Dinner Invitation From The Ruan Family

It was in the afternoon already, Fangsu wore a grey jacket, an embroidered white skirt, and a black satin cloak with embroidered silvery pink plum blossoms along with a white cloak lined with fur. Fangsu's grandpa wore white inner robes with a purplish grey outer robes with a indigo winter cloak lined with fur. They both stood infront a mansion with the Ruan family name at the entrance, however, the sheer amount of land that this mansion occupied was more than half a street. It was definitely much larger than the Chen Mansion, even if you doubled the size of the Chen mansion it still wouldn't even compare.

A servant ushered in Fangsu and her grandpa into the reception room taking their winter cloaks. Jingyi came rushing over to Fangsu, wrapping her arms around Fangsu's neck, "You're here! You dyed you hair again!" Jingyi pouted while taking Fangsu's hand and pulled her to tour the mansion which had many rooms for different purposes and people who were working, "Our family comes from military lineage so we don't have a lot of luxury goods mostly just weapons." Jingyi explained the lack of luxuries that most nobles flaunt off.

Fangsu nodded, "My family doesn't have many luxury goods also but we mainly have dried herbs and medicinal plants that we grow." They walked into a storage room which was filled with weapons all with intricate designs and abnormal shapes. Bows, crossbows, swords, broad knives, spears, spearguns, cudgel, battleaxes, battle spades, halberds, lances, whips, blunt swords, hammers, fork, plow, daggers and shields. Fangsu started at all the weapons, they were familiar to her, and she picked up a whip sword that was rolled up, "I haven't seen these in so long." Fangsu pinched the center of the sword to measure out the things of the sword, "But, it's thicker than what I remember."

Jingyi scratches her head sheepishly, "Father said that the whip sword is easily one of the most hardest weapon to master because of the high risk of injuries." Taking out a normal sword, Jingyi indicates to the sword, "My Father doesn't dare to use the whip sword in actual combat, but he likes other weapons mainly lances." Jingyi pointed to each weapon, moving from the more commonly used to the unusual weapons.

Fangsu held the whip sword a sense of nostalgia was linked to whip swords, "Can I practice with it?" Asking Jingyi for permission who instantly shook her head.

Jingyi stopped Fangsu from utilising the high risk weapon, "Fangsu! You could get hurt! Have you had any weapon training?" Jingyi tried to advise Fangsu against playing with the whip sword.

"If your friend asks to practice, let her," A middle-aged man spoke up, stood at the entrance of the weapon room with Fangsu's grandpa, "If you friend is able to recognise the whip sword, then she probably had some training with the whip sword." The two men walked out to the courtyard nearby the weapon storage house.

Fangsu unravelled the whip sword to reveal its lengthy blade. Fangsu tested the whip sword's weight in her hand, the flexibility and momentum require to display the whip sword's ability. The feeling of a whip sword felt nostalgic in Fangsu's hand.

Flicking the whip sword with all her strength, the blade flung forward reaching to a distance which a normal weapon would not be able to reach. The Whip Sword was like a snake able to fling in directions that would be unpredictable. Along with amazing display with Fangsu's ability to easily wield the whip sword along with her acrobatic skills to be able to make new moves. A smiled spread across her face as she continued to control the whip sword in her hand and her hair whipping around her.

Jingyi's father and Jingyi were stunned to see Fangsu able to display such skill with the whip sword, however, Fangsu's grandpa continued to sip his cup of tea as if this display was normal for him. Fangsu's swordsmanship display was like a hypnotic dance, enchanting the viewer like a war dance for the goddess of Mercy.

Fangsu felt her lungs start to strain for air and decided it was time to stop, but before she could reel the whip sword back into a coil. The blade of the whip sword had managed to scratch Fangsu's face, fresh red blood began flowing out from the cut. "Fangsu!" Both Fangsu's grandpa and Jingyi rushed to Fangsu who finished coiling the entirety of the blade.

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Jingyi's father flinched at the sight of the cut but before he could call out for a doctor, both Jingyi and the old man that was seated next to him rush over to the young girl who calmly continued to reel the blade into a coil. Frowning at the girl's lack of reaction towards the wound on her face; no shouts of pain or knowledge of the wound site. This type of reaction is typically normal for soldier who experience trauma during bloodshed of the battlefield yet a young girl of her age and status was experiencing the same symptoms of a soldier in active service. The extent of the trauma would have been profound if the girl were to be unfeeling and unaware towards physical pain.

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Fangsu tilted her face in confused at the shouts of her grandpa and Jingyi who immediately place a cloth on her face, "Why are you putting a handkerchief on my face?" Fangsu took the handkerchief, wiping at the spot Jingyi had been pressing on, but when she looked at the blood-stained handkerchief, "Did I cut myself?" Fangsu pressed the handkerchief to her face to have stop the bleeding.

Jingyi pouted, "I told you! You got a cut on your skin" Jingyi called for a servant to summon a doctor to help Fangsu's wound, "Doesn't it hurt?" Jingyi continued to worry about Fangsu who shooked her head.

Fangsu's grandpa stopped the servant, "I will take care of this." Fangsu's grandpa walked up to Fangsu, removing the handkerchief to look at the wound site, a small cut on her cheek. It was shallow enough that it wouldn't leave behind a scar, but Fangsu who quite unfazed by the wound. Fangsu's grandpa took out a porcelain bottle, "Can you ask someone to get something to?" A random servant rushed to get some bandages.

When the bandages arrived, Fangsu's grandpa poured the contents of the porcelain bottle on his two forefingers, a thick green paste. With the green paste applied on Fangsu's wound, the bandages are placed on the wound site. Completely sealing the wound from any infection that could further worsen the healing process of the cut. With that ordeal settled, Jingyi takes Fangsu's hand into her our and with her eyes sparkling with curiosity, "Fangsu! Where did you learn to master the whip sword?" Jingyi began bouncing excitedly like a bunny on its hind legs, "My father can't handle the whip sword like you do! There are like very few people who can handle!" Jingyi begged Fangsu for answers and partner with her personality and sparkling eyes.

Fangsu couldn't resist. "My younger twin sister," Those words were hard to muster out of her mouth, but Fangsu noticed Jingyi slightly pale at the mention of her sister, but quickly bounced back to her lively self.

Jingyi wanted to ask more questions but a servant called for them for dinner. Everyone went to move to the dining room, but Fangsu handed the servant the whip sword, telling them to place it back into the weapon storage room. Fangsu quickly caught up to the group who waited for her in the corridors that lead to the dining room.

Once they entered the dining room, the scent of roasted meat delights, oils and fresh vegetables permeated through the air causing one to take a deep breath to relish in the delicious smell. An array of dishes fitting the wintery season were spread across the table, marinated boiled eggs with meat, steamed vegetables, Char Siu, steamed pumpkin flowers, dumplings, spring rolls, Ma Po Tofu and many more. Fangsu was overwhelmed by the sheer amount of food that was presented infront of her.

Jingyi was also the same, "Mother! Why did you cook so much food?" Loud exclaimed at the sheer amount of food yet there was still more food being placed on the table.

Jingyi's mother embarrassingly smiled at her unconscious actions, "Sorry! I just got too excited knowing Fangsu was coming over," Placing the last dish which was fish head soup on the table, "I may have overdone it." Laughing at herself and looking at the sheer amount of food in the table that obviously wouldn't be finished by 5 people.

Everyone sat down on the dinner table, eating the large array of food. Fangsu saw the drooling faces of the servants that were overlooking the delicious food that was being eaten. "Lady Ruan?" Fangsu called out to Jingyi's mother who quickly gave her attention, "I highly doubt we would be able to finish all this food, so is it possible that the servants of this household partake in this dinner?" Suggesting that the servants help clear out the massive amount of dishes. But, Fangsu knew that nobles don't typically dine with their servant due to social status but that wasn't the case with the Ruan Family.

The servants took out a spare table and chairs, conjoining the tables together so that everyone would eat the dishes. A tall average looking boy servant was seated to the left of Fangsu was eyeing the Char Siu that was on Fangsu's right but remained quiet. Fangsu noticed this and took a few pieces of Char Siu with her chopstick and placing it his bowl, "If you want something, just ask," Fangsu smiled towards the young boy who blushed, embarrassed at the fact that a beautiful girl had placed food into his bowl.

Fangsu continued to help place food into her grandpa's and the boy's bowl. Her actions not only quickly gained the favour of the servants but also the members of the Ruan family. After dinner was finished, the servants who were happy with a belly full of delicious food, clear the table for cleaning. Both men went to the study room to talk but the women all went into Jingyi's mother courtyard.

The entrance of the courtyard was filled with little stones and a small waterfall that water the small plants nearby. A path that was made of flat smooth stone lead into the building. The interior of the room was spacious and wide with wide windows overlooking a pond that was frozen. All the shelves were filled with books, paintings, poetry and other literature works from famous authors. There was also a guzheng behind a bamboo screen. A big and wide bed was in a separate part of the room with a small vanity table that was filled with the skincare that Fangsu had sold her a few days ago and a familiar bottle.

Fangsu grabbed the bottle from the vanity table, inspecting the carved Qilin marking that was so familiar, causing tears to fall. A slender hand holding a handkerchief wiped away the tear from her face, Jingyi's mother touch was warm and caring, something Fangsu missed dearly, but the touch was still foreign, "Fangsu are you okay? Did something happen at home?" Jingyi's mother make Fangsu sit on the bed with her, "Why are you crying?" Concern was evident in her actions as Jingyi's continued to wipe away any remaining stray tears.

Fangsu rubbed her eyes to relieve the stinging sensation from crying, "I just miss my family especially my mum," Fangsu tenderly rubbed the Qilin marking on the bottle with her thumb. All members of the Chen family have unique distinguishable marks that they use to show which member created the item similar to a signature of a tradesmen.

Fangsu's mother mark was a Qilin that was laying down surrounded by osmanthus flowers whilst Fangsu's Mark was a side view of a Qilin with Magnolia flowers. All marks from a member from the Chen family have a Wilin and the family name, Chen. Since the incident, Fangsu didn't have the courage to return back home to retrieve any items that belonged to her family.

Jingyi's mother patted Fangsu's head, "You will get to see your family when you get back!" Trying to comfort Fangsu's homesickness

But, those words made Fangsu smile, but that smile held so much sadness, "If only I could," Fangsu's words had confused Lady Ruan very much.

"What do you mean?" Lady Ruan wanted to clarify Fangsu's words.

Fangsu closed her eyes, "My grandpa told me you were close friends with my mother," Fangsu swing her short legs back and forth as her short legs couldn't reach the floor, "My family was murdered... my grandpa and I are the only survivors." Fangsu easily spoke those words but in her heart it pained her.

Lady Ruan gasped, "Fangsu! When did happen?" The shocking news of a close friends struck Lady Ruan hard, but she knew Fangsu must have been hurting much more than what she was feeling, "Are you alright?"

Fangsu nodded, "This happened a few months ago," Fangsu looked out the window to see that night had already descended, "Lady Ruan, it seems that it's time that my grandpa and I return back to our own household." Fangsu stood up returned the bottle back on the vanity table, walking back to the reception hall where Fangsu's grandpa was already prepared to leave with his cloak in hand.

The same boy servant gave Fangsu her cloak which she gracefully received, adjusted the cloak onto her shoulders before walking out through the entrance door. When the two household were able to say their farewells, a small white dot fell down onto the ground which was followed by another, it was snowing. The white rain of snowflakes fell onto Fangsu who smiled while hold her hand in the air trying to touch the snow but it would quickly melt away.

Jingyi's mother came running out with a box, "Fangsu, when she was younger she made this wedding dress." Handing the items to Fangsu, who was stunned in shocked in overwhelming emotions. Fangsu opened the box, it revealed a beautiful red wedding dress with such embroidery that easily matched Gui Ying level. Just by touching the fabric Fangsu could feel that every thread was filled with so much care and love that it made Fangsu cry again.

Fangsu could envision a younger version of her mother taking the time and effort to create such a beautiful wedding dress. Fangsu closed the box. "Thank you..." Fangsu cried trying to wipe away the tears, "Thank you so much," So many tears fell that Fangsu couldn't stop wipe them away.