CHAPTER 400: CHAPTER 368: WHEN JINBAO IS UNHAPPY, HE THINKS OF HIS MOTHER

Upon arriving, the mother and child first went to catch some fish for their meal. After feeding the little one’s belly full, Wen Wan went to find the shepherd boy from last time to have him take Jinbao to play for the day.

The sheep grazing area wasn’t far, just on the hillside behind them.

Jinbao particularly liked those sheep, petting them until his hands were full of wool. Noticing his mother was sitting on the grass, lost in thought, he walked over to Wen Wan smelling strongly of sheep and sat down beside her.

Wen Wan wrinkled her nose, a bit disdainfully, "Stay away from me."

As she spoke, she scooted away.

Jinbao insisted on staying close, matching her movements, then pressed his little hands into the grass, propped his chin up, and posed like a little adult, "Why aren’t you happy today, Mother?"

Wen Wan perfunctorily asked back, "Who says I’m not?"

"Clearly, you are."

Seeing Wen Wan not respond, the little one began chirping again, "When Jinbao is unhappy, he thinks of Mother. Who does Mother think of when she’s unhappy?"

"Of course, I think of Jinbao." Wen Wan replied listlessly, lifting her eyes with her hand, still feeling like she hadn’t slept enough.

Unable to stand the smell on the little one, she pointed at a nearby stream with a serious face, "Go wash your hands."

Noticing the unfriendly tone in his mother’s voice, the little one didn’t dare protest, obediently stood up, walked to the stream, and awkwardly washed his little hands before scooping water to splash on his face.

Wen Wan was staring at the ants on the grass absent-mindedly when suddenly she felt a cool sensation on her head. Thinking it was rain, she looked up to see the little one standing in front of her, shaking all the water from his hands onto her, now making her face wet.

Realizing her son did it on purpose, Wen Wan pulled out a handkerchief to wipe off the water stains and stared at him intently, "Come here!"

The mischievous little one, afraid of getting hit after his prank, grinned and took off running.

Seeing he hadn’t gone far, Wen Wan didn’t chase him, continuing to sit where she was, occasionally glancing in the direction of her son.

When the little one came back, he held a flower wreath in his chubby hand, likely taught by the shepherd boy, looking decently put together, now offering it to her ingratiatingly.

Wen Wan didn’t take it, glancing at her son riding on a sheep’s back, then at the matching wreath on the sheep’s head, feeling rather mixed emotions.

She took the wreath and put it on him, then lifted the little one off the sheep’s back, and as soon as she told him not to bully the sheep, he pulled its wool.

"..."

Wen Wan couldn’t shake the feeling that Jinbao was particularly annoying today, maybe because she was in a bad mood.

What’s more irritating is that while she wasn’t paying attention, the little one, after drinking water, sat by the stream with a waterskin, deliberately picking up fingernail-sized stones to put in, making the water spill out, amusing himself endlessly.

Thirsty, Wen Wan went to find a drink, only to discover the waterskin filled with little stones that wouldn’t come out, "..."

Unable to take it, she raised her hand, giving the little one a smack on the bottom.

Immediately, Jinbao’s cries filled the brook, sounding like a pig being slaughtered.

Furious with her son, Wen Wan lost all interest in staying at the farm for fun, quickly bidding farewell to the farmwives and hurried back to the residence.

Once they got back, Yun Cai took the little one for a bath.

Wen Wan lay down on the bed, intending to nap, and accidentally found a note under Song Wei’s pillow while pulling over the quilt.

Upon opening it, she saw Song Wei’s handwriting, a straightforward message saying he was afraid she’d bottle things up, driving herself crazy. Before heading out in the morning, he’d instructed their son specifically, so the little one might seem particularly annoying today, letting her know it’s okay to get mad.

Wen Wan looked at the note, picturing the man seriously penning these words, thinking about her son’s previous antics, couldn’t help but smile, her lips curling upwards.

——

Because of Song Wei’s suggestion, the trip south to escape the heat and celebrate the Empress Dowager’s birthday was canceled.

Though surprised when she heard the news, the Empress Dowager wasn’t upset.

The idea to go south was purely the Emperor’s; honestly, if given a choice, she’d rather not undertake the trip.

With her age, she preferred quiet over excitement more often than not.

Especially since she had become more forgetful in recent years and increasingly disliked crowds, rarely attending palace banquets.

After lunch that day, the Empress Dowager was about to take a nap when a servant reported the Emperor’s arrival, prompting her to perk up again.

When Emperor Guangxi stepped over the threshold, Empress Dowager Renyi asked, "Emperor, you suddenly come to my place, is there something urgent?"

After seating himself, Emperor Guangxi apologized, "Originally, I had planned to hold Mother Empress’s birthday banquet on a boat heading south, but unexpectedly, there was an issue at the border, and I could only trouble you. Once the chaos in the Northwest is settled, I will take some time to let you enjoy the Jiangnan scenery."

The Empress Dowager waved her hand, "I am old, and have no energy for that. Don’t go to such troubles, lest the people criticize us for wasting resources. Let the palace be lively instead."

Emperor Guangxi said, "With Mother’s great virtues and countless blessings, you still have many years ahead. Why say you’re old?"

Such words were heard daily, and the Empress Dowager was no longer moved, "Emperor, you didn’t come just to say these things, did you?"

Being so easily seen through, Emperor Guangxi felt a bit at a loss, "Mother has sharp insight, indeed I came for a particular item."

"What item?"

"Does Mother have a painting by Mr. Liu in your possession?"

Hearing her son ask this suddenly, the Empress Dowager was puzzled, "Why does the Emperor want the painting?"

Emperor Guangxi stated truthfully, "I played a match with Song Wei, betting with the painting in Mother’s hand, but lost to him. A bet is a bet; since Mother has never favored antiques and paintings, could you grant me the painting?"

The Empress Dowager pondered for a moment, then replied firmly, "Anything else is fine, but this painting must not be given."

This painting, called Thousand Feet Snow, was a gift from the Mei Family when she was conferred as Empress, also serving as a dowry.

Due to her hatred towards Old Marquis Lu, she especially disliked antiques and paintings, leaving many stored at the bottom of the boxes in her sleeping quarters.

Thus, even the late Emperor wasn’t fully aware of what the Mei Family had gifted.

Upon seeing the painting initially, she had a vague feeling, believing that someone from the Lu Family would eventually beseech her for it someday.

Emperor Guangxi was unaware of his birth mother’s concerns, "Is Mother also looking to keep this painting?"

"Yes, I decided to retain it."

Emperor Guangxi was skeptical, "But Mother doesn’t like paintings and calligraphy?"

"There are always exceptions." The Empress Dowager held her teacup, brushing it lightly with the lid, "This painting is different from others."

"Naturally, it is different." Emperor Guangxi knew the works of Master Liu, "Mr. Liu’s Mo Bao is an invaluable treasure, beyond any monetary value."

Thinking of this, Emperor Guangxi guessed, "Could it be, Mother wants to keep the painting for Fanghua?"

Fanghua had always admired Mr. Liu, and over the years, he had collected many of Mr. Liu’s authentic works to win her favor.

The Empress Dowager didn’t mention whom she intended to leave the painting to, "There are so many treasures in the National Treasury; the Emperor can choose another to give to Song Wei. Why insist on this painting?"

Emperor Guangxi chuckled, "Mother might not know, but that little rascal is very stubborn; he insists on this painting. If I switch it for another, he will certainly refuse. Besides, as the ruler of the nation, how can I go back on my word, or else, wouldn’t it be laughable?"

The Empress Dowager looked at Emperor Guangxi, showing some disapproval in her gaze, "Why bet with him so rashly, without consulting me first?"

"I never expected him to win, nor did I expect Mother, who has never liked calligraphy and paintings, would suddenly want to keep one."

No matter how Emperor Guangxi pleaded, the Empress Dowager remained firm, "As I said, anything else is fine, but this painting must be kept."

Emperor Guangxi, knowing well the Empress Dowager’s temperament, chose not to press further.

The Empress Dowager then turned the topic to the Northwest military campaign, "You arranged for General Chang Wei to lead the troops. Are you confident of winning this battle?"

Emperor Guangxi’s expression returned to seriousness, "General Chang Wei was a great general under Lu Xingzhou, brave in battle. Entrusting him with the troops poses no problem, but our Great Chu army has been resting for twenty years. Whether they can still exhibit the same fervor on the battlefield as before is uncertain."

Finally, Emperor Guangxi sighed softly, "In the last twenty years, the Northwest Enemy was deterred by the presence of our War God, Lu Xingzhou. Now, however..."

It was only shortly after Lu Xingzhou’s demotion that the enemies began to stir.

The Empress Dowager shot a glance at him, easily perceiving Emperor Guangxi’s thoughts, "Emperor, do not forget how you confiscated the Lu Family’s military power back then."

"I dare not forget."

Precisely because he feared Lu Xingzhou’s achievements overshadowing the throne, they had bound Fanghua, already married elsewhere, back from Ningzhou to marry him, thus justifying the reduction of Lu Xingzhou’s authority, effectively sidelining him.

Given the deliberate reduction of power then, it’s even less likely now for Lu Xingzhou to regain military command.