Chapter 13

!

Now that everyone had arrived, Shen Lantang had the servants bring in breakfast. It was more plentiful than usual, with twice the usual amount to account for Xie Jin's appetite.

Once seated, Shen Lantang began serving Xie Jin as though she had done it for years. She placed a steamed bun and a pastry from the dishes nearest her into his bowl. Xie Jin sat motionless at the table until food began to pile up in front of him. Then he said:

"We're family. There's no need for such formalities. Eat something yourself."

"All right."

Shen Lantang drew back her chopsticks, but instead of serving herself, she turned and set a cup of milk in front of Xie Hongwen. "Hongwen should drink plenty of milk too," she said gently. "Then you'll grow up strong and healthy, just like your father."

At "just like your father," Xie Hongwen's eyes widened. He picked up the cup in his chubby hands, tipped his head back, and gulped down the milk.

Watching this scene of a loving mother and devoted son, Xie Jin nodded with satisfaction.

After breakfast, a servant carried Xie Hongwen away while several others cleared the table. For a moment, only Xie Jin and Shen Lantang remained in the room. Looking at his new wife, Xie Jin recalled what his mother had told him before the wedding. After a pause, he spoke in a rare gentle tone:

"I'll be home for the next two days. If there's anywhere you'd like to go, I'll take you."

Shen Lantang wanted to say that there was really no need. But most truths were inconvenient to say aloud. Her eyes flickered, and when she spoke, her voice held a young woman's brightness alongside the composure of the lady of the house:

"Hongwen's rocking horse is finished. He's been wanting to play with his father. You're home so rarely; you ought to grant him that wish."

She raised her voice toward the courtyard. "Hongwen, do you want your father to play with you on the rocking horse?"

A clear little voice immediately called back from outside, "Yes!"

Playing with one's child was a proper family duty. Even the emperor himself would have to approve. Perhaps Xie Jin was already feeling grateful for Shen Lantang's selfless thoughtfulness.

Xie Hongwen's rocking horse was the nonmechanical version of the little ride-on toys that moved and sang for children nowadays. It could only rock back and forth by hand, but for a child his age, it was already an extraordinary toy.

It was rare for Xie Hongwen to have both parents beside him. One moment his father rocked the horse, and the next his "mother" did. The joy of playing, together with the comfort of having them both there, made him laugh. His innocent laughter rang through the courtyard, giving the scene, for a while, the warmth of a happy family.

The morning sun was still mild enough for Xie Hongwen to play in the courtyard. Around ten, everyone returned indoors. With Xie Jin home for once, they decided to eat out. He had originally wanted to go alone with Shen Lantang, but Xie Hongwen clung to his trouser leg and refused to let go. Shen Lantang spoke up for bringing the boy along, so their party gained another member.

Xie Jin warned his son, "Don't start fussing that you want a nap right after lunch."

"I won't!" Xie Hongwen declared, patting his chest.

Xie Jin had the nursemaid dress Xie Hongwen and apply ointment to protect him from the sun. Only after every precaution was in place did they set out. For all the talk of "just the two of us" and then "one more," they left as a bustling crowd.

Xie Jin had come alone, but Shen Lantang brought both her maids, Lan Xin and Baozhu. One fastened her veiled hat; the other carried her water and purse. Young ladies and gentlemen from respectable families did not pay for things themselves. How could anything as vulgar as money pass through their hands?

Besides carrying things, the two maids might also have to hold a parasol and fan her if the sun grew too fierce.

Xie Hongwen brought even more people. His usual nursemaid and two maids all came along. When he was younger, he had even needed to bring both his wet nurses.

The carriage stopped at a busy market street, and they got out. Xie Jin held Xie Hongwen in one arm and offered his other hand to help Shen Lantang down. The three then wandered along the street, looking like an ordinary family of three.

The Xie Family raised Xie Hongwen with discipline but not harshness. He knew his manners, yet still had a child's innocent heart. Along the way, he pestered Xie Jin into buying him all sorts of snacks, most of which ended up in the stomachs of the servants behind them. Shen Lantang was not fond of such cloying treats and ate little.

They first ate at a well-known restaurant, then went to a nearby Teahouse to hear a storyteller perform. Xie Hongwen had been full of energy through the earlier outings, but after lunch, his eyelids began to droop. By the time they reached the Teahouse, he fell peacefully asleep to the rise and fall of the storyteller's voice.

Shen Lantang glanced at the child in Xie Jin's arms and murmured, "Husband..."

Xie Jin looked toward the nursemaid at the next table, and she came over at once.

As he handed her the child, he said, "Take the young master to the inn next door to rest. Let us know when he wakes."

"Yes."

The nursemaid carefully took Xie Hongwen and hurried out with the two maids.

After the child had been carried away, Shen Lantang looked up and met Xie Jin's gaze.

If this were modern times, a newlywed couple who had not seen each other for half a month might already be heading hand in hand to a hotel now that the child was gone. But people in ancient times did not do that. What respectable married couple would rent a room for that? Only disreputable people would do it away from home!

Pah. If you don't even dare do it at home, what kind of proper relationship is that? That was probably how the ancients saw it.

So Shen Lantang calmly looked away, calmly sipped her tea, and calmly listened to the storyteller. Sure enough, Xie Jin made no move after that. The two quietly enjoyed a tale that was popular at the time.

Xie Hongwen did not wake until an hour later, by which time Shen Lantang's story had ended. It was already past the midpoint of the yin hour, around four o'clock, and evening would soon arrive.

Zhaojing had a night market, but it was mostly frequented by wealthy single people or scholars gathering their friends to recite poetry and make merry. Neither was part of Xie Jin's usual life. He soon took the whole family back to the Xie Family home.

After a day out, Shen Lantang felt sticky all over. She had the servants prepare hot water and washed up, finally feeling alive again. When she came out into the courtyard, she saw Xie Jin practicing martial arts.

Rankings

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Time Travel and Rebirth Romance

Devoted Love

Jiang Ciyu

Mind Reading

Salty Fish