Blossom

The baby didn’t look particularly chubby, but his limbs were slender, and he was full of vitality. Within two hours of being born, he opened his eyes, much to Song Mo’s delight. “Look, look! He’s looking at me!” he exclaimed excitedly.

Jiang Yan immediately leaned in closer and, gazing at the child’s dark grape-like eyes, couldn’t help but beam with joy. “He’s so beautiful!”

Dou Zhao, reclining against a large bolster while eating fermented rice with eggs, couldn’t suppress a smile. Ji Shi, who was sitting by the bedside attending to her, chuckled and said, “Young Lord, the birthing chamber is considered unclean, and you haven’t slept all night. Why don’t you go out and rest for a while? There’s still the matter of announcing the happy news to the families and distributing red eggs… and a pile of other tasks awaiting your decision!”

The usually sharp-witted Song Mo now grinned foolishly. “No need, no need. Last night, I already drafted the list of households to notify and handed it to Liao Bifeng. As for the rest, the household stewards will handle it—there’s nothing much for me to do.” Then he asked, “Who do you think the baby resembles? I think he looks like me!”

Fifth Madam and Han Shi hesitated to step forward, but Jiang Yan had no such reservations. After studying the child, she remarked, “I think he takes more after Sister-in-law. Look at his little mouth—such a rosy hue! And his hair, so glossy and black…”

Song Mo frowned slightly in dissatisfaction. “My hair is also very black, and my lips were just as red when I was little.”

Before Jiang Yan could respond, the quick-witted Cai Shi caught the undertone and, laughing heartily, interjected, “When the child was first born, I also thought he looked very much like the Young Lord. Look at those fingers—so slender and long! His skin is reddish now, but once it settles, it’ll surely turn fair. And his eyebrows—our Fourth Paternal Aunt has long brows that taper toward her temples, but the Young Lord’s are even thicker and more striking.”

Song Mo brightened at this and laughed happily.

The baby yawned and closed his eyes.

Song Mo exclaimed excitedly, “Look, look! He just yawned!”

Everything the child did seemed endlessly fascinating to him.

The women in the room all laughed.

Dou Zhao had been exhausted through the night. Though her spirits were high, she couldn’t keep up with Song Mo’s constant exclamations over the baby. “Have you informed your office?” she asked. “In a couple of days, we’ll have the baby’s third-day celebration. Eldest Aunt can help with the arrangements. And for the full-month banquet, you’ll probably need to take a day off…”

Her words reminded Song Mo, who promptly instructed Gan Lu, “Go tell Wuyi to inform my office that I’ll be taking leave for the next few days.”

Would that really be acceptable?

Dou Zhao’s eyes flickered with doubt.

But Song Mo didn’t seem concerned. He said indifferently, “I’ve always respected Gao Yuanhua as my superior and treated him with courtesy. But if he insists on being difficult about granting me leave for family matters, then don’t blame me for disregarding him. I might just have to remind him to take his Metropolitan Commander’s authority elsewhere!”

Gao Yuanhua was the Metropolitan Commander of the Golden Guard, Song Mo’s direct superior—a second-rank military official and a close confidant of the emperor.

Ji Shi and the others, accustomed to Song Mo’s gentle and humble demeanor, were taken aback by his words. Only now did they truly grasp that the man before them was not just the Dou family’s fourth son-in-law but also the Young Lord of the Duke of England’s Mansion.

Cai Shi didn’t hold back her admiration. “Fourth Son-in-law is truly formidable! No wonder everyone envies our Fourth Paternal Aunt for marrying so well.”

Such a shallow compliment, yet because it involved Dou Zhao, Song Mo’s expression softened with unmistakable pleasure.Ji Shi and Fifth Madam exchanged a glance.

Just then, a page announced loudly from behind the curtain, "Young Lord, Eunuch Pang from the Eastern Palace has arrived. He says the Crown Princess gave birth to another imperial grandson last night, and the Crown Prince specifically sent him to inquire whether our Madam has delivered yet."

The women of the Dou family collectively drew a sharp breath.

They had long heard about the Duke of Yingguo's Mansion enjoying imperial favor, but never imagined it would reach such heights—the Crown Prince and Song Mo showed no reservations between them, behaving like brothers.

Song Mo didn't notice the Dou women's expressions. Still immersed in the joy of first-time fatherhood, he declared proudly, "Go tell Eunuch Pang that Madam has also given birth to a son, weighing six jin and seven liang. Both mother and child are well, so he needn't worry."

He showed no intention of receiving the eunuch personally.

But Dou Zhao knew this Pang Lizhong was also a grand eunuch serving the Crown Prince, even more senior than Cui Pianyi. Rumor had it he had served the late Empress Shen and was highly respected by the Crown Prince, now assigned to care for the Crown Princess's two imperial grandsons.

She hurriedly said, "You should go receive him! Since the Crown Prince sent someone to inquire about me, and with the Crown Princess just having given birth, it's only proper you personally greet Eunuch Pang and ask after the Crown Princess and the new imperial grandson."

Song Mo slapped his forehead. "Look at me, so caught up in my own happiness I forgot to ask about the Crown Princess's condition."

He instructed the page again before carefully handing the baby to the wet nurse. After bidding farewell to Ji Shi and the others, he left the delivery room.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

The physician came forward to check Dou Zhao's pulse while the midwife busied herself offering congratulations and seeking rewards. The wet nurse gently rocked the baby, the kitchen old women boiled water, and maids served brown sugar water to the Dou family women.

The delivery room came alive with activity.

Dou Zhao had the wet nurse place the baby by her pillow. "Better get him accustomed to sleeping in bed. If you keep holding him like this, you'll spoil him."

The wet nurse flattered with a smile, "Born into a household like yours, young master, even if he doesn't sleep in bed, there will always be people to hold him day and night—what does it matter?" She complied and placed the baby by Dou Zhao's pillow.

Only when Dou Zhao saw the red, monkey-like baby did her heart finally settle.

She instructed the physician, "No need to prepare malt water for me. Instead, prescribe some lactation-promoting formulas."

The room fell silent in surprise.

The wet nurse trembled with fear and immediately knelt by Dou Zhao's bed. "Has Madam found this servant unsatisfactory? Whatever faults I have, please instruct me directly—I'll correct them immediately..."

"You're perfectly fine." Dou Zhao had Jiang Yan help the wet nurse up. "This is the Young Lord's and my first child. We decided long ago to breastfeed ourselves. Don't overthink it—having you come to the mansion was just in case I couldn't produce enough milk. Otherwise, I wouldn't have had your own child brought here beforehand to maintain your milk supply."

Wet nurses introduced through official channels were all thoroughly vetted and exceptional—how could they be unsatisfactory? But in her past life, Dou Zhao had been fated for few children. This lifetime, she would never again allow others to raise her children.Ji Shi advised her, "Don't be fooled by how peacefully the child sleeps now. In a few days, when they start growing, they'll be demanding food and needing diaper changes constantly, making it impossible to rest. I'm worried your health won't hold up."

"It's fine!" Dou Zhao laughed. "I've prepared for this." Then she assured Ji Shi, "If I feel too tired, I can always let others take over later."

Her attitude was resolute.

Ji Shi thought Dou Zhao's determination stemmed from losing her mother at a young age and sighed softly, deciding not to press further. Instead, she began advising Dou Zhao on postpartum care.

The Song family received the happy news, and First Madam Song and others came to visit Dou Zhao.

The women of the Dou family took the opportunity to excuse themselves.

Dou Zhao asked Jiang Yan to help see the guests off.

Since Song Maochun and his family relied on the Duke of Yingguo's Mansion for their livelihood, any movement within the mansion couldn't escape their watchful eyes. Although Song Mo hadn't widely publicized Jiang Yan's situation, he hadn't deliberately concealed it either. First Madam Song had heard rumors among the mansion's servants—claims that Song Yichun had secretly sent his daughter, born to a concubine, to the Jiang family to raise, intending to pass off his illegitimate son as Madam Jiang's legitimate heir. Now that the Jiang family had fallen, the daughter had been brought back... But who would do such a thing? She dismissed it as idle gossip, mocking the servants for fabricating such a flimsy tale. However, when she came face-to-face with Jiang Yan, she was stunned.

Third Madam Song was already fuming at the sight of the Dou family women filling the room.

Back then, even though Madam Jiang had been close to the Jiang family, she had never dared to disregard the Song family as blatantly as Dou Shi was doing now!

She lowered her head and whispered to Fourth Madam Song, completely missing Jiang Yan. "When a niece-in-law gives birth, shouldn't we, as aunts, be informed? Instead, she invites all her relatives from her maiden family. Is she not planning to hold the third-day bathing ceremony?"

To her surprise, Fourth Madam Song tugged at her sleeve and gestured toward the door.

Third Madam Song looked over but only saw the swaying door curtain—the Dou family women and Jiang Yan had already left, so she hadn't caught sight of Jiang Yan.

Just as she was puzzled, Jiang Yan returned.

Third Madam Song was startled, pointing at Jiang Yan and exclaiming, "You—" Realizing her rudeness, she quickly lowered her arm, averted her gaze, and resumed her usual haughty expression.

Dou Zhao found this amusing. She introduced Jiang Yan to the three Madams Song, then excused Jiang Yan under the pretense of checking on the stewed hen in the kitchen. Once Jiang Yan was gone, Dou Zhao asked Third Madam Song bluntly, "Third Aunt, what came to mind when you saw Cousin Yan?"

Third Madam Song flushed, then paled, stammering awkwardly, "I just thought... how much this Cousin Jiang resembles Second Sister-in-Law!"

"Is that all?" Dou Zhao, breaking from her usual reticence, pressed sharply. "I heard that when my mother-in-law gave birth to the second young master, it was Eldest Aunt who recommended the midwife. Yet now, the Young Lord can't find that midwife anywhere. Don't you think that's strange?" Her piercing gaze fixed on First Madam Song.

First Madam Song nearly jumped out of her seat."I... I meant well," she hastily defended, beads of sweat already forming on her forehead. "That Old Woman Wen was quite well-known in the Capital. She delivered both Song Qin and Song Duo for me back then. How could she just disappear like that? Most likely she's earned enough and quit this line of work? I heard she only had one daughter who married far away in Jinan Prefecture—perhaps she went there instead."

"Perhaps," Dou Zhao replied with an ambiguous smile, instructing maids to serve tea to the three Song wives. She mentioned the child was asleep and wouldn't be brought out for them to see, but invited them to come early for the third-day bathing ceremony.

After the earlier commotion, the three Song wives had little heart for further conversation. After exchanging a few pleasantries and seeing Dou Zhao raise her teacup, they took their leave.

Feeling somewhat exhausted herself, Dou Zhao gave a few instructions before lying down to rest.

When Song Mo returned and heard Dou Zhao was resting, he quietly entered the birthing chamber. Standing by the bed, he gazed at Dou Zhao and the child for a long while before finally leaving with a pleased smile to write celebration letters for his friends.