The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 614 - 580: Caught (Second Update)

Jinbao turned his head to look at Ah Gui, who was carving wood, "Your master has encountered a swindler, don’t you care?"

Ah Gui didn’t even raise his head, "My master is a pauper, he has no money on him."

The implication was that even if Yun Shisan and the others really came to swindle, they wouldn’t get a single coin.

Jinbao was displeased. During dinner, he complained to his parents, saying he didn’t want this teacher anymore.

Wen Wan asked him, "What did the teacher do?"

Jinbao twisted and turned, "The teacher talks too fast and it affects my performance."

Wen Wan was stunned for a moment before realizing that Jinbao was indirectly saying he liked the current teacher and didn’t want the teacher to become like ordinary people.

Xu Dengke’s current state indeed had a unique charm.

But for him personally, not being able to eat and speak normally was understandably painful.

Even though Xu Dengke always appeared optimistic, building his joy on others’ pain was something Wen Wan could not endorse.

So she drank the last sip of her soup, put down the bowl, and looked at her son, "You don’t like the teacher speaking normally?"

Jinbao bit his spoon and didn’t respond.

Wen Wan asked him again, "If one day you got a bump on your head and someone thought it was particularly cute and didn’t want it to go away, would you be happy?"

Jinbao still remained silent, secretly glancing at Song Wei next to him.

Song Wei quietly put food into his son’s bowl and did not refute Wen Wan’s words, clearly choosing to agree with her.

Jinbao drooped his head and stared dumbfounded at the small bowl for quite a while before saying in a low voice, "Then let the teacher recover."

At that moment, Qi Bao, sitting in the chair, made a cooing noise.

Wen Wan’s eyes softened, "See, even Qi Bao thinks the teacher should recover soon."

Jinbao snorted, "Qi Bao is just a little baby, she doesn’t understand anything."

Wen Wan was very patient, "Then spend more time talking to her, and over time, she will gradually understand, won’t she?"

After dinner, Jinbao went to the outer courtyard to play with Song Yuanbao, while Song Wei stayed in Wen Wan’s room to talk. He brought up the day Xu Guangfu and Su Qing returned triumphantly to the capital, when Emperor Guangxi initially wanted to issue a general amnesty, but was stopped by the Crown Prince and a group of old ministers in the Jinluan Palace.

Wen Wan looked at her husband in confusion, "Throughout the ages, on such great days as winning battles or an emperor ascending the throne, isn’t it always a time for a general amnesty? Moreover, this time a whole country of West Yue was destroyed, it should be a time for universal celebration."

"It used to be like that." Song Wei said, "In the year the current Emperor ascended the throne, there was a general amnesty, and as a result, a batch of criminals were released. To settle their grievances, they joined forces and massacred over sixty members of a certain senior official’s family, becoming the first case of annihilation after the Emperor’s accession, causing quite a stir at the time."

After a pause, Song Wei continued, "This time, the Emperor proposed a general amnesty, I guess he wanted to take the opportunity to pardon the family of your father and mother, let Lu Yanqing return, and also bring your parents back to the capital with Yan Li. After all, Marquis Zhenxi and Grand Commander Su were able to win the battle this time with a lot of help from someone in the dark."

"Who?"

"Father-in-law."

"My father?" Wen Wan was incredulous, "Isn’t he supposed to be in Ningzhou?"

Song Wei smiled slightly, "Do you know why the Emperor dared to send Su Qing, a temporary general who had never been to the battlefield, and Xu Guangfu, a general with a history of defeat, to destroy West Yue? It’s because the Emperor knew well that your father and mother never confused matters of national importance. Even if your father didn’t go, your mother would force him to the border. Though the Emperor outwardly appeared to neglect the Lu Family and your father, in fact, he wants them back more than anyone because she is his only sister. So he secretly gave your father a chance to make amends for his crimes. If they won this battle, when he proposed for your parents to return to the capital, no one would dare to say anything."

Mentioning her parents, Wen Wan was touched, "That’s good then, why didn’t the Crown Prince agree?"

"Back to the previous topic." Song Wei said, "The risk of a general amnesty is significant, and the Crown Prince is considering the bigger picture."

Wen Wan still did not understand, "Didn’t you say my father helped them win the battle? Even if there is no general amnesty, surely his merit can earn him a chance to return to the capital?"

Song Wei still shook his head, "Father-in-law went to the border without the Emperor’s direct order, he had no legitimate mandate. Rashly declaring his achievements not only violates military discipline but also invites much doubt."

Wen Wan was a bit annoyed, "So after all this, my parents still can’t return to the capital."

Song Wei turned his head to look at her, his gaze serious, "Do you miss your parents?"

Wen Wan did not deny it, "It’s been a long time since we reunited with them, and I haven’t seen Yan Li for a long time, I don’t even know what he looks like now."

Song Wei heard the yearning for family in his wife’s words, and his eyes were tinged with a smile, "How about I write a letter and ask them to come by when they have the time?"

"Wouldn’t that be a bit inappropriate?"

Wen Wan asked, realizing she had more than one father, then shook her head and sighed, "Forget it. My biological parents and my adoptive father are all in Ningzhou. If I specifically invite my biological parents, my adoptive father would feel uncomfortable even if he doesn’t say anything. Whether as an adopted or biological daughter, I must treat them equally. There’s no reason to recognize my biological parents and forget the kindness of upbringing.

So, I won’t meet any of them. I’ll wait until my husband has the chance to take me back home, and then I will visit them one by one."

Song Wei listened to her, and his eyes showed a hint of relief as he replied, "Alright."

Winter nights come early, and as the couple talked, Yun Cai had already come in to light the candlesticks and lanterns.

Before leaving, she didn’t forget to refill the tea for Wen Wan and Song Wei.

The warm yellow light made the man’s features appear more mature and profound.

Wen Wan couldn’t help feeling moved as she placed her teacup on the kang table, then ran from one end of the kang table to the other, squeezing in beside him proactively.

Song Wei reached out, his fingertips brushing over the hairpins in her hair, sliding down her delicate earlobe, finally resting on her shoulder. Despite the thick cotton garments, Wen Wan seemed to feel the warmth of his palm.

Wen Wan snuggled into his broad chest, looked up, just about to do something when Nanny Qin suddenly opened the curtain and walked in, bowing to the two, "Master, Madam, the little one needs to be fed."

Unexpectant of Nanny Qin’s arrival, Wen Wan struggled to move away a bit, but the man’s arm had a strong grip, holding her immobile. Wen Wan’s face burned with embarrassment, and she lowered her head, avoiding eye contact.

A deep, gentle voice came from the man beside her, "Take the child over."

Nanny Qin swiftly picked up Qi Bao from the cradle.

For some reason, Wen Wan felt that Nanny Qin took an extra glance at them before leaving.

After she left, Wen Wan pushed Song Wei away playfully, and scolded, "Someone’s here, aren’t you ashamed?"

Song Wei saw her shy and embarrassed appearance, her eyes moist, cheeks red, his eyes smiling, the arm holding her didn’t loosen, and his other hand tapped on the kang table with his fingertips, as if reminding her who had initiated earlier.

Wen Wan was rendered speechless by his gesture.

...

Since carrying Qi Bao to this day, Wen Wan has never been this tired, and after she fell asleep, Song Wei dressed neatly and walked out of the inner room, the hour still early, with some official duties to attend to.

Before leaving Qingteng Residence, Song Wei made a point to check on Qi Bao in the West Wing.

Qi Bao had three nannies: Nanny Qian, Nanny Zhou, and Nanny Qin.

Nanny Qin was the youngest, only seventeen or eighteen, the most attractive among the nannies. It was said that her husband had died, and she had no money to raise the child, forced to find work to sustain her family. She learned some skills in her youth, and despite being young, she had a knack for caring for children; it was her who helped Qi Bao when he was crying non-stop from colic.

The Song family paid five taels of silver monthly for a nanny and naturally couldn’t have them being idle. Whoever’s turn it was had to remain in the room to watch over Qi Bao during that time, unable to go anywhere. The food for the three nannies was specially prepared by the kitchen and was quite lavish.

However, because Wen Wan wanted to be close to her daughter, she often had Qi Bao brought over during the day, leaving the on-duty nanny much more idle.

This evening’s on-duty was Nanny Qin, who had taken the baby to the West Wing after dinner.

Song Wei checked the time as he came over, the door to the side room was open, likely because the little one was afraid of light, only two wall lamps were lit inside, not very bright.

Song Wei reached out to lift the beads hanging down the floor, entering just in time to see Nanny Qin still feeding Qi Bao. Upon hearing him, she quickly looked up, turned sideways while holding Qi Bao, hurriedly pulled down her clothes, her face flushed red, head bowed, "Master..."

Song Wei turned away instantly, his face not looking very good, his voice tinged with heaviness, "Shouldn’t it have been done by now? She’s still feeding now?"

"The little one wouldn’t eat earlier," Nanny Qin’s voice was soft and weak, with a hint of tremble, like she was afraid Song Wei would kick her out in anger.

Song Wei clasped his hands, took a deep breath regaining his composure, "Take good care of Qi Bao."

Having said that, Song Wei strode out.

Nanny Qin stared at his back, taking a while to come to her senses.

In the swaddle, Qi Bao was already asleep, without any intention of feeding.