The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity

Chapter 853 - 809: Just Won’t Marry

In the latter half of the night, Dong Han was so exhausted that she just wanted to fall into a deep sleep, but thoughts of Nian Chun and Xiu Dong’s words earlier flashed through her mind, so she forced her eyes open and tried to stay awake. Not long after, she saw Zhao Xi kicking the blanket, curling up afterward, and burying his head in the high square pillow, his hair gradually tangling together.

This sleeping posture was reminiscent of a baby.

Looking at Zhao Xi like this, who would imagine he was the young emperor, upright and stern during the day?

This was probably his most comfortable moment, with no need to stay tense, no need to exhaust himself in the national affairs, no need to bear the pressures from all sides, and no need to think about many unpleasant matters.

Dong Han felt that perhaps Zhao Xi’s kicking the blanket in his sleep was a form of releasing the mental stress he faced during the day.

But, he could only kick the blanket for release during the night; how heart-wrenching it was.

Dong Han’s gaze softened, and she leaned over to gently pull the blanket back over him.

After about a quarter-hour, Zhao Xi started kicking again.

Besides burying his head in the pillow, he would hug it while sleeping. In the past, there were two pillows on the bed, one he would bury, one he would hug. But tonight, Dong Han occupied the other pillow, and he unconsciously reached out to find, unintentionally hugging Dong Han.

Probably because he drank before sleep, he slept more heavily this night, not realizing the mistake and circling her again to sleep.

At this moment, Zhao Xi seemed to Dong Han like a baby that needed a mother’s coaxing to sleep. After pulling back the blanket, she gently hummed a lullaby, her voice soft and peaceful. Zhao Xi’s hand, which was circling her waist, slowly dropped, sleeping seemingly deeper and quieter than before, no longer kicking the blanket or burying his head in the pillow.

The next morning when Zhao Xi woke up, Dong Han was already sitting at the dressing table grooming her eyebrows. Seeing movement on the bed through the copper mirror, Dong Han turned, smiling lightly at him, "Your Majesty awake?"

Realizing he had stayed over at Yikun Palace and hadn’t left in the latter half of the night as usual, Zhao Xi thought of something, squinting and frowning, reflexively reaching to touch his hair, surprised to find it not as messy.

He was somewhat surprised, "What incense did you burn last night?"

Dong Han said, "Knowing Your Majesty dislikes it, I didn’t burn incense here, just had someone pick a few orange branches to freshen the air. If Your Majesty finds the smell strong, I will remove it immediately."

Without incense burning, why did he sleep so well? Could it be the wine? But no, the Empress wouldn’t have the courage to drug him.

Zhao Xi couldn’t figure out the crux, but indeed slept well last night, so he shook his head, "No need."

"Then, I will help Your Majesty dress."

Dong Han said, walking behind Zhao Xi, and from the standing clothes rack, slipped his robe on.

Once Zhao Xi went to court, Dong Han finally breathed a sigh of relief, lying sideways on the bed in the side room for a short nap. Luckily, there were no concubines in this palace; otherwise, they would come to greet, leaving her no time to steal a nap.

...

At the Song family, Song Yuanbao also got up early and took a sedan chair to the Hanlin Academy. After Ye Ling dressed appropriately, she went to Rong’an Hall, and coincidentally Wen Wan and Second Lang’s wife were there, so she greeted her mother-in-law and second aunt.

The first cloth in Ye Ling’s room—Xiang Ning brought it over early in the morning, and Wen Wan and Granny Song both looked at it. At the moment, seeing her looking somewhat frail, Wen Wan was inevitably pained, opting for no courtesies, no need for formal greetings, and inwardly scolded Yuanbao, that rascal, for his lack of restraint.

Ye Ling thanked her and sat down in the circle chair nearby.

The Song family didn’t have the practice of morning and evening greetings before, but after expanding the residence, gradually as more people came, without establishing some regulations, the servants wouldn’t work efficiently, especially on Second Son’s side. Without imposing rules, they might not come to Rong’an Hall for ten or half a month.

By now, Granny Song has become accustomed to her sons and daughters-in-law paying respects in the courtyard and chatting with her every morning and evening.

Glancing at Ye Ling, Granny Song said, "Some blood bird’s nest was delivered from the Xie family during the New Year, and I haven’t used it yet. Yun Xia, take it to the kitchen later and let them stew it well to send it to Yuanbao’s wife for good nourishment."

Yun Xia promptly responded.

Ye Ling blushed, "Thank you, Grandmother."

Granny Song raised her eyelids, "Make sure to quickly adjust your body these days; otherwise, you won’t be able to bear it when you return to Ningzhou in a few days."

Ye Ling, hearing this, paused and looked at Wen Wan.

Wen Wan, smiling, said, "Ningzhou suffered a calamity before, and the Song family’s ancestral temple is gone, now the clan members are scattered east and west, not looking good. Your father-in-law and mother-in-law have been talking about it for a long time, saying it’s time to visit since your father-in-law became an advanced scholar and became an official without returning to pay respects to the ancestors. It’s time to make a trip back, precisely as Yuanbao has also become the top scholar. They as father and son should return to Ningzhou to honor the ancestors. Just now, we were discussing the schedule. You happened to come in, and now you know, prepare yourself mentally."

Ye Ling hadn’t been to such a far place as Ningzhou, but she heard Song Yuanbao mention it, saying the road was difficult, and it would take over half a month to reach there.

Ye Ling, although raised delicately since childhood, wasn’t raised so extravagantly as to be unable to bear any hardships. She had exercised a lot before coming of age.

"I’m alright, just let me know what to prepare, Mother and Grandmother, I’ll go back and prepare."

Granny Song said, "There are so many servants in the mansion, you can’t spend money letting them eat for free; what needs to be done is their job, what needs preparing they will handle. You just bring yourself along."

At this time the Second Lang’s wife sighed, "When we left, the county town and village were in ruins, now who knows what it’s become, it’s been several years since we last returned."

"Ancestral home should not be without a house." Wen Wan said, "Make sure to choose a good residence to buy when you return this time, so you’ll have a proper place to stay in the future."

"That makes sense," Granny Song very much agreed, "The ancestral temple needs rebuilding, residence needs buying, no matter how big an official Third Son becomes, Ningzhou is still his root, one mustn’t forget their origin."

She instructed Second Lang’s wife, "When Second Lang finishes at the Lower Court, tell him to find a way to request leave from the government office. The journey to Ningzhou is long, we’re a big family traveling together, it wouldn’t be less than a month to get back."

Second Lang’s wife nodded, "There haven’t been major cases in the government office lately; Second Lang should be able to request leave."

Granny Song’s gaze moved to Song Qi, "In two months, you’ll be graduating, and the official school doesn’t allow such a long leave; by then, you stay in the Capital and study hard."

Song Qi had never thought of going to such an unsophisticated countryside, but hearing Granny Song directly telling her not to go, she was somewhat annoyed, "Since it’s paying respect to ancestors, even Qi Bao from Third Aunt’s family can go, why can’t I?"

She said, sniffling.

It was only then Ye Ling noticed Song Qi’s eyes were red, as if she’d just cried.

Granny Song wasn’t bothered to engage her, "If you can take leave, no one stops you from going. By then, if the official school doesn’t allow you to graduate, don’t blame anyone."

Song Qi’s little face stiffened.

Her fingers clutched the cloth, her eyes reddening further, looking very aggrieved.

In front of so many people, Ye Ling couldn’t ask, and only when accompanying her mother-in-law out of Rong’an Hall did she softly inquire, "I noticed Second Sister’s mood seemed off earlier, what happened?"

Wen Wan smiled and shook her head, "Recently your cousin, Xie Zheng’s eldest son, Xie Feng, has been discussing marriage. He rejected all the matches many matchmakers arranged for him; astonishingly, he has taken a liking to our Second House’s Qi Qi. Your grandmother couldn’t convince him otherwise, and had to agree. Thus, early on, a note was sent to discuss this matter. Grandmother naturally considers a marriage alliance feasible, already intending to marry Qi Qi to Xie Feng. Qi Qi is unwilling, and earlier in Rong’an Hall, cried and caused a scene. Grandmother didn’t relent."

Ye Ling listened, pondering.

She had seen Xie Feng before; when she newly married Song Yuanbao, he used to visit often. Handsome-looking, with a sincere smile, he appeared genuine. Unexpectedly, he fancied Second House’s daughter of the Song family.

"What’s Second Aunt’s attitude?" Ye Ling asked.

"Your Second Aunt, not easy to say." Wen Wan shook her head.

...

West Courtyard, Cuihua Pavilion.

Song Qi returned and immediately smashed the cup on the rosewood tea table to pieces, her eyes reddening as she looked at Second Lang’s wife, "Mother, why? Why can Big Sister marry an advanced scholar, while I can only marry Xie Feng, that country bumpkin? Grew up together, why don’t I know what his family has? I won’t marry! I refuse to marry! You must find a way to call off this engagement for me!"

Second Lang’s wife was also inwardly vexed; she originally believed by clinging to Third Son, her daughter gained a coating of gold, that Song Qi’s future husband need not be royalty but should at least not be inferior to the eldest son-in-law Liang Jun. Unexpectedly, Grandmother directly decided Song Qi should marry Xie Feng.

When she first heard Xie family intended to marry, Second Lang’s wife nearly coughed up blood.