Zhao Song: My father was Emperor Taizu of Song

Chapter 3 The Imperial Aunt Still in Swaddling Clothes

Not long after Li Jilong left, he returned dejectedly, following behind a woman.

The woman was about thirty-five years old, with a graceful gait. Although she was old, she still had a charming appearance, which was enough to show that she must have been a beautiful woman in her youth.

However, what truly caught Zhao Dezhao's attention was a little girl being held in the woman's arms.

The little girl looked to be just over a month old, with delicate features and was incredibly cute.

"Is this the empress who was originally my good uncle in history?"

Historically, his uncle had two wives. One was Lady Fu, the daughter of the Grand Tutor of the current dynasty, and the other was naturally the girl in front of him, Lady Li.

However, Lady Fu passed away before Zhao Kuangyi could ascend the throne, so the position of empress naturally fell to Lady Li.

In other words, this girl was Zhao Dezhao's aunt in the original history.

"Pah! They're twenty years apart in age, an old cow eating young grass!"

Zhao Dezhao silently complained to himself, then blinked and shyly bowed to Li Chuyun's wife, Madam Lü: "Greetings, Aunt."

"Zhao'er, there's no need for such formalities."

The woman smiled, noticing that Zhao Dezhao's eyes were fixed on his daughter, and couldn't help but laugh:

"Zhao'er, this is your future little sister, so don't bully her."

"Don't worry, Auntie, your nephew will definitely protect your sister well," Zhao Dezhao said earnestly.

Seeing this, Li Chuyun felt that there was something strange about Zhao Dezhao's words, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it, so he simply waved his hand dismissively:

"Bring the food!"

The utterly ordinary family dinner passed quickly amidst laughter and conversation. After the meal, seeing that it was almost time, Zhao Dezhao rose to take his leave.

"Uncle Li, Aunt Li, I'll take my leave now."

"Won't Zhao'er stay a little longer?"

"No, nephew needs to go back and make some preparations..."

"In that case, your uncle will send someone to take you back."

As the two arrived at the gate of the Li residence, just before boarding the carriage, Zhao Dezhao seemed to remember something, his face flushed slightly, and he looked hesitant.

"Is there anything else, Zhao'er?" Li Chuyun asked, puzzled.

"Nephew does indeed have one more request..." Zhao Dezhao said hesitantly.

Seeing this, Li Chuyun laughed heartily and waved his hand generously: "Zhao'er, just speak your mind. Anything your Uncle Li can do, I won't even blink an eye!"

"Is Uncle Li serious?" Zhao Dezhao's eyes lit up, his tender face flushed, making him look very cute.

"That is..."

Halfway through his sentence, Li Chuyun, seeing Zhao Dezhao's extremely hesitant manner, felt a growing sense of unease. He swallowed his remaining words, glanced at Zhao Dezhao suspiciously, and said:

"Why don't you tell me first?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Dezhao became even more shy, as if he had something difficult to say. After a moment, he seemed to have made up his mind, took a few steps closer to Li Chuyun, and said shyly in a low voice:

"Uncle Li... how about we arrange a marriage between our children?"

"I saw my little sister earlier, she's so adorable..."

Upon hearing this, Li Chuyun's face instantly darkened.

No wonder you kept staring at my daughter while we were eating; you were waiting for me to see that!

Thinking of this, Li Chuyun slapped Zhao Dezhao on the back of the head with a loud "smack" and said angrily:

"You son of a bitch, you've already got your eye on my daughter who's barely a month old?!"

Caught off guard by the sudden blow to the head, Zhao Dezhao's small face was filled with anger, and without thinking, he blurted out:

"Uncle Li, you don't want that big incident to become public knowledge, do you? I advise you to..."

Upon hearing this, Li Chuyun's face turned completely as black as charcoal. Before Zhao Dezhao could finish speaking, he kicked him in the buttocks.

"You little brat! Get the hell out of here!"

"What are you standing there for! Get this scoundrel out of here right now!"

Helpless, the gatekeeper raised his hand to Zhao Dezhao and said, "Young Master Zhao, please."

"Honestly, if you don't want to marry me, then don't. Why are you getting so worked up..."

Zhao Dezhao rubbed his backside and muttered under his breath as he walked onto the carriage. Even after he sat down inside, he couldn't help but say with regret:

"It's a pity we didn't manage to raid their base..."

On the other side, seeing Zhao Dezhao's carriage disappear around the gate of the mansion, the anger on Li Chuyun's face completely vanished, as if he had not been the one who had been angry and chased away earlier.

He turned and went back to the mansion. On his way to the study, he couldn't help but smile as he recalled what Zhao Dezhao had said earlier.

"Interesting, was it intentional or...?"

"However, if he really intends to marry my daughter..."

"Once Commander Zhao's great cause is accomplished and you ascend to the position of Crown Prince, it wouldn't be unreasonable for me to marry my daughter to you."

……

The governor's residence.

The army is about to set off tomorrow, and a great show is about to unfold. Many preparations are still needed, and neither Zhao Kuangyin nor Zhao Kuangyi are at home at this time.

Zhao Dezhao walked straight to the bedroom in the backyard, rubbing his slightly swollen left buttock as he went, muttering under his breath:

"It was just a half-act play, why kick me so hard..."

As he was muttering to himself, a frail woman's voice suddenly came from the courtyard:

"Zhao'er..."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Dezhao's gaze sharpened, he stopped in his tracks, quickly straightened his clothes, and respectfully bowed to the old woman who was sipping tea in the pavilion.

"Grandson greets Grandmother."

This old woman was none other than Empress Dowager Du, who later became a famous figure in the early Song Dynasty!

Some people may not know her, but even those who are unfamiliar with history have heard of the Golden Box Alliance.

This old woman was none other than Empress Dowager Du, who, on her deathbed, forced Zhao Da to sign the Golden Box Covenant in order to pass the throne to Zhao Guangyi!

"I have repeatedly warned you that you should walk with proper decorum."

With a solemn expression, Madam Du slowly rose to her feet, supported by her maid. Her face darkened, and she said sternly, "Your dissolute and frivolous behavior is utterly unbecoming of a son of a military family. What kind of conduct is this!"

Lady Du was granted the title of Lady of Nanyang County in recent years due to Zhao Kuangyin's merits. She rose in status because of her son, and even though her beauty had faded, she still exuded an air of nobility and majesty.

Normally, she always valued family traditions and ethics, so she felt displeased to see Zhao Dezhao being so dissolute.

"Grandmother's reprimand is correct; your grandson knows he was wrong..."

Zhao Dezhao showed no resentment on his face, appearing obediently to be reprimanded.

Du's anger subsided, but her tone remained solemn as she continued:

"In daily life, learn more from your third uncle. And in the future... in short, don't be as mischievous as before!"

"Yes, grandson understands."

"Alright, you may leave." Du was very satisfied with Zhao Dezhao's obedient attitude in admitting his mistake. After speaking, she returned to her own bedroom with the help of her maid.

After watching Madam Du leave, Zhao Dezhao breathed a sigh of relief, and couldn't help but secretly smirk.

If Zhao Kuangyin hadn't been a truly filial son, treating Du's words almost like imperial edicts, he wouldn't have wronged himself so much.

There's nothing we can do; that's just Zhao Da's personality.

After all, he was just a commoner who spent his early years wandering the martial arts world, which gave him a heroic and chivalrous air. Although he later became emperor, he was never like other emperors who regarded family ties as nothing.

"I don't know whether this is an advantage or a disadvantage..."

Zhao Dezhao sighed helplessly and was about to go back inside when a woman carrying a baby walked towards him.

Upon seeing the woman, Zhao Dezhao smiled with relief for the first time.

The visitors were Zhao Dezhao's stepmother, Wang, and his one-year-old younger brother, Zhao Defang.

Although Lady Wang was Zhao Dezhao's stepmother, she was kind-hearted and treated Zhao Dezhao as her own son after marrying Zhao Kuangyin. Even after her younger brother Zhao Defang was born, she never showed favoritism towards him.

Having received all of his predecessor's memories, Zhao Dezhao naturally knew who was truly good to him.

When Wang approached Zhao Dezhao, she saw his face red from the cold and felt a surge of pity. She quickly handed the baby Defang to the wet nurse beside her and then took off her own fur coat and draped it over Zhao Dezhao.

"It's freezing cold, the perfect time to put on more clothes, so my Zhao'er doesn't get cold."

Zhao Dezhao blinked, looking at the mink coat draped over his body, and for a moment felt that it looked somewhat familiar.

what……

Isn't this the one he gave to his father this morning?