The wife Chen Jia recently purchased was called Yao Er. Both she and her husband were from the south, originally household servants of a wealthy family. When that family fell into trouble, these servants were implicated and sold off. It happened that Chen Jia had asked his Embroidered Uniform Guard colleagues to help find some reliable maidservants. The Guards there, wanting to curry favor with him, bought this family as a gift. Seeing that the woman was capable and steady in her work, he put her in charge of his inner courtyard affairs. Tao Er stood guard at the main gate, one son worked with his father, another swept the outer courtyard, while their youngest daughter became a little maid tending to flowers and plants in the inner courtyard under her mother’s supervision.

This was Tao Er’s wife’s first visit to Duke Ying’s mansion. Before leaving, Chen Jia had repeatedly instructed her, impressing upon her the importance of Duke Ying’s household to him. She felt nervous all the way there, and seeing the row of black-lacquered carriages delivering festival gifts in front of Duke Ying’s gate made her even more anxious. However, she never expected Chen Jia to have such prestige at Duke Ying’s mansion! Not only did the Heir Apparent’s wife personally meet her, but she also rewarded her with high-quality red envelopes. Her heart finally settled.

When she returned and told Chen Jia about it, she couldn’t help but show some delight.

Chen Jia was also somewhat surprised.

Duke Ying’s mansion wasn’t a place you could just enter to deliver gifts. Without an official rank of at least third grade, the doorkeeper wouldn’t even look at you. He was currently only of the fourth rank, and if not for his connection to the Heir Apparent’s wife, where would he stand? How could the servant he sent possibly have met Lady Dou?

He thought it would be good to strengthen these connections further.

The next day, he brought two jars of excellent realgar wine to visit Duan Gongyi.

Duan Gongyi understood perfectly well.

Without Chen Jia, there would still be Wang Jia. Moreover, Chen Jia suited his temperament. What did he have to be concerned about?

He immediately prepared some snacks and invited Chen Jia to stay for a drink.

Chen Jia had come for precisely this reason and naturally agreed happily. He also suggested inviting Mr. Chen over for a few drinks together.

Duan Gongyi waved his hand, saying, “Mr. Chen is busy these couple of days and can’t spare the time. Next time you come, we’ll invite him over for a drink.”

Chen Jia hurriedly asked what business it was.

Duan Gongyi looked at him with a smile.

Chen Jia’s face reddened as he said, “I owe my current position entirely to Lady Dou’s support. I’ve always wanted to repay her, but she lacks nothing. Even if I wanted to send a gift, I couldn’t find anything suitable. I was wondering if I could be of any help to her, which is why I asked.”

Chen Jia spoke with intent, and Duan Gongyi listened attentively. After seeing Chen Jia off, he immediately went to see Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao was entertaining two young mistresses from the Lu family who had come to deliver festival gifts. Duan Gongyi waited for half an hour before seeing her.

“My lady, remember the matter you asked me to inquire about last time? I couldn’t find out much,” he suggested to Dou Zhao. “Do you think we could ask Minister Chen Jia to help investigate? His subordinates specialize in this kind of work; we can’t compare!”

Dou Zhao had always been curious about who had been inquiring about the Li family’s affairs in the first two years after they moved away. Hearing this, she was somewhat tempted but still said, “After all, it’s an old matter of the household. It wouldn’t be good if others found out.”

Duan Gongyi chuckled, “I find that Chen Jia is quite perceptive. We can just make up a reason. Even if he figures out why, he’ll pretend not to know.”

Dou Zhao pondered, “I’ll discuss this with the Heir Apparent first.”

After all, it concerned Song Yichun’s reputation. If the old affair was exposed, Song Mo, as the son, would also lose face.

However, Song Mo didn’t care at all whether Song Yichun’s reputation would affect him. He laughed, “That Chen Jia would be more than happy to do a couple of tasks for you. Whatever you need, just assign it to him!”

Dou Zhao asked, “What if he finds out too much?”

Song Mo chuckled, “He rose to his position because of me. Even if he knows nothing, he’s already associated with my faction. If he wants to switch sides, he can forget about advancing in his career.”

Dou Zhao thought about it and realized he was right.

Song Mo shook his head with a smile, “You women just love to dwell on these trivial family matters. How long has it been, and you still want to know what happened to the Li family?”

Dou Zhao giggled, “Well, I have nothing else to do!”

Song Mo, remembering how energetic Dou Zhao was when she had something to occupy her mind and how listless she became when idle, smiled slightly.

If she found these matters interesting, let her be!

Song Mo then shared his plans for the recent period with her: “…We need someone to keep an eye on the Imperial Hospital. However, most of the imperial physicians there have been serving for generations, making it difficult to get information. Recently, the Emperor has been complaining about headaches, right? I’ve asked Yan Chaoqin to find ways to connect with the advisors of several frontier officials who are coming to the capital for the festival in the next few days. They’ll surely recommend famous doctors skilled in treating headaches to serve in the Imperial Hospital. Things will be much easier then.”

The Imperial Hospital was crucial to the Emperor’s safety, thus under the strictest management.

Dou Zhao cautioned him, “Be careful not to get yourself involved.”

“Mm!” Song Mo smiled, squeezing Dou Zhao’s hand before calling for a little maid to help him change clothes.

Meanwhile, Duan Gongyi went to Chen Jia’s residence in Yuqiao Hutong.

The two men drank on the kang in the inner room of the main house.

Duan Gongyi, half-truthfully and half-falsely, complained to Chen Jia: “…I’ve been to Ertiao Hutong several times but couldn’t find anything useful. I went so often that someone recognized me. It seems that not everyone can do this detective work.”

Chen Jia listened with interest and smiled, “If there’s nothing too sensitive about the matter, how about I send a few people to help you investigate?”

“That would be great,” Duan Gongyi smiled. “You’re the Heir Apparent’s man. Even if there’s something sensitive, it wouldn’t apply to you.”

Chen Jia then asked for the details of the matter.

Before Duan Gongyi had finished speaking, Chen Jia already had a good idea.

It was most likely an old romantic entanglement left by the former Duke Ying. Now that the Heir Apparent and the current Duke were at odds, they wanted to revisit old affairs.

All he needed to do was find the Li family, and the matter would be resolved.

Wasn’t this exactly what he excelled at?

But no matter what, this was still an old affair of Duke Ying’s household. For Duan Gongyi to entrust this matter to him, either the Heir Apparent or Lady Dou must have approved. And for these two to approve, Duan Gongyi must have put in a good word for him.

Chen Jia smiled as he poured wine for Duan Gongyi. After finishing their drinks, he slipped a money pouch to Duan Gongyi and personally saw him off at the main gate.

The task of investigating the Li family’s affairs was thus entrusted to Chen Jia.

Dou Zhao felt relieved and waited for news at home.

However, a letter arrived from Huguang, saying that Zhao Zhang’ru had been diagnosed with pregnancy.

Dou Zhao was naturally overjoyed. She prepared a whole cart of food, medicinal herbs, gold and silver ornaments, and fine silks, and sent people to deliver it to Huguang. Meanwhile, she and Song Mo began preparing for the Dragon Boat Festival, when they would enter the palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, Empress, and other noble ladies.

Outside Cining Palace, Dou Zhao encountered Dou Ming.

Dou Ming had lost a lot of weight since her marriage, making her chin appear sharper and her eyes larger, adding to her delicate beauty.

Dou Ming also saw Dou Zhao.

Her gaze immediately turned knife-sharp.

Dou Zhao wore a bright red court dress and was chatting softly with the wives of Marquis Changxing, Duke Xingguo, Baron Dongping, and other top-ranking meritorious families as they walked in from outside.

Her youthful face stood out, particularly among the group of women in their thirties and forties.

As soon as they stepped through the palace gates of Cining Palace, Miao Gugu, the most prestigious attendant of the Empress Dowager, led a group of palace maids to greet them. She smiled and exchanged pleasantries with Dou Zhao and the others, respectfully guiding them towards the Empress Dowager’s chambers. This was unlike the treatment of wives from second and third-rank meritorious families who had gradually fallen out of power and had to wait behind the screen wall for the Empress Dowager’s summons before they could have an audience…

Watching Dou Zhao walk past the screen wall with the group of ladies without a sideways glance, Dou Ming’s hands clenched into fists.

Someone complained in her ear, “How times have changed. Thirty years ago, when I accompanied my mother-in-law into the palace, we could see the noble ladies with just a simple announcement. Now we have to wait outside…”

Dou Ming felt her face burning hot.

Someone whispered, “That young one is the wife of Duke Ying’s heir, right? I heard her due date is just a few days apart from the Crown Princess’s. She’s truly blessed! If she gives birth to a child on the same day as the royal grandson, whether it’s a boy or a girl, the Crown Princess will surely remember. That would be a real fortune!”

Another person said, “You think Duke Ying’s family is as short-sighted as yours? Their heir was granted a hereditary fourth-rank position just days after birth and started participating in autumn hunts before he could even walk. Who else in the court has such prestige? Their eldest grandson, even if born on the Ghost Festival, would still have a bright future. Why are you worrying on their behalf?”

Dou Zhao’s due date was in mid-June.

The person who was rebuked felt displeased and said with some schadenfreude, “Who knows, maybe Duke Ying’s eldest grandson really will be born on the Ghost Festival?”

“Watch what you’re saying!” someone scolded. “This is the palace. Be careful of eavesdroppers.”

The lady was about to say more when two palace maids came around from behind the screen wall.

All voices fell silent immediately.

One of the maids smiled and asked, “Which one of you is the wife of Marquis Jining?”

Dou Ming was startled.

Someone next to her nudged her.

She hurriedly stepped forward to answer.

The palace maid smiled, “The Old Ancestor heard that you are the sister of Duke Ying’s heir’s wife and wishes to see you!”

As soon as the palace maid finished speaking, Dou Ming seemed to hear a wave of envious sighs.

Her fists clenched even tighter.

But as a palace maid, she dared not show the slightest emotion.

Dou Ming smiled brightly, thanking the two palace maids and following them towards the Empress Dowager’s chambers. After rounding the screen wall, she even slipped two red envelopes to the two palace maids.

The two maids accepted them generously with a smile, saying, “Everyone says that Lord Dou gave all his wealth to his two daughters as dowry. Seeing how generous Lady Dou is in the palace, it seems the rumors are true. We won’t be polite then.”

Dou Ming was so angry she could bite her teeth.

Dou Zhao had taken advantage and acted innocent, while she had never received half of her father’s wealth.

Thinking of this, her chest felt as if it were covered in oil, unable to breathe.

After kowtowing to the Empress Dowager and paying her respects, she almost fell backward—the Empress Dowager beckoned her forward and scrutinized her for a long while, then looked up and said to the Empress and a group of inner and outer court ladies beside her, “Yangtang’s daughter-in-law looks better. The wife of Marquis Jining is too thin!”