As Shi An entered the estate, he spotted his men crouched on the roof, nervously watching the movements below with crossbows in hand.
The guards of the Dou family surrounded the main house like a human wall, blocking the way to the main hall.
Their expressions were equally tense; one man anxiously gripped his staff, yet none of them showed any signs of retreat.
Seeing Shi An, Chen Xiaofeng stepped forward, calling out, “Halt!” He raised his chin and scrutinized him. “Are you with Young Master Mei?” His tone carried a hint of mockery.
Shi An couldn’t help but mutter a curse under his breath. It was unclear whether he was cursing the people from the Tan family for turning against him or lamenting the situation’s absurdity—he hadn’t even had a chance to fight back before losing. He had to respectfully clasp his fists and bow to the Dou family’s guards, saying, “I am Mei An. I kindly ask this brother to relay an urgent message to Young Master Mei.”
Mei An was his public name.
Chen Xiaofeng sized up Shi An. This must be the one who went to fetch reinforcements. It seemed he was already aware of the situation inside the house. Instead of recklessly attacking, he had come alone to seek Young Master Mei’s guidance, which showed he was a loyal and brave man.
Shi An made a good impression on Chen Xiaofeng, and naturally, his attitude softened considerably. Considering that Dou Zhao had no intention of being enemies with Young Master Mei, he thought for a moment and said, “You wait here; I’ll go in and inform him.”
Shi An quickly expressed his gratitude, saying, “Thank you.”
Chen Xiaofeng didn’t approach the hall’s door but stood on the steps to report.
Before long, Su Lan lifted the curtain and said, “The young lady requests that Mei An come in.”
At this, Shi An’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Young Master Mei had lost his freedom?
Recalling how the man from the Tan family had wrapped his face with a black cloth and said something about how their families had been neighbors for generations, and that he didn’t want to meet Dou Si Xiaojie, Shi An felt a wave of irritation. He entered the room with a bit more force than intended, only to earn a disdainful glance from the young maid.
What kind of nonsense was this?
In his prime, he had ranked among the top hundred in the martial world—no, the top fifty. Although he had later allied himself with Duke Ding as a personal guard, he was still a well-known captain. Now, he was being looked down upon by a mere maid, treated like a thief!
Suppressing his rising anger, he stopped outside the study door and respectfully called, “Young Master.”
“Come in!” Young Master Mei’s voice was as gentle as ever, tinged with a hint of coldness. However, this did not soothe Shi An; instead, it made him even more anxious. The more urgent the situation, the calmer Young Master Mei seemed. This could only mean that things were very dire.
Gathering his composure, Shi An replied, “Yes,” and straightened his back as he walked in.
Young Master Mei sat in a grand chair by the window, Mr. Yan was seated at his side, and across from them was a refined elder in his sixties. There was also a girl, around fourteen or fifteen years old, with skin like snow, long brows that met her hairline, and bright eyes. She held a child in her arms, smiling gently, exuding a serene yet dignified presence that startled him.
This must be the Fourth Miss of the Dou family!
No wonder the people from the Tan family didn’t want to meet her! If it were him, he would probably feel embarrassed to act against such a girl!
As this thought crossed his mind, he heard Young Master Mei call him softly, as if reminding him.
He quickly composed himself, stepped forward, and whispered in Young Master Mei’s ear about the reactions of the Tan family.
Song Mo couldn’t hide his surprise. The Tan family was not an ordinary household; they were proud and independent. If it weren’t for the longstanding friendship between the Jiang family and the Tan family, and if his fifth uncle hadn’t been close to the scholar Tan and favored by the elder Tan, the Tan family would never have intervened to help him. The respect that Dou Si Xiaojie received from the Tan family likely went beyond mere charity and sheltering the orphaned.
A brilliant light flashed in Song Mo’s eyes as he looked at Dou Zhao.
“Dou Si Xiaojie,” Song Mo suddenly stood up, his left hand behind his back, his right hand clenched in a fist at his abdomen, his demeanor casual yet elegant. A hint of a smile broke through his usually cold expression, warming the room like spring thawing the ice, “In that case, I would trouble Mr. Chen to accompany us for a visit! Lu Ming,” he called to a slender man, “You will stay here at the Dou residence to protect Dou Si Xiaojie.”
What had happened over at the Tan family?
Why had Young Master Mei changed his stance so quickly?
Yan Chaoqing and Lu Ming were both taken aback but quickly masked their shock. Lu Ming responded respectfully, “Yes,” and stepped forward to bow deeply to Dou Zhao, performing a grand gesture of respect.
Do you want to leave someone to supervise me? You’ve chosen the best fighter to stay behind. Is this to protect me or to be ready to silence me?
Dou Zhao cursed Song Mo silently a thousand times in her heart but maintained a pleasant expression, smiling as she urged Lu Ming to rise. She then called for Duan Gongyi to come in, instructing him to take Lu Ming downstairs to arrange for food and lodging.
You’re not going to let him protect me? He can’t just eat without working, right? Whatever the Dou family’s guards do, he should do too!
Dou Zhao grumbled internally as she smiled and handed the child to Song Mo. “This child is truly adorable! I’ve only held him for a while, and my arms are already tired.”
Song Mo looked at her, his gaze sharp, and replied with a double entendre, “This child is a bit heavy; it’s no wonder Dou Si Xiaojie can’t hold him!”
Dou Zhao wanted to retort but, recalling his vengeful nature, quickly changed her words to flatter him, smiling brightly, “So Young Master Mei should hold him.”
Song Mo’s eyes flickered as he handed the child to Yan Chaoqing and walked out briskly.
Yan Chaoqing and the others hurriedly bowed to Dou Zhao and rushed out the door.
Only then did Dou Zhao let out a long sigh of relief.
Su Lan, not understanding Dou Zhao’s apprehension, exclaimed, “I thought he was a good person! Who knew he would even want to harm the young lady? Truly, one cannot judge a person by their appearance; they may seem golden on the outside but be rotten within. How many people will be deceived by his good looks in the future…”
Chen Qu Shui couldn’t help but laugh, “All right, all right! With that energy to curse, you might as well hurry and tell my servant to pack my things. It seems the people coming for the child are arriving soon, and they should be setting off shortly. Anyway, what needs to be known is already known, and what shouldn’t be known is also known. I’ll go with them; perhaps I can learn something more. When the time comes to turn the tables, I’ll have more cards to play.” He then reminded Dou Zhao, “You see, Duan Gongyi and the others are aware. With Duke Ding being questioned, many chivalrous heroes will likely take action. Zhen Ding is a necessary route north. I’ll tell Duan Gongyi to keep an eye on these guards. No matter what happens, you must endure and not go out to avoid unnecessary trouble. As for Aunt Cui, you needn’t worry. With Hong Gu attending to her, she will be well taken care of. Although the marriage with the Jining Marquis’s family is not ideal, it’s not without its merits. You are exceptionally wise; I’m sure you have a plan…”
He seemed to be speaking as if he were preparing for the worst.
Dou Zhao’s eyes turned red, interrupting him, “Rest assured, my plan will surely succeed, and you will return safely!” She didn’t want this sadness to linger, so she smiled and discussed with Chen Qu Shui, “He has sent skilled people to monitor me; don’t we have anyone? You go to the capital and have Duan protect you by selecting the best fighter from these guards to accompany you. If Young Master Mei dares to skimp on your provisions, just have him send me a message, and we’ll make sure that Lu Ming also goes without food and clothing. We won’t let Young Master Mei take all the glory!”
Her words made Chen Qu Shui laugh heartily, both pleased and somewhat melancholic.
He was pleased that Dou Zhao treated him like family, but melancholic that Dou Zhao was being dragged into the turmoil of rescuing Duke Ding—if her plan was not adopted, then this letter of allegiance would have been for naught. What was meant to come would eventually arrive.
If her plan was adopted and succeeded, Song Mo would no longer pursue their grievances. Without the memorial, Duke Ding’s fate would likely fall on Dou Zhao’s shoulders. As a hostage, he would surely be in danger, and Dou Zhao would also face peril.
No matter how one looked at it, they were the ones at a disadvantage, and how could he not feel a surge of emotions?
Dou Zhao watched as Song Mo’s carriage disappeared into the rain curtain, feeling a mix of emotions: “Finally, we’ve sent this plague away!”
Meanwhile, Su Xin, who had quietly slipped out of the estate while Dou Zhao pretended to break through to draw Song Mo and the others away, saw the signal. After tidying herself up, she learned the details from her sister’s chatter. However, she couldn’t bring herself to smile. She wanted to ask Mr. Chen if he would truly return safely, but seeing Dou Zhao’s slightly fatigued expression, she swallowed her words.
The other maids only knew that their young lady had defeated Young Master Mei; they had no idea of the dangers involved. They giggled, covering their mouths.
Dou Zhao clapped her hands and said, “We should be leaving too. Why aren’t you all hurrying to pack your things?”
The young maids laughed and scattered.
Su Xin, however, anxiously asked Dou Zhao, “Miss, is there someone who would dare to harm Duke Ding on the way?”
When Young Master Mei left, she had heard Dou Zhao repeatedly instructing him to send someone to secretly protect Duke Ding, to prevent him from being harmed by villains. She had also mentioned something about false edicts. At that time, Young Master Mei’s face had turned pale, and he had hurriedly set off.
“Let’s hope not,” Dou Zhao sighed deeply, her mood sinking. “Let’s hope I’m just being overly worried.”
Su Xin couldn’t help but look up at the sky.
Only then did she notice that the rain had lessened, and a golden light pierced through the dark clouds, illuminating the horizon as if the sun were about to break through?
Dou Zhao called out to Duan Gongyi, who was instructing the coachman to harness the horses, “Once we return to the residence, go to the treasury and withdraw five hundred taels of silver. Buy some ginseng, bird’s nest, and the like, and visit the elder of the Tan family for me. Just say thank you for maintaining peace in the countryside. If there’s anything I can help with in the future, I will certainly lend my full support.”
If the Tan family got involved, it was hard to predict what the situation would become.
The people from the Tan family had not shown themselves, and Duan Gongyi was unaware of the underlying circumstances. However, Dou Zhao prepared generous gifts to visit the elder of the Tan family, which also brought him a sense of pride as a disciple.
He responded loudly, personally harnessing the chestnut horse with the reins.w