Blossom

The Crown Princess still had the Empress Dowager and the Empress above her. Dou Zhao was pregnant, and since neither the Empress Dowager nor the Empress had made any gestures yet, it would be presumptuous for the Crown Princess to send people to take care of her, as it might seem like she was overstepping her bounds.

After a moment of contemplation, the Crown Princess smiled and said, "Very well, so as not to make you uncomfortable."

And so the matter was dropped.

The joyful news reached the front hall, bringing happiness not only to Song Mo but also to the Crown Prince, who sent someone to inquire and instructed the Crown Princess to reward Dou Zhao with medicinal herbs for pregnancy care.

The side hall was filled with jubilation.

The Crown Prince's eldest son, though young, was quite precocious. He stared intently at Dou Zhao's belly and asked, "Is Madam Dou going to have a baby sister too?"

Before Dou Zhao could respond, the Crown Princess gently scolded him, "Madam Dou is going to have a baby brother." She then instructed the palace maid beside her, "Fetch some of Shou'er's old clothes for Madam Dou." Turning back to Dou Zhao, she added, "They say placing old clothes worn by a boy under the pillow can help one fulfill the wish of having a healthy baby boy. When I was pregnant with Shou'er, I used old clothes worn by Marquis Changxing's eldest son, Shi Yan. You should try it too."

Marquis Changxing again!

Dou Zhao quickly thanked her with a smile.

The Crown Prince's eldest son, still curious, asked the Crown Princess, "Why did Mother have a baby sister, but Madam Dou is having a baby brother?"

The Crown Princess patiently explained, "Because Mother already has Shou'er and Fu'er, but Madam Dou doesn’t have sons as obedient and filial as them yet!"

The Crown Prince's eldest son beamed as if he had just drunk a bowl of hot soup on a winter day, looking both pleased and content.

Dou Zhao smiled faintly.

The Crown Princess modestly said, "This child is just mischievous. Please don’t take it to heart, Madam Dou."

Dou Zhao praised the Crown Prince's eldest son, "The Crown Prince's eldest son has an innocent and carefree heart. How can he be called mischievous?"

The Crown Princess gazed at her son with a tender smile, her eyes full of adoration and affection.

The Crown Prince's eldest son hugged his mother's arm and grinned.

Dou Zhao couldn’t help but think of her two sons from her past life.

At the Crown Prince's eldest son's age, she had never treated her own sons with such gentleness. Whenever they came to pay their respects, she was either busy settling accounts with the stewards or giving instructions to the matrons, leaving no room for soft-spoken conversations. She would always sternly question them about their studies, scold them a little, and then dismiss them with the nursemaids.

The thought flashed through her mind, and Dou Zhao felt a pang in her heart.

Why was she dwelling on those unpleasant memories from her past life again?

In this life, she had married Song Mo, and surely, she would have a different future!

Unconsciously, she caressed her belly and said with a hint of envy she hadn’t realized, "I truly hope my child will be as clever and lively as the Crown Prince's eldest son."

Dou Zhao’s heartfelt remark surprised the Crown Princess, who smiled delightedly and said, "You flatter me, Madam Dou. The Duke of Yingguo's eldest grandson is bound to be a bright and lively child."

Pleased by the praise, the Crown Prince's eldest son looked at Dou Zhao with newfound warmth.

Dou Zhao then asked, "Does Your Highness hope for a little princess this time?"

"Yes!" The Crown Princess's smile radiated maternal warmth. "A daughter is a mother's closest companion. Both the Crown Prince and I would love to have a little princess!"

But Dou Zhao knew she would have another son.

The eunuchs and palace maids escorted the Crown Prince's eldest son away.

Dou Zhao and the Crown Princess chatted, and before they knew it, noon was approaching.The palace's etiquette for imperial banquets was strict and not everyone could endure it.

The Crown Princess, who had two mothers-in-law above her, understood this all too well.

She served tea to signal the end of the audience, sparing Dou Zhao the formal kneeling farewell.

Dou Zhao sighed in relief but still insisted on performing the ritual before being escorted out of the side hall by palace maids.

Song Mo had also emerged from the front hall and was speaking with Cui Yijun at the Eastern Palace gate, waiting for Dou Zhao.

As Dou Zhao approached, Cui Yijun cut short his conversation, though she still caught the last line: "This matter will be entrusted to the Young Lord."

Not wanting to pry, Dou Zhao bid Cui Yijun farewell with Song Mo and followed the Eastern Palace eunuch toward the Xizhi Gate.

Along the way, Song Mo whispered to her, "Are you tired? If so, we can find a place to rest."

Dou Zhao couldn’t help but chuckle softly. "You can find a resting spot in the palace?"

"Of course," Song Mo murmured back. "This Golden Guard Vice Commissioner isn’t just for show!"

Dou Zhao smiled at him and whispered, "I’m fine. I just want to go home quickly."

Song Mo said nothing more, only giving her hand a gentle squeeze.

They followed the eunuch out of the palace at a leisurely pace and boarded their carriage.

Song Mo immediately pulled her into his arms. "Be careful not to bump into anything."

Carriages, unlike sedan chairs, jolted uncomfortably over rough roads.

Having walked for so long, Dou Zhao was indeed tired and let Song Mo hold her.

His hand rested on her abdomen as he sighed. "I never thought we’d really have a child."

It was the first time she had seen him so emotionally moved, and a playful urge overtook her. Teasingly, she asked, "What? You don’t like the idea?"

Song Mo suddenly swatted her bottom. "Stop lying to me with those wide eyes!"

Dou Zhao was startled by his boldness and let out a soft "Ah!" before glaring at him.

Song Mo smiled, his face radiant like polished jade.

Unconsciously, Dou Zhao leaned closer until his warm breath brushed her face. Only then did she realize what she was doing.

Flustered, she quickly retreated, nestling into the crook of his shoulder to distract him. "What did Cui Yijun ask you for earlier?"

Song Mo glanced at her flushed ears, his lips curling slightly, though his voice remained calm. "Nothing major—he said winter is coming, and his old leg pains are acting up. He asked if I could find him some good-quality fur to make knee pads."

Dou Zhao was stunned. After a long pause, she said, "No wonder people call him 'Cui the Cheap.' His ambitions are so petty! What an embarrassment to the Crown Prince."

She couldn’t imagine how the Cui Yijun of her past life had protected the Crown Princess and the three imperial grandsons in their escape from the Eastern Palace, just as she couldn’t fathom how Wang Yuan had once allied with Liao Wang and still managed to walk away unscathed.

It seemed she needed to carefully reconsider the palace coup.

Dou Zhao tightened her grip on Song Mo’s lapel.

※※※※※

Soon, it was the fifth day of the eleventh month. The Lu Family’s matriarch sent a message through her son, Lu Shi, to Song Yichun: "For Madam Jingguo’s birthday banquet, most noblewomen of the Capital will attend. Since Dou Shi has never experienced such an occasion, she should accompany me and the Eldest Princess to the Jingguo residence to mingle with the wives of dukes, marquises, earls, and ministers."

Song Yichun frowned.Tao Qizhong advised him: "It's Madam Jingguo's birthday banquet. If Madam doesn't attend, it would be rather inappropriate. Not only would it offend the Jingguo household, but also Old Madam Lu and Ningde Princess..."

Song Yichun angrily threw the invitation from the Jingguo household onto the table.

Tao Qizhong signaled Zeng Wu to pick up the invitation and deliver it to the Hall of Cultivating Will.

Upon receiving the invitation, Dou Zhao discussed with Song Mo: "Can I not go?"

Since the pregnancy pulse was detected at the Eastern Palace, they hadn't announced it as the baby hadn't reached three months yet, only informing Aunt and Zhao Zhangru. Aunt had been taking good care of Dou Zhao with nourishing food daily, making her increasingly reluctant to move about. She spent her days eating, sleeping, chatting idly with Aunt and Zhao Zhangru, or doing needlework.

"You'd better go," Song Mo said with a smile, taking the yam, lily, and wolfberry porridge from a maid and handing it to Dou Zhao. "Old Madam Lu personally asked your uncle to speak with Father, even mentioning Ningde Princess."

"I know!" Dou Zhao mumbled while sipping the porridge. "I just don't feel like moving."

Her tone was almost coquettish.

A faint smile appeared in Song Mo's eyes as he coaxed her: "If you go to the Jingguo household and come back, I'll play chess with you."

Dou Zhao smiled radiantly, her eyes sparkling like gemstones, full of brilliance.

Song Mo's heart was instantly filled with tenderness.

He loved Dou Zhao like this, loved how she coquetted with him... Remembering how she had inexplicably shown affection for him in the carriage that day, he gently caressed her face, his voice low and tinged with adoration: "Be a good girl and socialize with them. I'll come to pick you up later."

Song Mo's words pleased Dou Zhao.

She giggled and said, "Don't try to fool me—it's Madam Jingguo's birthday banquet. As the Duke, you're of the same generation and don't need to offer birthday greetings, but as a junior, shouldn't you go? Yet you're coaxing me by saying you'll pick me up."

Song Mo maintained a straight face: "We'll just make an appearance and leave. If I don't send someone to fetch you, how will you get away?"

"Cunning!" Dou Zhao shot him a glance.

Her gaze, shimmering like summer ripples, made Song Mo's heart flutter as if brushed by a feather.

"How can you call me cunning?" His gaze lingered unabashedly on Dou Zhao's ample bosom. "I'm worried your health can't take it. The banquet will be full of rich food, and you might feel unwell again."

"Aunt told me to chew tea leaves," Dou Zhao said, intending to ignore Song Mo's gaze, but it was too intense, making her blush. She couldn't resist a coquettish rebuke: "We're talking, where are you looking?"

Song Mo whispered in her ear: "It's been a while since I've seen them, naturally I want to take a look..."

This rogue!

Dou Zhao's face burned. Seeing the smirk on Song Mo's lips, her eyes flickered as she glanced at him coyly and asked softly, "Oh really?" Then she nibbled his ear and loosened her collar. "Fine, let you have a look then."

Song Mo's face instantly reddened.

Dou Zhao laughed quietly.

Song Mo pounced on her: "You think I wouldn't dare!" and fiercely kissed her lips.

The room echoed with joyful laughter.

Outside the window, Aunt deliberately coughed: "Shou Gu, it's getting late. Rest early! You have to go to the Jingguo household for the birthday banquet tomorrow."

The laughter inside abruptly ceased."I understand," came Dou Zhao's calm and composed voice from inside the window. "I'll rest now."

Aunt smiled and returned to the guest room.

A peal of silvery laughter spilled from the inner chamber.

Song Mo sprawled limply across the kang, limbs akimbo.

Dou Zhao, her face radiant with smiles, nestled beside Song Mo.

"Tianci," she murmured, kissing his cheek as her hand slowly slipped inside his robe.

Song Mo caught her hand, affectionately tapped her nose, and said tenderly, "Just teasing you!" Then he sat up and added, "Let's get some rest now!"

At first, he might have intended merely to tease her, but the situation soon spiraled beyond control.

Dou Zhao embraced him from behind, resting her chin on his shoulder as she blew warm breath into his ear. "Are you sure you don't want me to attend to you? I've just studied that book called 'Flower Camp' quite thoroughly..."

Before she could finish, Song Mo pinned her beneath him...

The inner chamber once again echoed with Dou Zhao's crystalline laughter and Song Mo's muffled grumbles.

In the early winter night sky, a few stars hung like the alluring eyes of a beauty, shimmering with captivating brilliance.