Meiwan and Zhanyi stood outside the Yan family mansion with packs slung over their shoulders, enduring the heat as the sun beat down on them. Magistrate Fang had allowed the two children to take whatever necessities they needed from their home before putting them on a carriage, heading for the capital.
Now here, in the Emperor's city, they weren't sure what lay in wait for them. After several letters had been sent to a number of close relatives, all refused to take in the children of criminals, all except an uncle.
Their mother's older brother, Yan Yifeng, replied that he would kindly accept the siblings. Meiwan had never met this uncle, but she remembered her mother speaking fondly of him. Lu Man, previously of the Yan family, was the daughter of a concubine. Thus she was married off to Lu Shouxia, who had been a lowly merchant at the time.
Through Lu Man's childhood, she mostly fondly thought of her eldest brother, who cared for her growing up. As the daughter of a concubine, the other children of the capital's finer families often bullied and ousted the girl. Only Yan Yifeng gave her love.
Now, Meiwan looked at the sign that hung over the doors. She hoped that her uncle was as good as her mother claimed, at least he'd offered to raise them.
"Come brother." Lifting her blue dress in one hand and taking her brother in the other, she made her way up the steps and used the iron ring door knocker.
Zhanyi looked up at his sister, "A'wan, will they really accept us?"
They have to, if not... We'll be homeless. Meiwan smiled and patted his head. "Of course. Remember, mother told us about uncle Yan before? She told us how nice he was?"
As she finished speaking the door creaked open and an older woman's face peared through the crack. "What do you want?" She asked, though not unkindly.
Eager to make a good impression on whoever she met first of the Yan mansion, Meiwan straightened her back, smiled and gave a polite bow.
"I am Lu Meiwan, and my brother Lu Zhanyi." She motioned to her brother. "We are here to accept the kindness offered to us by our uncle Yan Yifeng." She then presented the letter her uncle had sent, pulling it from her sleeve.
The woman, a nanny as she appeared to be, stretched her arm through the opening and took the letter. After quickly reading the contents, her face cleared and she smiled slightly.
"Yes, this indeed from the master." She signalled to someone on either side of her and the two doors swung open. "Come in, then."
Meiwan's heart settled from it's previous quick pace and she allowed her composure to soften a bit. "Thank you auntie." She called the woman politely.
The siblings followed the woman through the gates and into a lush green front yard. It was well-kept, with beautiful white rock pathways leading to the front hall ahead, and to other places within the vast mansion. Flowers grew in lovely little clumps along the way to the main hall before them, and their sweet scent called to passersby.
They made their way up the steps and then entered the bright hall, which was long and at the end was an empty kang. The nanny asked them to wait while she notified her master of their arrival, before leaving them alone.
"Sister, this place is huge! Much bigger than our mansion." Zhanyi observed. "This hall alone is twice the length of ours, and their doors are even bigger too!"
Meiwan had noticed these things as well. Her uncle's home was far more wealthy and elaborate than the Lu family's. Here, she could see the detail of the embroidery done on the screens which were off to the side, the quality of the curtains hanging down the lengths of the pillars, and the authentic tea sets that sat on every side table.
"Yes, very big." She replied to her brother, though it was as much to herself as to him.
After waiting nearly a half an hour, much sound came from outside the hall. Many voices, chattering excitedly, as well as the sound of footsteps. The two siblings turned to see the commotion.
A group of women, all dressed in colorful, bright clothing, all but tumbled into the hall. Smiles and bright eyes greated the children, and before they could react, were surrounded by the crowd.
"Is this them?!" A young woman squealed as she reached out to touch Zhanyi.
"Oh, how exciting!" Another girl exclaimed.
There were many different people, all talking over each other. Too suprised by the noise and commotion, Meiwan and her brother could only stand in the middle of it. Just after all the women entered, a throat cleared by the entrance.
Instantly all the people quietened and stepped to side, giving an opening for the siblings to see who had just arrived. A man in his middle ages, stood with a fan in his hand, and a stern expression. All the ladies looked to the floor, with happy but guilty smiles.
"How dare you!"
Meiwan was taken back at the first harsh words uttered by the man she assumed to be her uncle. She watched as he stormed into the room and glared at each woman in turn before coming to stand before her. He looked over head though, continuing to stare at the ladies.
"As their uncle, I should be the one to greet them first!" Suddenly a smile broke across his bearded face and he opened his arms wide before embracing the siblings. After a quick hug, he pulled back and laughed.
"You two must be my favorite neice and nephew, correct?"
Yan Yifeng's eyes were expectantly wide, and his smile was beaming. Meiwan still wasn't over the unusual greeting, or the warmess she was feeling. Every person who stood surrounding her carried genuine smiles, and their own eyes were bright.
Turning her eyes back to her uncle, she presented a salute with hands out. "I am Lu Meiwan, and my brother Lu Zhanyi. Thank you, uncle Yan for taking us in." She wasn't sure whether to be more polite or not. Judging what she'd already witnessed of the family, they were not accustomed to following the typical strict family model.
At her words, her uncle nodded his head. "Beautiful children, you look just like your mother." A flash of sadness crossed his face, but just as quickly dissapeared. He folded his hands and passed the crowd, finding his seat on the left side of the kang. Uncle Yan motioned to the mutliple other chairs lining the center of the hall, and all the ladies moved to take a seat.
Meiwan glanced at the two empty spots closest to her uncle, left for her and her brother to take. She looked at Zhanyi and nodded towards his chair, while she took the seat next to Yan Yifeng.
He smiled before clapping his hands. "Servants! Bring tea and cakes!" He turned to his neice and nephew. "How was your trip? Its a long way from Jiang City."
The trip had been long, nearly a week, but with all that had happened and thoughts for her and her brother's future filling her mind, time went quickly. She returned the smile and replied.
"It was long, but not tiring. Thank you, uncle for your concern."
Yan Yifeng sighed and waved his hand. "No need to be so formal, we're family! Here, let me introduce you to everyone." He turned to face the two rows of women. Starting at the front, with a middle-aged women.
"My wife, Yan Xiang."
Meiwan's aunt smiled, and he continued. The next three were older girls, all beautiful and graceful looking, though each had a somewhat giddy smile on their faces.
"My three daughters Yan Tu, Yan Wei, and Yan Shi, the youngest."
"Hello cousins, welcome!" The youngest waved from across the room.
After he introduced the row of women opposite the siblings, he then turned towards the two women and two little girls further down their side of the hall. Meiwan leaned forward so she could see all of them, her brother following suit.
"Your aunt Tang Herang and her daughter Sisi, and your other aunt Yan Ming, and her daughter Fuli."
The four all greated Meiwan and Zhanyi enthusiastically, bobbing their heads and the two girls waving shyly. They had huge cheeks and big brown eyes, making them incredibly adorable.
Meiwan's head swam as she tried to soak in and remember all the names. She was curious though, as to why her two aunts and cousins lived with her uncle as well, instead of with their husbands. But she decided not to dwell on that mystery and returned her focus to the room of people. They each had a smile, they each had a sparkle in their eyes, and the love of a happy family, was just as visible.