Tao Qizhong stared at the enraged Song Yichun, finding his behavior rather incredulous. He worried that if this continued, Song Yichun might make an even bigger fool of himself.
Good medicine tastes bitter; honest advice offends the ear.
Disregarding propriety, Tao Qizhong spoke quietly, “Duke, please calm down! Even if the heir had disloyal thoughts, he wouldn’t act now, in this manner. Your physicians are all from the Imperial Medical Academy, and your medicines come directly from there. Any issues can be easily traced. The heir is not a child of seven or eight. Having served the Emperor for years, he surely knows the rules of medicine used in the Imperial Academy. He would never do something so self-destructive. Please rest assured!”
Tao Qizhong refrained from saying one thing, fearing it might worsen Song Yichun’s condition: With the heir’s abilities, he could easily anger the Duke to death. Why would he risk using such an unskilled method as poisoning?
Tao Qizhong’s words gradually calmed Song Yichun, but he remained uneasy. He instructed, “Have someone trustworthy prepare my medicine.”
A long-standing freeze is not the result of one cold day.
Tao Qizhong had long given up hope of reconciliation between the Duke and his heir. Relieved that Song Yichun was no longer lashing out wildly, he quickly offered, “I’ll prepare the medicine myself. I don’t have much else to do anyway.” This arrangement would free him from constantly following Song Mo and being mistaken for a steward sent by Song Yichun to assist the heir, sparing him from being ordered around like a servant by visitors.
Song Yichun felt uneasy hearing this. Unable to trouble Song Mo, he had inadvertently inconvenienced his people instead.
He nodded silently and sheepishly retired to bed.
With Tao Qizhong helping to prepare the medicine, Dou Zhao was free to relax.
She set up a four-panel screen in the tea room and brought her needlework there daily. To the uninformed, it appeared she continued to prepare Song Yichun’s medicine. Tao Qizhong didn’t reveal otherwise, and they coexisted peacefully – one doing needlework, the other brewing medicine.
A few days later, as Song Yichun’s breathing improved, he asked Tao Qizhong, “Have the accounts for Yizhi Hall been settled?”
“They were completed yesterday,” Tao Qizhong hesitated before continuing, “I heard the lady brought over 200,000 taels of silver…”
Song Yichun was startled, “How does the Dou family have so much money?”
Tao Qizhong shook his head, “Even if Master Seven of the Dou family has no son, Master One and Master Two have plenty. They could have adopted one. How could the Dou family let the lady bring so much property…”
Song Yichun felt a twinge of pain hearing this. He gritted his teeth, “We must quickly investigate Chen Bo’s background. I don’t believe the Dou family would give Madam Dou such a large dowry without reason! Call in Lü Zheng’s wife. I gave her 500 taels to bribe people close to Madam Dou.”
Five hundred taels!
Tao Qizhong was secretly shocked. Even he might not receive such a generous retirement gift.
With mixed feelings, Tao Qizhong summoned Lü Zheng’s wife.
Her face flushed red as she reported, “The lady’s maids and servants are mostly from Zhending. They stick together and don’t associate with our household staff. The few family servants the heir assigned to her are even more stubborn. Despite my efforts, I’ve been unable to get close to those serving the lady directly.” She carefully avoided saying these people were loyal to Song Mo. Instead, she continued, “I’ve interacted with Yizhi Hall’s staff for days but still can’t speak to those close to the lady.” As she spoke, she placed the stack of banknotes Song Yichun had given her on a nearby stool. “Entering and exiting Yizhi Hall’s gate, I tipped the gatekeeper 20 taels total. Treating the courtyard sweepers to wine costs 21 taels. Buying snacks and hair accessories for the young maids cost 5 taels…”
Hearing of the lack of progress, Song Yichun grew impatient but, uncharacteristically, didn’t lose his temper. “Alright, alright! You don’t need to tell me these details. Give the accounts to Zeng Wu and you may go.”
Lü Zheng’s wife quickly bowed and retreated.
Song Yichun looked at Tao Qizhong, “It seems I must trouble you with this matter, sir!”
Tao Qizhong solemnly agreed, his mind racing.
Meanwhile, Dou Zhao instructed Song Mo, “Lift your foot. Let me see if these socks fit.”
Song Mo, lounging on the kang reading, quickly extended his foot to Dou Zhao.
Seated on a brocade stool by the kang, Dou Zhao tried on the socks she had made in the tea room over the past few days.
They fit perfectly.
Despite not having done needlework for years, her skills hadn’t diminished.
Dou Zhao nodded with satisfaction, deciding to make Song Mo some spring shoes tomorrow, followed by spring clothes.
She asked Su Xin to bring nail clippers and gently scolded Song Mo, “You’re a grown man with so many servants, yet you can’t even trim your toenails.”
Is it that bad? Song Mo looked at his feet.
Dou Zhao had already grasped his foot and begun trimming his toenails.
Song Mo felt a corner of his heart suddenly soften, as if spring water overflowed, inexplicably rippling through him, leaving him deeply moved.
He propped himself up on his elbow, gazing at Dou Zhao.
In the lamplight, Dou Zhao’s long eyelashes were like small fans, fluttering and casting shadows on her eyelids, accentuating her snow-white skin and red lotus lips.
He knew his Shou Gu was beautiful, but it was as if he was seeing her true beauty for the first time. She was as lovely as moonlight on the horizon, gentle and pure, captivating his gaze.
Dou Zhao smiled, patting Song Mo’s foot. With curved lips, she said, “Done. Other foot.”
Song Mo snapped back to reality, quickly removing his sock and extending his other foot.
After carefully trimming Song Mo’s toenails, Dou Zhao looked at her work with satisfaction and said, “Let me see your hands.”
Song Mo obediently held out his hands.
His hands were fair and delicate, with long, slender fingers and distinct joints. Each finger was like jade, with rounded, even nails – exquisite and flawless.
Dou Zhao couldn’t help but smile, tapping his hand, “You inconsistent fellow!”
Neglecting his toenails while keeping his fingernails so perfectly manicured.
Song Mo suddenly reached out, pulling Dou Zhao onto the kang.
Caught off guard, Dou Zhao gasped as she fell into Song Mo’s arms.
“You scared me!” Dou Zhao looked at her hand against Song Mo’s chest, the small scissors still dangling from her thumb. “What if I had hurt you? Don’t be so reckless in the future.”
Song Mo’s eyes sparkled, “I knew you wouldn’t hurt me.” He leaned down to kiss her lips.
Dou Zhao yielded to his desire, engaging in their passionate embrace.
As Song Mo’s breathing grew unsteady and his hands slipped into her robes, Dou Zhao took a breath to remind him, “You promised me you wouldn’t act improperly outside our private chambers again.”
That night they had spent in the study, clothes, paintings, and writing materials were scattered everywhere. The maids couldn’t even lift their heads when they came to clean up.
Song Mo nibbled her ear, “I promised not to act improperly outside our chambers, but if you act improperly with me, that doesn’t break the promise, does it?”
“What?” Dou Zhao didn’t immediately understand.
Song Mo had already taken her earlobe in his mouth, gently biting and licking.
Dou Zhao’s mind buzzed, her body melting like water.
“Song Yantang, you… you…” Could she call him despicable? That would ruin the mood. Cunning? If she could harden her heart, she might be able to push him away.
A wave of heat surged through her body. Dou Zhao couldn’t suppress her soft moans as she held Song Mo tightly.
The room filled with the aura of spring, causing Su Xin and the others to blushingly withdraw from the hall.
Outside, the howling wind cut to the bone.
Su Lan hugged herself against the cold, carelessly whispering to her sister, “It’ll be a while before the young master settles down. Why don’t we go back to our rooms and sleep? We can leave someone on watch and return just before dawn.”
Su Xin was mortified. She pinched her sister’s cheek, “Say something so shameless again, and I’ll send you back to Zhending.”
Su Lan rubbed her face, muttering defiantly, “I didn’t say anything wrong…”
Su Xin quickly covered Su Lan’s mouth, looking around anxiously. Seeing the other maids with lowered heads in embarrassment, she angrily addressed them, “You all go rest. Su Lan and I will stay here.”
The maids, fearing Su Xin might change her mind, scurried away.
Su Xin then quietly scolded Su Lan, “We’re almost of age to leave the household. The lady will soon choose some of the current maids to promote for close service. If you keep talking nonsense, and the lady spoils you by not punishing you, won’t the other maids follow your example and ruin the household rules?” She continued, “You’re not so young anymore. The lady and I can protect you for now, but not forever. When you marry, if you cause trouble with your words, people won’t say you lack brains. They’ll say the lady raised a maid without virtue, tarnishing her reputation. Remember, your every word and action reflects on the lady!”
Hearing this, Su Lan became distressed, nearly in tears, “I… I won’t say such things again.”
Yet she still didn’t understand what she had done wrong.
Su Xin sighed heavily, knowing further explanation wouldn’t help her sister understand. She could only hope Su Lan would marry into a good family that could tolerate her thoughtless way of speaking.
Before long, it was November. The Dou family finally transferred the properties under Dou Zhao’s name to her, and Dou Shiheng and Dou Xiuchang prepared to return to Zhending.
On the day of their departure, Song Mo personally escorted them to the Chaoyang Gate.
On his way back, he encountered Chen Jia.
“Young Master!” Chen Jia quickly dismounted and bowed to Song Mo.
Song Mo nodded and walked past Chen Jia.
Chen Jia ingratiating asked one of Song Mo’s attendants, “Where has the young master been?”
Many in the capital sought to curry favor with the heir.
The attendant replied somewhat haughtily but matter-of-factly, “The lady’s uncle and cousin are returning to Zhending. The young master went specially to see them off.”
Chen Jia responded with an “Oh,” then turned to discuss with one of his brothers, “I think I should add someone to my household soon. I’m not picky, but they must be clever and able to move in high society circles.”
“Such women are hard to find!” his brother scratched his head, “Would you consider a personal maid from a noble family’s young lady or madam?”
“Absolutely!” Chen Jia replied without hesitation, “If she’s a former personal maid to a grand madam, that would be even better.”