Beneath the Surface Chapter 61

When Gu Fengjian returned after half a shichen¹ later, Song Chuzhao had completely blended into the Imperial Insignia Guards’ ranks, playing with reckless abandon.

He stood at the entrance for a while, but saw no one. He did, however, hear cheers rising and falling from within, and knew that Song Chuzhao had forgotten the time. Out of curiosity, he did not have the gatekeeper call her out, but instead had him inform Fu Changjun and then lead him inside to observe.

Gu Fengjian followed behind the soldier, stepping into the Imperial Insignia Guards’ training ground for the first time. Before he reached the center of the crowd, he saw Song Chuzhao riding a horse from afar. A long whip was wrapped around her hand, and her wide sleeves were blown by the wind, billowing high in the air. Her face was covered in sweat, a testament to her unrestrained joy.

Not only Song Chuzhao, but the surrounding soldiers were also engrossed in the activity. They surrounded the archery range in the center, shouting boisterously. The noise was too chaotic to make out what they were yelling, but judging by the expressions of these valiant men, it was clear they were deeply engaged, likely wishing they could take Song Chuzhao’s place and compete with her.

Fu Changjun sat on the platform, caught sight of Gu Fengjian in his scholar’s robes, nodded at him, and gestured for him to wait a moment. He waited until Song Chuzhao won the round before standing up to call a halt, signaling for everyone to disperse.

Amidst the cheers, Song Chuzhao followed the gaze of the crowd to find Gu Fengjian, finally remembering their appointment. She quickly dismounted, flicked her whip, and rushed towards Fifth Son Gu.

“Sorry. Made you wait, didn’t I?” Song Chuzhao said. “I remembered at first, but then I forgot.”

Gu Fengjian said, “It’s fine. You’re all sweaty. Put on your outer robe quickly, or you’ll catch a chill.”

Song Chuzhao went to the side, grabbed her own cloak, wrapped it around herself, and smiled at Gu Fengjian.

“Let’s go!“carpreads.pages.dev

She turned and waved to Fu Changjun. He didn’t respond, but a group of burly men waved their arms like waves of grain, urging her to come back and play again sometime.

Song Chuzhao laughed and agreed.

After Song Chuzhao and Gu Fengjian left, the smile remained on her face, and her steps were light and carefree.

Gu Fengjian heard her humming an unknown tune and laughed, “So happy today?”

Song Chuzhao replied loudly, “Yes!”

General Song was a strict disciplinarian when it came to his subordinates. He knew his own status was different, so he rarely interfered when He Wan disciplined Song Chuzhao. However, he had grown up in the capital, raised by Old Madam Song, and even though he had a rebellious streak, his views on raising children were inevitably influenced by her.

He Wan had allowed Song Chuzhao to go to the military camp and mingle with a bunch of men, something he didn’t entirely approve of, but he didn’t stop her because He Wan insisted.

But if he were to accompany Song Chuzhao in her wild abandon, that was absolutely out of the question. Not stopping her was already a great act of tolerance.

But today, Fu Changjun had joined her in her revelry, even calling his soldiers to join in the fun. These men looked at her with ordinary eyes and treated her with acceptance, which was exactly what Song Chuzhao craved.

Even though Fu Changjun didn’t know she was his daughter, he was still very kind to her.

“You wouldn’t believe it, I beat so many people today!” Song Chuzhao exclaimed, waving her arms. “At first, they said they’d teach me a lesson, but one after another, they couldn’t beat me. Then they started teasing their own brothers, not holding back a single word. They’re so funny, their words are funny, and they can lose gracefully, no drama! It’s so refreshing to play with them!”

Gu Fengjian said, “General Fu is open-minded and upright, and the Imperial Insignia Guards he commands are naturally the same. Since your personalities are compatible and you enjoy it so much, you can come here often.”

“Uncle Fu said if I lose too many times, I can’t come next time.” Song Chuzhao said, confused. “What counts as too many? I have lost a couple of times, bad luck happens.”

Gu Fengjian laughed, “Even if you lose, General Fu will let you in. Since he indulged you today, he’ll have to indulge you in the future.”

Song Chuzhao: “How can there be such reasoning!”

Gu Fengjian: “Though I don’t know why, but since he was willing to give you a long spear, he certainly won’t stop you from indulging in such a small hobby.”

Song Chuzhao sighed when he mentioned that.

Gu Fengjian asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Song Chuzhao’s pace slowed. “I was just thinking, if I go often, will Uncle Fu dislike me? Isn’t there a saying, ‘far away, fragrant; close by, smelly’? Maybe he’s just giving me face today because of my mother. Face is like a loan, you can borrow it too many times and it’ll be gone.”

Gu Fengjian was surprised, “Why would he dislike you? Why do you think it’s because of your mother’s face?”

Song Chuzhao said dejectedly, “Because I’m a bit of a troublemaker…”

Gu Fengjian couldn’t help but chuckle, bursting into laughter.

Song Chuzhao stopped in her tracks, huffing, “Don’t laugh! If you keep this up, I won’t talk to you anymore!”

Gu Fengjian turned back and said, “You know you’re being mischievous, right?”

Song Chuzhao mumbled, “What else can I do? Everything I like to do, you guys call it being mischievous.”

Gu Fengjian became more serious and said, “It’s true, you can’t help it. It’s just how you are. Maybe your father or your mother was even more mischievous when they were young, which is why you’re like this now.”

Song Chuzhao was dubious, “Really? Is that a believable explanation?”

Gu Fengjian said, “If you don’t believe me, you can ask them next time. General Fu has known your mother since they were children, he might know too.”

Song Chuzhao tilted her head and looked at him for a moment, then slyly laughed, refusing to be tricked, “You want me to go find him, don’t you? You even came up with a reason. Fifth Son Gu, you’re so clever.”

Gu Fengjian looked at her with tenderness and said, “Do whatever you want to do. See whoever you want to see. Don’t worry about what others think.”

In his heart, he silently added, it’s precisely because they care too much about what others think that Fu Changjun and He Wan have been dragging their feet until now, unable to be together.

Song Chuzhao sneezed.

Gu Fengjian said, “Let’s go quickly. Go back and change your clothes.”

Song Chuzhao: “Okay.”

Gu Fengjian walked ahead, leaving behind a trail of shallow footprints. A row of smaller footprints, half a meter apart, were imprinted beside his.

Song Chuzhao walked for a while with her head down, then silently stepped back two steps, moved behind him, and used her feet to step on the traces he had left, one by one.

She noticed that Gu Fengjian’s strides were slower and wider than hers.

She stepped on the flattened footprints, looking down at the road. She saw white snowflakes clinging to Gu Fengjian’s black shoes, a patch of white at the front. She also saw the vast expanse of white road stretching towards an invisible horizon.

She looked back.

They had only walked out one path, as if this way they could reach the same destination, without ever being separated.

The road was extremely quiet.

Gu Fengjian wanted to grab the person beside him, but the right side was empty. He continued to lead the way for a while, but finally stopped and turned back to look for Song Chuzhao.

Gu Fengjian had assumed that Song Chuzhao had fallen behind, but when he stopped, he realized she was right behind him, and with a sway, she almost bumped into him.

Song Chuzhao stopped abruptly, as if she was doing something fun, and when she realized he had noticed, she tilted her head and smiled at him.

The wind melted the snow.

Gu Fengjian smiled too. He stretched out his hand and asked, “Are you cold?”

Song Chuzhao shook her head, “No! I’m sweating from all the fun I’m having!”

Gu Fengjian hinted, “My hands are cold.”

Song Chuzhao hesitated for a moment, then said shyly, “That wouldn’t be right, would it?”

Gu Fengjian still held out his hand, insisting, “I want to hold your hand.”

Song Chuzhao hesitated for a moment, then placed her hand in his.

Gu Fengjian’s hand was distinctly warm, even slightly damp. Her own hand, however, had been numb from holding the reins, losing all feeling. Her palm was also chafed, and his grip sent a burning pain through it.

Gu Fengjian took her hand and tucked it into his sleeve, continuing to lead her forward.

Two sets of footprints appeared on the ground again, only this time they were closer together.

Gu Fengjian called softly, “Zhaozhao.”

“You call me that way, it’s like I’m your junior,” Song Chuzhao said. “Only my elders call me that.”

Gu Fengjian replied, “When I call you that, it feels like you’re someone close to me.”

Song Chuzhao didn’t insist, saying, “Oh. Then, as you wish.”

After a moment, Song Chuzhao tentatively asked, “Jianjian?”

Gu Fengjian chuckled, “My courtesy name is Qianpei. Didn’t you call me Fifth Brother earlier?”

Song Chuzhao: “…” That “cheap Fifth Brother” was best forgotten.

Hand in hand, they walked through the vast expanse of snow, arriving at the entrance of the He Mansion.

Song Chuzhao found that the journey seemed shorter than the way there, so much so that when she saw the stone statues adorned with red silk at the entrance, she hadn’t realized she was already home.

They stood before the vermilion gate, looking at each other. A young sprout had pushed its way out from a crack in the stone, swaying in the winter wind.

Gu Fengjian released Song Chuzhao’s hand, gazing deeply into her eyes, and said, “Go in.”

Song Chuzhao instantly felt a chill run through her body. She ran up the steps, preparing to knock on the door, but turned back before entering, saying, “It’s not on the way back to the Duke Gu Mansion, you don’t have to send me back, I won’t get lost.”

Gu Fengjian remained where he was, his features softened. “I want to send you. Wherever you go in the future, I’ll send you.”

Song Chuzhao said, “There’s no need, I can go anywhere myself.”

Gu Fengjian said, “I just hope that one day, I won’t have to send you to the door like this, and then part ways with you.”

Song Chuzhao paused, unsure what to say to him. She waved her hand and then turned to go inside.