"But today, seeing him like that, a country woman in his heart is more important than , his father! If in the future, the Duke’s Mansion and that country girl’s mother and daughter were in conflict and he could only choose one, who do you think he would choose?"
Song Wu glanced at Song Hong, wanting to say: My Lord, can’t we be more realistic?
Unfortunately, he dared not speak, but his expression betrayed everything.
Song Hong also didn’t look at Song Wu, and after a mont of silence, he said: "Now I realize, I was wrong! I thought too simply! If he has no affection for the Duke’s Mansion, how can he be willing to contribute to the Song Family in the future?"
Song Wu just felt it was really difficult for him, being the confidant of the Lord Duke; not only did he have to handle various affairs, but he also needed to help analyze the father-son relationship.
It was a long ti before he said: "My Lord, the eldest son has only been back a few days? It’s normal for him to be a bit estranged from you now, but after all, you are blood-related father and son, this kinship will never break. Being in the mansion day and night, with ti, the eldest son will understand your painstaking efforts."
"Moreover, the eldest son has only been back for two months, and you’ve already petitioned to make him the Princely Heir. Do you think he can’t see the earnest expectations and your loving fatherly thoughts? Not to ntion, you’re still in your pri; with gentle guidance, the slow grind, drop by drop, the eldest son’s heart isn’t made of stone, it can be ward, right?"
Song Hong was sowhat relieved by Song Wu’s persuasion and smiled bitterly: "There’s no other way!"
Afterward, he angrily said: "I refuse to believe it, I, a Lord Duke, making an effort to compensate him, can’t compare to that country woman! Hmph, a spineless thing, saying a few nice words and he treats her like his own mother."
"Doesn’t he consider that his father not only can give him wealth and status but also power and beauty? Those are the real benefits. His rural mother-in-law neglects her own son, isn’t it just because she sees his potential that she flatters him? Otherwise, why would she co to the Capital City and live such a good life?"
Song Wu kept his head down and remained silent.
After a while, Song Hong instructed: "Send soone to see if any Imperial Physician is available in the Imperial dical Bureau—no, I rember that country girl is a disciple of Old Doctor Du, and she’s visited the Du Family since arriving in the Capital. Given this, have soone invite Director Du over, see if he’s available to check that little rascal’s pulse and see if there’s any major issue."
Song Wu responded with a sound of acknowledgnt.
"Later, go to my private treasury and pick out a few good things to send to the courtyard—" Song Hong said with a stern face.
Song Wu promptly agreed and, seeing no other orders, retreated to carry out the tasks.
In the room, Song Hong coldly snorted: "A country woman, I didn’t bother with you because of that little rascal. If you know what’s good for you, it’s not that you can’t be accommodated. But if you continue to stir up trouble between us father and son, don’t bla for being ruthless!"
※※※
anwhile, Song Chongjin helped Old Granny Zhang and led Wang Yongzhu back to the courtyard together.
Hot water was already prepared. He took a bath first and changed into a set of casual clothes.
With his hair still wet, Wang Yongzhu stood behind him, using a cloth to dry his hair, while Old Granny Ding had already prepared a digestible hot noodle soup, sprinkled with cabbage sprouts grown by Wang Yongzhu and Old Granny Zhang.
Song Chongjin ate three bowls in one go, finally feeling half recovered.
Originally, he wanted to chat with Wang Yongzhu, but as soon as he touched the kang bed, Song Chongjin felt his eyelids heavy as if they weighed a thousand pounds and couldn’t lift them at all.
Wang Yongzhu gently patted his shoulder to comfort him: "Sleep well for a while, I’ll stay by your side!"
Hearing this, Song Chongjin imdiately felt reassured and fell into a deep and sweet slumber,
and when Song Chongjin was asleep, Wang Yongzhu signaled Bai Lu to move the heated cage over and set it aside. She gently spread Song Chongjin’s still-damp hair over the cage to dry it.
With a heartache, she brushed his thin jaw, motioning for everyone to leave quietly.
Old Granny Zhang had sothing to say but, seeing her son-in-law so exhausted, swallowed her words. She went outside to instruct in a low voice that no one should speak loudly, walk softly, and if there was anything to deal with, they should find her instead of bothering Wang Yongzhu and Song Chongjin, not to disturb her son-in-law’s sleep.
As soon as she finished instructing, just about to head back inside, she noticed Old Granny Wu signaling to her.
Old Granny Zhang knew Old Granny Wu had sothing to discuss with her, so she nodded and gestured for her to co in.
As soon as they entered the room, Old Granny Wu, worried, said: "Old Lady, you offended the Lord Duke today. Will there be any trouble?"
Old Granny Zhang didn’t have ti to think then; she just saw her son-in-law was barely able to stand, and the convenient father-in-law acted like he didn’t notice. Imdiately, she got angry.
The only reverse scale she had were her daughter and now her son-in-law.
Seeing others treat her child like this, her instinct to protect them flared up, there wasn’t anything else she considered.
After she had vented, she realized, this convenient father-in-law wasn’t like those country bumpkins; he was a Lord Duke, soone who could crush her with a finger.
Yet a mother’s heart, if anyone dares bully her children, even the Heavenly Emperor’s Father, she wouldn’t fear him.
If her son-in-law’s convenient father bullied him again, she figured she wouldn’t be able to hold back and would jump out.
That’s just her temper! Besides, her son-in-law’s convenient father is a Lord Duke after all; surely, he needs to save face, right? Could he really argue with her?
She was just worried that after ruffling the Lord Duke’s feathers, if he vented his anger on Song Chongjin, what could be done?
So earlier, she planned to talk about this concern with Wang Yongzhu. But seeing Song Chongjin asleep and her daughter taking care, she restrained herself.
Now that Old Granny Wu ntioned it, Old Granny Zhang was direct: "What’s there to be afraid of? At worst, our whole family can return to Jing County! If my son-in-law can pass the highest exam this ti, we won’t stay in the Capital anymore. I heard even if you beco a Scholar, you can be assigned as a County Magistrate sowhere, isn’t that better than dealing with others’ attitudes in the Capital?"
"What if the eldest son doesn’t pass..." Old Granny Wu couldn’t help but ask.
"Phooey, phooey, phooey! Blown away by the wind! How could my son-in-law not pass? Even if he doesn’t, it’s not his problem! It’s those examiners with their tricky questions! Anyway, if the sky falls, there are taller ones to bear it, what’s there to be afraid of?" Old Granny Zhang retorted sharply.
Thinking about it, Old Granny Wu agreed, after all, the eldest son is still the Duke’s own son; on his behalf, they wouldn’t really do anything to the old lady?
As they talked, they heard a maid quietly report from outside, saying that Song Wu from the Duke’s side had co.
Old Granny Wu’s barely relieved heart tightened again, exchanging anxious glances with Old Granny Zhang and shivering as she said: "Old lady, what should we do? Is the Duke sending soone to settle scores?"
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