The most spacious and mysterious mansion in Daliushu Village suddenly had an owner.
For a time, the villagers had a new piece of gossip to chatter about, enjoying the drama thoroughly.
“My grandfather said the person who built this mansion was a general.”
“Why would a general come to build a residence in a place like ours?”
“Who knows? Why don’t you go ask my grandfather?”
“Get lost! Are you looking for a beating? Your grandfather’s been dead for decades…”
…
Little Tangbao was held in Old Man Su’s arms, her little ears perked up, listening to the gossip.
The center of the gossip was the person in the carriage from that day.
The carriage had driven straight into the grand mansion, leaving behind numerous curious gazes and plenty of speculations.
Little did anyone know that at this moment, the capital city was engulfed in panic, turmoil, and a bath of blood.
Overnight, the Crown Prince was deposed, high-ranking ministers were demoted, and everyone in the imperial court felt in constant danger.
Yet the unrest in the capital had absolutely nothing to do with this secluded, isolated mountain village.
People continued to eat and drink as usual, gossiping over trivial everyday matters, their days passing like flowing water.
Little Tangbao tilted her tiny head, looking at the vermilion gate in front of her.
Should she knock on the door? Or… knock on the door?
“Little Sister, let’s go home, alright? Brother will go steal some bird eggs for you…”
Su Liuhu squatted down in front of Little Tangbao, a look of mournful reluctance on his face.
He had worked so hard to win the chance to take his little sister out to play.
Yet his sister had plucked a handful of wild grass and insisted on going into someone else’s mansion to feed a big horse.
He wanted to see the big horse too, but—
Su Liuhu turned his head to look up at the tall gatehouse.
While envious, he was also filled with awe and dread.
Just then, with a creak, the main gate was opened from the inside.
“Little girl, what are you…” Opening the door, Wang Zhong caught sight of Little Tangbao standing right outside.
Little Tangbao immediately flashed a charming smile that could melt hearts of all ages.
In a sweet, soft, milky voice, she said, “Uncle, feed horsie.”
After saying it, she almost got goosebumps all over herself.
Why did that sound so cringey?
And so, Little Tangbao took a deep breath, attempting to salvage the situation.
She added, “Feed… big—horse.”
Congratulations to her! She could finally say three different words at once!
Even though she stumbled a little in the middle.
Having said that, Little Tangbao held up the small basket in her hands.
Inside the basket rested a handful of tender green grass.
Seeing the tiny bit of grass in his sister’s basket, Su Liuhu felt his face flush red.
This tiny bit of grass wouldn’t even cover a single bite for a horse—even as an excuse, it was far too flimsy.
Wang Zhong, however, chuckled softly and said, “Thank you, little girl. Come on in.”
“Mm-hmm!” Little Tangbao happily trotted up the steps on her short little legs.
This uncle is such a good person.
He looks so kind and friendly at a glance.
“Little Sister, Brother will carry you,” Su Liuhu quickly scooped up his sister.
He hadn’t expected it to be so easy to get inside the grand mansion.
In an instant, his eyes shone with excitement.
“Brother, no,” Little Tangbao wriggled a bit, wanting to walk on her own.
There was no helping it—Su Liuhu was still just a child himself.
His posture holding her wasn’t standard, making her uncomfortable.
Noticing what Little Tangbao meant, Wang Zhong chuckled and said, “Come, let Uncle hold you.”
With that, he extended his arms to take Little Tangbao.
Su Liuhu tightened his grip on his sister, holding her tightly.
He glared at Wang Zhong vigilantly, looking just as if he were staring at a child trafficker.
His sister couldn’t just be held by anybody.
What if they ran into a bad person?
Su Liuhu didn’t stop to think: You’ve already stepped into their courtyard.
Isn’t it a bit too late to worry about them being bad people now?
Little Tangbao, on the other hand, figured that free labor shouldn’t be wasted.
And so, she stretched out her tiny arms to let Wang Zhong hold her.
Holding Little Tangbao, Wang Zhong headed straight for the backyard.
From the little pocket at the front of her clothes, Little Tangbao pulled out a piece of malt sugar.
“Uncle, candy.”
Having said that, she stuffed it right into Wang Zhong’s mouth.
Since someone was carrying her, she had to give them a little sweetness in return, didn’t she?
Sugar-coated bullets like this were sometimes absolutely essential.
After all, she was planning on coming back every now and then to visit Honghong.
“Honghong” was the name Little Tangbao had given to the big black horse.
“What a good child,” having received a piece of candy from Little Tangbao, Wang Zhong grinned so wide his eyes narrowed into slits.
Although he would normally turn his nose up at such low-quality candy, today, for some reason, he happily kept it in his mouth.
With his little face tense the whole time, Su Liuhu followed Wang Zhong closely, terrified that Wang Zhong might run off with Little Tangbao.
Seeing Little Tangbao actually give Wang Zhong candy to eat, he felt a wave of sourness in his heart.
Even though his sister shared all her good stuff with him and he always refused, he never expected this old man to actually eat his sister’s candy.
Those candies were bought specifically for his sister by their mother in town!
Resentment against Wang Zhong surged in Su Liuhu’s heart, and he couldn’t help but mutter under his breath:
“Hmph! Eating a child’s candy—have you no shame?”
Nobody was allowed to eat his sister’s food—not anyone!
Wang Zhong’s ears twitched. Pretending not to have heard Su Liuhu’s words, he instructed a servant behind him without turning his head:
“Go tell the kitchen to prepare some cakes, pastries, and fresh fruit, and send them to the gazebo in the backyard.”
“Yes, sir.”
The servant answered respectfully and left at a brisk pace.
“Honghong… Honghong…”
Seeing the tall, majestic black horse, Little Tangbao immediately called out in excitement.
Hearing Little Tangbao’s call, the big black horse let out a long neigh toward her.
It looked for all the world as if it were responding to Little Tangbao.
Wang Zhong’s eyes flashed, and he quickened his pace.
In his heart, he grew increasingly intrigued.
Heifeng had always been proud, aloof, and fierce—rarely allowing anyone to come near.
Who could have expected it to act so affectionate toward a little girl?
He had already noticed this strangeness that day.
That was why the moment he saw Little Tangbao today, he hadn’t hesitated to bring her in.
Otherwise, why would he ever let strangers step through the main gates so easily?
The moment the big black horse saw Little Tangbao approach, it affectionately nuzzled its head against her.
Held in Wang Zhong’s arms, Little Tangbao grabbed the tiny bit of green grass from her basket—barely enough to fill the horse’s teeth—and held it out to the horse’s mouth.
“Honghong, eat grass.”
The big black horse didn’t mind the tiny portion at all, eating the grass with absolute gentleness.
Seeing this, Wang Zhong gasped in wonder.
Was this really the Heifeng he knew?
Back then, in order to tame Heifeng, the Great General had expended quite a lot of effort.
Looking at Little Tangbao, Wang Zhong’s eyes held a deeper, thoughtful glint.
By this time, Su Liuhu could no longer bother resenting Wang Zhong.
His entire focus was pinned on the big black horse.
The look in his eyes as he stared at the horse practically glowed green with longing.
Men loving horses in this era was just like modern men loving cars.
“Little Sister, so this is Honghong—so tall! So huge!” Su Liuhu exclaimed in awe.
Having said that, he reached out his hand, wanting to pat it.
Just as he was about to touch it, he shrank his hand back in fear.
Yet the desire in his eyes was unhidden.
So, gathering his courage, he tried to pat it once more.
The big black horse moved abruptly, pawing at the ground with its hoof.
Its violent, fierce demeanor was something even Little Tangbao could feel.
Terrified, Su Liuhu stumbled backward, nearly flopping onto his bottom.
Seeing this, Little Tangbao patted the big black horse’s head with her tiny hand and said in a sweet, sticky voice, “Honghong, be good!”
The big black horse immediately became gentle and docile once again.