Chapter Fourteen: Heartstrings Stirred Beneath the Moon

At this hour, dusk had just passed, and the lanterns in the shops and wealthy households along the street were not yet all hung.

After gathering their valuables and disguising themselves, the three companions and one rabbit took advantage of the dimming light to descend the mountain. The big brown bear followed them from a distance; otherwise, its size would attract too much attention. It had such a keen nose that it could find the Su family’s little courtyard with its eyes closed.

Along the way, Ma Xue’e was endlessly curious about everything she saw and heard. It was her first time leaving the mountain, and everything felt novel. Luo Changning had to hold her back, promising to take her out again tomorrow.

Luo Changning knocked at the courtyard gate, and soon Loyal Uncle opened the door.

“Young master, you’ve finally returned! Dinner has been reheated several times, and Miss was getting anxious—I was just about to go look for you.” Seeing Luo Changning unharmed, Loyal Uncle glanced at Ma family siblings and respectfully asked, “And these two young friends are...?”

Loyal Uncle had traveled widely in his youth collecting medicinal herbs and, though honest and kind, was naturally cautious around strangers.

Ma Qingyun stood with arms crossed, carrying his bundle and nodded coldly at Loyal Uncle, a greeting of sorts.

Luo Changning was about to reply when Xue’e, hugging the gray rabbit, bounced forward.

She lifted her smiling face, mischievous and lively, and said, “Hello, Uncle! I’m Ma Xue’e, and that unsociable one is my brother, Ma Qingyun. We’re good friends of Luo Changning and came to the Su family courtyard for a meal. We don’t eat much, so please don’t mind us!”

Her words made everyone laugh, even the usually aloof Ma Qingyun had a hint of a smile in his eyes.

“Haha, Miss Ma is so innocent and adorable! My young master seldom has friends, and now he has two such distinguished companions—what a blessing!” Loyal Uncle, childless himself, naturally adored lively girls like Xue’e.

“Xue’e is the cutest girl—and the best eater. Loyal Uncle, ask Aunt Qing to prepare a few more meat dishes.”

“Yes, young master.”

“For the sake of more meat, I won’t mind you saying I eat a lot,” Xue’e said with a haughty tilt, stroking the gray rabbit’s fur as she entered the courtyard. “Uncle, don’t walk too fast, wait for me...”

Luo Changning watched her petite figure and shook his head with a smile.

“Brother Ma, let’s go in as well.”

Ma Qingyun nodded, and the two stepped inside.

A few paces in, they saw Su Meng approaching, dressed in a pale purple gauze dress, carrying a lantern. Her steps were graceful, her manner elegant, and the breeze carried a subtle fragrance of maidenhood.

Her silhouette flickered in the candlelight, drawing nearer. Ma Qingyun lost all his usual coolness, staring at Su Meng as if entranced.

She seemed not to notice him and gently reproached Luo Changning, “Ning’er, you always make your aunt worry. Usually, dinner is long over before you return, and tonight you come back only when the moon is high.”

Luo Changning scratched his head. “Some things delayed me, so I’m late. Aunt, please don’t be angry.”

Su Meng cast him a glance, then turned to Ma Qingyun, “This must be Ning’er’s friend. Your sister is already dining in the main hall. Please join her, Young Master Ma.”

She turned and led the way.

“Mother... Mother!”

Ma Qingyun’s words shocked everyone. His voice carried anticipation, confusion, and an inexplicable emotion. In a flash, he moved before Su Meng, “Are you my mother?”

Luo Changning was stunned for a moment but quickly stepped between them, frowning coldly, “Brother Ma’s longing for his mother made him mistake someone else.”

Ma Qingyun recovered from his outburst, his face pale. “Miss Su, I apologize for my offense. I momentarily mistook you for my late mother.”

Su Meng’s expression softened. “No matter. Since you are Ning’er’s friend, you may call me Aunt Su from now on.”

“Aunt Su...”

Luo Changning mused silently: Aunt Su and the Ma siblings do indeed resemble each other by three or four degrees. No wonder he mistook her. So Xue’e’s mother has passed—he wondered if her father was still alive. She had endured so much, yet could still smile so brightly...

They entered the main hall to find the gray rabbit elegantly nibbling on vegetable leaves atop the table.

Ma Xue’e was gnawing on a chicken drumstick, speaking indistinctly, “Aunt Su, your cooking and Aunt Qing’s are so delicious, even better than Brother Changning’s! From now on, I’ll just stay at your house!”

Luo Changning laughed, “Alright, Xue’e, you can stay as long as you like—there’ll always be food for you.”

Su Meng glanced at Luo Changning, “You children eat here. Ning’er, have Aunt Qing bring food to my room later.”

“Understood, Aunt.”

Su Meng nodded and left with the lantern, her figure graceful. Though she was their elder, she had not yet married and naturally wouldn’t dine at the same table with the youngsters.

The two sat down and began eating. Luo Changning, as usual, had a large appetite.

Ma Qingyun, already at the Innate stage, needed little food. He had already eaten earlier but, since Su Meng had helped prepare this meal, he picked up his chopsticks.

“Brother, here, the sweet-and-sour ribs are the best!” Xue’e puffed her cheeks, not forgetting to serve her brother.

A girl too fond of food would normally be ridiculed by society.

But growing up deep in the forest with few constraints, she had lost many childhood joys. Seeking comfort in food only made her more endearing.

“Brother Changning, your house is so pretty! The flowers in your courtyard are even lovelier than wildflowers on the mountain. Don’t forget to take me to the market tomorrow!”

“I won’t forget. We’ll go at dawn,” Luo Changning replied with amusement.

A low bear roar echoed from outside, and a strong brown bear soon barged in, smashing a door panel.

It greedily sniffed at the food on the table, then looked at Ma Xue’e with a wagging tail, eager for her approval.

Just as Xue’e was about to invite it to eat, Aunt Qing entered, carrying a sandalwood tray in one hand and a broom in the other, storming in angrily, “Young master, don’t be afraid! Watch how I chase out this trespassing fat bear!”

The bear had followed the scent all the way, entering through the special door Luo Changning and Ma Qingyun had left open for it. Its sensitive nose had detected the aroma wafting from the hall, and it had come galloping in, trampling many precious flowers along the way.

Aunt Qing, at first thinking her eyes were deceiving her, grabbed the broom to protect her master as soon as she realized.

Scaring guests was one thing, but harming the young master was absolutely unacceptable.

“Um, Aunt Qing, this big bear is mine... it won’t hurt anyone,” Ma Xue’e said, embarrassed.

“Aunt Qing, put down the broom. The big bear is also my friend,” Luo Changning added, not blaming her, understanding she was just worried.

Aunt Qing realized her mistake, apologized to the Ma siblings, and then smiled at the brown bear, “So you’re also young master’s friend. I spoke out of turn just now.”

The big bear seemed to understand, giving a “shy” smile and stretching out its paw in friendship to Aunt Qing.

She hesitated, then relaxed and reached out her hand. One person and one bear shook hand and paw, a touching scene.

“No harm done. It was the big bear’s recklessness that startled Aunt Qing—it deserves punishment,” Ma Xue’e scolded the bear, “Hmph, no midnight snack for you tonight!”

The big bear drooped its ears and sat on the floor in dejection, turning its back to Ma Xue’e in silent protest.

Seeing this, Aunt Qing’s eyes flashed with cunning and she withdrew.

Ma Qingyun rose and placed the steamed ribs and braised pork from the tray in front of the bear.

The bear wagged its tail, laboriously turned its big head, gave Ma Xue’e a watery-eyed look, then began eating with gusto.

Luo Changning blinked and leaned close to Xue’e, whispering, “Is that really your ice-cold brother? He’s so nice to the bear!”

“Hmph, my brother is tough on the outside but soft-hearted. He’s clearly letting the bear off without punishment!” Xue’e pouted, dissatisfied.

Ma Qingyun glanced at them, picked up his chopsticks and ate slowly. After a while, he said unexpectedly, “It’s still just a child.”

Pfft—

Coughing, the two exchanged white-eyed glances. No one could match his deadpan cunning...

In Su Meng’s chamber, Aunt Qing placed beauty porridge, taro lotus seed pastries, and a cold vegetable dish on the wooden table.

“Miss, please eat—it’s so late already, don’t let yourself go hungry.”

“How are things in the main hall?” Su Meng’s room was in the rear courtyard, far from the hall, and the bear’s roar hadn’t disturbed her.

“That young lady in pink seems innocent, but her skills are probably on par with mine, and she knows beast taming arts. As for Young Master Ma, I can’t discern his level, but he’s likely reached the Innate stage,” Aunt Qing said seriously. Though usually boisterous, she was in fact a careful and intelligent woman.

“Beast taming arts... so it really is beast taming. It seems my guess was right,” Su Meng rubbed her brows. “Is this what they call a fated encounter? Storm clouds gather, winds rise—perhaps this is an opportunity…”

“What do you mean, Miss?”

“Those two children radiate noble energy; only a great family could nurture such innate dragon and phoenix qualities.” Looking at Aunt Qing’s solemn face, Su Meng sighed, “Fate is determined by heaven, not by human will. Nanny, go eat as well, or Loyal Uncle will fret over you.”

Aunt Qing blushed, scolding, “Meng’er, you’ve learned to tease your nanny!”

Though mistress and servant, they were family; such moments of genuine affection warmed the heart.