Four years later.
The streets were bustling with people. In Zhenzhu Alley, Lu Gu lifted the seven-year-old Lingjun onto the horse, where Shen Xuanqing, already mounted, took hold of his little shuang'er.
"Remember to go slow, and don’t be too wild," Lu Gu reminded them.
"I know, Amu," Lingjun said, his eyes bright and lively, the red mark between his brows like a painted huadian, making him more beautiful as he grew.
[Huadian (花钿): a traditional Chinese ornamental facial makeup worn by women, typically painted or applied between the eyebrows or on other facial areas like cheeks or temples.]
Despite being such a beautiful shuang’er, Shen Xuanqing insisted on teaching him martial arts, horseback riding, and archery. Wei Lanxiang always scolded her second son for it, but she couldn’t stop him.
Shen Xuanqing carried his longbow on his back, and the horse also bore Lingjun’s small bow and arrows. "We’ll be back by noon. Save some food for us, we’re not eating out today," he said.
"Alright," Lu Gu agreed. The chestnut horse trotted out of the alley.
Turning back inside, he saw Granny Hua washing clothes in the yard, while Mian’er, wearing a crooked tiger-head hat, pouted and played with water, his chubby cheeks puffed out. When Lu Gu came near, the little boy turned away, sticking his butt out toward his amu.
"Oh my, whose little tiger is angry?"
Lu Gu coaxed his son with a smile. At just four years old, Mian'er was still too small to go horseback riding or learn hunting, which had led to his tantrum earlier.
"Not Guzi’s."
The little one’s milky voice still carried anger, making Lu Gu and Granny Hua burst into laughter.
Squatting beside him, Lu Gu patted Mian’er’s butt and teased, "Not Guzi’s, huh? Then I’ll go buy sweets, if you’re not Guzi’s, you can’t have any."
Over the past few years, as Mian’er and Lingjun grew older, whenever someone asked whose children they were, Granny Hua had told them once, and they remembered.
"I’m Guzi’s," Mian’er immediately changed his tune.
Lu Gu adjusted the crooked little hat and said, "So you are? Then come with me to buy sweets, and we’ll visit Auntie and Lin’er. How does that sound?"
"Okay!" Mian’er clapped his chubby little hands happily.
Shen Yan and Gu Chengyue welcomed their son Gu Jinglin two years ago - the two-year-old boy was younger than Mian'er by two years.
Meanwhile, Shen Xuanqing rode with Lingjun. With his father there, Lingjun wasn’t afraid at all. Sitting high on the big horse, taller than everyone else, he was thrilled, even holding the reins with Shen Xuanqing.
For a shuang’er his age, riding a big horse already made him exceptionally bold.
In crowded areas, the horse slowed, making the pair impossible to miss.
A few sedan chairs passed by in the opposite direction. Shen Xuanqing, absorbed in his little shuang'er’s excitement, didn’t notice someone peeking at him through the sedan’s curtain.
The flow of people separated them, and the horse moved on.
Behind the curtain, Lu Wen clenched his handkerchief. The first sedan chair belonged to Old Lady Li, who had taken him, Luo Hongchou, and the two children to the temple to pray.
Hidden beneath the veil, his face bore bruises that hadn’t fully healed. A few days ago, Li Mingshan, drunk, had beaten and cursed at him. Even his children, seized by Old Lady Li years earlier, remained confined to the main courtyard, barred from his care.
During his pregnancy, he had bled, and the child was weak, often needing medicine—nothing like the lively, healthy child on horseback.
What tormented him most was his regret for trusting Li Mingshan’s sweet words back then.
Now, his child was distant, Li Mingshan treated him poorly, and though he appeared respectable outside, his life was far from easy. Du Hehua and Lu Daxiang constantly demanded money and grain. With limited income, he had to support them too, making life full of hardships.
But in this world, there was no medicine for regret. No matter how unwilling or resentful he was, it was useless.
Lu Gu took his son out to play on the street. While buying a sugar figurine, he heard someone call his name. Turning around, he saw Li Wanyun with her daughter Wen’er going to buy oil.
Wen’er was three years old, with a little bun tied on her head. Since Luo Biao got a daughter, he couldn’t stop talking about her. Despite being a rough man, he couldn’t raise his voice around his little girl.
They were holding their children and exchanged a few cheerful words before going about their business.
When Lu Gu returned from the Gu family, carrying Mian’er home, he suddenly heard Lingjun calling him from behind.
"Amu! Amu!" The child shrieked with excitement, his voice rising to a high-pitched squeal.
He turned around, his eyes sparkling with laughter, which caught the attention of the man on horseback.
When Lingjun reached Lu Gu, he eagerly seized the rabbits dangling from the saddle with both hands, his whole face alight with pride. "Amu, look! Dad and I hunted these!"
"So impressive!" Lu Gu cheered him on.
Shen Xuanqing dismounted and told Lingjun to hold the reins tightly. Seeing Mian’er fussing to ride the big horse, he placed his son on it and had Lingjun hold his little brother securely. Then, he led the horse forward alongside Lu Gu.
As they walked, he lowered his voice and said, "Last time we met Master Huitong, we talked about going to the temple to burn incense. I think, in a few days, we can send the two of them back home. Mother misses her grandsons too. I’ll take you out for a couple of days—traveling, sightseeing, staying overnight at the temple, and even eating vegetarian meals."
Hearing this, Lu Gu smiled, amused that their Erqing didn’t dare let the children hear they were going out to have fun. Still, he nodded with a grin and replied in an equally hushed voice, "Alright."
Amid the bustling crowd, the two exchanged a knowing smile, hiding a little secret that belonged only to them.
-End-
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