Chapter 150 · Extra 8
The seventh year of Qing'an
Song Jin turned three years old in the blink of an eye.
At this age, she had already mastered various skills such as climbing trees, walls, and rooftops. Even with ten maids and two nannies watching over her, she could quietly climb away in the blink of an eye, hiding like a cat, and then pounce down from a height to give people a fright.
However, this action was too dangerous. The maids and nannies in the house couldn't withstand the fright, and the three older brothers were too young. In the Song family, only Song Shang received this treatment.
He was walking down the corridor with his colleagues when a little baby suddenly pounced on him. He was talking to someone while catching the baby without changing his expression, holding her in his arms and skillfully adjusting his position to make her more comfortable.
Covered in dust and cobwebs, Song Jin opened her little mouth and bit his shoulder with a loud yelp.
Bad daddy, he won't take her out to play.
Song Shang was used to it. Even when such a high-ranking and powerful person had his clothes soaked with saliva, he didn't even blink. He just patted her bottom lightly and continued talking to the person opposite him.
"What Lord Yang said makes sense. However, I still think that when the granaries are full, people know etiquette; when they are well-fed and clothed, they know honor and shame. Compared to these cumbersome formalities, what the people need more is to be well-fed and clothed, and to be able to get married and raise children."
The newly appointed Minister of Rites, Yang Guoan, was taken aback by his straightforward and down-to-earth words, and his gaze involuntarily fell on the little baby in the arms of this renowned chief minister.
Everyone in the court knew that Grand Secretary Song doted on his daughter. The child was already three years old, and he had never taken her to any banquets except for palace banquets. She was kept very well hidden, and very few people had ever seen her.
In Yang Guoan's imagination, his child would either be like him, spoiled and willful, or as gentle and reasonable as his wife, shy and mild-mannered. He never expected it to be like this.
She was only about three heads tall, with short arms and legs, and looked exactly like Song Shang. However, she was younger, had rounder eyes, and had obvious baby fat on her face. Her face was flushed from running and jumping, and she looked very spirited and lively.
Song Jin tilted her head, looking smug: "You only stop playing with me because you're playing with him?"
She was young and didn't speak fluently; her voice was halting and childish. Although she sounded fierce, it was as if she was being affectionate and adorable.
Yang Guoan thought of his daughter when she was little, and his heart softened: "What's your name?"
Song Jin scoffed: "When asking someone's name, you have to state your name first."
How impressive! He knows so much at such a young age.
Yang Guoan subconsciously looked at Song Shang and saw him slowly picking the cobwebs off someone's hair. He knew that Song Shang really did dote on children as rumored. He cleared his throat and said in a low voice, "I am Yang Guoan, the newly appointed Minister of Rites. You can call me Uncle Yang."
Although Song Jin was tough and arrogant, she still had basic manners. In response to these words, she said in a childish voice, "Uncle is the eldest, my dad is the eldest. You are not an uncle, you are a grandpa. I am Song Jin, Song as in Song Shang, and Jin as in Xiao Kan Hong Shi Chu, Hua Chong Jin Guan Cheng!"
Before Yang Guoan could even speak, Song Shang laughed at her cute appearance, reaching out to touch her chin: "Weren't you still the 'young and vigorous' one yesterday, leading ten thousand men under your banners, and crossing the river in your brocade saddlecloth?"
Song Jin raised her chin proudly: "I'm smart."
Song Shang smiled and asked, "So what about tomorrow?"
Song Jin hummed: "The brocade zither has fifty strings for no reason, and each string and each bridge evokes thoughts of bygone years."
Song Shang pinched her nose and said softly, "You're the smartest. I'll have your mother deal with you soon, you clever little thing, climbing the wall again."
Song Jin patted his hand triumphantly, but when she heard him say that, she immediately became anxious, pouting and glaring, "You were the one who didn't play with me first. You promised to practice swordsmanship with me. Dad, you broke your promise first. You're not allowed to tell Mom."
Song Shang held her strong legs firmly, like those of a bull, and flicked her forehead: "Then it's not up to me to decide. Go talk to your mother."
He turned slightly to the side while holding the person, and saw Ruan Jinling, dressed in a blue dress, striding towards him from the other side of the corridor. Her clothes were elegant, with a jade hairpin in her hair, a jade pendant and sachet at her waist, which complemented the blue bracelet on her wrist. She looked like a graceful bamboo emerging from the forest, elegant and otherworldly.
If we were to say who has been the most prominent figure in the capital in recent years, besides Song Shang, it would be his wife, Ruan Jinling.
Her appearance was exceptionally beautiful, and her manners and conduct were impeccable. She immediately won the hearts of the women in the capital and gained their favor. A few months later, she transformed herself from a penniless orphan into the daughter of Marquis Ruan Donglin of Andong, and a county princess bestowed by His Majesty. She was at the height of her fame.
At that moment, she walked over hurriedly, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, clearly in a bad mood. However, she still managed to bow to Yang Guoan first, saying, "Greetings, Lord Yang."
Yang Guoan returned the greeting: "Greetings, County Princess."
Ruan Jinling stepped forward and picked up the mischievous child who had been clinging to Song Shang like an octopus, sensing the danger. She looked at Song Shang covered in dust and cobwebs, gave her a stern look, and then continued.
"The child is being naughty and has disturbed the adults. Please forgive him."
Yang Guoan chuckled: "It's nothing, nothing at all. I won't bother you. It's just that jumping down from the top is a bit dangerous. Be careful the child doesn't get hurt."
Song Jin pouted and glared at people.
A habitual complainer.
Why are you tattled on me when you're such a grown-up?
Ruan Jinling glanced over coldly, took a deep breath, exchanged a few polite words, led the unruly child back to the backyard, then escorted her to her designated wall, placed a book on her head, and made her stand properly.
This had absolutely no effect on Song Jin.
She's a domineering flower in the apocalypse. Standing upright, let alone standing on one leg, stepping on plum blossom stakes, or balancing a book on a horse stance are all child's play for her. She's fearless.
Song Jin had a book balanced on her head, her chin held high, and her chubby cheeks jiggled, looking incredibly smug.
Looking at her completely unrepentant appearance, Ruan Jinling sneered and said to the female teacher next to her, "Teacher Zheng, thank you for your hard work."
The future highly regarded Lady Zheng is currently just a novice female teacher, with a touch of childishness on her face. Holding a book in her arms, she nodded and began to read aloud.
"The Yellow Emperor was the son of Shaodian, surnamed Gongsun, and named Xuanyuan..."⑤
Within fifteen minutes, he had become two minutes listless.
Two quarters of an hour later, he yawned repeatedly.
After 45 minutes, I felt dizzy and lightheaded.
Half an hour later, the once proud little boy ran back with tears welling up in his eyes, squatted on the ground, buried his little head in his mother's lap, feeling extremely wronged, and said in a choked voice, "Mother is bad."
The past life is like fleeting clouds, and in this life, Song Jin is only three years old. Although she is more mature and knowledgeable than most children, she is still a child.
The tyrannical woman who bled but never shed tears in her past life now cries loudly at the slightest hint of blood and is comforted by a bunch of people.
Ruan Jinling put down her teacup, her voice soft but carrying an undeniable authority: "You know you were wrong?"
Song Jin raised her head, her small mouth pouting, her nose sniffling, and two tears hanging from the corners of her eyes. She looked aggrieved and unwilling: "I know I was wrong."
Seeing her like this, Ruan Jinling felt both heartache and anger, and reached out to pinch her ear: "What do you know that's wrong?"
Song Jin sobbed, "I shouldn't have been naughty and disturbed Father's serious conversation with others."
Ruan Jinling: "That's one thing, but the most important thing is your safety. What if you fall while climbing the stairs? What if you break your head, your hand, or your leg?"
Song Jin immediately stopped feeling wronged. She reached out her little hands and nuzzled her head up to her mother's lap, her eyes darting around as she grinned, showing her pearly teeth: "Mommy, are you worried about me?"
Ruan Jinling poked her forehead in an annoyed tone: "Otherwise what? Am I worried about ghosts if not you? Don't change the subject, let's talk about serious matters. Are you still going to climb the ladder or not?"
Song Jin leaned forward, rubbing her little head against her mother's belly, and said happily, "Mommy, don't be afraid, I'm very strong."
With a slap, a hand landed on her buttocks.
Ruan Jinling grabbed her ear: "Don't give me that silly look, I'm very serious."
Snap, I got hit again.
Song Jin pouted, looked at her serious mother, and widened her eyes, emphasizing, "I'm super awesome!"
*Smack*
There's one, there's two, and there's three.
But they persisted and persisted shamelessly.
Song Jin simply kicked her leg and slapped her mother's leg, sticking her butt out so she could be hit.
Beat her, beat her to death, beat that little brat to death.
Every girl loves her more.
Song Jin held his head high, looking as if he were bravely and heroically going to his execution.
Ruan Jinling's hand slapped in mid-air, caught between a rock and a hard place, leaving her glaring in frustration.
Song Shang couldn't help but laugh. The mother and daughter turned around at the same time, glared at him in perfect unison, and said in unison, "What are you laughing at?"
He walked over with a smile, sat down next to the mother and daughter, picked up the little one who was lying down and put it on his lap, and immediately received a powerful rabbit kick, thump thump thump, which would have snapped a small tree in half.
He's so young but incredibly strong.
Song Shang laughed as he tied the little pig-like child to his lap and, taking advantage of the child's unpreparedness, stepped forward and kissed the child's forehead.
Song Jin was stunned for a moment, then screamed, "Ahhh, Mother, Mother, help! Someone is stealing my child! Someone is trying to take my child from me!"
Song Shang smiled, pulled her into his arms, pinched her hands, and rubbed her swollen belly.
Ruan Jinling sat to the side, her initial anger turning into amusement, and she snorted, "Serves you right, I'll feed you to the bugs in a bit."
Song Jin screamed loudly.
The father and daughter's back-and-forth banter made it difficult for Ruan Jinling to continue. She could only take a sip of tea to calm herself down and glare at them, saying, "Fine, fine, I'm the bad guy. Just wait until you fall down one day, don't come looking for me."
Song Jin giggled, climbed back onto her lap, knelt on her lap, pulled on her neck, pressed her face against hers, and said in a childish voice, "No, Mommy isn't afraid."
Ruan Jinling poked her forehead: "I'm not afraid, it's not like I'm the one who got hurt."
Song Jin grinned and kissed her, showing her pearly white teeth: "Mommy~ Mommy, Jin Jin loves Mommy the most."
Ruan Jinling's lips curled up, but were then suppressed. She pressed her daughter, who was hanging around her neck, back onto her lap, pinched her chubby cheeks, and swayed the jade bracelet on her wrist.
Song Jin grabbed it and opened her mouth to bite it.
Let her see if it's real.
Ruan Jinling quickly moved her hand and pushed Song Jin away: "What are you doing? Isn't it dirty? You bite everything, don't you care about the dirt? Don't do this anymore."
Song Jin giggled and opened her mouth wide.
Ruan Jinling immediately forgot about the future problems of broken arms and legs and started to solve the current problems. She pressed on the little boy's shoulders and repeatedly emphasized the issue of cleanliness.
The sick are all gone; that's just nonsense from the remaining people.
Song Shang sat to one side with a smile, looking at his wife who was giving him orders, then at his son who was huddled up with his head down and feet spread apart, and picked up the water next to him and drank it leisurely.
That clever little devil.
He smiled and put down his teacup, saying, "We're going to celebrate my father-in-law's birthday in a couple of days. Has everything been prepared, madam?"
Ruan Jinling turned around, her almond-shaped eyes brimming with surprise at him bringing this up at this time, but she still replied, "Everything is prepared. Is there anything else you'd like to add, my husband?"
Song Shang joked, "If you add any more, your husband's entire family fortune will be added to the mix."
Ruan Jinling retorted, "If you don't even have this much, then you'll have to marry into the Marquis's family. Father will definitely be happy."
Song Shang smiled and said, "He must have it in his dreams."
Ruan Jinling chuckled: "It's his birthday, you should be more considerate of him. You haven't even said anything yet, why bring this up?"
Song Shang raised an eyebrow and looked directly at Ruan Jinling and the little baby in her arms.
Song Jin immediately became alert, her big eyes widening in a fierce yet endearing way: "What?"
Song Shangyou said, "I was just thinking that the two places are far apart, and you are so naughty, what if you run off and get lost? It just so happens that Her Majesty the Empress misses you, so why don't your mother and I go there, and you stay in the palace to keep Her Majesty the Empress company?"
Ruan Jinling was taken aback, her willow-leaf eyebrows furrowed, and she was about to reject the suggestion when she saw his expression and realized what he meant. She then said, "I think it's okay. The journey is too far, and you're not obedient. It's better to stay in the palace."
The Empress in the palace was already on her deathbed that year, and it seemed she was about to pass away. But when the couple returned to the city with their child, she saw Song Jin's lively spirit and managed to pull through little by little.
She is still weak, but she is visibly regaining her vitality.
That's why, when Qi Ye almost detained their son, Song Shang argued his case, and now he has to go there once a month and stay for a few days.
Song Jin originally wanted to say that they were reluctant to part with her, but seeing the couple standing on the same side, she didn't dare to gamble on the possibility. After all, they didn't trust her to be handed over to others, and it wasn't the first or second time she had been sent to the palace.
She shifted her position, sitting sideways on her mother's lap, her toes dangling listlessly. Her head drooped like a puppy soaked by the rain, and she muttered, "Daddy and Mommy are bullying me."
Song Shang smiled but remained silent.
Ruan Jinling made her entrance with practiced ease, poking her head: "So what if I bully you? Just tell me if you'll listen or not. If you don't, you can stay in the palace. Anyway, the Empress likes you, and you might even become a princess."
Song Jin looked up at her, her eyes glistening with tears: "I don't want to be a princess, I just want to be my mother's child."
Ruan Jinling's heart was soft, and she was about to hug him when Song Shang gently kicked her ankle. She instantly sobered up and cleared her throat: "It's good that you have the intention, but we're talking about going to celebrate Grandpa's birthday."
Song Jin pouted: "Grandpa and Grandma must miss me."
Ruan Jinling: "But if they knew you would run around, they would definitely prefer you to stay in the palace."
Song Jin sniffed, tugged at her clothes, looked dejected, and hummed, "I know, I promise I won't run around on the way."
On the road.
Highlight the key points.
However, at this moment, neither of the couple noticed. After all, no matter how smart their child was, she was still only a three-year-old. Who would have thought that she could be so cunning?
Hearing her promise, Ruan Jinling and Song Shang exchanged a glance, then continued, "Will you still climb around recklessly?"
Song Jin pouted: "I didn't climb around randomly, I'm very capable."
Song Shang finally spoke, saying, "You're still young and your constitution is weak; practicing martial arts could easily injure you. How about this, in another six months, your father will teach you martial arts, okay?"
It's impossible to stop her from being naughty, but it will be safer for her after she starts formally training in martial arts.
Song Jin immediately perked up, her little legs dangling like rabbit legs: "Really? Really? Daddy, teach me?"
Song Shang reached out and ruffled her hair, smiling, "Of course, I'll teach you myself. My daughter has good aptitude; I wouldn't trust anyone else to teach her."
Song Jin excitedly rushed over, hugged his neck and rubbed against him, sweetly saying, "Daddy is so good."
Feeling her enthusiasm, Song Shang smiled and sighed inwardly.
See? We should have changed the name back then.
Ruan Jinling poured cold water on the idea, saying, "Don't be too happy yet, learning martial arts is tiring."
The new dynasty was much more lenient towards women, but learning martial arts still didn't bring good reputation to women. However, compared to the empty title, Ruan Jinling still wanted her children to have more self-defense capabilities.
I still need to learn martial arts.
However, other aspects of poetry, literature, and etiquette cannot be neglected.
Ruan Jinling: "When the time comes, you will need to learn to read and write, as well as etiquette, music, and embroidery. Don't give up halfway through and not want to learn martial arts anymore."
Song Jin froze, then immediately clung to her father, rubbing against him like a puppy, whimpering, "Help! Help! Daddy, help! Jin Jin is still so little! I'm your own daughter, what if you die from exhaustion? Studying too much will stunt my growth..."
Ruan Jinling retorted, "If you can't grow tall, then be a short, thin gourd, or a walking stick."
...
Song Shang smiled, holding his crying daughter and listening to his wife's gentle murmurs. He looked up at the sky, raised his teacup, offered a small toast, and then drank it down in one gulp.
He is fine, don't worry.
[Author's Note]
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