Naturally, every word of the men’s discussions reached Dou Zhao’s ears afterward.
She couldn’t help but worry, telling Song Mo, “We need to find a proper way to wrap this up. They’re all serving in the Imperial Guard. If the Emperor finds out, he might become suspicious.”
Such an open summoning of men to the capital was something even the Ministry of Personnel wouldn’t dare do without an imperial edict.
She had originally thought Song Mo would first meet with two or three candidates, not expecting him to arrange something on such a large scale. Sitting behind the screen earlier, she had already felt uneasy.
“Don’t worry,” Song Mo said with a carefree smile. “As the overseer of the Five Cities Command, it’s perfectly normal for me to select some Imperial Guards to supplement our forces. I’m sure their superiors won’t object.”
While the Imperial Guard was prestigious, it also depended on one’s position.
The Five Cities Command, located in the imperial city, assisted the Shuntian Prefecture and Salt Tax Bureau. Even a minor clerk there had some perks. Since the Zhao family needed a son-in-law to marry, all the selected candidates were either second sons or from cadet branches. For them, this was indeed a good opportunity.
Song Mo’s actions were truly comprehensive.
No wonder he always had a justification for the Emperor, no matter how reckless his behavior seemed. It was also clear why he hadn’t been impeached by the censors so far.
Dou Zhao felt she only needed to trust Song Mo completely.
“For now, let’s tentatively decide on these three. What do you think?” Song Mo circled three names on the list and handed it to Dou Zhao.
Selecting three from over twenty, who were themselves chosen from hundreds – even a princess choosing a consort wouldn’t be more thorough. Surely Cousin Zhangru’s marriage would be settled this time!
Regardless of who she married in her previous life, that person hadn’t appeared in this one, so they’d have to find someone else.
Dou Zhao nodded in agreement. That night, she once again indulged in Song Mo.
Early the next morning, she styled her hair in an elegant falling horse bun and eagerly prepared to visit Jing’an Temple Lane.
Song Mo wanted to accompany her: “If Aunt asks, I can explain things. Besides, those three men haven’t left the capital yet. Why not take this chance to have Aunt and Cousin Zhangru see them in person?”
He was eager to see Aunt’s surprised and grateful expression.
This was the first time he’d shown such enthusiasm since marrying Dou Zhao.
Having Song Mo along was a good idea.
Without him, this wouldn’t have been possible.
When Aunt learned what Song Mo had done, she would surely like him even more.
Dou Zhao nodded with a smile.
Like children eager for praise, they both suppressed their excitement as they headed to Jing’an Temple Lane together.
Gao Sheng was startled to see them and hurriedly said, “I’ll go fetch the master right away!”
They hadn’t sent word ahead, so Dou Shiying had already left for his office.
“No need, no need,” Dou Zhao said to Gao Sheng with a bright smile. “I’m here to see Aunt about something today. You can just accompany the young master in the reception hall!”
Gao Sheng’s forehead immediately broke out in sweat. Taking advantage of a young maid serving Song Mo tea, he quietly instructed her, “Quickly go invite the two young masters from Cat Alley to entertain the guests.”
For the first time, he felt that if the master insisted on not taking a concubine, adopting the twelfth young master might not be a bad idea.
Dou Zhao paid no attention to these details, leaving Song Mo behind as she rushed to see her aunt.
Seeing Dou Zhao, her aunt’s expression changed dramatically. She grasped Dou Zhao’s hands, looking her up and down: “My child, what’s wrong? Why have you suddenly come back? Is the Song family bullying you? Don’t be afraid, I haven’t left the capital yet. I’ll certainly help you stand up to them!”
“No, no,” Dou Zhao’s smile grew even brighter. Seeing Zhao Zhangru staring at her curiously with wide eyes, she pulled her aunt into the inner room, closing the door with a thud. She invited her aunt to sit on the kang by the window, then sat down beside her and handed her the slip of paper with the three candidates’ backgrounds. “I want to act as a matchmaker for Cousin Zhangru. These three families are all good. Which do you think is best?”
Her aunt was very surprised.
Dou Zhao smiled, her eyes curving into crescents.
“You child!” Her aunt came to her senses and hugged Dou Zhao tightly. “Now that you’re married, you’ve learned to care for others.”
Dou Zhao chuckled, retrieving her aunt’s eyeglass case from under the kang table.
Her aunt put on her glasses and carefully examined the three candidates’ backgrounds.
They were all from either military or noble families. This was her son-in-law’s doing.
Her aunt felt very grateful and clasped Dou Zhao’s hand. “Thank your husband for me. The Zhao family has always been scholars. It would be better to find a son-in-law from a scholarly family to marry in.”
Dou Zhao was dumbfounded.
Her aunt felt guilty.
Finding these three candidates must have taken considerable effort from Song Mo and Dou Zhao.
She apologized, “It’s all my fault for not explaining clearly beforehand. I’ve made you take a wrong turn. I appreciate the kindness from you and your husband. In the future, I’ll have your Cousin Zhangru repay you both.”
Dou Zhao felt incredibly disappointed, but seeing her aunt’s apologetic gaze, she didn’t want to make her feel uneasy. She quickly pretended to be angry, rolling around on her aunt playfully: “You should have told me earlier!”
Her aunt chuckled, affectionately holding Dou Zhao’s shoulders.
Dou Zhao folded the candidates’ backgrounds into small squares and hid them in her sleeve. When she came out to see Zhao Zhangru, she only mentioned discussing the visit to Kaiyuan Temple on the tenth of the tenth month with her aunt.
In recent years, whenever people spoke privately with her mother and excluded her, it was usually about her marriage.
Zhao Zhangru had grown accustomed to this and didn’t ask questions, chatting casually with Dou Zhao instead.
Dou Zhao thought of Song Mo waiting in the reception hall. If he learned of this outcome, he would surely be disappointed.
Moreover, she had promised him many “humiliating concessions.” Upon returning home, she would likely have to promise even more to appease him.
Dou Zhao heaved a long sigh and reluctantly left the guest room, heading first to the reception hall where Song Mo was waiting.
Song Mo was talking with the brothers Dou Zhengchang and Dou Dechang. One look at Dou Zhao’s expression told him the matter had fallen through.
This was the first time Dou Zhao had asked him to help her natal family!
Disregarding Dou Zhengchang and Dou Dechang, he rose to meet her, asking softly, “What did Aunt find unsatisfactory?”
This was something that couldn’t be hidden anyway.
“It’s all my fault!” Dou Zhao said apologetically. “I didn’t find out clearly before asking you to do this… Aunt wants to find a son-in-law from a scholarly family for my cousin.”
Having weathered many storms, Song Mo felt only a fleeting disappointment, unlike Dou Zhao’s deep dejection.
He pondered, “If that’s the case, it’s not impossible, just requires more effort and time… Tell Aunt we’ll go back and look for someone more suitable for your cousin. Did Aunt mention any other conditions?”
Dou Zhao shook her head, placing her hand on Song Mo’s arm. “Aunt probably still hopes the Zhao family can produce scholars!”
Song Mo smiled reassuringly, “It’s all right, leave it to me!”
As they were talking, a cough sounded behind them.
Dou Zhao and Song Mo turned to see Dou Dechang winking at them: “Fourth Sister, this is your natal home. If you have private matters to discuss, save them for when you’re back home.”
Dou Zhengchang felt this comment was a bit inappropriate and warned, “Dechang.”
Dou Zhao, however, glared at Dou Dechang.
This Twelfth Brother, his affairs were in disarray, yet he dared to meddle in hers!
The usually reserved Dou Zhengchang couldn’t help but smile.
Fourth Sister had always been so dignified; who knew she could be so coquettish?
He mediated, “There are no outsiders here, come sit down. I heard Yantan say he’s raised over a dozen fine horses at his villa in the Western Hills. Shall we go see them together someday?”
Song Mo didn’t stand at on ceremony. He and Dou Zhao entered the reception hall openly, smiling as he said, “If the Eleventh Brother-in-law likes them, I can have two gentle mares sent to you.”
“No, no need,” Dou Zhengchang waved his hands repeatedly. “Horses are meant to run freely outdoors. There’s not enough space at home. Sending them to me would only make them suffer. It’s better to visit your villa when I want to ride.” Seeing Song Mo about to persuade him further, he added, “I can’t just take home everything I like, can I? Sometimes, appreciation itself is a pleasure!”
Song Mo agreed with a smile, inwardly admiring Dou Zhengchang.
As they chatted, Aunt had finished her preparations and called for Gao Sheng’s wife, handing her a fifty-tael silver note: “I’m hosting today. Please invite Fourth Son-in-law and Fourth Young Lady to dine at home.”
“How could we let you pay!” Gao Sheng’s wife dared not accept, but Aunt insisted. She had no choice but to report to Dou Zhao: “The Madam wants to keep you and Fourth Son-in-law for a meal at home.”
Dou Zhao, feeling sorry for Song Mo’s wasted efforts, smiled and said, “Tell Aunt we want eight treasures and eight delicacies.”
Seeing Dou Zhao in such good spirits, even joking with the Madam, Gao Sheng’s wife also cheered up. She smiled, curtsied, and went to the kitchen.
Dou Dechang nudged Song Mo and said in a stage whisper for all to hear: “See that? She’s crafty, always taking and never giving. You’ll be blessed in the future, she’ll move all of Jing’an Temple Lane to your home.”
Song Mo laughed heartily.
He found Dou Dechang quite amusing as well.
The atmosphere in the room improved even more.
A servant came in to report: “Mr. Song and Young Master Song have arrived. They say they’re leaving for their hometown tomorrow and have come to bid farewell to the master.”
Dou Zhengchang hurriedly said, “Please invite them in!”
Dou Dechang explained to Song Mo: “Mr. Song was the tutor Seventh Uncle hired for Fourth Sister. After the Fourth Sister married, Mr. Song resigned. He originally planned to return home after attending Fourth Sister’s wedding feast, but he met some classmates in the capital and stayed to sightsee for a while. Young Master Song is Mr. Song’s clan nephew, an orphan who has been taking care of Mr. Song’s daily needs.”
As he spoke, Song Mo saw Dou Zhengchang escorting an old man and a young man, both in scholar’s robes, walking through the corridor.
Song Mo couldn’t help but ask, “The Song family is a family of scholars, right?”
Dou Dechang nodded, saying, “Their ancestors have produced officials. Though not very prominent, they’re considered a scholarly family in their hometown.”
Song Mo’s eyes lit up, and he looked at Dou Zhao.
Dou Zhao had already been startled when Song Mo asked if the Song family were scholars.
This was truly a case of missing what’s right under one’s nose!
How had she never thought of this before?
The couple simultaneously broke into subtle smiles.
Watching them, Dou Dechang felt a twinge of unease.
Why did the smiles of his fourth sister and brother-in-law seem somewhat eerie?
Just as this thought crossed his mind, Dou Zhao stood up, smiling, “I’m going to talk to Aunt.” She then left the reception hall with a bright smile.