CH 23

Amidst the sound of firecrackers, we let go of the old and welcome the new. Even if it is snowing, the snow didn’t dampen the colourful atmosphere from spreading across the whole of Beijing.

During this time, even the poorest families would still buy two catties1 of meat, a few pots of wine. The whole family would sit together, to eat a reunion dinner, and that would be the best way to start the new year.

Perhaps it was because it was nearing the date of the Metropolitan Examination, that countrywide juren were gathered in the capital. The atmosphere in Beijing this year was three times as lively as last year. Bustling with activity, outside of the Chenghuang Temple2, people were guessing riddles on lanterns, joining in the fun, rows and rows of people gathered around the pond.

The city lights shone as bright as day with the display of fireworks and lanterns, there was indeed a vast crowd.

Zhao Su was holding a chubby little steamed bun in his arms, Feng Bao was walking next to him, whilst behind them there were two bodyguards in casual clothing from the Prince’s manor.

This time, Feng Bao had paid extra attention, he didn’t dare to to be sloppy, and lose sight of Zhu Yijun again.

“Princely Heir, Zhao gongzi is tired, why not let da-ban carry you?” Feng Bao approached trying to coax the child.

“No!” the child turned his face from him and continued to look around curiously.

The corner of Feng Bao’s mouth twitched, whilst he secretly cried inside. Little brat, if anything happens to you, I wouldn’t even be able to repay it even if I had an additional ten lives.

Zhao Su was trying to not laugh, but he could understand Feng Bao’s feelings: “Yongting-xiong, don’t be too worried, I will not let the princely heir out of my sight.”

Even in the coldest time of the year, Feng Bao was still sweating, he took out a handkerchief to wipe down his forehead, smiling he said: “Fortunately, last time the Prince and Consort Li were merciful, and only punished me a few times with the cane. However, I am still fearful. I have no choice but to be more prudent. If the princely heir loses even one strand of hair, I won’t have any face to keep on living.”

“Support one’s master and share in his worries, as it should be.” Zhao Su showed an air of compassion, sighing slightly: “I see that although Yong Ting-xiong serves upon the princely heir, however, you don’t have any any less worries than Tutor Gao and the others.”

Feng Bao had a sorrow in his heart but he liked Zhao Su a little bit more.

Although his position in the Prince’s manor couldn’t be considered low, ultimately, he was still a eunuch.

Feng Bao had worked for the Prince for many years, and was used to seeing the hypocrisy of others. There were some scholars who would boast about themselves, even when they hadn’t even got an official’s position and dare to look down on others. Then there were other people like Gao Gong and Chen Yiqin, so Feng Bao thought that a person like Zhao Su was truly treasurable.

Plus, Zhao Su and the Prince of Yu had not known each other for long but in a short period of time, and Zhao Su was able to enter and leave the manor as he pleased. Even Gao Gong, who always looked down on people from above, also looked at Zhao Su with admiration. It wouldn’t hurt to make friends with such a person.

The two had their own way of thinking, but both of them had the same goal, so of course, there was naturally a feeling of affection between their words.

Zhao Su was holding the child, on the one hand he was pointing out all the rabbit lanterns, whilst on the other hand he was keeping up the conversation with Feng Bao, nevertheless, he appeared to be calm and handled the situation with ease.

“Su, what is that!” The little child’s eyes light up looking far ahead.

“Call me Su-gege, or Shao Yong-gege.” Zhao Su poked his cheek.

“Susususususu!” Zhu Yijin, this little kid would always do the opposite of what someone asked him, the first time Zhao Su told him his name, the child directly called him by it. The second time, the child dropped his surname completely, there was no hope of him hearing another form of address from now on.

With this child, he could neither hit him nor scold him, Zhao Su said: “Sorry, I forgot to bring my ears today, I can’t hear what you’re shouting about.”

Zhu Yijin giggled, he reached out to grab Zhao Su’s ear with his chubby little hand, leant forward and then blew into it.

Zhao Su was tickled by him.

“Don’t blame me if I start biting someone!”

As he moved towards his ears, the little kid quickly screamed and went to protect his ears.　　

Seeing the two of them playing so happily, Feng Bao was dumbfounded.

He had never seen the princely heir get so close to someone, looking at the two of them compared to when the princely heir was with his father, it seemed like Zhao Su and the princely heir were more like father and son.

“Yong Ting-xiong, there are a lot of people here, why don’t we pose our feet at the food stall just in front?”

This thought flashed past in his mind when he heard Zhao Su’s voice, Feng Bao recovered his senses. They walked towards the noodle stand.

The snow had already stopped falling, so there were more and more people on the streets.

Next to the stall, there was someone selling pinwheels, they were multi-coloured, and turning in the wind, the princely heir was so enthralled by them, that he was twisting and turning in his arms to try to get a closer look.

Zhao Su could only let him down, and took him over to the pinwheel stall, the red, the green and the blue turned and turned in the wind, Zhu Yijun was getting dizzy, he thought each one was so pretty and he wanted each one of them.

Just as the princely heir was completely engrossed in the pinwheels, Zhao Su suddenly noticed that there was a little girl standing next to him, she was wearing a flowery robes and had her hair tied up in two buns, sucking her thumb whilst looking at the pinwheels, she was very cute.

“Where is this little girl from, is she lost?” Zhao Su patted her on the head, and asked the street vendor.

“Oh, this is Lao Wang’s daughter at the noodle stand next door. He is busy at the moment and must not have time to look after her, so the child came here.” The street vendor.laughed and took a candy and stuffed it into the girl’s hand. ” Sweetie, go find your father, don’t get lost.”

Zhao Su bought two pinwheels, one he gave to Zhu Yijun and the other he gave to the little girl.

Indeed, the cat lay in the arms of the little girl, let him caress it gently, the little boy found a new toy, too lazy to look at the pinwheels again, he finally burst into laughter.

While they were playing there, Feng Bao smiled bitterly at Zhao Su: “Shao Yong, you really have a way with him. Before, when he used to cry for a long time, it was impossible to stop him crying and he was impossible to coax.”