Lin Ruhai finished his official duties early and returned to the inner residence.
He was not in a particularly good mood today.
Matters involving the salt administration had gone smoothly enough, but he had made no progress at all on the real reason the Emperor had sent him to Weiyang.
The salt merchants in Weiyang were far too slippery.
The officials in the city were in league with them as well. It was obvious that all they wanted was to fob off the Imperial Salt Inspector personally appointed by the Emperor until his term ended and he left.
After all, under normal circumstances, an Imperial Salt Inspector only served for a year or two.
They did not dare offend him outright, but neither should he expect to untangle the salt accounts in such a short time.
Lin Ruhai had no patience for their endless evasions. Once he had dealt with the most urgent official business, he left the government office.
The gatekeeper mentioned that Weisheng He’s mother had once again brought the two children to visit Jia Min, so Lin Ruhai changed course and headed toward the inner residence.
He was still thinking about the medicine the elderly woman had brought last time.
He had even asked about it while speaking with the gatekeeper.
Unfortunately, the gatekeeper said she had only brought some pastries supposedly made by Madam Weisheng herself today. There was no medicine.
Preoccupied with his thoughts, Lin Ruhai soon reached the inner gate.
Before he even stepped through, he heard laughter.
Not from one person, but several.
Old and young, mature and childish, clear and ringing, familiar and unfamiliar…
Their laughter mingled together, filling the usually subdued Lin residence with a rare sense of warmth and easy cheer.
It had been a long time since laughter had filled the Lin household.
Lin Ruhai paused, then followed the sound.
It was coming from the garden.
He crossed the covered walkway, passed around a rockery, and reached the entrance to the small garden within the residence.
From a distance, he saw Jia Min seated on a stone bench in the pavilion with thick cushions beneath her. Weisheng He’s mother sat beside her, turned slightly toward her as she chatted. Every so often, she said something that made Jia Min cover her mouth and laugh.
Lin Daiyu sat nearby with a book in her hands, talking to the two children seated across from her, whose backs were all Lin Ruhai could see. From time to time, she turned toward Jia Min and Weisheng He’s mother and joined their conversation.
Her face held a rare, carefree smile, without the slightest trace of worry.
The stone table was covered with toys such as building blocks, a tangram, and a nine-linked puzzle, along with fruit drinks and pastries.
It was a picture of domestic happiness.
But… if only this really were one family.
Lin Ruhai shook his head and walked forward.
The maids and matrons waiting around the edge of the garden noticed him first and hurried to bow.
The commotion drew everyone’s attention.
Jia Min was the first to call out.
“Master.”
Lin Daiyu immediately stood as well.
“Father.”
Once Weisheng He’s mother realized who had arrived, she quickly rose to greet him.
After Lin Ruhai returned the greeting with a cupped-fist salute, she pulled the twins over and had them greet him too.
Only then did Lin Ruhai get a proper look at the children’s appearance and clothing.
Both wore simple clothes, with their hair tied into small topknots. Dressed from head to toe in pale blue, they looked innocent and adorable.
Their features were also very similar.
Still, one was a boy and the other a girl. Looking closely, the resemblance was not quite as striking.
What surprised Lin Ruhai was how they were dressed.
The last time they had visited, the twins had at least worn different colors so outsiders could tell them apart.
This time, however, everything from their hairstyles to their clothes was exactly the same.
Without looking carefully, it was almost impossible to distinguish them.
Lin Ruhai hesitated.
“I seem to remember that the Li family’s two older children are a boy and a girl?”
Young Miss An skipped forward with a grin.
“That’s right! I’m the girl!”
Young Master An immediately followed.
“And I’m the boy! Hehe!”
Lin Ruhai’s eyes widened slightly.
“You’re the girl? Then why are you dressed like this?”
Young Miss An looked at him in confusion.
“Why can’t I dress like this? Do I look ugly?”
She turned toward Young Master An.
“Brother, I told you your taste is bad. We should dress the way I like next time! You have to listen to me, or I’ll hit you!”
Young Master An immediately protested.
“No!
“We agreed we’d take turns choosing our clothes!
“You can’t go back on your word!
“And what’s wrong with this? It looks great!”
With that, he fixed his round eyes on Lin Ruhai and charged straight at him.
He ran headfirst into Lin Ruhai, sending the completely unprepared man stumbling backward.
“Lord Lin is a grown-up just like Grandfather, so of course his taste is bad!”
I’m not giving up my turn to choose our clothes!
I want to wear blue!
Not black!
It’s so dark and ugly!
Lin Ruhai had to take two steps back before regaining his balance.
He stared at Young Master An in surprise.
“How are you so strong?”
Such a small child, yet he had the raw strength of a young calf.
Young Master An immediately puffed out his chest.
That’s right. I’m really strong!
Young Miss An puffed out her chest as well.
“Lord Lin, I’m very strong too! Do you want to try? Mother says we’re suited to being soldiers. If we join the army, everyone will definitely like us!”
“We’ll beat the enemy until their teeth are all over the ground!” Young Master An chimed in.
“Our ranks will shoot up and up!”
“We’ll get a new official post every day!”
Young Miss An flashed a victory sign.
“At twenty, we’ll lead troops into battle!”
Young Master An copied her.
“At thirty, we’ll become marquises and chancellors!”
The brother and sister held hands, chests puffed out proudly as they marched in circles around the stone table.
“We’re super amazing!”
Lin Daiyu could not hold back and laughed.
Jia Min laughed until tears gathered in her eyes.
Weisheng He’s mother, however, covered her face with one hand.
What has my daughter been teaching these two at home all day? How can they brag without the slightest embarrassment? And now they’ve come here to show off in front of a couple from families where people really have been made marquises and chancellors. Now they’re being laughed at!
Jia Min only thought the children were adorable.
Lin Ruhai did not mean to make fun of them either. Instead, he praised them.
“Becoming marquises and chancellors? Excellent ambition!”
As he spoke, he sat down across from Jia Min and beckoned the two children over.
Once he had settled the siblings on either side of him, he turned toward Young Master An.
“But the realm has been at peace for many years, and there are hardly any wars left to fight. If you want to become a marquis or chancellor, you’ll have to study and sit the imperial examinations.”
Unwilling to be ignored, Young Miss An slid off the stone bench, pattered a few steps forward, and cupped her plump little face in both hands as she leaned toward Lin Ruhai.
“Lord Lin, look at me! Mother makes us study too!”
Young Master An slid down as well and stood beside her.
“That’s right, that’s right! Teacher even says we’re smart!”
“She says we’re smart and cute!”
“And obedient and sensible!”
The siblings declared together, “We’re geniuses!”
“We’ll win top honors in the imperial examinations!”
“Take first place in all three examinations!”
“Ride through the streets on horseback!”
“Marry a pretty wife!”
Smack!
Young Miss An slapped Young Master An on the shoulder.
“It’s answering questions before the Emperor!”
“Hehe!”
Young Master An scratched his head sheepishly.
“It’s all Suanpan’s fault. He keeps talking about marrying a pretty wife, so I got mixed up…”
Suanpan was Young Master An’s personal attendant. He was twenty-three that year.
In another two years, his term of service would be complete, and he could be released to marry.
After marrying and having children, he could return to the Li household and take on a different position.
Lin Ruhai did not mind the mistake.
Instead, he found himself wanting to test the children a little.
But first, I need to know their names.
He smiled at Young Master An.
“What’s your name?”
Young Master An answered, “Lord Lin, my name is Li Anhou.”
Young Miss An quickly added, “And I’m Li Anxiang.”
Lin Ruhai froze.
“Hou as in marquis, and xiang as in chancellor?”
The siblings nodded vigorously.
“That’s right, that’s right! Lord Lin is so smart!”