Blossom

Song Mo couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

This Ji Yong, clearly aware of the turmoil around the Crown Prince, still insists on getting involved—what exactly is he trying to achieve?

No one in the Dou family thought to warn Ji Yong. After all, the two families belonged to opposing factions. If the other side stumbled, their own might benefit.

The conversation gradually shifted to several Grand Academicians from the Bureau of the Prince's Tutor. Dou Shishu specifically mentioned Zhao Peijie: "...Not only is he upright in character, but he's also steady and reliable, earning the Crown Prince's trust. Though he keeps a low profile now, he will undoubtedly rise to become a minister in the future."

Song Mo recalled Dou Zhao mentioning this person and listened attentively.

A young maid from Ji Shi's side rushed in frantically, exclaiming, "It's terrible! The Fourth Paternal Aunt has fainted!"

Song Mo's heart instantly wrenched in pain, as if his soul had left his body. It took him a long moment to regain his composure.

He immediately sprinted toward the inner courtyard.

Dou Shiying thought for a moment and followed.

The others couldn't very well barge into the inner quarters, so they questioned the maid: "Why did the Fourth Paternal Aunt faint? Who was with her at the time? Who's taking care of her now?"

The maid answered clearly and fluently: "This servant doesn't know why the Fourth Paternal Aunt fainted. Fifth Madam, Sixth Madam, First Madam, and others were all present, chatting when suddenly the Fourth Paternal Aunt clutched her chest and said she felt unwell. Sixth Madam quickly ordered someone to fetch Cooling Pills, but then the Fourth Paternal Aunt collapsed onto the nearby table. Sixth Madam was so startled she immediately sent me to fetch the Young Lord, while Fifth Madam ordered someone to call for a physician."

Tension hung thick in the air.

Dou Dechang and Wu Shan appeared at the study's entrance.

Seeing the strained atmosphere, they exchanged puzzled glances and asked in unison, "What's happened?"

Dou Jichang recounted the incident to Dou Dechang.

Until the physician arrived, no one knew what was truly going on!

After a moment's thought, Dou Dechang said, "I'll go check!"

Wu Shan hesitated briefly before accompanying Dou Dechang out of the courtyard.

Dou Zhao had been settled on the heated brick bed in the adjacent room of the Resting Chamber, with Ji Shi and others gathered around.

The physician hadn't arrived yet, but she had already regained consciousness, lying pale and weak in Song Mo's arms.

Song Mo's heart ached unbearably. His tone was somewhat stiff as he addressed Fifth Madam, "Fifth Aunt, do you think we should have a maid prepare some brown sugar water for her?"

"Oh!" Fifth Madam snapped out of her daze and hurriedly instructed a maid to prepare the drink—Song Mo's frantic entrance had been so alarming that only now did she realize how fast her own heart was racing.

Meanwhile, Ji Shi gently suggested to First Madam and the others, "Why don't we all wait in the heated room? Crowding around Shou Gu like this will only make her feel worse!"

More importantly, Song Mo was present, and they ought to give them some privacy.

The people in the Resting Chamber quickly realized this and followed First Madam to the adjacent heated room, leaving only the elder Fifth Madam and Sixth Madam behind.

Dou Dechang and Wu Shan lifted the curtain and entered.

Song Mo was secretly surprised.

Dou Dechang was Dou Zhao's Successor Brother. Having grown up together, it was understandable for him to rush in anxiously, but Wu Shan...

He shot Wu Shan a quick glance.

Instead, he saw Wu Shan casually greeting Sixth Madam.

Sixth Madam seemed surprised but didn't show much astonishment, whereas Fifth Madam appeared startled by Wu Shan's presence.

Noting this, Song Mo tightened his embrace around Dou Zhao without a word.Dou Dechang and Wu Shan were both focused on Dou Zhao, not noticing Song Mo's expression. Dou Dechang asked anxiously, "How are you feeling now?"

Dou Zhao simply felt exhausted, as if she couldn't catch her breath.

She smiled weakly, her face pale as snow. "I'm fine. I just got up too quickly..."

Both Dou Dechang and Wu Shan sighed in relief.

A maid brought in some brown sugar water.

Dou Dechang stepped aside, but Wu Shan hurried past Sixth Aunt, took the tray from the maid, then hesitated after a couple of steps. With a slightly dazed expression, he handed the tray to another maid standing near Song Mo and said, "Take this to Fourth Paternal Aunt."

The maid complied.

Song Mo's eyelids twitched.

Ji Shi moved forward to support Dou Zhao.

But Song Mo said, "I'll do it," politely declining Sixth Madam's offer.

Ji Shi glanced at the lovely couple before her, her lips curling slightly as she stepped back.

Dou Zhao nodded at Wu Shan with a smile.

Wu Shan returned the smile.

Song Mo lowered his gaze slightly, took the Blue-and-White Small Bowl from the maid, and gently fed Dou Zhao the water.

Dou Zhao was inwardly surprised.

Song Mo was undoubtedly good to her, but he was usually composed and reserved. In public, his tenderness was subtle, revealed only in fleeting moments. Such open affection was a first, making her uncomfortable. Yet, with Fifth Madam and others present, she couldn’t refuse his kindness and endured her embarrassment as he fed her.

Wu Shan looked astonished.

Dou Dechang turned away awkwardly.

Fifth Madam, knowing how much Song Mo adored Dou Zhao, assumed his concern had simply slipped out in the moment and paid it no mind. Instead, she turned and urged the maids, "Why hasn’t the doctor arrived yet?"

The maids dared not delay and rushed out.

Song Mo took a handkerchief to wipe Dou Zhao’s lips and asked softly, "Feeling better? Should I have them prepare another bowl? Any other discomfort?"

Dou Zhao felt a stifling heaviness in her chest but didn’t want to worry him. She shook her head with a smile. "I’ll be fine after resting."

Yet she leaned weakly into Song Mo’s embrace.

Holding her close, Song Mo kissed her forehead and murmured soothingly, "Don’t worry, the doctor will be here soon. If he can’t find anything, we’ll summon an Imperial Physician from the Imperial Hospital when we return." He spoke as if coaxing a child.

Too weak to resist, Dou Zhao let him tend to her.

Dou Dechang flushed and lightly tugged Wu Shan’s sleeve, signaling they should leave.

Wu Shan cast a complicated glance at Dou Zhao before following Dou Dechang out.

As the door curtain swayed, a cold glint flashed in Song Mo’s eyes—but the moment he looked down at Dou Zhao, his gaze softened again.

Gaosheng hurried in with the doctor.

Seeing Dou Dechang and Wu Shan anxiously waiting on the Veranda, he bowed and instructed a maid to escort the doctor inside.

Soon, the doctor emerged with a smile, clasping his hands toward the three on the Veranda. "Congratulations! The paternal aunt has a pregnancy pulse!"

Dou Dechang froze before finally reacting with excitement. "Reward him! Reward him!"

Gaosheng, equally delighted, handed the doctor a generous red packet before rushing off to inform Dou Shiying.Dou Zhao fainted, frightening Yuan Ge'er. Dou Shiying carried Yuan Ge'er to the small study, bringing out all his collected Ba Jian to amuse the child. Upon hearing that Dou Zhao's pulse indicated a pregnancy diagnosis, he stomped his foot and exclaimed, "How old is she now? How could she be so careless? What if something happens?" He hastily ordered Gaosheng, "Quickly open the storeroom. I remember we still have over ten catties of Blood Bird's Nest—bring it all out for Shou Gu to nourish her health."

Gaosheng chuckled and withdrew.

Dou Shiying, beaming with joy, carried Yuan Ge'er to the Resting Chamber.

Relatives in the household soon learned the news and came to congratulate Song Mo and Dou Zhao.

Yuan Ge'er, unaware of what had happened, saw his mother safe and sound and immediately clamored to be held by her.

Song Mo picked up Yuan Ge'er and said with a smile, "Mother isn’t feeling well. Isn’t it fine if Father holds you?"

The image of his mother fainting still lingered in Yuan Ge'er's mind. He glanced at his mother, then at his father, his expression torn between the two, which made Sixth Madam and the others laugh.

Dou Zhao also found her son amusing. She opened her arms and said, "I’m fine. Let Yuan Ge'er stay with me."

But Song Mo insisted on carrying Yuan Ge'er away, leaving the Resting Chamber to the women. He took his son to the outer study.

The study was another scene of liveliness.

Dou Shishu suggested everyone move to the Small Flower Hall for a few more drinks.

Dou Shiying eagerly agreed.

The group relocated to the Small Flower Hall, toasting and refilling cups, setting up three new tables.

Song Mo seized an opportunity to share a drink with Dou Qijun. Then, as if casually, he pointed at Wu Shan and asked, "What’s your family’s relationship with him really like? I’d like to know how to treat him."

Dou Qijun, having drunk a bit too much, flushed and replied, "Old family friends. He studied at our Family School since childhood. A decent man, but his elders are rather rigid. Over the years, we’ve grown somewhat distant."

Song Mo narrowed his eyes. Later, he instructed Chen He to investigate Wu Shan’s activities in Zhengding.

Though few spoke of the past, it couldn’t escape those who paid attention.

The Wu family had actually looked down on Dou Zhao for her strong will!

Song Mo was indignant. Yet when he encountered Dou Zhao again, he couldn’t help but say, "I heard Wu Shan married his cousin, and they get along quite well. They recently had a healthy baby boy, and the hundred-day celebration is coming up. Should we send a gift?"

Dou Zhao had no intention of associating with the Wu family—or, more accurately, wanted no further ties with Ji Shi. After a moment’s thought, she smiled and said, "I think we’ll pass. Let Twelfth Brother handle the gift. The Wu family and the Dou family are old friends, not the Song family’s."

Her expression showed no sign of discomfort.

Relieved, Song Mo ultimately decided to send a congratulatory gift along with Dou Dechang. As for Wu Shan, since Dou Zhao was currently resting during her pregnancy and couldn’t go out, he would simply accompany her whenever she visited her family.

Pleased with this plan, he cheerfully practiced calligraphy in the study.

But just as he had written two characters, Ji Yong came to visit Dou Zhao.

Song Mo frowned slightly. "What does he want?"

Wuyi, his mouth dry, replied softly, "I don’t know! As soon as he arrived, he dismissed Madam’s attendants, saying he had urgent matters to discuss with her..."

Song Mo had always respected Dou Zhao, and she had her own remarkable qualities. The maids and pages in the household treated her with the same deference they showed him.They didn't dare eavesdrop on Song Mo's words, nor did they dare listen in on Dou Zhao's conversation.

Song Mo couldn't help but grumble inwardly.

Every time Ji Yong came, wasn't it always for some urgent matter!

Yet he truly couldn't see what was so urgent about these so-called important matters.

He finished writing a page before setting down his brush, washed his hands, changed his clothes, and headed to the main house.

Just as Wuyi had said, the maids and old women of the main house were all standing in the middle of the courtyard, the door curtains hanging still, the entire yard silent.