CHAPTER 398: CHAPTER 366: HUSBAND, HAVE YOU EVER MET MY MOTHER? (PART 2)

Zhao Xi said he wanted to consult about Weiqi, Song Wei couldn’t find words to refuse, so he nodded in agreement.

Not long after, Zhao Xi, Song Wei, and Song Yuanbao left the Qianqing Palace one after another.

Night had fallen, the long corridor was warmly lit, and the breeze was slightly cool.

Zhao Xi was the ruler; he didn’t speak, so no one dared to casually make a sound.

Song Yuanbao rarely saw his father in the palace and actually had a lot to say, but he chose silence.

After walking for a while, Zhao Xi finally spoke, consulting Song Wei about issues in Weiqi.

Song Wei was very patient, answering one by one.

Afraid he wouldn’t understand, he explained very meticulously.

Zhao Xi listened quietly, and when the other party finished speaking, he smiled, "Song Hanlin indeed always manages to surprise people."

No wonder his father insisted on keeping Song Wei despite being extremely angry.

Such "straightforward" yet capable ministers were rare in the court.

Zhao Xi even thought that if he became emperor in the future, he must seek an assistant minister like Song Wei.

Song Wei said, "Your Highness flatters me, your servant is modestly learned."

Zhao Xi smiled lightly.

Years ago, someone who could make the entire hall of examiners dispute with the Emperor just to promote him to the top in the civil service exam truly couldn’t be considered modestly learned; otherwise, no one in the world could claim the title "master of learning."

At the Imperial City Gate, Song Wei stopped and turned to bid farewell to Zhao Xi.

Zhao Xi said, "Just now on the way here, you and your son hardly spoke. Now, in this place with no one around, I’ll walk ahead. If you want to speak, go ahead and talk privately."

After speaking, Zhao Xi turned and walked away.

Song Wei glanced at Song Yuanbao and asked how he had been recently.

Song Yuanbao said, "Not much different from before."

Anyway, that person remains unwaveringly strict with himself, living days as dull as can be.

Song Yuanbao felt that if he had to choose between being a Crown Prince and a commoner, he would surely choose the latter; the former was too exhausting.

He never knew the hardships endured by the high-ranking were this arduous.

Song Wei asked again, "When will your task as a companion be completed?"

Thinking of this made Song Yuanbao more frustrated, "I hinted around about it, His Highness means that I will be released from the palace when I get married."

Upon mentioning this, Song Yuanbao specifically looked at Song Wei’s expression, "Father, why don’t you arrange a wife for me quickly? Then I could leave the palace earlier!"

"Nonsense!" Song Wei scolded him, "How can marriage be treated lightly? Besides, you’re only fourteen this year, not yet of marriageable age. At least wait until you’re eighteen, when you understand what ’responsibility’ means before I let your mother arrange a marriage for you."

"Eighteen, isn’t there still four years?" Song Yuanbao wailed, "You’re really cruel, our family doesn’t need to inherit the throne, do I have to work this hard?"

Song Wei patted his shoulder, "After enduring these few years, you won’t have the chance to start over again."

These truths, Song Yuanbao didn’t fail to understand, "Alright, another four years is another four years. But Father, you must promise me one thing."

"What is it?"

"It’s a civil service exam year, I want to participate in the Provincial Exam."

Song Yuanbao is a student at the Imperial College and now serves as a companion to the Eldest Prince, with the rank equivalent to a Scholar. He can skip the preceding County and Prefecture Examinations and directly take the Provincial Exam.

Song Wei asked, "Fourteen years old, isn’t it too early? I’m afraid you’re not ready."

Song Yuanbao didn’t dare to promise himself he’d certainly pass, just said, "Consider it a practice round; it’s okay if I don’t pass. I can try harder three years later."

Anyway, three years later, I’d only be seventeen. When my father was twenty-eight and started his path in civil exams, who knows what he was doing at seventeen!

A son with his own ideas made Song Wei feel deeply gratified, "If then you want to return home to prepare, just let me know in advance."

"Hmm."

Watching Song Wei get into the carriage, only then did Song Yuanbao turn back towards Yutang Palace.

——

Song Wei returned home, and the lights in Wen Wan’s courtyard were still lit, clearly awaiting him.

Seeing him, Wen Wan’s heart finally settled, "Husband is back? Did you eat at the Imperial Palace?"

Song Wei shook his head, saying he forgot about eating while playing chess with the Emperor.

"Then I’ll have Yun Cai bring some food from the kitchen." Wen Wan said, simultaneously fetching a clean set of clothes from the wardrobe to hand to him, indicating for him to change out of the official robe.

Song Wei took them but didn’t leave immediately; instead, he asked her, "Why are you still awake so late?"

Wen Wan didn’t admit she was waiting for him, only saying she wasn’t sleepy, "Earlier, someone from the palace said you might return later today. I had my parents rest first. I’m not sleepy; I thought I’d sit a bit longer."

After speaking, he couldn’t help but yawn.

"..." Wen Wan was embarrassed.

Song Wei said, "If you’re tired, go to sleep. Whatever you have to say, say it tomorrow."

With so much on her mind, Wen Wan couldn’t fall asleep. "Husband, why were you gone so long? Did the Emperor make things difficult for you?"

Song Wei shook his head and said no.

"Then did he agree not to go to Jiangnan?"

"Yes."

"That’s great!" Wen Wan exclaimed excitedly. "As long as he doesn’t go, the Emperor can avoid an assassination, and I won’t have to worry about you, husband."

Song Wei’s eyes carried a smile, "Now you can finally go to sleep in peace, right?"

"Then I’ll really go." Wen Wan instructed him, "Eat the meal yourself, I won’t be serving you."

After Wen Wan lay down, Song Wei went behind the screen in the inner room to change out of the official robe.

Yun Cai quickly brought the meal, and Song Wei had little appetite, but to avoid worrying Wen Wan, he still picked up the chopsticks and took a few symbolic bites.

As he lay down, Wen Wan noticed movement and opened her eyes. Seeing that the lights in the room were already out, she turned her head and could vaguely see the graceful, handsome contours of the man’s face.

Knowing he was still awake, Wen Wan spoke up, "Husband, did you see Yuanbao today?"

Song Wei paused for a moment, then replied with a question, "Why aren’t you asleep yet?"

Wen Wan’s voice was groggy and soft, "I slept for a while and woke up again."

"Did I wake you?"

"No, it’s just that I have light sleep."

Sensing she had something on her mind, Song Wei didn’t say more and got up to light the bedside lamp.

In the dim yellow light, Wen Wan’s fair face showed an expression of wistfulness.

Not accustomed to the sudden light, she instinctively raised her hand to block it, and the jade bracelet on her wrist slid down her forearm with the movement.

Song Wei recognized at once that it was the jewelry her mother had left her.

"Why not take it off for sleeping?" Song Wei asked with a smile.

Wen Wan "oh"-ed, saying she forgot, and lay there lazily not wanting to move, stretching her wrist out in front of him, "Help me take it off."

Song Wei supported her forearm with one hand and grasped the bracelet with the other, about to slowly slide it off when Wen Wan suddenly asked, "Husband, you’re so knowledgeable about metal and jade artifacts, can you tell where this bracelet was made?"

Song Wei’s movement paused slightly, and his gaze turned to her. Their eyes met for a moment, then Song Wei spoke first, "Why suddenly ask about this?"

Wen Wan smiled, "I was just saying, how could a person as experienced as you not tell? You simply haven’t told me until now."

As she spoke, Wen Wan never took her eyes off his, "You forgot to tell me, right?"

This kind of conversation left Song Wei unsure how to respond, causing a slight tightness in his chest.

"Wanwan..."

Wen Wan was still smiling, "It’s fine, even if you forgot to say, it’s okay. Now, tell me where this bracelet came from?"

While speaking, she already sat up and took off the bracelet herself, placing it gently into his palm, "Husband, if you’re afraid of making a mistake, I’ll go light all the lamps."

Seeing her about to get out of bed, Song Wei clenched the hand holding the bracelet, reaching out with his other hand to grasp her slender wrist.

Turning her back to him, Wen Wan’s spine was noticeably tense.

A low, gentle masculine voice reached her ears, "Wanwan, did you go to the pawnshop?"

Wen Wan didn’t speak, her eyes staring blankly at the moth fluttering outside the lampshade.

"Wanwan?"

She was dazed for a long time, murmuring, "Can’t I go to the pawnshop?"

Not hearing his answer, she asked again, "All this time you’ve stopped me from pawning those pieces of jewelry, is it just because you don’t want me to use my dowry, or do you fear I’ll discover something from it?"

Wen Wan finished speaking, slowly turning to the side, hugging her knees with both hands and staring directly at Song Wei.

The night was chilly, and Song Wei, afraid she’d catch cold, naturally reached out and draped a thin quilt over her.

Seeing his unaffected demeanor, Wen Wan’s annoyance was piqued, "You said before that a couple should be honest with each other. I’ve never hidden anything from you. I even told you the biggest secret about myself, so why can’t you just tell me the truth?"

Song Wei quietly listened to her finish, revealing a trace of that familiar smile at the corner of his lips as he reached out to pat her head, "Silly girl, what are you overthinking?"

His reaction rendered Wen Wan incapable of showing anger, leaving her somewhat stifled and uncomfortable.

"Even if these items are crafted by the Ministry of Works, what does that prove?" Song Wei said, "There are no clear markings on the jewelry. Even if it did come from the palace, we can’t determine the identity of its original owner from these items alone."

It seemed Wen Wan wasn’t listening, her voice interrupting his, "Before I was three, my mother was still alive. At that time, you were already a teenage boy, and your memory shouldn’t be faulty. Have you seen my mother?"