As Song Mo entered his mother’s room, Madam Jiang was speaking quietly with a daughter-in-law. Hearing the serving maids’ sweet voices calling out “Young Master,” she knew her son had returned from Zhending.

After dismissing the servants, Madam Jiang personally poured her son a cup of tea. “Did you meet Miss Dou?”

“Yes, I did,” Song Mo hurriedly stood up to accept the teacup. “Miss Dou asked me to convey her gratitude to Grandmother and you. She said if she has the chance to visit the capital, she’ll certainly visit you. She also sent some return gifts for you, which I’ve had Chen He give to Nanny Huo.”

Nanny Huo was Madam Jiang’s wet nurse, while Chen He was the servant who accompanied Song Mo to deliver gifts to the countryside estate.

Madam Jiang was delighted to hear that Dou Zhao had prepared return gifts for her. She smiled and said, “Come, let’s see what the fourth Miss Dou has brought for me.”

Song Mo accompanied Madam Jiang to the side room that served as a storeroom. The gifts were merely some fine silks and satins, though of high quality, they were quite ordinary.

Song Mo explained, “Miss Dou didn’t expect Grandmother and you would send me personally to express thanks. Since she kept this matter secret from her family, she hastily sent someone to Zhending to buy a few pieces of good fabric. She asked me to tell you that it’s a modest gift, not worthy of your esteem, and hopes you won’t mind.”

Madam Jiang touched the raised floral pattern on the brocade, sighing, “What fine things haven’t I seen before? It’s the thought that counts.”

Song Mo secretly breathed a sigh of relief and smiled as he walked out with his mother. Suddenly, Madam Jiang’s legs gave way, and if not for Song Mo’s quick reflexes in supporting her, she would have fallen to the ground.

Song Mo was greatly alarmed. “Mother, what’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing, nothing,” Madam Jiang smiled to reassure her son, but her face was visibly pale.

“Mother!” Song Mo hurriedly helped his mother back to her room and arranged for the imperial physician to come and check her pulse.

Song Yichun, who had been drinking and chatting with his brother-in-law, Prince Consort Shi Culan, in the water pavilion of the Third Princess’s mansion, received the news and rushed back immediately. He encountered Song Mo seeing off Imperial Physician Yang Luan at the door. Being well acquainted, Song Yichun didn’t stand on ceremony and pulled Yang Luan, who was about to leave, back inside. They all went to Song Yichun’s study.

“How is my wife?” Song Yichun asked worriedly.

“Nothing serious,” Yang Luan replied. “It’s just a case of pent-up emotions affecting her heart. A few doses of qi-dispersing medicine should do the trick.”

Song Yichun sighed, “Ever since her elder brother’s incident, she hasn’t had a good night’s sleep. Why don’t you add some herbs to calm her mind and soothe her spirit?”

This was a simple request. Yang Luan smiled and agreed, rewriting a prescription for Madam Jiang. Only then did Song Mo escort Yang Luan out again.

Song Yichun went to the main room. Madam Jiang was reclining against the bed headboard, her face haggard. As Song Yichun entered, the maids respectfully curtsied, addressing him as “My Lord.” Madam Jiang also weakly called out “My Lord.”

“How are you feeling now?” Song Yichun walked straight to the bedside, carefully examining Madam Jiang’s complexion. “I just met Yang Xiushan. He said there’s nothing serious, and a few doses of medicine to calm your spirit and nourish your qi should suffice.” He sat on the edge of the bed, holding Madam Jiang’s hand that rested on the thin quilt. “Hmm, your fingers are still a bit cold. You need to take better care of yourself. We’re not young anymore; we can’t push ourselves like we used to.”

Yang Luan’s courtesy name was Xiushan.

Madam Jiang smiled tightly and asked, “What did the Third Prince Consort say?”

Song Yichun’s visit to the Third Princess’s mansion was mainly to speak with the King of Liao through Shi Culan.

“With me intervening, how could Ruifang say no?” Song Yichun patted his chest confidently. “Don’t worry, we’ll have news before your third elder brother and the others arrive.”

Madam Jiang’s expression relaxed, and she gratefully said “Thank you” to Song Yichun.

“We’re old husband and wife now, why mention such things?” Song Yichun said, his face showing hesitation.

Madam Jiang smiled, “Since we’re old husband and wife, what can’t you tell me?”

Song Yichun laughed dryly a couple of times, then lowered his voice, “Now that your mother and the others are safe and sound, and Hanzhu has passed away, I think regarding Tianci’s marriage…”

Madam Jiang understood her husband’s meaning and smiled, “Of course, it’s up to you to decide.”

Her husband had reluctantly agreed to let Song Mo marry Hanzhu during the Jiang family’s life-and-death crisis, which was already a testament to his deep affection and sense of duty. Now that the Jiang family had fallen from grace, although the Song family didn’t need a daughter-in-law to help support them, Song Yichun would not agree to marry his eldest son to the daughter of a disgraced official who had been demoted to commoner status. At the time, it was less that he had reluctantly agreed and more that he had temporarily acquiesced out of necessity.

Now that the Jiang family’s crisis had passed and Hanzhu had died, there was no need or possibility for the Song and Jiang families to form a marriage alliance.

A look of joy appeared on Song Yichun’s face.

Outside, the pearl curtains clattered as Song Han ran in.

“Mother, Mother, what’s wrong?” He threw himself at his mother’s bedside, only then noticing his father. He quickly stood up straight and respectfully greeted his father.

Song Yichun nodded approvingly but still reprimanded him, “What has your tutor taught you? When your brother was your age, he already knew how to conduct himself properly…”

Song Han pouted, his eyes brimming with tears as he looked at his mother.

Madam Jiang quickly intervened, “Alright, alright, he’s still young. He’ll understand when he’s older.” She then changed the subject, “I’ve been very tired these past few days. My Lord, could you please help collect the July rent?”

The Marquis of Ying’s household had sixteen imperial-granted estates, and like government offices, they collected rent twice a year in summer and autumn. At this time, the estate managers from each property would return to the Marquis’s mansion to settle accounts.

“Sure!” Song Yichun readily agreed. “There’s a steward anyway. I’ll just be there as a figurehead.”

He didn’t understand these matters.

Madam Jiang couldn’t help but smile.

Song Mo returned with the medicine and, seeing the cheerful atmosphere in the room, paid his respects to his parents and asked, “What are you talking about? Everyone seems so happy!”

Song Yichun quickly said, “Your mother asked me to help calculate the summer rent, and I still need to help your uncles negotiate with the King of Liao. I think it’s best if you handle this matter. Didn’t Master Hong praise your arithmetic skills? It’s a good opportunity for you to help manage some household affairs.”

Song Mo was quite surprised and looked towards his mother.

But Song Yichun, as if afraid Song Mo might change his mind, hurriedly said, “Let’s settle it like this.” Then he added, “I’ll go to the storehouse to see if there’s anything suitable to send to the King of Liao. If you have any concerns, just talk to Tianci!” The last sentence was directed at Madam Jiang. With that, he got up and went to the storehouse.

Madam Jiang sighed and said to her son, “It’s just a formality. You’ve been running around these past few days without a good night’s sleep. Your uncle’s situation has stabilized, and you don’t need to worry about household matters. Why don’t you go play with Yu’er and the others?”

Yu’er’s formal name was Gu Yu, the eldest grandson of Cloud Yang Count Gu Quanfang. Gu Quanfang’s principal wife, Lady Song, was Song Yichun’s aunt. The couple had been married for less than a year when Lady Song passed away from illness, leaving no children. Although Gu Quanfang later remarried the cousin of Xuanning Marquis Guo Haiqing, he maintained the same close relationship with the Song family when Lady Song was alive, which in turn brought the Song and Guo families closer.

Gu Yu’s mother was the biological sister of Empress Wan, who died in childbirth. He was the same age as Song Mo, with delicate and pretty features like a girl, but he had a very domineering personality. He would fight at the slightest provocation and wouldn’t allow his attendants to help, insisting on fighting himself. It was manageable when he beat others, but when others beat him, it was hard to settle the matter. This had caused countless troubles. Empress Wan, feeling sorry for her sister’s only child, doted on him like the apple of her eye. When things got out of hand, she would personally intervene to plead on his behalf. All the official families in the capital kept their children away from him, and over time, he earned the nickname “Little Tyrant of the Capital.”

Some people with ulterior motives encouraged him to provoke Song Mo.

Song Mo was also quite a unique figure in the capital.

It was said that Song Yichun was very strict with him, hiring several great scholars to teach him various subjects. Besides the classics, poetry, music, calligraphy, and painting, he also had to study astronomy, calendar-making, arithmetic, and horseback archery. His time was always insufficient, and he rarely went out, so few people knew him. Those who hadn’t met Song Mo liked to call him “the bookworm of the Marquis of Ying’s household” behind his back, while those who had met him usually remained silent.

In fact, by that time, Song Mo had already been thrown onto the battlefield by Jiang Meisong to toughen him up. He viewed Gu Yu as a child would an infant and didn’t take his provocations seriously, naturally ignoring them.

Gu Yu started a fight at a royal family banquet.

Song Mo showed no mercy, beating Gu Yu to a pulp despite Empress Wan’s pleas.

At that time, the King of Liao hadn’t yet been sent to his fief and was cheering Song Mo on from the sidelines, as if hoping for chaos.

The Crown Prince was sweating profusely, trying to pull Song Mo away and then Gu Yu, but neither of them paid him any heed. In his desperation, he called for the guards to separate them.

Empress Wan hugged Gu Yu and cried, while Madam Jiang hugged Song Mo and cried.

The Emperor had no choice but to pretend he hadn’t seen anything, claiming he had drunk too much and needed to rest.

Unexpectedly, from that day on, Gu Yu became subservient to Song Mo, visiting the Marquis of Ying’s mansion every day to play with him.

Song Mo had no time to entertain him and left him ignored on the side.

Gu Yu didn’t mind, grinning and following Song Mo like a piece of chewing gum. He went wherever Song Mo went, never retaliating when hit or insulted. Once, he was even thrown into a well by Song Mo and nearly drowned. After being pulled out, he didn’t say anything to the adults and continued to follow Song Mo.

It was only then that Song Mo truly noticed him.

He had his bodyguard, Xu Qing, whom Duan Gongyi referred to as “a sword hidden in a box,” teaching Gu Yu martial arts.

Gu Yu could hold a horse stance for the time it took two incense sticks to burn, without uttering a word of complaint even when his limbs were trembling.

Seeing this, Song Mo had Yan Chaoqing teach him to read.

Madam Jiang wanted to say something but held back.

Song Mo sneered, “If the Guo family wants to play the ‘excessive praise’ game, let them. But to scheme against the Marquis of Ying’s household is going too far. I originally planned to settle this score with the Guo family properly, but for Gu Yu’s sake, I’ll let it go. Let Gu Yu resolve this grudge himself.”

Madam Jiang said nothing more.

In just two or three years, Gu Yu seemed to have become a different person. Not only was he humble and courteous, speaking with substance, but he was also generous and easygoing, able to get along with anyone.

Empress Wan praised Song Mo more than once in front of Madam Jiang.

Song Mo occasionally had Gu Yu run errands for him, and they shared meals a few times.

Seeing that her son rarely had a playmate of his age and that Gu Yu had mended his ways, Madam Jiang often encouraged her son to go out with Gu Yu.

“What else does he do besides falconry and horseback riding?” Song Mo smiled. “I’d rather help you balance the accounts for the estates. After all, it’s family business, and it’s never wrong to learn more about it.”

Madam Jiang had been worrying herself sick these past days, and in the end, her brothers had still passed away one after another. Though she didn’t say it, she secretly blamed herself, feeling that she had harmed her brothers. If she had listened to that young girl’s advice earlier, things might not have come to this. The more she thought about it, the more disoriented she became.

Her eldest son was a young man carefully nurtured by both the Song and Jiang families, and she had great confidence in him.

“This household will be yours sooner or later. Since you’re interested, go ahead and learn how to balance the accounts,” Madam Jiang smiled and had someone bring the tally sticks to Song Mo.

Song Han snuggled up to his mother and said, “Then I’ll keep Mother company.”

Madam Jiang fondly stroked her second son’s head.