HomeBlossomChapter 456: Seeking Refuge

Chapter 456: Seeking Refuge

The maid on duty was Fuye. She performed a steady and proper curtsy, calmly smiling as she said, “My lady, I’ll go check.”

Dou Zhao nodded.

Fuye left the inner chamber with light steps. In just a few moments, she returned.

“My lady,” she whispered in Dou Zhao’s ear, informing her that Miao Ansu had tied up Qixia.

Dou Zhao frowned as she listened. What was this Miao woman up to? Even if Qixia had done something wrong, there was no need to make such a public spectacle of it.

A thought flashed through her mind. Could it be that Miao’s real intention was to make everyone lose face?

She instructed Fuye, “Send away the onlookers and have the Second Madam bring Qixia in.”

Fuye left to carry out the orders.

Ganlu came in to help Dou Zhao change clothes.

Little Yuan waved his arms and legs, insisting his mother hold him.

Dou Zhao was both amused and exasperated. She tapped her son’s forehead and said, “Your father has such a solemn personality, how did you end up so eager to join in on any excitement? I wonder who you take after!”

The maids in the room suppressed their smiles.

Dou Zhao handed Yuan to his wet nurse and went to the main hall.

Miao Ansu stood in the center of the room, looking angry and embarrassed. Several servant women were pressing Qixia’s head down, forcing her to kneel at Miao Ansu’s feet.

Dou Zhao noticed that Qixia’s hair was wet as if it had just been washed.

It was already October, and people had stopped washing their hair at this hour for fear of catching a chill.

Without showing any reaction, Dou Zhao sat down in the main hall’s armchair. Before Miao Ansu could speak, she began scolding Ganlu: “The Second Madam is new here and doesn’t know that the main hall isn’t a place to enter casually. You’ve served by my side for so many years, how could you not know this?”

Ganlu quickly knelt to apologize.

Miao Ansu’s face turned bright red.

She hurriedly said, “This isn’t Miss Ganlu’s fault. I didn’t know the rules.” She then signaled to the servant women with her eyes, “Quickly withdraw.”

The servant women hastily retreated.

Only then did Dou Zhao say, “What happened? How could you lose your composure and cause such a commotion?” She didn’t invite Miao Ansu to sit.

Miao Ansu shifted her feet uneasily and glanced at Ganlu.

Ganlu astutely led the maids and servants out.

Miao Ansu then indignantly told Dou Zhao what had happened, adding, “What kind of behavior is this? She’s been with the Second Master for a long time. If she had such thoughts, she should have told me. Instead, she tried to get close to the master herself. Where does that leave my face as his wife? In my anger, I didn’t think much and had her tied up to bring before you for judgment. Now that you’ve pointed it out, I realize I acted too rashly…”

Dou Zhao was shocked, but she didn’t believe Qixia would seduce Song Han.

If Qixia had such intentions, why would she have used her hard-earned savings to beg Ruozhu earlier?

She fixed her piercing gaze on Qixia, trying to discern something from her expression.

But Qixia kept her head lowered, motionless as a wooden statue.

Dou Zhao couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. She said sternly, “Qixia, raise your head.”

Qixia lifted her head.

Her jade-like face was covered in tears.

Miao Ansu was very surprised.

Dou Zhao asked Qixia, “Do you know your mistake?”

Qixia felt deeply wronged, but she knew that defending herself would only make her situation more difficult, and might even implicate her family.

She respectfully kowtowed to Dou Zhao three times and said softly, “This servant knows her mistake!”

Dou Zhao nodded and said, “Since that’s the case, it’s not appropriate for you to stay in the mansion. I’ll have Ganlu accompany you to collect your things. This afternoon, you’ll leave with the slave trader.”

“Yes!” Qixia responded, kowtowing to Dou Zhao as tears fell like raindrops.

Ganlu, who had heard the commotion, came in to help her withdraw.

Miao Ansu was somewhat dazed.

Was the matter settled so quickly, cutting through the mess like a sharp knife?

She still had many things to say and questions to ask!

Miao Ansu looked towards Dou Zhao.

She saw Dou Zhao calmly drinking tea.

Miao Ansu hesitated to speak.

Dou Zhao didn’t expose her thoughts, but smiled and said, “Since you’ve left this matter for me to handle, rest assured, I’ll give you an explanation. I heard the Duke gave you a residence. With renovations, redecorating, packing, and arranging new maids and servants, you must be very busy. I won’t keep you.” She then picked up her teacup.

Miao Ansu left awkwardly.

Dou Zhao smiled as she watched her leave, then returned to the inner chamber.

By the time Song Han learned that Miao Ansu had handed Qixia over to Dou Zhao, Qixia had already been taken away by the slave trader.

Song Han was so angry his face turned ashen. He nearly slapped Miao Ansu.

He grabbed Miao Ansu’s collar and demanded, “What’s the slave trader’s name? Which agency is he from? When did he come? When did he leave? Besides her clothes and jewelry, what else did Qixia take with her?”

He looked as if he was about to chase after them.

Miao Ansu was furious. She brushed him off, saying, “I don’t know. The Elder Sister-in-law called the slave trader. She was taken from Yizhi Hall…”

Song Han shoved Miao Ansu aside and turned to leave the inner chamber.

Miao Ansu stumbled, nearly falling to the ground.

She spat in the direction Song Han had gone, feeling miserable.

Meanwhile, the expressionless Qixia suddenly realized the carriage had stopped.

She lifted the curtain to look outside.

Dusk was falling, and they were surrounded by dense forest, looking very desolate.

Was she going to be silenced?

Qixia’s heart turned to ashes.

The carriage curtain was lifted, revealing the slave trader’s honest face: “Miss Qixia, this is Manager Cui from the Madam’s household. The Madam knows you’ve been wronged, but the mansion has its rules. Not punishing you would make it hard to convince others. So the Madam has entrusted you to Manager Cui. You’ll follow Manager Cui from now on.”

Tears welled up in Qixia’s eyes like a spring.

She didn’t even get a clear look at Manager Cui’s face before following him, carrying her bundle.

Song Han expended great effort but couldn’t trace Qixia’s whereabouts.

He increasingly felt something was amiss with this matter. After pacing anxiously at home for two days, he went to Yizhi Hall.

To his surprise, Dou Zhao wasn’t home.

Moreover, little Yuan and the people from Zhending were also absent.

He found it strange and asked the people at Yizhi Hall, “Where did Sister-in-law go?”

They replied with a smile, “The Madam and Young Master left with the Young Lord. How would we know where they went?”

The term “Young Master” stung him like a needle.

He returned to his room with a cold face, but kept wondering: Where had Song Mo taken Dou Zhao and little Yuan? They were about to divide the family property soon. Had they gone to the Lu family? Or to the Dou family?

One was the elder uncle, the other the younger uncle – both would be witnesses when dividing the family property.

Song Han couldn’t sit still. He first went to the Lu family.

Song Mo and Dou Zhao weren’t there.

He then went to the Dou family.

Even Dou Shiying wasn’t home.

Where on earth had they gone?

Song Han stood at the entrance of Jing’an Temple, watching the coming and going worshippers, feeling helpless and lost.

Meanwhile, Song Mo, Dou Shiying, and the others were in the Back Temple Alley behind Jing’an Temple Alley.

Song Mo had bought a small two-courtyard house in Back Temple Alley and brought Aunt Cui from Zhending.

Dou Zhao was crying and hugging Aunt Cui!

Song Mo and Dou Shiying, sitting in the main room, shook their heads. Little Yuan, seeing his mother cry, began wailing loudly too.

Aunt Cui quickly pushed Dou Zhao away and wiped her tears: “Look at you, you’ve made our precious Yuan cry.”

Dou Zhao smiled with red eyes, but tears fell uncontrollably again.

Aunt Cui held Yuan to comfort him while talking to Dou Zhao: “The Young Lord often sent people to give me news, telling me everything about you. I knew about your pregnancy and childbirth. I wanted to come to see you after Yuan was born, but the Young Lord insisted I wait until his hundred-day celebration. I know he was worried I might be slighted during the bustling one-month and hundred-day celebrations. This child is so thoughtful. Shou Gu, you’ve married a good son-in-law. You must treat him well.”

Dou Zhao nodded through her tears, saying, “You’re not leaving this time, are you?”

“I’m not leaving,” Aunt Cui smiled. “The Young Lord is right. As long as the family is together, anywhere can be home. I’ll stay here from now on. If you miss me, just bring the child to visit.”

Moreover, this place was close to Jing’an Temple Alley. If her father wanted to see his grandmother, he could come anytime.

Dou Zhao nodded repeatedly.

Aunt Cui praised Yuan: “This child is sturdy, just like you were when you were little.”

Was I that sturdy when I was little?

Dou Zhao laughed through her tears.

Dou Shiying sighed as he listened, and said to Song Mo: “You’ve been very thoughtful… I see there’s a vegetable patch in the backyard…”

Song Mo humbly replied, “It’s nothing! It was originally a small flower bed, but I saw it wasn’t growing any good flowers, so I took the liberty of turning it into a vegetable patch.”

Dou Shiying was very moved.

Wuyi, who had come along, rushed in and said softly, “Young Lord, Minister Shi Chuan invites you to drink at Zuixian Tower.” He handed over a calling card.

Just as Song Mo was about to decline, Dou Shiying said, “If you have a business, go ahead. I’ll stay here with Shou Gu and Aunt Cui. Nothing will happen.” He then reminded him, “Shi Chuan is the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. The Emperor is most wary of his associations. If he’s inviting you for a drink, it must be for something important.”

It was likely about Shao Wenji’s death.

Song Mo knew that Shi Chuan wouldn’t be fooled by the chopsticks incident.

However, knowing that Chen Jia was his man and still giving Shao Wenji a small blade – Shi Chuan didn’t take him seriously!

Song Mo thought for a moment and said, “I’ll go see what he wants. Please ask Shou Gu to wait for me. I’ll come back to take her and the child home later.”

This would give Dou Zhao and Aunt Cui time to talk.

Dou Shiying saw Song Mo out.

Song Mo went to Zuixian Tower.

Shi Chuan was in his forties, of average height, with slightly dark skin and ordinary features – the type of person who would be lost in a crowd.

When Song Mo saw him, he inadvertently thought of Chen Jia.

Did all successful members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard have to look like this?

It wasn’t as if they hadn’t met before.

Song Mo exchanged pleasantries with Shi Chuan, smiling, and they sat down as hosts and guests.

The dishes were quickly served.

Shi Chuan’s topic started with the cuisine and eventually came to Chen Jia. He said, “He’s very capable. With him in the Inspectorate, everything runs more smoothly. He truly deserves the Young Lord’s high regard. So I’m thinking of giving him more responsibilities, transferring him to the Embroidered Uniform Guard office as a Deputy Commander, overseeing the internal affairs of the Guard.”

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