Blossom

Song Yichun proved to be even more heartless and shameless than Song Mo and Dou Zhao had imagined.

After a day of consideration, Song Mo planned to speak with Song Yichun again about Song Han the following day. However, when he went to Xiangxi Courtyard the next morning, he found that Song Yichun had already left for the palace.

"Did the Duke go alone?" Song Mo frowned. "Has Mr. Tao already set the departure date?"

Huang Qing, the chief steward of the Duke of England's Mansion, received him respectfully. "The Duke is accompanied by Zeng Wu. Mr. Tao will set off after the Mid-Autumn Festival."

Song Mo nodded and returned to the Hall of Cultivating Will. He said to Dou Zhao, "The weather is getting cooler. While it's still pleasant and you're not too far along in your pregnancy, let’s take Yuan Ge'er to visit the Old Madam."

He deeply admired his grandmother’s calm and composed demeanor, which had earned her even more of his respect.

Dou Zhao asked curiously, "Did the Duke refuse to speak about Song Han’s matter in the palace?"

"No," Song Mo replied expressionlessly. "Father went to the palace early this morning."

He couldn’t quite describe the feeling in his heart, but he simply didn’t wish to see Song Yichun.

Dou Zhao, however, understood implicitly.

As a father, Song Yichun showed no paternal affection toward either Song Mo or Song Han, leaving Song Mo deeply disappointed in him.

She hoped the laughter of their child and the warmth of their grandmother’s love could bring Song Mo some comfort.

Dou Zhao called out loudly to Ruo Tong, and the maids and pages cheerfully began packing. Yuan Ge'er ran in and out, filling the house with a lively and cozy atmosphere.

Gradually, Song Mo’s expression softened.

Dou Zhao sighed in relief and happily returned to the Temple Back Alley with Song Mo and Yuan Ge'er.

Ji Lingze was also there.

She had personally made seven or eight sets of autumn clothes for the Old Madam. Seeing the fine weather today, she had brought her maids to visit.

When Dou Zhao and the others arrived, Ji Lingze was washing the Old Madam’s hair.

The Old Madam was overjoyed, her face beaming with smiles.

Song Mo quietly teased Dou Zhao, "Look, you’ve lost favor!"

Dou Zhao was delighted that someone was taking such good care of her grandmother. She retorted with a humph, "I’m the paternal aunt—how can I be compared to the daughters-in-law?"

A paternal aunt returning to her maiden home was a guest, while daughters-in-law had the duty to serve their in-laws.

Song Mo chuckled.

Yuan Ge'er ran over and said, "Great-Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, let me massage your shoulders!"

"Oh my!" The Old Madam couldn’t contain her joy. "Our Yuan Ge'er even knows how to massage shoulders!"

Ji Lingze smiled gently, placed a stool behind the Old Madam, and helped Yuan Ge'er stand on it.

Yuan Ge'er began patting the Old Madam’s back with his little hands and said, "My father massages my mother’s shoulders. When they do, they always shoo me away."

Everyone froze, glancing at Song Mo, whose face had turned bright red. They struggled to suppress their laughter, lowering their heads in silent amusement.

"What’s going on here?" Dou Shiying, hearing that Song Mo and his wife had brought Yuan Ge'er to Temple Back Alley, came over with Dou Dechang. Upon entering, he saw everyone looking as if they were choking back laughter and asked curiously, "Did I miss something?"

"Not at all, not at all," the Old Madam replied with a smile. "Didn’t you say you had business to attend to today? Why are you here now? Have you had breakfast yet? Hong Gu made sweet potato porridge—would you like some?"Dou Shiying was puzzled but went along with his grandmother's words: "I've already eaten. I heard Yantang was here, so I came to see him. I'll go out again later." Then he said to Song Mo, "Xu Zhiji has been appointed as the Right Secretary in the Ministry of Works. He invited me to dinner today."

Song Mo quickly responded, "Father-in-law, are you close with Xu Zhiji? I have some matters at the Ministry of Works. When would be a good time for you to introduce me to him?"

"Of course!" Dou Shiying smiled. "Why not join me for drinks today? He's quite easy to talk to."

"I won't go today. I’d like to chat with the old lady for a while," Song Mo said, pulling Dou Shiying aside to a side room to talk.

Dou Dechang scratched his head, looking utterly confused. "What exactly is going on? Why does Yantang seem a bit uneasy?"

"Nothing serious," Ji Lingze replied, glancing at Dou Zhao, who was quietly sipping tea. She decided to tell Dou Dechang about it later at home, letting her husband in on the joke about Dou Zhao and Song Mo.

Seeing the grandmother signal Yuan Ge'er to stop the massage, Ji Lingze stepped forward with a smile and picked up the child. "Our Yuan Ge'er is the most well-behaved. Grandmother is all better now, and you must be tired. Let your uncle take you to play."

The grandmother handed Yuan Ge'er a handful of candies and said warmly, "After playing for a while, come to Grandmother’s room. I have more treats for you!"

Yuan Ge'er nodded cheerfully, and Dou Dechang hoisted him onto his shoulders, heading to the garden at the back.

Ji Lingze nudged Dou Zhao teasingly. "That madder-red skirt you wore last time was lovely. Who made it? I’d like one for the Mid-Autumn Festival."

Seeing Ji Lingze’s serious expression but mischievous eyes, Dou Zhao blushed. "Are you just teasing me now?"

Ji Lingze couldn’t hold back her laughter any longer.

Dou Zhao, embarrassed and annoyed, turned away with a stern face, ignoring Ji Lingze.

"This child!" the grandmother chided. "Isn’t it good that you and your husband get along so well? Why get upset?" Her words turned Dou Zhao’s cheeks as red as dawn.

Ji Lingze wrapped an arm around Dou Zhao’s shoulders, smiling. "Alright, alright, don’t be angry. I brought some newly made osmanthus honey. Let’s go make some sweet dumplings."

Dou Zhao chuckled, realizing she’d been too stubborn and nearly embarrassed Ji Lingze. Fortunately, Ji Lingze was broad-minded and didn’t take it to heart.

Blushing, Dou Zhao followed Ji Lingze to the kitchen.

When they returned home that evening, Yan Chaoqing was waiting for them at the gates of the Duke of England's Mansion.

Both Song Mo and Dou Zhao were surprised.

Yan Chaoqing approached with a wry smile. "The Duke returned at noon and has been sending someone every half-hour to ask if you’ve come back…"

Before leaving, Song Mo had instructed Yan Chaoqing to claim ignorance of his whereabouts unless it was a matter concerning the palace.

Dou Zhao and Song Mo exchanged glances at this.

Song Mo whispered, "Take the children inside first. I’ll go see what he wants."

Dou Zhao nodded and returned to the Hall of Cultivating Will. After freshening up, Chen Qushui requested an audience.

"I noticed the Duke sent people to the residences of the Song family’s other sons after returning from the palace," he speculated. "Perhaps he’s decided to open the ancestral hall."

So soon?

After dragging on for years, was it really resolved just like that?

Dou Zhao felt an odd sense of unreality.

About half an hour later, Song Mo returned.His expression was unreadable, neither happy nor angry, yet it lacked its usual calm composure, appearing strangely unsettling instead.

Dou Zhao quickly asked, "What did the Duke want with you?"

"He's decided to open the ancestral hall first thing tomorrow," Song Mo replied, his voice thick with exhaustion, "to expel Song Han from the Duke of England's Mansion."

Noticing this, Chen Qushui gave Dou Zhao a meaningful glance and quietly withdrew.

Dou Zhao gently wrapped her arms around his waist and let out a long sigh.

Song Mo said despondently, "He wanted me dead, showed no mercy to Song Han, and cared even less for Mother. I truly wish I could cut open his heart to see if it's red or black."

Was this the same rage he'd felt in his past life?

Dou Zhao pressed her face against his back and said softly, "All I know is that Song Yantang is the person who treats me best in this world."

Song Mo smiled faintly, turned around, and embraced Dou Zhao.

Outside, the muffled laughter of maids and pages lighting the lanterns beneath the eaves mingled with Yuan Ge'er's thundering footsteps across the Covered Corridors, the wet nurse's anxious calls, and the kitchen old women's hushed inquiries to Ruo Tong about preparing late-night snacks. The lively clamor, brimming with vitality, suddenly filled Song Mo's heart to the brim.

With a smile, he released Dou Zhao and took her hand. "Come, let's watch the pages light the lanterns."

As the lanterns were lit, their warm glow illuminated everything, bringing warmth to his heart as well.

Dou Zhao smiled slightly and followed Song Mo out of the hall.

※※※※※

That evening, Song Mo not only sent for Miao Ansu from the farmstead but also summoned Miao's uncle, father, and Miao Anping.

"Song Han has been unfilial, and Father has already reported to the Emperor his decision to expel him from the family," Song Mo met with the Miao family in his study. "But Miao Shi has done no wrong. My suggestion is to first arrange a divorce between Miao Shi and Song Han, after which the Song family will open the ancestral hall."

The Miao family members were stunned, exchanging bewildered glances.

After a long pause, Miao's uncle coughed and asked, "What about our sixth paternal aunt's daily expenses in the future?"

Miao Anping, however, shuddered.

Though he often engaged in petty misdeeds, he had never committed any major evils. Among his acquaintances, none were the type to casually take lives. When he had been beaten before, he hadn't understood at the time, but afterward, he pieced together some clues and realized the vast gulf between the Miao and Song families—the latter could kill without consequence, while if he so much as struck an innocent person, he'd be dragged to court without leniency, fined, and punished.

"Uncle," he hurriedly interjected, "what are you saying? The Young Lord has gone out of his way to discuss our sixth aunt's divorce with us before expelling the second master. How could he not have considered her future livelihood? We should simply follow the Young Lord's lead. He won't steer us wrong."

Miao's father shot his son a fierce glare.

Initially shocked by the divorce, he had quickly begun calculating how to squeeze some silver out of the Song family. Once his daughter was no longer tied to them, any chance of benefits would vanish!

Miao Anping, unwilling to let his father ruin things, glared back just as fiercely and added, "Young Lord, we defer entirely to you. My uncle and father are getting on in years and worry for our sixth aunt's future without support, so their words may sound tactless. Please don't take it to heart."After being beaten, he became much more sensible.

Song Mo thought to himself, deciding to ignore Uncle Miao and Miao Ansu’s father altogether. He turned to Miao Anping and said, "All the properties under Song Han’s name will be transferred to Miao Shi. From now on, they shall go their separate ways—marriages and relationships will have nothing to do with each other. What do you think?"

The Miao family had assumed that the Song family would at most offer a few hundred or a thousand taels of silver to settle the matter with Miao Shi. Hearing this, they were overjoyed and eagerly agreed.

Song Mo arranged for them to stay in the Four Alleys residence before heading to Dou Zhao’s place.

Dou Zhao said to Qi Xia, "The Duke insisted on opening the ancestral hall, so I had no choice but to summon you here. Fortunately, there are no outsiders, so you needn’t be afraid!"

Qi Xia’s face was streaked with tears, but she dared not sob aloud.

She knelt and kowtowed to Dou Zhao, refusing to rise no matter how much Miao Ansu tried to pull her up. "Madam, thank you for allowing me to testify. I’ve dreamed of seeing the look on the Second Master’s face when he realizes he’s been abandoned by everyone."