When Chen Qu Shui saw Yan Chaoqing enter, disappointment washed over him. Nevertheless, he forced a friendly smile and respectfully bowed to Yan Chaoqing.
Yan Chaoqing returned the gesture politely.
The two took their seats, with a small, slender man quietly serving them tea.
Chen Qu Shui noticed that although the man looked quite ordinary, he moved with a calm and composed demeanor, prompting Chen Qu Shui to glance at him a bit longer. He then turned to Yan Chaoqing and said, “I wonder if Mr. Yan remembers this old man? My surname is Chen, given the name Bo, courtesy name Qu Shui. I once received a great favor from Ding Guo Gong, who spared my life. Now, in my old age, I serve as a steward in the residence of the seventh master of the Dou family in Beilou.
I didn’t expect to find myself here in Zhen Ding County, where the rain has been relentless. Our seventh master is in the capital, and the matriarch is worried about the crops. Our young lady, being dutiful, couldn’t bear to let the matriarch venture out in such weather. After much persuasion, she convinced the matriarch to send me along to accompany her, as I am the eldest and can be of assistance. I never expected to run into Mr. Yan here.”
“I was quite startled at first, thinking how fallen I have become, and how I had no face to meet old acquaintances. Yet, remembering the heavy favor Ding Guo Gong bestowed upon me, I felt uneasy for not being able to repay him. If I could share my feelings of shame with an old friend, it would be a kind of fate. Therefore, I took the liberty to come and disturb you, and I hope you can forgive me for any inconvenience!”
His words conveyed several layers of meaning.
First, he expressed that he had not forgotten Ding Guo Gong’s mercy and was deeply grateful. Second, he hinted to Yan Chaoqing that Dou Zhao was the young lady of the Beilou Dou family, indicating that she had come to the estate with the family’s approval, suggesting that Yan Chaoqing should not act recklessly, lest he provoke the Dou family. Third, he mentioned his current impoverished state, implying that he was merely a steward out of necessity and that his presence with Dou Zhao was due to his age, not because the Dou family held him in high regard, hinting that they were unaware of his true identity. Fourth, he indicated that he was content with his current life and hoped Yan Chaoqing would not expose his identity, just as he would not reveal theirs.
Yan Chaoqing did not believe a word of it!
When the Japanese pirates retreated, Ding Guo Gong, being merciful, allowed Zhang Kai’s men to choose whether to stay or leave, and Chen Qu Shui was the first to leave Fujian.
Since the fourth young lady of the Dou family was so valued by the matriarch, why would she need to personally come to the estate in such inclement weather?
If Chen Qu Shui claimed to be just an ordinary steward, why did he wait until after meeting Dou Zhao to pay his respects to the young master?
His assertion that he wouldn’t disclose the young master’s identity to others was an outright lie—if Dou Zhao knew nothing about the young master, how could he have said such a thing?
Yan Chaoqing had no intention of engaging further with Chen Qu Shui. The young master had already made his decision, and any further discussion would be a waste of breath.
“Mr. Chen, you flatter yourself,” Yan Chaoqing said with a warm, polite, and dismissive smile. “These are all old matters; you need not take them to heart. Speaking of which, our meeting here is indeed a matter of fate. I still vividly remember that autumn when it was particularly hot, even after the Mid-Autumn Festival, we were still fanning ourselves. When the news of the Japanese pirates attacking Fuzhou came, I was in the courtyard eating the newly harvested autumn pears with Ding Guo Gong…”
He deliberately avoided mentioning the events of the day.
Chen Qu Shui felt as if his heart was sinking, drenched in water.
Half an hour later, Yan Chaoqing saw Chen Qu Shui off.
He then went to Song Mo’s inner chamber.
Song Mo was sitting on a large kang by the window, studying a map. The man who had served tea to Chen Qu Shui was now standing quietly behind Song Mo, as still as a wooden sculpture on the shelf beside them.
Hearing the noise, Song Mo looked up and asked lightly, “Has he left?”
“He has!” Yan Chaoqing reported everything that had transpired between them to Song Mo.
Song Mo nodded slightly and said, “No need to worry about them anymore.” He then asked the person behind him, “Lu Ming, go check if Shi An has returned.”
Lu Ming complied and left.
Yan Chaoqing looked puzzled.
Song Mo smiled and said, “I plan to take action tonight at the hour of the pig.”
Yan Chaoqing’s gaze sharpened.
The honest-looking Xu Qing entered the room.
“Young Master!” he greeted Song Mo with a fist salute. “The Dou family’s patrolling guards have suddenly been called to the front courtyard, preparing to leave it seems.”
“Oh!” Song Mo raised an eyebrow, glancing at Yan Chaoqing with a smile. “I didn’t expect that Mr. Chen would act so quickly, assessing the situation well; he’s quite a talent.” After a moment’s thought, he got off the kang. “Let’s go see how they plan to leave.”
He had stationed guards at all the entrances and exits of the estate.
The two responded in unison and accompanied Song Mo out of the side room.
The rain showed no signs of letting up, pattering against the roof, leaves, and ground, filling the air with dampness.
The Dou family’s guards, clad in raincoats and hats, were hurrying out, surrounding a girl who was similarly dressed but wore an extra pair of wooden clogs. Chen Qu Shui, who had sworn not to reveal their whereabouts to anyone, closely followed the girl with an oil-paper umbrella. The maids and matrons were nowhere to be seen, clearly sacrificing the pawns to protect the queen, preparing to escort the Dou family’s fourth young lady out of the estate with all their might.
Song Mo couldn’t help but scoff, calling out, “Dou Fourth Young Lady!”
The girl turned her head to look.
Beneath her bamboo hat, a fair face with long brows and bright eyes shone with a mix of softness and spirit.
He was momentarily taken aback.
Yan Chaoqing made a gesture.
From the rooftops around them, several men appeared like ghosts, each carrying heavy quivers and holding bows that were only found in the military, firmly locking onto the people in the courtyard.
Chen Qu Shui felt a chill run down his spine.
Those bows could shoot a person through from a hundred paces away.
“Miss,” he warned Dou Zhao, “be careful of those bows!”
Duan Gongyi also urged, “Miss, quickly hide behind me!”
Dou Zhao nodded but took a few steps toward the east wing where Song Mo stood, calling out loudly, “Young Master Mei, what do you intend to do?”
The Dou family’s guards quickly moved their feet, surrounding Dou Zhao once more.
Seeing the Dou family’s guards move in an orderly fashion, Song Mo couldn’t help but show a hint of admiration.
“Miss Dou, the wind is strong and the rain is heavy,” he said with a smile, “I only wish to invite Miss Dou back inside.” His voice was gentle, but his words sent a chill down the spine.
Dou Zhao seemed furious, shouting, “Young Master Mei, I kindly offered you shelter, yet you repay my kindness with malice, trying to put me to death. Is this the behavior of a gentleman?”
Song Mo couldn’t help but sneer.
This Dou Fourth Young Lady seemed quite clever, yet she uttered such foolish words. What he intended to do was obvious. It was a pity for such a beautiful face.
“Miss Dou, you are mistaken!” he suddenly appeared disinterested. “I merely wish to invite you back inside; there’s no talk of life and death. I hope you won’t misunderstand.” As he spoke, he made a gesture, and a sharp sound of arrows slicing through the air rang out. Several arrows “thunked” into the ground near the feet of the closest guards, startling them into retreating, causing the formation surrounding Dou Zhao to break apart, and creating a moment of chaos. If it weren’t for Duan Gongyi’s protection, Dou Zhao would have nearly fallen.
“Young Master Mei, you are going too far!” Dou Zhao’s face flushed with anger as she shouted, “How can you kill the innocent indiscriminately?” Her voice trembled with emotion.
Song Mo didn’t bother to look at her again. He coldly replied, “Since Miss Dou has such a compassionate heart, why involve the innocent? Why let those guards lose their lives for nothing? I ask you to return inside!”
“You…” Dou Zhao was so furious she was nearly jumping up and down.
But Song Mo remained unmoved.
In the standoff, a sudden sound of a baby crying echoed through the courtyard.
“Miss!” Su Lan suddenly dashed out from behind a wintergreen tree, sprinting toward the main house’s eaves. “I have fulfilled my duty!”
She held a child and smiled at Dou Zhao, pressing her lips together.
Song Mo and the others were taken aback, rushing out from the eaves of the east wing. The Dou family’s guards had formed a solid barrier between them and the main house, while Dou Zhao, under the protection of Duan Gongyi and Chen Qu Shui’s guards, rushed back to the main house’s eaves.
She took the child, gently patting and soothing it, humming a soft, cheerful tune that quickly calmed the baby.
Standing in the rain, Song Mo let the raindrops hit his face, his expression darkening, while Yan Chaoqing and the others behind him looked increasingly grim.
The wet nurse rushed out of the house.
“Young Master, someone has taken the child…” she cried hoarsely, tears streaming down her face.
Song Mo made a silencing gesture.
The wet nurse covered her mouth, crying silently, but when she looked up, she saw Dou Zhao soothing the child under the eaves of the main house, her eyes widening in shock.
“Miss Dou,” Song Mo fixed his gaze on Dou Zhao, his voice icy, “why don’t we sit down and have a good talk? What do you think?”
Dou Zhao smiled slightly, her eyes sparkling even brighter. “Young Master Mei, I also think we should sit down and have a good talk.”
In the hall, the scent of lily incense wafted through the air, mingling with the damp atmosphere, creating a heavy feeling.
Song Mo changed into a clean, plain lotus-green robe and, accompanied by Yan Chaoqing and Lu Ming, walked in at a leisurely pace.
Dou Zhao sat in the grand master’s chair at the head of the hall, holding the child, with Chen Qu Shui and Duan Gongyi standing on either side of her.
Dou Zhao nodded at the newcomers, smiling politely, “Young Master Mei, please take a seat.”
Song Mo glanced at the child.
The baby seemed to be asleep, quiet and peaceful.
He took a seat at Dou Zhao’s lower position, with Yan Chaoqing and Lu Ming standing behind him.
Su Lan nimbly served them tea.
Song Mo couldn’t help but glance at Su Lan.
It was this maid who had rushed in and taken the child.
He never expected that Dou Zhao would have such a person by her side!
He raised his head, finally taking a serious look at the girl sitting across from him.