"You're looking more beautiful, Yuyan," Leng Yue said as he strolled closer to Yuyan and Mei, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"Is that a compliment… or an insult in disguise?" Yuyan shot back, raising one brow.
"A compliment, of course. If I wanted to insult you, I'd say Mei looks more beautiful than you," he teased.
Yuyan gasped, giving him a mock glare. "Leng Yue! Do you want me to throw you out of my house?"
"You wouldn't dare," he chuckled. "I'm your most charming brother. Admit it."
Yuyan rolled her eyes, while Mei giggled quietly at the playful sibling banter.
After a little more teasing, Leng Yue asked, "Where's your husband hiding? Surely not afraid to face me?"
"He's in the back training," Yuyan answered, folding her arms.
Leng Yue turned to Mei with a grin. "Stay with Yuyan. I'll go see what her precious Prince charming is up to."
When he reached the back courtyard, Tian Yu was already there, spinning his sword with smooth, sharp movements. He didn't glance up as Leng Yue approached, his focus completely on the weapon. With a sudden flick of his wrist, Tian Yu sent a blade flying toward him.
Leng Yue caught it easily with two fingers, twirling it before smirking. "Do you want to kill your brother-in-law already?" he asked, tone lazy and amused.
Tian Yu finally glanced up, lips curving into a sly smile. "The great Leng Yue, legend of the seers… catching a little blade isn't a big deal for you, is it?"
They started sparing and their swords clashed with a sharp ring as Tian Yu launched forward.
Leng Yue blocked with ease. "Careful, boy. Don't tell me you're this desperate to kill me just because your stubborn wife refuses to performed her duties?"
Tian Yu arched a brow. "What would you know about wives? You're just nineteen."
"I'll be twenty soon," Leng Yue replied, grinning as he parried the strike. "I think I know more than a little vampire prince who spent centuries snoring in a coffin."
Tian Yu laughed, swinging again. "Oh really? Should I call you 'Grandpa Yue,' then?"
"Only if you want me to smack you with the flat of this sword," Leng Yue teased, pressing him back with a playful but firm strike.
Leng Yue and Tian Yu's swords clashed again, the metallic ring echoing across the courtyard.
From the veranda, Yuyan leaned lazily against the wooden rail, Mei beside her. She sighed dramatically. "Look at them. Honestly, you'd think they were little boys fighting over a toy."
Mei covered her mouth, giggling. "Prince Tian Yu does look like he's enjoying it too much."
"Mm. And Leng Yue—" Yuyan smirked, tilting her head. "He's just showing off. As usual."
Down below, Leng Yue caught Tian Yu's blade and pushed him back a step. "You're getting better," he said lightly, "but you still lack grace. Swordsmanship should be like dancing. Has Yuyan not taught you that?"
Tian Yu scoffed. "If it's dancing you want, ask Mei to teach you. She's more graceful than you'll ever be."
Mei blinked at the sudden mention of her name, cheeks pink. Yuyan, however, burst out laughing.
"Did you hear that, Mei? Tian yu just called you more graceful than Leng Yue. I'll have to agree."
Leng Yue glanced up at them with a mock scowl. "Both of you are traitors. I should remind Tian Yu that the last time we sparred, he almost tripped over his own feet."
"That's because you cheated," Tian Yu shot back, grinning.
Mei tugged Yuyan's sleeve shyly. "Should we stop them?"
Yuyan shook her head, enjoying the spectacle. "No, no. Let them play. Besides…" she smiled mischievously, "watching two overgrown boys try to act impressive is far more entertaining than stopping them."
Another sharp clash rang out, followed by Leng Yue's laughter and Tian Yu's quick retort.
As Yuyan was still enjoying the show, she heard footsteps behind her. Turning, she saw two maids approaching with lowered heads.
"Lunch is ready, Mistress," they said, bowing before her.
They were about to turn away when the sharp clash of blades rang out again. Curiosity got the better of them, and their eyes lifted just in time to see the two handsome men crossing swords, their movements quick and sharp, sparks flashing with every strike.
"Ohhh… master is so hot," one of them blurted out.
The other gasped but nodded, whispering, "Both of them…" before she could stop herself.
The words had already escaped their lips.
Yuyan and Mei turned slowly toward them, their expressions heavy with distaste. The two maids slapped their hands over their mouths and fled, faces burning red.
"Are you jealous?" Mei asked, her smile sly as she turned to Yuyan.
"Why should I be?" Yuyan rolled her eyes.
"You are." Mei leaned closer, still grinning.
"And you?" Yuyan shot back. "Are you helping me to be jealous, or are you actually jealous yourself… maybe because of someone else?" Her eyes gleamed mischievously.
Mei's face instantly heated. She jumped to her feet and clapped her hands together. "Hello, guys! Lunch is ready!" she announced in a rush. Without meeting Yuyan's gaze, she bolted inside.
Yuyan's laughter spilled out as she ran after her, calling, "Don't you dare run away from me, Mei! Answer my question!"
Meanwhile, Tian Yu paused mid-swing, watching the girls disappear indoors. With a lazy sigh, he dropped his blade to his side.
"I'm hungry," he said simply.
Leng Yue smirked, lowering his sword as well. "At least we agree on something."
And with that, both men headed inside.
Inside the grand dining hall, the table was already set—plates of steaming rice, roasted duck, fresh vegetables, and fragrant soup filling the air with mouthwatering scents.
Mei slid quickly into her seat, avoiding Yuyan's gaze, but that didn't last long. Yuyan sat right beside her, leaning close with a mischievous smile.
"So…" Yuyan whispered, nudging her with an elbow. "Who exactly were you jealous of?"
Mei's chopsticks froze halfway to her mouth. "I–I wasn't jealous of anyone!" she stammered.
"Mm, really? Then why were you red like a boiled crab just now?" Yuyan tilted her head, pretending to think. "Ah, don't tell me it was Leng Yue?"
Mei nearly choked on her rice. "Yuyan!" she hissed, and quickly stole a glance at Leng Yue to make sure he didn't hear what she had said.
Across the table, Tian Yu raised an eyebrow. "What about me, Yuyan? Weren't you jealous too?" he asked casually, serving himself a piece of duck.
"It's nothing!" Mei blurted, quickly stuffing food into her mouth as if to shut herself up.
Leng Yue leaned back in his chair, smirking faintly. "I must admit, seeing her run away so flustered was… amusing."
Yuyan burst into laughter, clapping her hands. "See? Even he noticed!"
"Yuyan!" Mei groaned, covering her face. "Why are you like this?"
Tian Yu chuckled quietly, then teased in his low voice, "I didn't know lunch would be this entertaining."
Mei peeked between her fingers and glared at him. "Don't you start too!"
The hall echoed with laughter—the kind that made the food taste even warmer, the air even lighter. For that one moment, titles, duties, and worries were forgotten. They were simply friends sharing a meal, teasing each other as if the world outside didn't exist.