Five years later
Jiang City
An exquisite carriage rolled along the long street. There were no vendors on either side of the street, as it was snowing in Jiang City today.
"Mama, when will we arrive? When can we see Papa?" A little girl inside the carriage was held in the arms of a beautiful woman. If one looked closely, they would notice that this beautiful woman bore a resemblance to the Empress Dowager.
"Yin'er, be good, we will see Papa soon," the beautiful woman told the little girl.
"Then, after seeing Papa, can I ride a horse?" the little girl asked the beautiful woman.
"Yes, after you see Papa, you can ask him to take you for a ride," the beautiful woman coaxed the little girl.
The little girl seemed very happy. Just as they were chatting harmoniously, the carriage suddenly jolted and stopped abruptly.
The two inside almost fell out but managed to steady themselves. The beautiful woman immediately checked on the little girl, "How are you? Did you get hurt?"
The little girl shook her head, "Mama, Yin'er is fine."
"It's good you're fine," the beautiful woman breathed a sigh of relief, then asked from outside, "What happened?"
The carriage curtain was lifted, "Replying to Madam, there's a child being chased out by the inn ahead," said the servant outside.
"A child?" The beautiful woman frowned. The little girl in her arms also looked outside through the lifted curtain. She saw a child dressed in thin clothing curled up on the ground, with several servants hitting him with sticks.
"Mama, he's so pitiful..." the little girl said, looking at the boy.
"Does Yin'er want to save him?" the beautiful woman asked.
The little girl nodded and then climbed out of the woman's embrace.
"Hey..." the woman wanted to say more, but seeing the little girl already being helped out of the carriage, she said no more.
The little boy looked about four or five years old. The sticks hitting him looked truly terrifying.
"Stop!" the little girl called out crisply.
The people in front stopped. The little boy on the ground had a dirty face. Looking at the person not far away, he felt a strange sensation in his heart.
The little girl was about six or seven years old, wearing a red padded jacket. Although young, she had an imposing aura.
"If you hit him like this, you'll kill him. Besides, haven't you seen our carriage arrive? Why are you blocking the road? You blind fools, let him go! He's just a child, how can you be so cruel?" The little girl was now completely unlike a child.
The others were just servants from the inn. Seeing the little girl and the carriage behind her, along with the servants, they knew she must be the daughter of a prominent family. It would be disastrous if they accidentally offended a noble.
"Miss, please forgive us. This little brat doesn't know the rules. This is an inn, and this beggar is huddled at our doorstep. No matter how we drive him away, he won't leave," the servant explained.
"So what? Can't you talk nicely? Must you hit him? You are not allowed to hit him anymore. Get out of the way," the little girl said, hands on her hips, acting quite spoiled.
The servants exchanged glances, appearing troubled.
"How dare you! My young lady is the daughter of General Nan Xiaoming, the Great General who guards the capital. If you offend our Madam and young lady, can you bear the consequences?" said a nearby maid.
Upon hearing this, they immediately lost their spirit. "Yes, yes, it was our fault for not recognizing your status. We beg Madam and Miss to forgive us." The group quickly moved aside.
The little girl walked over and squatted beside the little boy. "Hey, how are you? Why are you here? Where are your family? I'm Nan Yin, what's your name?" Nan Yin asked him.
"I..." The little boy stared at Nan Yin, his eyes deep and calm, unlike someone his age.
"I'm waiting for someone here..." the little boy said.
"Waiting for whom?" Nan Yin looked at him blankly.
"Waiting for an old acquaintance," he said.
Nan Yin tilted her head. "Then did you find them?" Nan Yin asked him.
The little boy looked at her, silent for a moment, then said, "I have..."
Nan Yin listened, somewhat confused. "Then where is he? Why are you still here alone?" Nan Yin asked him.
"She... forgot me," the boy said.
"Ah? Then..." Nan Yin was about to say something else but was interrupted by the little boy. "I don't have a name..." he said.
"Then..." Nan Yin didn't seem to know what to do. However, she still had someone help him stand up.
"Then I'll give you a name," Nan Yin suddenly thought.
"Mm..." The little boy kept looking at her, his gaze unwavering.
"My father's army is called the Shun'an Army. So... how about calling you Gu Shun? Gu from 'gu pan sheng hui' and the Gu that means to care for. Shun means peace and smoothness. Isn't that a bit common?" Nan Yin asked him.
The corner of the little boy's lips curved slightly. "...It's not common. I like it very much. Thank you."
"Okay, I have to go. Take care of yourself. This is my savings, all for you!" Nan Yin took out all her silver and stuffed it into Gu Shun's hands, then ran back, holding up her skirt.
Gu Shun watched Nan Yin's retreating figure, a faint glow in his eyes. Nan Yin returned to the carriage and even lifted the curtain to look back at Gu Shun, waving to him.
Gu Shun watched Nan Yin's carriage leave. He looked at the bag of silver in his hands and smiled.
"Yin'er... this is the first time you met me..."
Gu Shun silently followed Nan Yin's carriage. The servants saw him and tried to drive him away. "Young master, we are going to the border. You shouldn't follow. Miss and young master have already given you silver. Please go back, alright?"
The servants said all they could, but Gu Shun showed no intention of leaving. Finally, having no other choice, the servants reported the matter to Nan Yin and Madam Nan.
"Following?" Nan Yin seemed surprised.
"What does Yin'er want to do?" Madam Nan gave her the authority to decide.
Nan Yin was silent for a moment. She lifted the carriage curtain and looked back. She indeed saw him following behind. Gu Shun was thin and frail, and dressed so thinly in the dead of winter. What if something happened to him?
Moreover... even though he had money now, he was so small. What if someone robbed him? What if he was bullied again? Would he die?
In a short while, Nan Yin had imagined many scenarios. Perhaps it was an excuse she made to keep him, or perhaps it was genuine pity...
"Mama... can he follow us?" Nan Yin asked Madam Nan.
"It's all up to you. You decide, Yin'er is a big girl now and can make her own decisions." Madam Nan always preferred to let Nan Yin make her own choices.
"Mm... Thank you, Mama. I want to take him with us," Nan Yin told Madam Nan her decision.
"Alright, then take him," Madam Nan agreed very quickly.
Thus, Gu Shun left with Nan Yin's entourage.
That night, they found an inn to rest, and Gu Shun was also assigned a separate room.
When Nan Yin came over, Gu Shun was sitting alone in the room. He had just bathed, and the dirt was gone, making him look much more pleasant. Seeing Nan Yin arrive, he was a little stunned, then filled with joy.
"How are you feeling? Your clothes are too thin, and they're dirty, so I asked someone to get you some new clothes. But don't worry, these clothes are brand new, never worn, just bought on my order. Also, I asked for some food to be prepared. You must be hungry, right?" Nan Yin took the clothes from the maid behind her.
They were snow-white. She... had always liked wearing white clothes herself. It never changed.
"Thank you..." Gu Shun said, his eyes flashing with a peculiar light.
"It's nothing. We'll probably reach the border tomorrow. I'll tell you, my father is very capable. He's a great general, and he'll definitely help you find the person you're looking for," Nan Yin said, her face full of pride when speaking of her father.
Gu Shun remained silent. Nan Yin thought he was shy and didn't force him to respond. After finishing these tasks, she left with her entourage.
That night, Nan Yin was sleeping soundly when a person entered her room. Who else could it be but Gu Shun? He walked to Nan Yin's bedside. After waiting for so long, he had finally waited for his Yin'er to return.
Gu Shun sat beside her. "Yin'er... look at me, okay?" Gu Shun said softly.
But sadly, the empty room was destined to have no one answer him. His voice gradually dissipated into the cold air.
Gu Shun sat by Nan Yin's bedside all night. As dawn broke, he finally left. Having finally seen his Yin'er, he was reluctant to leave.
When he returned to his own room, he remembered that they had to travel today. However, Yin'er liked to sleep in. She would probably be hungry if she skipped breakfast. Besides, skipping breakfast was not good for her health. Therefore, before leaving, Gu Shun took some pastries to prepare.
As expected, Nan Yin was woken up and got on the road without eating breakfast.
Gu Shun looked at the packed pastries in his hand, wanting to give them to her, but...
"Did you skip your meal again?" Madam Nan stroked Nan Yin's head.
"Mm... it's too early," Nan Yin said, clinging to Madam Nan's arm and acting cute.
"You're so lazy. I've already asked someone to prepare food in the carriage. Hurry up and get on," Madam Nan doted on Nan Yin, patting her head. Nan Yin was then helped onto the carriage.
Gu Shun's smile froze on his face. The things in his hand could not be given, so he could only silently put them down again. He had forgotten... the Yin'er of today had a loving mother, not just him alone... He had prepared her favorite horseshoe cakes today, but his Yin'er didn't seem to need him anymore.
They set off. Gu Shun was young and still injured, so Madam Nan and Nan Yin had prepared a separate carriage for him. He sat alone in the back carriage, his mind replaying every scene of Nan Yin.
In the afternoon, the carriage arrived at the border.
Nan Xiaoming had sent people to pick them up. Nan Yin and Madam Nan alighted from the carriage. Gu Shun watched as Nan Yin ran towards her father. Nan Xiaoming picked Nan Yin up. "My Yin'er is here?" Nan Xiaoming doted on Nan Yin the most.
"Papa, I missed you so much. You don't know how long we've been traveling," Nan Yin said, hugging Nan Xiaoming's neck and acting cute.
"Yes, Papa also misses Yin'er. I've been looking forward to Yin'er's arrival every day," Nan Xiaoming replied.
The family of three was harmonious. Gu Shun watched from behind. It was good... his Yin'er was very happy... Just as Gu Shun was about to step back, he saw Nan Yin walking towards him.
Was she... walking towards him?
"Hey, I'll take you to meet my father," Nan Yin said to him after standing in front of him.
"Let's go," Seeing him stunned, Nan Yin took his hand and walked towards Nan Xiaoming.
Gu Shun looked at Nan Yin holding his hand, somewhat dazed. She was actively holding him... Gu Shun fell a few steps behind Nan Yin, looking at Nan Yin ahead. The corners of Gu Shun's lips curved slightly.
Nan Yin brought Gu Shun to Nan Xiaoming.
"Papa, this is someone I rescued. How am I? Am I very good?" Nan Yin sought praise.
"Yes, Yin'er is very kind." Nan Xiaoming never hesitated to praise Nan Yin.
He looked at Gu Shun. "What's your name?"
Nan Yin was about to interject, but she heard Gu Shun's answer. He said, "My name is Gu Yin. Gu from 'care for,' and Yin from 'earnest.'"
Gu Yin? Nan Yin was bewildered.
"You don't like the name I gave you before?" Nan Yin asked him.
"My name is Gu Yin..." Gu Yin just replied.
Nan Yin didn't know why this was happening, but she respected Gu Yin's opinion. It was his name, and he could call himself whatever he wanted.
"Papa, he's looking for someone," Nan Yin told Nan Xiaoming.
"Looking for someone? Looking for whom? Your parents?" Nan Xiaoming asked.
"No... I have no parents. The person I'm looking for... I've found them, but she doesn't recognize me anymore," Gu Yin said.
Nan Xiaoming and Nan Yin looked at him. Gu Yin concealed his emotions and lowered his head. He looked like a child now. When he lowered his head, others simply thought he was sad because someone didn't remember him.
Gu Yin stayed. Nan Xiaoming kept him. After all, he was just a child... During this process, Nan Xiaoming discovered Gu Yin's astonishing talent for observing destiny and predicting karma. Keeping such a person here, who knew if it would be a blessing or a curse.