Song Mo slowly walked out of the hall.

Ji Yong turned and left.

A gust of night wind blew, causing the lanterns adorned with large red double happiness characters to sway gently. The dim light illuminated the ground scattered with bright red firecracker remnants, creating a sense of desolation as if the festivities had ended and everyone had departed.

He stood with his hands clasped behind his back for a while, then instructed Chen He, “Go see where the people accompanying the Fourth Miss have been settled. Bring me her maid.”

Chen He complied and left.

By the corner, next to a Taihu stone, a few clusters of jade hairpin flowers bloomed, their pure white petals appearing particularly translucent under the moonlight.

However, Song Mo felt increasingly agitated, unable to resist pacing back and forth in the corridor.

Chen He returned with a slender maid.

Song Mo found her unfamiliar.

In a voice low enough for only Song Mo to hear, Chen He reported, “Young Master, the people accompanying the Fourth Miss are resting in the side rooms behind the main house. The two maids, Su Xin and Su Juan have been left at Jing’an Temple Hutong to help with the aftermath and will come over when the Fourth Miss returns in three days. Gan Lu was called by Madam Yan’an of the Jining Marquis’s residence for questioning, and Su Lan has gone out to watch the commotion. I waited for a long time but didn’t see Gan Lu or Su Lan, so I called over a maid named Wen Xiang who is accompanying the Fourth Miss…”

Song Mo was aware of the two sisters, Su Xin and Su Lan.

He had suffered a significant loss at the estate because he hadn’t anticipated that both sisters were skilled in martial arts and quite capable. Afterward, during his few encounters with Dou Zhao, he often saw either Su Xin or Su Lan by her side.

Hearing that Su Lan had gone out to watch the excitement, his expression darkened.

Did Su Lan not know that the bride had been switched? Or had she been detained under some pretext?

The maid called over by Chen He trembled in fear, not daring to lift her head.

She had just come out to ask the people from the Jining Marquis’s residence for tea when she was forcibly taken by this young man. Her wrist still throbbed with pain.

Thinking of the night and the secluded surroundings, facing two men, all sorts of dreadful thoughts flooded her mind.

Before Song Mo could speak, she suddenly fell to her knees before him, knocking her head on the ground as she sobbed, “Young Master, spare me! I know nothing! I’m just a second-class maid from the Dou family. After the Fourth Miss came to the capital, she was assigned to serve her by Madam Wu. I only serve her tea and water… I don’t know anything…”

Song Mo glanced at Chen He.

Chen He’s face turned red with embarrassment as he said, “I’ll call the leading maid over…”

He truly didn’t know what Song Mo wanted to ask, thinking that any maid accompanying the Fourth Miss would suffice. He had even chosen one who seemed relatively clever, yet it turned out to be a misunderstanding.

“That’s unnecessary.” Song Mo ignored the kneeling maid, striding toward the ceremonial gate as he said calmly, “Since this matter involves Huai Tree Hutong, asking more people will only alert the enemy. Pass on my orders to let Xia Lian take Zhu Yicheng and the others to Huai Tree Hutong immediately and act according to my commands.”

Chen He responded, “Yes,” but his heart trembled.

Zhu Yicheng and the others were top experts from Fujian, who had previously served under the Duke of Dingguo. Zhu Yicheng had even been entrusted by the Duke to take the Young Master to the battlefield, making him one of the Young Master’s half-teachers and one of his most loyal supporters. Hearing the Young Master’s tone, it seemed he intended to go to Huai Tree Hutong himself.

Could it be that something had happened to the Fourth Miss of the Dou family?

He looked at Song Mo, whose face bore a hint of suppressed anger, and he forced down his desire to sneak a glance at the wedding hall, quickly exiting the Jining Marquis’s residence.

Song Mo exhaled deeply, climbed into the carriage, and instructed the driver, “To Huai Tree Hutong.”

In the main room of Jing’an Temple Hutong, Dou Shiying slowly opened his eyes.

“Shou Gu!” he called out to his daughter with difficulty, “I… I’m sorry!” Tears immediately welled in the corners of his eyes.

“Don’t say that,” Dou Zhao replied with a smile. “I never wanted to marry into the Wei family; it was you who insisted. Now both I and Dou Ming have gotten our wishes fulfilled. What do you have to be sorry for? Don’t overthink it; just rest well. Uncle Wu will take care of things with Dou Ming, and the Jining Marquis is a gentle person. Since Dou Ming has already married, he certainly won’t mistreat him. You don’t need to worry.”

Dou Shiying didn’t believe her.

In his impression, Dou Zhao had always been generous and kind to others, and he thought she was merely trying to comfort him.

He felt even sadder.

But what could he do?

Both his palms and the backs of his hands were flesh.

Could he bring Dou Ming back and then send Dou Zhao off again?

Would Dou Ming still have a way to live?

But if he accepted this, what would happen to the grievances Dou Zhao had suffered?

Dou Shiying dared not look at Dou Zhao again, turning his head away as silent tears slipped down his cheeks.

Dou Zhao sighed inwardly.

Her father disliked disputes, always believing that if he endured a little, he could avoid conflict. Yet he didn’t realize that the more he did this, the more tangled the situation became, with everyone feeling wronged and resentment growing, leading to increasingly tense relationships that could eventually explode.

She adjusted the lamp wick, making the room brighter.

Dou Zhao called for Gao Sheng, who had been waiting outside, to come in. “Stay with my father and talk to him!”

Her father and Wang Yingxue were as cold as ice to each other, and neither of her daughters was close to him. The only one who could comfort him now was probably Gao Sheng, this loyal servant.

Gao Sheng respectfully complied.

Dou Zhao exited the inner room.

“Shou Gu!” Madam Wu approached awkwardly.

Dou Zhao glanced at her and said, “If you have the time to wait here for my father to wake up, you might as well think of a way to get the Wei family to acknowledge this marriage! Our two sisters from the West Dou family have one torn apart by you and the other mistakenly married to the Wei family. Now we’re both like fish frying in oil; you must save at least one of us!”

Madam Wu’s face flushed red. “This was originally your stepmother’s idea…”

“You dare to do such a thing,” Dou Zhao interrupted coldly, “I respect you as a woman who doesn’t fall behind men, so don’t let me look down on you.”

Her words left Madam Wu speechless, causing Liu Mama to step back repeatedly.

Dou Zhao didn’t even glance at the women in the hall, leaving the main house with a solemn expression.

The servant women outside lowered their heads, parting to make way for her.

When she returned to her room in the east wing, hearing Su Xin slam the door shut, Dou Zhao’s expression finally brightened.

She asked Su Xin, “Where’s the Seventh Madam?” her mood lightening.

Su Xin chuckled softly, “She’s been locked in the back room by the Seventh Master.”

Dou Zhao nodded with a smile.

She had long decided not to involve herself in her father’s family matters. Whatever happened to Wang Yingxue was no longer her concern. Now, she felt a sense of relief, as if the air around her had become fresher.

Dou Zhao went to her aunt’s room.

Her aunt was still awake, lying there in quiet sorrow, while Zhao Zhang was clumsily comforting her.

Seeing Dou Zhao, her aunt let out a long sigh of relief and quickly offered her the spot at the head of the bed.

“What will you do?” her aunt grasped Dou Zhao’s hand, whispering as she began to cry.

Dou Zhao felt a pang of guilt for having concealed the truth from her aunt.

After a moment’s thought, Dou Zhao decided to reveal the truth to her aunt.

Her aunt was left speechless, while Zhao Zhang, eager for chaos, gave Dou Zhao a thumbs-up. Her aunt, unable to scold Dou Zhao, reprimanded her daughter, “If you keep acting recklessly, I’ll tell your father to punish you by making you kneel in the ancestral hall!” Then she couldn’t help but ask Dou Zhao, “Is what you said true? You didn’t want to marry into the Wei family, so you let them arrange for Ming Jie to marry in your place? You’re not just saying this to comfort me, are you?” Her eyes were filled with suspicion.

The incident had happened so suddenly that her aunt didn’t have time to think. When she returned to her room and reflected on it, she began to see some clues.

But she couldn’t fathom why Madam Wu would act this way.

Dou Zhao straightforwardly told her aunt about the Ji family’s situation.

Her aunt was left in a daze for a long time.

Zhao Zhang muttered from the side, “Why can’t I encounter such good fortune?”

Her aunt slapped her daughter’s head and said seriously, “You did the right thing! The Ji family knew you were already engaged but still came to propose; their intentions are not pure. Even if Ji Jianming is a good man, we cannot marry into their family.” At this point, she thought of the Ji family and wanted to ask Dou Zhao if they were aware of the situation, but then she felt that even if she asked, what difference would it make?

On one side was her maternal family, and on the other was her husband’s family. The Ji family was also in a difficult position. Thinking of Dou Zhao, so young yet living in such a precarious situation, avoiding one danger after another, she felt a surge of guilt for not being able to protect her unfortunate niece, her eyes reddening as she said, “What will you do in the future?”

“What’s so good about getting married?” Dou Zhao hoped her aunt wouldn’t be so sad. “Look at my mother…” She smiled brightly, “You and Uncle have helped me secure half of the West Dou family’s assets, so why should I worry about food? When it comes to marriage, I’ll take my time to find someone I’m satisfied with.”

Her aunt thought about it and found it reasonable.

After all, Dou Zhao didn’t have to worry about food and clothing. She didn’t need to marry into a noble family; as long as the person had good character and shared a connection with Dou Zhao, it would still be a good match.

Exiting her aunt’s room, Dou Zhao felt her steps much lighter.

She smiled, “I want to get a good night’s sleep. I’m sure Madam Wu has arranged for someone to get the Jining Marquis drunk; tomorrow morning will be crucial, and I need to be well-rested to deal with them.”

Su Xin smiled, serving Dou Zhao as she settled down.

Dou Zhao was so happy that she tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

She thought about which of her nephews and grandnephews was the most honest and trustworthy, considering occasionally bringing one over to keep her company. She would certainly learn from Wei Ge and Rui Ge’s lessons, speaking gently to him, taking care of his daily needs, and helping him with his studies, raising him to be a filial child.

Then she wondered why the Dou family had so many sons; wouldn’t it be wonderful to raise a few daughters in the house? In spring, she could take them out for outings, in summer, they could go boating, in autumn, they could climb mountains, and in winter, they could huddle by the kang telling stories. When they got married, she could give them generous dowries, and when they had children, they would bring a group of little maids and boys to visit her.

Then she thought that this might lead to favoritism and cause trouble. It would be better to use the silver to reward those who excelled in the Dou family’s studies or to purchase a farm to care for the elderly or orphaned children… She wondered if the court had any restrictions on this. When she returned to Zhen Ding, she would have to discuss it with Mr. Chen.

Although she couldn’t take half of the West Dou family’s silver, if she used it on the Dou family’s children, no one would dare to stop her.

As long as she used it wisely, she could live quite freely in the Dou family!