At that moment, Ji Yong was visiting He Yu’s home.
He Yu’s wife, Lady Chen, was seven months pregnant. Despite her large belly, she directed the maids to serve tea and refreshments.
Ji Yong rose and bowed respectfully to Lady Chen, saying “Thank you for your hospitality, sister-in-law.” He was extremely polite.
Lady Chen smiled demurely, her bright eyes occasionally studying Ji Yong with barely concealed curiosity.
Accustomed to such scrutiny since childhood, Ji Yong paid it no mind. He carried himself with poise and grace, the very picture of a refined young gentleman from a prestigious family.
Lady Chen nodded approvingly to herself.
He Yu chuckled.
As Lady Chen left with the maids, Ji Yong immediately dropped his facade. He sprawled in the armchair, his face dark as a thundercloud. “What did you want to see me about?” he demanded.
“Can’t I invite you over without a reason?” He Yu countered. He offered Ji Yong a slice of snow pear. “You’re cooped up at home studying all day. I thought I’d have you over for a chat – I’m bored out of my mind!”
Ji Yong, already irritated, replied sharply, “How is your boredom my problem? I’m quite busy these days!”
“What could you possibly be busy with?” He Yu said dismissively. “Isn’t that old book almost finished? Surely Master Yu isn’t making you copy the whole thing?” A look of realization crossed his face. “Wait, is he having you transcribe it? I’ve heard him praise your calligraphy…”
Yu Li and He Wendao were from the same graduating class.
Ji Yong rolled his eyes and stood up. “I’m leaving. Enjoy your wild speculations.”
He Yu blocked his path. “Wait, wait! I do have something to discuss with you.”
Ji Yong stared at him coldly.
He Yu hurriedly pulled Ji Yong along. “Come with me!” He headed outside.
After a moment’s hesitation, Ji Yong followed.
They left the main hall, rounded a floral wall, and entered a small courtyard.
In one corner stood two ginkgo trees. Beneath them, a raised flower bed of blue stone held several pots of camellias in various colors, all in full bloom.
Ji Yong was taken aback.
He Yu explained, “I’m planning to gift these to Master Yu. Your family is known for cultivating camellias, right? Could you take a look and tell me if these are of good quality?”
Ji Yong glanced at He Yu. “Is Lord He hoping to become Master Yu’s disciple?”
He Yu laughed awkwardly. “Nothing gets past you. I heard Master Yu enjoys growing camellias…”
Ji Yong nodded and carefully examined the flowers.
They were common varieties, but the plants were lush and the blossoms vibrant – a pleasing sight overall.
“Well? What do you think?” He Yu asked, noticing Ji Yong’s look of approval. “They’re nice, aren’t they? My cousin – Chen Zexi’s youngest sister – grew them. She’s gentle, beautiful, musically talented, and skilled at cultivating camellias…”
Before He Yu could finish, Ji Yong grew wary. He felt as if someone was watching him. He whirled around, following his instinct, and saw a nearby side room with its window half-open.
Ji Yong’s gaze turned sharp.
There was a rustling sound from inside the room.
Ji Yong frowned, his eyes cold as he turned back to He Yu. “What exactly are you up to?”
Realizing Ji Yong had caught on, He Yu decided to be frank. “Jianming, we’re close friends. Let me be honest – my brother-in-law Chen Zexi admires your talents. Seeing that you’re still unmarried, he’d like to act as a matchmaker…”
“So the camellias and becoming a disciple were just excuses?” Ji Yong interrupted, his tone accusatory. “You invited me here to be inspected by the Chen family?!”
His eyes flashed dangerously as he spoke.
He Yu’s heart skipped a beat. He sensed that Ji Yong was not only resistant to the idea but furious about it.
Perhaps being unexpectedly put on display, with the woman’s family holding all the power, made him feel humiliated?
The thought crossed He Yu’s mind as he tried to smooth things over. “What do you mean, being inspected? With your character and learning, any family with an eligible daughter would welcome you as an honored guest. I’m just taking advantage of our friendship. Since my brother-in-law mentioned it, I thought I might get to drink a celebratory cup as your matchmaker…”
But before He Yu could finish, Ji Yong stormed off.
He Yu felt frustrated. He complained to his wife, “I told you Ji Jianming is extremely proud. If you wanted to arrange a match, you should have invited him to meet your sister directly. They would have met eventually anyway. Now we’ve gone and botched the whole thing…”
Lady Chen hesitated. “Talent is important, but temperament even more so. How many brilliant scholars have been ruined by their tempers? While our approach may have offended his pride, storming off like that shows he has quite a nasty disposition.” She glanced at the bright-eyed young woman beside her. “Perhaps we should let this matter drop…”
But the girl protested with a soft “Sister!”, her face flushed.
Lady Chen sighed. “Alright, I’ll speak to Mother about it.”
The young woman nodded shyly.
Ji Yong, however, had already put the incident out of his mind.
If anyone wanted to be his wife, they would first have to match the couplet hanging at the entrance of the Ji family’s ancestral home.
He headed straight for Cat Alley.
Fortunately, Dou Shiheng was at home.
“What brings you here today?” Dou Shiheng was always fond of his young, erudite nephew. “I hear the Wenhua Daxun is almost complete. What are your plans after that?”
Ji Yong ignored the question. “Uncle, how well do you know Huang Qi, the new Prefect of Shuntian?”
In Ji Yong’s understanding, the Dou family had risen to prominence through positions in the Censorate. Dou Shiqi and others had served there, so the family should have deep connections within the institution.
Dou Shiheng was puzzled. “Do you have business with the Shuntian Prefecture?”
“Oh, nothing much,” Ji Yong replied casually. “Just curious.”
“His cousin and I were in the same graduating class. We’re on good terms,” Dou Shiheng explained. “I can’t promise anything major, but he’d certainly help with small matters.”
“In that case, could you write me a letter of introduction?” Ji Yong asked.
“What are you planning?” Dou Shiheng studied the classics and believed in living with a clear conscience. If one was in the right, why rely on connections? One should simply strike the drum and appeal for justice. Anything requiring such a letter usually indicated shaky moral ground. As Ji Yong was a young relative he had high hopes for, Dou Shiheng pressed for details to prevent any damage to the boy’s reputation.
Ji Yong had no choice but to explain, “I want to check if the Shuntian Prefecture has made any progress on Shou Gu’s case.”
Reassured, Dou Shiheng went to write the letter.
Lady Ji, who had entered with fruit, overheard and was alarmed. As she walked Ji Yong out, she repeatedly cautioned him: “Some things are best left in the past. If this becomes public knowledge, it will be awkward for everyone involved. You grew up with Shou Gu; she’s all alone now. You should protect her like an older brother, not make things difficult for her!”
Ji Yong laughed coldly. “Song Mo has already married Shou Gu. If he doubts her because of this, she’d be better off divorcing him and returning home! If your Dou family finds her a burden, I’ll support her myself, as her ‘older brother’.”
“You…” Lady Ji was speechless with anger. Ji Yong placated her with a casual “Don’t worry, Aunt, I won’t do anything rash” before jumping into his carriage and heading straight for the Shuntian Prefecture.
On the bustling Chang’an Street, Ji Yong’s carriage passed Gu Yu’s.
Gu Yu was bound for Duke Ying’s mansion.
Before the carriage had fully stopped, he leaped out and asked the eagerly approaching doorman, “Is Tianci home?”
“Yes, yes, yes!” the doorman replied with a fawning smile. “What perfect timing! The young master and his wife just returned. If you go now, they should have finished freshening up.”
Gu Yu was surprised. “Where did the young master and his wife go?”
“I don’t know,” the doorman answered, bowing as he led Gu Yu through the side entrance. “They left with some maids and servants, probably early this morning. I started my shift at dawn, and they were already gone by then.”
Uninterested in the doorman’s chatter, Gu Yu nodded and entered the Yizhi Hall.
Dou Zhao was about to change clothes when Song Mo, freshly washed, walked in. Dou Zhao reminded him, “I’m about to change.”
Song Mo grunted in acknowledgment and sat on the kang by the window.
With no other choice, Dou Zhao took her clothes behind the screen at the foot of the bed.
Song Mo followed, leaning against the bedpost. “When will Master Chen and the others arrive? I might need to go to Cangzhou for a few days. I’m worried about leaving you here without protection.”
His expression was somewhat grave.
Dou Zhao, half-undressed, froze when she saw Song Mo approach. But hearing his words and seeing his expression, she felt a twinge of guilt.
She had always been forthright and easygoing. When had she become so coy? She had assumed Song Mo’s entrance meant he wanted to be intimate.
They were now husband and wife who had shared physical intimacy. His casual behavior was normal, just as she would eventually tend to his dressing and bathing.
Even so, changing in front of a man-made Dou Zhao uncomfortable.
She turned her back to him and took a quiet breath, trying to keep her voice calm and natural. “We agreed on the beginning of the tenth month, but if you need them urgently, I can ask Master Duan and the others to come earlier. However, we’ll need to decide where they’ll stay and how they’ll coordinate shifts with the Yizhi Hall guards…”
In the dim light, Dou Zhao’s figure was shapely and flawless as snow. Song Mo’s throat tightened, and he quickly averted his gaze. Yet the image of her body, like fine jade, seemed etched in his mind, leaving him lost in thought.
After receiving no response, Dou Zhao turned back to see Song Mo staring outside the screen, his face suspiciously flushed.
“My lord?” she called tentatively.
“Oh!” Song Mo snapped back to attention. “Please, call me by my childhood name.” Realizing this request might be inappropriate – what wife called her husband by his childhood name? – he hurriedly added, “I call you Shou Gu, don’t I? Being called ‘my lord’ feels so strange.”
Dou Zhao laughed. Remembering the past, she winked at him playfully. “How about if I call you ‘Young Master Mei’ instead?”
This playfulness, different from her usual boldness or charm, made Song Mo’s heart flutter. He stepped forward, encircling Dou Zhao’s waist. Gazing into her eyes, he softly replied, “That would be fine.”