Lady Shen’s heart pains were an old ailment, said to have developed after giving birth to her second son, Shao Mingyuan.

The second young master was born frail and sickly, and the imperial physicians declared it would be difficult to raise him. Lady Shen wept endlessly over this and thus developed the root of her heart condition.

When Shao Mingyuan entered Lady Shen’s room, he saw her reclining on the bed, surrounded by eldest son Shao Jingyuan and his wife, along with third son Shao Xiyuan.

“Second brother has arrived.”

“Elder brother, sister-in-law.” Shao Mingyuan greeted Shao Jingyuan and his wife.

Shao Xiyuan snorted coldly and turned his head away, pretending not to see him.

Shao Mingyuan paid no mind and bowed to Lady Shen: “Mother.”

Lady Shen opened her eyes and sneered: “You still have the face to return?”

Shao Mingyuan pressed his thin lips together without speaking.

“You haven’t even moved out yet, but you’re already gallivanting around outside all day. Would you even know if I died?”

“Mother—” Shao Jingyuan interjected.

“You needn’t try to mediate.” Lady Shen stopped her eldest son and launched into a tirade against Shao Mingyuan. “Do you think that being enfeoffed as a marquis means your wings have grown hard? Even if you were made a duke, I would still be your mother. When I’m ill, you must return to attend to me!”

Shao Mingyuan remained silent, quietly listening. After Lady Shen finished scolding, he said gently: “Mother, with heart pains, one’s emotions cannot be too agitated. You should stop being angry.”

Upon hearing this, Lady Shen was so furious her chest heaved: “You unfilial son, are you saying I’m pretending to be ill?”

Shao Mingyuan had no choice but to remain silent.

“Enough, Madam. The second son has already returned, so you should rest well.” Marquis Jing’an couldn’t bear to watch anymore and spoke up to interrupt Lady Shen’s berating.

Lady Shen clutched her chest and said through gritted teeth: “Marquis, I see that the moment I say anything about this unfilial son, you feel sorry for him, don’t you?”

Marquis Jing’an was overwhelmed: “That’s not what I meant—”

“Father, Mother is currently ill.” Shao Jingyuan gently reminded.

Shao Xiyuan glared at Shao Mingyuan: “Always making Mother angry.”

Lady Shen wiped her tears with a handkerchief: “Fine, you all find me bothersome, so I won’t say anymore. I’m ill and cannot do without someone to attend to me. The eldest daughter-in-law is with child and cannot attend to me, the eldest must care for his wife, and it wouldn’t be good if he caught my illness, and the third is still young. Second son, from today onward, you shall attend to my illness.”

Shao Mingyuan lowered his eyes and said flatly: “Very well.”

Though he didn’t understand how heart pains could be contagious, as a son, attending to his mother’s illness was only natural.

From that day forward, Shao Mingyuan stayed to attend to Lady Shen’s illness.

Lady Shen was manageable during the day, but at night she would want water one moment, complain of heat the next, and occasionally need to spit, yet she refused to let the maids serve her, requiring Shao Mingyuan to do everything personally.

Shao Mingyuan couldn’t sleep peacefully night after night, and within a few days had grown noticeably thinner.

Marquis Jing’an was furious: “Madam, must you torment the second son until something happens to him before you’re satisfied?”

Lady Shen sneered: “Torment? Does the Marquis have the face to say such words publicly? Isn’t it natural for a son to attend to his mother’s illness? How can this be called tormenting?”

Marquis Jing’an was choked speechless. After a long while, he sighed: “Madam, we’re both getting on in years. Can’t we just live peacefully? Now all three sons are filial—must we stir up trouble to feel comfortable?”

“I acknowledge that the eldest and third are filial, but how much time has the second spent by my side all these years? Now that he’s finally returned to the capital, it’s as if this house can’t contain him—he’s outside all day. Now that I’m ill and he’s attended to me for just a few days, he can’t bear it anymore?”

“Tell me, how has the second son been unfilial? When you asked him to attend to your illness, did he utter a single complaint? Madam, the second son isn’t the type to submit meekly—he’s an important figure outside, yet he behaves this way. If this isn’t filial piety toward you, what is?”

Lady Shen’s voice rose: “What, now that he’s made something of himself, he can’t attend my illness? Even imperial princes must attend to their elders’ illnesses. What’s so special about a mere marquis?”

Lady Shen grew increasingly angry: “The Marquis says he’s filial, but I can’t see it. These days, no one observes mourning for a wife, yet he wears white every day purely to spite me!”

“How is this the same? The second son’s wife’s death was unusual. The second son’s heart is bitter—it’s appropriate for him to show some devotion.”

“It’s appropriate for him to show devotion to his dead wife, but it’s a grievance for him to show devotion to me, his mother? If the Marquis feels sorry for the second son attending me, that’s fine—just quickly find him a new wife so she can attend me instead.”

Marquis Jing’an was startled: “Remarry? Isn’t this a bit too early? He should at least wait until the full year is complete.”

“Once the full year is complete, he can marry. The second son’s wife has been gone for half a year. Starting to choose a suitable candidate now isn’t too early, is it?”

“We should still ask the second son’s opinion on this.”

“Ask him for what? When the second son’s marriage was arranged, didn’t you decide it directly? When have marriage arrangements ever been left to the children to decide?”

“Things are different now. The second son has grown up—”

“Nothing is different, unless he doesn’t acknowledge me as his mother!”

Marquis Jing’an opened his mouth but couldn’t speak.

He discovered that reasoning with women was even harder than fighting wars.

“My natal family’s niece is also sixteen this year, just the right age for the second son. A few days ago, when I was unwell, I missed her somewhat and had already sent someone to fetch her. She should arrive today. What does the Marquis think?”

“Madam speaks of Yun’er?”

“Exactly. Though Yun’er hasn’t visited for a few years, the Marquis should still remember her—she’s a proper and sensible girl.”

Marquis Jing’an hesitated inwardly.

Lady Shen had never favored her second son. If the second son married her natal family’s niece, perhaps the mother-son relationship would improve—

“Has the Marquis agreed?” Seeing Marquis Jing’an’s hesitation, Lady Shen smiled.

“We’ll discuss it when she arrives.”

Marquis Jing’an thought about it and still felt somewhat uneasy. He privately called Shao Mingyuan and tentatively asked: “Mingyuan, once it’s been a full year since Lady Qiao’s passing, what are your plans?”

“Plans? If His Majesty permits, Mingyuan would like to return to the Northern Territories.”

Though according to his calculations, this possibility was virtually nil, he still wanted to return to the Northern Territories.

There weren’t just common people who had suffered under the Tartars, but also the skies and the earth, where he could breathe freely.

However, after the Tartars suffered heavy losses and temporarily retreated north of Mount Alan, His Majesty was unlikely to let him return to the Northern Territories to command troops.

“Father isn’t asking about that. I mean, what kind of woman do you favor?”

Shao Mingyuan was slightly stunned, then frowned: “Your son doesn’t plan to take a wife.”

“Father knows you still feel guilty about Lady Qiao’s death and temporarily don’t want to consider marriage. But you’re not young anymore—marriage cannot be delayed further. If you feel it’s too soon, take advantage of these two years in the capital to slowly look around. What do you think?”

Shao Mingyuan looked at Marquis Jing’an with a calm expression: “Father worries unnecessarily. However, your son intends to never remarry in this lifetime.”

Marquis Jing’an was shocked and blurted out, “How can this be acceptable?”