Dou Zhao’s eyes moistened as these thoughts crossed her mind.
Song Mo quickly sensed her emotions. He wanted Dou Zhao to always be happy when she was by his side.
“Hey!” Song Mo gently wiped Dou Zhao’s tears with a handkerchief, teasing her with a smile, “You’re so wealthy, yet you’re crying. How are we supposed to get by with just a few small shops to our name? Cheer up, I’ll count money with you. Just think about your daily profits and how you can live life lying on banknotes. Your mood will improve in no time.”
Dou Zhao couldn’t help but burst into laughter. She snatched the handkerchief and hastily wiped her eyes, saying, “You’re the one living on banknotes!” Inwardly, she knew that without Song Mo’s warm embrace, she wouldn’t have shed tears over such a small matter.
“I wish I could!” Song Mo, seeing her laugh, became even more playful. He pretended to sigh, “Unfortunately, I don’t have much luck! I have to support my family, save money for my son’s marriage, and prepare a dowry for my daughter. Unlike some people who get to keep all their money and even save extra.”
Dou Zhao laughed uncontrollably, leaning on his shoulder, “How about I give you half?”
“No, no!” Song Mo shook his head seriously, “I’ve finally gotten into my father-in-law’s good graces. If I suddenly acquired half your assets, wouldn’t he immediately turn against me? I’m still hoping to get some family heirlooms from him. This would ruin everything! Besides, this money is already meant for our son and daughter. Why would I jeopardize my father-in-law’s goodwill for money that’s already ours? It doesn’t make sense!”
Dou Zhao laughed so hard she could barely breathe.
Song Mo gazed at her rosy face, smiling softly, and pulled her into his arms once more.
“Let’s forget about the past,” he said, kissing her forehead. “We should look forward, save money for our children, and ensure they have better lives than we did.”
“Alright!” Dou Zhao’s eyes welled up with tears again.
“Silly girl!” Song Mo stroked her head, “Considering the substantial dowry you’ve brought, I’ll lend you Zhong Bingxiang for now. But remember, it’s only for six months. After that, he must return to Guangdong. Make sure Zhao Liangbi learns some valuable skills from Manager Zhong during this time.”
“I understand!” Dou Zhao smiled radiantly.
Truly confident people never doubt themselves just because others are wealthier, have higher status, or have more prestige.
She knew Song Mo would naturally accept her dowry, regardless of its size.
Dou Zhao gazed at the bright red lanterns outside the window, her mood as vibrant as their color.
Outside the outer courtyard of Duke Ying’s mansion, Guard Chang, who was leading a group of guards on patrol, noticed lights suddenly illuminating the previously empty west wing of Yizhi Hall. Listening intently, he could hear faint sounds of commotion.
He couldn’t help but ask the guard beside him, “Who has moved into the west wing of Yizhi Hall?”
Ever since Song Mo had killed all the guards who had intruded into Yizhi Hall, Chang had been on edge, fearing that Song Mo might find an excuse to settle scores with him. He had considered leaving but realized that even if he fled, no one except Duke Ying could protect him if Song Mo truly wanted him eliminated.
He had reluctantly stayed, but remained fearful of Song Mo, avoiding him at all costs, as if by doing so, Song Mo would forget about his existence.
Of course, he knew his thinking was overly optimistic, but he had no other options.
Yizhi Hall, in particular, was a place he was reluctant to get involved with.
The guard replied, “I heard that a group of people serving the Young Madam has arrived. The Young Master cleared out the west wing of Yizhi Hall to accommodate them.”
“Do they need so much space?” Chang asked in a low voice.
The guard answered, “There are thirty to forty people! And I believe some family members haven’t arrived yet.”
Another guard chimed in, “Did the Young Madam have so many servants at her maiden home? Even when the Emperor marries a princess, he doesn’t send all her former servants with her. Besides, their salaries will come from the Young Madam’s dowry. Yizhi Hall already has guards, so why is this necessary?”
Chang’s mind raced as he listened.
Could these people be trained assassins under the Young Master’s command? Using his wife’s name as a cover, had the Young Master arranged for them all to move into Yizhi Hall? What was the Young Master planning? Could this pose a threat to the Duke?
These thoughts left him uneasy. He quickly gave some instructions to the guards and hurried off to Xixiang Hall.
Ever since Song Mo had thwarted two of his marriage prospects, Song Yichun’s social engagements had decreased significantly. With long nights and little to do, and the New Year approaching, he had recently retrieved some chicken blood stones from the storehouse, intending to carve some leisure seals as gifts. However, as he gazed at the vibrant red stones in his hand, he was reminded of the few Shoushan stones his mother, Lady Lu, had left behind.
Unfortunately, they were all in Song Mo’s possession now.
His mood began to sour.
When he heard that Guard Chang sought an audience, he initially waved his hand and coldly said “No,” but after speaking, he reconsidered Chang’s recent loyalty and changed his mind, saying, “Let him in.”
Chang hurriedly relayed his discoveries to Duke Ying, adding, “Originally, we and Yizhi Hall each had only forty guards. Now Yizhi Hall has over thirty more people… I fear that if the Young Master plans something, we won’t be able to control the situation!”
Don’t guards require payment? Song Yichun glanced at Chang, his face as dark as an impending storm.
Why did Mother give all her dowry to Song Mo? Now Song Mo was using Mother’s money to train assassins against him…
He instructed Chang, “Go and find out exactly how many people the Young Master has recruited. What are their skills? Do they have any connection to the Young Madam?”
If the Dou family was involved, it would complicate matters.
Chang could only reluctantly agree. He tossed and turned for most of the night, and early the next morning, he nervously appeared at the entrance of Yizhi Hall. As he hesitated about how to enter, he saw seven or eight athletic men escorting an elderly gentleman dressed in a Taoist robe with a scholarly appearance.
“Master Chen, shall we go to the Great Xiangguo Temple first? Or to the White Cloud Temple?” he heard one of the men ask the elder.
The old man smiled and said, “Today, I’ll follow your lead. Wherever you want to go, we’ll go there.”
The group laughed.
The old man laughed along with them.
His smile was gentle and refined, exuding an extraordinary aura.
Chang’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Wasn’t that Chen Bo, who had escaped from Duke Ying’s mansion?
How could he be here?
Chang’s heart began to race.
His mind was in chaos, with seven or eight thoughts flashing through his head, but he couldn’t grasp any of them. He only felt an ominous premonition welling up inside him.
Chang instinctively wanted to avoid them.
But Chen Qushui and Chen Xiaofeng had already walked over with the others.
Seeing Chang surrounded by several guards, he nodded slightly, maintaining a calm demeanor as he passed by.
One of the curious guards turned back and asked in a low voice, “Who was that? He looked quite imposing!”
“That’s Duke Ying’s guard,” Chang heard Chen Qushui say. “His surname is Chang, and he leads all the guards in Duke Ying’s mansion. Of course, he looks imposing!”
The tone and inflection, to Chang’s ears, seemed to carry a hint of mockery.
Chang didn’t dare linger and immediately returned to Xixiang Hall.
“Your Grace, something terrible has happened!” he reported to Song Yichun in a low voice. “That advisor named Chen Bo who escaped from Yizhi Hall is now in Yizhi Hall, along with those newly arrived guards…”
“What did you say?” Song Yichun, who was having breakfast, nearly spilled a bowl of green-stemmed porridge on himself. “Are you certain you saw him?”
The night Song Mo had mysteriously disappeared was like a thorn in his heart, not only making him grit his teeth in anger when he thought about it but also giving rise to a sense of apprehension. Who had rescued Song Mo? Had they uncovered his intentions? Could it be a secret force Song Mo had been nurturing? Might they appear again at a crucial moment to assist Song Mo?
These unanswered questions gnawed at his mind like ants, making him restless whenever he pondered them.
Now, the most suspicious person had appeared.
Song Yichun’s eyes immediately turned bloodshot. “Quickly, go and find out exactly what’s going on!”
Chang responded and left.
Song Yichun called him back: “Bring Master Tao with you!”
This kind of investigation was beyond the capabilities of brutes like them.
With Tao Qizhong accompanying him, Chang felt somewhat relieved.
Song Yichun could no longer eat his breakfast.
Slipping on his shoes and getting off the bed, he paced anxiously around the room like an ant on a hot pan.
Meanwhile, Dou Zhao received an invitation from Huaishu Alley.
The invitation stated that the Second Madam invited her to play cards tomorrow in Huaishu Alley.
Dou Zhao informed Song Mo and the next day, she prepared a gift box with twelve varieties and went to Huaishu Alley.
Huaishu Alley was very quiet, not like a place preparing to receive guests.
Madam Guo and Madam Cai welcomed her at the entrance.
After exchanging greetings, Madam Cai smiled and tried to link arms with Dou Zhao, saying, “It’s Grandmother who misses Fourth Young Madam. She used card-playing as an excuse to see you!”
Dou Zhao subtly stepped aside, avoiding Madam Cai’s hand, and smiled, “Why didn’t you say so earlier? I would have brought more silver.”
“Fourth Young Madam has such a large dowry, even a strand of your hair is thicker than our legs. We were wondering how to take advantage of you, and you’ve walked right into our trap,” Madam Cai said with an exaggerated tone. “We’d be happy to lend you a few taels of silver to use, so we could earn some interest.”
Since she knows about interest, she must be quite savvy with money.
Dou Zhao smiled slightly, allowing Madam Guo and Madam Cai to escort her to the Second Madam.
As the wind had a biting chill, the Second Madam was seated on a large kang near the window, watching the maids water flowers and feed birds on the veranda through the glass window.
Seeing Dou Zhao and the others enter the courtyard, the Second Madam quickly instructed the maids to prepare tea and snacks. By the time Dou Zhao and company entered the room, the young maids had just brought in the refreshments.
After paying her respects to the Second Madam, Dou Zhao smiled and said, “When did the east wing get glass windows? The room is much brighter now!”
“It was your Fifth Aunt’s filial piety. She insisted on installing them for me,” the Second Madam said happily. “I couldn’t refuse her, so I went along with it. With the glass windows, the room is both brighter and warmer.”
The Second Madam chatted idly with Dou Zhao, neither of them mentioning the matter of the half of the Xi Dou property.