Work Text:
Luan glances at her new husband as they sit down for the auction. Priceless jewels, exquisite vases, hair ornaments with a small fortune, and even creatures that cone from far off places. All and more ready to be bargain with. Her husband brought her here as a date. Her husband, Yufei, is an odd person, with all that talk of him being a cruel person that will kill her at a moments notice has been distant towards her but kind.
This new life is already better than her old one already. She feels like she can build something substantial here. Luan already had started to gain a foothold in the east. Friends and allies have come to her side as well as enemies. Still after a year in and a half she has managed to settle herself nicely into this new life.
This auction is just another nice night she has come to love. A friendly presence while they go and have fun together. Luan stopped having to force her expressions so much. At times it still happens but life has started to look worth more living.
The King Yufei, standing beside her is tall and strong but walks slow to match her pace. Something he does in consideration of her. His gruff demeanor means nothing to her after everything she had to go through the last life. Yufei is considerate of her and that is enough for her.
The auction is in place of a theater on a weekday night. Many other nobles that she recognizes have come tonight, her closest friend Hui is on the other side of the room. Luan wants to go and say hello but stops herself. Tonight is just her and her husband.
Sitting down, she drinks from the tea a waiter hands to her. Jasmine tea has such a nice aroma, that she lets out a small sigh. Her husband looks at with an eyebrow raising but says nothing. Luan could not help it, she had been denied all of the nice and good things in her last life. She has them once again and she will can not help but marvel in them. Life when you are not being persecuted or waiting for the noose to come to you, it is so easy to notice the good things in life.
The auction is full of nice things. She marvels at many of them but makes no effort to bid for them. Well, until a pair of beautiful songbirds from another continent came out. The song they sang made her clasp her hands in joy. Luan holds out the handheld flier to make her bid. There were not many that wants them due to them being so nosy so she won the bidding easily.
The birds were handed to her servants along with instructions for their care. Delight fills her as she looks at the birds. Beautiful in voice and appearance. The auction went on, when she bid for a nice looking jade bracelet. From there the auction went on until it ends.
Her two prizes gave her a lot of delight. Birds and a bracelet, it was all she really cares for getting. Her husband bought a nice looking clock but other than that nothing. The ride home held a lot of peaceful, her genuine smile as well.