Dou Dechang quickly made a “don’t spread the word” gesture to Dou Zhao and said in a low voice, “Don’t tell Seventh Uncle! Boyan snuck into the capital and is staying in Yuanen Temple Alley. The people in Huaishu Alley don’t know yet!”
Dou Zhao was shocked. “Has something happened? He came to the capital, so why didn’t he pay his respects to the elders? New Year’s is coming soon – where is he staying? Who’s taking care of his food and lodging?”
Dou Dechang chuckled, “Boyan was originally planning to return to Zhending for New Year’s, but his friend had some trouble and needed to come to the capital to take care of it. So he accompanied his friend and they were staying together at the Gaosheng Inn in Yuanen Temple Alley. He plans to visit Fifth Uncle after the New Year.”
Dou Zhao sensed there was more to the story. After thinking for a moment, she asked, “Is his friend’s situation very troublesome? Does Boyan want to help his friend but is worried about putting Fifth Uncle in a difficult position, so he’s staying at the inn with his friend to see how things develop first?”
Dou Dechang sighed, “Why couldn’t you have been born a boy?”
“Are girls really that useless?” Dou Zhao teased him. “How am I any worse than you?”
Dou Dechang just chuckled.
Dou Zhao instructed Ganlu to bring two ingots of silver sycee and handed them to Dou Dechang, saying, “Since he wants to conceal his identity, I won’t go visit him. If there’s anything I can help with, tell him to just send a servant to find me.”
Yuanen Temple Alley was west of the Shuntianfu Academy, while Duke Ying’s mansion was to the east, about a half-hour’s walk apart.
Dou Dechang accepted the silver without hesitation and said with a smile, “You’re from a wealthy family. What falls through your fingers is enough for us to eat and drink well for quite a while. I’ll accept this on Boyan’s behalf.”
Dou Zhao couldn’t help but smile, and joked with him, “Should I give you some pocket money too?”
“No need for pocket money,” Dou Dechang said with a grin. “But could you give me a couple of nice jade pendants? I could use them as gifts for the New Year.”
Why not? She had always treated Dou Zhengchang and Dou Dechang like her own brothers.
She accompanied Dou Dechang to the storeroom to choose jade pendants.
The two of them started talking about Dou Qijun’s friend.
“…His surname is Kuang, given name Chao, courtesy name Zhuoran. His family is in the maritime trade business and is considered quite wealthy in Panyu, Guangdong. That year when Boyan went to Mount Zhongnan, he was bitten by a snake. Fortunately, he met Kuang Zhuoran, who saved his life… This time when Boyan went to Guangdong, it was to thank Kuang Zhuoran. Unexpectedly, something happened to Kuang Zhuoran’s family… It’s said that since September this year, the Kuang family’s ships have had several accidents in a row, losing nearly 200,000 taels of silver. Just as they were about to suffer a major setback, a former business associate introduced them to a wealthy merchant from the capital who wanted to buy their shipping business, but at half the market price.”
“The Kuang family naturally refused.”
“Then another ship sank.”
“The Kuang family sensed something was amiss and used their ancestral connections to investigate. They discovered that a powerful figure in the capital had set his sights on their shipping business and wanted to take it over. Kuang Zhuoran is a scholar who can communicate with other scholars, so the Kuang family decided to send him to the capital with several capable managers to try to negotiate. They hope to invite that powerful figure to become a silent partner.”
“Boyan felt that since Kuang Zhuoran had saved his life, he decided to come along and see if there was any connection to our family. He planned to ask Fifth Uncle to mediate and turn hostility into friendship. Although Kuang Zhuoran doesn’t know Boyan’s identity, he knows Boyan is steady and insightful, so he hoped Boyan could come along to offer advice. That’s how Boyan ended up coming to the capital with Kuang Zhuoran.”
“But with the New Year approaching, they still haven’t found the person they’re looking for. Boyan didn’t want to go to Huaishu Alley rashly, so he’s been staying at the inn with Kuang Zhuoran.”
“Who is this powerful figure anyway?” Dou Zhao asked disdainfully. “His methods are too unsightly.”
“Indeed,” Dou Dechang agreed. He picked up a peach blossom jade pendant with a peony design and asked Dou Zhao, “Is this nice?”
Dou Zhao’s heart stirred as she thought of Ji Lingze, but she calmly replied, “Of course it’s nice! Just look at those things these are. However, this is suitable for young women. Who are you planning to give it to?”
“Oh,” Dou Dechang said, looking a bit guilty, “I haven’t decided yet.” He quickly changed the subject back to Kuang Zhuoran, “But I think the Kuang family is overthinking it. For a family like theirs, they might be notable in Panyu, but how could a powerful figure in the capital be interested in them? It’s probably just someone in that powerful figure’s circle throwing their weight around. The Kuang family doesn’t have any connections in the capital, so they got scared.” As he spoke, he set aside the peach blossom jade pendant and picked up a jade cicada of a clear green color, showing it to Dou Zhao. “How about this one?”
“Not bad,” Dou Zhao smiled. “If you string it with a red cord and wear it around your neck in summer, it looks cool and beautiful.”
“I think so too,” Dou Dechang said, tucking both jade pendants into his sleeve.
This rascal, getting a sweetheart and forgetting about his mother! Dou Zhao grumbled inwardly.
She picked out a jade pendant with Maitreya Buddha, another with bamboo joints, a gold hairpin inlaid with garnets and pomegranate flowers, an inkstone, and a box of wolf hair brushes. She said, “The Maitreya Buddha pendant is for Sixth Aunt, the wolf-hair brushes are for Sixth Uncle, the inkstone is for Eleventh Brother, the gold hairpin is for Eleventh Sister-in-law, and the bamboo joint pendant is for Qijin. Take these to them when you go home.”
Dou Dechang exclaimed, “What about mine?”
Dou Zhao just glanced coldly at his sleeve with a hint of a smile.
Dou Dechang covered his sleeve and said, “Alright, alright, I’ll deliver them for you.” He dashed out of the storeroom.
Dou Zhao couldn’t help but smile. She instructed Ganlu, “Package everything in proper boxes.”
Ganlu went to carry out the order, while Dou Zhao headed to the flower hall.
Dou Dechang said, “It’s getting late. I’ll go discuss with Boyan what we should do.”
As Dou Zhao saw Dou Dechang out, she said in a low voice, “Come when the heir is not at home.”
Dou Dechang looked enlightened and whispered, “I understand. We can’t let Song Yantang know about this.”
“How can you be so stupid?” Dou Zhao complained. “If the heir is home, how could his son stand idly by?”
Dou Dechang stopped in his tracks and looked at Dou Zhao, his gaze gradually becoming serious. “Do you like Song Yantang very much?”
“What nonsense are you talking about?” Dou Zhao scolded, though her face inexplicably grew hot. “Just mind your own business and stop meddling in others’ affairs.”
Dou Dechang was stunned, then looked surprised. He became hesitant and after a long while, tentatively asked, “My business? What business of mine?”
Dou Zhao silently regretted her slip of the tongue.
Some things are better left unsaid.
Given Dou Dechang’s persistence in his previous life, being open about it would only make him more unrestrained and reckless.
Just as she was about to smooth things over, Song Mo returned.
He immediately sensed the awkward atmosphere between them and pretended to be surprised, exclaiming, “Oh! Why are you two standing here talking?” He then bowed to Dou Dechang and said with a smile, “I heard Uncle came, so I told the kitchen to roast the venison we received from the palace a few days ago. We also have a jar of imperial pear blossom wine, which has a mellow flavor that goes perfectly with roast meat. The plum blossoms in the back garden have bloomed too. Why don’t I accompany Uncle to the warm pavilion in the back garden for a few drinks?”
Dou Dechang repeatedly agreed, hurriedly following Song Mo to the warm pavilion in the back garden, with something of a fleeing demeanor.
After seeing Dou Dechang off and returning to the room, Song Mo smiled at Dou Zhao while being helped to change by a young maid, “What did Uncle say? You looked quite upset.”
Dou Zhao didn’t know how to explain to Song Mo. Some things had only just begun to show signs, having happened in her previous life.
She leaned against a large pillow, furrowing her brow as she rolled up a book page.
Song Mo changed his clothes, rinsed his mouth, and sat on the edge of the kang bed. He brushed a few strands of hair that had fallen on Dou Zhao’s cheek behind her ear and said softly, “Didn’t we agree that I’d handle everything? What’s there to worry about?”
Dou Zhao thought for a moment, then dismissed the maids around her. Leaning on Song Mo’s shoulder, she told him about Dou Dechang and Ji Lingze.
Song Mo asked, “Do you want me to help?” His tone was extremely cold, completely different from his gentleness towards her, reminding her of the cold and indifferent Song Mo from her previous life, standing under the eaves surrounded by guards.
Dou Zhao couldn’t help but shudder and quickly said, “I don’t need your help—you’ll only make things worse.”
“Looking down on me?” Song Mo pinched her cheek.
She was afraid he would be too heavy-handed and ruin Dou Dechang’s happiness, after all, they were a very loving couple in her previous life.
“Don’t we still have a Sixth Uncle and Sixth Aunt?” Dou Zhao hugged his arm. “We can’t overstep our bounds, can we?”
Let things take their natural course.
If it’s meant to be, they will naturally be together; if not, even without her interference, they will part ways.
Song Mo said, “But that girl is a widow after all…”
“I was once a jilted fiancée!” Dou Zhao feared that if Ji Lingze became her sister-in-law one day, Song Mo might look down on her.
“That was because Wei Tingyu had no taste!” Song Mo dismissed it, saying, “I’ve picked up quite a bargain! Do you think everyone is as lucky as me?”
Dou Zhao laughed uncontrollably, and her mood greatly improved. She complained, “That Zixian fellow, taking things from his own sister’s storeroom to please other women!”
Zixian was Dou Dechang’s courtesy name.
Song Mo didn’t care who Dou Dechang would marry; he only wanted Dou Zhao to be happy.
Seeing Dou Zhao’s mood brighten, he continued to tease her, saying with a smile, “It’s a pity he’s my uncle, or I would have taken those things back. How about I open my storeroom and let you take whatever catches your eye to keep in your storeroom?”
Dou Zhao bantered with him, pretending to be surprised, “Isn’t what’s yours already mine? I’ve always thought that what’s yours is mine! Why would I need to move my things around?”
Song Mo laughed heartily, his smile as dazzling as the summer sun, leaving Dou Zhao momentarily stunned.
He laughed even more joyfully, hugging her and whispering in her ear, “Let me see!”
“See what?” Dou Zhao didn’t understand at first.
Song Mo’s hand slipped inside her robe, gently caressing her abdomen. “Let me see—our child!”
Her waist was still slender, her abdomen still flat, with nothing visible yet.
Dou Zhao hesitated.
Song Mo knelt before her and undid her robe.
As her skin, white as jade, was exposed to the winter air, Dou Zhao felt a bit cold.
Song Mo had already bent down and gently kissed her belly.
His lips were warm and soft, making her tremble slightly, but the reverent expression on his face as he lowered his eyelids made her heart race and brought tears to her eyes.
She hugged Song Mo’s head tightly, feeling as if she had fallen into a pot of honey, sweet from head to toe.