Was he painting, perhaps?
Zhu Man made a guess but got no answer. He could only move his chair a bit further away to avoid being splattered by the ink.
“Prince,” Du Pingniang said softly, “are you still going to the Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival this year?”
Hearing the words “lantern festival,” He Tianyun immediately turned to look at her and nodded. “Gonna go.”
Du Pingniang looked at Zhu Man and said, “The Princess is going too, so go together. It’ll be more fun with two people.”
Zhu Man belatedly realized that Du Pingniang still thought he and He Tianyun had quarreled and was trying to find a way for them to reconcile. He smiled helplessly and nodded in agreement.
He Tianyun had no particular reaction. He remained focused on coloring his pumpkins. Once the entire gourd was smeared into a mess, he finally grew tired of playing and ran over to pull on Zhu Man’s sleeve, saying, “Princess, go out and play.”
Zhu Man: “…” Looking at the ink stain on his sleeve, he really felt like hitting him.
He Tianyun did everything with his bare hands and often brought back a hand full of filth to find him—either paint, food, or simply dirt. Once it got on clothes, it was very hard to clean. He was now changing his clothes at least twice a day.
But He Tianyun clearly wasn’t aware of the issue. Seeing that Zhu Man wasn’t moving, he used a bull’s strength to drag him out. This made Zhu Man both cry and laugh as he was forced to stand up and go out with him.
They went out but didn’t do much, just messed around with the flowers in the garden. Zhu Man naturally couldn’t join him in playing; he found a nearby rock to sit on and watch until He Tianyun had played enough before taking him back to eat.
However, He Tianyun was remembering the lantern festival and was very excited. He wouldn’t eat and kept asking Du Pingniang when they were leaving. Because they were going out, Zhu Man had specifically ordered the kitchen to prepare early, so it was still early; it was normal not to be hungry, but that might not be the case in a while.
Zhu Man was helpless. “Eat properly, and then we’ll go.”
Hearing this, He Tianyun lowered his head, grabbed a mouthful of rice, and stuffed his mouth full, saying indistinctly, “Let’sh go.”
Zhu Man had no choice but to pick up a chicken leg for him. “Eat this first.”
He Tianyun immediately grabbed the leg and began gnawing.
Zhu Man picked up two more helpings of vegetables. “Eat these.”
He Tianyun stuffed the vegetables into his mouth.
Zhu Man wanted to give him some fish as well, but He Tianyun was already unhappy. “Don’t want to eat! Want to go out and play!”
Zhu Man could only say, “Then go wash up first and change into some pretty clothes, and then we’ll go.”
He Tianyun immediately stood up to take off his clothes.
Zhu Man quickly shoveled a few mouthfuls of rice.
Seeing this, Du Pingniang smiled. “There will be plenty of good food on the streets; no need to worry about going hungry.”
Zhu Man gestured toward He Tianyun. “I’m just afraid I won’t have the strength to pull him later. There are many people today; it’ll be a hassle if we get separated later.”
Du Pingniang still smiled, comforting him, “Rest assured, Princess; the guards will be watching. He won’t be lost.”
Zhu Man figured that was true but still ate a bit to pad his stomach before changing into more convenient clothes. He Tianyun was in a hurry to leave; when he came out from washing, Zhu Man was still changing, so he simply sat nearby to wait.
Zhu Man looked amusingly at the wide-sleeved formal attire he was wearing and asked, “Who picked those clothes for you?”
Du Pingniang was also somewhat helpless and explained, “The Prince picked them himself.”
“Go change,” Zhu Man said.
He Tianyun looked down at his clothes and said reluctantly, “Pretty.”
“Mm, they are very pretty.” Zhu Man’s eyes crinkled. He reached out and pinched his cheek. “You look pretty in anything you wear, so how about changing into another set?”
He Tianyun was still a bit reluctant.
Zhu Man thought for a moment, pointed at his own clothes, and said, “Want to wear something like mine?”
He Tianyun looked at the light purple gown he was wearing and hesitated with a furrowed brow.
“You’re my wife; you should wear something like mine.” As he spoke, Zhu Man went to look through He Tianyun’s clothes and picked out a light purple brocade robe with arrow-sleeves that was close in color to his own. “Wear this.”
He Tianyun looked at the clothes, then at Zhu Man, then back at the clothes, and finally nodded, obediently changing his clothes.
Only then did Zhu Man lead him out the door.
By this time, the sky wasn’t completely dark, though there were already quite a few stalls on the streets. As soon as He Tianyun got off the carriage, he was drawn to a mask stall. He ran over happily, picked one up, and held it up to his face.
Zhu Man walked over and asked, “You want it?”
He Tianyun’s two eyes looked at him through the eyeholes of the mask. He looked for a while before suddenly laughing sillily, putting it down to pick up another. The stall owner was quite happy to see customers, but upon closer look, he realized He Tianyun seemed to be a fool. He instantly became a bit nervous, fearing he might break something.
Zhu Man had no choice but to give him a few pieces of broken silver, saying, “We’ll buy whatever he picks up.”
The stall owner immediately beamed and picked out two more to recommend to He Tianyun. But He Tianyun had no interest in the ones he picked; he shoved the ones in his hand to Zhu Man and then pulled him away.
After a few steps, his gaze was drawn to a dough figurine maker. That person was highly skilled; the various deities were molded lifelike, and all sorts of small animals were exquisite and adorable.
Zhu Man also leaned in to help pick. Seeing the two of them whispering together, the stall owner smiled and said, “A young couple out for a stroll, I see.”
Zhu Man was stunned for a moment.
The stall owner was also stunned. “Did… did I say something wrong?”
Zhu Man smiled and shook his head. He glanced at the person beside him and saw him staring intently at the dough figurines. He indeed didn’t look foolish at all, so it was no wonder the stall owner had misunderstood.
“I knew it!” The stall owner laughed again. “Look, if there’s nothing you like, I can make some for you. It’s very quick!”
Zhu Man poked He Tianyun beside him and asked, “Which one do you want?”
He Tianyun’s gaze swept across the row of dough figurines several times. He frowned and said, “I… I want the Princess.”
Zhu Man was startled, then laughed. “There isn’t one like that.”
He Tianyun pouted. “I want it!”
Feeling helpless, Zhu Man had to say to the stall owner, “Then please, could you mold one in my likeness?”
By this time, the stall owner had also realized He Tianyun’s condition. He was momentarily awkward and gave a couple of dry laughs, tentatively asking, “Then… should I also mold one… of him?”
Zhu Man looked at He Tianyun, who was poking at the wings of a dough bird, and nodded. “Mold one of him as well.”
“Right away,” the stall owner agreed and immediately set to work. He was skilled, molding a human shape on a wooden stick in just a few movements, then adding things bit by bit. His speed was indeed fast.
But no matter how fast he was, it couldn’t stand up to He Tianyun’s total lack of patience. After standing at the stall for only a short while, he was drawn to a nearby fried cake stall. His neck was stretched quite long, and his eyes practically flew over there.
Zhu Man had no choice but to order Chun Cao behind him, “Go and buy some.”
Chun Cao acknowledged and soon bought a portion and handed it to He Tianyun. He Tianyun reached out to grab it and was instantly scalded, letting out an “Ow!” and becoming so angry he was about to throw the thing onto the ground.
Zhu Man quickly stopped him and said helplessly, “What were you in such a hurry for?” He pinched a piece and blew on it, then used his other hand to test the temperature, blew again, and repeated this several times. Once he was sure the temperature was down, he handed it to He Tianyun. “Here, eat.”
He Tianyun received it with a grin and shoved the fried cake into his mouth, his cheeks instantly bulging.
Zhu Man said amusingly, “Don’t be in such a hurry, or you’ll choke.” Just as he finished speaking, He Tianyun choked. Zhu Man quickly went up to pat his back. “I told you not to eat too fast. Chun Cao, see if there’s anywhere nearby selling drinks.”
Chun Cao acknowledged and soon bought back a pot of beverage to hold to He Tianyun’s lips. He Tianyun stood there coughing for quite a while before recovering, his gaze toward the fried cake in his hand becoming unfriendly.
Zhu Man was helpless. “If you don’t want to eat, let Chun Cao hold it. You’re not allowed to throw it around.”
He Tianyun pouted. He didn’t throw it, but he didn’t give it to Chun Cao either. Instead, he held it and looked at it again and again. Finally, he blew on it gently and touched it with his finger.
Zhu Man found it a bit funny watching him imitate how he had carefully blown the fried cake cool. He said, “It’s been out so long, it’s not hot anymore. You can—”
Before he could finish speaking, he was stuffed with a piece of fried cake by He Tianyun.
Zhu Man didn’t want to choke like He Tianyun had, so he quickly bit into the fried cake and used his hand to pinch off a bite. With a crunch, the soft, waxy, and sweet flavor immediately filled his entire mouth.
“It’s delicious,” Zhu Man crinkled his eyes. “You eat too.”
He Tianyun wouldn’t eat; he held the fried cake in front of Zhu Man.
Feeling helpless, Zhu Man pinched a piece with his free hand, preparing to put it into his own mouth. However, just as it reached his lips, He Tianyun frowned and shook his head, saying, “I want it! Give it to me!”
Zhu Man realized and handed it over. “Here.”
He Tianyun still didn’t eat. He said, “Need to blow on it.”
Zhu Man became even more helpless. He had no choice but to lower his head and blow on it for him a few times before handing it back. “Alright, eat.”
He Tianyun bit into the fried cake and crinkled his eyes happily. Zhu Man moved the fried cake toward him. “Take it yourself.”
He Tianyun completely ignored him, chewing the fried cake in his mouth while staring at the stall owner molding the dough figurines. Zhu Man had no choice but to hold it for him while the two of them slowly finished off a bag of fried cakes.
The stall owner had already finished one of Zhu Man. He poked the small dough figurine into the stand and started on the other one. He Tianyun was instantly drawn to the small dough figurine. He reached out to take it, but before his hand could touch it, Zhu Man stopped him. “No rush. Wait a bit longer. Take them once they’re finished. Do you still want to eat something?”
He Tianyun immediately nodded, looked left and right, and fixed his gaze on another stall.
Zhu Man smiled and said, “I’ll wait here. You go over.” He then ordered the following guards, “Go with him; be careful.”
The guards took their orders and followed He Tianyun. He Tianyun went over and bought a bag of sugar-roasted chestnuts, bringing one to Zhu Man. Zhu Man helped him peel it. He Tianyun took it and ate. Zhu Man peeled another. He Tianyun took it and stuffed it into Zhu Man’s mouth.
The two of them shared the bag of chestnuts one by one. By the time half the bag was gone, the stall owner had finished the other dough figurine and handed them over with a smile.
Zhu Man took them to look. These dough figurines were molded lifelike, especially the one of He Tianyun—his expression was molded with a silly, innocent look, incredibly cute. Zhu Man’s eyes crinkled instantly. Just as he was about to pay, he saw He Tianyun take a gold bead from his purse and hand it to the stall owner, before taking the dough figurine of Zhu Man and walking away happily.
“Do you like it?” Zhu Man brandished the “He Tianyun” in his hand.
He Tianyun nodded and used the Zhu Man in his hand to bump the himself in Zhu Man’s hand.
Zhu Man immediately pulled it away slightly, saying helplessly, “Stop it. It’ll be such a pity if they break in a moment.”
He Tianyun nodded with a grin but still brought the dough figurine close and bumped its head against the other. Zhu Man arched an eyebrow, about to scold him, when he saw He Tianyun bump the two small dough figurines’ heads together again, as if they were kissing.
“How could you—” Just as Zhu Man was about to speak, he felt a sudden warmth on his lips. Like the small figurine in his hand, He Tianyun had very lightly kissed him.