Chapter 29: The Third Task

Tang Zhao knocked politely on the door.

Chao Hui had seen the County Mistress's carriage arrive from the window long ago and, upon receiving her master's orders, hurriedly opened the door.

This was Tang Zhao's first time stepping into Gu Ci's study. She looked around curiously, feeling that it was less a study and more an armory.

There were hardly any books, but the weapon racks were filled to capacity.

Gu Ci asked, "What brings you here?"

"Husband, lend me a hand!" Tang Zhao negotiated.

"What is it?"

"I need to borrow someone," she said, pointing to the group of guards keeping watch at the door. "Ideally someone with great lightness skills, specialized in night reconnaissance."

"What do you intend to do?" Gu Ci frowned.

"Catch a ghost," Tang Zhao said, telling him about Qiu Yu's discovery.

"The Duke of Wei," Gu Ci mused, then dispatched Chao Hui to investigate personally.

Gu Ci glanced sideways at the woman, who seemed to find amusement in everyone else's trouble. "You certainly take things in stride."

"It's the Duke of Wei—it's my father who has a mistress, not my husband. What is there for me to be upset about?" Tang Zhao teased. "Unless, of course, one day you keep a mistress..."

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

Tang Zhao choked on her words. Thinking of Gu Ci's subsequent "god-tier" maneuvers, he actually wouldn't.

*Fine, you win,* Tang Zhao conceded, returning to her own courtyard to wait for news.

Seven days later, she stepped into the study again.

Tang Zhao sat opposite Gu Ci. The two were separated by about thirty feet, and both sets of eyes fell simultaneously on the person standing in the middle waiting to report, without sparing even a glance for one another.

Chao Hui felt immense pressure under their gazes.

"The residence at the very end of Jade Belt Alley is currently occupied by a mother and daughter. The mother's surname is Song, given name Song Qingyan; the residence is under her name. The daughter is named Song Wan, aged fifteen. This Lady Song also has a son named Song Shi, who joined the army a year and a half ago and has not yet returned."

"The Song mother and son settled in Jade Belt Alley ten years ago. Their previous movements were deliberately concealed, and I am still investigating," Chao Hui paused for a moment. "I discovered that Lady Song has a capable steward. Every seven days, he travels to a manor in the Min County area. The manor is guarded by dozens of experts. I did not dare approach, but based on their behavior, I can conclude they all originate from the military."

"After the steward left, three groups of riders headed south along three different routes. I intercepted one group and discovered a secret letter."

Chao Hui pulled the secret letter from his robe. Gu Ci took it, skimmed through it quickly, and handed it to the person stretching their neck on the opposite side.

Tang Zhao scurried over to take it. After reading, she laughed, "How truly affectionate."

It was a family letter written by Song Qingyan to the Duke of Wei, densely packed with trivial matters of daily life, interspersed with a woman's longing and her desperate hope for the return of her husband and son.

It was truly nauseating.

Tang Zhao desperately needed tea to suppress the feeling of sickness in her chest.

Chao Hui continued, "I have already sent people to follow the other two groups. Precise news should arrive in about ten days."

"How does the Madam intend to handle this?" Whether the Duke of Wei had a mistress had nothing to do with the Prince Xuan's Manor; Gu Ci did not intend to interfere.

"Naturally, I must inform that 'good stepmother' of mine, so she can bring the person back to the Duke of Wei's manor as soon as possible. It is improper to keep her outside the estate," Tang Zhao said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "And what about my poor younger siblings? Left alone outside as illegitimate children, how can they compare to the nobility of being the young masters and ladies of the Duke's manor?"

"For so many years, the Duke of Wei's manor has been ridiculed by many for lacking a son. My stepmother has prayed to gods and Buddhas every day because of it. Now that the gods have answered and the Duke's manor has an heir, Lady An will surely be overjoyed."

"Once Lady An gives birth to the Heir Apparent, the Duke of Wei's manor will be even more lively!"

Gu Ci took a deep breath. "Very well." Having said that, he ruthlessly dismissed them.

Tang Zhao made a face at him, but after turning to return to the main courtyard, her expression instantly turned cold.

Because the system had just issued her third mission: *Vindicate the reputation of the Song clan.*

The men of the Song clan had died in battle, and the women had died defending the city; the entire clan was undeniably composed of loyal martyrs. Only she, a granddaughter carrying the Song bloodline, remained. It was clearly recorded in the history books; even the imperial relatives dared not utter a single word against the Song family.

Who dared to defile the Song clan's reputation?

This mission was released only after she learned the name of that mistress, which meant the mission was related to her.

Song Qingyan. Could this "Song" be *that* "Song"? If so, the Song family's reputation, as pure as white snow and morning dew, would truly suffer an indelible stain.

Tang Zhao closed her eyes to suppress her racing thoughts. "Qiu Yu, are there any street vendors in Jade Belt Alley?"

"Yes, plenty! People selling sugar figurines, dough art, kites, sweet soups..." Qiu Yu rambled on.

Tang Zhao had no time to listen to her list. "Starting today, go to Jade Belt Alley every day and buy me a bowl of sweet soup."

Qiu Yu complied, going to the small stalls at the entrance of Jade Belt Alley every morning, rain or shine, without fail.

In the back courtyard of the Duke of Wei's manor, Lady An, heavily pregnant at over nine months, was being surrounded by a dozen maids and elderly women, walking back and forth in her room.

The imperial physician had said she had consumed too many tonics and feared a difficult labor due to the large fetus, so she had to walk constantly to ensure a smooth delivery.

Lady An only stopped after she was drenched in sweat. After being attended to for a bath and grooming, she lay on the bed while Nanny Zhao massaged her legs.

Lady An was drifting into a comfortable sleep when a sudden pain struck her abdomen. Her water broke, bringing a chilling sensation to her trousers. Lady An's eyes flew open as she screamed, "Quick! Call the midwife! I'm in labor!"

After the initial shock, Nanny Zhao immediately regained her composure. She ordered the preparation of the delivery room and, once the midwife and physician were in place, sent someone to inform the Old Madam.

The Old Madam was immersed in Buddhist prayer, appearing as if she had heard nothing.

At that moment, someone came to report, "Old Madam, Auntie and the Second Young Lady have returned."

A light flashed in the Old Madam's eyes. She tied her prayer beads back onto her wrist, took the Nanny's hand to stand up, and went to greet them personally.

Auntie was the biological sister of the Old Madam of the Duke of Wei. The two shared a deep bond and met frequently even after marriage. Later, Auntie followed her husband's post to the south, and they could only communicate through letters.

The two sisters were overcome with emotion upon seeing each other after twenty years, weeping for quite some time before Auntie finally asked, "I heard when I entered the gates that Zhen-niang's wife is about to give birth. How is she now?"

Tang Ming, who was sitting nearby, immediately pricked up his ears.

"Zhen-niang's pregnancy has been good; she is already five fingers dilated," the Old Madam chanted a Buddhist prayer. "May the gods protect her; Zhen-niang will surely deliver a safe child."

"Sister is right," Auntie nodded repeatedly. "How many in this world have such luck as Zhen-niang, having a biological aunt as a mother-in-law to back her up?"

"And she has raised such a lovely daughter," Auntie looked at the beautiful, elegant, and quiet Tang Ming. "Once Zhen-niang gives birth to the Heir Apparent, everything will be perfect."

Two hours later, Lady An gave birth with all her might. Only after confirming with the midwife that it was a boy did she fall into a peaceful sleep.

Holding the swaddled infant, the Old Madam felt most of the gloom from the past six months dissipate.

Tired from her journey, Auntie retired to her room to rest after seeing the child. Tang Ming accompanied the Old Madam through her meal before going to see his mother and hold his younger brother.