Threads 405-Standing 3
Ling Qi ran her fingers through her little sister's hair, humming softly as the young girl curled up against her. The pressure on her chest and lap was a little uncomfortable, but no more than that, beneath the many layers of medicinal wrapping.
Looking out over the garden, she tugged the blanket up further as streamers of colorful fire rose into the sky, flickering and dancing. There was a small festival today dedicated to the Sect Head’s dragon companion, and the town's priests had not been stingy with the flash paper and the powders which turned the flames of the bonfires set out at the ritual points throughout the town to such beautiful colors.
"The first time I saw this, I spent it fretting over the hazard presented by such high burning fires," Ling Qingge said, cradling a cup of warm tea in her hands.
"I suppose it would be dangerous under less careful management," Ling Qi replied.
The sounds of music and people dancing around those fires drifted over the walls. Most of the household had been given leave to go out and join the festivities if they liked. She hoped they were having fun.
"One can say that of many things. I am glad for the timing. There will be much work in making the household presentable for the heiress' visit."
Ling Qi chuckled. "It is convenient. Knowing Lady Cai, she probably accounted for it in one of her scheduling worksheets."
Mother raised an eyebrow at her.
"Oh, she'll write out these grid squares on a scroll before meditating and cultivating. She fills them in without even opening her eyes. Everything is just so. But she gets this particular tic in her cheek whenever she's forced to alter the timeline more than once or twice. Too many, and her teeth start to grind."