Just as Song Mo had settled into his study, Gaosheng arrived, bringing with him a trove of tonics. "Our master is overjoyed," he said. "He asks that you take good care of your wife, and once the month is up, he will arrange for someone to bring the young master back for a few days."
By custom, events like the baby's third-day bath and full-month celebration were handled by the womenfolk. Even as the father, Dou Shiying had to keep his distance.
If even he was this elated, the old master, who had always held Dou Zhao in high regard, must be beside himself with joy.
After a moment's thought, Song Mo said, "Tell my father-in-law that whenever he finds the time, he's welcome to visit. I'll bring the little one out for him to see."
Gaosheng was delighted, kowtowing several times before taking his leave.
Song Mo picked up his brush to draft the celebration invitations when Gu Yu, having heard the news, hurried over.
Beaming, Gu Yu asked, "I heard it's a boy, weighing six jin and seven liang—is that true?"
Song Mo nodded eagerly, his enthusiasm for writing invitations forgotten as he launched into tales of the child. "...He opened his eyes within two hours... The midwife said most babies don't open their eyes until after seven days... His eyebrows are like mine, his lips like your sister-in-law's—absolutely beautiful... I'm struggling with naming him. Since you're here, help me pick the best one."
The two hunched over the heated brick bed's low table by the window, poring over the names Song Mo had jotted down earlier.
Meanwhile, upon hearing that Dou Zhao had borne a son, Song Yichun, who had been practicing calligraphy, darkened his expression and irritably tossed aside his brush.
The page who had delivered the news stood frozen in fear.
Song Yichun's scowl deepened as he waved the boy away with a frown.
The page fled as if granted amnesty.
Tao Qizhong sat silently in his quarters for a long while before deciding to visit Song Yichun.
Though Song Yichun had said nothing about the strife between Song Mo and Song Han, Tao Qizhong had pieced together some of it.
He had entered the Duke of Yingguo's household after Song Han's birth, not long after the old duke's passing. Many of the mansion's long-serving staff had been sent home with honors, and Madam Jiang had taken over its management. At the time, he'd dismissed it as routine turnover, but now it seemed Song Yichun was bolder—yet more inept, impulsive, and witless—than he'd imagined.
If he continued down this path with Song Yichun, he feared he'd meet a grim end at Song Mo's hands.
The thought of leaving crossed his mind.
But with Song Mo just having welcomed his firstborn, solidifying his position, Song Yichun must be seething. Now was not the time to broach departure. Instead, he needed to soothe Song Yichun's temper, ensuring a peaceful exit that honored their master-servant bond.
Resolved, Tao Qizhong changed his clothes and headed to Cassia Fragrance Courtyard.
As expected, Song Yichun was in a rage—this time over tea served too hot by a maid.
With a sigh, Tao Qizhong had a page announce him.
A maid soon lifted the door curtain.
Tao Qizhong entered the study with solemnity.
Song Yichun immediately said, "You've heard, haven't you? Song Mo has a son now."
"I have," Tao Qizhong replied. "That's precisely why I'm here."
Song Yichun perked up with an intrigued "Oh," a faint smile appearing as he gestured to the Grand Preceptor's Chair beside him. "Sit, and let's talk."Tao Qizhong asked Song Yichun to dismiss the servants in the room and said, "Why not arrange a powerful marriage for the Second Young Master? Matters of the inner household should be handled by the women themselves. Our interference is like scratching an itch through boots—never quite effective when it matters most."
Song Yichun hesitated. "Will that work? Dou Shi is sharp-tongued and shrewd, not an easy opponent. I fear ordinary women won’t be able to suppress her."
"Then betroth him to a princess," Tao Qizhong suggested. "No matter how formidable the Young Lord’s wife is, would she dare to meddle in a princess’s affairs?"
Song Yichun’s eyes lit up. "Any children born to the princess would be imperial relatives, far superior in status to those born of Dou Shi. That would give Song Mo a real headache." He snorted coldly. "Let’s see if Song Mo still treats Dou Shi like a treasure then!" He began considering which princess would be of suitable age for Song Han. "Fuyuan is already married. Jingyi, Jingtai, and Jingfu—one is three years older than Tianen, another two years older, and the last one year older. Jingfu would be the best fit, but Jingyi is Empress Wan’s own daughter..."
Tao Qizhong remained silent, sipping his tea.
Was it really so easy to marry into the imperial family? With Song Mo as the shining precedent and rumors circulating that Song Han was a bastard, not only would princesses be out of reach, but even respectable families would hesitate to marry their daughters into the household.
Not daring to offend Song Mo, Tao Qizhong had no choice but to spout nonsense to get through the current predicament.
Yet seeing Song Yichun’s enthusiasm, he couldn’t help but remind him, "If a princess isn’t feasible, a noblewoman or the eldest daughter of a prominent family would also do. As long as her family is influential, combined with the support of the first, third, and fourth branches, the Second Young Master might not lose to the Young Lord—no matter how capable the Young Lord is, he can’t afford to alienate his own kin, can he?"
Song Yichun nodded repeatedly, his mood greatly improved.
If he took good care of himself, he could live at least another thirty years. With his backing, why worry about suppressing Dou Shi?
Would the Dou family really come knocking over every minor issue?
Besides, Dou Shi had no full brothers. For now, things were manageable, but in families like the Dous, where official careers were built on imperial examinations, the branch with the highest-ranking officials held the most sway. Who knew who would lead the Dou family in ten or twenty years?
The thought made him even happier. He said to Tao Qizhong, "With one’s own son, brothers take a backseat. I don’t know what madness has seized Song Mo, but he’s trying to reclaim Jiang Shi’s dowry, which was left to Tianen, under the pretext of managing it on his behalf. Even the Lu family uncle has been bewitched, saying Tianen is too young to understand and that it’s better to let Song Mo manage Jiang Shi’s dowry for now. But if Song Han is to marry, what excuse will they have to take back Jiang Shi’s dowry? This is truly a plan that kills two birds with one stone!"
Tao Qizhong was taken aback.
He hadn’t heard about Song Mo’s attempt to reclaim Jiang Shi’s dowry.
It seemed Song Mo truly harbored deep resentment toward Song Han, while Song Yichun was determined to use Song Han to provoke Song Mo. Tao Qizhong decided it was best to extricate himself as soon as possible.
Not long after returning, Tao Qizhong "fell ill."
Of course, that was all for later.
That very evening, Dou Shiying came to the Duke of England's Mansion for a "visit."
Song Yichun had to put on a show of hospitality before Dou Shiying finally made his way to the Hall of Cultivating Will.
A tiny infant, wrapped in a crimson silk swaddle, was carried into the small study.Dou Shiying held his breath and looked over, his eyes instantly moistening.
“What a beautiful child!” he murmured. “Look at that hair and those eyes—just as lovely as Shou Gu was when she was little.”
Song Mo couldn’t help but grumble inwardly.
The child clearly takes after me—how can he say it looks like Shou Gu?
Gu Yu, who hadn’t left yet, gazed at the baby whose face, though still unformed, already bore a striking resemblance to Song Mo. He chuckled and flattered Dou Shiying, “He does look quite a bit like sister-in-law.”
“Right?” Dou Shiying, delighted to find someone who agreed, beamed and studied Gu Yu for a moment before untying a jade pendant from his waist. “You must be the eldest son of the Yunyang Earl’s family, aren’t you? I don’t have anything particularly special, but take this as a token.”
Gu Yu glanced at the jade—it was top-quality mutton-fat jade, smooth and lustrous, flawless in texture, with an elegant and fluid carving style. It was clearly an heirloom piece.
He quickly thanked him with a smile, then took advantage of Dou Shiying’s distraction with the baby to wink teasingly at Song Mo, signaling that the old man was generous—just a few polite words had earned him such a fine treasure.
Song Mo didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Having seen his grandson with his own eyes, Dou Shiying felt a weight lift from his heart. Worried the child might catch a chill, he carefully adjusted the collar of the swaddling clothes before letting the wet nurse carry him back.
Song Mo then invited Dou Shiying for a drink.
Dou Shiying didn’t stand on ceremony and spent the better part of an hour reminiscing with Song Mo—all about Dou Zhao’s childhood.
It was then that Gu Yu learned about the Dou family’s affairs.
A pang of discomfort twisted in his chest.
Who would’ve thought sister-in-law had such a difficult past?
He really shouldn’t have treated her the way he did back then.
Thankfully, Brother Tianci truly loved her and remained steadfast. If his own meddling had ruined their marriage, wouldn’t he have been the villain?
He poured wine for Dou Shiying with extra enthusiasm.
Dou Shiying found him increasingly agreeable and invited Gu Yu to visit his home sometime: “...I have a few decent brush washers there. You can pick one for yourself, and I’ll save the rest for my grandson.”
Gu Yu had seen all manner of treasures, but what moved him was Dou Shiying’s sincerity.
He eagerly agreed, and noticing Dou Shiying was slightly tipsy, he volunteered to escort him home.
Song Mo pulled him aside. “You’re not eyeing something of my father-in-law’s, are you? Don’t embarrass me in front of him.”
Gu Yu rolled his eyes. “Do I really seem that shallow to you?”
Song Mo gave him a once-over. “I don’t see any depth in you.”
Gu Yu fumed but helped Dou Shiying into the sedan chair before mounting his horse to ride alongside it.
Song Mo shook his head with a smile, watching until their figures disappeared at the end of the alley before returning to the Hall of Cultivating Will and heading to Dou Zhao’s quarters.
Dou Zhao had slept most of the day and was now refreshed.
The baby slept beside her pillow as she leaned against a large bolster, listening to Jiang Yan’s report: “...While you were resting, the Lu family and the wife of the Yan’an heir sent people to inquire after you. They said to rest well and that they’d come early on the day of the third-day bathing ceremony to congratulate you.”
Jiang Yan had already naturally taken on the role of receiving guests on Dou Zhao’s behalf.
Dou Zhao smiled and nodded.
Sometimes, all a person needed was an opportunity!
She asked Jiang Yan, “And how did you respond?”Jiang Yan said, "I told them you had already gone to bed and had the matrons from both families convey our regards to Old Madam Lu, Ningde Princess, and the wife of the Yan'an Marquis's heir. I also rewarded each matron with two premium Red Envelopes."
Dou Zhao praised her: "Well done!"
Jiang Yan blushed and replied, "I learned from Su Xin."
When Dou Zhao was in confinement, both Su Xin and Su Lan came to assist. Su Xin had always held authority in Dou Zhao's household, so everyone still sought her opinion when matters arose.
Jiang Yan then expressed concern, "I noticed Eldest Aunt and the others left looking quite displeased. Will that be alright?"
Dou Zhao smiled and said, "The reason relatives are closer than outsiders is that they can support each other in times of need. But when your brother was in trouble, not one of them spoke up for him. Such relatives who share prosperity but not adversity—it doesn't matter if we offend them. After all, they wouldn't be of help when it truly counts."
Jiang Yan seemed thoughtful.
Meanwhile, Song Mo felt fortunate to have found a wife who shared his perspective.
He strode in cheerfully and asked, "What are you two discussing so happily?"
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