The capital was bustling with prosperity, and there were endless amusements to be found every day. But Little Ji could only play at home. His daddy had been busy with military affairs lately, while his little dad was occupied with setting up an apothecary, so neither of them had any free time to take him out.
Besides, his second grandpa had said that the streets outside were not very safe, and that there were many bad people who specialized in stealing children. Little Ji had overheard him saying it at the gate, and after that, he didn’t dare ask to go out anymore.
Day after day, Little Ji stayed in the residence, eating sweet rice cakes, flaky pastries, and meat-stuffed flatbreads. In the garden, he fed the red and yellow koi. Not only did he grow rounder from all that food, but the koi in the pond grew plumper by the day as well.
He had already explored every corner of the General’s Estate and the Song residence, and the novelty had long since worn off. Even lying in the rocking chair in the pavilion, watching large butterflies flutter past him while a green-feathered, red-beaked parrot hopped about overhead, could no longer stir his interest.
Little Ji began to miss Little Shu terribly.
With a whoosh, he slid down from the chair and ran back to the courtyard on his short, chubby legs. He crossed the threshold and darted into the apothecary, then threw his arms around Song Fengsui’s leg.
“Little Dad, where does Little Brother live? I want to go find him!”
Song Fengsui, who was sorting medicinal herbs over the desk, patted the little dumpling, who was as plump as a lump of risen dough.
“If Little Brother misses you, he’ll come here himself. There’s no need for you to go bother him at home.”
“I wouldn’t!”
Little Ji huffed.
Song Fengsui merely raised his brows and did not argue with him.
When he saw that Little Dad was ignoring him, Little Ji buried his head against Song Fengsui’s knees again, wriggling and nudging against him.
“Little Brother hasn’t come for so long. Could it be that he doesn’t know where our home is?”
As he said this, his spirits drooped.
“Or maybe Little Brother doesn’t miss me.”
Hearing that, Song Fengsui set aside what he was doing and lifted the round little boy into his arms.
“Everyone has their own things to do. Even children are the same.”
“If you really miss Little Brother, then when Daddy comes home, ask him to find out what Little Brother has been up to, all right?”
Nestled in Little Dad’s arms, Little Ji nodded.
Although they had agreed to wait until Daddy came home, he still refused to get down. Clinging tightly to Little Dad’s arm, he chattered and wheedled in his embrace.
Song Fengsui was pestered so thoroughly that he could no longer sort the medicinal herbs. In the end, he had no choice but to hold Little Ji while flipping through a children’s book and telling him two stories before the little one finally settled down.
That afternoon, Little Ji went to wait in front of the residence’s gate for Daddy to return from work. Even when the gatekeeper called for him to go inside and sit down, he refused. After standing until his legs grew tired, he finally accepted the little stool his wet nurse brought him and sat by the gate.
Then, the moment he heard the sound of horse hooves, he ran out joyfully.
Duan Yan caught the chubby little boy who came flying at him and kissed him on the cheek.
“Well, what a coincidence. Did you know Daddy had good news to tell you?”
Little Ji hurriedly asked what it was, and Daddy told him that the young heir would be coming to the General’s Estate as a guest the following day.
He cheered and demanded that Duan Yan put him down, then ran two happy circles around him.
Early the next morning, a fine drizzle fell. Little Ji was eating breakfast indoors, but he kept glancing out the window.
He worried that if it rained, Brother Shu might not come out. Yet he also worried that if Brother Shu did go out, he might slip and fall on the wet ground. He was so worried that he had barely eaten two bites of his favorite milk cakes.
By around midmorning, an exceptionally spacious and luxurious carriage stopped outside the general’s residence. More than ten attendants escorted a small figure through the gates.
Little Ji, who had not seen Little Shu for so long, immediately widened his eyes.
Little Shu wore a soft yellow silk robe with a round collar, patterned with auspicious clouds and ingots. The cuffs and front edges were trimmed with fine rabbit fur, making him look adorably fluffy.
A small white-jade gourd pendant hung at his waist, gently swaying with each step. Around his neck was a gold-inlaid jade collar, gleaming with precious light.
Little Ji scampered up to him. There was not the slightest awkwardness between them despite how long it had been since they last met; if anything, they seemed even closer than before. He threw his arms around Little Shu and buried his head against him. “Brother, you’re so pretty!”
The little chubby boy barreled into him so solidly that Little Shu took half a step back.
The serving nannies below were startled. Good heavens—how could he throw himself at the young heir like that? They hurried forward, intending to pull Little Ji away from Little Shu, afraid that the young heir might be angered.
Yet the young heir, who was usually quiet in the palace and never interacted with the other children, not only showed no impatience, but unexpectedly lifted a hand and pinched the child’s ear. “You’ve gotten fatter again.”
“Mhm.”
Little Ji patted his round, bulging belly. “There’s so much delicious food at home. I can never get enough every day!”
The cool restraint in Little Shu’s brows softened slightly, and the fleeting hint of a smile could be seen.
Little Ji took Little Shu’s hand and happily trotted into the room.
He arranged for his brother to sit on the daybed, then ran off on his short little legs to fetch a food box and urged Little Shu to open it.
When the lid was lifted, Little Shu saw several small, perfectly round orange persimmons inside.
Little Shu looked at smiling Little Ji, then picked one up and tasted it.
It was not astringent. It was sweet.
The two of them lay sprawled on the daybed together, eating persimmons.
Little Ji picked one up and held it in his hand, blinking as he asked, “Why is Brother Shu a little persimmon?”
“Why not a little grape, a little peach, or a little cherry?”
Little Shu did not know how to answer that question.
After thinking for a moment, he said, “It’s like how a chick can only be a chick. It can’t be a duckling or a piglet.”
Little Ji was still rather confused, but vaguely felt that this made sense.
He rested his chubby chin on a little tiger pillow and reached out to touch Little Shu’s thick, soft eyelashes—not long and curled like a little girl’s—then touched the tip of his high, pert nose.
Little Shu found the small hand’s touch rather ticklish, but he did not dodge away. Instead, he reached out and pinched Little Ji’s plump cheeks.
“Little Dad says your home is in the palace, Brother. It’s very big—bigger even than Grandfather’s garden. There are lots of people, and children have to be very well-behaved and learn lots of things. Little Dad says I’m still too young to go to the palace to see you.
“Is that why it took you so long to come see me, Brother? Because you were learning so many things?”
Little Shu gave a soft hum. “I’ve learned a lot of palace etiquette, and I’ve already started learning to read.”
“Your name is Duan Ji. I know those two characters.”
Little Ji lifted his small face. “Then I want to learn to read too. I’ll start with Brother Shu’s name.”
The corners of Little Shu’s lips lifted faintly. “You’re still very young. There’s no need to learn so soon.
“Once you truly begin your studies, it will be hard work.”
Little Ji said, “I’m not afraid of hard work!”
The rain outside grew heavier, pattering as it slid from the leaves and flowers in the garden.
The nannies and palace attendants who had come from the palace had been settled in the adjoining sitting room, where tea and pastries had been provided for them. It was a rare chance to enjoy such an easy assignment.
Song Fengsui brought the two children bowls of stewed milk with peach resin and Chinese yam.
Little Ji fed a spoonful to Little Shu, then ate one himself before giving another spoonful to Little Shu.
The two little boys chatted from time to time and sat quietly at others, perfectly at ease with each other.
Little Ji dangled his feet as he watched the rain beat against the broad banana leaves outside.
He had once hated rainy days like this most of all. But now that Brother Shu was here, even being cooped up indoors on a rainy day was wonderful.
“Brother Shu, have one more bite.”
