As soon as summer passed and the autumn wind began to blow, Helan Zong summoned Lu Shuo and told him that he would be learning to ride a horse from now on.
Lu Shuo was stunned. He knew that the second and third young masters sometimes went to the outskirts of the capital to ride at the equestrian grounds during breaks, but the thought of encountering many other aristocratic sons there made him keep his distance.
Who would have thought the Duke Xuan would bring it up himself?
He instinctively wanted to refuse, but Helan Zong didn't give him a chance. He simply said that the men of the Xuan Duke Mansion didn't have to love riding, but they had to know how—it was a necessary skill.
Hearing this, Lu Shuo had no choice but to agree.
He didn't know that Helan Zong's reasons for teaching him to ride went beyond this.
Helan Zong had an ulterior motive.
First, he genuinely felt that Lu Shuo should train under him and acquire the skills befitting a man. Second, seeing how well Lu Shuo got along with Helan Pei, he hoped to use Lu Shuo to pique Helan Pei's interest in riding. If she would agree to go out with her brothers in the future, that would be a tremendous boon.
Of course, Helan Zong had official duties to attend to, so he could only teach Lu Shuo occasionally. But there were many guards in the mansion who knew how to ride, so when Helan Zong was away, others could instruct him.
Lu Shuo had no choice but to grit his teeth and start learning to ride.
So recently, one could often see someone leading a horse around the mansion, with Lu Shuo wobbling on its back.
Helan Pei stood at the courtyard gate watching him.
Zisu urged her from the side: "Miss, isn't it fun watching Young Master Lu ride? Would you like to try too? It's not like you have anything better to do. Now that he's busy and can't play with you, you could learn together and keep each other company."
Helan Pei glanced at her but didn't respond, which was a refusal.
It wasn't that she had never seen anyone ride before. Her older brothers had also learned at home when they started, mastering the basics before galloping at the equestrian grounds. She hadn't learned then, and she didn't want to learn now.
What use was it? She had no verbal commands to control the horse. What if she lost control? Besides, the equestrian grounds were mostly full of men, and she didn't want to draw attention there.
Zisu's persuasion was futile, so she gave up.
When Helan Zong heard Zisu's report, he was disappointed but not surprised.
Oh well. If his daughter didn't want to learn, he wouldn't force her. He would just focus on training Lu Shuo.
But though Helan Pei didn't want to learn herself, she enjoyed watching Lu Shuo learn—especially when she saw him flustered and clumsy, which made her laugh.
At first, Lu Shuo felt embarrassed, but seeing her laugh so happily, he let go of his unease.
On days when the Imperial Academy was on break, Helan Chang and Helan Rong would eagerly teach Lu Shuo. They rarely had the chance to instruct others, so they were both very enthusiastic.
Helan Zhen didn't join in. He stood with Helan Pei, watching the tangle of boys in the distance.
"Actually, you should learn too," Helan Zhen said gently. "If you ever encounter an emergency and no one is around to help, knowing how to ride would at least let you take action instead of relying on others."
Helan Pei's eyelashes fluttered.
She looked up, her brows slightly furrowed, looking at Helan Zhen with a hint of helplessness.
"I didn't mean anything else. Of course, we would never leave you alone, but I'm just saying if."
Helan Pei pressed her lips tightly.
-
At the end of October, good news came from the Imperial Academy: Helan Zhen, who had consistently earned top grades over the years, was now eligible to graduate. Come spring next year, he could go to the various ministries for practical training. This system was called "lishi" (practical experience), usually lasting several months to a year. If he performed diligently during this period, he could qualify for an official appointment without taking the imperial exams, report to the Ministry of Personnel for a waiting list, and be assigned to a vacancy in turn.
Helan Zong and Zhang Yizhu were both delighted. After all, Helan Zhen had entered the Imperial Academy at twelve and would graduate smoothly before eighteen—quite an achievement for his age. He hadn't studied excessively hard, just followed the routine, or else he could have finished even sooner. Du Shenling of the Song Duke Mansion was still stuck in the Imperial Academy at twenty.
Helan Pei was naturally happy for her eldest brother, and Lu Shuo could only admire him.
Perhaps the only ones not happy were Helan Chang and Helan Rong. With their eldest brother setting such a shining example, the two slackers would only get scolded more often.
Helan Zhen no longer had to stay at the Imperial Academy and could live at home for an extended period.
For some reason, once Helan Zhen moved back, Lu Shuo became hesitant to go play with Helan Pei. Before, when Helan Pei sent for him, he would always agree. Now, when she called for him, two or three times out of ten he would make excuses.
Helan Pei didn't think much of it. She assumed the lessons had become difficult and Lu Shuo didn't want to get distracted, so she didn't press him. Besides, with her eldest brother home, she could have him play with her instead.
-
In the blink of an eye, it was the New Year.
This was Lu Shuo's first New Year in the capital, and also his first without any family by his side.
The Duke Mansion was bustling with New Year preparations. Helan Zhen skillfully wrote spring couplets, Helan Pei and Zisu focused on making decorative knots, and the vacationing Helan Chang and Helan Rong were horsing around on a ladder until Zhang Yizhu caught them and scolded them severely.
Lu Shuo clutched a stack of window paper-cuts and stood quietly under the eaves, watching them.
He wore a new padded jacket made by the mansion, warm and comfortable. He remembered that in past winters, aside from an old cotton coat on the outside, he would wear all his thin spring, summer, and autumn clothes—as many layers as possible, sometimes five or six—but still felt cold air seeping through. Now, including his jacket, he only wore four layers, yet he wasn't cold at all.
And among those four layers was one he had secretly added: the patched waistcoat his mother had made for him, which he had brought from his hometown. He was wearing it now.
Also nestled in his bosom was the little wooden dog his father had carved for him, now polished smooth from frequent handling.
This way, it felt like he could still spend the New Year with his parents.
"Daydreaming?" Helan Zong passed by and smiled at Lu Shuo. "Want to go hang lanterns with the second and third?"
Lu Shuo snapped back to reality, embarrassed. "No, my lord. I'll go put up the paper-cuts now."
Then he scurried off with the paper-cuts.
As night fell, the rich aroma of the New Year's Eve feast filled the dining hall and beyond.
Buddha's-hand golden rolls, crispy fried bass, roasted lamb leg, three-delicacy dragon-phoenix balls, lotus-seed chicken dumplings... The large round table of red rosewood was laden with dishes, steam rising.