Chapter 16: The Little Rhythms of Life
The rooster crowed just as a pale mist curled over the mountain ridges. Su Yanyue yawned as she stoked the stove's coals and slipped the kettle on to boil. By the time the sun stretched golden fingers across the courtyard, the savory aroma of millet porridge filled the house.
A crash from the back room signaled the awakening of the triplets.
She didn't even flinch.
Sure enough, seconds later, Su Lin burst into the kitchen, barefoot and half-dressed, a wooden spoon tucked behind his ear like a sword.
"Auntie Yanyue, Su Zhi says he's the smartest, but I caught the biggest frog yesterday!"
Yanyue ladled porridge calmly into a bowl. "Catching frogs doesn't measure intelligence. It measures how fast you can ruin clean clothes."
Su Zhi peeked from behind the door, grinning. "See? I told you I'm smarter."
"You all share one brain," Su Rui muttered from behind them, arms folded with dramatic weariness. "And it's usually asleep."
"Eat before it gets cold," Yanyue said, placing three bowls on the low table. "And if anyone throws rice again, they'll be doing the laundry."
Three small faces sobered immediately.
Yu Shiming appeared shortly after, tall frame leaning against the doorway, sleeves rolled up, hair still slightly damp from his morning wash.
"You spoil them," he said, voice low.
"They're three," she replied, rinsing her hands. "And you're not exactly strict either. I saw you sneak them sesame sweets last night."
His mouth twitched. "I deny everything."
After breakfast, the triplets scattered into the courtyard with wooden practice swords—more likely to injure themselves than anything else. Su Yanyue gathered a basket and headed toward the back hills for herbs. Yu Shiming fell into step beside her without a word.
They walked in companionable silence, soft morning light filtering through the trees above them. She crouched occasionally to snip licorice roots or check for signs of mountain pepper.
"You don't talk much," she finally said.
"I talk when there's something worth saying."
"Hm." She brushed dirt from a root and added it to her basket. "Do you always follow women into the woods in silence, or am I special?"
That earned a glance from him—brief, but unreadable. "You're special."
She faltered for a second before composing herself. "Flattery doesn't suit you."
"It wasn't flattery. It was fact."
She blinked, then laughed under her breath. "You're dangerous."
"Yes."
They didn't speak again for a while, but the silence felt warm, not awkward. He helped her climb a rocky incline, one hand resting briefly on her lower back, fingers calloused and firm. She pretended not to notice the way her skin tingled from the contact.
By noon, their baskets were full, and they made their way home where the triplets had built a "fort" out of overturned stools and hanging sheets. Inside, the boys were plotting the "capture" of an invading chicken.
"You'd think they were planning a war," Yanyue murmured.
Yu Shiming's mouth curved faintly. "They take after their uncle."
Yanyue set down the herbs and sat on the edge of the courtyard, watching the boys, the trees, the gentle sway of leaves.
Peaceful days like this were rare where she came from. Here, she could feel the soil beneath her feet and know she was slowly, steadily building something of her own.
She didn't know yet that whispers of her name had already begun traveling to the capital.
Or that the life she had quietly claimed would soon be tested by the world that once lost her.