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It had been a long day.
Of course it had been, between countless meetings, carriage rides too and from the inner court, and mountains of paperwork that surely weren’t needed, he was tired.
It was only noon and yet it felt as though it had been three days since his head had last hit the pillow. Though then again, it always seemed to feel like that these days.
The leaves danced in the wind as a cool breeze blew through the courtyard. The blue sky contrasted against the red pillars of his pavilion, the golden roof glowing under the afternoon sun.
It was such a beautiful day, the kind he wished to spend with his wife. Perhaps watch her tend to her garden, the likes of which had started to bloom in full colour, the petals drifting in the wind. Oh, how he would love to hear her voice as she ranted about her favourite plants, the poison levels of each, and what she would do once they were harvested.
Her voice was the most beautiful sound in the world.
Unfortunately, as he walked through the gates of his home, Suiren greeting him with a warm smile, it seemed he had returned before her. A rare occurrence, usually she was home first, but today it seemed he had finished his responsibilities in record time.
She would be at the medical office right now. His beautiful, talented, intelligent wife tending to her patients. Her clinical stares as she assessed the injuries prescribing whatever remedy she had created that day.
Perhaps he should surprise her, maybe buy her a little present for when she came home, cook her a loving meal, filled with the spices she so adored.
Would she enjoy it? She was always so logical and he knew she enjoyed Suiren’s cooking, but surely she would appreciate his gesture. Or would she prefer something more practical? He could gather her some more medicinal ingredients, some herbs maybe. Something she could use in her work, she’d like that right?
Though, the real question was if he had enough time or not. Who knows when she would be arriving home. She could be gone for another five hours or even just a few minutes. Her schedule was constantly changing now that they were married, especially since it wasn’t actually her job, merely a space she was given access to as the Moon Prince’s wife. Or at least that was how the court saw it. If they ever knew the truth, that she fully did work as a medical assistant, making medicine and healing patients. Well, he doubted the court would ever recover.
She was so talented, the most intelligent girl he had ever met. And though she could never be formally recognised for her work, those important enough knew the truth. She was even teaching the new medical assistants the job, as their senior they seemed to respect her for the most part.
A laugh escaped him at the memory of her coming home one day to complain about how the new medical assistants had looked at her in horror and bowed while apologising profusely. She couldn’t understand why they were acting so strange, and he had to gently remind her that turning up to work in a medical office only to find the Moon Princess as their boss would frighten anyone, especially considering her reputation and the rumours surrounding them both.
Though, it still saddened him to know she had to put up with such things, she was so genuinely kind if anyone took the time to get to know her. Unfortunately for them, they never did.
The sound of the door opening with a click brought him out of his reprieve, the tiny footsteps of his wife echoing throughout the house. She was home quicker than he anticipated, no use worrying about that potential gift now.
“Maomao, your home!” He caught her near the front of their home, her posture loose as she placed her belongings down, obviously tired from such a demanding day. He had offered to have a carriage take her to and from work but she had declined for reasons that were only obvious to her.
She jumped slightly at his voice, looking more like a cat than she had in some time. She was so beautiful, he could cry of happiness.
“Sir! You’re home early, I wasn’t expecting to see you for a while.”
He shrugged, a loose smile playing at his lips, “what can I say, I got my work done pretty quickly today.”
Her tired smile and roll of her eyes were enough for him to lean down to her level. She met him in the middle, expecting a hug, maybe a kiss, but instead he wrapped his arms around her legs and waist hauling her up until she was laying against his chest as he walked to the parlour. She let out a loud squeak at his antics, her eyes widening at his display.
“W-what are you doing?”
He laughed softly, “I figured we could talk about your day.”
Although he hadn’t had time to buy her a gift, or even cook her one of her favourite meals, he knew Suiren would come through, she always did. Just as he had expected, plates of fruit and meat sat on silver platters. Spicy crackers and savoury snacks sat on the table. All of her favourites. She was probably starving after her day considering she regularly forgot to eat most days.
He placed her down before taking a seat next to her, his hand resting on her thigh as she took a bite of a savoury cracker.
“So…” he drawled, "how was your day?” He watched her affectionately, how was she so cute!
She took a few more bites before swallowing a look of contentment on her face, “it was rather good, sir.” Her tone was happy, though if that was from her day at work or the food laid out in front of her, he didn’t know.
He raised his eyebrows, “oh was it now?”
She took another bite, nodding vigorously as his hand moved up and down her thigh, “mhm, we got some new additions today.”
“New medical assistants?” He looked at her curiously, he wasn’t aware of any new intakes this week.
She shook her head quickly, who else could we mean? “Nope! We had a new physician today, but get this…” she leaned in closer, her eyes starting to sparkle, “he was actually competent! Isn’t that just amazing.”
“Um… I guess?” He glanced at her from the side, her excitement starting to make him uneasy.
“I mean, anyone’s better than Tianyu but this guy is actually interested in herbs as well!” Her voice pitched higher, an excitement he was used to hearing but never over a man.
Jinshi couldn’t help the pout that overtook his features.
Why did she sound so excited?
Not about medicine, he understood that part. He loved hearing her ramble about medicine. He would gladly listen to her speak about dried herbs and fungal growths and poison concentrations for the rest of his life if it made her eyes sparkle like that.
No, the issue was him. This mysterious physician. This suspiciously competent physician. This man who apparently “engaged in the conversation.” How dare he seduce his wife.
“I’m interested in herbs,” Jinshi repeated weakly.
Maomao waved a dismissive hand as she reached for another cracker. “Yes, but you just stare at me fondly until I finish talking.”
“…I do not.” He tried again, not wanting to look like a fool in front of his wife.
She gave him a look, somehow worse than her glares. He folded immediately. “Fine. I do.”
“Exactly.” She stated it like it was obvious to everyone, perhaps it was.
“That’s because I like hearing your voice.” He reasoned, surely looking at one’s wife with adoration wasn’t a crime.
“That’s not the point.” She stared pointedly at him, taking another bite of food.
“It should count for something.”
“It doesn’t.”
That was cruel. Utterly cruel, even for her.
Jinshi slumped further against the couch, staring dramatically into the distance while Maomao continued eating with all the concern of a woman discussing the weather.
“He also knew what wolfsbane was immediately,” she continued casually. Was she trying to make him feel worse?
Jinshi sat upright quickly, “I know what wolfsbane is.”
“Yes, but he knew the exact symptoms of overexposure!” Her eyes sparkled again. Maybe he could find a way to get this guy fired?
“I could learn.” He insisted, his brow creasing.
“You don’t want to.” She rolled her eyes. Of course he wanted to learn! He would learn anything his wife was interested in, if only to not be completely lost during her four hour rants.
“That’s not true.”
“Last week you called one of my drying herbs ‘the crunchy leaves.’” She crossed her arms, clearly still not impressed by his words, in his defense he had apologised soon afterwards.
“In my defense,” Jinshi muttered, “they were crunchy.”
Maomao sighed deeply, as though burdened by unimaginable stupidity. “It’s like speaking to a wall sometimes.”
“A beautiful wall.”
“That changes nothing.”
Jinshi watched her carefully as she reached for another piece of fruit, completely unaware of the devastation she was causing. Or perhaps she was aware. Sometimes he genuinely couldn’t tell.
“And,” she added, “he actually asked intelligent questions.”
That was somehow worse. “Oh?” He tried to sound somewhat normal, as if his innermost thoughts weren’t telling him to crush this guy.
“Mhm.” She nodded. “Most physicians get annoyed when I explain things. But he listened.”
Jinshi narrowed his eyes slightly. “What exactly did this man look like?”
Maomao blinked. “What?”
“The physician.” He urged
“Why?”
“No reason.”
There was absolutely a reason. She stared at him for a long moment, clearly suspicious now. “I don’t know… average?”
“Average,” Jinshi repeated flatly.
“Yes.” She nodded twice before tilting her head.
“What does that mean?” He tried again, why was she being so evasive it wasn’t hard to recall what someone looked like.
“It means he looked average.” Her expression was one of annoyance now, good they were on the same page.
“That is not helpful.”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Black hair?”
“There are millions of men with black hair.” He exclaimed loudly.
“Exactly.” She said it like it should have been obvious. That somehow made it worse.
Jinshi crossed his arms, his face turning upwards and away from her, “How old was he?”
“I don’t know.” She said immediately.
“Was he handsome?”
Maomao looked visibly confused by the question. “…I didn’t really look at him.”
That soothed him slightly. Only slightly.
“He had a nice speaking voice though,” she added thoughtfully, a hand coming up to her chin.
The soothing vanished instantly. Jinshi stared at her in horror. “A nice speaking voice?”
“Mhm.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means his voice sounded pleasant.” She seemed painfully unaware of the destruction she was causing right now.
“I know what the words mean, Maomao.”
She looked at him strangely now, finally beginning to notice something was wrong. “Sir?”
Jinshi rose abruptly. “I see.”
“See what?” She asked, clearly confused at his anger.
“That my wife has found herself a new favourite physician.”
She blinked once. Then twice. “What?”
“I understand.” He said again, more forcefully this time, his eyes narrowing.
“No, I don’t think you do.” She spoke slowly as if he couldn’t understand her words.
“I should have expected this,” he continued dramatically, pacing now. “A competent physician who shares your interests. One who engages in conversation. One with a pleasant voice-”
“You are being weird again.” She interrupted, a flat look on her face.
“Again?” He paused.
“Yes.”
“How am I being weird?”
She continued to stare at him flatly. “You’re jealous.”
Jinshi froze, turning almost comically slowly towards her, “I am not.”
“You are.” She returned.
“I’m simply concerned.” He crossed his arms again, looking down at his very stubborn wife, couldn’t she see how this was affecting him?
“About?”
“This man’s intentions.”
Maomao looked genuinely baffled now. “His intentions… to discuss medicinal herbs?”
“Yes.”
There was a moment of silence where neither of them spoke. The atmosphere wasn’t tense, but it wasn’t calm either.
Then– “Sir,” she said carefully, “I genuinely cannot tell if you’re joking.”
“I am completely serious.” His pout returned.
That, apparently, was the wrong answer. Maomao slowly lowered the cracker in her hand.
“You think a physician is trying to seduce me,” she said flatly, “through conversations about herbs.”
“When you say it like that, it sounds unreasonable.” He complained.
“Because it is unreasonable.” She insisted.
“He complimented your intelligence, didn’t he?”
“…Yes?”
“Aha!” He almost jumped, a small smile appearing as if he had just won the battle, when in fact he had lost it.
“That’s normal!” She yelled back.
“Not for men.” Men were horrible at complimenting, especially when it came to the woman’s intelligence over her looks, he was definitely trying to seduce her.
“Sir-” she started.
“And he has a nice voice!”
“That’s not a crime!”
Jinshi looked deeply unconvinced.
Maomao stared at him for several long seconds before suddenly leaning back against the couch with a sigh. “You really are tired.”
She looked like an annoyed mother tired of parenting her child. He wasn’t being that immature, was he?
“I am not tired.” Though it came out more defensively than he would have hoped.
“You’re having an emotional crisis over a man who correctly identified wolfsbane.” A hand came up to rub at her temple.
“That’s exactly what a rival would do.”
“A rival,” she repeated blankly.
“Yes.”
“You think you have a romantic rival.” He wasn’t sure why she was acting so dense. Anyone would be lucky to even speak to his gorgeous wife.
“Yes.”
“Because he likes herbs?” She asked flatly.
“Yes.”
She paused for a moment, thinking over her words, then to Jinshi’s horror, Maomao started laughing. Not her usual quiet exhale either. Actual laughter. Small at first, before growing into helpless little wheezes as she buried her face in one hand.
Jinshi just stared wide eyed, very obviously offended as he continued to pout at her. “Maomao.” He tried to get her attention. She laughed harder.
“This isn’t funny.”
“It really is.” She wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes.
“My suffering should concern you.” He practically threw his arms in the air at her behaviour.
“You’re jealous of a physician named…” She paused. “…Actually I still don’t remember his name.”
That somehow made this entire situation worse. “How can you not remember his name!?”
“I was focused on the medicine!” She yelled back. Then again, she was always bad with names, he was honestly lucky she remembered his.
“You complimented his voice!”
“It was just a voice!”
Jinshi looked moments away from collapse.
Maomao sighed softly after finally calming down, though amusement still lingered in her eyes. She reached over, tugging lightly on his sleeve until he sat back down beside her. “You’re ridiculous.”
“You wounded me emotionally.” He mumbled under his breath, his face turned to the side.
“I spoke to another physician for one afternoon.” She spoke calmer now that they had both relaxed slightly.
“One competent physician.” He still argued, why couldn’t she see his side?
“Ah, so that’s the issue.” She looked almost smug at his response.
“That is not the issue.”
“It’s definitely the issue.” She continued, her smile only growing.
Jinshi opened his mouth. Then closed it. Because unfortunately… She was right.
Maomao watched his expression carefully, the amusement in her face softening into something gentler.
“You know I came home excited to tell you about it, right?” Her fingers traced the patterns on his shirt.
He paused, looking down at her. “What?”
“If I really liked talking to him that much,” she continued, “wouldn’t I still be there?”
Jinshi blinked, his eyes widened as he thought it over. “Oh.”
“You idiot.” She laughed, though he still felt like she was mocking him.
That warm feeling spread embarrassingly fast through his chest. “Oh.”
Maomao rolled her eyes before leaning sideways against him, clearly exhausted now that the excitement of her story had worn off. “I like talking to you more.” She murmured into his chest.
Jinshi nearly died. Right there. Immediately. His soul ascended. His ancestors felt it.
“Sir?” She asked, after he had been frozen for quite a few seconds.
“You can’t just say things like that.”
“I literally just did.”
He pulled her further into him instantly, burying his face dramatically into her hair, the scent of the herbs she always surrounds herself with calming him slightly. “This is the happiest day of my life.”
“You said that three days ago when I agreed to eat the noodles you made.”
“That was also the happiest day of my life.” The smile on his face only got larger by the second.
“That’s concerning.”
Jinshi sighed blissfully as she melted into his hold despite all her complaining. There was a long moment of comfortable silence before he suddenly asked, “…You still think his voice was nice?”
Maomao groaned loudly.
From the hallway, Suiren quietly turned around and walked away before she had to witness whatever argument was about to follow.
Some things were better left unheard.