In a matter of moments, a crowd of onlookers had gathered around Ji Yong and He Yu.
The He family guards tried to disperse the crowd: “What are you looking at? Haven’t you seen a fight before?”
A woman laughed, “We’ve never seen such handsome young masters fighting!” This elicited a burst of laughter from the spectators.
Although the He family guards looked somewhat embarrassed, their demeanor in dispersing the crowd was no longer as overbearing as before.
The Ji family guards noticed that the He family guards were merely standing by and watching, not stepping in to help. Realizing this was likely due to He Yu’s instructions, and knowing that Ji Yong and He Yu were frequent companions, they were unsure of the situation. Not daring to intervene rashly, they could only watch as the two engaged in a harmless scuffle of punches and kicks.
After several rounds, both men were exhausted and sat on the ground, panting heavily.
Ji Yong asked He Yu, “Why the hell did you hit me?”
He Yu glared at Ji Yong, “Didn’t you say that the Dou family’s Fourth Miss would marry Wei Tingyu? How did the Duke of Jining become the Dou family’s second son-in-law? I heard you even went to the Shuntian Prefecture to help with the marriage certificate?”
It seemed the news of the Dou sisters’ marriages had already spread.
The mention of this matter infuriated Ji Yong.
He sneered, “Why are you asking me? Go ask Wei Tingyu! If he didn’t acknowledge the engagement, could I have forced him?”
He Yu remained silent.
Ji Yong stood up unsteadily, looking somewhat dejected as he walked towards his carriage.
He Yu caught up with him, putting an arm around his shoulder, and said, “Forget it! I just felt frustrated. Let’s go drink?”
Ji Yong nodded, taking the handkerchief his attendant offered and carelessly wiping his nose. He asked, “You didn’t mess up my face, did you? I still have to report for duty at the yamen tomorrow…”
He Yu’s eyes flickered, “A real man looks more imposing with a few scars on his face!”
Ji Yong spat and retorted, “Then how about I make you look more imposing? What do you think?”
He Yu chuckled, “I’m a married man now, so I don’t need to worry about such trivial matters. Don’t you still need to find a wife?”
“Wife…” Ji Yong muttered, looking distracted.
Dou Zhao would never pay attention to him again, would she?
The thought made his heart ache unbearably.
How did things turn out this way?
He only wanted her to have a better life, why did she always think he was meddling?
Ji Yong suddenly felt lost.
He Yu, who had his arm around Ji Yong’s shoulder as they walked, noticed his friend’s dejection. Feeling mischievous, he winked at Ji Yong and said, “Want me to play matchmaker for you? I have a younger cousin, quite pretty, well-mannered, and talented. Come to my house someday, I’ll point her out to you. If you like her, I’ll have my father talk to yours…”
Ji Yong snapped back to reality, swatting away He Yu’s hand from his shoulder. He grumbled, “Just mind your own business, why are you meddling?”
“This isn’t meddling, is it?” He Yu said nonchalantly. “You’re not getting any younger. Be careful, or I might be holding my son while you’re still all alone. But you know, I think that Wei Tingyu is a real piece of work. Even if he couldn’t marry the Dou family’s Fourth Miss, he didn’t have to marry the Fifth Miss! How is the Fourth Miss supposed to face people now? Say, should we go have a word with Wei Tingyu…”
The two friends walked away arm in arm, their voices fading into the distance.
The guards of both the He and Ji families silently followed behind, leaving Jing’an Temple Alley together.
Song Mo sat under the soft glow of a ram’s horn palace lamp, fingering a small piece of paper with an unusual expression.
Since Tao Qizhong had already visited Master Dou at Jing’an Temple Alley, the Dou family would surely send someone to investigate his background soon.
Was this a case of being too clever for one’s good?
The notorious reputation he had intentionally cultivated in the past to intimidate his father had now become an obstacle between him and Dou Zhao!
However, the situation wasn’t unsolvable.
Didn’t Dou Zhao also have many rumors surrounding her?
It would all depend on how he explained things to Master Dou when the time came.
With this in mind, Song Mo took two bottles of imperial Ganlu white wine and headed to the residence of Shao Wenji, the Commander of the Imperial Guard.
To his surprise, Dong Qi, the heir of Duke Guangen, was also there.
Song Mo graciously handed the wine to Shao Wenji’s servant, smiling, “I thought I’d be off duty tonight and wanted to share a drink with Commander Shao. Fearing you might be reluctant to part with your wine, I brought some myself. Fortunately, Lord Dong is here too. Commander Shao, why don’t you do us the honor of joining us for a few cups?”
Knowing Song Mo’s character and his usual respectful demeanor towards his superior, Shao Wenji would be mad to refuse Song Mo’s gesture.
With Song Mo being so generous, Dong Qi naturally couldn’t be hesitant either.
Both men smiled and agreed, taking their seats on the kang according to their ranks.
Song Mo noticed a brocade box on the table.
It seemed Dong Qi had come to give Shao Wenji a gift.
As fellow heirs of noble families, although Dong Qi and Song Mo had contrasting personalities – one warm, one cold – they were equally adept at social interactions. In the Imperial Guard, they strictly observed the hierarchy, earning praise from their colleagues.
Song Mo pretended not to notice the gift. Compared to others, he and Dong Qi were much more generous in gift-giving to their superiors – due to their status, their gifts were gestures of friendship, while others’ gifts were mere attempts at currying favor…
Being in a separate palace, although the servant quickly brought out a few dishes, they were only cold appetizers like peanuts and stir-fried peas, not even comparable to the snacks served by the servants at Duke Ying’s mansion or Marquis Huichang’s residence. However, in this separate palace, this was already quite luxurious.
Song Mo, showing great courtesy, took the initiative to pour wine for Shao Wenji and Dong Qi.
This was what Shao Wenji appreciated most about Song Mo.
“You’ve come at the right time. Jingyun and I were just discussing the duties for the next few days,” he said to Song Mo with a smile. “His Majesty has decided to return to the palace on the 12th. You and Jingyun will be responsible for guarding His Majesty for the next few days.”
Jingyun was Dong Qi’s courtesy name.
Dong Qi respectfully bowed to Shao Wenji, “I will follow your orders, sir.” His eyes, however, couldn’t hide his joy.
It was clear that this was what he had sought when bringing gifts to Shao Wenji.
Song Mo, on the other hand, didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
If the Emperor was returning to the palace, the twelve divisions of the Imperial Guard would be guarding along the way. Due to the large number of people belonging to different divisions, the commanders of the twelve divisions would meet in advance to assign duties for the journey and send people to inspect the places the Emperor would pass through.
The inspection duty was certainly not as prominent as serving the Emperor closely, but if Song Mo wanted to return to the capital quietly, it would have been best if Shao Wenji had assigned him to the inspection duty.
However, he hadn’t expected to be affected by Dong Qi, causing Shao Wenji to misunderstand that he had come for the same reason.
Now it seemed this path was no longer viable, especially since Shao Wenji had assigned him together with Dong Qi, who would surely pay extra attention to him.
Song Mo could only maintain his composure, smiling and thanking Shao Wenji, while inquiring about who else would be on duty with him in the Emperor’s presence over the next few days.
Meanwhile, Song Yichun was pacing anxiously in his room like a caged beast.
“I told you this wouldn’t work! Look at the Dou family, they immediately sent someone to investigate Song Mo’s background. Some too many people know about this matter, even if we wanted to conceal it, we couldn’t. This marriage is likely off the table now!” he said anxiously. “If the Dou family doesn’t agree to this marriage, are there any other candidates?”
Compared to offending the Emperor, the prospect of Song Mo marrying a princess and taking control of Duke Ying’s household, reducing him to a figurehead, suddenly seemed insignificant.
He needed to settle Song Mo’s marriage quickly before the Emperor returned to the capital and it became impossible.
Tao Qizhong, sitting in a nearby chair and sipping tea, smiled and said, “I had just left when the Dou family immediately sent someone to inquire about the young master. This indicates that the Dou family is eager to marry off their daughter. My lord, please don’t worry. I anticipated this, and I’ll visit Jing’an Temple Alley first thing tomorrow morning!”
Song Yichun didn’t bother asking what plan he had in mind, he just urged, “Get this matter settled quickly!”
Tao Qizhong smiled and agreed. He left the study and early the next morning, as if visiting a friend, he took a twelve-colored gift box and went to Jing’an Temple Alley.
When informed of Tao Qizhong’s visit, Dou Shiyingscoffed, “He still has the nerve to see me? Tell him to get lost!”
Dou Shiying was usually known for his gentle demeanor, and it was rare for him to be so sharp. The servant, frightened and pale-faced, hurried to the main gate.
Hearing Dou Shiying’s intense reaction, Tao Qizhong was surprised. But time was of the essence, and he couldn’t find another matchmaking candidate who met Song Yichun’s requirements like Dou Zhao. He slipped five taels of silver to the servant and pleaded, “Please, young man, go and inform your master again. Tell him that rumors are fearsome things, and I wouldn’t dare deceive Master Dou, even for the sake of my nephew’s life.”
Dou Shiying was known for his lenient rule, and the servant, after some consideration and motivated by the five taels of silver, went to inform Dou Shiying again.
“Rumors are fearsome things!” Dou Shiying mulled over this phrase several times, feeling it carried deep meaning. He instructed the servant sternly, “Let him in to talk.”
The servant quickly ushered Tao Qizhong into the study.
Tao Qizhong, his face full of shame, immediately apologized profusely upon entering. He said, “It’s all my fault for not explaining clearly. Our young master is accomplished in both civil and military arts, a rare talent among the noble families in the capital. When he was nine, he accompanied the Emperor on an autumn hunt to Huailai. The Emperor tested horsemanship and archery, and our young master ranked second in riding and fifth in archery, placing first among the noble sons. The Emperor even rewarded him with an estate in Daxing. Since then, countless officials and nobles in the capital have had their eyes on our young master, often using him as an example to scold their unlearned sons. However, the Duke has high expectations for the young master, and his studies are demanding, so he rarely goes out. This is why the rumors have become so exaggerated.”
“After I returned and mentioned your family’s young lady to the Duke, he also sent people to inquire. I was worried the Duke would reprimand me for being rash, but to my surprise, Duke Ying was very pleased. He even said, ‘A true hero must endure heaven’s trials and only the mediocre escape envy.’ This shows that your family’s young lady must be truly outstanding. He specifically instructed me to come and gauge your opinion, to see if we could arrange a meeting with you in the next couple of days to settle this marriage.”
“If things were truly as rumored in the capital, how could our Duke allow the young master to take lives so casually?”
“Whether it’s true or false, rumor or slander, Master Dou will know once you meet our Duke in person.”
“Is there such a thing in this world as a victim advocating for the perpetrator?”
Tao Qizhong’s words left Dou Shiying in a dilemma.
If his advisor had such eloquence as Zhang Yi, and if what he said was untrue, agreeing to this marriage would ruin Dou Zhao’s life. But if what he said was true, refusing this marriage would mean missing out on an excellent match for Dou Zhao. Where else could he find such a good marriage prospect for her?