Chapter Text
Lan Xichen,
Our journey to Gusu and Cloud Recesses begins tomorrow morning. This letter will hopefully arrive several days prior to our own journey up the mountain. I have spent considerable time walking this month, and my robes are starting to hang loosely, so I apologise in advance for my substandard appearance. I shall send a butterfly once we are at the foot of the mountain.
Qin Su
Lan Xichen waited with the calm exterior he had cultivated since childhood. His posture was impeccable, one hand tucked comfortably into the small of his back, the other hanging loosely at his side. He had received the butterfly several shi ago, and they should be arriving shortly. He had juniors waiting to deliver instructions for hot baths and fresh robes as soon as they came into sight.
He could hear their voices now, which meant they were only a turn or two away from being visible.
There, two dark heads pressed together in fond laughter. He signalled the juniors to be on their way, and stepped through the wards at the gates.
“Qin-furen, Sisi-niangzi.” He bowed with absolute properness, catching Sisi’s eye on the way up and quirking a smile at her. She shook her head despairingly at him, but did not threaten to abandon Qin Su. He handed them each a small jade visitor’s token. “You will need these to go freely down to Caiyi Town, should you wish. There are baths being drawn for you now, they should be prepared by the time we reach your rooms.”
Qin Su’s face lit up, though she demurred, as was expected. “You didn’t have to, Zewu-Jun. Our humble thanks.”
“It was the least I could do,” he responded, completing the ritual. Satisfied that anyone observing could not fault their manners, he gestured for them to follow him into Cloud Recesses.