When Song Mo walked into his mother's room, Jiang was whispering something to her daughter-in-law. When she heard the maids serving in the room calling "Prince" in a sweet voice, she knew that her son had returned from Zhending.

"Have you seen Fourth Miss Dou?" After sending the servants away from the room, Jiang personally made a cup of tea for her son.

"Yes." Song Mo hurriedly stood up and took the teacup. "Miss Dou asked me to thank her grandmother and you on her behalf, saying that if she has the chance to come to Kyoto, she will definitely visit you. She also sent you some gifts in return, which I asked Chen He to give to Madam Huo."

Nanny Huo was Jiang's wet nurse.

Chen He was the servant who accompanied Song Mo to the farm to deliver gifts.

Jiang was very happy to hear that Dou Zhao had prepared a return gift for her. She said with a smile, "Let's go and see what the fourth young lady of the Dou family has brought me."

Song Mo accompanied Jiang to the side room that was used as a warehouse.

They were just some silks and satins, and although they were of the highest quality, they were also quite common.

Song Mo said, "Miss Fourth Dou never thought that her grandmother and mother would let me come to thank them in person. They kept this a secret from my family and sent someone to Zhending Prefecture to buy some good material. They also asked me to tell you that this is just a small gift and not a token of respect. Please don't be offended."

Jiang touched the raised vine pattern on the makeup fabric and said with emotion: "What good things have I not seen? What is rare is the thoughtfulness."

Song Mo secretly breathed a sigh of relief and walked out with his mother with a smile.

Jiang's legs went limp, and she would have nearly fallen to the ground if Song Mo hadn't quickly caught her.

Song Mo was shocked: "Mom, what's wrong with you?"

"It's okay, it's okay." Jiang comforted her son with a smile, but her face was pale.

"Mom!" Song Mo hurriedly carried his mother back to the house, and asked for a doctor to come and take his mother's pulse.

Song Yichun, who was sitting barefoot on the ground with her husband Shi Chonglan in the waterside pavilion drinking and talking beside the stone-carved flowing cup channel, got the news and immediately hurried back, just in time to meet Song Mo escorting the doctor Yang Xuan out. They knew each other so well that Song Yichun didn't hesitate to pull Yang Xuan back, who was about to leave, and went to Song Yichun's study.

"How is my wife?" Song Yichun asked worriedly.

"It's nothing serious." Yang Xu said, "It's just the depression that's attacking the heart. Just take some prescriptions to dissipate the depression."

Song Yichun sighed and said, "She hasn't had a good sleep since her uncle got into trouble. Why don't you add some herbs that can calm her mind."

It's simple.

Yang Xu smiled and said "OK", and wrote a new prescription for Jiang. Then Song Mo sent Yang Xu out again.

Song Yichun went to the upper room.

Jiang was half lying against the head of the bed with a haggard look on her face.

Seeing Song Yichun coming in, the maids knelt respectfully and called out "Master Duke". Jiang also called out "Master Duke" in a weak voice.

"How do you feel now?" Song Yichun walked to the bed without looking away, carefully observing Jiang's face, and said, "I just met Yang Xiushan, he said you are fine, take some medicine to calm your nerves and nourish your qi, and you will be fine." Then he sat down on the bed and held Jiang's hand on the thin blanket, "Well, your fingers are still a little cold, you should be more careful. We are not young anymore, we can't be as stubborn as we were when we were young."

Yang Xi, also known by his courtesy name Xiushan.

Jiang smiled and said, "What does the Third Prince Consort say?"

The main reason why Song Yichun went to the Third Princess's Mansion this time was to talk to Prince Liao through Shi Chonglan.

"With me here, can Ruifang still say 'no'?" Song Yichun patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, my third uncle will definitely send me a letter before he arrives."

Jiang's expression relaxed and he thanked Song Yichun gratefully.

"We are an old married couple, why are you talking about this?" Song Yichun said with hesitation.

Jiang smiled and said, "Since we are an old married couple, is there anything you can't say to me?"

Song Yichun laughed dryly twice and whispered, "Now my mother-in-law and her family are safe and sound, Hanzhu has passed away, I think the marriage will be a good one..."

Jiang understood what her husband meant and said with a smile, "Of course it's up to you to decide."

For her husband to reluctantly agree to Song Mo's marriage to Hanzhu at the critical moment of life and death for the Jiang family was already a sign of deep love and righteousness. Now that the Jiang family is in dire straits, although the Song family does not need a daughter-in-law to support them, they can still marry the daughter of a criminal official who has been demoted to a commoner. Moreover, as the eldest daughter-in-law, Song Yichun would never agree. Rather than saying that he had agreed reluctantly, it would be better to say that he had no choice but to agree temporarily.

Now that the crisis of the Jiang family has been resolved and Hanzhu is dead, there is no need and no possibility for the Song and Jiang families to marry again.

A look of joy appeared on Song Yichun's brow.

The pearl curtains outside were rattling and Song Han ran in.

"Mother, mother, what's wrong with you?" He rushed to his mother's bedside and then saw his father. He quickly stood up and greeted his father respectfully.

Song Yichun hummed with relief, but still scolded: "What did the master tell you? When your brother was your age, he had already learned how to advance and retreat in an orderly manner..."

Song Han pouted and looked at his mother with tears in his eyes.

Jiang said hurriedly, "Okay, okay, he's still young, he'll know when he grows up." Then she changed the subject and said, "I've been very tired these days, please help collect the rent for July!"

The Duke of England had sixteen estates granted by the government, and like the government offices, they collected rent in summer and autumn every year. At this time, the heads of the estates would return to the Duke of England's mansion for an inventory.

"Sure!" Song Yichun said cheerfully, "We have a butler anyway, I can just be a clay Buddha by his side."

He doesn't understand this.

Jiang couldn't help laughing.

Song Mo came back with the medicine and saw that the house was filled with joy and peace. He bowed to his parents and asked, "What are you talking about? You look so happy!"

Song Yichun said hurriedly, "Your mother asked me to help calculate the summer rent. I also have to help your uncles deal with the Liao King. I think I'll leave this matter to you. Didn't Mr. Hong praise you for your good math? It's just right for you to help manage the household affairs."

Song Mo was very surprised and looked at his mother.

Song Yichun, as if afraid that Song Mo would go back on his word, said hastily, "It's settled." Then he said, "I'll go to the storehouse to see if there's anything suitable for giving to Prince Liao. If you have anything to say, just tell Tianci!" The last sentence was addressed to Jiang. After that, he got up and went to the storehouse.

Jiang sighed and said to her son, "It's just a formality. You've been running around these days and haven't had a good night's sleep. There's nothing to do with your uncle, so you don't have to worry about the family affairs. Go and play with Yu Ge'er and the others!"

Yu Ge'er's full name was Gu Yu, and he was the eldest grandson of Yunyang Earl Gu Quanfang. Gu Quanfang's legitimate wife, Song, was Song Yichun's aunt. Less than a year after the two got married, Song died of illness without leaving any offspring. Later, although Gu Quanfang married the cousin of Xuanning Marquis Guo Haiqing, he continued to interact with the Song family as if Song was alive, and the Song and Guo families became close.

Gu Yu's mother was the sister of Empress Wan, who died of dystocia when giving birth to him. He was the same age as Song Mo, and was pretty and beautiful, like a girl, but he was very domineering. He would fight with others if they didn't agree with him, and he would not allow his followers to help, but would go into battle himself. It was okay if he beat others, but it was hard to explain if others beat him, and he caused a lot of trouble. Empress Wan loved the only child left by her sister, and treated him like a treasure. When things got serious, she would personally come forward to plead for him. The officials and families in the capital kept their children away from him, and over time, he was nicknamed the Little Bully of Kyoto.

Someone with ulterior motives instigated him to provoke Song Mo.

Song Mo is also a rather special person in Kyoto.

It is said that Song Yichun was very strict with him. His family invited several great scholars to teach him. In addition to the various schools of thought, poetry, calligraphy and painting, he also had to learn astronomy, calendar, arithmetic and archery. He always had insufficient time and almost never went out. Few people knew him. Those who had never met Song Mo liked to call him "the nerd of the Duke of Yingguo's mansion" behind his back, while those who had met Song Mo usually kept silent.

In fact, at that time Song Mo had been thrown into the battlefield by Jiang Meisun to train his courage. He looked at Gu Yu like an adult looking at a child and did not take him seriously at all. Naturally, he turned a blind eye to Gu Yu's provocation.

Gu Yu took action at the royal family banquet.

Song Mo was rude and beat Gu Yu into a pig's head while Queen Wan was begging for mercy.

At that time, Prince Liao had not yet been enfeoffed, and fearing that the world would not be in chaos, he stood by and cheered for Song Mo.

The prince was sweating all over. He pulled Song Mo and then Gu Yu, but neither side bought into his plan. He was so anxious that he kept calling for the guards to separate them.

Queen Wan hugged Gu Yu and cried, while Jiang hugged Song Mo and cried.

The emperor had no choice but to pretend he didn't see it, saying he had drunk too much and needed to go to rest.

Who knew that Gu Yu would be convinced by Song Mo from then on and would go to the Duke of Ying's mansion to play with him every day.

Song Mo had no time to accompany him, so he just left him aside and ignored him.

He acted nonchalant and followed Song Mo like a sticky candy. Wherever Song Mo went, he went. He never fought back or responded when he was beaten or scolded. Once, Song Mo threw him into a well and he almost drowned. After being pulled out, he didn't say anything to the adults and continued to follow Song Mo.

Only then did Song Mo look at him straight in the eye.

He asked his bodyguard, Xu Qing, whom Duan Gongyi called the sword hidden in the box, to teach him how to practice martial arts.

Gu Yu could squat in horse stance for the duration of two incense sticks, and he did not even complain even when his hands and feet were shaking.

When Song Mo saw this, he asked Yan Chaoqing to teach him how to read.

Jiang wanted to say something but stopped.

Song Mo sneered: "The Guo family is playing 'praise and kill', but they actually plotted against the Duke of Ying's Mansion. This matter can't be let go so easily. I was originally prepared to settle this account with the Guo family, but for Gu Yu's sake, let it go. Let Gu Yu resolve this grudge himself."

Jiang said nothing more.

But within two or three years, Gu Yu seemed to have become a different person. Not only was he polite and humble to others, his words meaningful, but he was also generous and open-minded, and he could get along well with anyone.

Queen Wan praised Song Mo in front of Jiang more than once.

Song Mo occasionally asked Gu Yu to do some work for him, and the two of them ate and drank together a few times.

Seeing that her son had a playmate of the same age and that Gu Yu had come to his senses, Jiang often encouraged her son and Gu Yu to go out for a walk.

"What else does he do besides flying eagles and running horses?" Song Mo said with a smile, "Why don't I help you check the accounts of the farm? After all, it is the chores of the family, it is always good to learn more."

Jiang had been working very hard these days, but in the end her brothers still died one after another. She didn't say it, but she blamed herself in her heart, thinking that she had harmed her brothers. If she had listened to the little girl's advice earlier, perhaps things would not have come to this. Thinking about it more, she became dazed.

The eldest son was the son carefully nurtured by the Song and Jiang families, and she was very confident in him.

"This house has been yours for a long time. Since you are interested, you should learn how to take inventory!" Jiang smiled and had someone give the pair of cards to Song Mo.

Song Han snuggled up to his mother and said with a smile, "Then I'll stay with you."

Jiang patted her second son's head with satisfaction.