Jiang Yan recalled the expression on Song Mo’s face when he confronted Li Liang that day. She realized that Dou Zhao’s words were not unfounded, and her face turned pale with fear. Not only did she refrain from mentioning Li Liang in front of Song Mo, but she also dared not bring him up in front of Dou Zhao.
Dou Zhao couldn’t help but feel a twinge of regret. After spending a few days with Jiang Yan, she understood that the girl was gentle and sensitive. Jiang Yan’s silence about Li Liang did not mean she had truly forgotten him; the more she concealed her feelings, the more likely she was to dwell on them.
Dou Zhao discussed with Song Mo, “As for the matter of Li Tiao, we should say she acted improperly due to personal entanglements and, in a moment of despair, took her own life. This way, we can avoid dragging her into the family’s secrets. Regarding Li Liang, he has a wife and children. If we act rashly, and word gets back to Yan Mei, it could cause trouble. It would be better to confine him far away for now and wait until things settle down before addressing it.”
Song Mo exploded with anger at her words. Dou Zhao’s expression darkened as she said, “You must listen to me on this matter. Yan Mei is a living person, not an object to be moved around as you please! No matter how much you hate him, Yan Mei has lived with him for over a decade. Without Li Liang’s protection, she might have lost her life long ago. If Yan Mei were to completely disregard Li Liang and turn her back on him, such a cold-hearted person, even if she is your sister, I would keep my distance. It is precisely because she thinks of others and does not hold grudges that I can treat her with an open heart. You should not only see her faults but also consider her virtues.”
Fuming, Song Mo stormed off to the study. Dou Zhao paid him no mind and went to Bishi Pavilion for dinner.
Jiang Yan was sitting under the lamp, sewing. The soft light illuminated her delicate figure, making her look as graceful as a flower reflected in water. Dou Zhao couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. Why is it that such a gentle and pure girl seems to be denied happiness?
Seeing Dou Zhao approach, Jiang Yan quickly helped her sit on the kang. Dou Zhao asked, “What are you working on? There are five or six people in the household who can handle needlework. If you have urgent tasks, let them do it to avoid straining your eyes.”
Jiang Yan smiled softly, her eyes full of gentleness. “I’m just passing the time. I won’t do this again in the future.”
Dou Zhao then told her about Li Tiao’s situation: “The case will be closed at the official court soon. I will have Su Xin accompany you to pay your respects, fulfilling your filial duty. Li Liang was injured by your brother, and he will need at least a year and a half to recover. He probably won’t be able to keep his job in the trade. However, your brother plans to send him to the estate in Tianjin to recuperate. When he leaves, you should go see him off and say a few words. Who knows when you will see him again?”
Jiang Yan’s eyes lit up at this news. She wanted to thank Dou Zhao but feared it might upset her. After hesitating for a moment, she struggled to find the right words.
Dou Zhao smiled and patted her hand, thinking to herself how Jiang Yan had no ulterior motives; she believed whatever was said to her. How could she be so different from Song Mo? Did Song Mo absorb all of Jiang Yan’s cleverness for himself? He seemed to see through all the twists and turns of people and events.
After chatting with Jiang Yan for a while, Dou Zhao noticed it was getting late and returned to the main room.
Song Mo was sprawled on the kang, reading. When he saw Dou Zhao enter, he turned his back to her. Dou Zhao found it amusing and asked Wu Yi, “Has the young master had dinner?”
After Chen He married Su Lan, Dou Zhao bought a house next to Su Xin’s for her dowry. However, Chen He found it inconvenient and moved into the eastern quarters, coming over at dawn and returning at dusk, serving as Song Mo’s attendant. Wu Yi took over his duties, closely attending to Song Mo.
Wu Yi lowered his head and replied, “The young master only had a bowl of cold noodles and half a bowl of chicken soup.”
Dou Zhao said, “The kitchen made lotus leaf rice cakes, rose lotus root, and lotus seed soup for supper. Have someone bring them up.”
Since Dou Zhao became pregnant, Song Mo worried she might be hungry at night and ordered the kitchen to have someone available at all hours.
Wu Yi quietly left the main room. Dou Zhao sat alone on the kang, enjoying her supper. The room was filled with the refreshing scent of lotus leaves.
Song Mo irritated, tossed his book aside and glared at Dou Zhao. Unable to contain her laughter, Dou Zhao playfully fed him a spoonful of the leftover lotus seed soup. “Try this; it’s made with fresh lotus seeds. It’s sweet and different from the usual lotus seed soup.”
Seeing Dou Zhao’s beaming face, Song Mo, despite his irritation, took a bite of the soup but ended up biting the spoon.
Dou Zhao wanted to laugh but was afraid of embarrassing him further. She turned her head away, silently chuckling for a moment before instructing Ruo Zhu, “Why don’t you go serve the young master a bowl as well?”
Song Mo was always polite, and both Ruo Zhu and Wu Yi were left dumbfounded, staring for a moment before Ruo Zhu finally responded and hurried out of the dining room.
“It’s all your fault!” Song Mo complained to Dou Zhao, his expression darkening.
Dou Zhao, as if coaxing a child, replied, “It’s all my fault, all my fault.”
Song Mo picked at her words, “You have no sincerity at all.”
Dou Zhao gazed at him intently, “Then tell me, what would count as sincerity?”
Song Mo, still feeling unsatisfied, said, “You’re just being perfunctory with me.”
“No, no,” Dou Zhao naturally denied it.
Fortunately, the lotus seed soup arrived, bringing the conversation to a close. But Song Mo found a new target for his complaints: “This lotus seed soup is terrible. Why is it still salty?”
It was merely a pinch of salt to enhance the flavor of the lotus seeds.
“I like it!” Dou Zhao laughed.
“I don’t like it!” Song Mo retorted while eating.
“Shall I have someone make you a sweet one?”
“That wouldn’t taste good; why make it sweet?”
In short, they were both being stubborn.
After they settled down, he lay close to Dou Zhao. Despite the heat, even with ice placed in the corner, Dou Zhao soon found herself drenched in sweat. She shifted closer.
Song Mo followed her, stubbornly wrapping his arms around her waist, which had long lost its curves.
“It’s too hot!” Dou Zhao protested, trying to break free from his embrace.
“I don’t feel hot at all,” Song Mo replied dryly.
That was true. Song Mo’s skin was not only fair as jade, but he also hardly sweated in the heat, always remaining clean and free of any odor.
Just as Dou Zhao was about to tease him, he suddenly sat up and pulled out a fan from somewhere, starting to fan her.
“No need!” Dou Zhao said, worried about him having to go to the palace early the next day. “Just have someone bring in more ice.”
“No way,” Song Mo insisted. “You’re pregnant; it’s too cold in here. Be careful not to catch a chill.” He was determined to fan her.
Dou Zhao was too exhausted to argue with him. She thought he would tire out soon and fall asleep. With a gentle breeze, she quickly drifted off.
The next morning, when she woke up, Song Mo had already gone to the palace, leaving the fan by her pillow.
She asked the attendant Ruo Tong, “When did the young master rest?”
“He only went to bed just before dawn.” Since Song Mo was on duty, he couldn’t afford to rest, and Ruo Tong’s eyes were barely open as she spoke.
Dou Zhao picked up the round fan and gently waved it a couple of times.
During breakfast, Wu Yi came in to report, “The young master left a message saying that Li Liang will be sent to the estate in Tianjin tomorrow.”
After Song Shize allied with Song Mo, he recommended several old servants who had previously served the late Duke and later followed Jiang Furen to the estate for retirement. Most of them were in Tianjin, making it safe to send Li Liang there.
Dou Zhao nodded and asked, “When will the people recommended by Song Shize arrive?”
The old servants who had served the late Duke were too old to work at Yizhi Hall, but some of their children were quite capable. Song Mo decided to select a few from among them for his use.
Wu Yi smiled and said, “They should arrive in the next couple of days. Would the lady like to take a look and choose a few suitable ones?”
Dou Zhao decided not to get involved in these matters. Jiang Furen had overstepped her bounds in the past, making the servants of the Song family feel uneasy, which led to the heir of the Duke of Ying being isolated.
Once she gave birth, she would naturally integrate into the Song family.
Dou Zhao thought the vegetable buns made in the kitchen that morning were quite good and instructed Wu Yi, “Send some to Miss Yan.” Then she took a sip of the thick white porridge.
If the mornings at Yizhi Hall in the Duke of Ying’s residence in the capital were pleasant, then the He family in Linqing was in complete chaos.
He Qingyuan returned home to find that the beauty had vanished without a trace. Naturally, a servant informed him of what had happened.
He was instantly dumbfounded and hurried to the inn.
As soon as the traveling merchant saw Jiang Yan, he recognized her as a girl from a good family. Hearing from Chen Jia that she had been abducted, he had no doubts about it. Knowing that abducting a virtuous girl could lead to exile for three hundred miles, he was immediately drenched in sweat, wanting nothing more than to quickly rid himself of this hot potato. He had no intention of leaving any trace behind.
He Qingyuan couldn’t find anything and had no choice but to return home to appease that fierce woman.
He spoke sweet words for an entire day, carefully trying to placate her, but that fierce woman refused to reveal who she had sold the girl to.
He Qingyuan’s expression darkened, his brows furrowing in anger.
Madam He had five brothers in her family, one of whom was still a county magistrate. She was not afraid of He Qingyuan at all.
The two began with a war of words, which escalated into a hair-pulling, face-scratching fight.
The maids and servants in the house all fled in fear.
Madam He could not stand by and watch her mother-in-law suffer, demanding that He Hao intervene to break up the fight.
He Hao was merely angry that his father had taken his beauty. He thought that if his mother dragged his father back home, the beauty would naturally be his again. Hearing that his mother had sold the girl, he regretted it deeply and listened intently, not daring to intervene.
Madam He, furious and clutching her chest in pain, hurriedly sent someone to inform her family.
Was it just about keeping a woman outside?
Did none of her brothers have a few mistresses? Why was it unacceptable for him?
He Qingyuan was not willing to back down, rolling up his sleeves to argue with Madam He’s family.
Seeing the situation escalate, He Hao realized that if his father lost this fight, he would only be left watching the beauty from afar. He quickly sent his servant to find Wei Quan, asking him to come help.
Wei Quan regretted his decision after spending two days with the courtesan. He had married to have a warm meal waiting for him at home, but the courtesan, raised in a brothel, was not the type to manage a household. He began to wonder if he could get his wife back, and his feelings for the courtesan began to fade.
Hearing that something had happened in the He family, he hurriedly slipped on his shoes and rushed out.
The courtesan, skilled in pleasing men, could easily see through Wei Quan’s thoughts.
But having missed out on Wei Quan, she knew she would find it hard to find another man of such good standing. Desperate, she used all her charms to cling to him. When she saw Wei Quan heading to the He family, she couldn’t let him go alone and hurriedly followed him.