Chapter 9: The Word "Decent"

I only found out afterward that the clumsy little box of mung bean cakes had quite an interesting fate within the guards' barracks.

That afternoon, once training was finished, Triệu Vân walked into the room and spotted the wooden box sitting neatly on Fuheng's table. Curious, he asked why it hadn't been opened yet.

Fuheng was busy wiping down his sword and only gave a short hum in response, setting the cloth aside before opening the box.

Inside were several mung bean cakes, none of them quite even in shape, one slightly lopsided, another cracked at the edge, clearly not the work of a palace kitchen professional.

Triệu Vân laughed, remarking that anyone could tell this was someone's first attempt at baking, though the effort behind it was clear enough.

Fuheng said nothing, simply picked one up and tasted it, not too sweet, not too dry, just ordinary in the plainest sense.

Triệu Vân propped his chin in his hand and asked how it was. Fuheng offered exactly two words.

"Edible enough."

Triệu Vân nearly burst out laughing, scolding him for finding it so hard to give someone a proper compliment.

Fuheng calmly replied that he was only stating the truth. Triệu Vân shook his head, saying that if the young lady ever heard that remark, she'd probably cry.

Fuheng said nothing more, simply closed the box, neither sharing it with anyone nor throwing it away.

Hearing this part of the story later, I couldn't help but laugh, feeling both annoyed and amused at once. Privately thinking that was just like this lord, never one to praise anybody, so what was there to expect.

As for what I witnessed with my own eyes, that came two days later. That morning, Mama Tĩnh handed me a list and instructed.

"The Bureau of Palace Affairs just sent over the fabric allotment list. Go check it against our records and bring it back."

Just an ordinary errand. I held the rolled up list and strolled leisurely down the corridor after leaving the Bureau.

Just then, a guard unit changing shifts passed by, the soft clink of armor ringing out. The one leading them was none other than Fuheng.

He noticed me too and, following protocol, simply gave a slight nod before moving to lead the unit onward. But Triệu Vân, walking behind, spotted me and grinned broadly, calling out.

"Miss Thẩm. Those cakes the other day were really good."

Fuheng stopped dead in his tracks, turning to look at Triệu Vân. Triệu Vân's heart lurched, and he hastily corrected himself.

"Ah... this humble one meant to say it on my lord's behalf."

The guards behind them immediately burst into laughter. One nudged Triệu Vân, teasing him for having the nerve to speak for Lord Fuheng himself.

Triệu Vân scratched his head, protesting that his lord had only said two words, and he'd worried I might misunderstand, so he'd added a bit more on his behalf.

I stood there watching the whole commotion, unable to hold back my own laughter.

Fuheng showed no sign of scolding him, only looking at Triệu Vân calmly and issuing a short, firm order.

"After training. To the yard. Twenty more laps."

Triệu Vân's face fell at once, and he mumbled his acknowledgment.

The guards around him erupted into laughter again, one of them muttering that he'd had it coming, which only added to Triệu Vân's misery.

Only then did Fuheng turn to look at me, his tone as even as ever, without the slightest ripple.

"The cakes..."

He paused for a moment, then continued.

"Were decent."

I stood there completely frozen. No longer the curt "edible enough" from before, but "decent."

Just a single word changed, and yet for someone as famously strict and sparing with praise as him, this was truly a rare and generous assessment.

I opened my mouth, ready to say something in defense of all the effort I'd put into those cakes, but before I could think of what to say, he had already turned and led the unit onward.

Triệu Vân ran after him, grumbling.

"My lord... this humble one was only telling the truth."

One of the guards behind laughed loudly, telling him that for daring to speak on his lord's behalf, twenty laps was getting off easy.

The guards' laughter gradually faded around the corner, leaving the corridor quiet once more.

I stood there for a moment, the rolled up list still in my arms, my lips still curved with amusement, privately thinking to myself.

That word "decent" sounded simple enough, but it truly was a rare find from someone as sparing with words as Fuheng.

I had to admit, thinking back on Triệu Vân getting punished with twenty laps just for slipping in a compliment on his lord's behalf, it was both pitiful and impossible not to laugh about.

I turned and continued on my way back to the Palace of Eternal Spring, my steps light, my mind free of any heavy thoughts.

Only a small, indescribable happiness lingered in my heart, as though I'd received a tiny unexpected gift in the middle of an otherwise perfectly ordinary day.