He smiled as he watched Xichen work. He was lovely and hardworking, willing to learn. As he finished he set it with the ones he did, all of them set and ready to be out away. They will feel good freshly bathed and in clean clothes.

He looked away flushing deeper. It was easy to forget their identities in this place. They weren't whoreson Meng Yao and Sect Heir Lan Xichen, they were just A-Yao and A-Huan.

This simple life that one could pretend they weren't in a war, that A-Huan wasn't in danger. it was such a nice fantasy to fall into.

He stands up, knees creaking a little bit as he did, and stretched his arms out.

"You should go first, in the bath. I have some fermented rice water we can put in your hair as well. Mama used to do it and it made it so shiny."