Accept with a smile?

Of course, Dou Zhao had to accept with a smile.

If she didn’t, and if Song Mo misunderstood her as not recognizing his goodwill and thus remembered her, she felt she probably wouldn’t even be able to sleep soundly.

“I’ll respectfully comply,” she said with a beaming smile, curtsying to Song Mo. “Please convey my thanks to your mother on my behalf!”

“Fourth Miss Dou, there’s no need for such formality,” Song Mo smiled, his jade-like face appearing even more clear and lustrous in the dimly lit hall.

No wonder so many people liked to look at him!

Dou Zhao mused inwardly, smiling as she watched Song Mo’s attendants carrying in and out the gifts.

How many “modest gifts” did he bring exactly?

Looking at the gift boxes piled up like a small mountain, Dou Zhao felt a bit of a headache coming on.

But she was determined not to say a word more to Song Mo—saying nothing was better than saying too much. Who knew which word might touch a nerve with him? She felt there was no need, nor did she want to rack her brains trying to guess Song Mo’s reactions. After all, one was in the capital and the other in Zhending; once this matter settled, there would be no relationship between them.

Dou Zhao sat there calmly, drinking tea.

Although Song Mo considered glancing at people from the corner of one’s eye to be a weak and impolite behavior, he couldn’t help but steal a glance at Dou Zhao.

People who could remain so composed in front of him were… truly rare!

He thought of that rainy day.

Her brilliant eyes, her confident smile that showed she had everything under control…

How did she manage it?

He had been taught by famous teachers from a young age, which was why he could be calmer and more self-controlled than most people.

She seemed to be only one or two years older than him, raised in seclusion, never having left Zhending County… And then there was that matter with his eldest uncle—how did she come up with the idea of self-deprecation? Not to mention his grandmother and mother, even his father and the family’s advisors couldn’t be sure which strategy would work…

Song Mo suddenly became very curious about the girl before him.

Who had taught her?

Was Chen Qushui just her accountant?

Moreover, her father and stepmother were in the capital, yet her half-sister lived with her in Zhending. Was it really as they claimed to the outside world, that her stepmother, due to poor health, couldn’t manage household affairs, so she entrusted her and her sister to the care of the Second Madam of the East Dou family?

It seemed there were many mysteries surrounding her!

He felt somewhat impatient to know everything about her.

Song Mo couldn’t help but say, “When I came, my grandmother, that is, Madam Mei, also asked me to thank you on her behalf for saving the Jiang family’s women.”

Dou Zhao was surprised.

She had guessed that Song Mo would tell his mother about this matter after returning, but she hadn’t expected Madam Jiang to tell Madam Mei about it.

Watching her, Song Mo inexplicably felt very happy, as if he had answered his teacher’s question correctly as a child and received his mother’s praise.

He smiled and said, “My mother was very pleased to see your strategy succeed. She told my grandmother that she had discovered a female Zhuge Liang. It’s a pity the timing isn’t right, otherwise she would certainly want to toast you with wine. It would surely make for a fine story.” As he spoke, his smile gradually faded a little. “When I left, my grandmother also asked me to tell you that she should properly thank you, but she’s an unfortunate person and fears implicating you, so she won’t trouble you further.”

His expression turned somewhat bitter. “You might not know what you’ve done… As soon as my grandmother heard that my eldest uncle had passed away, she had poison prepared—if the women of the family were exiled, they would end up either as official courtesans or military prostitutes, unable to live or die as they wished. Moreover, those people would loudly advertise them as women from such-and-such families to attract customers. The more lowly the status, the more they enjoy…” At this point, he couldn’t continue, his tone choked with emotion once again.

They probably never imagined they would face the complete execution of the entire clan, did they?

After the Prince of Liao ascended the throne, several once-prominent noble families were completely executed.

Such things happened during the time of the founding emperor.

Almost everyone in the capital had gone to watch the spectacle.

She had heard the servant women talk about it before.

There were too many people. By the end, the executioner’s blade had become dull, and his arm had lost strength. Sometimes it took several chops to kill a person. The person being executed was a bloody mess, needless to say, but those waiting for execution, watching their young daughters or even pregnant daughters-in-law die so tragically, would break down. Some would keep kowtowing to the executioner, even shouting that they would expose their fathers’ and brothers’ crimes, just begging for a quick death. All the negative emotions of humanity were on display; forget dignity, even the most basic moral bottom line was gone.

If she were Madam Mei, she would also lead all the women of the family to commit suicide.

“Stop talking!” A surge of turbid air blocked Dou Zhao’s chest as she glared at Song Mo. “Why are you telling me all this? I don’t like hearing it!”

Indeed!

Why was he telling her all this?

She was still an unmarried young lady!

Song Mo couldn’t help but feel somewhat shocked.

Perhaps it was because he also had some pent-up feelings.

While busy helping his grandmother, aunts, and female cousins pack their belongings, he hadn’t felt it, but once things calmed down, he could no longer hold it in.

Looking at Dou Zhao’s disdainful expression, he suddenly thought her glaring at him was very beautiful.

Her large eyes were bright and spirited, her long eyebrows slightly furrowed, with an impatient look.

Yes, it was impatience.

Not fear, not terror, not doubt, but as she said, impatience from disliking hearing these things.

Frank, genuine, fearless… So even in such adverse circumstances, she could still calmly and rationally plan, could still force him to surrender without a flaw in her strategy.

Had he already determined in his heart that she was someone who wouldn’t be intimidated by him?

Song Mo’s gaze toward Dou Zhao became peculiar.

Dou Zhao’s heart suddenly began to race.

Why was Song Mo looking at her like that?

Had he discovered something?

Or had he thought of something related to her?

Whichever it was, she truly didn’t want to have any more entanglements with him.

Dou Zhao asked him, “Have you had lunch yet?”

Song Mo was slightly taken aback.

This topic change was both abrupt and awkward.

He couldn’t help but look up at the sun outside.

It seemed there was still more than half an hour until noon.

Realizing it was Dou Zhao speaking to him, he didn’t find the question stupid, so he replied politely, “The food at the farm is very good!”

Whether it was good or not, she just didn’t want to stay here listening to him continue talking about the Jiang family.

The more she knew, the harder it would be to extricate herself.

Dou Zhao smiled and stood up, “Master Mei is an honored guest, and it’s rare for you to visit. Zhending can’t compare to the capital in terms of produce, but the ingredients at the farm are fresh. I’ll go tell the kitchen to prepare some seasonal dishes for you to try.” This was a good opportunity to ask when they would exchange the hostage back. “If only Mr. Chen were here,” she sighed, “he could keep you company, chat, or play chess, so you wouldn’t be bored here alone.”

Song Mo either didn’t understand her words or had no intention of returning Chen Qushui. His eyes flickered, and he smiled, “It’s fine. The scenery at this farm is beautiful, every view is like a painting, and there are many places worth admiring.”

As expected of a future court favorite who would maintain the emperor’s favor for twenty years without decline.

Looking out from the main hall, there were two tall ginkgo trees planted on the left and right of the courtyard, with nothing else.

This was called beautiful scenery.

This must be what they call blatant lying!

Dou Zhao inwardly criticized, but her face remained impassive. She smiled and said a few polite words before turning to go to the kitchen.

She dawdled in the kitchen until it was almost lunchtime before returning to the hall.

One corner of the hall was filled with Song Mo’s “modest gifts,” and Song Mo was standing by the qin table near the window of the study, playing with a jar of goldfish on the table.

“You’re back!” He clapped his hands and sat down in the armchair in front of the qin table, looking as relaxed and at ease as if he were in his own home.

How arrogant!

Dou Zhao grumbled inwardly but smiled as she called out to him, “The meal is ready.”

Song Mo responded with an “Oh.”

Ganlu brought in water for him to wash his hands.

Silk napkins and chopsticks.

He glanced at Ganlu and Sujuan, then asked Dou Zhao, “What was the name of that maid who took the child from Yu Jian last time?”

“Her name is Sulan,” Dou Zhao replied, wanting to ask if all the needles had been removed from Yu Jian’s body.

Song Mo nodded and sat down at the table. Seeing only one set of bowls and chopsticks, he asked curiously, “Aren’t you having lunch?”

Wouldn’t that be asking for trouble?

Dou Zhao smiled and said, “I can eat in the kitchen!” implying that it wouldn’t be appropriate for them to dine together.

Song Mo smiled and said, “Isn’t that too much trouble?”

Dou Zhao insisted.

Song Mo said no more. Seeing a soup that looked delightfully green, he ladled a spoonful.

But as soon as the soup entered his mouth, there was a strange taste, and he couldn’t help but frown, “What is this?”

“It’s okra soup,” Dou Zhao smiled. “It’s a wild vegetable from the mountain at the farm. It can clear heat and detoxify, and can treat malignant sores and carbuncles. The weather is hot, and you’ve traveled from the capital, so eating some of this will be good for your health.”

Song Mo nodded and drank the soup spoonful by spoonful, as obedient as a child.

Dou Zhao felt embarrassed.

She had originally intended to play a trick on Song Mo…

Dou Zhao fled in disarray, had lunch in the small side room next to the kitchen, drank some tea, composed herself, and then returned to the hall.

Song Mo had a cup of tea beside him and was staring blankly at the ginkgo trees outside the window.

Hearing movement, he looked up and smiled, “Why are there two ginkgo trees planted in the courtyard?”

Dou Zhao’s gaze followed his.

“I don’t know either,” she smiled. “It seems they were already here the first time I came to the farm. I wonder who planted them?”

“Our family also has many things that can’t be explained clearly,” Song Mo said in a relaxed tone, as if ready for a long chat with Dou Zhao. “In our family’s garden, there’s a small hill called Cuiyun Ridge. Not far from Cuiyun Ridge, there’s a rockery made of Taihu stones, covered with various vines, called Chuiqing Yue. Between Cuiyun Ridge and Chuiqing Yue, there’s a city wall built, called ‘Elm Pass.’ It looks strange, and I don’t know which ancestor of our family had the whim to do this.”

“Is that so?” Dou Zhao responded perfunctorily.

Song Mo gazed at her intently.

His quiet eyes were calm, like a thousand-year-old well.

Dou Zhao felt a chill in her heart but forced a smile and said, “What’s the matter?”

Song Mo was silent for a moment, then said, “Are you very afraid of me?”

Dou Zhao instinctively wanted to say “no,” but she immediately realized this was a good opportunity to draw a clear line with Song Mo. After a brief thought, she said frankly, “Yes, I’m a bit afraid of you.”

“Is it because I wanted to kill you?”

No.

It’s because you killed your father and your brother with your own hands.

But now, none of this had happened yet, and she had no way to use it as evidence.

“Yes!” She could only answer this way.

Song Mo lowered his eyelids, his voice sounding somewhat low, “I’m very sorry!” His tone was very sincere. “If that’s the case, I apologize to you.” He raised his eyes, his expression earnest. “I sincerely apologize to you.”