Chapter 30: Lang Rides a Bamboo Horse

  Sixteen years ago, in the 19th year of Dong Xun's reign, in April when peach blossoms filled the sky, Hua Xiang Rong was born amidst the joyful laughter in the Left Chancellor's residence.

  However, her father Hua Jinting was in a predicament due to someone causing trouble in the imperial court when she was just over one year old and had just learned to walk and speak. He reluctantly sent the one-year-old Hua Xiangrong, who did not understand worldly affairs, to a book institute on top of Cangshan Mountain in the eastern part of the imperial capital. The head of the institute, Gong Sunyou, was an old friend of Hua Jinting's, but he had no children of his own and only had an adopted son named Gong Sunlongqing whom he had picked up a few years ago.

  Hua Jingyuan handed Hua Xiangrong over to Gong Sunyu for care, and then returned to the imperial capital, fighting side by side with the emperor, resisting the crisis in the court.

  Gongsun You's adopted son, Dahua Rongruo, was five years old, but he was the only one who could play with Huaxiang Rong at that time. When Huaxiang Rong was just one year old and had just been sent to Mount Cang, whoever tried to hold her would make her cry loudly until she was six years old, when Gongsun Changqing, wearing a white Confucian robe, curiously stretched out his small hand to help wipe away her tears. Little Huaxiang Rong suddenly stopped crying at that moment.

  Little flower thoughtfully wrapped her small hands tightly around Gong Sunlong's neck and urinated directly onto his spotless white clothes.

  From then on, the ambiguous feelings between the two of them were also settled with this urine.

  ……?

  Three years later——?

  "Lang rides a bamboo horse and comes, circling the bed to play with the green plum..."

  "Brother Changqing, Brother Changqing, play with Rong'er, Rong'er wants to swing on the swing, brother please push Rong'er on the swing!" Little Hua Rong, wearing a small pink dress, jumped into Gong Sun Changqing's arms as he sat under the tree reading a book.

  "Alright, then Rong'er will learn to recite a poem first, and brother will play the swing with you." Although only nine years old, but looking already having Pan An's appearance and elegant demeanor, Gong Sun Longqing lightly hugged Hua Xiang Rong's small, soft body, lowered his head and stole a kiss on her plump cheek.

  "Rong'er doesn't want to recite poems, Rong'er wants to play!" Hua Xiang Rong pouts.

  "Father said that one must be well-read to make a name for oneself in the world. Without learning, one will be looked down upon all their life. If you want to avoid being looked down upon by Brother Changqing, then don't recite poetry," said Gong Sun Changqing with a smile.

  "That... that's all I can remember..." Hua Xiang Rong pouted, snuggling into a warm white embrace, speaking in a spoiled tone.

  "Alright, follow me... The young man rides a bamboo horse, circling around the bed and playing with the green plum..."

  "Lang, lang riding... bamboo horse comes, around bed playing, playing green plum..." Hua Xiang Rong murmured unclearly as she recited.

  "Lang rides a bamboo horse and teases Qingmei around the bed!" Gong Sun Longqing gently patted her back: "Recite again."

  "Ah... The young man rides a bamboo horse and plays with green plums around the bed..."

  This is the first poem that Huaxiang Rong learned aside from the Four Books and Five Classics which she started learning at the age of two.

  ……?

  Later, Hua Xiang Rong couldn't help but wonder if anyone had ever crossed over to this world before, or else how would this poem have been passed down in this place...

  What's the matter with you?