Song Mo nodded with satisfaction and said, “Wait for me in the study. I’ll check on my wife first.”

Yan Chaoqing chuckled, watching Song Mo lift the curtain and enter the hall before turning to go to the study.

After a tumultuous night, everyone had finally retired just before dawn, exhausted. With guards outside, they slept soundly. It wasn’t until Song Mo entered the resting chamber that Su Xin sat up, startled.

“Who’s there?” she called out warily. Su Lan also awoke with a start.

Seeing it was Song Mo, Su Xin let out a long sigh of relief, her entire body relaxing. “Oh, it’s the Young Master!”

Thankfully, fearing intruders, she and her sister had slept fully clothed.

Su Xin silently gave thanks as she and Su Lan rose to bow to Song Mo.

Song Mo nodded slightly without looking at them and entered the inner chamber.

Su Lan gaped, whispering, “Sister, how has he changed so much since marrying our miss? He’s not this cold to her too, is he?”

“Shut up!” Su Xin was at a loss for how to discipline her sister. “How many times have I told you to call her ‘Madam’ and him ‘Young Master’? Why don’t you ever take it to heart? You’re eighteen now, not a child anymore! If you keep misbehaving, I’ll have the Madam send you back to Zhending. That way you won’t cause her trouble with your carelessness!”

Su Lan pouted, disgruntled.

Su Xin couldn’t help but sigh deeply.

In the blink of an eye, her sister was already eighteen, yet still unmarried… It was time to start arranging a marriage for her… She’d speak to the Madam about it in a few days when things calmed down…

She instructed Su Lan, “Now that the Young Master is back, the Madam will rise soon to wash up. Have hot water prepared.”

She then rolled up the bedding and carried it back to her room.

Dou Zhao didn’t have Su Xin’s keen awareness and was still sound asleep.

Song Mo stood by the bed, carefully observing Dou Zhao.

She lay on her side, her delicate skin like early winter snow, her rosy complexion like early spring plum blossoms. The air seemed to carry a crisp yet tranquil scent.

Song Mo gently crouched down.

Dou Zhao’s eyebrows were thick and dark, the corners of her eyes slightly upturned, giving her a proud yet extremely beautiful look.

He had never realized how captivating her eyes were.

It reminded him of their intimate moments when she would look at him with tears welling up, her eyes shimmering like the rippling spring light of March…

Song Mo felt his body becoming aroused again.

At this moment, instead of thinking about how to comfort Dou Zhao, his mind was filled with intimate thoughts of being with her.

Song Mo cursed himself inwardly, forcing down those inappropriate thoughts. Yet he couldn’t help but reach out to gently touch her eyebrows.

Dou Zhao woke with a start.

She blinked, with a sleepy bewilderment, like a defenseless child.

Song Mo’s heart ached suddenly.

Who is born naturally decisive and ruthless?

It’s merely the result of one’s circumstances.

Dou Zhao had already faced many hardships in her maiden home. Marrying him not only failed to bring her happiness and peace, but she now had to share his worries and fears, worse off than before her marriage!

If Dou Zhao had hesitated even slightly back then, if Yan Chaoqing and the others had arrived just a bit later, and Dou Zhao had been hurt by those thieves, what kind of situation would they be in now?

The mere thought made his fingertips go cold.

“Awake?” Song Mo asked, his voice somewhat hoarse, as he reached under the covers to hold Dou Zhao’s hand.

Recognizing him, Dou Zhao relaxed even more. “You’re back!” Too tired to get up, she lay there talking to Song Mo.

With such an incident at home, Song Mo appeared unperturbed, but he must have been upset inside.

She responded by holding his hand as well.

Song Mo buried his face in the bedding.

“I’m sorry, it’s all my fault… I didn’t handle things well… This will never happen again… I promise…”

The bedding gave off an unidentifiable fresh scent, penetrating deep into his lungs, making Song Mo’s eyes feel sore and moist.

Dou Zhao sighed inwardly, unsure whether to thank Madam Jiang for raising Song Mo to be so exemplary, or to blame her for educating him too rigidly — whenever something went wrong, Song Mo always looked for fault in himself first.

But at this moment, seeing Song Mo’s dejected face, she sincerely wished he wouldn’t always be so strong.

Perhaps if he acted like a spoiled young master occasionally, flaunting his power, it might make her feel better.

“How is this your fault?” Dou Zhao said with a light, casual tone. “I heard from Mr. Yan that it was a group of desperate criminals from Cangzhou. They risked it all after hearing about my lavish dowry…”

Song Mo raised his head, the corners of his eyes slightly red. “If I had enough prestige, how could I not deter such lowly criminals? It all comes down to my incompetence, unable to protect my wife and family…”

Continuing to blame himself would only lead to deeper depression.

“Alright, alright,” Dou Zhao chided gently. “This trouble was caused by my dowry, or to be more precise, by the extra bundle of banknotes my father added at the last moment. You don’t know how the rumors have spread outside — they say that bundle alone is worth two hundred thousand taels, which is what attracted the thieves. Mr. Yan has already sent someone to inform my father. Knowing his temperament, he’s sure to rush over.

If you say such things in front of him, he’ll feel even more guilty than you… What’s done is done. What use is there in self-blame? You’d better think about how to mend the situation! Just thinking about those nineteen bandits still at large makes my back go cold with fear.” She diverted Song Mo’s attention, “Yan Tang, you need to personally oversee this matter. I don’t quite trust the others. Besides, I’ve obtained the command token of Duke Ying’s mansion!” She became excited as she mentioned this.

Compared to her careful calculations in her previous life, Dou Zhao preferred her current willfulness.

She sat up, saying, “I’m going to gather the household servants to address them soon. If you can ensure the house is safe afterward, we can quickly establish our authority here. Even if Father-in-law receives the news and rushes back now, it would be too late. What do you think?”

Seeing she was only wearing an undergarment, Song Mo first draped a jacket over her shoulders before responding, “Don’t worry. When the Emperor learned of this incident, he was furious. He bestowed upon me a sword once used by the founding Emperor, ordering me to investigate this matter thoroughly. I can’t stay at home all the time, nor can I just leave you at Duke Ying’s mansion.” His expression grew serious, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes, making him appear somewhat gloomy. “We must find all those thieves! And there must be an explanation for last night’s events!”

In his previous life, Song Mo had been heavy-handed with killing, and Dou Zhao feared he might repeat those mistakes.

She advised him, “Let’s not bother with uninvolved parties, lest it harm your reputation.”

“I understand!” Song Mo smiled slightly, looking infinitely beautiful in the morning light.

Dou Zhao was momentarily dazzled by his smile. She reflected inwardly, grateful that having lived two lives, she could view some things more dispassionately. If she had met Song Mo in her previous life, facing such beauty day and night, even with the strongest resolve, she might have gradually felt inferior…

She shook her head, banishing these thoughts.

Su Xin entered to report, “Young Master, the Commander of the Eastern City Militia seeks an audience. He says the Commander-in-Chief of the Five-Borough Militia has been summoned to the palace, leaving them without leadership. He requests your guidance.”

Song Mo gave a cold smile.

The Emperor’s words must have spread, and those people, fearing implication, were eager to curry favor with him.

Perfect, he had tasks for them as well.

As he stood up to look at Dou Zhao, his expression became very gentle. “Shou Gu, I’ll go see to this. In at most an hour, I can have Duke Ying’s mansion thoroughly searched. You rest a bit more; you can take over the household affairs later.”

Dou Zhao nodded, saying, “Go attend to your business. If anything comes up, I’ll have a servant inform you.”

Song Mo left the inner chamber.

Dou Zhao sighed, “The Commander-in-Chief of the Five-Borough Militia and the Prefect of Shuntian are in for trouble this time.”

“Serves them right!” Su Xin felt a lingering fear, her heart somewhat resentful. “What are they there for? Isn’t dealing with thieves their daily job? So many unfamiliar faces suddenly appeared in the capital, yet they noticed nothing. Losing their positions is only fitting!”

It was rare for Su Xin to become angry.

Dou Zhao smiled, pressing her lips together. After washing up, she went to the study.

To do a job well, one must first sharpen one’s tools.

If she wanted to manage the inner court of Duke Ying’s mansion, she needed to make some preparations.

Dou Zhao took out the lists she had previously collected from the study’s hidden compartment — one of the current housekeepers managing various rooms and courtyards in Duke Ying’s mansion, and another of the housekeepers from when Madam Jiang was in charge. She compared them for a long time before putting them back.

She had her breakfast in the study.

After finishing, the Grand Madam and her daughter-in-law came over.

Perhaps due to their helpless situation, or perhaps from a sleepless night, both the Grand Madam and her daughter-in-law looked very haggard.

Dou Zhao smiled, asking if they had eaten breakfast. After exchanging a few pleasantries, she headed to the upper courtyard.

Madam Jiang usually handled household affairs in the flower hall of the upper courtyard. The flower hall was not far from Yizhi Hall. Entering the upper courtyard through the side alley, following the western-covered corridor, and passing through a moon gate led directly to it. The flower hall was surrounded by various bamboo, interspersed with a few oleanders and roses, creating a beautiful landscape. It had a lovely name — “Xie Cui Xuan” (Pavilion of Gathered Emerald).

The housekeepers of Duke Ying’s mansion’s inner court had all arrived and were standing in the courtyard, whispering among themselves. Seeing the Grand Madam, Dong Shi, and a group of maids and women escorting Dou Zhao in, they fell silent.

Dou Zhao walked in casually, sat down with the Grand Madam according to their ranks, and a little maid served tea. Su Xin walked out from the flower hall with its four-panel lattice doors wide open, stood on the steps, and invited the housekeepers to discuss business.

The five-room flower hall had no pillars, with a row of grand chairs placed against the wall. However, these housekeepers did not have the rank to sit.

They stood in the center of the flower hall. The Grand Madam only said that she had urgent matters at home and could no longer manage the household affairs of Duke Ying’s mansion. On Duke Ying’s orders, she handed over the command token to Dou Zhao, telling everyone that from now on, they should seek Dou Zhao’s instructions for any matters. As she spoke, she handed the rosewood box containing the command token to Dou Zhao in front of everyone.

Having managed the household for just one day, the command token barely warmed in her hand before being passed on. Considering the events of the previous night, who would believe the Grand Madam had urgent matters at home? And who would believe that handing the token to Dou Zhao was Duke Ying’s idea?

But who dared to step forward and question Dou Zhao and the Grand Madam?