Laughter ringing sweet and gentle, mixed with the scent of lavender, oranges, and ginger. His head swam below blue stars.

A warmth met his lips and he craved to follow after it. His limbs ached with freshly healed scars but all he could think was to haunt the warmth.

•••

The soft scent of pine trees and mid winter plum blossoms gently whittled away at his dreams. Until he opened his eyes and blinked back the drowsy fuzz.

This morning was cold, snow surly fell beyond his window. Rather than climbing out of bed to begin his morning, Qing Xiashu huddled further under his blankets. He took most of this time to get his body temperature worked back up until he would be at least decently comfortable in the open air. Hefeng was cuddled into his side, thankfully radiating warmth through her fur.

"Er-ge!" A young voice called as a fist beat on the door. "Hurry and get your big lazy butt up before I come in there, Da-ge just passed through the city gates!"

Qing Xiashu's head snapped up at the loud tone. "Coming Xue Xiaojie!" His voice responded before his mind registered the words.

Sleepy fog lifted from his skull slowly.

Her words finally sunk in.

Da-ge.

He scrambled around for a moment, collecting robes to layer, relying more on muscle memory than conscious effort. Hefeng waited patiently by the door for his panic to conclude. Less than three minutes later Qing Xiashu stepped out of the room and was greeted by the young lady with quite a sour expression.

"Apologies, I was battling my hair." Qing Xiashu said with a small smile.

"I can tell." She scoffed, grabbing the end of his ponytail and brushing her fingers through it a few times. "Honestly Er-ge, you are hopeless." Her words and expression were cold and perhaps a little cruel, but her hands were so gentle. Qing Xiashu's smile didn't even falter. "Let us meet Da-ge at the gates." She said with an aloof little air.

"Mm, he'll be happy to see us." He said as he rushed with Xue Huayu to the front gates in time to see the king's small hunting party appear.

"Da-ge!" Xue Huayu chirped, bouncing on her heels before she could think better of their public company. "Have you been well? Did you catch anything interesting?"

"Mn, I will tell you over dinner." The man said with a nod. As he swung his leg out of the saddle, the thin silver chains about his shoulders and waist rang like soft bells.

The palace master hopped down from the horse and walked with the reins a few paces before handing them off to a waiting disciple. "Take her to the stables." He directed flatly before returning his attention to his two waiting siblings.

" He directed flatly before returning his attention to his two waiting siblings [https://img.wattpad.com/31f35ea952f44f15b4dc89571d56dcf62dfaa1e1/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f546b484f4c43764b4d49715a55773d3d2d313439373030373036312e3138303934366135633430666237356638353436333632313430322e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

"Meimei, Qing Shidi, I have gifts for you." Xue Feiyi said with a faint smile, one that couldn't be seen if they weren't both directly beside his horse.

Xue Huayu grinned.

She expected this

He always brought her gifts when he went traveling or hunting.

Qing Xiashu did not however expect this. As kind as the master of the frozen palace had always been to his wards, the head disciple simply wasn't the common recipient of gifts like this.

Largely because he was difficult to shop for...

The number of arguments this sparked between himself and Xue Huayu was honestly bordering on embarrassing.

Xue Feiyi calmly strode past Xue Huayu and Qing Xiashu toward the towering pillars of Chaoting palace. The entire building was hauntingly huge, and truth be told, it had once unsettled Qing Xiashu.

Instead of wondering what in the world Xue Feiyi had found for him. He distracted himself by watching Xue Feiyi's billowing cloaks and Xue Huayu's fluttering silks sway in time with their steps.

He'd have to admit that there were times he felt like nothing more than a small captivated pet in the king's presence. Too in awe to do more than observe the man from wherever he'd been placed.

It wasn't until they were safely deep within the palace that the king turned towards them. First he casually handed his little sister a beautiful bronze and white sword, decorated in soft yellows and pinks.

The girl's eyes went as wide as any harvest moon as she accepted the blade in one of the least ceremonious ways one can receive such an important weapon.

"Its name is Kaihua. I've begun its journey to sense for you. But you must treat it well." Xue Feiyi said as his sister unsheathed the sword with visible fascination across her features.

"It's just for me?" Xue Huayu asked, turning it over and gazing over delicate designs that ran down part of the blade itself as well as the handle.

"Mn, it's all yours." Xue Feiyi's focus smoothly shifted off to his side. "Qing Shidi, I trust you will instruct her on how to handle it?" Xue Feiyi asked with a surprisingly warm expression.

Qing Xiashu smiled and nodded. "Of course, Shixiong, I will do my best." He assured the man with a small bow of his head.

"I trust you in this." The palace master hummed. "Ah, and I've also brought you these." He pulled a large lotus root from his cloak.

And then three more.

Qing Xiashu struggled not to squeal.

He could prepare so many dishes with these!

His only issue was deciding which to start with.

"I'll go prepare an early lunch." Qing Xiashu finally decided.

"Or an incredibly late breakfast." Xue Huayu scoffed. Apparently not forgiving him for sleeping in.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Qing Xiashu ignored this "issue" and made for the kitchens almost immediately.

The path to the kitchens was quite a bit busier than that to their hall. As he went people paused and saluted. Some chirped friendly greetings with warm smiles as they went about their days. While the air only ever ranged between pleasantly chilly and violently frigid, the inhabitants were warm and filled with gentle goodwill.

While it was his personal job to prepare the meals Xue Huayu ate. That didn't mean he was alone in the kitchens, other cooks and servants bustled about. Some chattering, some quiet.

For a long few moments he wondered what exactly he should cook for them. Typically Qing Xiashu had more time to prepare and would work up something at least a little fittingly extravagant for his shixiong returning home.

He settled on soup that he could have done in less than an hour. More importantly, any leftover broth could be worked into congee for lunch.

In such cold weather, who wouldn't like something so warm and homely?

Xue Huayu could weep.

Qing Xiashu enjoyed his congee.

And Hefeng always enjoyed it too, the time he was grounded to the kitchens to stir the pot on and off was something she loved.

Before long, Qing Xiashu had a pot prepared. Carefully carrying it to the table before dishing it into three bowls. He handed two of them off to Xue Huayu and Xue Feiyi each in turn.

"Thank you." Xue Feiyi said with a nod when the bowl was handed to him.

He may be "The Ice Cold Emperor of The North" and all that jazz... But Qing Xiashu and Xue Huayu were all too happy to indulge their brother.

Xue Feiyi had his cool and unbothered reputation to uphold outside these walls, but here he could rest his guard. He looked rather at peace with Hefeng's head nestled in his lap, petting her rhythmically.

"Has Hefeng caused trouble?" Qing Xiashu asked as he took his seat to begin eating.

Xue Feiyi shook his head. "She's been quite agreeable."

"Where were you hunting to find lotus root?" Xue Huayu asked behind one of her sleeves. The princess was putting on the facade of being the polite young lady of the court for her eldest brother.

One that she certainly was not.

She hardly noticed Qing Xiashu when he leaned over to fix one of her braids and tuck it back into her buns.

"Yu Shu, there was a small merchant band stopping in."

"So, did you catch anything interesting? You said you would tell us over food." Xue Huayu mentioned.

"That I did, we caught many rabbits, as well as a stag with antlers so large they caught on every branch he passed. He stuck close to the lake to avoid the foliage. Ah- that reminds me, have they fixed the boiler?"

Xue Huayu heaved a long suffering sigh and shook her head. "No, there's still a burst pipe somewhere, they're looking for it, but it would be dangerous to run without it being found or blocked."

"I see..."

For a long while this meandering manner of small talk permeated through the largely empty dining hall.

In moments like these, the pleasure of melted ice was reserved for only these three.

"I would like you both to accompany me for my next hunt." Xue Feiyi said as he finished off his bowl of soup.

Xue Huayu's eyes went big again. "You mean it? We can go? And you'll let me help?"

"Mn." Their oldest brother nodded again. "In two weeks, you've trained in the basics of swordplay enough. Qing Shidi will instruct you in the delicacies of a spiritual weapon. I will observe to ensure that all goes well, and if it does, you both will be regularly assigned your own pair hunts."

So far, Qing Xiashu had been assigned solo hunts.

On which Xue Huayu had been forced to tag along.

This was quite the hassle for everyone involved. He was worrying about her while she and Hefeng were stashed at the inn. And Xue Huayu wanted nothing more than to leave the inn, but was often forced to remain. Though she did usually end up involved anyway.

They still usually enjoyed themselves but this would certainly simplify things.

Xue Huayu stood before another word could leave anyone's mouth, dragging Qing Xiashu from his position and towards the door. She failed to let him even finish his bowl of food...

Yet he couldn't find it in himself to complain or shoot down her explosive excitement.

Xue Feiyi even rose from his seat to follow them.

"Let's start now!" Xue Huayu chirped as they arrived in an empty courtyard. No disciples tended to appear there for training or sparring due to the frequency that the siblings used it.

The intricacies of building up a blade spirit were long and hardly worth mentioning.

Hours of meditating and sword forms.

Despite her haughty and sassy nature, Xue Huayu drank in instruction like a sponge, taking even the smallest suggestion into consideration. Across the courtyard, Xue Feiyi watched their learning session with sated interest and an easy smile.

Hours were spent like this.

Day in and day out.

All time placed firmly into Xue Huayu's growing understanding of how to use Kaihua from the moment the blade opened its metaphorical eyes to the world.

Qing Xiashu recognized his own dance like footwork and their older brother's feather light rolling sword turns. Together it matched the swiftness of both her and her new blade.

The evening before their hunt, Xue Feiyi stepped in on their training. "Spar with me, meimei." He said with a peaceful smile, holding Xuelu in his offhand. He had neglected all his layers of coats and cloaks, leaving a single stacked combat layer. Despite the peaceful smile, even Xue Huayu knew to be wary of his skill.

"Ooooooooo." Qing Xiashu crooned, holding a hand to his mouth like a child watching a playground argument. He moved back away from the center of the courtyard and plopped down where Xue Feiyi had been settled earlier. "I get to fight the winner!" He teasingly announced, as Hefeng dog dropped her head into his lap.

Xue Feiyi gave him an amused eye roll and a kind smile.

This was how Xue Feiyi had decided if Qing Xiashu was ready to go on hunts as well.

The goal wasn't really to win, per se. Even at this age, with many years of practice under his belt Qing Xiashu simply didn't have the ability to beat Xue Feiyi. This was despite the fact that the king never used all of the tools at his disposal against his siblings.

Never the ice.

Instead the goal was only to last until he was satisfied with their performance.

Last until reinforcements could theoretically arrive wherever they may find themselves.

For a thirteen-year-old Qing Xiashu, it had been three hours. Three hours he had fought and fought Xue Feiyi, until he was nearly at the brink of collapse.

He expected much the same to occur again.

The fight between the king and princess began in a flurry of movement from both sides.

Defending against Xue Feiyi at all was a struggle, his movements were sharp and refined. More annoyingly, he often broke the rules set for swordsmen.

Tradition meant little when lives were on the line. That was his law. He employed underhanded tricks and swapped hands often, training his siblings to do the same. Who then trained the disciples to expect the unexpected in a fight.

To read the muscles movement before they were made.

To take advantage of them.

This resulted in a distinct style found only in the North.

Chaoting disciples especially were the masters of reading a match.

And masters of faking out this reading.

In order to compete with their peers, younger disciples learned to build faux tells. Which quickly worked its way up the ranks of the sect to the point that it was deeply ingrained in the culture.

At some point it had even spread to the rampant rogues.

It was something Xue Huayu had grown up implementing into her swordplay. She was even able to catch her brother unaware a few times.

But it wasn't enough.

This went on for two and a half hours before Xue Huayu gave Qing Xiashu a pleading expression.

Qing Xiashu, a merciful brother really, finally detached from Hefeng. He launched himself at their brother, invading the fight with his own energy and throwing the scales out of balance.

Xue Feiyi, who's face had been serene until now, set his features, focus spreading down his limbs.

This continued for another long hour until Xue Huayu finally conceded, dropping onto her butt while Qing Xiashu took over the fight for her.

Pale blue and yellow sword glares began flashing off one another as spiritual energy was introduced to the match.

Neither were quite comfortable turning even mock sword glares on the girl yet. If an extended sword glare wasn't deflected with enough spiritual energy it would be terrifyingly fatal to someone so small.

Besides, she wouldn't be fighting any sword wielders for a very long time.

Between the king and head disciple, it was Xue Feiyi that began to tire first. Again and again he tossed Qing Xiashu around like a rag doll. Yet he always bounced up with an adrenaline fueled grin.

If it weren't for the head disciple's durability he surely would have dropped by now.

Xue Huayu took to leaning back to watch as her brothers slowly tired one another out. Only when the sun began to dip did Xue Feiyi finally tip his blade point to the ground.

Qing Xiashu, who had been mid swing, froze in place.

In practiced unison, the brother's returned their blades to their scabbards. One beaming and the other with a calm smile.

They were out of breath and tired, but both younger siblings passed their tests.

"Tomorrow you will both be ready by dawn." Xue Feiyi said. He collected his heavy cloaks from beside Xue Huayu and pulled them over himself before leaving the courtyard, taking a small chill with him.

•●•