I support the army through farming and business.

Chapter 29 The Third Mission

Tang Zhao knocked on the door politely.

Chaohui had already seen the county lady arrive through the window, and hurriedly opened the door after receiving the master's instructions.

This was the first time Tang Zhao set foot in Gu Ci's study. She looked around curiously and felt that it was more like an armory than a study.

There were only two books, but the weapons rack was filled to the brim.

Gu Ci asked, "What are you doing here?"

"Husband, please do me a favor!" Tang Zhao negotiated.

"What's the matter?"

"Borrow someone," she pointed at the group of guards standing watch at the door, "I need someone with the best Qinggong skills and who's best at night exploration."

"What are you going to do?" Gu Ci frowned.

"Catching ghosts," Tang Zhao told him Qiuyu's discovery.

Duke Wei, after some hesitation, sent Zhao Hui to investigate in person.

Gu Ci glanced at the woman who seemed to be enjoying the show and not minding the trouble, "You seem to be quite open-minded."

"It's Wei. It's my father who has a mistress, not my husband. Why should I be so upset?" Tang Zhao teased, "Unless one day my husband has a mistress..."

Gu Ci interrupted her slander, "I won't."

Tang Zhao choked, thinking about Gu Ci's subsequent amazing moves, he really couldn't do it.

You are good, you are amazing. Tang Zhao admitted defeat and returned to his own courtyard to wait for news.

It was seven days later that I stepped into the study again.

Tang Zhao sat opposite Gu Ci, about three feet away from him. Their eyes were fixed on the person standing in the middle waiting for a report, and they were reluctant to give the other person even a glance.

Zhaohui felt under tremendous pressure from being watched.

"The house at the innermost end of Jade Belt Lane is now occupied by a mother and daughter. The mother's surname is Song, and her name is Song Qingyan. This house is in her name. The daughter is Song Wan, who is fifteen years old. The Song family also has a son named Song Shi, who joined the army a year and a half ago and has not returned yet."

"The Song family, mother and son, settled in Yudai Lane ten years ago. Their whereabouts were deliberately concealed, and I'm still investigating." Zhao Hui paused for a moment. "I've discovered that one of the Song family's useful officers travels to a manor in Min County every seven days. The manor is guarded by dozens of experts, so I didn't dare approach. But judging by their behavior, I can conclude they're all military prodigies."

"After the steward left, three groups of people rode south along three roads. I intercepted one of them and found the secret letter."

Chaohui took out the secret letter from his arms. Gu Ci took it, read it quickly, and handed the letter to the person opposite who was craning his neck.

Tang Zhao came to pick it up, and after reading it, he smiled and said, "It's really affectionate."

This is a family letter written by Song Qingyan to Duke Wei. It is densely packed with trivial matters of life, mixed with a woman's longing and eager anticipation for the return of her husband and son.

It's really disgusting.

Tang Zhao urgently needed tea to suppress the nausea in his chest.

Zhao Hui continued, "I have already sent people to follow the other two groups. We will have definite news in about ten days."

"What does Madam plan to do?" Whether the Duke of Wei had a mistress or not had nothing to do with Prince Xuan's Mansion, so Gu Ci did not intend to interfere.

"Of course I have to tell my good stepmother and ask her to take him back to the Duke of Wei's mansion as soon as possible. It's inappropriate for him to stay outside the mansion," Tang Zhao said as a matter of course. "And my poor brother and sister-in-law, left alone outside as illegitimate children, how can they compare to the dignity of being a young master and young lady in the Duke's mansion?"

"For so many years, the Duke of Wei's Mansion has been ridiculed by countless people for having no son. My stepmother even prayed to the gods and Buddhas every day for this. Now that the gods and Buddhas have appeared, the Duke of Wei's Mansion has a successor. The An family will surely be overjoyed." "When An gives birth to a prince, the Duke of Wei's Mansion will be even more lively!"

Gu Ci took a deep breath and said, "Very good." Then he drove the man away without mercy.

Tang Zhao made a face at him, turned around and went back to the main courtyard, his face suddenly turned cold.

Because the system just gave her a third task: to prove the reputation of the Song family.

The male members of the Song family died in battle, and the female members died in the city. The whole family was loyal and brave, leaving only her, a granddaughter with Song blood in her veins. This was clearly recorded in history books, and even the royal family members did not dare to say a word against the Song family.

Who dares to tarnish the reputation of the Song family?
This task was issued after she knew the name of the mistress, which means that the task was related to the mistress.

Song Qingyan, could this Song be the same Song? If so, then the Song family's reputation, pure as snow and morning dew, would be tarnished beyond effacement.

Tang Zhao closed his eyes and suppressed his thoughts, "Qiuyu, are there any vendors doing business in Yudai Lane?"

"Yes, there are a lot of them, selling sugar figurines and dough figurines, kites, and sweet soups..." Qiuyu talked incessantly.

Tang Zhao didn't have time to listen to her count. "Starting today, go to Yudai Lane and buy me a bowl of sweet soup every day."

The autumn rain is coming, and every morning, rain or shine, I go to the small stall at the entrance of Yudai Lane to buy sweet soup.

In the backyard of the Duke of Wei's mansion, An, with a belly that was more than nine months old, was walking back and forth in the house surrounded by a dozen maids and old women.

The imperial physician said that she had taken too many supplements and was afraid that the fetus would be too large and difficult to deliver, so she had to take walks from time to time to ensure a smooth delivery.

An stopped only when she was sweating all over. After being helped to bathe and wash up, she lay on the bed and had her legs massaged by Aunt Zhao.

An was so comfortable that she was almost sleepy. Suddenly, she felt a pain in her stomach. The amniotic fluid soaked her pants, bringing a burst of coolness. An opened her eyes wide and shouted, "Hurry, call the midwife, I'm giving birth!"

After being startled, Nanny Zhao immediately calmed down and ordered people to set up the delivery room. After the midwife and doctor were in place, she sent someone to inform the old lady.

The old lady was concentrating on worshiping Buddha and seemed not to hear.

At this time, someone else came to report, "Old Madam, Aunt Old Madam and Second Miss are back."

A gleam of light flashed in the old lady's eyes. She tied the Buddhist beads back on her wrist, stood up with the help of the nanny's hand, and went to greet them in person.

The aunt was the younger sister of the wife of Duke Wei. They had a deep relationship and often met after they got married. Later, the aunt followed her husband's family to the south, and from then on they could only communicate through letters.

The two sisters were so excited to see each other again after twenty years. They cried for a long time before the old lady said, "When I came in, I heard that Zheng's daughter-in-law was about to give birth. How is she now?"

Tang Ming, who was sitting next to him, immediately pricked up his ears.

"Zhen Niang is pregnant with a good fortune this time. She is already five fingers dilated," the old lady chanted a Buddhist chant. "May the gods and Buddhas of heaven bless you. Zhen Niang will surely give birth safely."

"Sister, you're right," the old aunt nodded. "How many people in this world are as blessed as Zhenniang, with her aunt as her mother-in-law to support her?"

"And you've raised such a lovely daughter," the old lady said, looking at the beautiful, virtuous and quiet Tang Ming. "Once Zhenniang gives birth to the prince, everything will be fine."

Two hours later, An used all her strength to give birth to the baby. After confirming with the midwife that it was a boy, she fell asleep peacefully.

The old lady held the swaddled baby in her arms, and most of the depression she had accumulated over the past six months disappeared.

The old lady was tired from the journey, so she went back to her room to rest after seeing the child. Tang Ming accompanied the old lady to finish her meal before taking his younger brother to see his mother.

(End of this chapter)