After Guo Ruoi and Chu Lang left, both Xiao Yeyang and Daozi, the father and son, felt down for quite a long ti.
May 11 is Daozi’s birthday. Daohua specially instructed the kitchen to make a birthday cake and so dishes he liked, and also invited Xiao Mokuan and a few others, as well as children from families of so friendly officials, to celebrate his birthday.
Having friends to play with and birthday cake to eat, Daozi was genuinely happy.
While eating the cake, Daozi boasted proudly to his friends, "When you celebrate your birthdays, your mothers don’t cook for you, do they? But my mother does, this birthday cake was personally made by her."
Xiao Mobao sneered, "You’re lying. Your mother has to take care of your younger siblings. Where would she find the ti to make a cake for you? I bet it was made by your family’s cook."
Hearing this, Daozi beca furiously upset, "It was made by my mother."
Xiao Mobao: "How can you prove it?"
Daozi thought for a mont, "You all co with to my mother’s courtyard, and I’ll ask her in person."
Xiao Mobao imdiately nodded, "Sure, sure."
So, Daozi led a group of children whooping towards the main courtyard.
At that mont, Daohua was talking with Han Xinran and a few other ladies from official families. Seeing Daozi leading a group of children over, she imdiately smiled and asked, "Why aren’t you playing outside?"
Daozi, boiling with anger, said, "Mother, tell them, did you personally make the birthday cake for ?"
Daohua was stunned for a mont, as she had been busy taking care of the younger ones and hadn’t actually made the cake this year. Seeing her son’s expectant eyes made her feel sowhat uneasy.
Daozi, who was always good at reading facial expressions, saw that his mother did not answer imdiately, and he got his answer. Instantly, his nose began to feel sour.
Han Xinran and the other ladies present thought it was just childish banter and chuckled, diverting the topic.
Feeling guilty, Daohua pulled Daozi to her side and whispered, "Mother has to take care of your little brother and sister and couldn’t make the cake. How about this, after so ti, I’ll personally make your favorite yam and date cake, alright?"
Daozi said nothing, turned his head, and ran off.
"Hahaha, I told you your mom doesn’t like you anymore now that she has your siblings, and you didn’t believe it!"
Xiao Mobao and the others chased after him and then burst into laughter at Daozi.
Daozi glared at Xiao Mobao, furious, but couldn’t find the words to retaliate and could only stare angrily.
He really felt his mother no longer liked him, not even making him a cake for his birthday.
After Daozi’s birthday, Daohua sincerely wanted to make it up to him, frequently instructing the kitchen to make his favorite cakes and als.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to cook herself, it was just that she was tied up. The little ones were still too little, and even though there were nursemaids and maid-servants to watch them, she needed to be attentive.
Seeing the cakes he liked improved Daozi’s mood a bit, but the smile on his face was no longer as bright as before. What he wanted wasn’t just the pastries, but more ti with his parents.
...
One afternoon at the end of May, Daozi’s servant ran back to the Prince Residence, drenched in sweat.
"Princess Consort, it’s bad news. The Little Prince followed so senior students from the Academy to the Hucheng River, saying they wanted to swim in the river."
Upon hearing this, Daohua’s face changed, and she stood up swiftly: "Why didn’t you stop him?"
The servant gave a wry smile, "We servants couldn’t stop him. Even the Fourth Prince’s persuasion was useless, he too has now gone along with the Little Prince to the Hucheng River."
Daohua was both angry and anxious. The Hucheng River is broad and deep, not just for a five-year-old child like Daozi, but even adults could easily et with accidents in it.
"Soone, get the carriage ready!"
Daohua instructed Guyu to prepare the carriage and gathered a team of bodyguards, intending to personally retrieve Daozi.
Just as she was about to leave the residence, Dongli ca, supporting Gu Jian.
As soon as Gu Jian arrived, he anxiously asked: "What happened to Daozi?"
Daohua replied, "That naughty boy ran off to swim in the Hucheng River with soone."
Upon hearing this, Gu Jian imdiately beca anxious and hastily wanted to get on the carriage.
Daohua quickly stopped Gu Jian: "Master, you stay ho and watch the other two little ones for . I will go and bring Daozi back."
Gu Jian knew his presence would be of no help, and might only slow them down, so he urged urgently: "Then what are you waiting for? Go now. Oh, and take Dongli with you."
Daohua didn’t refuse this, and got on the carriage. Led by the servant, they rushed straight towards the Hucheng River.
...
When Daohua arrived in the carriage at the Hucheng River, he just saw Daozi leap into the river.
Watching that small body disappear into the water, Daohua felt a chill rise suddenly from the soles of his feet to his forehead.
"Soone, quickly pull Daozi up for !" His voice revealed boundless panic.
Dongli rushed over like an arrow flying.
It was only after Dongli, looking like a drowned rat, lifted Daozi onto the bank that Daohua, with trembling arms and legs, alighted from the carriage.
Upon seeing Daohua ca personally, Daozi imdiately showed off proudly and gave a sly eyebrow flick to Xiao Mobao and the others nearby.
Seeing that his son was fine, Daohua finally let go of the worry in his stomach, but then anger burst forth, showing a fierce look towards his son for the first ti.
Seeing his mother’s grim face, Daozi realized the severity of the situation and fearfully called out weakly, "Mother."
Daohua took several deep breaths to suppress the anger in his heart before she coldly asked: "Do you even rember I’m your mother? Now you dare to go swimming in the river on your own!"
Seeing his mother speak so sharply to him, Daozi felt hurt, thinking that his mother really didn’t like him anymore; in the past, she would always speak kindly to him when he made a mistake.
Thinking about his mother’s neglect since his younger siblings were born, Daozi felt even more wronged, and his eyes couldn’t help but beco red.
Seeing her son’s eyes turn red, Daohua’s anger diminished a bit, but she still sternly said: "And now you are crying, do you realize you did sothing wrong today?"
Daozi knew in his heart that he had made a mistake, but seeing Daohua scolding him like this, he suddenly beca defiant: "I just went swimming in the river, others do it, why can’t I? I did nothing wrong!"
This statent truly ignited Daohua’s anger: "You made a mistake and you still won’t admit it, you really are a good son I’ve raised!"
Hearing this, Daozi thought Daohua didn’t want him anymore, and burst into tears: "I knew it, since my younger siblings were born, you don’t want anymore, I don’t like you anymore either!"
With that, he forcefully shook off Dongli and ran away crying.
Daohua was stunned by Daozi’s words, then quickly instructed Dongli to carry him onto the carriage.
In the carriage, Daozi kept sobbing, tears flowing continuously, looking pitiful.
No matter how angry Daohua was, seeing her son like this, she couldn’t stay mad: "You are all wet, co here, let dry you off."
Daozi turned his head to the other side, showing the back of his head to Daohua, crying and saying: "Aren’t only your younger siblings in your eyes? Why do you bother with ? I don’t want your care!"
Daohua frowned, forcefully pulled him over, and changed his clothes despite his resistance.
Although the weather was already hot by the end of May, Daohua was still worried about him catching cold after coming from the river and being exposed to the wind.
After changing clothes, Daohua wanted to dry Daozi’s hair, but he, still angry, dodged away and grabbed a towel to dry himself off randomly.
Along the way, Daohua tried to reason with Daozi, but unfortunately, the little guy simply ignored her, and kept silent all the way back to the Prince Residence.
Throughout it all, Gu Jian was constantly worried about Daozi’s safety, and upon hearing that Daohua had returned with Daozi, he hurried over, only to see the mother and son each in a somber mood.
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