As the Song father and son rushed back from the palace, the lanterns were just being lit. The guests who had come to attend Song He’s third-day celebration had already dispersed.
Song Mo nodded to Song Yichun and returned to Yizhi Hall.
Song Yichun, however, stood silently for a long while on the bluestone path leading to Duke Ying’s mansion.
In the past, although the Emperor’s treatment of him couldn’t be called intimate, he hadn’t treated him as an outsider either. But during this palace visit, he sensed the Emperor’s coldness and distance towards him. The Emperor even said something along the lines of “not distinguishing between legitimate and illegitimate children is the root of family chaos.”
Could it be that the Emperor had heard something?
Or had Song Mo complained about something to the Emperor?
When Song Yichun turned to look toward Yizhi Hall, his gaze was as sharp as a poisoned knife.
Song Mo was indeed capable of doing such a thing!
No wonder the military officials in the capital always had to be on high alert whenever Song Mo was mentioned!
Thinking of this, Song Yichun felt a lump in his throat.
He flicked his sleeves and returned to Xixiang Courtyard.
Song Han’s injuries had improved significantly. He was leaning on a crutch at the entrance to welcome Song Yichun.
Seeing his pale face, Song Yichun’s heart softened. He asked, “Why aren’t you resting properly? Has your injury improved?”
Song Han smiled and replied, “The imperial physician Father invited for me is extremely skilled. I’ve only taken three doses of medicine and already feel much better.” He lightly supported Song Yichun as they walked towards the main room. “I heard that today the Emperor bestowed a name on Elder Brother. The Emperor still favors Father greatly. Such an honor is unique to our family in the entire capital.”
He attributed all the credit to Song Yichun.
Song Yichun found this very pleasing and spoke even more gently: “This is also because the Emperor recognizes our family’s generations of loyalty. Therefore, we only need to act according to the Emperor’s wishes. As for other matters, they don’t concern us. Only in this way can we continue to enjoy this favor for a long time to come.”
He must be referring to Duke Ding’s mansion, right?
It seems Father has taken to heart the matter of me marrying the Jiang family’s daughter.
Song Han laughed coldly in his heart but said aloud, “Father’s teachings are correct. I’m older now and have seen many things. I understand the importance of priorities and won’t be as ignorant as before.”
Song Yichun nodded with satisfaction and stopped walking. He said, “In a few days, I’ll go to the palace to seek a marriage arrangement for you. These days, stay at home and study well. Don’t cause any trouble, lest the nobles in the palace hear of it and become displeased. Understand?”
Song Han was stunned.
Song Yichun thought that having such a foolish son wasn’t bad after all. At least he would listen to everything he said and wouldn’t act on his own, causing embarrassment.
“Silly boy!” He smiled as he entered the hall, but in his mind, he was considering arranging for two maids to teach his son about the affairs between men and women.
Watching Song Yichun enter the room, Song Han slowly returned to his residence in the east wing.
Qixia and Caiyun hurried to welcome him.
He waved his hand, dismissing all the servants in the room, and entered the inner chamber. He quietly moved aside the Guanyin statue on the east side of the inner chamber, revealing a small portrait.
The person in the portrait wore an embroidered silk robe, elegant and beautiful, with a hint of strength and pride between the brows.
“Mother!” he murmured, tears suddenly falling. “I didn’t mean to… I didn’t know there was poison in that medicine… I didn’t dare tell you… You had already started to suspect by then… I know that although you didn’t like Father, you never doubted him… I was afraid that if I told you, Father would find out… Xingfang by your side had already been bought by Father. If Father denied it and she tampered with the evidence, I would have died without a burial place…
Whenever they weren’t paying attention, I would secretly pour out half of the medicine and dilute it with water… I thought this way, you could hold on until Brother returned… But I never expected Father to tell you about my background, angering you to death…” His face was wet with tears. “Mother, you loved me the most. You never blamed me no matter what I did wrong. This time, you’ll surely forgive me too, won’t you?” As he spoke, he caressed the portrait, his expression gradually becoming ferocious. “Don’t worry, your son will avenge you…”
Meanwhile, Song Mo returned to Yizhi Hall, bathed, changed his clothes, and went to the inner chamber.
Dou Zhao was drinking carp soup, attended by Ganlu. Seeing him return, she quickly instructed the maids to set the table: “You haven’t had dinner yet, right? I had the kitchen keep your dinner!”
Song Mo nodded and leaned over the bed to look at his sleeping son.
Seeing Dou Zhao lower her head to drink the soup, he quietly extended his finger and poked his son’s little face a few times.
Having eaten and drunk his fill, Young Master Yuan pursed his little lips and ignored him.
Song Mo poked him again.
Young Master Yuan frowned, turned his face away, and continued sleeping.
Song Mo was about to poke him again when Dou Zhao, who had finished her fish soup, caught him red-handed.
She couldn’t help but feel both angry and amused, and asked, “What are you doing?”
Song Mo felt embarrassed at being caught in the act and smiled, “I saw him sleeping all the time, not opening his eyes to play for a while…”
He wanted the child to play with him for a while, right?
Dou Zhao smiled and said, “Newborn babies are all like this. They sleep for eleven out of twelve hours a day, and the remaining hour is spent eating, drinking, and relieving themselves. They only occasionally open their eyes.”
“Is that so?” Song Mo seemed a bit disappointed.
Ruoying came in to report that dinner was ready.
Song Mo had his dinner in the outer room.
Dou Zhao had already tidied up and was preparing to rest.
Fearing that the child might roll onto the floor while sleeping, mothers usually sleep on the outer side. Although Young Master Yuan had just been born and was still swaddled, out of habit, Dou Zhao still slept on the outer side. Song Mo had been sleeping on the large kang bed by the window these past few days.
Seeing Dou Zhao lie down, he squeezed onto the bed and said, “Let me help you take care of the child. You can sleep on the inner side.”
Remembering Song Mo’s earlier behavior, Dou Zhao wasn’t reassured and said, “I’m still feeling a bit unwell, so I don’t want to move. When the child is older, you can help me take care of him!”
Song Mo then slept on the inner side and said, “If you need anything, just call me.”
Seeing his enthusiasm, Dou Zhao smiled and agreed, letting the maids come in to extinguish the lights.
Because she was taking care of the child herself and had been busy with social engagements all day, she closed her eyes and quickly fell asleep.
In the middle of the night, she was awakened by the child’s crying.
She quickly sat up, only to find that both Song Mo and the child were gone.
Dou Zhao broke out in a cold sweat and called out loudly for “Yantang.”
Song Mo entered, awkwardly holding the child: “I, I saw you sleeping deeply, so I took the child to the wet nurse for feeding, but he wouldn’t eat…”
Now this is the son I gave birth to!
Dou Zhao felt a warmth in her heart and said gently, “I’ll feed him.”
Song Mo sheepishly handed the child to Dou Zhao.
Dou Zhao turned to her side to breastfeed the child.
Song Mo sat on the edge of the bed, watching.
After the child was full and had his diaper changed, he became lively, opening his eyes to play.
Dou Zhao couldn’t help but yawn.
Song Mo quickly said, “I’ll take care of the child. You go to sleep.”
Dou Zhao couldn’t fall asleep.
Song Mo was very insistent: “If not, there’s still the wet nurse. If you go on like this, you’ll wear yourself out.”
In her previous life, she had indeed worn herself out in this way.
Dou Zhao’s eyes became a bit misty.
Following his words, she lay down, watching with open eyes as Song Mo somewhat clumsily carried the child back and forth in the room, talking nonsense to him. She eventually fell asleep.
When she opened her eyes, Young Master Yuan was sleeping soundly next to her pillow, and Song Mo was sleeping sweetly with his face close to his son’s.
Looking at the two faces, one big and one small, Dou Zhao felt as if her heart had been tickled by a feather. It was itchy, and an indescribable emotion filled her chest.
She couldn’t help but gently caress Song Mo’s face…
At this time, in the Jing Guogong mansion, the three ladies were sitting in the hall waiting for their mother-in-law, Duchess Jing, to finish her grooming so they could pay their respects.
Lady Zhang, the second wife, quietly asked Lady Zhang, the third wife, Feng: “Why did you come back so late yesterday? Was the third-day celebration at Duke Ying’s mansion very lively?”
She had intentionally returned late yesterday, wanting to miss the evening gathering and save the news for this morning when everyone came to pay their respects.
Her sister-in-law’s words were like offering her a ladder, and she couldn’t help but perk up. She smiled, glanced at Wei Tingzhen, and then said, “It wasn’t just lively, it was magnificent! The Emperor even bestowed a name on my newborn nephew!”
Lady Zhang, the second wife, was stunned and was about to say something when Duchess Jing, supported by her maid, walked out. She had just caught the end of the conversation and couldn’t help but ask, “The Emperor bestowed a name on whom?”
“The eldest grandson of Duke Ying’s family!” Lady Zhang, the third wife, then elaborated on what name the Emperor had bestowed on the third prince, what name he had given to Young Master Yuan, what gifts the Crown Princess had sent to Duke Ying’s family, how many guests had come to Duke Ying’s mansion, and how many gifts the Dou family had sent for the third-day celebration, exaggerating everything a bit as she told Duchess Jing.
The Duchess Jing was also somewhat surprised and sighed, “After all, Duke Ying’s family has prestige!” Then she instructed her maid, “When Young Master Yuan reaches his full month, I’ll also go to join the celebration.”
Lady Zhang, the third wife, was delighted. She took the Duchess Jing’s arm and smiled, “Mother, your phoenix hairpin with emerald inlays is really beautiful today. Are those South Sea pearls on it?”
“You have such a sharp eye.” The Duchess Jing smiled and went to the adjacent resting room.
Wei Tingzhen followed behind her mother-in-law and two sisters-in-law with a wooden expression, thinking bitterly: It’s just a distant relative, yet they’re so smug. If they have the ability, let the Emperor bestow a name on their son… But in her heart, she knew that this was the third wife’s way of mocking her after hearing about her sister’s marriage.
Thinking of the maid sent back by Dou Ming, she twisted the handkerchief in her hand into a dried plum.
A couple of days later, Wei Tingzhen couldn’t resist and returned to her maiden home.
On the day of the child’s full-month celebration, not only did Duchess Jing personally attend, but even the Marchioness of Changxing and the usually unsociable Marchioness of Yan’an came. The Marchioness of Changxing even explained to Dou Zhao as soon as she entered: “My mother-in-law really wanted to come see the eldest young master, but she was afraid of disturbing the child, so she had to give up.”
The Dowager Marchioness of Changxing was widowed and it wasn’t appropriate for her to attend such a joyous occasion.
Dou Zhao smiled and exchanged pleasantries with her: “Thank the Dowager Marchioness. When the child is a bit older, I’ll bring him to pay respects to the Dowager Marchioness.” Because the Marchioness of Yan’an was Wang Qinghuai’s mother, and the wife of the Marquis of Yan’an’s heir, Lady An, was on good terms with her, she warmly greeted the Marchioness of Yan’an and personally invited the ladies to the small flower hall to sit with the women of the Dou family. The elderly Mrs. Lu and Princess Ningde, who had arrived early, were sitting in the warm room next to the small flower hall. Everyone exchanged greetings, and the atmosphere was very lively with cheerful conversation.