Morning sunlight poured through the latticed windows of the Gu Residence, spilling across the polished floor like threads of gold. The winter frost had melted at last, leaving dew on the peach trees that bordered the inner courtyard. Their pink blossoms quivered in the breeze, each petal trembling like a secret waiting to be told.
From the eastern wing came a burst of laughter bright, high, and clear.
"Tianyi! Wake up, wake up! Father was riding a white tiger!"
Gu Lianhua burst into her brother's room, Her hair had been twisted into two butterfly knots above her ears, each pinned with a tiny silver plum blossom each tied with threads of red silk When she laughed, the ribbons fluttered like wings, as though even her joy could take flight.. She clutched a toy soldier in one hand, her eyes wide with wonder.
Gu Tianyi rubbed his eyes, half-buried under his quilt.
"A tiger? You're dreaming again, Lianhua. Father rides horses, not tigers."
"No, no," she said stubbornly. "It flew! Its tail touched the moon!"
"Then it must be a very long tail," Tianyi muttered, rolling over.
Undeterred, she began bouncing on his bed until he surrendered, laughing. "Fine, fine, I believe you! Just stop jumping or you'll break my ribs."
Their laughter echoed down the corridor, and even the maids outside paused in their sweeping, smiling at the sound.
By the time the siblings reached the dining hall, the morning mist had already lifted. Steam rose from bowls of congee and dumplings, and the faint scent of ginger perfumed the air.
Lianhua sat swinging her legs under the table, pretending to eat. Each time her mother glanced away, she quietly nudged her vegetables into Tianyi's bowl.
Madam Gu raised an eyebrow. And said
"Little Miss, if you keep that up, your brother will turn green like a spring cabbage."
"He likes vegetables!" Lianhua insisted.
"No, I don't!" Tianyi protested, glaring at her.
"You said yesterday that generals must be strong," she replied triumphantly. "And strong people eat everything!"
Madam Gu pressed her lips together to hide a smile.
"Lianhua, didn't you promise to start dancing lessons today? Have you forgotten already?"
The little girl froze, chopsticks halfway to her mouth. Then she gave a sheepish grin.
"Ah… yes… but Mother, I will not dance for now ."
"Oh?"
"I don't want to dance anymore! I will be a general just like Father!"
Tianyi puffed out his chest. "Then I'll be your chief commander!"
The two saluted each other with their chopsticks before bursting into giggles. Madam Gu sighed, shaking her head, but her eyes were soft.
"Heaven help this household," she murmured. "Two little generals and one goose army."
By midday, chaos had bloomed like wildflowers.
The children had raided the servants' storeroom and emerged triumphantly with brooms, wooden spoons, and a washbasin turned upside down for a drum. Tianyi tied a red scarf around his forehead, while Lianhua wore one of her father's old belts as a sash.
"Troops of the Peach Blossom Guard!" she shouted in her most serious voice. "Prepare for battle! The goose invaders approach!"
The maids covered their mouths, laughing behind their sleeves.
From the pond waddled the culprit the round, self-important palace goose, fanning its wings and hissing.
"Charge!" Tianyi cried, waving his broom like a spear.
The goose squawked and flapped, sending the boy retreating in mock terror. Lianhua banged the washbasin like a war drum.
"Don't retreat, Commander! For honor and peach buns!"
Maid Yu appeared in the courtyard, hands on her hips.
"Young Master, Little Miss Heaven spare me! You'll scare the poor creature bald!"
"It started it first!" Tianyi protested, ducking behind a pillar.
Lianhua, triumphant, planted her broom in the ground.
"Victory is ours! Even the goose fears our army!"
The courtyard rippled with laughter. Servants peeked from doorways, smiling as sunlight spilled across the children's flushed faces.
When Madam Gu arrived, she found her "little army" standing stiffly at attention, brooms raised like real spears.
"My brave soldiers," she said, pretending to inspect them. "Shall I prepare medicine for the wounded goose?"
The children exchanged guilty glances.
"No need, Mother," Tianyi said quickly. "The enemy has retreated in peace."
"Peace is good," she said, her voice warm. "But my general seems to have forgotten her dancing again."
Lianhua blinked. "Dancing?"
"You promised to learn before Father returns."
The girl looked down at her boots, then up at the peach tree where petals drifted in the breeze.
"When Father comes home, I'll show him my broom army instead," she said proudly. "He'll be so amazed he'll forget about dancing too."
Madam Gu chuckled softly and brushed a stray petal from her daughter's hair.
"Then may our empire never lack brave hearts like yours, my little general."
As the afternoon sun slanted golden across the courtyard, a flutter of wings cut through the air. A white pigeon descended onto the balcony rail, a tiny red thread tied around its leg.
"A message!" Tianyi gasped. "Maybe it's from Father!"
He ran ahead, nearly knocking over a vase before catching the bird. Madam Gu untied the thread, her hands trembling slightly as she unfolded the small parchment.
The ink was faint but clear her husband's familiar hand.
"Laugh often, my children.
Be brave.
When the peach trees bloom twice, I will return."
Lianhua clapped her hands, eyes bright.
"Then let's make the trees bloom faster!"
She ran into the courtyard, scattering petals into the air. Tianyi joined her, shouting,
"One blossom, two, three hurry, hurry!"
The servants laughed through their tears, and even Madam Gu smiled, though her eyes shone with quiet ache.
"Heaven guard your path," she whispered, gazing toward the far northern sky.
That night, the air was sweet with the scent of peach blossoms. Lanterns glowed softly across the veranda, and the children sat beneath the old peach tree, their laughter fading into drowsy murmurs.
Lianhua leaned against her brother's shoulder, her voice thick with sleep.
"When Father comes back, I'll show him my army."
"And your dancing?" Tianyi teased
"He'll laugh," she murmured, half-smiling. "He'll say I dance like a broom."
They both giggled quietly until their eyes drifted shut.
Madam Gu watched from the doorway, the lantern light haloing her figure. For a moment, the courtyard felt whole again filled not with fear or longing, but the tender peace that only laughter can weave.
Beyond the walls, the first stars began to bloom across the sky, like new petals opening in the dark.
"Sleep well, my little generals," she whispered. "Dream of spring it is coming