Pomegranates symbolize the abundance of children and blessings.

Just as Song Mo was eagerly anticipating Dou Zhao’s wish coming true, Chen Jia sent several pomegranate ornaments carved from mutton-fat jade.

He couldn’t help but pick one up to examine under the lamplight: “This Chen Jia, I didn’t realize he had such a discerning eye. I underestimated him.”

His words conveyed the approval of Chen Jia.

Dou Zhao also reached into the box to take out a “pomegranate” to admire: “It’s carved from a single piece of mutton-fat jade. Such mottled coloring originally wouldn’t be worth much. But through the craftsman’s skilled hands, he utilized the coloring to create these pomegranates, turning them into jade pieces worthy of being family heirlooms. The most remarkable thing is that he managed to make four or five nearly identical pieces…” She carefully examined and caressed the remaining “pomegranates,” saying, “They must have been cut from one large piece of stone… This stone was probably originally meant to be discarded… I wonder which master jade craftsman created these? It’s truly a work of ingenuity that rivals nature…”

Song Mo agreed with Dou Zhao’s assessment.

Each “pomegranate” was about the size of a child’s fist. The highest quality mutton-fat jade is pure white and flawless. If it were a single, intact piece of mutton-fat jade, even with such mottled coloring, it could have been carved into several small pendants or even large ornaments. The fact that they were all made into individual “pomegranates” suggests that although the original stone was large, the usable jade for carving wasn’t a single piece. Moreover, the coloring had penetrated deep into the jade, making even small pendants less than top quality.

Seeing Dou Zhao’s interest, Song Mo smiled and said, “We can ask Chen Jia to come tomorrow and find out who carved them.”

However, Dou Zhao shook her head and carefully placed the pomegranates back into the box, saying, “Such exquisite pieces, if not a shop’s prized possession, would be treasures in a collector’s hands. Not just a newly appointed Jinyiwei official, even our Dou family with our antique shop couldn’t easily acquire such fine pieces — I’m afraid these items might have dubious origins. It’s best to return them!”

“You make a good point,” Song Mo smiled, placing the pomegranate he was holding back into the box. “Although the Jinyiwei Zhenfu Department has extensive connections, for a newly appointed official like him to obtain such jade pieces is no easy feat.”

There was something else he didn’t say.

The Jinyiwei Zhenfu Department often engaged in shady activities. He liked this gift because he hoped it would bring good fortune to him and Dou Zhao. But if it was tainted with blood, it would be better not to accept it.

He called for Chen He and handed him the items, saying, “Have Du Wei investigate where these came from.”

Chen He acknowledged and left.

Song Mo no longer dared to be playful with Dou Zhao. He instructed Gan Lu to help her wash up, and after she finished, he insisted on carrying her to bed, as if she were a fragile piece of glassware.

Dou Zhao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, saying, “I’m not sick, I can still walk on my own.”

“It’s better to be careful,” Song Mo smiled, his eyes showing unwavering seriousness and persistence.

This side of Song Mo made Dou Zhao both happy and helpless. She understood that once Song Mo made up his mind, it wasn’t easy to change his course.

She allowed Song Mo to carry her to bed.

Song Mo was somewhat excited. After washing up, he held Dou Zhao in his arms and talked.

“What do you think, will it be a boy or a girl?” He gently stroked her black hair.

She knew Song Mo would ask such questions and couldn’t help but smile, “Which do you hope for, a boy or a girl?”

“Either is good,” Song Mo said dreamily. “It would be best to have a girl first. People say it’s better to have flowers before fruit. Besides, girls are more attentive and can help you take care of their younger siblings later, and even help manage the household… Then we can have a few more, whether boys or girls, ideally five boys and three girls…”

Dou Zhao broke out in a cold sweat: “Isn’t that too many?”

“Not at all, not at all,” Song Mo laughed. “Our Song family has few descendants, so we don’t have as much support in our endeavors as the Marquis of Chang Xing’s family or the Duke of Ding Guo’s family…” His voice trailed off before he could finish the sentence.

He must have been thinking about the past prosperity and current decline of the Duke of Ding Guo’s family.

Dou Zhao hugged Song Mo tightly.

“We’ll tell our children to study hard in the future,” she gently comforted Song Mo. “Not always fighting and killing, which can lead to trouble.”

Song Mo felt Dou Zhao’s concern and hugged her tightly in a silent response.

“We’ll ask your father to start their education,” he said with a slight smile. “Who knows, maybe our family will produce a jinshi scholar.”

Dou Zhao chuckled, holding his hand and nestling in his embrace.

The palace lamp on the small stool by the bed sputtered a few sparks.

Dou Zhao softly asked Song Mo, “How are Fifth Uncle and the others doing over there?”

“They’re doing well,” Song Mo played with Dou Zhao’s delicate but not particularly soft hand. “He says the Prince of Liao takes good care of him, often sending his chief secretary to check on him. The people at the garrison are very polite to them because of this. Jiang Fangyuan has even secretly started a fur and medicinal materials business. Not only do they no longer need silver from Huzhou for their expenses, but they can also be self-sufficient and manage their living expenses.

Oh, Jiang Fangyuan is my eldest uncle’s firstborn son, twelve years older than me. When he was at home, he liked to study but didn’t like martial arts. He was often nagged by my eldest uncle for this, but now unexpectedly, the whole family relies on him to make a living. My second cousin Jiang Fangzhong, third cousin Jiang Fangji, and seventh cousin Jiang Fangqi all survived. Jiang Fangzhong is from the fourth branch, Jiang Fangji from the seventh, and Jiang Fangqi is my third uncle’s second son…”

He introduced the Jiang family members to Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao, however, felt only heartache.

Of Jiang Meisun’s four sons, only the studious Jiang Fangyuan survived; Jiang Zhusun’s daughter had committed suicide; of Jiang Lansun’s three sons, only Jiang Fangqi survived; of Jiang Songsun’s six sons, only the youngest, still in swaddling clothes at the time, lived; Jiang Baisun left behind that child who was still with the Tan family, not yet added to the family genealogy…

It was only now that she deeply understood how much pain Madam Mei must feel, and how strong she must be.

Song Mo carried the bloodlines of both the Jiang and Song families.

Was it because of this that he was stronger than others?

But as the saying goes, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

Was it because of this that he had endured more hardships than others?

Dou Zhao wrapped her arms around Song Mo’s neck and kissed his chin.

“What is it?” Song Mo looked down, his eyes and brows filled with warm smiles.

“Nothing!” Dou Zhao kissed his cheek and said, “There are so many people in the Jiang family.”

“Yes,” Song Mo smiled. “Three inner and nine outer branches, twelve in total, plus the married-out aunts and cousins. It wasn’t until I was nine that I finally recognized all the relatives in the family…”

As he recalled those years, his expression became animated and spirited, losing some of his usual dignity but gaining a youthful exuberance. He was like the boy next door – friendly, enthusiastic, genuine… yet so handsome.

Dou Zhao smiled, pressing her lips together.

Song Mo probably could never truly be like an ordinary boy next door!

She couldn’t help but kiss Song Mo’s cheek again.

Song Mo paused, looking at her quietly, patiently waiting for her to speak.

“It’s nothing,” Dou Zhao smiled. “I was just listening to you talk about the Jiang family!”

Song Mo smiled and continued, “I loved going ice skating at Shichahai with Fifth Uncle the most, but every time, Grandmother would anxiously insist that I bring all my attendants. I knew she was worried because the Song family only had me and my brother, and she was afraid something might happen…”

Dou Zhao gazed at Song Mo intently, a smile constantly gracing her face.

Their intimate closeness could make her lose control.

Could this be considered another kind of irresistible feeling?

Song Mo suppressed the excitement in his heart, trying to keep his tone calm and composed.

Compared to her passionate responses, he seemed to prefer her full attention and undivided gaze on him even more.

※

Early the next morning, Gu Yu came running over.

“Brother Tianci, I’m going to Liaodong. Do you have anything you want me to take to Fifth Uncle?”

He was wearing a dark fox fur coat and seemed very happy.

Song Mo handed Gu Yu several letters and a large bundle: “The letters are for Fifth Uncle, and the bundle contains food and some commonly used ointments that your sister-in-law prepared for you.”

Hearing that Dou Zhao had prepared things for him, Gu Yu let out an awkward “Oh” and had his attendant take the bundle.

Song Mo couldn’t help but give Gu Yu a few words of advice before personally seeing him off.

Chen Qushui requested to see Dou Zhao.

He looked somewhat hesitant: “Scholar Tan’s wife has come to visit you…”

His tone implied he was asking whether she would receive the visitor or not.

Dou Zhao was very surprised.

Why would someone from the Tan family want to see her? Could it be about that child?

She quickly said, “Please invite her in!”

Chen Qushui showed Madam Tan to the small reception hall.

Madam Tan was about forty years old, with fair skin and a plump figure. Her round face was like a silver basin, smiling before she even spoke, making people feel warm just by looking at her.

“Our seventh son has opened a fruit shop in the capital, and he’s getting married in a few days. I’ve come on the old master’s orders to help out,” she said, smiling at Dou Zhao, appearing friendly and approachable. “A few days ago, Duan Gongyi returned to Zhending, and the old master only then learned that you had married into Duke Ying’s family. Remembering that you had specially sent a congratulatory gift for the old master’s birthday back then, he asked me to bring a gift to congratulate you and the young master on your marriage and wish you a long and happy life together.” As she spoke, she took out the gift list.

It was just a thin piece of paper, listing some refined but not particularly valuable gifts such as hanging screens and porcelain.

Dou Zhao couldn’t help but wonder to herself.

She had sent a gift to Old Master Tan back then to thank the Tan family for their help. Why was the Tan family sending her a gift now?

As she pondered this, she heard Madam Tan say with a smile, “I heard that Duke Ying’s mansion had a fire recently. Have those thieves been caught and brought to justice? When our master heard about it, he couldn’t stop praising the young master for his brilliant strategy, saying he’s destined for great things!”

Brilliant strategy? Destined for great things?

Dou Zhao couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.

This Madam Tan was quite the flatterer. Even she had heard that many people outside were wary of Song Mo’s methods, saying he was ruthless and cunning, especially those in the jianghu circles who would pale at the mention of his name…

As this thought flashed through her mind, she paused slightly.

Could this be the purpose of Madam Tan’s visit?

Not to seek favor, but to avoid suspicion!

Dou Zhao’s mind raced, and she smiled, saying, “Madam Tan is too kind! Did you come alone or with Scholar Tan? The young master has gone out on business and might not return until the afternoon. Why don’t you stay for dinner before leaving?”

Madam Tan smiled and said, “I came alone. I’ll have to ask you to convey our master’s greetings to the young master on our behalf! Our seventh son is waiting for me to go back and help, so I can’t stay long. Next time I come to the capital, I’ll make a special visit to see you!” With that, she stood up, ready to take her leave, showing no intention of meeting with Song Mo.

Dou Zhao understood.

She smiled as she escorted Madam Tan out, reassuring her, “The young master is a sentimental person, and we’re from the same hometown. When you come to the capital, you must come and visit us…”

“Certainly, certainly!” Madam Tan’s face lit up with a bright smile as she curtsied to Dou Zhao and left Yizhi Hall.

Dou Zhao breathed a sigh of relief.

This Song Mo had stirred up such chaos that even the Tan family village couldn’t sit still and had come to show goodwill.

She shook her head, feeling somewhat helpless.