Due to Daqiu’s aggressive assault, the atmosphere in Yang City was extremely tense. Every day, swift horses raced in and out, maintaining the fastest possible exchange of news with Heng City.

Ten days later, on the day before Yuan Bao’s first birthday, the letter delivered by Jin Yin bore shocking bloodstains. The Song forces had lost another city, including Song County. Immediately, Yuan Cheng decided to personally go to Ta River to command the battle.

Mo Zi received Ming Nian’s message and hurried back from the shipyard, only to see Yuan Cheng holding Yuan Bao.

However, this father seemed unable to hold him properly, looking like he might drop his son on the ground at any moment. A Hao stood beside them, constantly extending her hands nervously while saying, “Sir, you’re tired. Perhaps I should hold the young master instead.”

Old Master Min simply snatched Yuan Bao away. “You’re distracted with things on your mind—don’t drop the baby.”

Although Mo Zi had returned, Yuan Bao had conquered the hearts of the two elders during his time at the Min household. Unable to bear parting from their great-grandson, they had moved to their granddaughter’s home, claiming it was just a short stay, though they currently showed no signs of leaving. According to Cousin Min Fengtang, this Yuan Bao was quite the little fox. His smile was foxy, his play was foxy, his sleep was foxy, his eating was foxy—he was indescribably adorable. Moreover, he appeared even smarter than his parents.

On one point, Mo Zi was beginning to agree with Yuan Cheng—they couldn’t spoil Yuan Bao too much, because the number of people doting on this child was showing an increasing trend, which might not be good for his future development.

“Grandfather, I am his father after all. I wouldn’t be that careless,” Yuan Cheng said with a smile, making no further attempt to reclaim the little one.

Old Master Min froze, momentarily speechless. This was the first time Yuan Cheng had called him grandfather, and he was somewhat stunned. He knew that Mo Zi refused to publicly acknowledge her relationship with the Min family to protect them, but in his heart, he very much wanted them to recognize their ancestry and be able to say openly, “This is my granddaughter, and that is my great-grandson.” Did Yuan Cheng’s address of “grandfather” signify a softening in Mo Zi’s attitude?

Mo Zi wasn’t so sensitive in her own home. She also ignored Yuan Bao clapping his hands for her to hold him, very worried about the war situation. “Can’t even Heng City be defended?”

Unlike his usual air of confident composure, Yuan Cheng’s smile faded. “Hard to say, which is why I need to make this trip.”

“Losing cities doesn’t matter—just bring everyone back safely.” When war occurred between two powerful nations, there could be no one-sided victory; there would inevitably be reversals, setbacks, and retreats. She didn’t ask if Yuan Cheng could take her along. At this critical juncture, staying at the shipyard to build ships faster and better was her contribution to Song territory.

“Don’t worry. The one who needs to fight desperately isn’t someone with a wife and child to look after.” That was Jin Yin, who had already refused his two orders to abandon the defense. But Yuan Cheng understood well that in Jin Yin’s heart, which harbored hatred for his father and brother, he still retained deep feelings for Yuling as his roots. If it fell to Daqiu again, those roots would be destroyed beyond recognition.

Mo Zi also knew some of this, because of Jin Yin’s stubbornness, Dou Lu also refused to cross the river, keeping her on edge with worry.

“The road ahead is perilous. Why not have the baby do the selection ceremony early and borrow his good fortune to ward off evil and turn misfortune into blessing?” Old Madam Min suggested.

“Is there such a saying?” Mo Zi thought it was a good idea.

“But the boat is already prepared to depart,” Yuan Cheng said, his mind focused on the war situation, thinking the earlier he could leave, the better.

“It’s not like we’re hosting a banquet. It’s just us few people. We’ll set out a table of items, let the baby crawl up and grab something, and that’s it.” Old Master Min also agreed. “Yuan Bao is clever—who knows, maybe his choice will turn the tide.”

“Grandfather, he won’t be one year old until tomorrow,” Mo Zi finally took Yuan Bao in her arms. The little fellow immediately giggled and patted her face.

She then said to Yuan Cheng, “But it’s fine. You weren’t there when Yuan Bao was born—you can’t miss him turning one year old and make me handle it alone again. We’ll consider this early selection ceremony as celebrating his birthday in advance.”

Yuan Cheng could no longer refuse and nodded.

The preparations came together quickly. They moved a large long table into the courtyard and gathered everything they could think of that could fit on the table—the four treasures of the study, musical instruments, chess, books, paintings. Mo Zi even noticed her grandfather secretly placing a carving knife, which saved her the trouble, as she also wanted to see if Yuan Bao might have the magical ability of the left hand and a talent for craftsmanship.

“That should be enough.” Looking at the dazzling array on the table, Mo Zi felt dizzy on her son’s behalf as she placed him on the table.

Little Yuan Bao squinted and frowned, his hands and feet uncertain where to go. He turned back and called to Mo Zi in his baby voice, “Mama.”

“Yuan Bao, whatever you like, take it.” Mo Zi wasn’t quite sure if he could understand. She picked up a piece of sandalwood, kissed it, and hugged it tight. “Like it.”

Yuan Cheng laughed at her method of explanation. “If you do it that way, our son might come hug you. How would you explain that? Likes beautiful women?”

Mo Zi shot him a look. “He might come hug you instead. How’s this for an explanation—likes foxes.”

“You two, quiet down,” Old Madam Min commanded. “Don’t interfere with the baby’s decision.”

The couple retreated in unison, folding their arms to watch from a distance.

Although Yuan Bao liked Mo Zi to hold him, he was also quite independent. Seeing her step back, he turned around without hesitation and began examining the various items on the table. Unlike other children who would crawl and touch things, he kept his chubby hands and feet planted in place, slowly turned in a circle, then crawled in one direction.

The four treasures of the study—he crawled past them.

Old Madam Min sighed softly.

Musical instruments, chess, books, paintings—he crawled past them.

Yuan Cheng said quietly that he was like him, immediately earning a glare from Mo Zi, who said he had no artistic cultivation.

Rouge and powder—he crawled past them.

Old Master Min thought darkly, who put those there to confuse his precious great-grandson? Ming Nian’s eyes looked a bit guilty.

Swords, staffs, and clubs—he crawled past them.

A Hao didn’t dare to think. Could it be that the baby was neither scholarly nor martial?

The carving knife and wood—he crawled past those too with no expression.

Mo Zi smiled through gritted teeth. Was this little guy an idiot? Not taking any of those fun things.

Yuan Bao reached out and grabbed a cloth bundle, trying to pick it up. After several unsuccessful attempts, he could only do a bear hug, then turned back and called for mama again, as if asking Mo Zi to help him pick it up.

“What is it?” Yuan Cheng walked over, curious about the mysterious item wrapped in cloth.

Yuan Bao and Yuan Cheng had always been somewhat at odds. Seeing it was him approaching, the baby turned his bottom toward him and continued his bear hug, continuing to call for mama.

Yuan Cheng paid no attention, simply lifting Yuan Bao with one hand and handing him to A Hao. When he unwrapped half of the small bundle, he paused.

“What is it?” Old Madam Min asked with concern.

“A piece of raw jade.” His expression had already become calm. He retied the cloth and asked Zan Jin to take it back to the study. “I don’t know who was so hasty, putting this on without looking—just making up the numbers. This doesn’t count. Let Yuan Bao choose again.”

However, when Yuan Bao was placed back on the table, the little fellow just kept calling for Mo Zi to hold him, as if all the other items had become utterly uninteresting.

Old Master Min then said, “Raw jade is quite good. There’s a saying: ‘Jade must be carved to become a vessel.’ But the baby can recognize the value of raw stone—he has sharp eyes.” The selection ceremony was about finding auspicious meaning in whatever was chosen, making the best interpretation possible for good fortune.

Her left hand could identify wood—perhaps her son’s eyes could perceive jade. Mo Zi held Yuan Bao, her thoughts quite pleasant.

“Mo Zi, come help me pack,” Yuan Cheng called to her.

It was indeed rare for him to ask her to help pack his belongings. But when she tried to put Yuan Bao down, the little fellow firmly clung to her neck and refused.

“Bringing him along is fine too.” Yuan Cheng took Yuan Bao. “You’re so chubby—be careful not to hurt your mama’s hands with your weight.”

Yuan Bao’s dark eyes regarded his father, but this time he didn’t fuss.

Old Madam Min watched the family of three walk out through the garden gate, delighted. “Old man, our granddaughter has good judgment. She chose a good husband, didn’t she? He doesn’t even care about his son—he just dotes on her.”

“They haven’t been married long—the days ahead are still long. It’s too early to say,” Old Master Min said stubbornly, though his face wore a smile.

Now, Mo Zi followed Yuan Cheng to the study and asked curiously, “What’s here that you need to take with you? Books, or a chess board?”

“Zan Jin, where’s the cloth bundle?” Yuan Cheng asked.

Zan Jin placed it on the desk.

Mo Zi became attentive then, fearing it wasn’t as simple as raw jade, or Yuan Cheng wouldn’t have brought it out.

“Zan Jin, did you put it there?” At the time, only a few people had been preparing things—it couldn’t have been anyone else. Yuan Cheng asked him.

Zan Jin nodded.

Zan Jin wouldn’t lie to Yuan Cheng and Mo Zi.

Mo Zi raised an eyebrow but didn’t interrupt their conversation.

“Old Li gave it to you?” Yuan Cheng asked again.

Zan Jin nodded again.

“Did you look inside?” If he had looked, he would certainly have told either Mo Zi or Yuan Cheng.

Zan Jin indeed shook his head. “No. Old Li said it was for tomorrow’s selection ceremony. Because he’s going to Heng City with you, he asked me to place it for him.”

“This Old Li—from the very beginning, he never wanted me to have peaceful days.” Though Yuan Cheng said this, his tone wasn’t severe, but rather somewhat helpless.

“The more you talk, the more curious I get. What exactly is it?” Mo Zi couldn’t help asking.

“Open it and see for yourself.” Yuan Cheng held Yuan Bao with both hands.

Mo Zi opened it and her eyes went round. “This… this is… it’s not what I’m thinking, is it?”

The four cloth corners slipped down, revealing a square piece of pale ochre-yellow jade with flying rosy clouds, the top carved with nine dragons coiled around a pearl. Its luster wasn’t dazzling yet was captivating; its jade quality wasn’t ostentatiously noble yet was rare and precious. Incredibly, it was the imperial seal.

“Is Old Li urging you to declare yourself emperor again?” Li Yan had been urging Yuan Cheng since his days as an Imperial Academy scholar and still hadn’t stopped.

“Judging by how he had Zan Jin place this on the selection table, he’s clearly given up on me and turned his attention to our son.” Should he be happy? He wouldn’t have to listen to Li Yan’s nagging anymore.

Mo Zi was speechless. Regardless of whether Yuan Bao would be that accomplished, one thing was certain—Old Li still had a long wait ahead.

The baby in Yuan Cheng’s hands became very excited upon seeing the imperial seal, kicking and flailing to break free from his father. Yuan Cheng found him getting heavy from all the kicking. As soon as he set him down, Yuan Bao propped himself up against the seal and stood, then with lightning speed, took a bite.

The jade was so hard, and the little fellow had no teeth yet, so of course it hurt. In an instant, he began wailing loudly. Strangely, his two little hands just wouldn’t let go of the imperial seal.

Yuan Cheng laughed heartily. “Mo Zi, at this moment our son is like you—a bit silly.”

Mo Zi was exasperated. “Ah? So you’re speaking the truth now. Before we got married, you kept praising how clever I was—back then you had ulterior motives, planning to trick me into marriage before revealing your true colors, right?”

Yuan Cheng laughed even harder. “But you can’t regret it now.”

Mo Zi laughed too, prying Yuan Bao off the jade block. “Let’s go. Mother and son will see you off to the boat.”

Yuan Cheng departed for Heng City, but not long after, Mo Zi received an urgent eight-hundred-li dispatch from him, asking her to come as quickly as possible.