Chapter 339: East Palace

The Crown Princess had the Empress Dowager and the Empress above her. Dou Zhao was pregnant, and neither the Empress Dowager nor the Empress had said anything yet, yet she assigned someone to take care of her. This was a bit like usurping the throne and was inappropriate.

The Crown Princess thought for a moment and smiled, "That's good, so you won't feel uncomfortable."

The matter was just covered like that.

The good news was received in the front hall. Not only Song Mo was happy, but the Crown Prince was also very happy. Not only did he specially send someone to inquire about it, he also asked the Crown Princess to give some medicinal herbs to stabilize the pregnancy.

The side hall was filled with joy.

The eldest grandson of the emperor was a smart boy. He stared at Dou Zhao's belly and asked Dou Zhao, "Is Madam Dou going to give birth to a sister too?"

Before Dou Zhao opened his mouth to speak, the Crown Princess gently rebuked him, "Madam Dou wants to give birth to a younger brother." Then she ordered the palace maid beside her, "Bring some old clothes that Shou'er wore to Madam Dou." Then she said to Dou Zhao, "I heard that if you put the old clothes that a boy wore when he was a child under your pillow, you will get your wish of giving birth to a big fat boy. When I was pregnant with Shou'er, I used the old clothes of Shi Yan, the eldest son of Marquis Changxing, as my pillow. You can try it too."

It’s the Changxing Marquis Mansion again!

Dou Zhao hurriedly smiled and thanked him.

The eldest grandson of the emperor asked the Crown Princess curiously, "Why did Mother want to give birth to a younger sister, while Madam Dou wanted to give birth to a younger brother?"

The Crown Princess patiently explained, "Because Mother already has Shou'er and Fu'er, Madam Dou has never had sons as obedient and filial as Shou'er and Fu'er!"

The emperor's eldest grandson looked as if he had drunk a bowl of hot soup in the middle of winter. He was smiling, happy and proud.

Dou Zhao pursed his lips and smiled.

The Crown Princess said humbly, "This child is just naughty. Madam Dou, please don't take it to heart."

Dou Zhao praised the emperor's eldest grandson: "The emperor's eldest grandson has a pure heart and is innocent and naive. How can he be called naughty?"

The Crown Princess looked at her son and smiled faintly, a smile full of pampering and love.

The eldest grandson of the emperor hugged his mother's arm and smiled.

Dou Zhao couldn't help but think of his two sons in his previous life.

When her two sons were as old as the eldest grandson, she seemed to have never treated them so gently. Every time her sons came to greet her, she was either busy settling accounts with the housekeeper or giving instructions to the housekeeper's mothers. She had no mood to talk to her two sons gently. She always asked about their homework with a stern look, scolded them a few words, and then let the maids take them away.

The thought flashed through his mind and Dou Zhao's heart paused slightly.

Why did I recall those unpleasant experiences in my past life?

In this life, she married Song Mo, and she will definitely have a different future!

She couldn't help but stroke her belly, and said with an envious tone that she herself didn't realize: "I really hope my child can be as smart and lively as the emperor's eldest grandson."

Dou Zhao's heartfelt sigh surprised the Crown Princess. She smiled happily and said, "Madam Dou, you are too kind. The eldest grandson of the Duke of Ying's mansion will definitely be a smart and lively child."

The emperor's eldest grandson, who was praised, looked at Dou Zhao with a hint of smile in his eyes.

Dou Zhao asked, "Does your Majesty hope that this time you will give birth to a little princess?"

"Yes!" The Crown Princess' smile was full of maternal radiance, "A daughter is a mother's intimate little cotton-padded jacket. The Crown Prince and I are looking forward to having a little princess!"

But Dou Zhao knew that she had given birth to another son.

The eunuchs and palace maids saw off the emperor's eldest grandson.

Dou Zhao and the Crown Princess were chatting as it was almost noon.

The rules for providing meals in the palace are very strict, and not everyone can bear them.

The Crown Princess has two mothers-in-law above her, so she must understand this.

She served tea to the guests and saved Dou Zhao from kneeling to greet them.

Dou Zhao heaved a sigh of relief, but still knelt down and paid his respects, then was helped out of the side hall by the palace maid.

Song Mo also came out from the front hall and was talking to Cui Yijun at the gate of the East Palace, waiting for Dou Zhao.

Cui Yijun stopped talking when Dou Zhao approached, but she still heard the last sentence, "I'll leave this matter to the Crown Prince."

She didn't dare to ask what it was, so she and Song Mo said goodbye to Cui Yijun and were led by the eunuchs of the East Palace to Xizhimen.

On the way, Song Mo whispered to her, "Are you tired? If you are, let's find a place to rest."

Dou Zhao couldn't help but chuckle and whispered, "Can you still find a place to rest in the palace?"

"Of course." Song Mo and Dou Zhao whispered, "I'm not the deputy governor of the Jinwu Guard for nothing!"

Dou Zhao looked at Song Mo with a smile and whispered, "I'm fine. I just want to go home quickly."

Song Mo said nothing more, held her hand and squeezed it gently.

The two followed the eunuchs slowly out of the palace and got on their own carriage.

Song Mo immediately held her in his arms and said, "Don't bump into anything."

A horse-drawn carriage is not like a sedan chair. When it encounters potholes, it will be bumpy and make people feel very uncomfortable.

Dou Zhao had been walking for so long and was a little tired, so he let Song Mo hold him.

Song Mo placed his hand on Dou Zhao's belly and exclaimed, "I never thought we would actually have a child!"

It was the first time that Dou Zhao saw him with such mixed feelings. He couldn't help but feel playful and asked him, "Why? Don't you like it?"

Song Mo suddenly slapped her butt and said, "You are lying to me again!"

Dou Zhao was startled by Song Mo's frivolous behavior. He let out an "ouch" and glared at him.

Song Mo smiled with his eyes narrowed, his face revealing the quiet and elegant radiance of jade.

Dou Zhaoqing couldn't help but move closer, until Song Mo's hot breath hit her face, she realized what she had done.

She hurriedly stepped back and leaned on Song Mo's shoulder, trying to cover up her previous actions and divert Song Mo's attention, and asked, "What did Cui Yijun ask you to do just now?"

Song Mo looked at her red ears, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, but his voice was as calm as ever: "It's not a big deal - he said that winter is coming, and his old cold legs are acting up again. He asked me if I could help him find some better leather. He wants to make two knee pads."

Dou Zhao was stunned. After a while, he said, "No wonder people call him 'Cui Pianyi'. His eye sockets are too small! He really brings shame to the prince!"

She couldn't imagine how Cui Yijun in her previous life protected the Crown Princess and the three royal grandsons and helped them escape from the Eastern Palace, just as she couldn't imagine when Wang Yuan in her previous life hooked up with Prince Liao and how he was able to escape unscathed in the end.

It looks like I have to think carefully about the palace coup.

Dou Zhao grabbed Song Mo's collar and tightened his grip.

※※※※※

Soon it was the fifth day of the twelfth lunar month. The old lady of the Lu family sent a message to Song Yichun through her son Lu Shi: "Most of the women from the noble families in Kyoto will go to the birthday banquet of the wife of Duke Jing to congratulate her. Dou has never experienced such an occasion before. Let her go with me and the eldest princess to the Duke Jing's mansion so that she can get acquainted with the wives of dukes, marquises, earls and ministers."

Song Yichun frowned.

Tao Qi advised him: "It would be unreasonable for Madam Jingguo not to attend his wife's birthday banquet. Not only would it offend the Duke Jingguo Mansion, but it would also offend Madam Lu and Princess Ningde..."

Song Yichun angrily threw the invitation from Duke Jing's Mansion on the table.

Tao Qizhong signaled Zeng Wu to put away the invitation and deliver it to Yi Zhitang.

Dou Zhao received the invitation and discussed with Song Mo: "Is it okay if I don't go?"

Although they detected the pregnancy pulse in the East Palace, they did not make it public because the child was not even three months old. They only told their aunt and Zhao Zhangru. Their aunt took good care of Dou Zhao every day, and Dou Zhao became more and more reluctant to move. He would sleep after eating every day, and when he woke up, he would get together with his aunt and Zhao Zhangru to chat or do needlework.

"It's better to go there." Song Mo took the Chinese yam, lily and wolfberry porridge from the maid and handed it to Dou Zhao with a smile, "It was Madam Lu who personally asked my uncle to come and tell my father, and she also brought Princess Ningde along."

"I know!" Dou Zhao muttered as he drank his porridge, "I just don't want to move!"

She looked like a coquettish little girl.

Song Mo had a faint smile in his eyes, and he coaxed her: "When you come back from Duke Jing's Mansion, I will play chess with you."

Dou Zhao smiled brightly, his eyes sparkling like gems.

Song Mo's heart was instantly filled with tenderness.

He liked Dou Zhao like this, liked Dou Zhao being coquettish with him like this... He thought of the day in the carriage when Dou Zhao couldn't help looking at him with fondness, and he couldn't help but touch Dou Zhao's face gently, and said in a low and doting voice, "You just socialize with them obediently, and I'll pick you up when the time comes."

Song Mo's words pleased Dou Zhao.

She giggled and said, "Don't try to fool me. It's the birthday party of the wife of Duke Jing. The Duke is of the same generation and doesn't need to go to pay respects. You are of the younger generation, so why don't you go too? But you even tricked me by saying you would come to pick me up!"

Song Mo said calmly, "We'll just show up and leave. If I don't send someone to pick you up, can you get away?"

"Cunning!" Dou Zhao gave him a look.

That gaze, as shimmering as the surface of a lake in summer, made Song Mo's heart feel as if it was gently brushed by a feather.

"How can you say I'm cunning?" His eyes fell on Dou Zhao's plump breasts. "I'm worried that your body can't handle the feast. You'll be uncomfortable again."

"My aunt asked me to bring some tea leaves to chew." Dou Zhao wanted to ignore Song Mo's gaze, but his gaze was too presumptuous and burning, which made her really overwhelmed. She couldn't help but said coquettishly, "I'm talking to you, where are you looking?"

Song Mo whispered in her ear: "I haven't seen you for a while, so I miss you very much. I want to see you..."

This is shameless!

Dou Zhao's cheeks flushed, and she looked at Song Mo's curled mouth. She glanced at him and asked softly, "Really?" Then she bit his ear and unbuttoned his clothes, "Then let me show you."

Song Mo's face turned red instantly.

Dou Zhao laughed softly.

Song Mo rushed over and said, "Do you think I dare not?" and kissed her hard on the lips.

Joyful laughter echoed in the inner room.

From the window came the deliberate coughing of my aunt: "Shougu, it's getting late, you should go to bed early! We still have to go to the Duke of Jing's mansion to celebrate his birthday tomorrow."

The laughter in the room stopped abruptly.

"Got it." Dou Zhao's calm and indifferent voice came from the window, "I'll rest now."

My aunt returned to the guest room with a smile on her face.

A laughter like silver bells echoed in the inner room.

Song Mo spread his limbs and fell backwards on the kang.

Dou Zhao smiled like a flower and lay down beside Song Mo.

"A gift from God." She kissed Song Mo's cheek gently and slowly put her hand into his collar.

Song Mo grabbed her hand, tapped her nose affectionately, and said softly, "I'm just teasing you!" Then he sat up and said, "Let's take a break!"

At first, it might have been just to tease her, but later, the situation got a little out of control.

Dou Zhao hugged him from behind, leaned on his shoulder and blew warm air gently into his ear: "You really don't want me to serve you? I just studied the book called 'Huaying' carefully..."

Before she could finish her words, Song Mo half-pressed her under him...

From the inner room came Dou Zhao's clear laughter and Song Mo's complaining voice.

In the early winter night sky, there are a few stars hanging, like the charming eyes of a beauty, shining with moving brilliance.