Chapter 209: Special - : Four Boys and Two Girls

Chapter 209

Special Chapter: Four Boys and Two Girls

The four sons of the Yong An Hou Manor were all educated alongside the royal family’s children. Fifth Brother Min Ge was kind-hearted, while Shang Ge, the youngest, was playful but also a bit spoiled.

Since the Hou Manor now had a younger generation, it was necessary to bring them out to socialize and meet peers from noble families, so they would have connections within the aristocracy for the future. The Hou, Xu Shi, and Nie Shuang began accepting more invitations to various banquets.

Aside from the high status of the Yong An Hou Manor, Bao Bao and his younger siblings were very popular among the other children. Whenever the main and secondary branches of the family went out together, it was like bringing a whole troop of little monkeys. On the boys’ side, there was Bao Bao, Bei Bei, Min’er, Shang’er, and the three sons of Princess An Le and Song Ren, named Lie’er, Bing’er, and Xiong’er. On the girls’ side, there were Xiao Hua Hua, Li’er, Yu’er, and Miao’er. At events attended by the Crown Princess, their group would also include Ye Tianpeng, Ye Rongji, Tianhuo, and Rongxiao.

They always played joyfully together and warmly welcomed any children from other families who wanted to join. At any banquet, this large group of siblings would always have young friends beckoning them over. Bao Bao was especially well-known; he was friendly and spoke with everyone. Bei Bei, on the other hand, was different. He was a quiet young master but much admired by the girls. Though he enjoyed playing like any other child, when he had to be composed, he appeared calm and intelligent.. He often carried a book in his robe to read while waiting for the adults to finish their conversations. Bei Bei rarely paid much attention to anyone, even if they were princesses.

"Jun Ge, come play dolls with us."

A group of young princesses beckoned him during a banquet in the palace.

"No,"

He replied coldly, walking past them as if they didn’t exist. But his handsome face meant that none of the girls took offense. Sometimes, if he accidentally smiled, they would stare at him dreamily.

Min’er and Shang’er often ran after Bao Bao like little puppies. They were about the same size—round and short-legged—and wherever Da Ge led them, they would try to run as fast as they could to keep up with their older brother. Anyone watching couldn’t help but laugh at how adorable they were, calling out, Da Ge, Da Ge, loudly, like little monkeys. Soon enough, even the other boys who played with them started calling Bao Bao, Da Ge, too.

Xiao Hua Hua and A’Li usually stayed with their mother in the women’s quarters, and their cute faces often led the Furens to ask to hold them. Some did so out of genuine affection, while others did it to curry favor. Now that Nie Shuang had the title of the First Rank Lady, was the elder sister of Taizi Fei, and was close with Princess An Le, no one dared to look down on her or speak unpleasant words. Though the two girls were still young, their beauty was already evident. With a handsome father and a beautiful mother, it was certain they would grow up to be extraordinary beauties. Many of the noblewomen were already hinting about future marriage prospects for the girls. Whether it was the wives of high-ranking officials or even consorts of Wangs, Nie Shuang simply smiled and skillfully changed the subject.

Even though Xiao Hua Hua was still young, she spoke clearly and with reason, much like her mother. When conversing with adults, she was sweet and knew how to flatter in a way that wasn’t overbearing, often receiving valuable gifts as rewards from elders. A’Li, on the other hand, was a sweet and lovable child. Her big round eyes always reflected understanding when she gazed at people. Sometimes, when Song Qilin took her for walks, he would find himself telling her various stories before realizing it and laughing at himself.

"Shuang Shuang, look at this—A’Li always looks at me like she understands my feelings. I end up talking to her about everything, but she’s so young—how could she possibly understand?"

Song Qilin had once said to his wife, Nie Shuang, who laughed in response.

"Don’t underestimate your own daughter. She may be young, but she understands more than you think."

Among the siblings, no one ever quarreled with A’Li. She was gentle and adored by everyone.

By the time the older triplets turned fifteen, Xiao Hua Hua—now called Song Ziwei by most people—had gone through her hairpin ceremony[1]. Song Wuqin and Song Wujun had both completed their studies in the royal academy. Wuqin requested his father’s permission to be stationed at the border. He was a young man eager to test his martial skills, but in the capital, it was hard to find a worthy opponent. Other than his father, there were few whose martial arts could match his. Song Wujun, meanwhile, passed the imperial examination to become a Jinshi[2] at the age of fourteen, earning him a reputation as a brilliant scholar. However, to everyone’s surprise, he declined an official post, leaving many puzzled. A talented young man with such a strong family background, like that of the Yong An Hou Manor, seemed destined for a bright future as a court official.

Song Wujun explained to his parents that he didn’t want to be a government official. Although Song Qilin disagreed, he didn’t oppose his son’s decision. Nie Shuang reassured her husband that becoming an official wasn’t the only path in life. With Wujun’s intelligence, he would surely plan his future well. After all, the family already had Wuqin, who had chosen the path of military service. Nie Shuang agreed with her second son’s decision, as his personality didn’t quite suit the life of an official. Song Wujun was a solitary soul who preferred to wander freely. The Yong An Hou Manor had no lack of honor, wealth, or prestige, which gave him the freedom to follow his heart.

Wujun often spent time at the tea house. Nie Shuang was delighted when she saw him taking an interest in her business. After all, she had built an extensive enterprise, and it would be a shame if there were no one to carry it forward. She knew he was sharp and had instincts much like hers. Given time, he would see opportunities that others overlooked. Who knew—under his management, the tea house might grow even more prosperous.

Once Wujun began helping his mother manage the tea house, he started hiring a variety of people. Some of them didn’t work directly at the tea house but frequently traveled. Nie Shuang quietly observed from a distance, knowing that he was formulating some kind of plan. There were times when Wujun disappeared for months. Outsiders saw him as a brilliant but lazy second young master of the Hou Manor, believing he was simply enjoying the wealth of his family without much ambition.

When Song Wujun was nineteen years old, a large trading network called Yunhe emerged in the Ye Region. No one knew who the leader of this organization was, as his background was shrouded in mystery. Although the Yunhe Organization had only recently been established, it wielded immense influence. All major information channels and financial routes in the region passed through Yunhe. Nie Shuang had long suspected that Song Wujun was somehow connected to Yunhe Organization, but since her son never mentioned anything, she chose to remain silent. It wasn’t until Wuqin Da Ge returned home after winning a war on the borderland. While recounting his military experiences to her and Song Qilin, Wuqin mentioned that Yunhe, the secret organization, had provided crucial intelligence that helped the army secure victory with minimal losses.

Though Nie Shuang had suspected that Song Wujun was involved with Yunhe Organization, learning that he was the leader of the organization still surprised her. She had always known her son was exceptionally intelligent, but she hadn’t expected him to create an underground empire on top of her tea business network, which was spread across various cities.

By the time Song Wuqin and Song Wujun both turned twenty, they underwent the traditional coming-of-age ceremony where they donned the guan. This prompted matchmakers to work tirelessly again. Even though Song Wuqin was rarely in the capital, his status as a General and the future Hou Shizi made him highly sought after. As for Wujun, although few knew of his role as the head of Yunhe Organization, his handsome appearance and sharp intellect made him a favored candidate among many young women in the capital. Even without holding an official government position, Wujun was often summoned to court by the Emperor to offer his insights.

Song Wumin and Song Wushang also stood out among their peers. Wumin was tall, physically imposing, and deeply passionate about martial arts, becoming highly skilled. By the age of sixteen, he had already been appointed as a royal guard. Wushang, on the other hand, was fascinated by inventions and often created strange mechanisms and machines. He once helped his Da Ge design a crossbow capable of shooting three arrows at once, which was considered a remarkable innovation of the time.

Once all the children had grown up, the General requested to retire from military service. He and his beautiful wife set off to travel the world, visiting various cities and checking in on their tea business operations. They would return to the capital once a year for three months to celebrate the New Year with their children. Their life together was one filled with happiness that many envied.

[1] Hairpin ceremony is a coming-of-age ceremony, marking the transition from childhood to adulthood of a Chinese woman and involves the use of a hairpin.

[2] Jinshi (Chinese: 進士; pinyin: jìnshì) is the highest and final degree in the imperial examination in Imperial China.