The Innocent Heart - Chapter 76

Huo Qubing thought what he thought, but he was ultimately unaccustomed to allowing a dog to enter a room so freely.

“Quickly, put Old Three outside. Since when do dogs stay in the house like people?” Huo Qubing said with a look of disdain as he watched the “fawning” Old Three and Guan Yueyao, who was currently teasing it.

The keeping of hunting hounds had long been a trend among the upper class of the Han Dynasty. The Emperor loved hunting and dog fighting; in the Weiyang Palace, a great number of hunting and fighting dogs were raised. Even in the Wei Manor, many hounds were kept.

But it was the first time Huo Qubing had seen someone treat a dog like this—as if it were not a beast, but a beloved child.

How strange…

“It’s so cold outside; what if Old Three freezes?” Guan Yueyao rejected the suggestion without a second thought. She affectionately picked up Old Three and rubbed her face against its furry head. Turning around, she saw Huo Qubing looking at her with a face full of revulsion.

“Dogs are humanity’s best friends! Why are you so judgmental? In the modern era, dogs help humans do many things they can’t do themselves!” To convince Huo Qubing, Guan Yueyao began to rack her brain for heroic tales about dogs she had heard before.

“Look, dogs can be military dogs, police dogs, or guide dogs! I remember reading scientific research saying that people who own dogs have a lower chance of getting cardiovascular disease when they get old!” She had seen this line of reasoning online when she was trying to convince her parents to let her keep a pet. She never expected she would be using it on Huo Qubing.

“Military dogs?” Guan Yueyao’s words sparked a hint of curiosity in Huo Qubing. “What can a dog do in the army?”

“Oh, plenty! Tracking and attacking enemies, patrolling, search and rescue…” At this point, Guan Yueyao scratched her head and thought hard for a moment before saying sheepishly, “There should be many other roles, but I’ve forgotten them.”

Even so, Guan Yueyao’s words opened a new train of thought for Huo Qubing. He began to envision the use of hounds and fighting dogs in warfare. He walked over and sat down beside Guan Yueyao, looking at Old Three, who was sitting obediently in front of her.

“A beast like a dog can have such great uses?” He was still hesitant. He frowned at Old Three, whose tongue was lolling to one side and whose eyes were fixed intently on the dried meat in her hand.

This dog doesn’t look very smart, no matter how you view it.

But Guan Yueyao wouldn’t stand for that. She immediately held up the meat and gave commands, making Old Three demonstrate sitting, shaking hands, playing dead, and rolling over.

“Haha! This dog is actually so obedient!” Huo Qubing found it interesting as well. He opened his mouth and commanded, “Old Three, sit!”

Old Three sat down obediently again. Huo Qubing couldn’t help but examine it closely. “This dog truly can understand these commands.”

“I used to watch TV programs showing the training of military and police dogs. They were much more impressive than this—they could jump through hoops of fire and walk across wires two meters high!”

At this point, a trace of envy appeared on her face. “Those big wolves (German Shepherds) were so majestic!” Thinking of this, she rubbed Old Three’s furry head again. “Old Three, Old Three, why can’t you grow a bit bigger!”

Huo Qubing watched his friend’s intimate behavior with the dog. Although he still found it hard to accept, he ultimately didn’t mention putting Old Three outside again.

Two days passed, and an imperial edict was issued. The Emperor was to host a banquet in the Weiyang Palace, inviting his confidants to enjoy the snow.

Presumably for the sake of the military matters following the New Year, Wei Qing, Huo Qubing, and Guan Yueyao were all included in the invitation.

As it was a luncheon, Guan Yueyao was dragged out of her warm bed early that morning by the maids. She was changed into formal attire suitable for an audience with the Emperor, and her hair was braided anew.

During her time in the Han Dynasty, influenced by the concept that “hair and skin are given by parents and must not be harmed,” Guan Yueyao’s hair had grown to a length below her shoulders. Accustomed to short, brisk hair, she found this quite inconvenient.

“Oh, the Young Master looks truly handsome today after being dressed up,” she heard Luxiu say with a beaming smile behind her after the hair was tied.

Guan Yueyao was always gentle and casual with the servants, so the maids in Huo Qubing’s courtyard all enjoyed being near her.

Really? Guan Yueyao turned to look at the bronze mirror on the table. The mirror showed a somewhat blurred reflection—a face with sword-like eyebrows, bright eyes, a high nose, and a slight curve at the corner of the mouth. She truly did look like a refined and dashing young gentleman.

Feeling proud of herself, she began making funny faces at the mirror, causing the maids behind her to giggle.

“A-Yao, A-Yao, are you ready yet? Why are you being so slow?!” Huo Qubing’s impatient voice rang out from outside.

Then came the sound of blunt footsteps approaching. Guan Yueyao stood up just as a figure burst into the room.

“Well? Does this look good?” Guan Yueyao grabbed her sleeves and spread her arms, looking at Huo Qubing with a smile.

Huo Qubing stopped in his tracks and examined his friend thoroughly. It was the first time he had seen Guan Yueyao in such formal dress, and he couldn’t help but look a few moments longer.

This A-Yao looks even better than many of the princes and nobles I’ve seen, he thought. The irritability he felt about attending the banquet seemed to be smoothed over by an invisible hand in that instant.

A-Yao usually hated wearing such formal robes, finding them restrictive and uncomfortable. If it weren’t for the Emperor’s banquet, she likely wouldn’t have worn these “troublesome” quju shenyi (curved-hem robes) for anything.

“Not bad. You finally look like a proper human being,” Huo Qubing nodded and said seriously.

“Haha, I think it’s not bad too! But it’s just too much trouble to put on! Can’t the hem be a bit shorter and wider? How great would it be to just wear pants!” Guan Yueyao grumbled as she lifted her hem and walked out, still unaccustomed to it.

With the maids present, she didn’t dare be too blunt with her complaints, so she just mumbled under her breath.

Huo Qubing laughed at his friend’s disheveled appearance every time she wore formal clothes. “You’ve been to the palace several times; how are you still not used to it?”

Guan Yueyao made a bitter face. “How can anyone get used to this? It won’t let me run fast, nor will it let me jump down stairs—it’s practically the death of me!”

As she spoke, even the maids couldn’t help but cover their mouths and laugh.

Huo Qubing just smiled and said no more. To be honest, he didn’t like the oppressive atmosphere of the palace either. Except for the Emperor, no one dared to speak loudly; it seemed as if everyone was living while suppressing their true nature.

“Young Masters, the Master is asking if you are ready. It is time to enter the palace,” Wei Qing’s attendant, Yanshou, asked respectfully from outside.

The two youths didn’t dare delay any further. Assisted by the maids, they both put on their fox-fur cloaks and hurried out of the courtyard.

Perhaps because the “Son of Heaven” was hosting guests, even the heavens were cooperating. Though it was called a snow-viewing banquet, a light, fine snow actually began to fall.

The light was just right, and the Weiyang Palace was draped in silver. Truly, it was as the poems described: towers like layered jade, paths like connected gems. Jade steps lined the courtyards, and woods stood like coral trees. The white cranes lost their freshness to the snow, and the silver pheasants lost their brilliance; the silk sleeves felt plain, and jade-like faces were eclipsed.

Wei Qing led Huo Qubing and Guan Yueyao toward the Xuanzhi Hall, while Wei Shao’er and her sister, Wei Junru, went to the Hall of Clear Coolness.

“So women were invited to this banquet too?” Guan Yueyao whispered into Huo Qubing’s ear as they followed behind Wei Qing and Gongsun He.

Beside them, Gongsun Jingsheng was peeking at the two of them.

Gongsun Jingsheng was the same age as Guan Yueyao and was a somewhat frail-looking youth. Today, besides his fox-fur cloak, he held a hand warmer and was frowning as he complained about the cold.

Seeing Huo Qubing’s attitude, Guan Yueyao realized that although Gongsun Jingsheng was Qubing’s cousin, their relationship didn’t seem great, so she didn’t pay much attention to him.

“Yes, the women are being received by my aunt,” Huo Qubing nodded. Although he was in the palace, his heart was still on the unfinished game on the sand table at home, making him appear somewhat distracted.

Along the way, familiar colleagues occasionally stepped forward to greet Wei Qing and Gongsun He. From their appearance, their relationship with the Wei family seemed quite close.

Guan Yueyao, like Huo Qubing, was very impatient with this kind of social interaction. However, every time someone came to pay their respects, they would inevitably ask about the status of the juniors in the family.

At these times, Wei Qing could only push the three boys forward to introduce them one by one. As juniors, no matter how unwilling they were, they had to force a smile and bow respectfully to the visitors out of etiquette.

“Ugh, this is even more tiring than visiting relatives during New Year when I was a kid. All that’s missing is them asking us to do a talent show,” Guan Yueyao bared her teeth and grumbled quietly to Huo Qubing.

“When you visit relatives, they at least give you ‘Red Envelope’ money. My hands are sore from bowing today, and I haven’t made a single cent.” The more Guan Yueyao thought about it, the more she felt she was losing out, making a face of genuine distress.

Surprisingly, her expression made the similarly impatient Huo Qubing laugh. Looking at his friend’s strange face, he couldn’t help but chuckle. “Since you’re so heartbroken, when we get back, just take whatever you like from my room!”

He spoke generously, with the heroic air of “my things are your things.”

Guan Yueyao waved her hand. “There’s really nothing in your room I like. Next time we go to the mutton stall, just your treat!”

Overhearing this, Gongsun Jingsheng couldn’t help but be secretly amazed. What is this Guan Yueyao’s background? He knew exactly what kind of treasures were in Huo Qubing’s room. Both the Emperor and Lady Wei doted on this nephew; whenever they received something good, they never failed to send a portion to Huo Qubing’s room.

This youth named Guan Yueyao looks down on all of it? Is he ignorant of their value, or is his background truly extraordinary? Gongsun Jingsheng’s eyes darted around, his curiosity piqued.