Blossom

The Count of Yunyang discussed with his wife: "I think we should petition to have the eldest grandson inherit the title! This constant turmoil only leads to confusion in the family hierarchy and turns brothers into enemies, making everything a complete mess. After all, even if we don’t petition for the eldest grandson, as long as Gu Yu is alive, the other side won’t stop causing trouble. Fortunately, Gu Yu is already seventeen—if he can’t even protect what’s rightfully his, then such a grandson isn’t worth keeping anyway!"

Petitioning for the eldest grandson would solidify the heir to the title.

The advantage was establishing his status; the disadvantage was making him the target of everyone’s resentment.

Especially Gu Yu’s stepmother, who would now have no hope left and might resort to even harsher methods against him.

The Countess of Yunyang had been gentle and obedient since her maiden days. After marrying the Count, and because he had never let go of his first wife, Song Shi, the Countess always deferred to him in everything. If the Count said something was good, she would never disagree. Though she knew her daughter-in-law mistreated the eldest grandson, since the Count never spoke up, she could only secretly slip Gu Yu some extra silver, not daring to say anything more. Ironically, Gu Yu lacked for nothing except good relationships within the Gu family, as he never lacked money.

When she heard her husband intended to petition for Gu Yu’s inheritance, she naturally nodded and said, "Good."

The Count couldn’t help but sigh.

His wife was too soft-spoken—could one really navigate life just by being gentle? If she had been more capable and managed the Yunyang household properly, he wouldn’t have tolerated his daughter-in-law’s misconduct.

Thinking of this, he was reminded of Song Shi again.

If she were still alive… surely his life wouldn’t have turned out like this?

It had been nearly forty years since her passing, and he was now in his sixties—time to arrange his affairs.

He wanted to be buried with Song Shi after his death.

But all his sons were born of his second wife. Even if he left a will, they likely wouldn’t comply. Once he closed his eyes for the last time, he’d be at their mercy, and the matter might even escalate to the imperial court.

This issue required the Song family’s intervention.

Song Yichun wouldn’t do… he’d have to seek out Song Mo… And as for Gu Yu’s marriage, he needed a formidable wife for the eldest grandson, someone who could keep his daughter-in-law in check…

Lying on the heated brick bed, the Count watched the sun rise bit by bit before lazily getting up. He ordered his personal attendant to send an invitation to Song Mo: "Ask him to come to the house. I have something to discuss with him."

The attendant obeyed and left, but returned in less than half the time it takes to drink a cup of tea—and with Song Mo in tow.

The Count was startled, then laughed. "Speak of the devil! Here you are. Are you here to see Gu Yu?"

Song Mo had no favorable impression of the Count. First, the man had achieved little in life; second, he had no principles when it came to Gu Yu’s affairs. Their interactions were merely perfunctory, with Song Mo showing basic courtesy out of respect for past ties.

"I heard Gu Yu had returned," Song Mo exchanged polite greetings with the Count.

Normally, the Count would simply nod and let him pass after the formalities, but this time, he said, "After you see Gu Yu, come to my room. I need to speak with you."

Song Mo sensed the Count’s request wouldn’t bode well but smiled and nodded before heading to Gu Yu’s quarters.

Gu Yu was sprawled out like a starfish on the heated brick bed by the window, while several pages knelt nervously at the bedside, stealing glances at one another, not daring to utter a word.Last night's incident was truly intense! Thinking back on it now, they all felt a lingering fear.

When the little maid called out from behind the curtain, "The Young Lord of the Duke of Yingguo is here," her timid voice suddenly became like music to their ears. The pages nearly jumped for joy.

Gu Yu even bolted upright in bed.

With a clear, crisp admonishment—"How are you still lazing in bed?"—Song Mo lifted the curtain and entered.

Gu Yu scowled and lay back down.

"What's the tantrum this time?" Song Mo ignored him and instructed the pages kneeling on the floor, "Fetch water for the Young Lord and help him wash up."

Gu Yu, acting like a petulant child, stiffened his neck and shouted, "I didn’t sleep a wink last night!"

"I know!" Song Mo remained unfazed, speaking calmly. "I heard you won a great victory. What, too excited to sleep?"

Yesterday’s victory had felt somewhat hollow.

He’d even invoked his deceased mother before Father finally glared at his stepmother.

Gu Yu’s face burned with shame.

Song Mo sighed and said gently, "Since returning from Liaodong, why haven’t you come to see me?"

"Family troubles—I wasn’t in the mood," Gu Yu muttered, though he immediately regretted it. Had he known Tianci-ge was thinking of him, he would have gone sooner.

Song Mo said nothing.

Gu Yu obediently let the pages attend to his washing.

Once finished, he plopped down beside Song Mo and eagerly asked, "Tianci-ge, have you eaten breakfast yet? We have a new cook who makes excellent noodles. Should I have them prepare a bowl for you?"

"I’ve already eaten," Song Mo replied with a smile. "Order whatever you’d like for yourself."

Gu Yu never stood on ceremony with Song Mo and loudly instructed the pages to have the kitchen make him noodles.

Song Mo then said, "This can’t go on. Isn’t there a place called Tingxiang Pavilion in your family’s back garden? Why not build a flower wall to the east and open a side gate to the west? Move there to live, so you won’t have to pass through the main chamber every day. It’s uncomfortable for you, and your stepmother finds you an eyesore."

Gu Yu’s eyes instantly grew moist.

Everyone claimed to care for him, but the only one who truly did was Tianci-ge.

He thought of everything.

Gu Yu decided to be magnanimous himself.

So what if it was a child? It was still Tianci-ge’s flesh and blood.

If Dou Shi was expanding Tianci-ge’s family line, he couldn’t hold him back. He’d gift her the two century-old ginseng roots Liao Wang had given him. Weren’t people always saying childbirth was like stepping into the underworld? Tianci-ge seemed fond of Dou Shi—perhaps this could save her life.

With that thought, his mood lightened, and he scoffed, "I won’t move! As if I’m afraid of her!"

"It’s not about fear," Song Mo advised. "You have a long life ahead—why stoop to their level? After the New Year, go to the palace and ask the Empress to assign you a position. Then arrange a good marriage and live happily. Wouldn’t it be better to make your stepmother jealous than to keep squabbling like this?"

Gu Yu then told Song Mo how his stepmother had sent two almond-eyed, peach-cheeked maids to his room.

Song Mo laughed. "If the ox won’t lower its head, can you force it to drink?" Then he teased, "Or do you lack even that much self-control?""Oh!" Gu Yu suddenly understood and laughed, "Alright then, I'll go ask Grandfather later to let me move to Tingxiang Pavilion."

Song Mo nodded: "That's more like it. Why bother stooping to her level?"

Gu Yu nodded repeatedly. After finishing two large bowls of noodles, he brought out all the things he'd collected for Song Mo in Liaodong.

"Look at this fur—the hairs are sharp like needles, genuine black sable, perfect for making a fur coat," he proudly displayed his treasures. "And this one, fox fur, red—rare, isn't it?"

But Song Mo's gaze fell on a small piece of white sable fur.

Gu Yu caught on immediately and grinned, "This piece can make a coat for my nephew." He then picked out several pieces of pearl fur, "And these can make jackets for my sister-in-law."

The pearl fur came from newborn lambs, ideal for making warm undergarments.

Song Mo didn't stand on ceremony. Smiling, he said, "Then I'll thank you on behalf of your sister-in-law and nephew."

Gu Yu smugly dragged out a whole tiger skin: "A complete tiger pelt—put it in your study, looks impressive..."

These were items money couldn't necessarily buy.

As for Liao Wang, in recent years when his officials came to the capital, they spent lavishly, leading people to jokingly call him "King of Liaodong" behind his back.

Without his permission, how could Gu Yu have obtained such fine goods?

Song Mo smiled faintly without changing expression: "You raided Liao Wang's treasury, didn't you?"

Gu Yu chuckled sheepishly, "I knew I couldn't fool you, but Liao Wang insisted we could trick you!"

Song Mo tapped Gu Yu's head: "You!"

Gu Yu grinned, "Anyway, he's got plenty of good stuff. No point leaving it untouched."

Song Mo neither agreed nor disagreed. Except for the tiger skin—which he refused, saying it might be taboo and suggesting Gu Yu present it to the Emperor to curry favor for a spring appointment—he had the pages store everything else.

When he returned to the Duke of Yingguo's mansion, it coincided with Su Xin's wedding.

After accepting Su Xin's ceremonial bows and gifting the bride her dowry money, the Zhao family's bridal sedan arrived.

At such occasions, if Dou Zhao and Song Mo were present, it would dampen the festivities. So they stayed in the inner chambers.

Song Mo took the opportunity to show Dou Zhao the gifts from Gu Yu.

Dou Zhao also loved the flawless snow-white sable fur, but hearing these came from Liao Wang's treasury gave her pause. She decided to store them safely for now and decide later whether to use them.

Song Mo then told Dou Zhao about visiting the Yunyang Earl's residence: "...The old earl actually wants to be buried with our grandaunt after his death. Fearing his son might object, he wrote a will insisting I keep it to enforce his wishes later."

Dou Zhao was astonished: "Should we really get involved in such matters?"

"That's what I said too," Song Mo clearly had already considered this. "I told the old earl to entrust this to Gu Yu—if he can be buried with our grandaunt, then he can demand the heir bury him with his birth mother too."

"Every family has its own troubles," Dou Zhao sighed.

But Song Mo smiled: "Good practice for Gu Yu—how can one sweep the world without first sweeping his own house? Court politics are far more complicated than this."

Dou Zhao then asked about Jiang Yi: "Do we know who he offended?"

"Nothing's surfaced yet," Song Mo replied. "Let's wait a few more days."Dou Zhao thought it was Song Mo's fearsome reputation that intimidated others.

Among the five seal-holding Commanders-in-chief of the Five Armies Commandery, including Song Yichun, he had already clashed fiercely with two, subdued one, and maintained a neutral stance with another. Yet, he remained lively and unscathed. Even the Tan family, who stayed out of worldly disputes, didn’t want to catch his attention. No doubt, anyone would think twice before crossing him!

Dou Zhao gazed at Song Mo with clear, ringing laughter.

Song Mo tapped her nose. "All you do all day is giggle foolishly!"

Dou Zhao laughed even harder, her gaze lingering on him with tenderness.

When it came to Song Mo, even the smallest, most trivial matter could make her burst into laughter.

Perhaps this was the greatest reward of marrying him!