He wore a black robe patterned with clouds, cinched at the waist with a white jade belt that made his tall, straight figure look even more striking.
Shen Yi slowly stepped out of the room.
The old woman smiled warmly. "Oh, he's much more handsome than Heng'er. Come over and sit."
Fang Heng carried the table into the courtyard, then brought out several plates of light dishes. Only after that did his gaze settle on the cloud pattern at Shen Yi's cuff.
He said nothing, picked up a spoon, and silently ladled out three bowls of thick porridge.
He helped his grandmother sit down. "It's just me and my grandmother here, and we eat simple fare. If you don't mind, just make do with a few bites."
"Thank you for the hospitality."
Shen Yi had been eating dry rations for two days. He didn't bother putting on airs, and went straight to the table, eating a mouthful of vegetables followed by a mouthful of porridge.
Seeing how much he enjoyed the food, the old woman smiled even more brightly. "You came from Baiyun County? Bai Wei mentioned you in her letter. She said you're a good lad. Are you married yet? If not, Grandma could introduce you to someone."
At that, Shen Yi choked on his porridge. "..."
Fang Heng seemed used to this. He said nothing and bent over his meal.
Only when his bowl was empty did he put down his chopsticks. "Master won't be back for at least two months. Until then, you'll stay here."
As he spoke, Fang Heng returned to his room and brought out a book about two fingers thick, setting it on the table.
"Master made his name in Qing Prefecture when he was young thanks to five extraordinary techniques."
"Mastering just one