"It's nothing serious, really. I have something here, and I'd like you to take a look at it..."
As Feng Yuanbao spoke, he somewhat awkwardly took a small booklet from his sleeve and handed it to Han Mo.
"It's almost New Year's Day. How about I look at it after the holiday?"
Han Mo said with a smile, seeing his nervous expression.
"No rush, no rush!"
"Alright, since there's no rush, why don't you go back first? Spend the holiday with your family. We can talk about anything after the festivities!"
"Yes, sir!"
After seeing Feng Yuanbao off, Han Mo, surrounded by two young maids, got back into the Han family's carriage.
"What are you two giggling about? What secrets are you sharing? Tell me so I can be happy too!"
As soon as the three of them got into the carriage, the two maids were already huddled together, chattering away.
"Second Brother, there's good news waiting for you! This year truly is a double celebration for you!"
"Double celebration? I didn't know about any good news."
Upon hearing Han Yan speak, Han Mo asked with curiosity.
"I won't tell you! Hahahaha!"
After speaking, the little maid exchanged a look with Chun Tao, and they both burst into laughter again.
"You little rascal, you dare to keep secrets from your Second Brother!"
Han Mo said, playfully patting Han Yan's little head with a doting expression.
"Brother!"
"What? Can't your Second Brother even hit you?"
Seeing the little girl's charmingly coquettish look, Han Mo couldn't help but burst into laughter again.
Over the years, the brother and sister had relied on each other. Their bond was naturally beyond ordinary people's comprehension.
Returning to his own domain, especially during the New Year period, according to the customs of the Great Song Dynasty, the male head of the household was expected to give rewards to the household staff.
Although Han Mo hadn't paid much attention to making money this past year, with Zhe Yourong, his capable wife, the Han Manor was certainly not lacking in money at this time.
Han Da Caizi, who was always generous, was naturally even more extravagant with his rewards.
Every single person in the manor, without exception, received a reward of ten strings of copper coins. Moreover, those servants hired locally were even exceptionally rewarded with twenty catties of top-grade lake rice each and were permitted to return home to reunite with their families for three days after completing their duties.
With so many rewards distributed, the entire manor was instantly filled with cheers and laughter.
"Where's your sister-in-law? I don't see her?"
After finishing his rounds, Han Mo returned to the warm room in the back courtyard and asked with some surprise.
"Sister-in-law should be in her room right now. She's prepared a big surprise for you!"
As Han Yan said this, she covered her mouth and giggled again.
Even Chun Tao, standing beside them, had her eyes curved into crescent moons with laughter.
"Mysterious!"
Seeing their foolish smiles, Han Mo couldn't help but give them a sideways glance.
This mistress and servant pair had truly become mischievous. Now they were learning to play coy and tease him.
He and Zhe Yourong were young lovers. Having been away for so long, he hadn't seen Zhe Yourong since his return, and he was genuinely a bit worried.
After taking a sip of tea, he found an excuse and headed directly back to his own room.
"What are you doing? I thought you were ill since you hadn't come out."
The moment he pushed open the door, he saw Zhe Yourong sitting at the table, holding a bamboo frame, looking at a pattern beside her as if she were doing embroidery.
"Do I look like I'm ill?"
Seeing him enter, Zhe Yourong spoke while casually hiding the bamboo frame she was holding into a nearby drawer.
"Everyone's being so secretive. I really think something's wrong!"
Reaching out to touch Zhe Yourong's smooth forehead and confirming she didn't have a fever, Han Mo mumbled to himself as he reached for the item Zhe Yourong had hidden.
"Why are you doing this? You work from dawn till dusk and still aren't resting. Couldn't you have assigned this to the servants? In the time you've spent on this, you could have bought so much of this stuff!"
Glancing at the crooked pattern embroidered on the bamboo frame, though he wanted to complain, for the sake of his marital bliss, Han Mo directly ignored the matter itself and shifted the conversation to whether it was worth it.
"You blockhead!"
Hearing Han Mo's words, Zhe Yourong glared at him playfully and then got up and leaned against the bed.
"Madam, it's time for your medicine. You mustn't stop the pregnancy-stabilizing pills!"
Just as Han Mo was about to lean in for some affection, an old wet nurse suddenly pushed open the door and walked in.
"Pregnancy-stabilizing pills? You, you..."
This time, Han Mo was completely stunned.
"Congratulations, my lord! You're going to be a father!"
As the old wet nurse spoke, she suddenly heard Han Mo's voice. Placing the medicine she was holding on the table nearby, she looked at Han Mo with a joyous expression and said with a smile.
"You mean, I'm going to be a father?"
"Just leave the medicine there. Don't mind this fool!"
Covering her mouth with a light laugh, Zhe Yourong spoke.
"Ah? This old woman shall take her leave!"
With her great age, the old wet nurse, being as experienced as she was, naturally understood the situation.
Covering her mouth with a laugh, she immediately turned and headed towards the door.
"My lord, Madam must not engage in intimacy in her current condition, so you..."
As she reached the doorway, the old woman couldn't help but speak, reminding him again.
However, halfway through her sentence, she suddenly felt that it was perhaps inappropriate for her to say such a thing. She quickly shrunk her neck and closed the door.
"When did this happen? Why didn't you tell me?"
As soon as the door closed, Han Mo couldn't help but rush to the bedside, taking Zhe Yourong's hand and asking urgently.
"When else could it be? It was during these few days you were away!"
Looking at his dazed appearance, Zhe Yourong lightly laughed and poked Han Mo's forehead forcefully with a single finger.
"Hahahaha, I'm going to be a father! I'm going to be a father! Someone, someone!"
Having received Zhe Yourong's confirmation, Han Mo again roared with laughter and called out towards the door.
"My lord, what are your orders?"
Hearing Han Mo's voice, the two maids serving outside the door quickly pushed the door open and entered.
"Pass down my decree: everyone in the manor shall receive an additional twenty strings of coins! I'm going to be a father! Hahahaha!"
Seeing Han Mo's ecstatic demeanor, Zhe Yourong hid her blushing face in the quilt.