The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity

Chapter 939: Chapter 887: The Final Ending: Flowers Bloom on the Path, You May Return Slowly

Zhao Xi turned around and looked at the newly awakened Dong Han, "Did I disturb you?"

"No." Dong Han shook her head, "I just have shallow sleep."

Speaking, she slowly lowered her eyelashes, "Your Majesty, I’m sorry."

She originally thought she was carrying boy-girl twins, but it turned out to be twin boys.

Now, the surprise had transformed into a burden. During the day, noblewomen dared not speak of the imperial twins in front of her, but behind her back, gossip was inevitable.

At court, it was likely even worse, wasn’t it?

"Sorry for what?" Zhao Xi sat down beside the cradle.

"I harbored selfishness and concealed the fact of the twin birth, I am guilty..."

Zhao Xi was silent for a moment, "Since that’s the case, you understand that the imperial family shouldn’t have twins. I will only bestow a name to one; choose."

Dong Han leaned against the headboard, hearing this, clasping the brocade quilt with both hands.

Both were her flesh and blood; giving up either was heart-wrenching, yet she had no choice.

In an instant, Dong Han couldn’t make a decision. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at Zhao Xi, "Is Your Majesty planning to grant a death or..."

Zhao Xi did not speak.

Dong Han’s face went pale, her voice trembling, "Even sending him out of the palace is fine, I beg Your Majesty to spare his life."

"Then send him to the Song family in Ningzhou."

Zhao Xi’s reply made Dong Han feel he had decided this early on.

He didn’t attend the washing ceremony during the day, presumably pondering this matter, right?

As for why he decided to send him to the Song family, Dong Han couldn’t know.

...

The matter of the imperial twins became widely known because no information was revealed before the birth, and there was no time to handle it on the night of labor.

These past days, most of the petitions from the ministers concerned the twins.

Fortunately, this dynasty only prohibited the existence of imperial twins, not superstitiously considering twins unlucky to the point of requiring one to be killed. The court officials merely discussed the fate of one of the little princes, which was relatively humane.

After deliberating for most of the morning court, Emperor Xuanjing finally decreed to send one to the Song family in Ningzhou and raise him in the countryside, never to return to the capital.

...

Overnight, she found herself unexpectedly becoming a mother. Wen Wan, who was having breakfast, choked on her porridge, her face turning red as she looked at Dou Kou delivering the message, "What did you just say?"

Dou Kou had to repeat, "Your Majesty has already decreed to send one of the little princes to the Song family in Ningzhou to be raised, and it seems that he also mentioned he should never return to the capital."

Wen Wan exchanged a glance with Zhao Xunyin.

Zhao Xunyin sighed, "No wonder His Majesty refused to visit during the washing ceremony and didn’t even bestow a name; I knew it."

Wen Wan was a bit puzzled, "Mother, why must one be sent away?"

Zhao Xunyin said: "If they were born by other concubines, there might still be a possibility to stay, but these are both born by the Empress, on the same day, making it impossible to determine who is the legitimate eldest son. To avoid future problems, only one can be kept. His Majesty spared them from being killed by sending one away, showing considerable humanity."

Wen Wan chuckled, "Well, now all the treasures of our family have come together."

Zhao Xunyin was puzzled, "What do you mean?"

"When pregnant with Qi Bao, fearing it might be a boy, we even prepared a nickname ’Mo Bao.’ You just wait and see; even if I don’t write a letter to Third Son, that little prince will definitely be named Mo Bao when he goes to the Song family, belonging to the same generation as Yuanbao, Jinbao, and Qi Bao."

The child originally named "Mo Bao" was intended by Wen Wan to give birth herself. Now she unexpectedly gained one; she felt relaxed since having more children ages a person by several years.

The Emperor Xuanjing arranged for escorts and two nannies, and when they arrived at the Song family in Ningzhou, the little one had just reached his one-month mark.

Song Wei, unexpectedly becoming a father, reacted similarly to Wen Wan, directly deciding, "We will call him Mo Bao from now on."

Jinbao looked at the fair and tender little baby in the swaddling, couldn’t help but stretch his hand to pinch his little face, asking Song Wei, "Father, has mother just given birth to a younger brother?"

What else could Song Wei say to this? Naturally, he could only acquiesce.

Qi Bao looked at Jinbao, calling "Big Brother," and pointed to the cradle where the little baby was sleeping.

Jinbao said: "That’s the little brother."

"Little brother?" Qi Bao blinked curiously, walked to the cradle, climbed onto the little bed, sat cross-legged, and stared at him without blinking.

Song Yuanbao stood nearby, gazing at Zhao Xi’s son, then at his own daughter, his expression complex.

He and Zhao Xi were married on the same day, with a long period of mourning in between. Even so, Ye Ling and the Empress’s pregnancy timings were similar, and just after the Empress gave birth, less than ten days later, Ye Ling went into labor; theirs was a daughter.

Yet now, Zhao Xi’s son became his brother.