Song Mo’s voice, like a gentle spring breeze or floating willow catkins, softly touched Dou Zhao’s heart, stirring her emotions inexplicably.
“Alright!” she exclaimed, looking up at his bright eyes and playfully calling out, “Young Master Mei!”
Her eyes and brows relaxed, resembling rippling spring waters.
Suddenly, a poetic phrase flashed through Song Mo’s mind: “As radiant as the morning sun rising amidst rosy clouds, as dazzling as a lotus emerging from clear waves.”
“Shou Gu!” he caressed her temples, lowered his head, and gently kissed her brow.
He treated her like a treasure in his palm, cherishing her with sweet affection.
Dou Zhao was momentarily stunned.
Perhaps, after Song Mo’s constant advances, she realized her body was indeed attractive. This kiss, devoid of lust, seemed to prove that there was something more between them than just the age-old attraction between the sexes, stirring a hint of emotion in her heart.
However, before this feeling could last even a quarter of an hour, Song Mo had already trailed kisses down her nose bridge, landing on her red lips. His tongue skillfully invaded, passionately teasing, filled with pressing desire. Dou Zhao was torn between laughter and tears, yet dizzy and enchanted. A hazy heat surged through her body as she stood on tiptoes, involuntarily following his lead in this intimate dance…
“Young Master, Madam,” a young maid’s crisp yet unmistakably youthful voice sounded from outside the door, “Master Gu has arrived and says he has business with the Young Master.”
Dou Zhao jolted back to reality, attempting to push him away.
But Song Mo held tightly to her waist, his lips and tongue growing even more intense and somewhat domineering.
Dou Zhao could only lean helplessly in his embrace.
It wasn’t until time lost all meaning in her mind that he slowly released her.
Her lips, thoroughly kissed, glistened with moisture, particularly red and luscious, like a spring flower freshly watered by dew.
Song Mo’s heart stirred at the sight, and he lowered his head once more to kiss her red lips, still unsatisfied.
“Be careful, Master Gu might barge in,” Dou Zhao chided coquettishly, giving Song Mo a sidelong glance.
Gu Yu’s reputation as the little tyrant of the capital was not undeserved. In her previous life, he had once burst into Song Mo’s private chambers, catching him in an intimate moment with a concubine. The concubine had attempted suicide to prove her innocence, but Song Mo had remained indifferent. After this incident spread, many people considered Song Mo to be licentious and immoral.
Hearing Dou Zhao’s words, Song Mo carefully considered that this was indeed something Gu Yu might do.
He smiled, kissed her cheek once more, and then headed to his study.
Dou Zhao watched his retreating figure leave the inner chamber. Turning around, she caught sight of herself in the Western mirror on the dressing table. A beauty in a peach-red jacket stared back at her, the corners of her eyes and brows filled with a brimming smile. Her eyes sparkled like jewels, and a touch of crimson on her cheeks added a rosy charm to her appearance.
Was this woman in the mirror herself?
When had she acquired such a complexion?
Was it because she was now with Song Mo?
Dou Zhao couldn’t help but approach the mirror, her fingers lightly tracing its surface that revealed every detail.
The woman in the mirror tilted her head, her eyes showing confusion.
Song Mo smiled faintly, as clear and bright as a gentle breeze under the moon.
Gu Yu scratched his head suspiciously, “What were you doing out with sister-in-law so early in the morning? Why are you in such a good mood?”
“Oh?” Song Mo asked in return, unconsciously touching his cheek, “Does my complexion look that good?”
From yesterday to today, he spent most of his time with Dou Zhao.
Gu Yu examined him carefully once more and nodded, “Your complexion is excellent!” His gaze was very serious.
Song Mo remembered how Dou Zhao had bitten his shoulder hard in a moment of passion last night, leaving a mark that was still there. Fearing Gu Yu might notice something, he casually changed the subject, “What did you come to see me about?”
Yet his thoughts remained on Dou Zhao.
The memory of her dismayed and regretful expression upon discovering the wound on his shoulder… how she only bit her lip and moaned softly during their most passionate moments… those eyes as alluring as the shimmering surface of a lake… These vivid memories flooded his mind… His body seemed to be enveloped once again by her tight embrace…
He felt his body heating up once more.
Song Mo quickly composed himself, clearing his throat lightly, his expression becoming more serious.
Gu Yu looked at Song Mo in confusion, “Brother Tianci, what’s wrong? Did you catch a cold this morning? Should we call for a doctor?”
“No need,” Song Mo said, breaking into a sweat. He coughed twice more and reminded him again, “What did you come to see me about?”
“Oh!” Gu Yu never doubted Song Mo’s words. Since Song Mo said there was nothing wrong, any slight suspicion he had vanished like a fleeting shadow, quickly forgotten.
“Brother Tianci, didn’t you ask me to help sister-in-law retrieve all the contracts that Master Dou left at Risheng Tower?” he asked Song Mo, his tone excited. “Brother Tianci, guess what I found out?” Without waiting for Song Mo to respond, he continued, “Zhang Zhiqi, the head manager of Risheng Silver Tower, is Prince Liao’s man!”
Song Mo was very surprised.
Gu Yu laughed and said, “I went to Risheng Silver Tower under the pretext of investigating the fire and theft at Duke Ying’s mansion. At first, Zhang Zhiqi tried to beat around the bush, but once he realized who I was, he immediately came clean. He not only revealed his background but also told me about Prince Liao’s plan to raise funds in the capital through him. You can tell your sister-in-law that she can safely keep her money in Risheng Silver Tower. Since Zhang Zhiqi is using Prince Liao’s name, he wouldn’t dare to embezzle his sister-in-law’s money, no matter whose money he might dare to swallow. Otherwise, I’ll teach him a lesson!” His tone became quite aggressive towards the end.
In other words, Gu Yu hadn’t retrieved the contracts that Dou Zhao’s father had left at Risheng Silver Tower!
Song Mo frowned slightly, remembering Dou Zhao’s concerns: “…If they just wanted to find a patron, Minister Guo would have been enough. Why involve my father, a poor Hanlin scholar? I suspect Zhang Zhiqi is targeting my fifth uncle. You know that in recent years, my father has often disagreed with my fifth uncle on household matters. I also think it’s not good to rely on my fifth uncle too much. If we can reduce our ties with him, we should. Otherwise, in the long run, how can my father have any standing to oppose my fifth uncle’s methods?”
After some thought, he said, “Gu Yu, this isn’t about money. It’s about the conflict between your sister-in-law’s two family branches…” He then explained some of the Dou family’s affairs to Gu Yu.
Gu Yu listened with his mouth agape.
“So the Dou family is divided into East Dou and West Dou,” he marveled. “Every family truly has its difficulties. I had no idea sister-in-law had such a tough childhood, with her mother being forced to death and having to accept an imposter as her mother… No wonder sister-in-law was reluctant to come to the capital.”
The inexplicable hostility he had felt towards Dou Zhao suddenly vanished, replaced by a faint sympathy.
Gu Yu was like a brother to Song Mo, so naturally, Song Mo hoped Gu Yu and Dou Zhao could get along well. Although Gu Yu was overbearing, he had a kind heart, which was one of the reasons Song Mo told him about Dou Zhao’s experiences.
“Since he’s Prince Liao’s man, that makes things easier,” Song Mo smiled. “There’s no need to say much to him. Just retrieve all the contracts bearing my father-in-law’s seal. I’ll personally explain the situation to Prince Liao later.”
Hearing this, Gu Yu asked curiously, “Are you going to Liaodong? How can you get away?”
Song Mo smiled and said, “The Empress mentioned to me a few days ago that she wanted me to go to Liaodong to deliver something to Prince Liao. Because I just got married, this matter was temporarily put on hold.”
Gu Yu became excited, “Brother Tianci, when are you going to Liaodong? You must let me know. I want to go with you to Liaodong then—I haven’t seen Prince Liao in a long time. I heard he’s taken three concubines in succession and has four sons,” he chuckled, “I wonder how he’s doing now?”
“Alright!” With Gu Yu accompanying him and keeping Prince Liao company, Song Mo could not only visit his fifth uncle but also have a chance to speak with him privately. “Let’s go together then!”
Gu Yu nodded.
Song Mo instructed him, “Take care of the Risheng Silver Tower matter in the next couple of days, so I can give your sister-in-law an explanation.”
Gu Yu, like a child, began to feel uneasy again upon hearing that this was something Dou Zhao had asked Song Mo to do. He responded with a weak “Yes” and started talking to Song Mo about the scenery of Liaodong he had read about in books.
Song Mo shook his head with a smile. After seeing Gu Yu off, he went to report back to Dou Zhao: “…Don’t worry, everything’s fine!”
With her suspicions confirmed, Dou Zhao couldn’t even manage a smile.
She murmured, “If he’s using Prince Liao’s name, why fear being found out? Why try to connect with the Crown Prince’s people through such means? Doesn’t he worry that if Prince Liao finds out, he’ll suspect him of being disloyal… This whole thing is just too strange!”
Song Mo pondered for a moment, his expression changing slightly.
Dou Zhao took the opportunity to walk away, leaving Song Mo with space to think.
Meanwhile, Ji Yong, who had just left the Shuntian Prefecture, was so angry his hands were shaking.
Thanks to his status as a two-time jinshi and Dou Shiheng’s introduction letter, Huang Qi, despite having just taken over the Shuntian Prefecture and not yet having everything in order, still met with Ji Yong immediately.
Knowing that Ji Yong was connected to the Dou family and had come to inquire about the fire at Duke Ying’s mansion, Huang Qi spoke frankly: “With the manpower of our Shuntian Prefecture, it’s unlikely we’ll be able to apprehend all those thieves. Now it depends on whether the Five Cities Military Command makes any moves. However, regardless of what happens in the future, considering that you’re both part of the scholarly class, I will strengthen patrols in Duke Ying’s neighborhood from now on. If Duke Ying’s daughter-in-law has any issues, she can send a message to the Shuntian Prefecture, and we’ll handle it promptly. Please assure Mr. Dou of this. When I have some free time, we should have a drink together.”
The implication was clear: the Shuntian Prefecture would follow the lead of the Five Cities Military Command and no longer invest effort in investigating the fire at Duke Ying’s mansion.
Everyone in the capital’s official circles knew what the Five Cities Military Command was like. Relying on them to catch thieves was less likely than hoping they wouldn’t run away from the thieves themselves.
Ji Yong expressed his thoughts on the spot.
To his surprise, Huang Qi chuckled and said, “But we can’t help but comply. After all, the Five Cities Military Command always finds a way to satisfy the Emperor.”
He was just short of telling Ji Yong outright that the Five Cities Military Command would find someone to take the blame for this incident.
These good-for-nothing officials!
Ji Yong thought of Huang Qi’s friendship with Dou Shiheng and forcefully suppressed the anger in his heart. He forced a smile, exchanged a few more pleasantries with Huang Qi, and then stood up to take his leave.