At dawn the next day, His Majesty's birthday gifts were delivered to Brightpeace Palace.
After expressing his gratitude, Gu Jin returned to find that his younger siblings—the Second Master, Evan Shea; the Third Master, Carl Shea; and their elder sister, Lady Gu Hui—had already arrived from the Prince of Rui's residence.
As the three performed their formal bows, Gu Jin smiled. "You insist on such ceremony every time. I might as well take it as your way of bullying me, knowing I can't stop you."
Evan Shea laughed as he saluted again. "I hold my eldest brother in the highest respect. How could I ever dare to bully you? The thought itself would be a crime!"
"Not every time—only today," Lady Gu Hui said with a soft laugh.
"Come closer, Ah Hui. Let me have a look at you. I heard you were coughing through the winter. Are you better now?" Gu Jin beckoned her forward.
"I'm perfectly fine."
Smiling, Gu Hui stepped closer and replied, "It was nothing serious. I just can't stand the cold air—if it catches in my throat, I cough a few times. But every time, Mother makes a great fuss over it."
"That's what mothers do." Gu Jin smiled warmly. "If a bit of chill makes you cough, your lungs must be weak. Take tonics that nourish the lungs and strengthen the qi for a year, and you'll be much better. I remember you hate decoctions—have the imperial physician prepare honey pills instead."
Gu Jin studied her complexion with care, then added gently, "You're looking much healthier now."
"I detest medicine—all kinds," Gu Hui said solemnly, then laughed. "But since you've said so, I'll have a few boxes of honey pills made when I return."
"You're far more obedient than Ayue ever was," Gu Jin said with a chuckle.
After chatting briefly with Evan and Carl, a servant's voice came from outside:
"The eldest young master of Marquis Yongping's household, Shen Mingshu; the second young master, Shen Mingyi; and the eldest young lady, Shen Mingqing, have arrived."
"Go and welcome them," Gu Jin said, smiling at his siblings. Then, turning to a young eunuch, he added, "Send word to Ninghe—she lives the nearest, yet she's always the last to come."
Gu Hui hurried off to greet Shen Mingqing, while Carl went down the steps to receive their guests. Evan stood at the threshold, smiling as the siblings of the Shen family approached.
Carl exchanged courtesies with Shen Mingshu, and the two men walked up the stairs together.
Gu Hui patted ten-year-old Shen Mingyi on the head, praising how much he'd grown, then walked alongside Shen Mingqing, chatting and laughing as they entered the main hall.
Evan let them all pass, then followed them in.
The three Shen siblings lined up before Gu Jin to offer birthday respects.
Gu Jin leaned forward, smiling as he raised a hand to stop them. "Up, up! I've no taste for these worldly formalities. Ah Yun, Ah Lai—help them up, quickly! And you too, Ah Hui—don't just stand there smiling. Ah, I knew it! You never listen to me."
Despite his gentle protest, the Shen siblings completed their bows before rising.
Just as everyone had settled into their seats, the herald announced the arrival of Princess Ninghe, Gu Yue.
"Has Sister Shen arrived already? How early you are!"
Shen Mingqing quickly stood to greet her, while Gu Hui rose more slowly, glancing sidelong at the princess who was half running into the room.
Carl also stood and took a few steps forward.
Gu Jin and Shen Mingshu were deep in conversation and seemed not to notice, while young Shen Mingyi, seeing that his elder brother didn't rise, followed his example and stayed still.
"Greetings, Sister Shen! Lady Hui! Brother Gu! Brother Shen! And my two younger brothers!"
The princess's voice was bright and musical as she made her rounds of graceful bows.
"You're the one who's late," Gu Jin teased. "And yet you scold others for being early?"
He smiled, eyes crinkling. "Now then—where's my birthday gift? Quickly, let me see. I heard you went to your third brother yesterday to beg for a present. Did you forget to prepare one for me?"
"How could I!" Ninghe exclaimed. She gestured to a maid, who handed her a tray. Taking it herself, she presented it to Gu Jin.
"I didn't go to beg for a gift—I wanted him to look over mine, to see if it was suitable. I was afraid you might dislike it. You didn't even like the jade-and-ruby hairpin I gave you last year."
"It wasn't that I disliked it," Gu Jin said, smiling as he lifted the red silk embroidered with endless 'longevity' characters. "It was simply too precious. This one, however, is perfect."
Beneath the silk lay a plain wooden hairpin, a little rough in carving but made with care.
"You already knew! My third brother must have told you," Ninghe said with a laugh. "It was his idea, you know. He said you only use hairpins you've carved yourself, so I should make one for you with my own hands. I wanted to use rosewood, but it was too hard to shape. I tried huangyang and pearwood too, but couldn't cut them either. This one's made of paulownia—please don't mind."
"Paulownia is excellent," Gu Jin said warmly. "Tall and noble as a phoenix's perch—'a hundred feet high beneath the stars, brushed by dawn's frost and autumn's falling leaves.'"
He smiled, motioning for the eunuch to replace his current pin with the new one.
"I should have gone to the Prince Heir for advice too," Shen Mingqing said, smiling at Gu Hui. "It seems my gift this year won't compare."
"Even if you had, it wouldn't help," Gu Hui replied lightly, lifting her teacup. "Our brother doesn't give away his ideas so easily."
"Where is the Prince Heir, anyway?" Evan asked, smiling. "He's usually the first to arrive."
"He came by yesterday," Gu Jin replied. "Said he'd be inspecting the city outskirts today."
"Second Master hasn't come either," Carl noted, glancing at Shen Mingshu.
Shen Mingshu was the Second Prince's study companion and close confidant.
"Lady Shen has had another bout of asthma," Gu Jin said. "I told him to come later."
"She's been ill since the start of the twelfth month," Evan sighed. "I heard she hasn't improved at all."
Shen Mingqing cast him a sidelong glance. Everyone knew that Lady Shen had fallen ill the very day Shen Yun was executed.
Shen Mingshu's expression darkened. "Her Ladyship… she was deeply fond of him. A woman of great feeling. But let's not speak of sorrow today. I too have prepared a gift for you, my lord—please, see if it pleases you."
"Good, good—bring them all here. I'll look through them one by one." Gu Jin smiled, as though he hadn't heard the first half of the remark.
He had just begun examining the gifts when a servant announced, "His Highness the Second Prince, Gu Hao, has arrived!"
"Quick, go welcome him! Help me up!" Gu Jin said at once, motioning for the others to rise and calling to the eunuchs.
Before he finished speaking, Evan Shea and Shen Mingshu had already rushed out to greet the prince, young Shen Mingyi close behind. Carl hesitated a moment, then stepped forward to help Gu Jin rise.
Shen Mingqing also stood, while Gu Hui glanced toward the door and waited until she heard footsteps approaching before rising herself.
Princess Ninghe and Carl supported Gu Jin on either side, chattering as they did.
"Why must you go out to greet him, brother? Second Brother isn't an outsider. You never do this when Third Brother visits. Careful, brother—slowly now. See? I told you not to go, and look—Second Brother's already here!"
"Sit, brother, please," Gu Hao said, hurrying forward to press him gently back onto the couch. "I'm here to wish the birthday star a long life, not to give you more trouble."
"It's all Ayue's fault for fussing," Gu Jin laughed, giving the princess a light pat before sitting down again. He turned to Gu Hao with a courteous bow.
"Don't, please," Gu Hao said quickly, returning the salute. "I'm the one here to pay my respects." He stepped back to perform the formal birthday bow.
"Stop him—quickly!" Gu Jin cried.
Before the words had fully left his mouth, Shen Mingshu had already moved to block Gu Hao, and Evan joined him on the other side.
Unable to kneel, Gu Hao could only bow repeatedly with clasped hands, his smile warm as he offered his blessing.