Ancient Wen Heng had just squeezed through the crowd when Ming Feng and Jiang Milie surrounded him.

"Master, let us take those." The two of them grabbed at the bags on either side of him, trying to take the load.

Ancient Wen Heng let them take the weight, shrugging off his travel bags. "Are you the only ones here?"

Ming Feng shook his head. "No, Madam and the young master are waiting in the carriage."

The moment they had the bags slung over their shoulders, Ancient Wen Heng was gone in a flash.

They didn’t dare to linger. Hoisting the bags, they hurried toward the carriage.

"What are you doing out here?" Ancient Wen Heng lifted the carriage curtain to see Jin Qianqian holding their child, a gentle smile on her face as she looked at him.

"Papa!" Luo Luo spread his arms, ready to pounce. A startled Jin Qianqian quickly scooped him back into her embrace. "You little rascal. You’ll just start crying if you fall and get hurt."

Ancient Wen Heng quickly put up a hand to stop him. "I’m all smelly from the road. I don’t want our Luo Luo getting stinky."

Jin Qianqian held their son and shifted aside to let him board. "Don’t be so particular. It’s been hard on you these past few days. Hurry up and get in."

Ancient Wen Heng was feeling the strain, so he didn’t try to put on a brave face. He stepped onto the stool Hong Da had just set down. "Then we’ll just have to be one big, stinky family."

"Stinky!" Luo Luo finally noticed the smell. He shouted, pinching his nose, and tried to shrink as far as he could into his mother’s arms.

"You little rascal, giving your papa the cold shoulder, are you?" Ancient Wen Heng reached out to touch his son, but then drew his hand back. "Just wait until I’m rested. I’ll get you back for this."

"Should we head back first, or wait for Brother Liu?" Jin Qianqian’s heart ached as she looked at the dark circles under his eyes.

"Let’s wait a little longer. I didn’t sleep well, but the food was decent. I’ll be fine once I get home, wash up, and get some rest." Ancient Wen Heng lifted the curtain, watching the people trickling out of the crowd. "Ming Feng, go and see if Brother Liu is out yet. With this many people, I’m worried we’ll get separated."

Ming Feng led Jiang Milie back into the crowd. After a long wait, they finally emerged, supporting Liu Wenping with the help of his Attendant Student.

Seeing Liu Wenping’s pale face, Ancient Wen Heng was startled. He quickly jumped down from the carriage. "Brother Liu, what happened?"

Liu Wenping waved a weak hand. "I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble you, my friend. I think I’ve caught a chill. Could you please help me find a doctor?"

Ancient Wen Heng gestured to Ming Feng and the others. "Quick, help Mr. Liu into the carriage. We can talk more once we’re home."

Once they had helped him into the rear carriage, Ancient Wen Heng told everyone to head home immediately.

"Don’t you worry, either," Jin Qianqian said. "I’ve already sent someone to have a doctor waiting at the manor. It’ll still be some time before we get home. Do you want to slip away and get a little sleep?"

Ancient Wen Heng glanced at Luo Luo and shook his head. "It’s fine. I can manage."

They had taken the child in with them when he was younger, but ever since he started talking, they did their best to avoid it in his presence.

It was a flurry of chaotic activity when they arrived home. Only after Liu Wenping had taken his medicine and was settled in to rest did Ancient Wen Heng finally drag his exhausted body back to their room.

"You should go get some rest." Jin Qianqian said, holding Luo Luo as she prepared to leave the room. "We can talk about everything else after you’ve woken up."

Ancient Wen Heng rolled his neck, walked over to pat Luo Luo’s head, and then turned to enter the inner chamber.

"Mama, Papa isn’t stinky anymore, but he still didn’t hold me," Gu Benluo whispered, lodging a complaint in Jin Qianqian’s ear.

Jin Qianqian gently patted his little bottom. "Your papa has been very tired these past few days. Tomorrow, he’ll definitely spend lots of time with our Luo Luo. You saw earlier at dinner, didn’t you? Papa didn’t hold your little brother either."

"That’s because little brother was sleeping the whole time," Gu Benluo retorted.

"How about Mama takes you to the backyard to play?" Jin Qianqian suggested. "We can go see if Cancan is awake, alright?"

"Little brother is no fun at all. All he does is sleep all day," Gu Benluo complained, his earlier slight completely forgotten.

"You were just like that when you were little, Luo Luo..."

As the sound of their conversation faded into the distance, Ancient Wen Heng drifted into a deep sleep, a faint smile on his lips.

These days, Shangjing was exceptionally lively. The taverns and teahouses had all but become the exclusive domain of scholars.

It was as if they had been cooped up for far too long. Now, finally liberated, they gathered in small groups to drink and socialize.

Even Liu Wenping, who had been ill for several days, rushed off to various gatherings with his Attendant Student the moment his health began to improve.

Ancient Wen Heng went along to a few gatherings himself but soon found them dull. He chose instead to spend his time at home with his wife and children.

Jin Qianqian packed several picnic baskets and pulled out the Persian rug she had picked up in Sea City. She turned to Qing Mei and the other maids. "Go wash some more fruit. We’ll leave as soon as it’s ready."

Ancient Wen Heng held Gu Ben Can in one arm and Luo Luo with the other. "Don’t prepare too much," he said. "We can find a farmhouse nearby later and borrow their stove to have a hot meal."

The spring weather was perfect. Unlike the other scholars who were going on outings with friends, Ancient Wen Heng planned to take Jin Qianqian and his children for a picnic.

That gave Jin Qianqian an idea. "Li Qiu, you and Lidong go to the kitchen. Get a set of pots and pans, and pack some fresh vegetables."

"Wenheng, has Brother Liu left yet? Should we ask him to come along?"

"Brother Liu has received many invitations these past few days," Ancient Wen Heng replied. "I asked him yesterday; he already has plans."

Jin Qianqian had only asked out of courtesy. After all, he was their guest; it would have been rude not to extend the invitation.

Gu Benluo watched everyone bustling about, occasionally running over to get in the way. Unable to watch any longer, Ancient Wen Heng plucked him up and put him in the carriage to wait.

This was the first time their family of four had gone on an outing together. Including the maids and servants, their procession consisted of four whole carriages.

Gu Benluo curiously stuck his head out the carriage window, watching the people bustling along the street and the many vendors hawking their wares.

The little fellow couldn’t sit still, constantly reaching out his small hands to grab at things passing by. Ancient Wen Heng pulled him back inside and secured the curtain. "Be careful, or something outside might just pull you right out."

"Papa, I want to go down and play!"

"Just a little longer. The place we’re going is even more fun," Jin Qianqian coaxed.

On a nearby street, Gu Lexi stared blankly as the procession of carriages moved into the distance. He suddenly turned and grabbed Gu Yuanmu. "Dad, I think I just saw Seventh Uncle."

"Where?" Gu Yuanmu asked, his face lighting up.

"There, in that procession of carriages that just passed. I saw Seventh Uncle sitting in the first one."

Gu Yuanmu looked at the luxurious procession and turned to give Gu Lexi a light smack. "Did you not get enough sleep last night? You know our family’s situation, don’t you? How could your Seventh Uncle possibly be riding in a carriage like that?"

"You must have been seeing things. Now hurry and haul this stuff away, or the foreman will dock our wages."

Gu Lexi cast a reluctant glance after the procession, then pressed his lips together and began piling the weeds he had just cleared into his basket.

’Maybe I really was mistaken. Seventh Uncle should have returned to our hometown by now.’