Song Mo was playing with a ball to entertain his son when he heard this news. Somewhat surprised, he smiled and said to Dou Zhao, “It seems the Prince of Liao cannot be underestimated!”
Of course not. In his previous life, he had been the emperor.
But in that life, he hadn’t returned midway.
So why had he come back to the capital in this life?
Was it because circumstances had changed between this life and the last, forcing him to alter his original plans?
Dou Zhao felt one could never be too cautious when it came to the Prince of Liao.
She advised Song Mo, “Be careful.”
“We haven’t fallen out with the Prince of Liao yet!” Song Mo reassured her with a smile. “I’ll act according to the situation.”
As Dou Zhao was about to offer more advice, little Yuan ran over, hugging Song Mo and shouting “Ball! Ball!”
Song Mo quickly picked up his son, saying to Dou Zhao, “Let’s go play ball. Let’s not talk about such unpleasant matters anymore.”
Little Yuan hadn’t spoken until his first birthday, but after the celebration, it was as if a switch had been flipped. Not only could he call out “Papa,” but he would also wave at the servants around him saying “Come here,” then point at the teacup when he wanted water or at snacks when he wanted food. Song Mo was so excited he couldn’t sleep that night. The next day, he proudly told Dou Zhao, who had long been worried about little Yuan’s development, “I told you my son was smart. He was just waiting for the right moment to shine. You’re always such a worrywart, making me needlessly anxious all this time.”
Dou Zhao smiled silently, listening to his complaints with mixed feelings of bitterness and sweetness.
In her previous life, Wei Tingyu had never cared for the children. Her two children only started calling “Papa” when they were almost two years old and speaking quite clearly. In this life, Song Mo spent time with little Yuan as soon as he finished work. Her child learned to say “Papa” before “Mama.” She turned her face away, blinking a few times before turning back with a bright smile for Song Mo.
Song Mo showed little Yuan how to play with the ball.
Little Yuan stood nearby, clapping his little hands. Whenever the ball hit the ground, he would toddle over to pick it up and hand it to Song Mo. When Song Mo encouraged him to kick it a few times, he would run and hide behind Dou Zhao, peeking out to observe Song Mo. If Song Mo looked stern, he would wave to his wet nurse saying “Come here, come here.” The nurse would walk over smiling, and he would either ask for water or snacks. If Song Mo was all smiles, he would point at the ball and say “Ball, ball,” meaning he wanted Song Mo to continue playing.
At first, Song Mo cheerfully kicked the ball, but after a few rounds, he suddenly realized what was happening. He turned to Dou Zhao, who was sitting nearby doing needlework, and said with a mix of amusement and exasperation, “So this little rascal just wants me to perform for him! I’ve become a circus act.”
Dou Zhao chuckled.
Little Yuan didn’t understand why his parents were laughing, but laughter meant goodwill to him.
Giggling, he picked up the ball and brought it to Song Mo, looking up at him with big, bright eyes.
Song Mo’s heart melted completely. He squatted down, hugged little Yuan, and gave him two kisses.
Little Yuan giggled again, looking adorable.
Song Mo took the ball from Little Yuan’s hands and said with a smile, “Watch carefully, Papa will play ball for you.”
He kicked the ball high, almost hitting the ceiling.
Little Yuan clapped his hands, laughing and jumping, as joyful as a little bird.
Wu Yi watched this scene, hesitating at the door, unsure whether to enter or leave.
Dou Zhao nodded at him.
Only then did Wu Yi enter with a smile, presenting a red invitation card. “Young Master, Mr. Geng Li from the Prince of Liao’s residence has brought an invitation for you. The Prince of Liao is hosting a banquet at his residence on September 12th and invites you, your wife, and the young master to enjoy chrysanthemums.”
The Prince of Liao hadn’t immediately gone to his fief in Liaodong after leaving the palace. He had lived in the capital for two years before departing for Liaodong. His residence in the capital had been looked after by the Imperial Clan Court all along.
Dou Zhao felt that no banquet came without ulterior motives, but it would be impolite to decline the Prince of Liao’s invitation. Especially since they didn’t know how long he would stay in the capital – one excuse might work for declining once, but what about the second or third time?
After some thought, she said to Song Mo, who was contemplating the invitation, “It’s taboo for a prince to socialize with court officials, especially someone like you who commands the palace guards. Should you mention this to the Emperor?”
If the Emperor showed even the slightest displeasure, Song Mo would have an excuse to decline the Prince of Liao’s invitation.
Song Mo smiled, “Of course, I’ll inform His Majesty. Why do you think I’ve had hardly any social engagements lately? I’m showing my loyalty to the Emperor! However, we need to find out what the Prince of Liao has been up to these days. Who else has he invited? Who received invitations first? Who received them afterward? We need to investigate all of this.” He then added thoughtfully, “And there’s Song Han’s situation. The Empress isn’t one for idle gossip. If she’s favoring Song Han, I don’t believe she doesn’t have her agenda.”
Dou Zhao nodded in agreement.
The next morning, Du Wei thoroughly investigated and reported on the Prince of Liao’s every move since arriving in the capital, laying out the information on Song Mo’s desk.
Song Mo read the report before returning to the inner chambers to have breakfast with Dou Zhao and little Yuan.
Dou Zhao asked him, “What did Du Wei say?”
While feeding little Yuan a piece of meat floss, Song Mo replied, “The Prince has invited only imperial relatives, sending out invitations based on seniority and age. Nothing seems amiss. Yesterday, before even entering the palace, he sent an invitation to the Emperor. If nothing unexpected happens, His Majesty will receive him after the morning court session today. We’ll see then if the Crown Prince will be present!”
If the Crown Prince was present, it would at least prove that although the Emperor favored the Prince of Liao, he remained clear-headed and rational, still upholding the Crown Prince’s position as heir apparent. If the Emperor met with the Prince of Liao alone, or worse, met him with the Empress while excluding the Crown Prince… the Crown Prince’s position would become precarious.
Dou Zhao understood this as well.
As she saw Song Mo off, she gently patted his hand.
Song Mo smiled. Seeing that the maids and servants were keeping their distance, he turned around and quickly pecked Dou Zhao on the cheek before getting into his sedan chair.
Dou Zhao’s face burned. It took her a while to compose herself before she headed to the main courtyard of Duke Ying’s residence with her usual calm demeanor.
The Emperor not only met with the Prince of Liao alone but also said to the imperial relatives who mentioned the Prince’s banquet invitation, “I simply missed my son and called him back for a visit. He just wants to see his uncles and brothers. Don’t stand on ceremony with him. He’s made a fortune these past few years in Liaodong, trading furs, digging ginseng, and harvesting pearls. Just let him treat you to good food and drink!”
Prince Huainan and the others laughed awkwardly, responding with a “Yes.” They were all sharp enough to change the subject, asking about what businesses were profitable in Liaodong and how much money the Prince of Liao had made.
The Emperor was pleased by the Prince of Liao. He spoke enthusiastically, not only recounting the interesting stories the Prince had told him about Liaodong but also describing the customs and cultures of places like Goryeo.
Prince Huainan and the others were all experts at reading the room. They smiled and went along with the Emperor’s words, making him laugh repeatedly.
Song Mo stood at the back of the crowd, lowering his gaze.
Meanwhile, the Crown Prince in the Eastern Palace was pacing anxiously. He asked Cui Yijun worriedly, “What should I do?”
Cui Yijun, now showing none of the obsequiousness he displayed when seeking small advantages, remained as steady as a mountain. He said, “Your Highness, what did Master Zeng instruct you before he passed away? You are the pillar of the state. As long as you remain unmoved, no one can touch you.”
Master Zeng referred to the late Grand Secretary Zeng Yifen, who had served three emperors.
The Crown Prince recalled Zeng Yifen’s earnest gaze on his deathbed. His heart gradually calmed. He walked to his large writing desk and wrote the character for “endurance” ten times in succession. Then, taking a deep breath, he went to see the Crown Princess.
Cui Yijun silently burned the ten “endurance” characters to ashes before calling in a young eunuch to clean the study.
The Prince of Liao made a high-profile appearance in the capital.
One day he would visit this family, and the next day he would call on that person. By September 12th, the Prince of Liao’s residence was bustling with activity, with every guest in attendance.
The Prince of Liao hadn’t brought the Princess of Liao with him, but he had brought back his eldest son to the capital. He greeted guests at the main hall entrance with his five-year-old son, while the Third Princess helped entertain in the inner courtyard.
As soon as Dou Zhao alighted from her carriage, she spotted Miao Ansu following closely behind Princess Ningde.
She was quite surprised.
Today’s guests were either wives of the highest-ranking officials or first and second-rank princesses. Miao Ansu held no official title.
Feeling out of place among the noble ladies in their formal robes and cloud-pattern capes, Miao Ansu quietly explained to Dou Zhao, “The Prince of Liao’s residence only sent us an invitation yesterday evening, just before lighting the lamps. They said they didn’t know the Second Young Master had established his household and had only sent invitations to Father-in-law and Elder Brother. I thought it was just a polite gesture from the Prince, but the Second Young Master insisted on coming. He said it was an honor from the Prince of Liao and that attending this banquet would give him more influence in the Imperial Guard. So I had no choice but to come along.”
Dou Zhao had always maintained a cordial relationship with Miao Ansu, so hearing her speak in this tone felt somewhat unfamiliar. She smiled and said, “No wonder I hadn’t heard you were coming. But since you’re here, you might as well enjoy the chrysanthemums at the Prince of Liao’s residence. A few years ago, I acquired two ink chrysanthemums from the Fengtai Flower Market. They say the flowers were cultivated by a gardener who used to work at the Prince’s residence, so they must have expert chrysanthemum growers here. I’m looking forward to seeing for myself.”
A wife’s status depends on her husband’s.
Song Han had neither an official position nor power, so others paid little attention to Miao Ansu as his wife.
Miao Ansu understood this principle well. She seized the opportunity to follow Dou Zhao, saying, “Sister-in-law, may I accompany you? I don’t know anyone here. I feel so out of place I don’t even know which foot to put forward.”
Dou Zhao smiled, “In that case, you should have stayed close to Princess Ningde, as you were earlier. Her Highness is of noble birth and has a dignified bearing. Following her would ensure you make no missteps!”
Miao Ansu could sense Dou Zhao’s aloofness towards her.
Her expression dimmed slightly, and she forced a smile.
Just then, the Marchioness of Changxing approached.
Pretending not to notice Miao Ansu’s dejected look, Dou Zhao greeted the Marchioness of Changxing with a smile. The two then walked side by side into the flower hall, chatting and laughing.
After paying their respects to the Third Princess, Dou Zhao sat down beside Princess Ningde.
Princess Ningde discreetly pointed to a woman in a magenta floral jacket standing next to Miao Ansu and asked, “Who is that? Do you know her?”