178 – Reunion

“Exactly.” Qin Ruiqi nodded calmly and introduced them, “This is my Dad and this is my Old Dad.”

Lei Ruilin knew that his Gege didn’t like to talk, so he said, “Dad, Old Dad. This is my and Gege’s friend Feng You, and these are our classmates…”

From his look, Qin Mian could basically tell which of the five students had a better relationship and a general relationship with his sons. Without exception, he smiled back at them and then took off the food box in the saddle and opened the lid.

“Ruiqi and Ruilin, invite your friends to have a snack.”

Lei Tie took off the schoolbags on the back of his two sons and held them in his hands easily.

“You have a gourmet’s luck. My Dad’s snacks are very delicious.” Lei Ruilin took out a bamboo tube from the food box and held it out to Feng You and the others.

Feng You and the others didn’t understand. He didn’t seem to invite them to drink.

Lei Ruilin showed some helpless look on his face and reminded them, “Wash your hands.”

Feng You and the others understood and inwardly thought that Qin Ruiqi and Lei Ruilin’s Dad was very attentive. They stretched out their hands and let Lei Ruilin wash their hands.

After they washed their hands, they said thanks and took a piece of cake from the plate. Once they took a bite, their eyes brightened – Lei Ruilin spoke the truth.

The snacks were shared among the seven children. Except for Qin Ruiqi and Lei Ruilin, the rest of the five people had faces of wanting more.

After Qin Ruiqi and Lei Ruilin said farewell to their friends, Qin Mian and Lei Tie carried them to their horses.

Qin Mian looked back in the direction of Chen Mufeng. When Qin Mian called out to Qin Ruiqi and Lei Ruilin, Chen Mufeng discovered him and Lei Tie. He happened to see a 6~7 years old little boy standing beside Chen Mufeng who didn’t look like him.

The two men’s eyes bumped into each other. Slightly embarrassed, Chen Mufeng smiled at Qin Mian smile, his right hand uneasily moved away from the little boy’s shoulder.

Qin Mian’s eyes were full of teasing as he raised an eyebrow at Chen Mufeng.

Chen Mufeng helplessly shook his hands at Qin Mian and then held the little boy again.

Qin Mian and Lei Tie nodded to him and rode away.

On the way, Qin Mian suddenly noticed the fluctuation of vital spirit in the distance. He was surprised. His first reaction was: Are there any other cultivators in the Capital besides them? However, it was impossible. Back then, A-Tie’s master said that he just fell into this space by accident. There were no other cultivators in this space except him.

“A-Tie?”

A bit of shock revealed from within Lei Tie’s eyes and he also thought of going over quick, “Go have a look.”

Just then, a familiar wolf’s roar came from the distance.

Qin Mian and Lei Tie were shocked again and looked at each other in surprise and bewilderment.

“Could it be White Spot and Golden Fur?” Qin Mian cried out involuntarily.

Qin Ruiqi and Lei Ruilin’s eyes turned round.

Lei Ruilin anxiously urged, “Dad, let’s go and have a look. It must be White Spot and Golden Fur!”

Qin Mian had suspected it too. It was thousands of li from Running Water Town to the Capital. Even if White Spot and Golden Fur wanted to find them, could they get to the Capital smoothly?

He picked up Lei Ruilin, abandoned his horse, and flew away, “A-Tie, I’ll have a look first!”

Lei Tie took out a spindle of broken silver from his inner pocket and handed it to a passer-by, “Excuse me, send the horses to the State Defender Duke Establishment.”

Before the passer-by could speak, he saw that the man with cold temperament was flying up as lithe as a swallow, the tip of his toe touched the roof beside the street, and soon he could not be seen.

With a bitter face, Yuan Anshi kept White Spot and Golden Fur behind him and looked awkwardly at Liu Tiande, the Commander of the Imperial Guard.

“Liu-daren, both the wolf and the bear have masters. You see…”

Liu Tiande wore a merciless face as he spoke with stern dutifulness, “Yuan-daren, since this officer is responsible for the safety of the Capital, this officer ought to be responsible for the people in the Capital. Don’t make it hard for this officer. Onward, kill them!”

His subordinates immediately raised their sabers and cautiously surrounded White Spot and Golden Fur.

Hiding in the distance, the onlookers yelled, “Kill them!”

“That’s right! Such ferocious beast can’t be kept alive!”

……

Yuan Anshi went up to Liu Tiande and reminded him in a low voice, “Liu-daren, they are most likely from the State Defender Duke Establishment.”

Liu Tiande’s eyes flashed a touch of gloomy and inexplicable mood. Seamlessly, he passed a meaningful glance to one of his subordinates.

That subordinate yelled, “So what if it’s from the State Defender Duke Establishment? Will State Defender Duke not pay attention to people’s lives? Brothers, onward!”

White Spot opened its mouth and bared its teeth to them angrily. All of a sudden, it turned around and howled at the distant place, “AWOO—”

Golden Fur also turned and looked in the same direction. It excitedly jumped in place and its mouth made a strange puffing sound.

The crowd looked over in puzzlement, only to hear a childish voice full of excitement, “White Spot—Golden Fur—”

Qin Mian floated in the air and landed just between Liu Tiande and White Spot. Just now, he heard what Liu Tiande and his subordinates said clearly.

Lei Tie and Qin Ruiqi were only a step behind. Standing beside Qin Mian, Lei Tie dully glanced at Liu Tiande.

Liu Tiande’s movement paused.

Qin Mian saluted Liu Tiande with cupped hands. “Daren overstated. Our family has kept this wolf and this bear for almost eight years – they have never hurt anyone. Please rest assured.”

“Greetings, State Defender Duke and Lady of the State Defender Duke.” After saluting Qin Mian and Lei Tie, Liu Tiande said in embarrassment, “This officer naturally believes what Lady of the State Defender Duke said, but wolves and bears are fierce beasts. Them staying in the Capital will only cause people’s panic. State Defender Duke, you see this?”

He easily incited the people to yell that either kill White Spot and Golden Fur or drive them out of the Capital.

Lei Tie put Qin Ruiqi down and pressed him on the shoulder.

Qin Ruiqi glanced at Liu Tiande and held Lei Ruilin’s hand. When they looked at each other, they had a tacit understanding. Qin Ruiqi went to White Spot and beckoned it. White Spot immediately squatted down and let him ride on it back.

Lei Ruilin’s eyes turned for a bout. He pointed to Golden Fur and ordered, “Golden Fur, sit down.”

Golden Fur naïvely complied.

“Turn a somersault… Stand up… Roll on the ground… Jump… Lie down…”

Liu Tiande, his subordinates, and the common people were stunned to see that Golden Fur did exactly what Lei Ruilin said – they stared openmouthed. Some of the little kids were so amused they clapped their hands and giggled.

Lei Ruilin climbed on Golden Fur’s back, grabbed its fur, and played with it. He smiled sweetly at the onlookers, “Uncles and aunts, Golden Fur is very obedient and never hurt people at will.”

Lei Tie looked directly at Liu Tiande, “This officer came to the Capital without bringing them. Obviously, they came to the Capital by themselves to find their masters. This officer believes they will not hurt people at will. If Liu-daren is not at ease, do go investigate. If they did hurt people, this officer will take responsibility.”

The people watched the two children playing while on White Spot and Golden Fur’s bodies and suddenly changed their minds.

“This wolf and bear are obviously domesticated – they won’t hurt people.”

“They must have suffered a lot on the way. They are as loyal as our dogs. It’s very touching.”

……

With a calm face, Liu Tiande cupped his hands, “Many thanks for State Defender Duke’s consideration. We’re going.”

Since White Spot and Golden Fur had come, the Qin Mian family could not send them away. Qin Ruiqi and Lei Ruilin intended to make the people less afraid of White Spot and Golden Fur. They each sat on the beast’s back and let White Spot and Golden Fur carry them.

“Golden Fur…” Lei Ruilin lay on Golden Fur and embraced him. He was greatly distressed at the thought that it and White Spot had traveled thousands of li to the Capital to find them.

Although Qin Ruiqi didn’t speak, his right hand caressed White Spot’s back.

Qin Mian had long since noticed the difficulties of White Spot and Golden Fur. His heart ached for them and he was also very moved. He kneaded Golden Fur’s big head. Golden Fur rubbed its big head against him affectionately.

Lei Tie was also quite moved in his heart and patted White Spot on its neck with appreciation. White Spot brushed his leg with its tail as a greeting. When it arrived in front of Yuan Anshi, it gave a low howl to Qin Mian and Lei Tie.

Qin Mian still remembered Yuan Anshi, “Yuan-daren, hope that you’re well? Many thanks for helping White Spot and Golden Fur.”

Yuan Anshi said with a smile, “Greetings, Lady of the State Defender Duke. It’s only a little effort. In fact, it’s due to White Spot’s intelligence – it still remembers the location of my (polite) home.”

After that, he turned to Lei Tie, “Greetings, State Defender Duke.”

“No need to be polite,” said Lei Tie.

Qin Mian said, “I’ll go to your (honorific) home another day to thank Yuan-daren personally.”

Yuan Anshi was happy and hastily said, “I don’t deserve it.”

Qin Mian’s family of four, together with a wolf and a bear, went home unhurriedly, followed by a large group of people.

Outside the crowd, a man in his early thirties followed Qin Mian’s family, looking as if he was absorbed in thoughts. The man was dressed in a purple qipao robe¹, full of noble air, followed by two attendants.

“My Lord, something’s wrong?” One of the attendants asked cautiously. This master lord was the current empress’s younger brother, the Maternal Uncle of the State² Zhangsun He. He was the empress’s only younger brother of the same parents and thus deeply loved by the empress. He was also the emperor’s favorite because he was extremely versatile in all kinds of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. He could be said to be the most popular person in the Imperial City. Could such a person be served carelessly?

Zhangsun He said casually, “It’s nothing. I just thought two men were familiar and seemed to have met them somewhere. Go to Dongyang Academy.”

“Yes.”

When Qin Mian’s family of four returned to the State Defender Duke Establishment, the two horses had been sent back.

Qin Mian ordered the servants to prepare food and hot water for White Spot and Golden Fur. When White Spot and Golden Fur had eaten and drank enough, the large quantity of hot water was done. The family of four bathed White Spot and Golden Fur together.

White Spot and Golden Fur lay obediently, letting them scrub their bodies. Qin Ruiqi and Lei Ruilin talked to them from time to time, as if they were talking to people normally. White Spot and Golden Fur were either nodding or making a few sounds occasionally. Qin Mian had already sent the others away, but neither was he afraid that anyone would find something unusual.

“Dad, we need to prepare a room for White Spot and Golden Fur,” said Lei Ruilin as he brushed White Spot’s fur.

Qin Mian said, “Don’t worry, I’ve already sent people to prepare. Ruilin, careful. Don’t get your clothes wet.”

“Dad, is their room in the main courtyard?” asked Qin Ruiqi.

Qin Mian said, “Yes, next door to your and Ruilin’s room.”

Seeing that Qin Ruiqi’s rolled-up sleeves were loosened and wet for the most part, Lei Tie bent down and rolled them up for him again.

The family was busy when Steward Fu came over.

“Reporting, my Lord. People from the Palace has come.”

Qin Mian and Lei Tie stood up and saw a eunuch standing beside Steward Fu.

The junior eunuch came forward and saluted them respectfully. “Greetings, State Defender Duke and Lady of the State Defender Duke. This servant came to pass on His Majesty’s verbal instruction.”

Lei Tie asked, “What is His Majesty’s instruction?”

The junior eunuch said, “Tomorrow is the rest day of Dongyang Academy. His Majesty said that the two young gongzis have not been in the Palace to see him for a long time. Also, His Majesty wants to see the two pets of the State Defender Duke establishment.”

Lei Tie nodded as he said, “Report to His Majesty on behalf of this officer: [we] will enter the Palace tomorrow to pay respect.”

“Yes. The servant will take his leave.”

Qin Mian hinted at Steward Fu with his eyes. Steward Fu understood and gave the eunuch a good reward and sent him away.

Qin Ruiqi asked, “Old Dad, are Didi and I going to the Palace tomorrow to see Uncle Emperor?”

“En.” Lei Tie asked, “Do you want to see the emperor again?”

Qin Ruiqi nodded slightly, “The emperor is still not bad.”

Qin Mian laughed to himself. The word “still” was subtle.

Lei Ruilin asked him, “Last time, Uncle Emperor invited us to eat snacks. Gege and I also want to give some to Uncle Emperor.”

“Sure,” Qin Mian said, “I’ll teach you after washing White Spot and Golden Fur.”

Footnotes