Ji Yong gazed at the bustling crowd outside the Shuntian Prefecture office, his anger rising again. Should they just let this matter go? What was Song Mo thinking? How could he allow these people to deceive them so easily?
After some deliberation, Ji Yong decided to visit Duke Ying’s mansion. When Song Mo heard of Ji Yong’s arrival, he dismissed him with a curt “Tell him I’m not home.”
Ji Yong thought to himself, “It’s better if you’re not home.” He then requested to see Dou Zhao, telling the servant, “Say I’m here about the fire at Duke Ying’s mansion.”
Proud people disdain lying. Dou Zhao received Ji Yong in the flower hall.
Ji Yong informed Dou Zhao about his visit to the Shuntian Prefecture, saying, “If those thieves learn that the officials are merely looking for a scapegoat, they might become even more brazen. They might target Duke Ying’s mansion again, especially since rumors of your 100,000 tael dowry have spread, growing more exaggerated with each telling. You need to not only catch these thieves but also divert attention away from your dowry. There will always be those willing to risk their lives for such wealth. You can’t guard against thieves forever.”
Grateful for Ji Yong’s concern, Dou Zhao shared Song Mo’s plan, albeit with some reservations: “The Young Master shares your view. He plans to use personal connections to catch the thieves. Even if we can’t capture them all, we aim to catch most of them to show that Duke Ying’s mansion isn’t to be trifled with.”
Ji Yong felt somewhat relieved, realizing Song Mo wasn’t completely clueless. He advised Dou Zhao, “If you hear any news, let me know. With my uncle’s calling card, I have some influence at the Shuntian Prefecture.”
As the Prefect of Shuntian was a civil official and Ji Yong came from a family of officials and was a successful candidate in the imperial examinations, Prefect Huang Qi would naturally give Ji Yong some face. Ji Yong’s offer was sincere.
Dou Zhao suspected the Shuntian Prefecture only wanted to settle the matter quietly. She decided not to involve Ji Yong but, appreciating his enthusiasm, thanked him profusely instead of dampening his spirits.
Ji Yong, somewhat displeased, said, “We’re cousins who grew up together. Speak plainly with me. All this thinking makes it seem like we’re strangers. You were straightforward and carefree before marriage. Have you become a dull housewife now? Is Song Yan Tang controlling you? You’d be better off staying in Zhending. Who would dare control you there?”
Song Mo hadn’t expected Ji Yong to visit Dou Zhao after being turned away. He always gave Dou Zhao equal rights and dignity, so the servants naturally didn’t stop Ji Yong. Thinking about the Ji family’s past designs on Dou Zhao and Ji Yong’s audacity, Song Mo grew restless.
After careful consideration, he decided to “return” at an opportune moment. However, he never anticipated overhearing such a conversation at the flower hall’s entrance.
Song Mo’s face darkened. After a while, he regained his composure, walked around the flower hall, and entered with a smile once he felt his expression had returned to normal.
“Lord Ji, thank you for personally coming to inquire about the fire at Duke Ying’s mansion,” he said, bowing to Ji Yong before sitting beside Dou Zhao.
Ji Yong raised an eyebrow and replied, “Shou Gu is my cousin. She was robbed and frightened, and her in-laws couldn’t protect her. As her family, I should at least come and ask about it.” Then, turning to Dou Zhao, he said, “We’ll leave it at that. Take care, and I’ll visit you again in a few days.”
“Farewell, Cousin Ji!” Dou Zhao called out. Whenever Ji Yong and Song Mo met, Ji Yong would always provoke Song Mo, who usually remained silent. However, their encounters inevitably led to heated exchanges. Dou Zhao, not wanting to witness such a scene, personally escorted Ji Yong to the gate. Upon returning, she found Song Mo deep in thought. She smiled wryly and explained, “Cousin Ji went to the Shuntian Prefecture about the fire at Duke Ying’s mansion. It turns out Prefect Huang has no intention of catching the thieves. Instead, he plans to collude with the Five Cities Military Command to find a scapegoat…”
Song Mo smiled, patting Dou Zhao’s hand. “I know Lord Ji is cold on the outside but warm-hearted, proud, and arrogant. This matter is indeed my fault, which is why he speaks to me so sharply. Don’t worry about us arguing. I’m not taking his words to heart. I’m thinking about what you said earlier regarding Ri Sheng Silver Shop’s attempt to win over Guo Yan…” He then informed Dou Zhao about Empress Wan’s request for him to visit Prince Liao in Liaodong. “I initially thought it was a small matter and a chance to visit Fifth Uncle. Now, it seems we need to consider this carefully.”
What did Dou Zhao fear most? It was Song Mo being used by Prince Liao as he had been in her previous life, ultimately leading to his infamy and untimely demise.
Hearing this, her hair stood on end. Suddenly, the conflict between Ji Yong and Song Mo seemed trivial in comparison.
“Can’t you avoid going?” Dou Zhao asked Song Mo. “As the Emperor’s guard, shouldn’t you be restricted from leaving the capital?” But she knew all too well from her two lifetimes that Empress Wan’s schemes were endless. In her previous life, Dou Zhao had been at the bottom of the noble circle, privy to information others wouldn’t hide from her. “If Empress Wan insists on you going and you can’t refuse, could you ask for an imperial decree from the Emperor? At least you’d have an explanation for the Crown Prince.”
Song Mo nodded and smiled. “I’ll also inform the Crown Prince. After all, he and Prince Liao are brothers. It’s only natural for me to ask if he has any messages or gifts for Prince Liao.”
This was even better. Dou Zhao breathed a sigh of relief.
Song Mo hesitated before asking, “Have you ever met Prince Liao?”
In her previous life, she had. But Dou Zhao simply replied, “No, I haven’t.”
Song Mo looked puzzled. “Then why are you so wary of Prince Liao? Have you heard something? Or did your family elders say anything?”
“No, nothing like that,” Dou Zhao said, her mind racing. “Didn’t you say the Emperor’s health is poor, sometimes not even recognizing people? I just thought, that if the Emperor’s time is limited, and Duke Ying’s house is the foremost among the nobility, as long as we remain impartial, even if we don’t gain the new emperor’s favor, we shouldn’t be implicated in palace matters… Surely no emperor would dare to move against Duke Ying’s house, known for its pure loyalty?”
In her previous life, even when a formidable ruler like Prince Liao ascended the throne, he merely made examples of a few noble houses that had spoken against him.
Song Mo nodded thoughtfully. “I think we should pay our respects to the Crown Prince and Crown Princess in a few days,” he said. “We originally planned to do so after you spent a month at your parents’ home, but now it seems that might be too late.”
It would be best to visit the Crown Prince and his wife before Song Mo departed for Liaodong.
Dou Zhao inquired about the Crown Prince and Crown Princess’s preferences.
The couple sat on the kang in their inner chamber, discussing gifts for their visit to the Crown Prince and his wife.
Meanwhile, Dou Ming was both anxious and angry, tears streaming down her face like broken strings of pearls.
“He’s so heartless!” she complained to Zhu’er. “If I don’t deliver the appointment letter, he won’t come to get it. Does he not care about this position as Deputy Commander of Dongcheng in the Five Cities Military Command? Does he know how much effort I put into securing this position for him… He truly doesn’t know how to appreciate things!”
Zhu’er could only console Dou Ming: “Husband and wife are one. Why must you be so particular with the Lord, madam? The Lord is a man, and you scolded him in front of the Dowager yesterday, hurting his pride. That’s why he’s being stubborn with you. The old lady often says that gentleness overcomes strength. Why don’t you personally deliver the appointment letter to the Lord? Give him a way to save face.”
The “old lady” Zhu’er referred to was Wang Xu Shi, Wang Ying Xue’s mother.
Dou Ming hesitated. “If I do that, wouldn’t I be admitting defeat? How could I face him in the future?”
But if she didn’t deliver the appointment letter and Wei Ting Yu decided to be difficult and refuse to take up the position, what then?
Should she let him stay at home with just an empty title of Marquis? How would that be any different from those idle nobility in the capital? What’s the point of being a Marquis without any real power? How could she face others when she went out?
Dou Ming pondered over this. As the hour of shen approached, marking the end of the workday, Wei Ting Yu still hadn’t come to see her. She grew anxious. When a young maid came to report that the Fourth Young Master of Yan’an Marquis’s mansion had arrived and that the Lord was planning to dine out with him, Dou Ming truly panicked. She had no choice but to go to Wei Ting Yu’s study, knowing full well that she had completely lost this round and it would be difficult to regain the upper hand in the future.
Contrary to Dou Ming’s belief, Wei Ting Yu wasn’t playing hard to get. He had thought that since Dou Ming was using this position to threaten him, he might as well not take up the role of Deputy Commander. He had planned to go out drinking with Wang Qing Hai instead.
So when Dou Ming personally delivered the appointment letter, he was quite pleased. At least Dou Ming acknowledged her mistake and apologized.
Wang Qing Hai, upon seeing this, loudly offered his congratulations and teased, “No wonder you invited me for a drink. You had good news. But you’re not considerate, telling me only now.” Noticing it was getting late, he urged Wei Ting Yu to quickly report to the Five Cities Military Command. “Do you want me to accompany you? My father-in-law has just been appointed as the Commander of the Five Cities Military Command, and I’m also acquainted with Hao Da Yong, the Dongcheng Commander. We can say we’re familiar.”
Wei Ting Yu was delighted to hear this and asked in surprise, “How did your father-in-law end up at the Five Cities Military Command?”
He had been worried about arriving late and offending the Commander of the Five Cities Military Command.
“You didn’t know?” Wang Qing Hai was taken aback and proceeded to tell Wei Ting Yu about the recent events.
A thought flashed through Wei Ting Yu’s mind: if Dou Ming hadn’t meddled, he might have been able to secure a position as Deputy Commander of Dongcheng through Wang Qing Hai…
He grabbed Wang Qing Hai and rushed to the Five Cities Military Command office without even thanking Dou Ming.
Dou Ming watched Wei Ting Yu’s excited figure disappear, feeling lost and dejected.
However, upon arriving at the Five Cities Military Command office, Wei Ting Yu didn’t meet the Earl of Dongping, who was concurrently serving as the Commander. The clerk informed him, “The Earl has gone to Duke Ying’s mansion. If you have any business, please come back tomorrow.”
Wei Ting Yu hurriedly presented his appointment letter.
The clerk, upon seeing it, smiled and said, “So it’s Marquis Jining. We haven’t received any information, and I’m sure the Earl doesn’t know you’re coming to our Five Cities Military Command. I’ll send someone to inform the Earl right away. Would you like to wait here and have some tea while waiting for the Earl?”
Wei Ting Yu was about to agree when Wang Qing Hai tugged at his sleeve and said with a smile, “Thank you, sir. However, it’s almost time for the office to close, and I doubt the Earl will return. We’ll come back early tomorrow morning. Please inform the Earl on our behalf.” He then slipped two red envelopes to the clerk.
The clerk cheerfully agreed and personally escorted Wei Ting Yu and Wang Qing Hai out of the office.