Work Text:
The sunshine playfulness of her brothers is loud outside, bare feet slapping against wood and squeaking shouts of anger as Jiang Cheng chases Wei Wuxian down a pathway. Jiang Yanli can’t quite make the words out, but mirth rises into a smile on her face none the less.
Her mother, sat across from her, looks up to the sky as if asking above for patience. Jiang Yanli ducks her head, ineffectively hiding her grin, and reaches across the table to grab a peach slice.
“Do you like the snacks, mother?” Jiang Yanli asks. Yu Ziyuan sighs a little before responding.
“It’s too sweet to match with this tea,” She criticizes. “Next time you serve oolong, accompany it with something salty.” As Yu Ziyuan says it, though, she takes another slice from the bowl herself.
Jiang Yanli is fairly certain her mother doesn’t like salty food all that much, but she does like this tea blend. While a certain level of balance is important, she knows, Jiang Yanli prefers to adjust her arrays for personal taste over a set ideal.
Still, she nods, and says “Yes, mother.”, then takes a sip of her tea with a small smile. Yu Ziyuan nods, small and sharp, back at her in acknowledgement.
There’s a beat of comfortable silence, then, from outside, a shout and a splash.
Jiang Yanli has to shut her eyes and take a deep breath to keep from giggling. And even that is ineffective, as when she opens her eyes the look on Yu Ziyuans face- there wasn’t a force in this world that could keep her from laughing.
“That better be Wei Wuxian.” Yu Ziyuan says, eyes narrowed at the wall.
Jiang Yanli giggles again, helpless. There’s no laughter coming from outside, just more yells- and a whine, so Jiang Yanli is inclined to think her mothers’ bet is correct.
Wei Wuxian is incapable of not laughing at Jiang Chengs face when hes covered in water and mud from an abrupt push. Jiang Yanli herself would be hard pressed- and Wei Wuxian wasn’t one for restraining his joy.
“I think so.” Jiang Yanli says. “I don’t hear A’Cheng-” She’s cut off by a second splash, then laughter again. “Oh. Well, thats both of them, then.”
Yu ZIyuan sighs, heavy, but Jiang Yanli can see a spark of amusement in her gaze. “At least he got the first win. Still, I’m certain he can do better than that.”
“They’re just playing, Mother.” Jiang Yanli says.
“It’s a bad precedent. If he can’t win even in play, what about spars?” She says, then shakes her head. “No, no, don’t remind me.”
Jiang Yanli doesn’t say anything, but takes another peach slice. She knows it’s just her mothers way of worrying, but every so often it really does grate. At least Jiang Cheng can’t hear it this time.