Ye Mingzhu is fifteen years old this year. She is extremely beautiful, with skin as white as the moon and eyes that are dark and bright, like they are filled with dazzling starlight, making her unforgettable.
After she arrived, she stayed with Wuxia, who was about the same age as her. After putting down the pot, she returned to Wuxia's side.
Wushuang, nestled close to her sister, was so captivated by her beauty that she sincerely praised, "Sister Mingzhu is so beautiful. I hope Shuangshuang will grow up to be as beautiful as you."
Ye Mingzhu smiled and gently rubbed Shuangshuang's soft little face, saying, "Yes, Shuangshuang is still so young, but she's already a beauty in the making. She'll only become more beautiful when she grows up."
"I also think Shuangshuang will be even more beautiful when she grows up." Although Wang Hongbo's words were sincere, they inevitably sounded somewhat out of place in the current situation.
Fortunately, Ye Mingzhu was good-natured and didn't hold a grudge against the child. Instead, she said gently, "Bo-ge'er is also good-looking. He will definitely grow up to be a handsome young man."
Wang Hongbo was surprised that she would praise him, and lowered his head shyly. Was it inappropriate for him to say what he said just now?
While Wang Hongbo was reflecting on his actions, the midwife had already placed Junyu into the copper basin.
The so-called "washing the third day" is a ritual in which a newborn baby is bathed in a decoction of mugwort leaves in front of relatives and friends who come to offer their blessings.
Junyu slept through the entire ceremony, which marked her first public appearance in front of guests, before being sent back to Yingliu Residence.
As the guests took their leave, Wang Hongbo held Wushuang's little hand and reluctantly invited her, "Shuangshuang, would you like to come to my house to play? I'll have the chef make you some more sesame candy, okay?"
Wushuang longed to spend more time with her family and friends, but right now, she preferred to stay with her mother and younger brother. Most children would probably refuse outright, but Wushuang wasn't a real child. She could see that Wang Hongbo was reluctant to part with her, so she patiently explained her thoughts and added, "Actually, you can stay at my house a little longer."
Wang Hongbo blinked and immediately accepted the suggestion, then ran to his mother, Madam Shen, to ask to stay overnight at the Governor's Mansion.
Shen was afraid of causing trouble for the Jun family, so she initially refused. However, she couldn't resist Wushuang's help in making the request, so she left her son there for the night and went home herself.
Wang Hongbo and Wushuang played until 11:45 PM, when they were so tired that they collapsed on the couch and fell fast asleep. Their wet nurses then carried them back to their rooms.
The next day, after breakfast, Junshu personally escorted Wang Hongbo back as previously agreed.
The Wang couple, along with their son, lived in the backyard of the Maritime Trade Office.
The carriage stopped at the side gate, and Junshu noticed something was wrong as soon as he got out.
Although it was a side gate courtyard, it was still an important place for the government office. On the previous times he came, he saw two yamen runners guarding the gate, but today there was not a single person in sight.
"Uncle Jun, let's go in quickly!" Wang Hongbo jumped down from the carriage without being carried by an adult.
Jun Shu bent down and picked him up, trying to maintain a normal expression, and said, "You just said that if you didn't have to attend classes with your teacher every day without interruption, you would like to stay at my house for a few more days? Why don't you wait for me in the carriage and let me go in first to discuss it with your parents, what do you think?"
Wang Hongbo didn't quite understand why he had to wait in the carriage while Junshu discussed things with his parents, but he understood their good intentions, so he obediently nodded in agreement.
Jun Shu ordered the driver to lift the curtain and personally helped Wang Hongbo back into the carriage. He then instructed him, "Don't get out. Wait for me to come back and find you."
Wang Hongbo obediently agreed again.
Jun Shu then strode to the side door, pulled the door knocker, and knocked three times.
It was still early, and the surroundings were very quiet. Junshu could hear the chirping of birds in the courtyard, but after waiting for a long time, no one came to answer the door.
Chapter Index 53 | 52, 51, 50, 49.2
Chapter 53:
Junshu turned around and saw Wang Hongbo lifting the curtain of the car window and peeking out with his little head.
He was filled with unease, but he still pretended to be completely nonchalant, smiling and waving at Wang Hongbo.
Wang Hongbo smiled shyly at him, lowered the carriage curtain, and retreated into the carriage.
After Jun Shu turned around, his smile vanished instantly. He tried to push the door open with all his might, but it wasn't bolted from the inside and opened easily.
He couldn't help but turn back again, but this time the carriage curtains were drawn, and Wang Hongbo did not peek out again.
Jun Shu was relieved and stepped over the threshold into the courtyard, followed closely by his two guards.
After walking a few steps, a pair of feet wearing black boots appeared from behind the sycamore trees to the west.
Jun Shu drew his sword and held it in front of him, cautiously approaching the tree. He saw a constable lying on the ground. He leaned closer and reached out to check, only to find that the constable was no longer breathing.
Although the Maritime Trade Office was a small government office, it had two courtyards in the back. Jun Shu walked around inside, searching every room, and finally came out gritting his teeth.
Wang Hongbo sat in the carriage, repeatedly reciting the poems his teacher had taught him the day before. Finally, impatient, he hesitantly lifted the curtain and climbed out of the carriage, where he came face to face with Jun Shu.
Although he hadn't met Jun Shu many times, the other man was always very kind and approachable. Wang Hongbo even thought that if Jun Shu were his father, he wouldn't have to be punished by kneeling and being beaten so often. However, the expression on Jun Shu's face at this moment was far more terrifying than when his father, Wang Siqi, beat him, to the point that he couldn't find the words to describe it.
Could it be that he was naughty and disobedient, and tried to sneak off the carriage but was discovered, which is why Uncle Jun was angry?
Wang Hongbo lifted the carriage curtain again, wanting to say a few sweet words to Jun Shu to cheer him up.
Jun Shu happened to walk up to the car and saw the little guy's slightly uneasy expression. He wanted to put on a smile to coax him, but he couldn't manage to smile no matter what. He just tried to soften his voice and said, "Hongbo, I have already spoken with your parents. You can stay at the Governor's Mansion for as long as you like."
"How long is that?" Children love to be serious, and Wang Hongbo took this trait to the extreme. "Is it really okay not to study?" Didn't Father say that we must work hard every day so that we can stand out in the imperial examinations in the future?
Jun Shu, a man in his thirties, could easily fool a toddler: "Who said you don't have to study? It just means you have to go to the private school with Tian Ge and Tian Di every morning, and you can play freely in the afternoon." He paused, then added, "Didn't you say you especially like playing with Wu Shuang? She started her formal education this year, so she can practice calligraphy next to you while you do your homework. Isn't that great?"
Wu Shuang's cute and pretty face appeared in Wang Hongbo's mind. His face flushed slightly, and he smiled shyly, "Okay!"
“Then Hongbo and Uncle the coachman will go back together. Uncle has some business to attend to at another government office,” Junshu arranged.
Wang Hongbo only hoped to return quickly to keep Wushuang company, so he naturally agreed without hesitation.
Jun Shu lowered the carriage curtain and whispered instructions to a guard on how to relay the message back home. Madam Yang was still in confinement and could not get out of bed, but she had to help him keep this a secret for the time being. Therefore, he could only have the guard relay the message to Madam Yang's head maid, Bai Lu.
"...The child is unaware yet, so let's not tell him for now. I'll think of a way to tell him slowly when I get back. He's too young to handle any major shocks."
The guards obeyed, mounted their horses, and rode away with the carriage.