Chapter 451: Chapter 419: Second Treasure, Mo Bao (First Update)
As soon as Wen Wan finished speaking, Lin Xiaoyue, who was beside her, had already snatched the teacup from her hand, saying, "You used to say I wore makeup, yet you donât refrain from it either?"
Seeing the way she was utterly disdainful of herself, Wen Wan chuckled and said, "Iâm just taking a sip to taste it."
Earlier, Lady Kang Ding was focused on having a servant serve tea and forgot that Wen Wan was pregnant; upon hearing Lin Xiaoyue mumble, she immediately said, "Itâs all my fault for being careless and forgetting that Mrs. Song is expecting twins. I sincerely apologize for the poor hospitality."
As she spoke, she had already instructed the maid to replace it with walnut milk.
Wen Wan indicated it was alright anyway, as her purpose for coming here was not to drink tea but to see Sanyang.
However, it was precisely because of this remark from Madam that made Wen Wan more convinced she was feeling guilty, which would cause distraction, making her forget that Lin Xiaoyue had just told her on the street that she was pregnant.
Soon, the sound of footsteps came from outside the door.
Wen Wan collected her thoughts, looked up, and immediately saw the fifth young lady of the Uncle Mansion, Li Huairu, dressed in a light pink dress. After sweetly calling "mother," she directly threw herself into Madamâs arms.
After a moment of affection with her adopted daughter, Madam finally said, "There are guests here, no misbehavior allowed."
The tone was full of doting.
She then introduced Lin Xiaoyue and Wen Wan to her.
Li Huairu glanced at the two, finally fixing her gaze on Wen Wan.
Wen Wan also looked at her.
Li Huairu suddenly said, "I remember you."
Madamâs expression stiffened slightly.
Wen Wan held her breath, "You, you really remember me?"
"The last time on the street, you and an older sister had your purse stolen," Li Huairu said with the unique bright voice of a little girl, "Did you find it later?"
Upon hearing her mention this incident, Wen Wan didnât let her disappointment show on her face and returned a smile, "I found it. Itâs been so long, yet you still remember, truly good memory."
Upon hearing this, Madam resumed smiling, "Ruruâs memory has always been good. Recently sheâs been attending classes with her sisters at home, and the teacher praises her non-stop."
Lin Xiaoyue interjected, "Your family even has private tutoring?"
"Yes," Madam nodded, "With many daughters in the family, there arenât enough spots to send them all to Hongwen Academy, so we invite tutors from outside to teach the girls some characters."
Lin Xiaoyue subconsciously looked at Wen Wan, as if waiting for her reaction.
Wen Wan appeared very calm.
She knew how difficult it was to enter the Kangding Bo Mansion this time and also knew that with her niece not remembering her, she shouldnât rashly acknowledge her. All emotions were well hidden.
Madam observed this and seemed lost in thought.
To avoid any trouble, she briefly spoke to her adopted daughter and then waved for the maid to take the fifth young lady away to play.
After they left, Madam looked at Wen Wan with a smile, "The first time I saw Ruru, she was a ragged little beggar. While we were unprepared, she sneaked into the carriage to steal something to eat and was caught on the spot by my son."
Recalling the scene, Madamâs smile was especially genuine, "At that time, our family was at the temple, and the abbot said this child was fated with me, so I brought her home."
Lin Xiaoyue asked, "Did you ever consider that her family might be looking for her?"
Madam gave a knowing smile, "I believe if those parents truly loved her, they would never let her become a beggar. No matter how difficult things are, it should never become a reason for letting a child suffer outside."
Lin Xiaoyue was immediately stifled.
...
When leaving the Uncle Mansion, Madam insisted on arranging someone to escort the two of them, as she was uneasy.
After boarding the carriage, Lin Xiaoyue looked at Wen Wan, "Did you hear everything she said earlier? Itâs apparent sheâs ready to lay it all out with you."
"Yes, I heard," Wen Wan nodded.
She could feel that Madam initially struggled and resisted allowing her to see Li Huairu but later perhaps came to some realization and simply revealed her position and attitude.
Lin Xiaoyue said, "Madam made it clear she wants you to choose whether to let your niece enjoy the treatment of being the beloved and wealthy legitimate daughter or return to a hard life. Wen Wan, what do you think?"
"What I think doesnât matter," Wen Wan thought of the scene of seeing Sanyang at the Uncle Mansion and sighed while shaking her head, "The key is that girl doesnât remember me or anyone from the Song family. If she could remember and make her own choice, whether to stay at Uncle Mansion or return home with me, I wouldnât interfere."
"But you saw Madamâs attitude too. Itâs already not easy for us to meet that little girl, and thereâs no way to investigate the details of her memory loss."
"If we canât investigate, then forget it."
Lin Xiaoyue looked at her incredulously, "After all the effort, youâre just saying forget it?"
"Madamâs words moved me; she said no matter how difficult things are, it shouldnât become a reason for letting a child suffer outside. The root cause of Sanyang becoming a beggar is that her parents didnât love her enough. Otherwise, they would have fought to their deaths to rescue her.
Itâs better that she forgot. Her biological parents left her in such a huge disaster and escaped with her older sister and younger brother. Such a thing would be hard for an adult to bear, let alone a child.
I might not have any affection for Madam, but I admire her for having the heart to love her children and am grateful that she treats Sanyang like her own daughter.
Somewhat uncertain, Lin Xiaoyue said, "So youâre not planning to acknowledge her?"
Wen Wan was no longer as stubborn as before, "Letâs leave it to fate!"
...
Wen Wan left something at the Governorâs Mansion, and Uncle Lin and the carriage hadnât left yet, so she went back to Lin Xiaoyueâs place. Before leaving, she tugged at the cloak on her shoulders and asked Lin Xiaoyue, "Hey, are you really sure you want to give this to me? This piece canât be cheap, right?"
Lounging lazily on the reclining chair, Lin Xiaoyue glanced at her, "If you donât want it, just take it off and give it back to me. Why be so wishy-washy?"
This beautiful and valuable cloakâWen Wan would hardly return it. She quickly stepped over the threshold and, led by Jin Zhi, exited the Governorâs Mansion, boarded her carriage, and headed home.
...
When Song Wei returned from the Lower Court, Wen Wan heard the noise in the main room and got up to open the door herself.
As usual, she proactively took his cloak from his shoulders and hung it on the coat rack, but today she appeared especially docile, exuding the demeanor of a virtuous wife and loving mother.
As her husband, Song Wei naturally noticed the subtle change in her expression.
"Is there good news?" His tender gaze landed on her face, causing Wen Wan to feel a bit guilty.
After a moment, Wen Wan said, "There is, but you have to guess."
Song Wei thought of how sheâd been visiting the Governorâs Mansion frequently these days, "Could it be that Madam Su has recovered?"
Wen Wan shook her head, "Itâs not about someone else."
Song Wei reached out and touched her nose lightly, "How come youâre still playing guessing games like a child?"
Wen Wan touched her nose, "If I told you directly, you wouldnât be surprised."
Song Wei pondered, and after a moment, his gaze moved to her belly, but he didnât reveal it, "I canât guess it, just tell me the answer."
Mysteriously, Wen Wan leaned close to him and suddenly laughed, "Congratulations, Mr. Song, youâre going to be a father again."
"Confirmed?" Song Weiâs gaze towards her softened even more.
"Yes, I found out by accident." Wen Wan was always watching his reaction.
Song Wei wasnât one to express extreme joy or sadness easily, but at this moment, Wen Wan still sensed his joy at the arrival of their second child from the gentle gleam in his eyes.
Wen Wan actually wanted to see him burst into a hearty laugh. She tried to stand on her tiptoes to look him in the eye, "Donât you have anything to say to me?"
Song Wei steadied her, "Youâre still being so playful with our second child?"
Wen Wan didnât mind, "In your eyes, Iâll never grow up."
Song Wei chuckled, "Then Iâll take back what I said about you growing up."
Wen Wan laughed at his joke, "Once water is spilled, how can you take it back? Unless you can make me forget?"
Song Wei just smiled.
After sitting down by the fire pit, Song Wei asked her, "Is there anything unusual about the fetus?"
Wen Wan shook her head, "No, the doctor said everything is normal."
"What about your parents? Have you informed them?"
"Not yet, I wanted my husband to be the second one in our family to know about my pregnancy."
Hearing this, a pleasing curve appeared at the corners of Song Weiâs lips.
Seeing him in a good mood, Wen Wan felt it necessary to confess, "Today, when I found out about my pregnancy at the Governorâs Mansion, Lin Xiaoyue thought it was her unfortunate son reborn into our family. If itâs truly a son, Iâve already picked a nickname."
"Whatâs it called?" Song Wei asked with interest.
"Mo Bao."
Apparently not wanting to hear any disdainful words from Song Wei, Wen Wan proactively defended herself, "The Song family has several treasures: Yuanbao, Jinbao, Duobao. My second brotherâs family already has all the gold and silver treasures. If our family follows suit, it would seem too common. Mo Bao is good, itâs rare and precious, right?"
Song Wei didnât dampen her enthusiasm and instead posed a hypothetical question, "What if itâs a daughter?"
"I havenât thought about a daughterâs name yet. Why donât you pick one, husband?"
Although she studied for a year and a half, Wen Wan felt her naming might not have the depth of meaning that a manâs might.