Both of them were very busy in the following two days. They’d taken merely a single day off, but state affairs, palace chores and civic issues had all piled up, which would take Yuwen Tong and Ling Zhang a very long time to attend to.
Two days later, Ling Zhang found Ling Maomao and Ji Xiaocong who were having a blast, marched them back to the house and had them bathe and change, preparing to take them out of the palace and back to the Ling Mansion.
Before leaving, Ling Zhang was very surprised to see that Ling Maomao looked a bit down. During the last two days Ling Maomao had had so much fun with Ji Xiaocong that he’d almost forgotten where his home was. How come he suddenly became so dispirited? Worrying that he didn’t feel well, Ling Zhang, when helping him change clothes, asked him what was going on.
“Father is going to Shengzhou to take office, and Cong is leaving as well,” said Ling Maomao, looking dejected.
Ling Zhaowen was a strict father and the very sight of him struck fear into Ling Maomao’s heart, but now, when the moment of parting neared, the little boy was the most upset one in the family.
Although Ji Xiaocong was Ling Maomao’s junior by several years, he was intellectually precocious and adorable-looking, so Ling Maomao really liked him very much and saw him as his own little brother. Judging from how close the two little boys had been recently, they had, without doubt, been getting along very well. It really saddened Ling Maomao very much to know that he and Ji Xiaocong were about to part from each other.
Ling Zhang knew how it felt to be in that kind of situation. Although he could offer Ling Maomao some words of comfort, the boy still needed to experience by himself how life was like.
“Your father is going there to work, and you’ll be able to see him in half a year. During his absence, you need to take good care of your mother for him. You’re a man now, and this is what a man should do. You won’t let your father down, right?”
Ling Zhang didn’t want to comfort Ling Maomao too much or coax him as though he were still a three-year-old kid. Ling Maomao had become much more sensible after coming to the capital city, and he might’ve become more silent if he hadn’t had Ji Xiaocong as his playmate. Children are all very sensitive. Since Ling Maomao was now sensible enough, it was time to have him know about the responsibilities he was supposed to take on.
A rather serious look appeared on Ling Maomao’s depressed face at these words of Ling Zhang’s. “I know. I’ll take care of my mother when my father is away.”
“I’m glad to hear that. When your little brother or little sister is born, you’ll be someone who has a little brother or a little sister. You’ll be a real big brother. Except for your father, you’ll be the one who could best look after and protect your mother. Only by taking good care of them will you be able to face your father. I’ll help you. If there’s anything you don’t understand, you may come here and ask me. Also, your grandfather and uncle will be at home. They’re both your elders. You may ask them as well. You keep saying that you want to grow up and be someone like me. Well, if you get these things handled, it’ll mean that you grow up, and I won’t keep anything back from you whenever you ask me a question.”
Ling Maomao’s eyes brightened further with Ling Zhang’s every word. The twinkle in his eyes were not the kind that a child had when seeing something interesting, but one of determination.
“I will!” promised Ling Maomao with a firm nod.
Becoming someone like his big brother was very tempting in Ling Maomao’s eyes. For this goal alone, he would exert himself.
“As for Cong…” Ling Zhang was at a loss for words. He could tell that Ling Maomao and Ji Xiaocong really liked each other pretty much, but apart from anything else, Ji Xiaocong was no common person. He was a nephew of the Clan Leader of the Millennium Pavilion, and there was a very high chance that some day he would become the heir of his uncle, because the Blood of the Phoenix Clan in Ji Xiaocong was also very strong. Judging from how much the Millennium Pavilion set store by its members’ endowment, Ji Xiaocong’s future was almost predictable.
Ji Xiaocong was nearing the best age to start practicing kung fu to lay a foundation for his future achievement, which meant that it would be very difficult for Ji Xiaocong to get another chance to come out to play. This was probably also the reason why Ji Yanlai had brought Ji Xiaocong to the capital city this time.
In a couple of days Ji Yanlai would return to the Millennium Pavilion to deal with the matter of the transfer of his clan. Ling Zhang could ask Ji Yanlai to let Ji Xiaocong stay in the Ling Mansion until the transfer was finished, but given that the transfer would take a long time, Ji Yanlai might not be comfortable with the idea. On top of that, Ji Xiaocong meant a lot to the Millennium Pavilion, so they probably wouldn’t agree to leave Ji Xiaocong in the capital city either.
“Keep Cong company before the day he leaves, and make every day you two could be together count, so that you won’t have any regrets, and these days will be good memories when you recall them in the future. Maybe you two will have another chance to see each other when you’re older.”
Ling Maomao slightly bowed his head, his lips pressed together. He knew what Ling Zhang meant, but emotionally speaking, he found it rather difficult to accept this fact. Apart from everything else, he was still a child and was unable to not feel upset about parting from a little brother he liked pretty much.
Ling Zhang also knew that it was impossible to rid Ling Maomao of his unwillingness to be separated from Ji Xiaocong, so he just clapped the boy on the shoulder and said, “Undergoing these things is also part of what it takes to grow up. Don’t be afraid to face up to it.”
It was quite a while before Ling Maomao replied with an inclination of the head, “I see.”
A few moments after Ling Zhang dressed Ling Maomao, Ji Xiaocong, who had changed clothes as well, came. On entering the room, the boy broke into a trot and called, “Brother Ling, Brother Maomao.”
After that, he trotted up to Ling Maomao on his own account, looked at him happily and asked him, “What do you think of my new clothes?”
Looking at the joyous smile on Ji Xiaocong’s face, beneath Ling Zhang’s encouraging gaze, Ling Maomao nodded and responded earnestly, “They’re gorgeous. You look gorgeous in everything, Cong.”
These words instantly boosted Ji Xiaocong’s spirits and he reached out a hand to grab Ling Maomao’s sleeve. “There are a lot more, and all of them are new. They told me that they’re presents for me from His Majesty and Brother Ling.”
Ling Zhang gave a smile. These were just some small gifts, but they were also the best gifts, given that they made the boy so happy.
“Thank you, Brother Ling.” Ji Xiaocong thanked Ling Zhang earnestly after finishing his talk with Ling Maomao.
“I’m glad you like them,” said Ling Zhang, rubbing the boy’s head. “Are you two ready? If you are, we may get going right away.”
“I’m ready,” replied Ji Xiaocong, holding Ling Maomao’s sleeve.
Ling Maomao looked at him, held his hand and said to Ling Zhang, “I’m ready too.”
“Then let’s go. It’s inappropriate to keep the elders waiting long.”
Ling Zhang rose to his feet and made towards the doors, Ling Maomao and Ji Xiaocong following in his wake.
“When will we be able to come to this place to play again?” Ji Xiaocong asked Ling Maomao as they walked out of the Infinite Fortune Palace. During the past couple of days, the two of them had been to almost every corner of the imperial palace, playing hide-and-seek and adventure games. Every area of the huge palace had their own features, and the two of them had been under constant protection, so they had had really a good time, which was why they were reluctant to leave.
Ling Maomao said, “When you come to this city again, I’ll tell my big brother and have him bring us to this palace once again, but you must write me a letter in advance before you come. I’ll have to go to Shengzhou with my mother in half a year, and I have no idea how long I’ll have to stay there, so you’ll have to have your letter sent to Shengzhou. I’ll come back to the capital city immediately after I receive your letter.”
Ji Xiaocong, who was fairly surprised at these words, twisted his head aside and looked at Ling Maomao for quite a long time before he nodded vigorously. “Okay.”
However, after saying this, the boy also gradually became somewhat dispirited. “But I don’t know when my uncle will bring me to this city again. My uncle doesn’t like going out. This time he brought me here only because my mother and the others were not at home and he needed to take care of me.”
Ling Maomao was also upset about it. “Then…Then I’ll call on you.”
Ji Xiaocong’s eyes brightened considerably at these words. “Really? If you drop by, I’ll take you to see a lot of beautiful things.”
Ling Zhang looked at them and said to Ling Maomao, “Maomao, if you make a promise, you’ll have to fulfill it. Don’t make promises you cannot keep.”
Surprised, Ling Maomao looked at Ling Zhang.
Ji Xiaocong grabbed his hand tight and said nervously, “Brother Maomao, promise me you’ll look me up.”
Ling Maomao recalled that his elders had once told him the place Ji Xiaocong lived in was very mysterious, that outsiders were not allowed to go there, and they didn’t know where that place was, but looking at Ji Xiaocong’s expectant eyes, Ling Maomao still nodded vigorously and promised, “I will.”
Ling Zhang didn’t try to stop the boy. He had already warned Ling Maomao that promises were not to be taken lightly, but Ling Maomao had still given Ji Xiaocong his word, which showed that at least Ling Maomao had thought about it. As for whether or not he’d be able to honor it, it would depend on the future developments. He knew specifically which island the Millennium Pavilion would transfer to after moving out of the Sanguan Mountains, so it was not really impossible to find them. The only problem was whether or not they’d be able to get onto that island.
Considering their relations with Ji Yanlai, it wouldn’t be difficult for Ling Maomao to get the permission to get onto the island. It all depended on whether or not he really wanted to go there.
Maybe because of this promise, the two boys’ moods both lightened noticeably. After they got into the horse-drawn carriage and left the palace, the two boys leaned out of the window to look at the street, chirping non-stop, as though those dispirited moments were now water under the bridge.
Looking at them, Ling Zhang couldn’t help but recall his own childhood, but most of his memories of him being with his playmates were rather unpleasant, and those things were in the long past, so he instantly lost interest in reminiscing.
Yuwen Tong was also in the carriage, so this counted as the kind of visit that newly-weds, by convention, paid to the bride’s family on the third day of their wedding.
Yuwen Tong had prepared a lot of things early in the morning, all of which were presents for the Ling family. They filled a horse-drawn cart which was following in the wake of the carriage.
Naturally, the imperial guard of honor caused a sensation, with a great number of residents looking on excitedly on roadsides. Ling Maomao and Ji Xiaocong huddled at the carriage window, looking outside and happily discussing something, which certainly attracted a lot of people’s attention.
However, neither Ling Zhang nor Yuwen Tong tried to stop them. They just warned them not to hang out of the window.
“Why do I get the feeling that these two kids have gained some weight during the past couple of days?” Yuwen Tong suddenly said.
Ling Zhang was astonished. They gained some weight? He studied Ling Maomao and Ji Xiaocong carefully but didn’t find either of the boys to be any different from they’d been a couple of days ago. “Why am I not seeing the difference?”
Yuwen Tong smiled, “Your paternal grandfather and the others will definitely say the same thing after we get there.”
Catching on, Ling Zhang pulled a wry face and said, “I see what you mean now.”
Yuwen Tong had noticed that when Ling Zhang had looked at the two boys, for an instant there’d been a distant look in his eyes, as though he’d recalled something unpleasant. He knew Ling Zhang well, so he naturally could tell what that was about. He’d felt a throb of pain in his heart as he’d realized it. Back at that time, Ling Zhang probably had barely had any playmates, and it hadn’t been easy for him to find some peers he could hang out with, but eventually all of them had turned out to be unworthy of his friendship. Yuwen Tong believed that if he were Ling Zhang, he would never have been happy about it either. Those people deserved to die ten thousand deaths for their doings.
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