“Wan-wan.”
Deng Ying started calling me again out of habit.
“Yes?”
“What are you doing?”
“Talking with Yun Qing.”
“Come call Zi Xi away.”
“What’s wrong with him?”
“He…”
“Isn’t this how you pluck feathers? What’s wrong with it?”
“No, Yang Zi Xi, would you please go sit down?”
That meal of duck soup ended up being quite chaotic. Yang Lun had some wine and started complaining unrestrainedly about the troublesome affairs at court in front of me, then went on to criticize Deng Ying for being a kept man. I ruthlessly countered him, arguing until he nearly threw his cup and left.
After finally seeing Yang Lun off, I sat with Deng Ying in the courtyard soaking our feet.
The medicinal foot bath was for dispelling cold, good for both our bodies. As long as it wasn’t raining, I would brew a basin before bed, and sit with him at the doorstep, soaking our feet while looking at the stars above. The Ming Dynasty sky was very high, and without industrial pollution, even in spring, you could see a sky full of stars.
I rested my head on Deng Ying’s shoulder, “When can we go buy lumber?”
Deng Ying raised his shoulder slightly to let me rest more comfortably, and said softly: “Why are you so eager to buy lumber?”
“Your Ming Dynasty craftsmanship is unparalleled, you can’t just cook for me all the time.”
Deng Ying laughed, “Are you tired of my cooking?”
“No.”
I lifted my head to look at the brilliant starry sky, “I’ve always wanted to have a home in the Ming Dynasty. A few small cabinets for my cosmetics and clothes, and I want a big bed—the current one is too small, I feel like I’m always kicking you at night.”
“You don’t kick me.”
“Still, I want one that’s a bit bigger.”
“Alright, I’ll make it for you.”
“Mm. I’ll design it.”
“Alright.”
“Hmm…”
I pointed to a space in the courtyard, “And I want to keep a cat, you can build it a cat climbing frame to put there.”
“What’s a cat climbing frame?”
“Well… I’ll draw one for you, see if you can understand it?”