Chapter 6

It wasn’t just Gu Xiaodeng who was startled by the Gyrfalcon; his little white horse was too. He stroked the trembling horse’s head and asked Zhu Mi angrily, “Damn it all! Does that big bird have a name? A spiritual little animal like that should understand a few human words, right? I want to curse it by name now!”

“Blossom Ashes.”

“Blossom…!” Gu Xiaodeng’s cursing stopped abruptly. “Blossom Ashes? Which ‘Ashes’? Is it the Blossom Ashes I’m thinking of?”

Zhu Mi countered, “What do you think it is?”

Gu Xiaodeng’s hand, petting the little horse, slowed down, and his anger subsided a little. “The Blossom Ashes I know of refers to lamp flowers. When a lampwick burns, it sometimes forms a flower shape. Among the common folk, this is considered an auspicious sign. My foster father also told me that when there is a joyous event in the world, the lamp forms a flower. ‘Blossom Ashes’ means a herald of good tidings. I liked those two words the moment I heard them; they sound beautiful and have an auspicious meaning. Does Gu Jinyu know what ‘Blossom Ashes’ means?”

Zhu Mi shook his head. “I cannot presume to know the Fourth Young Master’s considerations. He is widely learned and has a strong memory, so I imagine he does.”

He never asked what Gu Jinyu was thinking, nor was he curious, because he knew asking would yield no answer.

“The whole mansion has only one big bird, and it’s a noble treasure that grew up with Gu Jinyu. Didn’t you ask about such an important name?” Gu Xiaodeng looked up at the Gyrfalcon in mid-air. Because he liked its name, his anger towards it vanished, and his attention quickly jumped elsewhere. “Iron Door God, how old was Gu Jinyu when you became his steward?”

“At that time, the Fourth Young Master was seven years old.” Zhu Mi tried his best to answer calmly. Before being assigned to Gu Jinyu’s courtyard, he had worked for the Gu family’s Eldest Young Lady, Gu Renli.

“What was he like when he was little?”

“Little” referred to childhood, a stage of knowing nothing. Zhu Mi privately thought that none of the five young masters and ladies of the Gu family had much of a “childhood.” The moment their primal intelligence awakened, they buried themselves in all sorts of important lessons. During the time when children like Gu Xiaodeng were busy riding pigs and playing noisily, the nobles of the Gu family had already entered the arming phase of their lives.

Zhu Mi answered with a line from the Book of Rites he had used to discipline Gu Xiaodeng that morning: “Even then, the Fourth Young Master had already achieved ‘Being reverent in all things, dignified as if in deep thought, and speaking with calm assurance.'”

Gu Xiaodeng was instantly filled with awe, but also felt it was a bit pitiful. “He was so terribly busy as a child.”

“That is why he is now the Crown Princess’s Study Companion and, by grace, resides in the Imperial Palace.” Zhu Mi became stern again. “Cousin Young Master, you should also demand more of yourself. Time waits for no one. Do not treat your days frivolously, lest you reach old age and lament in vain.”

“I still feel like I’m pretty young anyway,” Gu Xiaodeng said, sticking out his tongue. “But I’ll listen to you too. Tell me, what are we going to learn next?”

Zhu Mi wanted to take him to the other end of the training field to practice archery. However, just as he led Gu Xiaodeng to turn his horse around, he saw four fine steeds outside the distant horse-racing field. Two were in the front, two slightly behind. The one in the lead was the easiest to recognize: it was the Second Young Lady, Gu Ruhui, and the Heir, Gu Pinghan.

Zhu Mi narrowed his eyes and watched for a moment, quickly identifying who the young men on the other two horses were. Calmly, he dismounted and began walking, leading both horses by their reins.

He told Gu Xiaodeng about the four people. The two from the Gu family needed no explanation; the main point was the two visiting young men. “Behind the Second Young Lady, that horse with a speck of snow-white on black is the beloved son of the Minister of Justice, named Guan Yunji. Behind the Heir is the only son of the Cloud Banner General, named Ge Dongchen. Both are thirteen, one year older than you.”

The moment Gu Xiaodeng heard his second sister and third brother intended to come see him, he got nervous. Zhu Mi calmly reminded him to recall the etiquette rules he had learned that morning: how to greet his sister and brother, how to greet other Noble Young Masters of his generation. Although he remembered clearly, his palms were sweating uncontrollably. When he reached the two Gu family members and dismounted, he stumbled badly.

He bowed nervously. “Xiaodeng greets the Second Young Lady and the Heir.”

The four people in front of him dismounted. The “thud” of their landing made his little heart tremble violently.

Gu Pinghan’s voice was indifferent. “You may rise.”

Gu Xiaodeng quickly straightened up. Of the four before him, except for Gu Pinghan, the other three all wore smiles, though their gazes held different meanings. He first looked carefully at his second sister, Gu Ruhui. His birth mother, An Ruoyi, had given him seven days of devoted love, and he couldn’t forget that kind mother’s gentleness, so he hoped for similar grace from his second sister.

But Gu Ruhui was very different from what he had imagined.

She was a slender, tall girl. Her figure seemed excessively thin, almost appearing weak at first glance. Yet, upon seeing her face, the cool, sharp severity between her brows was almost bursting forth. Even with a smile on her face, it couldn’t dispel the chill.

Gu Ruhui smiled, her tone standardly gentle. “No need for excessive courtesy. I heard Mother Consort mention yesterday that a distant cousin had come to stay with the family, and today we meet. Are you settling in comfortably at East Forest Garden? The household is complex; if our hospitality is lacking in any way, please do not hesitate to mention it.”

Gu Pinghan, meanwhile, looked at Zhu Mi. “Zhu Mi, you will lead him to study more lessons, so he does not lose composure as he did just now.”

Zhu Mi remained kneeling on the ground without getting up. “Yes, Heir.”

They looked at him as if he were mud beneath their feet. Gu Xiaodeng could only give a forced laugh. “Th-thank you for your concern, Second Young Lady. Thank you for your guidance, Heir.”

At this, the young man behind Gu Pinghan smiled, breaking some of the awkwardness. “I was just thinking that with Jinyu entering the palace, I’d have one less playmate and would be a bit lonely. I never imagined that the Heir’s household would coincidentally welcome a Cousin Young Master. It seems there will be more liveliness in the future.”

Saying this, he introduced himself heartily to Gu Xiaodeng. “Hello, Xiaodeng. I’m Ge Dongchen. You look a bit younger than me, I think. In the future, when I’m with the Heir and the others, may I call you Cousin?”

Gu Xiaodeng quickly clasped his hands and returned a level bow to Ge Dongchen. “Of course! Thank you, Young Master Ge.”

“No need for such thanks, Cousin, you’re being too formal.” Perhaps because his father was a military officer, Ge Dongchen had an open, clear temperament. He was also handsome and bright, the scholarly air about him much fainter than in other nobles. He appeared much more casual and at ease in speech and manner.

He even pointed at the young man beside him and smiled as he spoke. “This brother beside me is named Guan Yunji, also a good friend of Jinyu’s. He likes Jinyu’s majestic Gyrfalcon the most. Just now, as our conversation was reaching a lively point, we suddenly heard a long cry, and then saw the Gyrfalcon flying in the sky. Yunji’s gaze was immediately captivated.”

That “long cry” had been Gu Xiaodeng’s skyward howl just moments ago. He now understood that the “loss of composure” Gu Pinghan referred to was that. While feeling embarrassed, his initial impression of Ge Dongchen shot straight up, feeling that Ge was intentionally helping him out of an awkward spot.

Ge Dongchen was hearty and lively, while Guan Yunji was somewhat reserved and proud. He glanced sidelong at Gu Xiaodeng, gave a single word of greeting, and then looked up to search for the Gyrfalcon in the sky.

Gu Xiaodeng stood rooted to the spot, racking his brains for what to say next. Gu Ruhui then smiled and told him to go back and rest. As he awkwardly prepared to leave, Gu Pinghan spoke up again. “The hour is still early. Since you are at the training field, learn what you came to learn.”

He then commanded Zhu Mi to continue leading him in horseback riding. As for the other four, they went to a nearby pavilion, likely to find a place to continue their seated conversation, where Zhang Dengqing and the other servants were also gathered.

Gu Xiaodeng mounted his horse again. For the rest of the ride, he could no longer laugh or shout freely as he wished. Since Gu Pinghan had instructed him to learn more and was sitting not far away, Zhu Mi did not let him rest.

This riding session went on without pause for a full hour and a half.

In the end, Gu Xiaodeng truly couldn’t take it anymore. Using the excuse of needing the latrine, he dismounted. His legs were chafed raw and hurt when he walked. Just a few steps after dismounting, his left foot tripped his right, and he fell flat on his face.

“Ugh…” Gu Xiaodeng just wanted to lie down on the spot and take a nap.

Zhu Mi reached out to pull him up. “Are you alright?”

He really didn’t want to move. Lying there, he raised a small hand and waved it weakly. “Not so good, ouch… Iron Door God, don’t move me yet. Just let me fall into Mother Earth’s embrace…”

Zhu Mi was quiet for a moment, then quickly lowered his voice to call him. “Cousin Young Master, you must get up. Young Master Ge is heading our way.”

Gu Xiaodeng jolted violently and struggled to push himself up from the ground. He had just barely managed to stand when Ge Dongchen arrived before him. “Hey! Cousin Xiaodeng, I saw you fall from afar. Are you alright?”

“I’m fine, I’m fine!”

Gu Xiaodeng’s eyes sparkled as he called him “Gongzi.” Ge Dongchen walked up to him with a smile. “You’re being too formal. From now on, you might as well call me Brother Dongchen.”

Gu Xiaodeng thrived on any bit of sunshine he could get. “Alright, Brother Dongchen.”

Ge Dongchen paused for a moment, then bent over with a smile. “How obedient. Are you really twelve? You’re so petite. I originally thought I was much older than you, but who knew, when I heard the Heir say it, you’re actually the same age as Jinyu.”

Gu Xiaodeng sheepishly rubbed his nose. “Ah, really twelve. Genuine.”

“Then your build is truly delicate.”

“A little.” Gu Xiaodeng gave him a thumbs up. “You wouldn’t have that problem, Brother Dongchen.”

“I’ve practiced martial arts since I was a child, so naturally my frame is bigger.” Ge Dongchen’s smile grew even more hearty. He turned his head to order Zhu Mi. “Steward Zhu, haven’t you even given him a sip of water? Look, Xiaodeng’s lips are dry.”

Gu Xiaodeng thought, Exactly, exactly. This Ge Dongchen really is a good person. He seemed hearty to the point of roughness compared to other noble young masters, but he didn’t lack attentiveness, nor did he put on airs. Seeing how easygoing and smiling he was, maybe he could become a good companion?

The moment Zhu Mi left, he couldn’t help but strike up a conversation. “Why has Brother Dongchen come over? Aren’t you chatting with the Heir and the others?”

“I’d been sitting for a while and came out for a walk to stretch my legs,” Ge Dongchen shrugged. Once Zhu Mi was gone, his entire demeanor became even more relaxed. “Besides, the Heir was distracted today. That’s a rare sight, seeing him lose focus from time to time. Chatting with him was rather dull; I might as well come out for some fresh air.”

He walked and stretched his arms as he went, stopping to look at Gu Xiaodeng’s little white horse. “I watched you ride for a while just now. The way you exert force in your waist and back isn’t quite right. Your back aches and your legs hurt now, right?”

Gu Xiaodeng’s eyes widened. “Yes! So how should I exert force correctly? Can you teach me?”

Ge Dongchen laughed in spite of himself. He had originally come to probe and get a measure of the newcomer, but he hadn’t expected to encounter such a transparent child in this deep-pond-like Gu family. This was even rarer than Gu Pinghan’s distraction.

“It’s not out of the question.”

Smiling, he coaxed him to mount the horse again so he could correct the mistakes in his posture. He then watched as Gu Xiaodeng, enduring the pain in his legs with a grimacing expression, trembling slightly, climbed back onto the little white horse.

Ge Dongchen thought, What a clumsy, adorable little fool.