Reborn Together: The General and I Reach for Power-Chapter 475 - 472: Bias

Xie Liangchen didn’t know that there, right by the door of the east room, were two young boys, one being Chen Zigeng and the other Hei Dan. Both kids were quite tall for their age and usually led the children in the village in doing things, their actions far exceeding the innocence and awkwardness typical of their age.

But now these two kids were behaving just like little children, clinging to the window and refusing to leave. They had been chased away several times by Yang Shuyin but sneaked back secretly, just to catch a few more glimpses of the little baby.

Now that the baby was crying, Chen Zigeng was itching to go inside and help soothe him.

Only when Yang Shuyin knocked on the window again did Chen Zigeng and Hei Dan reluctantly leave.

Hei Dan said, "Who do you think the baby looks like?"

Chen Zigeng replied almost without thinking, "Like my sister."

Hei Dan laughed, thinking if Brother-in-law heard this, he would probably feel hurt. While Zigeng liked Brother-in-law, he could never surpass his sister.

Chen Zigeng said, "Before coming over tomorrow, make sure to have a thorough wash from head to toe."

Hei Dan nodded, "Got it."

The two walked out together, while Chen Zigeng was still pondering and wondering what name his Brother-in-law and Sister would give to his nephew.

...

Distant in the eight states, Du Zhuo received news from Song Xian three days later.

Princess Jia’an had given birth to a wonderful son for Song Xian, both mother and child were safe.

Du Zhuo looked at the letter filled with words, a message that could be conveyed in a single sentence, yet Song Xian had to write two entire pages, and the Song Family’s messenger was waiting outside to take back his reply.

"What should I write?" Du Zhuo inwardly scoffed at Song Xian, as if having a son was something incredible.

Could it be that he should flatter Song Jiedu’s words and fawn over him?

Before getting married, Song Xian would spend his days praising the Chen Family Village and Miss Xie, and after marriage, it only intensified. Now he had another matter to boast about.

Song Xian’s letter clearly stated that Princess Jia’an said the child looked like Song Xian, but Song Xian felt the child resembled Princess Jia’an more, though definitely not as good as Princess Jia’an herself, as no one in the world could surpass her.

How sickening these words were to read.

Bah, Du Zhuo rolled his eyes, thinking no one was foolish enough to buy into this. A newborn looks the same as any other — how could he already tell who the child resembles? Besides, Prince Jia’an never would say such words; only Song Xian himself would.

For every word Princess Jia’an said, Song Xian could imagine hundreds or thousands of sentences, each praising himself.

Even with these thoughts, Du Zhuo still promptly filled two pages and handed them to the messenger. He didn’t want to flatter, but for the sake of his ears, he had no choice but to yield.

After all, thinking about the Third Prince of Liao, Ge Kun, he was much better off than Ge Kun? Ge Kun still had to gather information on his own and guess Song Xian’s intentions, sometimes even being tricked by Song Xian into selling horses and sheep.

Once the messenger from the Song Family had left, Du Zhuo let out a long breath. At this moment, the birth of an heir by a descendant of Prince Guangyang for Song Xian would make many believe it was fate.

Karma always finds its way, even the Emperor cannot escape the justice of Heaven.

...

"Has the name been decided? What is it?" Cheng Yanzhao asked when he saw his darling godson in the Chen Family Village, immediately copying the wet nurse’s manner to hold him.

Once he held him, he didn’t want to let him go.

Although he called him godson, didn’t his father always want to consider Song Xian a godson? He and Song Xian were practically brothers, so essentially, Song Xian’s son was like his own son.

Chang An glanced at Cheng Yanzhao, silently reminding Mr. Cheng he should be more aware. When he went to the military to deliver congratulations to Cheng Yanzhao, Mr. Cheng unexpectedly said, "I have a son now."

Had Mr. Cheng let Mr. Song hear that, he likely would have regretted his choice of words.

"His nickname is Zhe," Song Xian said, "chosen by my grandmother and father-in-law."

The name Zhe carries a very good meaning.

Cheng Yanzhao only reluctantly handed Zhe back when the wet nurse came to feed him, then he turned to pay respects to Old Mrs. Chen.

Old Mrs. Chen said, "Do you like children?"

Cheng Yanzhao nodded.

Old Mrs. Chen continued, "You’re already at the right age. Since you like children, you should get married and have children sooner. You and Song Xian grew up together; wouldn’t it be wonderful if your children could grow up together too?"

What she said made sense; Cheng Yanzhao hadn’t thought carefully about this matter before.

Old Mrs. Chen smiled and said, "So? Have you taken a fancy to any girl, or is there any arrangement from your family?"

The elders of the Cheng Family had mentioned it many times, but Cheng Yanzhao refused each time.

Old Mrs. Chen continued, "You ignore those the family selects, yet you don’t seek out a girl of your choice either. Are you waiting for one to fall from the sky?"

Cheng Yanzhao was taken aback by her words, "The old lady’s words ring true."

Old Mrs. Chen said, "Since you believe I’m right, you should be more aware of it. There have always been thousands seeking a good woman, and if you wait too long, you’ll find they have all been married off, and you’ll regret it later."

The good women have all been taken...

Cheng Yanzhao was stirred, as if a thought flashed across his mind, but it fled too quickly for him to catch.

Leaving the Chen Family Village, Cheng Yanzhao rode on horseback, pondering aimlessly, yet couldn’t reach a conclusion. He turned to his household general beside him, "So, what do you think? Do I have a girl I admire?"

The household general was stunned; was Second Master asking him? How would he know?

After a while, the household general said, "Second Master, what do you think of Miss Meng?" Counting those not within the family, Miss Meng was the lady Second Master had seen most.

In Cheng Yanzhao’s mind, the image of Meng Changshu emerged. Whenever he thought of her, he felt ill at ease, whether it was his attire that seemed inappropriate or his handwriting that appeared too ugly.

What kind of fate he had with Miss Meng, he did not know. At seven, he accidentally fell from a tree and she happened upon him.

At nine, when his father beat him and he ran about barefoot, she saw that too.

At eleven, while playing with firearms, he singed his eyebrows off...

He still remembered Miss Meng’s amused expression, bowing her head and smiling at his miserable state.

Originally, he had forgotten all these events, but when they met at the ink and paper shop in the Capital, he embarrassed himself in front of her, suddenly recalling everything.

Miss Meng surely thought of him as pitiful and laughable.

"Second Master," the household general of the Cheng Family said, "if you’re uncertain, perhaps you should ask Mr. Song for advice, maybe..."

Cheng Yanzhao "tsk-ed" and said that Song Xian was able to marry Princess Jia’an because he nagged him into it; why would he need Song Xian’s advice?

"No need," Cheng Yanzhao said, "your Second Master knows his own mind."

The household general sighed silently, wishing that it were true. If Second Master truly knew his mind, he wouldn’t be oblivious to whom he admired. How long would it take for Second Master to find harmony?

...

After giving birth to Zhe, Xie Liangchen spent over a month recovering indoors before stepping outside.

She took a deep breath, basking in the bright sunlight overhead, feeling an indescribable comfort.

Xie Liangchen walked to the east room and took Zhe from the wet nurse’s arms. Over the past month, Zhe ate and slept well, and everyone who saw him remarked how much bigger he was compared to other children of the same age.

Xie Liangchen said, "In the future, he might grow taller than his father."

Yet, such thoughts could only be spoken in private, for if Song Xian knew, he’d likely accuse her of favoring their son. A man turned father, yet still behaved childishly, constantly comparing himself to Zhe.

Recently, the war between the court and Prince Lu had reached a stalemate, and Song Xian had taken people to gather intelligence, but the situation over there remained unknown.