Chapter 150: Surrounded by Children
Spring came and autumn went, and in the blink of an eye, Gu Mingzhu had grown from a wrinkled little baby in swaddling clothes into a lovely little bundle of white flesh. At two years old, she was at her most adorable, wearing a light yellow dress, with two little pigtails, and walking with a waddling gait like a clumsy little duck.
That afternoon, the sunlight shone brightly through the carved window lattice onto the large kang (heated brick bed) next to the window. Su Wanrou was embroidering a handkerchief with her head down, occasionally glancing up and smiling at the three children playing on the kang.
Four-year-old Gu Sheng was at the age where even cats and dogs disliked him, and his energy was astonishing. He held a cloth tiger in his hand and ran around on the kang (a heated brick bed), making "roaring" noises, calling himself "General".
"The General is coming! Zhuzhu, run!" He deliberately made a fierce face and pounced on his sister.
Little Mingzhu was intently playing with several smooth, colorful building blocks, trying to stack them high. Seeing her brother rushing over, she wasn't afraid. She just raised her little face, blinked her big, dark eyes, and said in her childish voice, "Second brother, you're noisy."
Gu Sheng's "impressiveness" immediately deflated. He threw away the cloth tiger, plopped down next to his sister, and watched her build blocks with curiosity: "Zhuzhu, are you building a house?"
“Yes,” Mingzhu nodded vigorously, pointing her little finger at the crooked “building,” “For Daddy and Mommy to live in.” She then pointed to two small pieces of wood next to her, “For Big Brother and Second Brother to live in.”
Mingxuan, who was quietly reading on the other side of the kang table, looked up when he heard this, a slight smile playing on his lips. He was already ten years old, his height had increased, and he had the handsome features of a young man. He put down his book and said gently, "Zhuzhu is really amazing, she can even build a house now. But the house has to be built steadily, look, it's a little crooked here." He reached out and patiently helped his sister adjust the position of the building blocks.
"Thank you, big brother." Mingzhu looked up at Mingxuan with a sweet smile, revealing a few tiny teeth.
Gu Sheng watched, feeling a little jealous, and leaned over: "Zhuzhu, your second brother will help you build it! The houses built by your second brother are the sturdiest!" He then started to work.
Mingzhu stretched out her little arms to protect her "work," pouting, "No, Second Brother, Second Brother will knock it down!" It turned out that a few days ago, when Gu Sheng was "helping," he accidentally knocked down the blocks she had painstakingly built, and the little girl remembered it clearly.
Gu Sheng awkwardly withdrew his hand and scratched his head. Mingxuan, seeing his younger brother's discomfiture, couldn't help but shake his head and said to Mingzhu, "Zhuzhu, how about your second brother gently helps you get a piece of wood over there? Your second brother knows he was wrong, and will be careful this time."
Mingzhu looked at her eldest brother, then at her second brother who was looking expectantly, hesitated for a moment, and then reluctantly nodded, pointing to a red building block in the distance: "Then... second brother, take that one."
Gu Sheng immediately perked up, carefully picking up the building block with two fingers and gently placing it in the spot Mingzhu had indicated, his movements as delicate as if it were a fragile piece of jade. After placing it, he let out a long sigh of relief and looked at his sister with longing eyes.
Mingzhu looked at the arranged building blocks and seemed quite satisfied. She smiled at Gu Sheng and said, "Second brother, be good."
A sweet, childlike compliment made Gu Sheng beam with joy, and he proudly gestured with his chin towards Mingxuan. Su Wanrou watched this scene, feeling both amused and touched. Although Mingxuan was young, he already possessed the demeanor of an elder brother, knowing how to harmonize the relationship between his younger siblings; Sheng'er, though impulsive, genuinely loved his younger sister; and Zhuzhu was the family's source of joy, spoiled and adorable by her father and brothers, yet not arrogant.
Just then, a maid's greeting came from outside: "The Duke has returned."
The curtain was lifted, and Gu Yangui walked in. He returned home earlier than usual today, having changed out of his court robes and into a dark blue casual suit. A hint of weariness lingered between his brows, but when he saw his children surrounding him on the kang (a heated brick bed) and his wife peacefully enjoying herself, that weariness was instantly replaced by a gentle smile.
"Daddy!" Mingzhu was the first to spot her father. She immediately dropped the building blocks, stretched out her little arms, and wobbled towards Gu Yangui.
Gu Yangui's heart melted. He quickly bent down, scooped his little daughter into his arms, and lifted her high. Mingzhu let out a silvery laugh, not afraid at all, but excitedly kicking her little legs: "Feifei! Daddy, Feifei!"
Gu Yangui then lifted her up a little higher, making his daughter giggle. If his colleagues in the court saw this scene, they would be astonished—the cold-faced Duke of Zhenguo actually had such a doting side.
"Father." Mingxuan and Gu Sheng quickly got off the kang (a heated brick bed) and bowed respectfully.
Gu Yangui carried Mingzhu, walked to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), sat down, placed his youngest daughter on his lap, and looked at Mingxuan: "How were your lessons at the clan school today?"
Mingxuan respectfully replied, "Father, today we studied the chapter 'Duke Zhuang of Zheng defeats Duan at Yan' from the Zuo Zhuan. The teacher taught us that the harm of brothers fighting among themselves is great, and that harmony should be valued above all else."
"Hmm," Gu Yangui nodded, "That's a good point, and we should keep it in mind and put it into practice." As he said this, his gaze seemed to casually sweep over Gu Sheng, who was secretly making a face. Gu Sheng immediately stood up straight and pretended to listen attentively.
"Daddy, look!" Mingzhu pointed to the crooked, blocky house on the kang (a heated brick bed) like she was showing off a treasure. "Zhuzhu built it! It's for Daddy to live in!"
Gu Yangui looked in the direction his daughter was pointing and saw that although the "house" was simple, it was full of childlike charm. His heart softened, and he lowered his head to gently rub his daughter's delicate face with his stubble, making Mingzhu laugh and dodge, saying, "Daddy pricks!"
"Okay, thank you, Zhuzhu, Father." Gu Yangui said with a smile, "This house is really well built."
Su Wanrou handed over a cup of warm tea and said with a smile, "Take a rest. You've been pestered by this little devil as soon as you got back." Although she said that, her eyes were full of happy smiles.
Gu Yangui took the tea and drank a sip, looking at his wife and three children sitting around him. Mingxuan was calm and composed, Gu Sheng was lively, and Mingzhu was charming and innocent; their personalities were different, yet they got along so well. Outside the window, the sun shone brightly, and inside, laughter filled the air. This ordinary family happiness was a perfect scene that he had never dared to dream of before.
He reached out and took Su Wanrou's hand in his. The couple smiled at each other, everything understood without a word.
Gu Sheng, unable to bear the silence, began gesturing about how powerful the giant ant he had seen in the yard that day was; Mingzhu leaned against her father's chest, her little head nodding, looking a little sleepy; Mingxuan listened quietly, occasionally adding a word or two.
Watching this scene, Gu Yangui suddenly felt that none of the court intrigues or border military affairs could compare to the warmth and tranquility of having his children around him and his wife by his side. Power and wealth were fleeting, only this tangible warmth was real and precious.
He gently patted the back of his little daughter in his arms, humming a tuneless folk song in a local dialect that even he himself had forgotten where it came from. To his deep, soothing voice, Mingzhu gradually closed her eyes and fell asleep, her little mouth unconsciously smacking as if she were having a sweet dream.
Mingxuan gestured to the wet nurse to bring a small blanket and gently covered his younger sister with it. Gu Sheng also lowered his voice and, imitating his older brother, made a "shh" gesture.
The setting sun cast long, intertwined shadows of the family, inseparable. A sense of peace and happiness filled the air; nothing could be more serene and beautiful. This ordinary day was the most touching scene in the prosperous Chang'an.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com