After Guo Ruomei and Chu Lang left, both Xiao Yeyang and Daozi, the father and son, felt down for quite a long time.
May 11 is Daozi’s birthday. Daohua specially instructed the kitchen to make a birthday cake and some dishes he liked, and also invited Xiao Mokuan and a few others, as well as children from families of some friendly officials, to celebrate his birthday.
Having friends to play with and birthday cake to eat, Daozi was genuinely happy.
While eating the cake, Daozi boasted proudly to his friends, "When you celebrate your birthdays, your mothers don’t cook for you, do they? But my mother does, this birthday cake was personally made by her."
Xiao Mobao sneered, "You’re lying. Your mother has to take care of your younger siblings. Where would she find the time to make a cake for you? I bet it was made by your family’s cook."
Hearing this, Daozi became furiously upset, "It was made by my mother."
Xiao Mobao: "How can you prove it?"
Daozi thought for a moment, "You all come with me to my mother’s courtyard, and I’ll ask her in person."
Xiao Mobao immediately nodded, "Sure, sure."
So, Daozi led a group of children whooping towards the main courtyard.
At that moment, Daohua was talking with Han Xinran and a few other ladies from official families. Seeing Daozi leading a group of children over, she immediately smiled and asked, "Why aren’t you playing outside?"
Daozi, boiling with anger, said, "Mother, tell them, did you personally make the birthday cake for me?"
Daohua was stunned for a moment, as she had been busy taking care of the younger ones and hadn’t actually made the cake this year. Seeing her son’s expectant eyes made her feel somewhat uneasy.
Daozi, who was always good at reading facial expressions, saw that his mother did not answer immediately, and he got his answer. Instantly, his nose began to feel sour.
Han Xinran and the other ladies present thought it was just childish banter and chuckled, diverting the topic.
Feeling guilty, Daohua pulled Daozi to her side and whispered, "Mother has to take care of your little brother and sister and couldn’t make the cake. How about this, after some time, I’ll personally make your favorite yam and date cake, alright?"
Daozi said nothing, turned his head, and ran off.
"Hahaha, I told you your mom doesn’t like you anymore now that she has your siblings, and you didn’t believe it!"
Xiao Mobao and the others chased after him and then burst into laughter at Daozi.
Daozi glared at Xiao Mobao, furious, but couldn’t find the words to retaliate and could only stare angrily.
He really felt his mother no longer liked him, not even making him a cake for his birthday.
After Daozi’s birthday, Daohua sincerely wanted to make it up to him, frequently instructing the kitchen to make his favorite cakes and meals.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to cook herself, it was just that she was tied up. The little ones were still too little, and even though there were nursemaids and maid-servants to watch them, she needed to be attentive.
Seeing the cakes he liked improved Daozi’s mood a bit, but the smile on his face was no longer as bright as before. What he wanted wasn’t just the pastries, but more time with his parents.
...
One afternoon at the end of May, Daozi’s servant ran back to the Prince Residence, drenched in sweat.
"Princess Consort, it’s bad news. The Little Prince followed some senior students from the Academy to the Hucheng River, saying they wanted to swim in the river."
Upon hearing this, Daohua’s face changed, and she stood up swiftly: "Why didn’t you stop him?"
The servant gave a wry smile, "We servants couldn’t stop him. Even the Fourth Prince’s persuasion was useless, he too has now gone along with the Little Prince to the Hucheng River."
Daohua was both angry and anxious. The Hucheng River is broad and deep, not just for a five-year-old child like Daozi, but even adults could easily meet with accidents in it.
"Someone, get the carriage ready!"
Daohua instructed Guyu to prepare the carriage and gathered a team of bodyguards, intending to personally retrieve Daozi.
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