CHAPTER 378: CHAPTER 346: PRAISE HER OR INSULT HER? (PART 2)

Duke Jing Mansion.

Su Yaoqi sat in front of the bronze mirror, reaching out to touch his right cheek.

The person in the bronze mirror made the same gesture, the place his fingers touched, marked by scars from burns.

Even though Dean Wang combined the expertise of the entire Imperial Hospital, the prescription they came up with still couldn’t restore him without leaving any trace.

Last year, recommended by Empress Su to the palace to be a companion to the Eldest Prince, he fell off a horse, causing fractures and multiple abrasions. After returning to recuperate in bed for a short while, he was inexplicably burned in a fire.

It’s been half a year since his recovery, and this is the first time he’s facing the mirror.

"Fourth Young Master."

The Duchess had unknowingly come to the door, calling out to his back with a voice that seemed a bit choked.

Su Yaoqi hadn’t had time to answer before he heard his mother outside scolding the maids serving him, instructing the old woman to take them out and beat them with a board.

Su Yaoqi was startled. He hastily stood up and came out, gazing at the Duchess, "Mother, what are you doing?"

The Duchess was full of anger, "The master is awake, and they don’t know to come in and serve. Each one is lazy and evasive. What use does the Su Family have for them?"

"Mother, I’m the one who sent them out," Su Yaoqi said, "I just wanted to sit alone for a while."

Upon hearing this, the Duchess seemed as if someone had gripped her throat, unable to say a word. Looking at her son’s scars on the right side of his face, she seemed to hear his cries that night when the accident happened, calling out to his mother, saying his face hurt badly.

The Fourth Young Master is nineteen this year, already of marrying age, but because of that fire, many good girls from many families have hesitated.

Thinking of this, the Duchess’s heart felt unspeakably heavy and uncomfortable.

Su Yaoqi glimpsed his mother’s expression and knew roughly what she was thinking. He smiled and casually touched his right cheek, "Mother, I’m alright."

Afraid his mother wouldn’t believe him, Su Yaoqi added, "Really, this appearance is much better than I imagined."

Upon hearing these words, the Duchess’s eyes and expression both showed an inexpressible compassion.

"Mother, I want to go out today." Knowing his mother would surely be soft-hearted at this moment, Su Yaoqi took the opportunity to make a request.

"What do you want to do outside?" The Duchess slightly furrowed her brow.

Initially kidnapped, later falling and fracturing bones, and then burned and disfigured—her courage had been utterly broken by one misfortune after another afflicting her son.

Su Yaoqi did not directly answer, "You just need to say whether you agree for me to go out or not?"

The Duchess wanted to refuse, but when she met her son’s pure and innocent eyes, the words she was about to speak were swallowed back, leaving her no choice but to reluctantly nod, "You may go out, but you must take several house servants with you, otherwise I’m not assured."

With his mother agreeing, Su Yaoqi naturally had to compromise, "Alright, as long as I can go out, however many people you want me to take, I’ll take that many."

Facing such significant matters, he didn’t resent heaven or blame others, nor did he wallow in self-pity. It seemed the burns on his face hadn’t brought him much distress.

The Duchess thought of him crying out every night when he was first burned, the pain nearly healed but itching uncontrollably, wanting to scratch while being tied up by servants. She wondered whether she should be grateful for his undiminished innocence or lament his immaturity at nineteen.

"Mother, I’m leaving now." Su Yaoqi smoothed the folds on his sleeve and stepped forward to leave.

"Fourth Young Master." The Duchess suddenly called out to him.

"Mother, what else is there?" He halted and turned his head back.

The Duchess stepped forward, hesitated for a moment, and then patted him on the shoulder like soothing a young child, "Have a good time."

"I will, mother."

Taking five or six house servants with him, Su Yaoqi had a carriage prepared and soon set out for the Song family.

——

Wen Wan sat in Song Yuanbao’s study, teaching Jinbao to write hand in hand.

The little rascal was very mischievous. Wen Wan slightly lost focus, and he would lead her into writing gibberish, then complain how ugly his mother’s handwriting was.

Teaching him for more than half an hour, the little rascal continuously played pranks.

Wen Wan couldn’t muster Song Wei’s patience, her face stiffened, eyes casting askew at him, "What exactly are you trying to do?"

Jinbao got scared, obediently moved a small stool to sit on the other side, picked up a brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote each character Wen Wan had taught him, stroke by stroke, on the rough paper, imitating Wen Wan’s pout as he blew on it, didn’t wait for it to dry and already presented it in front of his mother with both hands.

Wen Wan glanced, emotions surged in her eyes, changing from initial anger to surprise.

Afraid the little rascal would find it difficult and refuse to learn, she always started with the simplest teachings.

Yet, after an hour, Jinbao had been busy playing, while she slightly took her eyes off him, he started causing trouble in various ways, more troublesome than a wild monkey. Wen Wan felt itchy several times, wanting to smack him twice.

But in fact, the little rascal had long memorized what she had taught him, not only memorized but could write, although it didn’t look great, the strokes were correct, barely resembling characters.

"You’ve learned it all?" Wen Wan asked him, astonished—he had been playing and pranking, how did he memorize it?

When she learned to read back then, it was exceptionally difficult, and if she hadn’t written repeatedly for reinforcement, she would’ve definitely forgotten.

Jinbao grinned broadly.

Seeing his carefree demeanor, Wen Wan raised her hand, lightly smacked his butt twice, feigned seriousness, "Since you can write, why did you deceive your mother just now?"

Jinbao pouted, he wasn’t lying, he just wanted his mother to accompany him more.

Wen Wan couldn’t resist Jinbao’s pitiful look, took the rough paper from his hand and put it on the table to dry, then hugged her son into her arms, rubbing his head gently, "Are you upset?"

Jinbao bowed his head and picked at his fingers without making a sound.

Wen Wan reached out and pinched his little ear, "If you keep ignoring me, I’m really leaving!"

Jinbao suddenly looked up and hugged Wen Wan’s arm, "Grandma said Jinbao’s birthday is coming."

Wen Wan was taken aback, then chuckled softly, comforting him, "Don’t worry, Mother remembers it this year!"

"But you said last night that you were going to leave again."

Wen Wan: "..."

She carefully recalled and realized it was true. She had discussed with Song Wei about celebrating Jinbao’s birthday at the estate this year.

After late April, the weather should get hotter. Going to the estate was both for peace and to avoid the heat.

She didn’t expect her son to overhear those words.

Wen Wan thought of the little guy’s earlier gloomy look, found it amusing, and didn’t dare to promise anything, fearing unexpected situations like the past two years. She said in a negotiating tone, "If Mother has to leave again this year, how about taking Jinbao along?"

The little guy looked up, his clear and bright eyes obviously filled with distrust.

"Then how about we pinky swear?"

Wen Wan said, curling her finger and stretching it towards him.

Jinbao also extended his little finger, hooking it with Wen Wan’s.

Wen Wan was about to say the pinky swear "oath" when the little guy quickly said, "If Mother lies, she’ll be a stupid mother from now on."

Wen Wan: "...Why ’stupid mother’?"

Jinbao: "Because clever mothers know to take Jinbao along."

Wen Wan: "..."

As the mother and son were staring at each other, Duan Yan came in and said, "Madam, Fourth Young Master Su is here to see you."

Su Yaoqi?

When this person was mentioned, Wen Wan was a bit dazed. She had heard that he first got injured with a fracture last year and then his face was burned in a fire.

All in all, he’s quite a pitiful person. If not for circumstances, Wen Wan would have visited him as soon as she got the news.

After gathering her thoughts, Wen Wan instructed Duan Yan, "Quickly invite him to the front hall, I’ll be there in a moment."

After Duan Yan left, Wen Wan tidied up the study briefly, then closed the door and took Jinbao to the hall.

Su Yaoqi had just sat down when he saw Wen Wan come in, his face showing some unease.

Wen Wan noticed, probably because of the scar on his right cheek.

She didn’t focus her attention on him too much and naturally shifted her gaze.

After the mother and son sat down, Wen Wan asked him, "Is Fourth Young Master Su here to see Yuanbao?"

The other party didn’t dwell on his facial flaw, which made Su Yaoqi feel a sense of unspoken care, warming his heart. He nodded, "I asked your gatekeeper earlier, and they said Song Hao wasn’t here. Since I’m already here, it wouldn’t be right to leave, so I came in for a cup of tea."

When he said this, his tone had a touch of shyness, much like the youth he once was.

Wen Wan didn’t dislike this side of Su Yaoqi, and a smile appeared on her lips, "If you have something important with him, come back on the 26th of this month, he’ll surely be here."

Su Yaoqi thought about it, and not understanding, he asked Wen Wan, "Is there something special about April 26th?"

Wen Wan didn’t hide it, "It’s Jinbao’s birthday."

Upon hearing this, Su Yaoqi’s gaze fell on the little guy beside Wen Wan, who was staring unblinkingly at his right cheek.

To meet the girl one fancies while bearing such a face is already a test of courage, and now being stared at by her child made Su Yaoqi feel uneasy.

"Big brother..." the little guy suddenly spoke from across the table.

Originally intending to stand and take his leave, Su Yaoqi abandoned the idea and looked at the little guy.

Jinbao toddled over, lifted himself onto his toes, and softly placed his small hand on Su Yaoqi’s scarred cheek.

Su Yaoqi’s back stiffened.

The little guy’s soft and sticky voice came to his ears, "Daddy says unlucky people will surely have later fortune."

Su Yaoqi said nothing, just tilted his head to look at him.

Jinbao grinned, "Daddy said he was very unlucky before, and then he married Mother."

Wen Wan’s face darkened, was this a compliment or an insult?