Song Mo’s handsome face still held traces of youthfulness. Dou Zhao could even see the fine down on his upper lip. The person before her was far from the tall, athletic man with a graceful demeanor and calm, reserved expression she remembered.
In her mind, she pictured him sipping soup with a spoon. First, he would purse his lips, then drink it all in one go. Even if he disliked it, he wouldn’t complain.
Now, he was just a youth. A thirteen-year-old boy.
Had she been too harsh on him?
Perhaps she should set aside her prejudices and treat him like an ordinary young man? It wouldn’t be fair to hold him responsible for things he hadn’t done yet.
With this burden lifted from her mind, Dou Zhao smiled genuinely. “I forgive you!” However, she wouldn’t forget what kind of person he was. “Could you send Mr. Chen back first? He’s elderly and can’t endure too much travel. Besides, I need his help to manage things.”
“You need the help of someone who was once an advisor to a third-rank frontier official?” Her smile was calm and forgiving, with a hint of gentleness that warmed Song Mo’s heart. He enjoyed this atmosphere of conversation and smiled, “It seems this matter is quite troublesome. Why don’t you tell me about it? I’m quite good at giving advice!”
That won’t be necessary!
“I’ve opened a stationery shop,” Dou Zhao said, half-truthfully. “Thanks to Mr. Chen’s help. With him going to the capital, everything’s in disarray.”
“Are you trying to save up for your dowry?” Song Mo smiled. “How about I introduce you to a business opportunity? If it goes well, we could have a long-term partnership, and the payment terms are favorable.”
Dou Zhao’s eyes widened.
Song Mo didn’t seem like the type to be so helpful, did he?
Why would he suddenly offer to introduce her to a business opportunity?
They weren’t that close, were they?
But clearly, Song Mo didn’t think so.
His smile broadened. “The Shuntian Prefecture School and the Imperial Academy print many essays and examination papers every year. As it happens, I have a former household member working as a janitor at the Shuntian Prefecture School. You can just have your shop manager find him when the time comes.”
She wanted to keep her distance from him, to go their separate ways and never cross paths again, not to continue entangling herself with him.
Dou Zhao was torn between laughter and tears as she directly refused him. “I think we’d better not. It’s too complicated. My shop only sells ready-made stationery.”
“If you’re going to do something, you should do it to the best of your ability,” Song Mo said in a lecturing tone, not allowing her to argue. He walked straight to the writing desk and said, “I’ll write you a letter. You can take it to find him when the time comes.” He then described the person’s name and appearance to her.
Dou Zhao could only thank him and called for Ganlu to come in and grind the ink for him, but Song Mo refused. “No need, I can do it myself.”
Well, if you insist on doing it yourself, go ahead.
She wasn’t in the habit of going out of her way for strangers.
Dou Zhao sat to the side, drinking tea.
The sound of ink grinding filled the room.
It was neither too light nor too heavy, neither rushed nor slow, like the turning of a millstone, smooth and effortless, without any hint of roughness.
How much strength must that require?
Dou Zhao couldn’t help but let out a soft “Oh!” and looked over.
Song Mo stood easily at the writing desk, his fair and delicate hand holding the ink stick, his long fingers gently rotating it in circles. The clear water dripping into the inkstone gradually took on color.
Dou Zhao thought of the way he walked.
It was just as natural, yet with a touch of casualness.
Was he trained in some special martial arts as Duan Gongyi had said? Or was it the etiquette instilled in him since childhood?
The more Dou Zhao watched, the more she found his movements elegant and pleasing to the eye.
She couldn’t help but grow curious.
What exactly had happened back then that led him to kill his father and brother?
How could such a brilliant person have become the executioner for the Prince of Liao?
Song Mo’s words from his previous life, “Not everyone is fit to be a parent,” echoed in her heart, gradually forming a thorn.
“Here!” Before she knew it, Song Mo had finished writing the letter. He waved the sealed envelope in front of her, smiling, “What are you worrying about?”
“Nothing, I’m not worried about anything,” Dou Zhao quickly collected her thoughts and took the envelope, examining it carefully.
He had written in the official script style.
It was solid and dignified, giving a sense of substance.
Dou Zhao brought the envelope closer to look.
Indeed, it was solid and dignified, giving a feeling of reliability.
How could a person’s handwriting be so at odds with their character?
She looked at Song Mo, her mind in turmoil, not knowing what to say.
Song Mo, however, ignored her unusual behavior and lay down on the drunk’s chair in the study, closing his eyes. He naturally placed his hands on his abdomen and began to rock back and forth, making creaking sounds.
On this summer afternoon, everything was quiet. The rustling of wind through tree branches harmonized with the creaking of the drunk’s chair, creating a peaceful atmosphere that made one drowsy.
Suddenly, Song Mo’s voice broke the silence: “Before I came here, I had just buried my cousin.”
Dou Zhao was startled awake.
“My cousin’s given name was Hanzhu. She was my second uncle’s posthumous daughter,” he continued, eyes still closed, his voice soft with a hint of warmth. “She was three years older than me, with the gentlest and most honest nature. Not only was she skilled in needlework, but she also mastered martial arts. All the sisters in the family adored her. She often laughed and told me, ‘Tianchi, when you grow up, don’t use your good looks to bully girls.'”
Dou Zhao sat up straight.
She saw a tear form at the corner of Song Mo’s eye.
“My eldest aunt’s nephew, Yin Zhi, was highly skilled in martial arts, generous in nature, and most admirably, not rash,” his voice carried a hint of choking. “They were in love with each other. My grandmother and eldest aunt were both pleased with the match. But since my cousin had lost her father at a young age and was raised by my eldest aunt, my aunt worried about shortchanging her. She sent Yin Zhi to Fujian, hoping he could secure an official position so that my cousin could have a grand wedding when the time came.”
“When Yin Zhi left, he entrusted me to give my cousin a golden hairpin with a double lotus design.”
Dou Zhao clutched her clothes tightly.
“When my eldest uncle was accused of a crime, my mother, fearing that my cousin would have no one to care for her, wanted me to marry her.”
“My father initially disagreed, but seeing that the Jiang family seemed to be facing disaster, he couldn’t resist my mother’s insistence and reluctantly agreed.”
“Six days ago, my third and fifth uncles were escorted to Tieling Wei. The Emperor graciously allowed my grandmother to visit them. That’s when we learned that Yin Zhi had been beaten to death by the Jinyiwei two months ago while trying to protect my eldest uncle. That night, she took her own life using the golden hairpin Yin Zhi had given her…”
Dou Zhao’s teeth chattered, and she felt her face grow cold. When she touched it, she realized it was wet with tears.
She quickly turned away, taking out a handkerchief to wipe her eyes, silently thankful that she didn’t usually wear much powder, otherwise, she would have been a mess.
Having finally composed herself, she turned back only to meet a pair of eyes as deep as water.
When had Song Mo opened his eyes?
He must have had many thoughts with nowhere to express them!
Dou Zhao sighed and sincerely offered her condolences, “My deepest sympathies.” She couldn’t help but ask about Madam Mei, “Is the ancestral home back there still habitable? The Jiang family has such illustrious achievements, that they must have made quite a few enemies. Even if they can return safely, what will they do afterward? It seems they’ll need to come up with a plan.”
Now that the Jiang family had been demoted to commoners, if anyone sought revenge, the women and children would be easy targets.
“I’ve been busy with this matter for several days,” Song Mo said as if he hadn’t noticed Dou Zhao’s red-rimmed eyes, chatting casually. “The full moon wanes, and water overflows when full. My grandmother understands this principle well, so during the decades she’s been in charge, she’s not only bought many sacrificial fields but also renovated the ancestral home several times. Whenever the local government needed the gentry to contribute money or effort, the Jiang family never refused.
After the imperial edict came down, my grandmother was relieved, saying that not only would there be enough for the family’s daily needs, but if they tightened their belts, they could even send some silver to Tieling Wei. I was also worried about people seeking revenge, so I sent a few of my most trusted guards there to work for the Jiang family from now on. With their skills, even if they encounter bandits, ordinary ones wouldn’t be able to easily succeed.”
But when faced with a thunderbolt strike, how much use would all this planning be?
Dou Zhao couldn’t help but sigh for the old Madam Mei of the previous life, saying, “What’s there to fear from bandits? The real fear should be the Jinyiwei disguised as bandits!”
Song Mo just smiled, his eyes brighter than the sun outside.
One look and it was clear he had already made arrangements.
Dou Zhao inwardly sighed.
Indeed, she couldn’t treat him as a thirteen-year-old boy after all!
However, the atmosphere between them had become more harmonious. After exchanging a few more words, Dou Zhao stood up to take her leave. “It’s getting late, I should head back to the manor. When you leave, I won’t see you off.”
She didn’t dare take those “modest gifts” back with her, having them locked in the storehouse of the estate instead.
Song Mo didn’t say anything and escorted Dou Zhao to the main gate.
As Dou Zhao got into her carriage, she was still grumbling to herself: Whose home is this anyway, mine or yours?
It wasn’t until she got home that she remembered she had forgotten to set a date with Song Mo for Mr. Chen’s return.
As she was regretting this, Sulan, who had stayed at home, hurriedly came to meet her.
“Fourth Young Miss,” she said, on the verge of tears, “Young Master Ji came right after you left. He’s been waiting for you at home all day. He kept asking me where you went. If you hadn’t come back soon, I wouldn’t have been able to hold out!”
Dou Zhao was stunned. “Why did he come to Zhending? Is Sixth Aunt back too?”
“Sixth Madam didn’t come back,” Sulan said, puffing out her cheeks. “Young Master Ji said the weather was too hot, so he came to Zhending to escape the heat. He paid his respects to the Second Madam and then came straight here. He even asked if anyone was living in Heshou Hall now. There’s a pond there, and it’s cooler. He wants to borrow Heshou Hall to stay for a while.”
Dou Zhao felt her temples starting to throb again.
She asked Sulan, “When Young Master Ji asked where I went, how did you answer him?”
“Seeing Young Master Ji’s attitude, it seemed like he would go looking for you no matter where you were,” Sulan said, her pouting lips almost hanging an oil bottle. “I had no choice but to tell him you went to the prefecture, and that you had instructed us that you’d be back in the afternoon. That’s how I managed to pacify him. Now he’s with Aunt Cui, explaining Buddhist scriptures to her!”