Unexpectedly invited by his brother to pay respects to their mother, Song Han’s usually pale face flushed with excitement. He timidly called out “Brother,” his eyes betraying his joy.

Song Mo’s heart ached. He gently patted Song Han’s shoulder, causing the younger boy to wince.

Song Mo’s eyes flashed coldly. “What’s wrong?” he demanded.

Song Han hung his head, mumbling, “Nothing.”

Song Mo scoffed and yanked down Song Han’s collar, revealing two purple welts on his shoulder.

“Did he hit you?!” Song Mo’s forehead veins bulged, his bright eyes glinting dangerously.

“No, no,” Song Han stammered. “I accidentally bumped into something.” Panicking, he insisted, “Really, I did it myself.” Fearing conflict between Song Mo and their father, he clutched his brother’s hand tightly, his eyes pleading.

Tears glistened in Song Mo’s eyes. After a long silence, he said softly, “If he hits you again, run away while begging loudly for mercy. He cares too much about his reputation to let others know. Don’t just stand there and take it.”

He seemed to relive the searing pain of their father’s whip on his own back. Song Mo hugged his brother tightly.

“I understand!” Song Han smiled at Song Mo, but his weak, pale smile made Dou Zhao doubt whether he’d truly have the courage to resist as Song Mo suggested.

Song Mo instructed Chen He to fetch two bottles of premium wound medicine, then gestured to Dou Zhao, saying, “Your sister-in-law!” prompting Song Han to greet her.

Song Han shyly stepped forward, bowing respectfully and calling her “Sister-in-law.”

Dou Zhao rewarded him with a purse containing twenty taels of silver, smiling, “For you to buy snacks.”

Realizing the purse held silver notes, Song Han quickly tried to refuse. “I can’t accept this!”

Song Mo laughed, “Take what your sister-in-law gives you. If you ever need something and can’t find me, go to her.”

Song Han nodded, accepting the purse, his gaze filled with curiosity as he looked at Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao smiled kindly at him before allowing Song Mo to help her into the carriage.

Song Han and Song Mo mounted their horses, flanking Dou Zhao’s carriage as they left Duke Ying’s residence.

The Song family’s ancestral graves were located in Daxing County, on an auspicious site facing water and backed by mountains. Loyal servants who had fought alongside the Song family’s ancestors now lived there as tomb guardians. Over the centuries, the initial two or three households had grown into a small village known as Song Family Village.

When Dou Zhao’s group arrived, the village head, having received prior notice, led the entire village in welcoming them at the entrance.

Song Mo and Song Han dismounted, exchanging pleasantries with the village head before following several elders up the hill, carrying whole pigs and sheep as offerings.

Dou Zhao, veiled and supported by Su Lan and Su Xin, followed behind Song Mo.

The white marble tombs were clean and well-maintained, evidently regularly tended.

After Song Mo and the others paid their respects to Madam Jiang, Song Mo stood alone at her grave, murmuring for a while before they descended the hill.

The village head invited them to stay for lunch.

Song Mo politely declined, “I have palace duties this afternoon. I’ll return to pay respects to Mother during the winter solstice.”

The village head praised Song Mo’s filial piety profusely, his manner extremely cordial as he escorted them out of Song Family Village.

Song Mo then smiled at Song Han, “Is there anywhere you’d particularly like to visit? I’m giving you half a day off. Chen He can accompany you for some relaxation.”

Song Han’s eyes lit up, but after hesitating for a while, he said, “I’ll stay with you, Brother!”

Song Mo chuckled, “There will be other opportunities. Think carefully—this chance won’t come again. Will you accompany your brother, or would you rather explore East Street, Baiyun Temple, or Daxiangguo Temple?” Without waiting for Song Han’s response, he continued, “Go on, let Chen He take you out. If you see anything you like, I’ll cover the cost.” He tempted further, “Didn’t you want a cloisonné paperweight like Gu Yu’s? Take this chance to check Yubao Pavilion for a suitable one.” Then, jokingly added, “I’m sure Jifenge would have one, but I’d hate for people to say your sister-in-law just arrived and we brothers are already taking advantage of the Dou family. Let’s skip Jifenge this time.”

Song Han tried to decline again.

Song Mo sighed, “This is all I can do for you right now, brother. We’ll wait for you at the Zuixian Restaurant. Once you’ve chosen your items, come directly there.”

Seeing Song Mo’s sincerity, Song Han’s eyes reddened. He shyly asked Dou Zhao, with a hint of eagerness to please, “Sister-in-law, is there anything you’d like me to bring back for you?”

“I already took quite a sum from my father before the wedding,” Dou Zhao joked. “I can’t think of anything I need right now. But when I do, you’d better not refuse!”

“I won’t, I won’t!” Song Han promised earnestly, his serious demeanor preventing Dou Zhao from saying more.

Song Mo then gave his horse to Chen He and joined Dou Zhao in her carriage.

The group split up on the main road. Song Han and Chen He entered the city, while the others headed to the estate the Emperor had bestowed upon Song Mo.

Yan Chaoqin had already arrived, leading a group waiting in the courtyard.

Besides familiar faces like Lu Ming and Xia Lian, Dou Zhao saw a tall, thin scholar resembling a heron, introduced as Liao Bifeng, another of Song Mo’s advisors. There was also a handsome middle-aged man named Zhong Bingxiang, who had just arrived from Guangdong. He was Song Mo’s chief manager for the Thirteen Hongs in Guangdong…

After everyone paid their respects, Song Mo kept Zhong Bingxiang behind, instructing him, “From now on, the income from the Quanzhou shop should be given directly to my wife.”

The Quanzhou shop was the most profitable of all their businesses.

Zhong Bingxiang respectfully agreed, stealing a couple of glances at Dou Zhao before withdrawing.

Now that they were married, the expenses for the inner and outer courtyards should be separated.

Dou Zhao gladly accepted this arrangement.

Song Mo then led her to the back courtyard.

A small, slender young man with fair skin and unremarkable features emerged from the grove.

“This is Du Wei,” Song Mo discreetly introduced to Dou Zhao. “He used to work for the Duke Dingguo’s household. My fifth uncle entrusted him to me, and now he manages several of my shops in the capital.”

Dou Zhao immediately understood.

This man was Song Mo’s intelligence gatherer, one of his hidden assets, part of his covert network.

“My lord,” she said, her eyes stinging and her chest tight, as if a dam full of water might burst at any moment.

Song Mo gestured for her not to say more, adding, “As husband and wife, there shouldn’t be secrets between us.”

Dou Zhao turned away, fearing her tears might fall.

This side of Dou Zhao was unfamiliar to Song Mo, yet it stirred something in him. It reminded him of the pride he felt as a child when his mother praised him for good schoolwork. This inexplicable feeling came so suddenly that he didn’t know how to respond. He tried to cover it with a joke: “If you ever need anything, you can also instruct Du Wei. This way, you won’t blindly stumble into trouble, forcing me to rescue you. I’m doing this for my good…”

The handsome youth before her was so kind, yet he always seemed afraid she might not accept his goodwill, as if he feared hurting her pride and tried to downplay his kindness… Had she behaved so poorly that he lacked confidence in her?

Dou Zhao suddenly realized there was no need to bring her past reticence into Duke Ying’s household. With this thought, her mood instantly lightened, filled with joy. She couldn’t help but laugh, saying, “Don’t worry, I’m quite timid. For risky endeavors like that, I’d push you to the front. I rarely get myself into trouble, so you probably won’t have many chances to busy yourself with rescues!”

Song Mo, recalling how she had once saved his life and later cornered him, blushed slightly but didn’t contradict her words.

Although Du Wei was responsible for gathering and relaying information to Song Mo, there were certain personal matters Song Mo might not fully disclose to others. Du Wei didn’t know why Song Mo accepted her statement, but he could sense Song Mo’s trust in Dou Zhao. It wasn’t just ordinary trust, but the kind where one could entrust their back to another.

He couldn’t help but glance at Dou Zhao in surprise before lowering his head deeply.

Leaving the estate, Dou Zhao smiled, “It’s getting late. We should hurry to Zuixian Restaurant. It would be troublesome if the young master arrived before us!”

“What ‘young master’? Just call him by his given name,” Song Mo laughed. “Don’t worry, Chen He will handle everything. There won’t be any issues.”

Dou Zhao knew addressing Song Han so formally seemed distant, but whenever she thought about the possibility of Song Mo and Song Han falling out one day, she couldn’t bring herself to be close to Song Han.

Perhaps after she uncovered why Song Yichun treated Song Mo so harshly, her view of Song Han might change.

Lost in thought, Dou Zhao accompanied Song Mo to Zuixian Restaurant.

Song Mo informed her, “I’ve reserved a private room at Zuixian Restaurant. We’ll have lunch there before heading back.”

“Is that alright?” Dou Zhao asked, surprised.

Song Mo grinned mischievously, “It’s rare for us to go out. If we can’t have fun, we should at least enjoy a good meal, right?”

Just like when he took her through Jiangmi Hutong to see the Six Ministries.

Today, he was taking her to dine at Zuixian Restaurant.

Dou Zhao smiled and said “Alright.” Turning away, she discreetly wiped her eyes and adjusted her makeup before disembarking from the carriage with Song Mo.

In her previous life, she had only heard of Zuixian Restaurant but never set foot inside.

Song Han hadn’t arrived yet.

The private room Song Mo had reserved was called Canghai Pavilion, located on the top floor of Zuixian Restaurant. It was furnished with a complete set of redwood furniture, adorned with Ru and Ding kiln porcelain, and genuine calligraphy and paintings by famous artists from previous dynasties. Silk gauze curtains from Jiangnan Imperial Textile Manufacturing hung from the windows, which, when opened, offered a panoramic view of half the capital.

Even on her first visit, Dou Zhao could already imagine how extravagant dining here must be, given the prime location and valuable decor.

Song Mo pointed out a barely visible street in the distance, explaining, “Whenever the Emperor moves from the Forbidden City to the Western Park for the summer, he passes through there. Many people reserve Canghai Pavilion just to catch a glimpse of the imperial procession…”

“Can you see clearly from here?” Dou Zhao asked with a smile, her gaze falling on a crowded snack shop across from Zuixian Restaurant.