On the way back to Yizhi Hall, Song Mo asked Dou Zhao, “Did everything go smoothly?”

“Yes!” Dou Zhao smiled slightly, recalling the embarrassed figures of the senior madam and her daughter-in-law as they left. “It was just a meeting with the stewards of each household. I didn’t plan to cling to control of the inner court, so we were all quite cordial.”

After all, Duke Ying’s mansion belonged to Duke Ying. He could reclaim the housekeeper’s authority at any time. Dou Zhao’s current goal was to let Song Yichun know that regardless of whom he wanted to entrust with managing Duke Ying’s household, without Yizhi Hall’s approval, no one could secure that position.

She asked Song Mo, “Any news about the Hua family?”

As the couple spoke privately, their servants naturally didn’t dare approach too closely, following at a distance.

Song Mo still lowered his voice, saying, “The official document appointing Hua’s eldest son as the Qianhu of Qiuling Qianhu Suo has been sent to Yuzhou.” A glint of coldness flashed in his eyes. “However, the old lady of that family has also decided to come to the capital to file an imperial complaint. Let the Hua family rejoice for now. The feeling of falling from the peak to the valley floor is even more worth savoring…”

For a lone, elderly woman to dare come to the capital to accuse an official of the third rank, anyone would suspect she was acting under someone’s instruction. Dou Zhao couldn’t help but caution, “Be careful. Don’t get yourself implicated.” If exploited by those with ulterior motives, people might think Song Mo was targeting the Marquis of Changxing and the Marquis of Anlu. Song Mo was still young with an unstable foundation, and it wasn’t wise to make too many enemies.

Song Mo, however, showed no fear. “It doesn’t matter even if people suspect there’s someone behind the old lady. If the situation escalates, pulling out the radish brings along the mud. Do you think there are many clean officials in the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War? They’ll only deal with the matter at hand, swiftly resolving the immediate situation. If they discover I’m behind it, that’s fine too. It’ll let them know why I’m doing this. Perhaps the Hua family will take the initiative to break off the engagement, saving me the trouble of ‘hinting’ at it later.”

The impression from her previous life was too deep. Dou Zhao had always felt Song Mo was a very capable person, and she nodded in agreement.

From a distance, Song Han broke away from the servants surrounding him and ran over.

“Brother, Brother, you’re finally back!” He hugged Song Mo’s arm, his eyes glistening with tears, looking at Song Mo anxiously. “There was a flood in the house, and thieves took advantage of the chaos to break in. Tao Qizhong knew nothing about it.” He complained, “I went to see sister-in-law, and Brother’s guards were all protecting her…” He glanced at Dou Zhao, and seeing her just standing quietly beside Song Mo with a smile, he immediately relaxed. However, he didn’t notice the fleeting embarrassment on Song Mo’s face.

Song Mo had been so concerned about Dou Zhao’s safety that he had forgotten to check on his younger brother, who had lost his mother’s love and been treated harshly by their father.

“It won’t happen like this again,” Song Mo said, putting his arm around Song Han’s shoulder, with a double meaning. “When Father returns, I’ll tell him to assign some guards to you…”

Before he could finish, Song Han exclaimed excitedly, “Really? Does that mean I’ll have my guards like you, Brother?” He tugged at Song Mo’s hand, wheedling, “Brother, I want guards even more formidable than yours!”

This was a small matter.

Song Mo chuckled, “I’ll keep an eye out for you.”

Song Han giggled, his smile full of joy, like the sun in the early morning, bringing a hint of warmth.

Was this Song Han?

Was this the same Song Han whose limbs Song Mo had severed, who had died wailing?

Dou Zhao felt a deep unease in her heart.

A servant came running, chasing after a figure.

Dou Zhao looked closely and saw it was Gu Yu.

Song Mo and Song Han also noticed him. Song Mo smiled at Gu Yu, while Song Han muttered something under his breath. Song Mo didn’t hear it, but Dou Zhao heard clearly. He had muttered, “Why did he come?” with undisguised disgust in his tone.

Dou Zhao pretended not to have heard.

“Brother Tianci, how did the house flood?” Gu Yu asked, his forehead covered in sweat and looking somewhat panicked. “Was anyone hurt?” As he spoke, he glanced at Dou Zhao and Song Han. Seeing them both standing there unharmed, he let out a long sigh of relief, his expression gradually calming. “And what’s this about thieves? I went drinking with Wang Dahai yesterday and only returned home at the hour of Yin. I heard vaguely that your house had flooded, so I rushed over. You’re back so early, you must have asked for leave from Shao Wenji, right? Does the Emperor know? Does the Empress know? Should I help you go to the palace? Those Five Districts Command officers are always trying to shirk responsibility, and the Shuntian Prefecture is always keen to avoid trouble. Counting on them to help catch thieves is less likely than an iron tree blooming…”

He rambled on at length.

Dou Zhao, however, felt only warmth in her heart.

Song Mo likely shared Dou Zhao’s feelings, as his gaze towards Gu Yu grew even gentler.

“The Emperor bestowed upon me Emperor Taizong’s sword, instructing me to investigate the flood and break-in at Duke Ying’s mansion…” He briefly recounted the course of events.

Gu Yu immediately said, “Brother Tianci, I’ll help you! I’m familiar with most of the various social classes in the capital. If we don’t turn them upside down, I’m not surnamed Gu! To think they dare target Brother Tianci’s household… Don’t they know where this is?” As he spoke, a fierce look appeared in his eyes and brows, making his beautiful, feminine face appear somewhat cold. “If they don’t hand over the culprits, none of those ‘Young Masters’ or ‘Big Brothers’ will escape involvement!”

Dou Zhao was startled, but then an idea occurred to her.

She gave Song Mo a meaningful look.

Song Mo nodded almost imperceptibly and said to Gu Yu with a smile, “Don’t be rash. It’s best to let the Five Districts Command and Shuntian Prefecture take the lead in this matter.” He added, “Have you had breakfast? Come, let your sister-in-law prepare something for you to eat. You can rest a bit, then accompany me to see the Earl of Dongping… Look at you now, pale-faced and spiritless… How much did you drink yesterday?”

“I didn’t drink that much,” Gu Yu mumbled. “I ran into Feng Zhi and the others midway and played a few rounds of dice, so it got a bit late…”

Song Mo became somewhat irritated and said, “Starting tomorrow, you’ll get up early every day and practice horse stance with the family’s instructor…”

Gu Yu fell silent, following Song Mo into Yizhi Hall with some awkwardness.

Dou Zhao deliberately fell a few steps behind and glanced at Song Han.

He was staring at Gu Yu, his eyes blazing with fire.

Dou Zhao smiled and asked Song Han, “Has the Second Young Master had breakfast?”

“No!” Song Han answered stiffly, then quickly realizing his tone was inappropriate, he forced a smile and softened his voice, “I couldn’t eat! As soon as I heard Brother was back, I rushed over.”

His voice was very loud, causing Song Mo and Gu Yu to walk ahead to turn back.

Song Mo then said, “Then you can have something to eat with Gu Yu later.”

Song Han nodded with a smile.

However, Dou Zhao noticed that Song Han’s hands were tightly clenched into fists.

She discreetly arranged breakfast for Gu Yu and Song Han, then returned to her inner chamber to change clothes.

Song Mo seized the opportunity to follow her in, but immediately caught sight of Dou Zhao’s snow-white, round shoulders and the graceful lines of her collarbone…

He recalled the plum-red marks he had left there that night… Suddenly, his mouth went dry, and he dared not look again… He stood there, eyes lowered, and asked calmly, “What did you want to tell me?”

Dou Zhao, preoccupied with her thoughts, didn’t notice Song Mo’s unusual behavior. She went behind the screen and, while rustling as she changed clothes, told Song Mo about Zhang Zhiqi, the manager of Risheng Silver Shop, pulling her father into a partnership.

Who was it that said a woman half-hidden behind a pipa is the most alluring?

Song Mo stood outside the screen, listening to the sound of clothes rustling, his mind filled with the enchanting scene he had witnessed that night… At some point, a bead of sweat formed on the tip of his nose, silently falling onto his collar. Song Mo was startled, finally managing to control his wandering thoughts and focus on listening to Dou Zhao. Even so, his thoughts were still somewhat tangled. After a while, he said, “Do you want me to take this opportunity to reclaim everything your father left with Zhang Zhiqi?”

This guy, when did he become so slow-witted?

Dou Zhao emerged from behind the screen with a reproachful look, her rose-colored embroidered jacket making her even more beautiful than the flowers.

“I’m asking you to help me investigate Zhang Zhiqi’s background. Don’t you find it strange that a mere merchant, who could do business with anyone, dares to set his sights on the Deputy Director of the Secretariat and the Director of the Court of State Ceremonial?”

If Song Mo could discover the shadow of the Prince of Liao because of this, that would be even better.

Realizing he had already spent some time in the inner chamber and that staying longer might lead others to think Dou Zhao had kept him there, which would be detrimental to Dou Zhao who had just entered the household, Song Mo smiled and agreed, then returned to the hall.

Gu Yu and Song Han were sitting on either side of the table, having breakfast.

As Song Mo thought about Dou Zhao’s words, he found them increasingly reasonable—this Risheng Silver Shop was likely not simple, and its ambitions surely extended beyond just a silver shop. His father-in-law had always been indifferent to worldly affairs, and getting involved with such an ambitious person would only bring trouble. It would be good to take this opportunity to retrieve what his father-in-law had left with Zhang Zhiqi.

After all, since it involved his father-in-law, it wouldn’t be appropriate for others to handle this matter.

After Gu Yu and Song Han finished breakfast, Song Mo sent Song Han back to study early but called Gu Yu into his study.

Song Han stared at the tightly closed doors of the study for a long while before clenching his fists and leaving the hall.

Dou Zhao instructed Suxin, “Arrange for someone to find a way to talk to the people in the Second Young Master’s quarters.”

Suxin left to carry out the order.

Wang Qinghuai and his wife came to visit.

Song Mo received Wang Qinghuai, while Dou Zhao received Wang’s wife.

The young couple, one in the flower hall and one in the reception room of the main courtyard recounted the events of the flood at Duke Ying’s mansion once again.

Wang Qinghuai was indignant and wanted to go with Song Mo to see the Earl of Dongping, urging him to apprehend the thieves quickly. Wang’s wife, with tears in her eyes, held Dou Zhao’s hands, repeatedly saying, “How could such a thing happen? These thieves are too brazen! Fortunately, you’re alright. Blessings often follow misfortune!”

Before the Wang couple had left, Lu Zhan and his wife arrived on behalf of Old Madam Lu and Princess Ningde to check on them.

Song Mo and Dou Zhao had to recount the events once more, but before they could finish, Zhang Xuming and his wife arrived together… By noon, Song Mo and Dou Zhao’s throats were starting to feel raw, and finally, the Earl of Dongping emerged from the palace.