Chapter 555: Chapter 522: First Update
After bathing, Song Yuanbao had a good rest through the night. The next day, his spirits had mostly recovered, and after breakfast, he went to Qingteng Residence to see Wen Wan.
Jinbao was also on holiday. The little guy had just lazily woken up and was clinging to Wen Wanâs side, while Song Jiao was reporting the accounts nearby.
Wen Wan didnât have the energy to manage, so she had recently let Song Jiao learn to take care of household affairs.
The young girl got the hang of it quickly and, within just half a month, had organized the household matters neatly. Wen Wan teased her, saying that when she got married, she would surely be a virtuous wife and good mother.
The young girl blushed and continued discussing the budget and expenditures for the Mid-Autumn Festival.
"Mother, what are you doing?"
Upon hearing a voice from inside, Song Yuanbao lifted the curtain and stepped in.
"Brother!" As soon as Jinbao saw Song Yuanbao, he immediately sprinted over.
He had always wanted to play in the front yard with his brother, but everyone said his brother was sick and shouldnât be disturbed.
The little guy had thought his brother had returned to the palace, and for several days he was sullen. Now, finally seeing him, his little face was full of excitement, and his little paws couldnât stop clinging to Song Yuanbaoâs arm.
Song Yuanbao patted his little head and asked, "Arenât you on holiday? Why not sleep a bit more?"
Jinbao shook his head and said, "Woke up hungry."
Song Yuanbao was amused by him and habitually wanted to ask about his studies over the past few days, if he had been paying attention in class. But at the thought of Jinbaoâs teacher, he decided to let it be and pulled him to sit on a chair.
Jinbao asked, "Brother, are you all better?"
Hearing the concern about his illness from Jinbao, Song Yuanbao tilted his head and saw Wen Wan and Song Jiaoâs eyes fixed on him.
Song Yuanbao clenched his hand into a fist, coughed into it, and said, "Iâm just not feeling well. After resting for a few days, Iâm almost recovered."
Song Jiao looked worried, "Big brother, you really scared us those few days. Grandpa and Grandma were almost worried sick, especially Grandma, who went to the temple twice for you. If you hadnât gotten better, who knows how anxious she would be!"
"I know." Song Yuanbao smiled, "But Iâm better now, arenât I?"
As he spoke, he spun around in place twice.
Wen Wan raised a hand to have him sit, "Youâve only just shown signs of improvement after being ill for so many days, donât get yourself dizzy and end up throwing up when you eat."
Song Yuanbao touched his nose and mumbled, "Iâm not actually that weak."
"No matter how capable you are, youâre not made of brass," Wen Wan said, "In the future, you mustnât stay up late and harm your health, understand? Otherwise, if you fall ill again, no one will be able to save you."
Song Yuanbao had no rebuttal to this.
Jinbao listened blankly to their conversation, then tilted his little head to look at Song Yuanbao, "Brother, I want to fly a kite."
Having recovered from his illness as if it were a rebirth, Song Yuanbao was now full of energy and interested in everything. Upon hearing that Jinbao wanted to fly a kite, he agreed without thinking and asked if Jinbao had a kite.
Jinbao shook his head and said no.
Song Yuanbao didnât mind saying, that if there was no kite, they would make one.
After greeting Wen Wan and Song Jiao, Song Yuanbao took the little guy out the door, and the sound of their voices faded at the yardâs entrance.
Song Jiao watched them leave with satisfaction and, when she looked back at Wen Wan, asked, "Third Aunt, what did the Crown Prince say to Big Brother yesterday that made him seem like he recovered overnight without medicine?"
Wen Wan smiled and glanced at her, "Why is a young girl so curious?"
Rarely being accused of impropriety by Wen Wan, Song Jiao looked a bit embarrassed.
Wen Wan sighed, "I donât know what the Crown Prince said to him, but if you consider why Yuanbao got sick, think about how you felt when you first came to the Capital."
Song Jiao certainly remembered that when she first arrived in the Capital, her third uncle and third aunt treated her very well, yet she was internally resistant and didnât want to interact with anyone. She felt particularly homesick, wanting to return home to her parents and siblings.
Thinking about it, Song Jiao suddenly understood Song Yuanbao and commented, "In two years, Big Brother lived as if he belonged in the palace."
Wen Wan remained indifferent, and after a moment of silence indoors, she had Song Jiao continue discussing the Mid-Autumn purchases.
Although Song Wei had three days off, he still remained extremely busy.
First favored by the Emperor, he had recently personally helped the Eldest Prince enter the Eastern Palace. His career prospects were bright, with countless people trying to curry favor; every day, piles of visiting cards arrived.
On the first day of the holiday, Song Wei patiently entertained guests in the front yard all day. The next day, when someone came, he snuck out the back door to hide at Xie Zhengâs place, only to be stopped by Xie Zheng with a half-afternoonâs worth of academic questions.
When Song Wei returned, his expression was full of fatigue.
Wen Wan couldnât help but tease him, "Xie Zhengâs nature has always been formally correct. Why did you think of going to his place instead of the Xuâs?"
Song Wei evidently didnât expect to encounter this situation.
"I was in a hurry," he said, "At the time, I didnât think much. Probably because we grew up together; he was the first to come to mind."
"Tomorrow is Mid-Autumn," Wen Wan reminded him, "Mr. Song, your holiday has only one day left."
"I wonât go anywhere tomorrow." Song Wei quickly regained his composure, his gaze warm and gentle, "Iâll stay home with you."
"Alright." Wen Wan said, "Considering you still remember me, Iâll have someone make you an extra mooncake."
This yearâs Mid-Autumn is slightly different from last year.
Last year, although Song Yuanbao came home, he often left in a hurry by carriage before nightfall.
This year, he had a rare opportunity to dine and admire the moon with his family.
Granny Song attributed Song Yuanbaoâs recovery to her prayers at the temple, insisting he properly worship the Moon God during the moon-viewing, saying sincerity leads to efficacy.
Seeing Jinbao paying respects in a formal manner on the kneeling cushion before the altar table, Song Yuanbao, resigned, knelt and joined in, earnestly bowing three times.
As he got up, he heard Jinbaoâs cheerful shout, "Time to eat mooncakes!"
After saying that, Jinbao politely handed out a mooncake to each person.
Xu Dengkeâs hometown Qingzhou Prefecture was far, so neither he nor his servant returned home, instead spending Mid-Autumn at the Song Mansion. The little guy distributed a mooncake to each person. When he reached Xu Dengke, he hesitated, split the mooncake in half with his little paw, was about to give out one half, thought for a moment, then split it into quarters, and gave Xu Dengke one of the quarters.
Everyone: "..."
Wen Wan: "Jinbao, you need to eat a whole mooncake to signify unity; what kind of way is that to share mooncakes? Quickly give the teacher a whole one."
Jinbao said, "Teacher is slow; if I give him one, he will nibble until dawn."
"That wonât do," Wen Wan insisted, not wanting her son to be too impolite in front of all these people.
Under Wen Wanâs gaze, Jinbao had no choice but to hand Xu Dengke a whole mooncake.
Xu Dengkeâs hand was slow, so Ah Gui took it on his behalf. This servant had quite a personality; he directly followed Jinbaoâs process in front of the entire Song family, first splitting the mooncake in half, then splitting one of those halves again, keeping the bigger piece and handing the smaller one to his master.