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“You should go rest, xiao-niao .” Madam Mo said smiling down at her son. Her fingers combing through his hair from where he’d fallen asleep listening to her read out the latest poetry book that Nie Huaisang had gifted her.
“Mnn.” Mo Xuanyu sleepily groaned, nuzzling his face into her knee.
“ Xiao-niao .” Madam Mo called making Mo Xuanyu sniffle before finally lifting his head. A tired smile on his face as he opened his eyes.
“Okay, mama , I’ll go.” Mo Xuanyu chuckled as he brought her hand close to press a soft kiss to her hand.
“I’ll see you at dinner.” Madam Mo said softly as he stood up and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“Yes, mama .” Mo Xuanyu responded as he pulled away. He smiled warmly at her before heading back towards his and Nie Huaisang’s quarters. Thankfully, it was a good day with the sun shining and a nice breeze in the air. It was refreshing and helpful in waking himself up as he made his way. After living in fear for so long he never thought he’d get used to living here in Qinghe, but he took to the place like a bird learning to fly. And he’s been soaring ever since. His mother was safe and life is good. He was pulled from the thought as one of the disciples passed him bowing before going on their way.
“Wonder what he’s doing today?” Mo Xuanyu muttered as he entered the front room of their quarters. New palettes of silk had come from Yunmeng for Nie Huaisang. He stepped up to get a proper look at the top pallets. The silk was a deep green with a beautiful violet damask lotus print. He wondered if Nie Huaisang was going to make Jiang Wanyin a new outer robe for the summer festival.
“Huaisang?” Mo Xuanyu called out, noticing how quiet it was.
“I’m out here, A-Yu! Come see what I’ve got! ” Nie Huaisang’s voice called back from their courtyard. That’s another thing that he didn’t think he’d get used to either. Nie Huaisang has taken to call him sweet names to go with those soft smiles.
“Okay.” Mo Xuanyu laughed, making his way to the door at the far end of the room to go out to the courtyard.
“Wait!! Can you grab me another jar of the dark blue green paint from the study first?” Nie Huaisang requested.
“Yes.” Mo Xuanyu responded, turning back around to go to their study. Though he really should call it Nie Huaisang’s workshop. The room was chaotically organized and thanks to his eidetic memory it was easier for him to remember where everything was. He chuckled seeing the small tray of food where his husband had started working in here and eventually went outside.
Mo Xuanyu grabbed the jar off the shelf then went to get the tray. He’d set in the front room for the staff to get so that they didn’t disturb his stuff. The moment he lifted the tray and a notebook fell to the floor. It fell open with loose pages splaying out all around it.
“Shit.” Mo Xuanyu cursed low, setting the jar and tray down, before kneeling down to clean up the mess. As he was gathering up the papers he couldn’t help but notice that they were pages of different studies of body parts. He laughed wondering how many times it’d taken Nie Huaisang to draw this person's hands the way he liked. Mo Xuanyu leaned forward to grab the paper that’d slid further away. He turned it over to face it like the rest and stilled. The paper was a body study as well. His body to be exact.
Mo Xuanyu flushed seeing that Nie Huaisang was designing a new archery outfit for him that would be light weight but more efficient in the heat. He could tell the inspiration was from the traditional leather armor he’d worn a week ago. The design had the armor looking like layered feathers and would be made of cut pieces of leather. On the side there were multiple drawings of his torso from the front and back wearing the armor with different cuts. Normally it wouldn’t bother him but the more he looked he realized that Nie Huaisang drew everything on him. The scars, the freckles, and the muscles. It was a perfect render of him as he is.
Mo Xuanyu’s heart started to race. He could feel the love and devotion that went into the sketches of him. Was this how he saw him?
“I changed my mind. I need the cy...oh…” Nie Huaisang started but came to a stop as he stepped into the room and found Mo Xuanyu on his knees on his floor. “What are you doing down there?”
“Nothing, the book fell.” Mo Xuanyu responded, hastily shoving the sketch back in the book. His face hot as he quickly handed it to Nie Huaisang. Then promptly went around him hoping the man hadn’t seen his face. “I’m going to take a nap.”
“Okay, sweet dreams....” Nie Huaisang said, words trailing as the other left him feeling confused.