," MingYu grumbled and hurried to madam Ma's side. He rather walked next to the wild boar clad in red than stand near either of the brothers at the moment.
"What were you talking about?" ZhiYi had now shot his questioning eyes to PingZe, who was grinning ear to ear.
"Nothing."
Soon, MingYu learned that Madam Ma held a deep-rooted grudge towards humanity. She answered with curt sentences, huffing and puffing like a woman in labour. Her voice was perfectly designed to yell at others, and she seemed to enjoy yelling at everyone, especially her husband. It was clear she was the matriarch of the Ma household.
Currently, she was barking orders to master Ma, who curved his back to measure MingYu's frame.
"Remember to add inches to the measurement! The fabric needs to be folded to strengthen the stitches!" She bellowed, then cursed men as useless under her breath. She roamed like a bull around her shop with PingZe in tow, who was carrying the basket with Ah-Xin sleeping in it.
Master Ma merely mumbled something resembling a yes as he wrote the numbers down.
"You are ready." He breathed and clapped MingYu on his shoulders, before hovering behind his counter to cut the fabric.
Poor man, thought MingYu. Truly madam Ma didn't seem to have a single spring day in her life. Even when the four were ready with their shopping, and ZhiYi paid her handsomely for the fine silk, she only sneered and turned away, visibly done with them for the rest of her life. This attitude didn't seem to hinder her business though, as people flocked around the shop, waiting for their turn to be served.
Finding a sewing and embroidery shop nearby, they left their fabrics to be turned into new robes. ZhiYi and PingZe went for tight sleeved robes with feather embroidery, while MingYu opted for plain, light grey robes he wore during his first time in the mortal realm.
Thinking back on it, MingYu's style was as muted as his personality. He couldn't tell if that was a good or a bad thing, but he decided it was better to not attract any attention to himself, not that he could avoid it when travelling with ZhiYi and PingZe.
YueQin's wished to have butterflies as her embroidery on her light lavender robes. The choice surprised the brothers, but none of them said a thing.
As they walked under the warm light cast from lanterns over the empty street, making their way back to the inn, YueQin muttered, "That madam Ma is so scary, she seems to hate people."
"I think she's worried about something." Said ZhiYi.
"Oh?" Both YueQin and MingYu exclaimed at the same time. Neither of them had noticed the lady have any worry in the world. MingYu had been too occupied of thinking and talking about ZhiYi to pay attention, while YueQin was just clueless.
"Her hands were shaking whenever she picked up a fabric off the shelf or spread it out on the table. Her eyes weren't very focused either, she almost took hold of the wrong fabric roll many times." PingZe added.
The sun was setting in the east. Only a reddish glow now could be seen behind the tall, dark buildings. As they reached the inn, YueQin wanted them to climb up to the highest level.
"There is a balcony where we can drink tea and enjoy the night air. I've been up there a few nights now. There is pleasant music playing during the late hours too."
"I'm feeling tired, maybe tomorrow night," MingYu said as he yawned. His head had grown heavy, drooping over his shoulder for support. Hopefully, he would fall asleep without a wandering thought for once.