les jours tristes

Uncle sat with perfect composure, but no Lan could have failed to recognize the barely-contained indignation, ready to be unleashed on anyone foolish enough to comment on his freshly-shaven chin.

This was no laughing matter, and so Xichen, of course, did not laugh.

Still—he'd have to see, later, if young master Wei had a mind to hear more stories of his mother. After all, it was his duty as a senior to provide guidance to his juniors, and Xichen just so happened to remember a story about frogs in the dormitories that the young man would find particularly enlightening.

***