After the New Year, Gu Xiaodeng learned that his first “gift” of the year was the name “Shanqing.”
An Ruoyi, amid her busy schedule, summoned him to West Prosperity Garden. Unlike her coldness during her illness, she spoke to him warmly: “When you enter the academy in February, you ought to have a more formal name. Jinyu has been thinking about it, and before the new year, he specifically mentioned this to me. The name ‘Shanqing’ was something he carefully pondered for you. It is a good name; from now on, you shall be called Shanqing.”
Gu Xiaodeng had originally thought “Shanqing” was a tacit nickname between him and Gu Jinyu, never expecting this turn of events; his expression immediately turned a bit blank.
Although Shanqing also sounded nice, he still preferred to call himself by the simple name Xiaodeng.
An Ruoyi looked at him and thought of something else: “I know you harbor some resentment toward Jinyu due to the reversal of standing, but Shanqing, the affairs of the world are unpredictable and fate is hard to change. Since you did not grow up in the Gu family, you cannot bear the illustrious title of the Gu Fourth Young Master. Jinyu treats you magnanimously, so you should also reduce your indignation toward him and get along peacefully with him, understand?”
Gu Xiaodeng let out an embarrassed laugh, rubbed his hands, and whispered, “I will listen to Mother Consort in everything. I don’t resent Jinyu. However… when Mother Consort speaks with me privately, could you continue to call me Xiaodeng?”
“Shanqing,” An Ruoyi placed her hand on his shoulder, “be obedient.”
Gu Xiaodeng dared not object any further, and just nodded, twirling his two index fingers.
“You must trust the Gu family’s arrangements for you.” An Ruoyi gently held his arms with both hands and spoke in a warm, soft voice, “You know yourself that you are not a particularly intelligent child. If you had talent in both literary and martial arts, it would be your Royal Father teaching and disciplining you now. Or would you rather leave my arrangements and move to your Royal Father’s courtyard to submit to his control?”
Gu Xiaodeng broke out in goosebumps and quickly shook his head.
“Mother Consort is different from Royal Father. He needs children who can bring him honor, but with me, it is enough that you be an obedient and good child. Mother Consort knows you are, right?”
Gu Xiaodeng could only nod. He couldn’t endure being confined frequently, and confinement seemed to be just one of Gu Yan’s insignificant methods of instruction.
“I cannot always be by your side. Feng’en and Feng Huan were sent by me. They are both your servants and your private teachers. What they teach you, you must study carefully, understand?”
Gu Xiaodeng was stunned for a moment: “They usually haven’t deliberately taught me anything?”
An Ruoyi touched his ear rim: “They will teach you in the future. For now, you just need to prepare yourself, study at the academy, learn to recognize the scions of high families of your generation, and figure out how to navigate human affairs and worldly matters. Among those people, the vast majority are neither your absolute enemies nor friends; you must learn to get along with them.”
Gu Xiaodeng was quite confident: “Alright, I’m pretty good at dealing with all kinds of people!”
An Ruoyi hesitated, wanting to say more but then stopping: “I hope so.”
Gu Xiaodeng looked at her, earnest: “In any case, whatever reasonable and proper instructions Mother Consort gives, I will definitely obey. I not only want to listen to you, but I also want to be good to you. You are my mother. The happiest thing since coming here is having a mother. I can’t remember my foster mother from childhood, and I’ve always regretted not having a mother, but now I have one. Mother, I want to be closer to you. If you ever fall ill in the future, just call for me. I’m very good at taking care of people, truly!”
Gu Xiaodeng had not seen An Ruoyi many times. Every time he saw her, she was extremely dignified and graceful. Only during that one brief meeting when she was ill did he realize how poor her complexion was without makeup—clearly a sign of illness accumulated over many years, much like his foster father’s chronic sickness.
An Ruoyi, through his gaze, saw a clear and frank filial piety, but she did not need it—she felt she did not need it. So she brushed him off with a couple of words and sent him back.
That afternoon, led by Feng’en, Gu Xiaodeng finally saw the completed private academy.
It was built at the center of East Forest Garden. To the south was a landscaped garden, to the north a martial arts field, to the east an arts field, and to the west the Student Courtyard. It was so large it formed a small world of its own, so large that it was named Vast Marsh Academy. Even more intricate, the internal layout was like a labyrinth—rumored to be arranged using the principles of Qi Men Dun Jia. One could easily get lost with the slightest inattention, so each student needed a page from the academy to guide them.
“Will I have to move in here when the time comes?”
“Naturally, you will. But if you don’t want to live in the Student Courtyard, you could return to your current residence; however, the daily commute would be rather tiring.”
Feng’en led him to see the Student Courtyard. They passed through archways, walked by artificial mountains and waterside pavilions, and saw winding, scattered blue-brick houses nestled under the blue sky, with bundles of bamboo wind chimes hanging from the eaves. When a strong wind blew, the green bamboo made soft sounds.
Gu Xiaodeng walked over in a daze, murmuring, “This isn’t an academy… it’s a Peach Blossom Spring, isn’t it?”
The words proved prophetic.
As soon as he stepped into the embrace of Vast Marsh Academy, he keenly felt that this place was utterly different from the outside world. It was still a world of youths, not entirely overshadowed by the adult world. Perhaps it still carried a touch of the vanity fair and arena, but for the most part, it was indeed a Peach Blossom Spring.
It was just that “Peach Blossom Spring” was not necessarily a good term.
Feng’en took him to see the room assigned to him. Because the academy was spacious with ample land, and the residents were all noble, the student quarters were standalone houses. Sandalwood plaques hung by each door, carved with the names of the young occupants soon to move in. Gu Xiaodeng walked to his door in the breeze, stared for a long while at the three characters “Gu Shanqing” on the plaque, then finally touched his earlobe and pushed open the somewhat heavy wooden door.
Aside from feeling somewhat uncomfortable about his original name being taken away, Gu Xiaodeng was happy about everything. He spun around in the room more than a dozen times, like a puppy chasing its tail. Once his joy subsided, he thought of something even more joyful and repeatedly asked Feng’en, “Where is Su Mingya’s room?”
Feng’en smiled, “Very far from you. Young Master Su’s health is precious, so his dwelling is unique; he lives in the most peaceful spot, closest to the lecture halls. Young Master Ge is relatively closer to you. Would you like to go take a look?”
“Oh.” Gu Xiaodeng only wanted to see Su Mingya’s. He walked along, trying to memorize the layout and distances, but the place was truly large. Each house was separated by rockeries and plants acting as obstacles. After walking for a while, Gu Xiaodeng felt his head spinning. In the end, he never found Su Mingya’s residence, nor did he spot Ge Dongchen’s, but he did remember Guan Yunji’s.
Gu Xiaodeng was dizzy from walking but fully satisfied. On his way back, he passed by the small pond at the entrance of the Student Courtyard, leaned on the railing, and looked at the reflection for a while. The water’s surface mirrored the vast sky and white clouds, as well as his own somewhat unfamiliar face.
Just as he was lost in thought, Gu Xiaodeng suddenly saw the shadow of a large bird on the water’s surface. He immediately looked up and called out with a smile, “Blossom—Ashes—”
Feng’en waited until he finished shouting before saying with a light laugh, “Cousin Young Master, you cannot shout loudly at random like this in the future. If you behave too improperly, the Princess Consort won’t punish you; she will only punish Feng Huan and me.”
Gu Xiaodeng’s voice abruptly stopped. He hastily covered his mouth and nodded. Fortunately, the gyrfalcon in the sky descended and circled above his head. He smiled and waved, and after fluttering for a moment, the gyrfalcon flew to his chest. He carefully caught and held it.
Not far after leaving the Student Courtyard, Gu Xiaodeng ran into the falcon’s master and his friend.
Gu Jinyu was accompanying Guan Yunji in looking at the academy. When the two, chatting and laughing, encountered Gu Xiaodeng, their expressions stiffened.
Guan Yunji pointed in shock at the contented large bird in his arms: “How can Blossom Ashes allow you to hold it? Are you a falconer?”
Gu Xiaodeng was baffled: “Huh?”
For a moment he was speechless. This idiot Guan Yunji, why did he act like he didn’t recognize who he was? They had met several times before the new year.
“I don’t have a falconer. This is the Gu family’s Cousin Young Master.” Gu Jinyu coughed lightly at this moment, “Yunji, he is Gu Xiaodeng.”
Guan Yunji was even more shocked. He scrutinized Gu Xiaodeng from head to toe, then turned to Gu Jinyu doubtfully and said, “Don’t tell me he’s that country bumpkin? How long has he been living in your household? I don’t remember him looking like this.”
“Now you remember.” Gu Jinyu chuckled lightly, raised his eyes to look at Gu Xiaodeng, “Xiaodeng, Blossom Ashes is heavy. Let me have it come back, so it doesn’t tire you.”
He extended his hand and snapped his fingers. The gyrfalcon, which had been resting comfortably in Gu Xiaodeng’s arms, suddenly stirred, shot out in an instant like an arrow, and nearly barreled into his arm. Gu Jinyu’s hand was steady, but the muscle lines under his clothing became prominent.
Guan Yunji’s eyes were full of envy. He tentatively reached out to pet the gyrfalcon, but it only provoked the bird to bristle its crown feathers and open its beak wide, as if saying, “Dare to touch me and I’ll peck you.”
Guan Yunji sullenly withdrew his hand, frowned slightly as he looked at Gu Xiaodeng, but after one glance, he turned his head away with an arrogant air as if he had seen something filthy.
Gu Xiaodeng didn’t pay much mind to this Young Master Black. It had been too long since he’d seen Gu Jinyu, and remembering his kindness in delivering the home letter, he bounced lively forward.
He saluted in a timely manner: “Fourth Young Master, Young Master Guan.”
Gu Jinyu’s originally calm heart suddenly rippled, with an indescribable sour and astringent feeling. He grunted, and pretending nothing had happened, he swung his arm to release Blossom Ashes into flight.
Gu Xiaodeng looked at him with sparkling eyes: “Are you accompanying Young Master Guan to see the academy? I just went to look around, and I even saw Young Master Guan’s room.”
He turned to point out the direction. Guan Yunji looked over at his words, but first saw the pair of ear beads on his earlobes. His expression shifted several times, then he furrowed his brow, grabbed Gu Jinyu, and said, “Gu Fourth, let’s go.”
Gu Xiaodeng, having been bumped into by him, stumbled a bit and felt somewhat lost. He instinctively followed a couple of steps, but was shooed away by Guan Yunji.
Gu Xiaodeng quickly stopped, scratched the tip of his nose in embarrassment, glanced at Gu Jinyu with reluctance and timidness, thought for a moment, then simply bent at the waist again in salute: “Then, Young Masters, see you later.”
The strange ripple at the tip of Gu Jinyu’s heart rapidly expanded. After walking a few steps, he turned his head and saw that Gu Xiaodeng was still standing there, waving happily when he saw him look over.
Gu Jinyu suddenly had the inappropriate thought of turning back, but as soon as the thought arose, he stifled it himself.
At his side, Guan Yunji asked in a low voice with ill intent, “He’s also entering the academy?”
Gu Jinyu nodded: “The Princess Consort’s intention.”
Guan Yunji shook his head repeatedly: “Really going to cultivate such a servant? Look at his manner; even making him a pageboy would be overestimating him.”
“Servants… have their own benefits.”
Guan Yunji felt a wave of revulsion: “Let others enjoy those benefits; keep him far away from me.”
Gu Jinyu chuckled, then said coldly with profound meaning, “Then strive for it.”
Gu Xiaodeng had hoped to see Gu Jinyu a few more times, but contrary to his expectations, he did not see him again until the thirteenth day of the second month when he entered the academy. The gyrfalcon did fly over a few times, but each time it came either begging for food or for hugs, and its talons no longer carried a letter tube.
Gu Xiaodeng muttered to himself that the guy must really be a busy person. He wanted to ask Gu Jinyu why he had given him such a new name—at least give him some explanation. But now, even though he had already moved into the academy’s Student Courtyard, that fellow was still nowhere to be seen.
The academy officially started classes on the fifteenth. Gu Xiaodeng had moved in early; over the thirteenth and fourteenth, students would be moving in one after another. Gu Xiaodeng had a gut feeling that Su Mingya would come earlier than others. So he took it upon himself to arrive at the crack of dawn. After arriving, he went to the pavilion by the small pond at the entrance of the Student Courtyard, sat there listening to the water and the spring breeze, with a textbook in hand, memorizing by rote.
Feng’en thought he was just changing his study environment and didn’t stop him, never guessing that he was “waiting by the stump for Su.”
And indeed, he managed to “wait” for him.
Gu Xiaodeng was memorizing to the point of a headache when he heard a gentle, soft voice speaking outside the courtyard. He instantly jolted, trembling. The loneliness of the past days suddenly spread outward like a tide, impossible to suppress.
He rolled up his book and stood up, leaning on the railing to look toward the gate. His heart beat faster and faster as the voice grew clearer. When that sickly beautiful youth truly stepped into his view, his vision blurred as if seeing double.
Gu Xiaodeng couldn’t wait and ran out of the pavilion, blushing and red-eared as he called out “Young Master Su.” Su Mingya then saw him.
He smiled at him: “Xiaodeng.”
Gu Xiaodeng performed a peer salute between students, so excited that his ears turned red, and stammered, “Y-Young Master Su, I’m now called Gu Shanqing.”
“Is that so?” Su Mingya seemed to see through his unwillingness and did not change his address. “We have some affinity; in private, I’ll still call you Xiaodeng.”
A gentle breeze blew, and his heart surged. Gu Xiaodeng had already been unable to suppress the upward curve of his lips, and now his brows and eyes curved even more happily.
“Alright!”
