Dou Zhao followed Dou Shiying into the study at the west end of the house.

Dou Shiying handed Dou Zhao a contract. “A friend invited me to open a silver shop in the capital. I’ve invested 50,000 taels of silver as capital, using Gaoxing’s name. Keep this quiet and don’t tell anyone.” He spoke with a hint of pride. “If the shop doesn’t make money, you can withdraw the shares. You’ll at least recover 30,000 to 40,000 taels to buy yourself some clothes and jewelry.”

It seemed Father intended to use Gaoxing for his purposes! But was this necessary? Just to launder this money, he was willing to lose 10,000 to 20,000 taels?

Thinking of how her father had never understood the cost of daily necessities, Dou Zhao barely managed to hold back disrespectful words.

“Which friend invited you to open this silver shop?” She decisively tucked the contract into her sleeve and asked, “Besides you, who are the other shareholders? What do they do? What percentage of the total capital do you hold? Who will manage the shop?” She fired off seven or eight questions in rapid succession, leaving Dou Shiying stunned. After a long pause, he replied, “Guo Yan invited me. Besides me, there are two colleagues from the Hanlin Academy, Zhao Peijie and Chen Songming, and the owner of Risheng Silver Shop, Zhang Zhiqi. There are five of us in total. I invested 50,000 taels, which is one-third. Zhang Zhiqi holds one-third, and Guo Yan and the other two hold the remaining third. Zhang Zhiqi will manage the shop, and we’ll just receive annual dividends.”

Dou Zhao was shocked. Her father was going into business with Zhang Zhiqi of Risheng Silver Shop!

Was this fate’s original plan? Or had her changing her destiny somehow led to her father meeting Zhang Zhiqi?

In her previous life, she had barely spoken with her father and knew nothing about the family’s business dealings, making it impossible to judge.

But in that life, Risheng Silver Shop had initially been an obscure small shop in Datong. After Zhang Zhiqi took over, he married his sister to a garrison officer in the Datong Commander-in-chief’s office as a second wife and began doing business with the Commander-in-chief’s office. Within a few years, he became the wealthiest man in Datong and opened a small branch in the capital. After the Liao Prince ascended the throne, Zhang suddenly became a favored guest of Stone Junyu, the Chief Grand Secretary.

He began managing the military pay for the nine border areas, enjoying unparalleled influence. He successively opened branches in Baoding, Jinan, Wuchang, Hangzhou, Songjiang, and other places, becoming a merchant tycoon renowned throughout the empire. One of his sons bought an official position as a minor clerk in the Court of State Ceremonial, while the other passed the imperial examinations, becoming a Jinshi and securing a position as Supervising Secretary in the Ministry of Personnel.

People in the capital were saying that Zhang Zhiqi’s success was due to his donation of his entire fortune of 200,000 taels of silver to support the Liao Prince’s uprising. Stone Junyu was merely following orders…

Dou Zhao asked Dou Shiying, “When will Gaoxing arrive?”

“I’ve already sent someone to inform him,” Dou Shiying replied. He walked to the large desk nearby and took out a red lacquered box with gold-inlaid jade hairpins from a hidden compartment. He handed it to Dou Zhao, saying, “These are the ownership papers for Gaoxing and his family. Keep them safe.”

Dou Zhao didn’t stand at the ceremony and took both the box and the contract.

Back in her room, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

In her previous life, when chaos erupted in the palace, the Emperor’s guards had reacted slowly. By the time the Liao Prince had shot and killed the Crown Prince and forced the Emperor to write an abdication edict, appearing on the Meridian Gate surrounded by the Imperial Guard with the edict in hand, the Five Barracks and Divine Machine Division had only just arrived at Chaoyang Gate in response to the Crown Prince’s plea for help. They were blocked outside the main gate by the Five Cities Patrol and Inspection Division…

All signs indicated that the Liao Prince’s uprising was not a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Now, with only four years until the palace coup, the Liao Prince should have already begun making preparations.

Was it a coincidence that Zhang Zhiqi chose this time to open a branch in the capital? Or had he already allied himself with the Liao Prince and come to the capital as an advance party?

Dou Zhao thought about the other shareholders in Risheng Silver Shop.

Guo Yan was the son-in-law of the late Chief Grand Secretary Zeng Yifen. He had previously served as a Lecturer at the Hanlin Academy. Before Zeng Yifen’s death, he was sent to Shaanxi as Provincial Surveillance Commissioner. Three years later, he was promoted to Shaanxi Provincial Governor, commanding 76 guards and battalions of the Shaanxi Regional Military Commission and Auxiliary Regional Military Commission, totaling 210,000 troops. After the Liao Prince ascended the throne, he became Minister of War and Grand Secretary of Yingwu Hall.

Zhao Peijie currently held a position in the Hanlin Academy and concurrently served as Junior Supervisor of the Chancellery, a member of the Eastern Palace staff. After the Crown Prince’s death, he hanged himself at home.

Chen Songming was the Director of the Court of State Ceremonial and a close imperial attendant. During the Liao Prince’s coup, he was the one who penned the abdication edict. After the Liao Prince ascended the throne, he was promoted to Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, but just a few months later, he drowned himself in the river.

Could things be this coincidental?

The more she thought about it, the more alarmed she became.

And what about her father?

If this was premeditated, what did they see in her father?

In her previous life, she had been so focused on competing with Wei Tingzhen that she hadn’t noticed any of this!

When she heard about her uncles’ and father’s promotions, she had only bitterly scoffed at heaven’s injustice, sending a congratulatory gift through a steward and leaving it at that.

Had the Dou family been involved in the Liao Prince’s treason?

Dou Zhao felt restless.

She desperately wanted to discuss this with someone.

Master Chen and Song Mo were both good candidates.

But how could she tell them that the Liao Prince would rebel four years from now?

Dou Zhao leaned against the headboard, massaging her temples.

Song Mo also leaned against his headboard, massaging his temples.

“It’s so late. Why did you burst into Yizhi Hall and wake me up? What’s so urgent?” he asked helplessly, watching Gu Yu pacing back and forth in front of his bed like a caged beast. “Can’t you just say what’s on your mind? I’ve been on duty in the palace for the past few days and finally have some time off. I was hoping to get a good night’s sleep. Why don’t you rest in the guest room, and we can talk tomorrow?”

Song Mo yawned as he spoke.

The Emperor’s headaches had flared up again. Not only had the Imperial Physician’s medicine failed to help, but the Emperor had started rambling incoherently and nearly strangled Lady Liu, who was attending to him. Fearing that news of this would damage the Emperor’s dignity, the Empress had replaced all the attendants in the hall with those the Emperor trusted more. The Imperial Physicians were also confined to Qianqing Palace until early this morning when the Emperor regained clarity. Only then did the Imperial Guard resume normal rotations.

He hadn’t slept for two days and a night.

“How can you sleep at a time like this?” Gu Yu huffed, sitting down in the armchair by the bed. He picked up the tea that a servant had just brought, took a sip, and immediately spat it out. “Which dog brewed this tea?” he shouted. “The tea has lost all its fragrance! Is this how you usually serve people? Bring me someone who can still breathe and get me a fresh cup!”

Song Luo rushed in, terrified.

Everyone said Young Master Gu was difficult to serve, but in their few interactions, Song Mo had found him quite amiable. He never expected Gu Yu to change his demeanor so suddenly, berating people so harshly. If the Young Lord took this to heart, wouldn’t he have to give up his position to someone else?

With a pale face, he carried the teacup out of the inner chamber, instinctively tasting the tea.

It was top-quality Biluochun, Young Master Gu’s favorite. The temperature was just right, the color clear and elegant, the aroma permeating the air.

It was no different from usual!

Song Luo stood there, confused and at a loss, when he heard the Young Lord laugh softly, “What are you so angry about? If you have something to say, just say it. Why take it out on the servants? It’s beneath you.”

Hearing this, Gu Yu’s expression darkened further. “Brother Tianci, you’re too lenient. That’s why these servants have become so presumptuous.” He paused, then changed the subject. “Let me ask you, did Uncle Song arrange a marriage between you and the Dou family?”

“Yes,” Song Mo nodded.

Gu Yu sprang to his feet, exclaiming, “Brother Tianci, do you know that the Dou family’s Fourth Miss was originally Wei Peiqin’s fiancée? She’s…” He wanted to say she was the one Wei Tingyu had rejected, but remembering that the Dou family’s Fourth Miss was now Song Mo’s fiancée, he swallowed his words and rephrased, “The sisters switched places for marriage.

Who knows what’s going on? Uncle is being reckless, and how could you go along with it?” He stepped forward and grabbed Song Mo’s arm. “Brother Tianci, let’s go to the palace and tell the Empress. Ask her to intervene on your behalf!” He complained, “Why didn’t you tell me earlier? If I had known, I would have found a way to stop this! You’d be better off marrying Jingyi. At least with me around, no matter how spoiled Jingyi might be, she wouldn’t dare mistreat you…” He looked thoroughly regretful.

Song Mo smiled wryly.

He had wanted to tell Gu Yu about his engagement earlier, but he wasn’t sure if it would happen. How could he have told Gu Yu?

The wedding was just eight days away, yet there was still no movement from Jingan Temple Lane.

Could he think that although Dou Zhao didn’t want to marry, his proposal had made her hesitate?

This thought immediately lifted Song Mo’s spirits like a sail caught by the wind.

He shook off Gu Yu’s hand and smiled, “Have you ever met the Dou family’s Fourth Miss?”

Gu Yu was taken aback. “No, I haven’t.”

“In all the time you’ve been hanging around Wei Peiqin before his wedding, did you ever hear him say anything negative about the Dou family’s Fourth Miss? Or mention wanting to break off the engagement?” Song Mo asked.

Gu Yu was stunned. “No, never.”

“You shouldn’t believe everything you hear,” Song Mo laughed. “Do you think switching brides between sisters is like children playing house? Marrying the older sister one day and the younger the next?” At this point, Song Mo’s expression suddenly turned very serious. “The situation is complicated. It’s not as simple as you think.”

Gu Yu looked thoughtful.

Song Mo smiled and said, “Let’s not talk about this anymore. I have my plans for my marriage. But what about you? How are things going in Kaifeng? I have a business proposition. I wonder if you’d be interested?”

Gu Yu quickly refocused, saying eagerly, “If Brother Tianci thinks it’s good, it must be worth trying! What kind of business is it?”

In the inner chamber of Yizhi Hall, Song Mo and Gu Yu sat talking by lamplight. In a small side courtyard to the west, Liao Bifeng was writing by lamplight.

Fourth Miss Dou… Advisor Chen Qushui… Daxing Estate… Third Princess’s Mansion… Engagement…

His brush paused on the final stroke.

He smiled wryly and put down his brush.

Although he had only been in the household for two years, he believed he understood the Young Lord’s character.

If the Young Lord didn’t agree to this marriage, how could he remain so calm?

They had known each other before the engagement, and the sister-swap happened on the very day of the Fourth Miss Dou’s wedding… This marriage arrangement was likely not so simple.

The Duke had probably fallen for the Young Lord’s scheme once again.

But the Young Lord was indeed formidable. He had remained composed throughout such a significant event, keeping everyone in the dark.

Thinking of this, Liao Bifeng picked up the paper he had written and examined it carefully.

Yan Chaoqing probably knew about this, right?

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so evasive when asked.

Since the Young Lord was willing to go to such lengths for the Fourth Miss Dou, he must be very fond of her.

It seemed that he would need to carefully consider how to interact with this new mistress of the household.