Seeking Forgiveness with Thorns on One's Back

The fifth day of the tenth month, thirteenth year of Guangde. Day off.

Early that morning, Sun Shaozong went to the stables and carefully selected a gentle gelding. He had an extra cotton pad placed on its back, then personally led it by the reins in a roundabout route back home.

"Big horse! Ride the big horse!"

The moment he entered the courtyard, he saw his son hopping and shouting wildly beneath the covered walkway. If not for the nursemaid holding him back with all her strength, the boy would have already charged over on his short little legs.

As for his daughter, though her eyes were wide and round, she kept shrinking into Qingwen's arms.

Sun Shaozong swung himself onto the horse and rode up to his son. He signaled for the nursemaid to lift the boy, then scooped the little monkey up and settled him securely before him.

"Giddyup, giddyup! Ride the big horse, ride the big horse!"

Yet the boy himself refused to sit still. He flailed his arms and legs and tugged at the horse's mane, making Ruan Rong's heart leap into her throat. She kept shouting for him to get down.

"With his father here, what are you afraid of?"

Sun Shaozong paid her no mind. He gave his son a length of rein to hold so he would stop pulling at the mane, then lightly nudged the horse's flank and turned its bit, letting it clip-clop around the courtyard.

Father and son made two laps around the yard. Seeing that his daughter had been teased into forgetting her fear, he finally urged the horse forward and had Qingwen place Nannan on its back as well.

The little girl was placed between them. At first, she clutched tightly to her brother, but when Sun Chengyi's