Blossom

When Song Mo entered his mother's chamber, Jiang Shi was whispering something to a servant woman. Upon hearing the maids in the room sweetly calling out "Young Lord,"

"Did you meet Miss Dou the Fourth?" After dismissing the attendants, Jiang Shi personally poured her son a cup of tea.

"Yes, I did." Song Mo quickly stood to receive the teacup. "Miss Dou asked me to convey her gratitude to Grandmother and you, saying that if she ever has the chance to visit the Capital, she will certainly pay a visit. She also sent some gifts in return for you. I had Chen He deliver them to Huo Momo."

Huo Momo was Jiang Shi's wet nurse.

Chen He was the page who had accompanied Song Mo to the farmstead to deliver the gifts.

Upon hearing that Dou Zhao had prepared gifts in return, Jiang Shi was very pleased and said with a smile, "Come, let's see what Fourth Miss Dou has brought for me."

Song Mo accompanied Jiang Shi to the side chamber that served as a storeroom.

Inside were merely some damasks and brocades—though of the finest quality, they were still quite ordinary.

Song Mo explained, "Miss Dou didn’t expect Grandmother and you to send me personally to deliver your thanks. Since this matter was kept from the rest of her family, she had to send someone to Zhen Ding in haste to purchase these fine fabrics. She also asked me to tell you that these humble gifts are but a token of her respect, and she hopes you won’t take offense."

Jiang Shi traced the raised floral patterns on the brocade and sighed, "What treasures haven’t I seen before? What’s rare is the thoughtfulness behind them."

Song Mo secretly breathed a sigh of relief and smiled as he walked out with his mother.

But then Jiang Shi suddenly swayed on her feet. Had Song Mo not reacted swiftly to steady her, she would have fallen.

Alarmed, Song Mo cried, "Mother, what’s wrong?"

"It’s nothing, nothing." Jiang Shi smiled to reassure her son, though her pallor betrayed her discomfort.

"Mother!" Song Mo hurriedly helped her back to her room and arranged for an Imperial Physician to examine her.

Meanwhile, Song Yichun, who had been drinking and chatting barefoot by the stone-carved winding stream in the Waterside Pavilion at Third Princess’s residence with her consort Shi Chonglan, received the news and rushed home immediately. He happened to meet Song Mo escorting Imperial Physician Yang Luan out. Being well acquainted, Song Yichun didn’t stand on ceremony and pulled Yang Luan back before he could leave. The group then went to Song Yichun’s study.

"How is my wife?" Song Yichun asked anxiously.

"Nothing serious," Yang Luan replied. "She’s suffering from pent-up emotions. A few doses of qi-regulating medicine will set her right."

Song Yichun sighed. "Ever since her elder brother’s misfortune, she hasn’t slept well. Perhaps you could add some calming herbs to the prescription."

This was simple enough.

Yang Luan agreed with a smile and rewrote the prescription for Jiang Shi. Song Mo then saw him out again.

Song Yichun went to the main chamber.

Jiang Shi lay weakly against the headboard, looking exhausted.

As Song Yichun entered, the maids curtsied respectfully, addressing him as "Lord of the State." Jiang Shi also greeted him weakly with the same title.

"How are you feeling now?" Song Yichun walked straight to the bedside, carefully observing Jiang Shi’s complexion. "I just ran into Yang Xiushan. He said it’s nothing serious—a few doses of calming and qi-nourishing medicine will do the trick." He sat on the edge of the bed and took Jiang Shi’s hand, which rested atop the thin quilt. "Hmm. Your fingers are still a bit cold. You must take better care of yourself. We’re not young anymore—we can’t push ourselves like we used to."

Yang Luan’s courtesy name was Xiushan.

Jiang Shi smiled faintly and asked, "What did Third Princess’s consort say?"

Song Yichun had gone to Third Princess’s residence mainly to seek Shi Chonglan’s help in reaching out to Liao Wang."If I step in, how could Ruifang dare say 'no'?" Song Yichun patted his chest confidently. "Don't worry, I'll have news for you before your third brother arrives."

Jiang Shi visibly relaxed and thanked Song Yichun gratefully.

"Why stand on ceremony between an old married couple?" Song Yichun replied, though his expression turned hesitant.

Jiang Shi smiled. "Since we're an old married couple, what can't you say to me?"

Song Yichun gave a dry chuckle and lowered his voice. "Now that your mother and the others are safe, and Hanzhu has passed... I was thinking about Tianci's marriage..."

Jiang Shi understood her husband's meaning and smiled. "Naturally, you'll decide."

That her husband had reluctantly agreed to let Song Mo marry Hanzhu during the Jiang family's crisis was already a profound gesture of affection. Now that the Jiang family had fallen from grace, the Song family didn't need a daughter-in-law for support. Marrying the daughter of a disgraced official—and as the eldest son's wife at that—was something Song Yichun would never agree to. His earlier consent had been more out of necessity than willingness.

With the Jiang family's crisis resolved and Hanzhu gone, there was no need—nor possibility—for the Song and Jiang families to maintain their marital ties.

Delight flickered across Song Yichun's brow.

Just then, the beaded curtain clattered as Song Han rushed in.

"Mother, Mother, what's wrong?" He threw himself by his mother's bedside before noticing his father. He quickly straightened up and bowed respectfully.

Song Yichun gave an approving hum but still scolded, "What did your tutor teach you? At your age, your elder brother already knew how to conduct himself properly..."

Song Han pouted, his eyes brimming with tears as he looked at his mother.

Jiang Shi quickly intervened. "Enough, enough. He's still young—he'll learn when he's older." She swiftly changed the subject. "I've been exhausted these past few days. Could you help collect the summer rents this July?"

The Duke of Yingguo's Mansion owned sixteen Imperial Manors. Like government offices, they collected rents twice a year, in summer and autumn. During this time, the Manor Heads would return to the mansion for accounting.

"Of course!" Song Yichun agreed readily. "There's a steward anyway—I'll just sit there like a clay idol."

He knew nothing about such matters.

Jiang Shi couldn't help but laugh.

When Song Mo returned with medicine, he found the room filled with cheerful harmony. After greeting his parents, he asked, "What's everyone so happy about?"

Song Yichun quickly replied, "Your mother asked me to help calculate the summer rents, but I still need to assist your uncles with Liao Wang. Why don't you handle this? Didn't Master Hong praise your arithmetic? Perfect chance to manage some household affairs."

Song Mo was taken aback and glanced at his mother.

But Song Yichun, as if afraid Song Mo might refuse, hastily declared, "It's settled then." He added, "I'll check the storeroom for suitable gifts for Liao Wang. If you need anything, discuss it with Tianci." This last part was directed at Jiang Shi. With that, he stood and left for the storeroom.

Jiang Shi sighed and said to her son, "It's just a formality. You've been running around without proper rest these days, and your uncles' affairs are settled now. Don't trouble yourself with household matters—go play with Brother Yu and the others."Yu Ge'er's full name is Gu Yu. He is the eldest grandson of Yunyang Bo Gu Quanfang. Gu Quanfang's first wife, Song Shi, was Song Yichun's aunt. The couple had been married for less than a year when Song Shi passed away from illness, leaving no heirs. Although Gu Quanfang later remarried the cousin of Xuannin Hou Guo Haiqing, the family maintained close ties with the Song family just as they had when Song Shi was alive, which also brought the Song and Guo families closer together.

Gu Yu's mother was Empress Wan's younger sister, who died during childbirth. He was the same age as Song Mo, with delicate and pretty features that made him look like a girl, but his temperament was extremely domineering. He would start fights at the slightest disagreement and forbade his attendants from helping, insisting on fighting personally. If he beat others, it was one thing, but if others beat him, it was a different matter altogether, leading to countless troubles. Empress Wan, who cherished this only bloodline left by her sister, doted on him as if he were her own heart. When things escalated, she would personally intervene to plead for him, causing all the noble families in the capital to keep their children away from him. Over time, he earned the nickname "Little Tyrant of the Capital."

Some with ulterior motives encouraged him to provoke Song Mo.

Song Mo was also a rather unique figure in the capital.

It was said that Song Yichun was extremely strict with him. The family hired several great scholars to teach him various subjects, including the philosophies of the Hundred Schools of Thought, poetry, music, calligraphy, painting, astronomy, calendar studies, arithmetic, and horseback archery. His time was always stretched thin, and he rarely went out, so few people knew him. Those who had never met Song Mo often called him "the bookworm of the Duke of England's Mansion" behind his back, while those who had seen him usually remained silent.

In reality, by that time, Song Mo had already been thrown onto the battlefield by Jiang Meisun to toughen him up. He saw Gu Yu as an adult would see a child, paying him no mind and naturally ignoring his provocations.

Gu Yu started a fight during a royal family banquet.

Song Mo showed no mercy, beating Gu Yu into a swollen mess despite Empress Wan's pleas for leniency.

At that time, Liao Wang had not yet left for his fiefdom and, reveling in the chaos, cheered Song Mo on from the sidelines.

The Crown Prince, sweating profusely, tried to pull Song Mo away and then Gu Yu, but neither paid him any heed. In desperation, he called for the guards, who finally separated the two.

Empress Wan hugged Gu Yu and wept, while Jiang Shi did the same with Song Mo.

The Emperor could only pretend not to see, claiming he had drunk too much and needed to rest.

Unexpectedly, Gu Yu became utterly impressed with Song Mo from then on, visiting the Duke of England's Mansion daily to play with him.

Song Mo had no time to entertain him and simply ignored him.

Unfazed, Gu Yu followed Song Mo around like a sticky piece of gum, grinning cheekily and refusing to leave. He went wherever Song Mo went, never retaliating when hit or scolded. Once, he was even thrown into a well by Song Mo and nearly drowned, but after being pulled out, he said nothing to the adults and continued trailing after Song Mo.

Only then did Song Mo begin to take him seriously.

He had his personal guard, Xu Qing—whom Duan Gongyi called "Sword Hidden in a Box"—teach Gu Yu martial arts.

Gu Yu would hold a horse stance for the time it took two incense sticks to burn, never complaining even when his limbs trembled from exhaustion.

Seeing this, Song Mo had Yan Chaoqing teach him to read.

Jiang Shi seemed to want to say something but hesitated.

Song Mo sneered, "If the Guo family wants to play 'killing by praise,' that's their business, but they’ve gone so far as to scheme against the Duke of England's Mansion. This matter can’t be left unsettled. I was planning to settle the score with the Guo family properly, but for Gu Yu’s sake, I’ll let it go. He can resolve this grudge himself."

Jiang Shi said nothing more.In just two or three years, Gu Yu seemed like a completely different person—not only was he humble and courteous, speaking with substance, but also generous and open-minded, able to get along with anyone.

Empress Wan had praised Song Mo more than once in front of Jiang Shi.

Occasionally, Song Mo would ask Gu Yu to handle some tasks for him, and the two would dine and drink together a few times.

Seeing her son finally had a companion his own age, and that Gu Yu had turned over a new leaf, Jiang Shi often encouraged her son to go out with Gu Yu.

"What else does he do besides hunting and riding?" Song Mo laughed. "I might as well help you take stock of the farmstead accounts. At least it's household management—it never hurts to learn more."

Jiang Shi had been exhausted these past days, and in the end, her brothers still passed away one after another. Though she didn’t say it aloud, she secretly blamed herself, feeling she had caused their deaths. If only she had heeded that young girl’s advice earlier, perhaps things wouldn’t have come to this. The more she dwelled on it, the more her mind grew unsettled.

Her eldest son was a product of careful nurturing by both the Song and Jiang families, and she had full confidence in him.

"Sooner or later, this household will be yours. Since you’re interested, you might as well learn how to take stock!" Jiang Shi smiled and had someone bring the Tallies to Song Mo.

Song Han nestled close to his mother and said with a grin, "Then I’ll keep Mother company."

Jiang Shi patted her younger son’s head with relief.