Guard Chang glanced at Tao Qizhong, noticing his pursed lips, lowered eyelids, and an expression of indifference.
He inwardly laughed coldly.
Guard Chang despised Tao Qizhong’s mystifying act. Despite clearly having an opinion, Tao would wait until Duke Song repeatedly asked before reluctantly sharing his thoughts as if revealing divine secrets. Surprisingly, the Duke fell for this act every time, treating Tao’s words as gospel.
After some consideration, Guard Chang stepped forward and quietly said, “My Lord, I have something to say, if I may?”
Song Yichun, feeling lost, frowned with displeasure. He thought, “Why cause trouble at a time like this?” Glancing coldly at Guard Chang, he said curtly, “If you have something to say, just say it.”
Delighted, Guard Chang lowered his voice further, “My Lord, I’m a simple man, but I wonder – since Mr. Chen, the Lady’s former accountant, rescued the Young Master, surely they must have known each other before the marriage. Didn’t the Dou family once have a case of sisters switching places in marriage? Perhaps it involves the Young Master. If this gets out… the Jining Marquis’s household, the Wang family, and even the Dou family might hold the Young Master accountable. With such leverage, the Young Master might have to be more cautious around the other nobles…” As he spoke, he observed Duke Song’s expression from the corner of his eye.
Duke Song’s face darkened.
He recalled Viscount Song’s behavior after marrying Dou Zhao, feeling alarmed. How could he not know his own son’s nature?
Could it be true that the rebellious boy knew Lady Dou before their marriage, as Guard Chang suggested? Otherwise, how did he accept her so quickly? He even protected her fiercely, repeatedly sabotaging his marriage prospects to let her manage the household… Had he been deceived by his son?
The thought made Duke Song short of breath and tight-chested.
He had intended to control Viscount Song through his marriage, but suddenly Lady Dou appeared – someone he’d never heard of before. He wanted to arrange Viscount Song’s marriage quickly and simply, yet the aristocratic Dou family raised no objections… It all went smoothly, like a dream, exactly as he had planned…
Did the Dou family already know about Viscount Song’s actions?
How else could they be so submissive regarding the marriage between the Song and Dou families, even gifting Lady Dou a generous dowry?
And then there was Tao Qizhong.
He had proposed this marriage and personally investigated Lady Dou…
“You little beast!” Duke Song bellowed, his gaze falling ominously on Tao Qizhong. “How dare you ‘privately consort’ with Lady Dou before marriage, then trick me into letting you marry her. You’ve utterly disgraced the Song family! I’ll summon the Lu family and open the ancestral hall to thoroughly interrogate that harlot!”
Instinctively, he believed Viscount Song would never admit to anything, and even if he did, a man’s indiscretions weren’t a big deal. But for Lady Dou, it was different. Burdening her with a reputation for infidelity would force Viscount Song’s hand. Didn’t Old Lady Lu and Princess Ningde praise Lady Dou’s virtues? He’d invite them to see Lady Dou’s true colors. That’s why he spoke of opening the Song family’s ancestral hall but inviting the Lu family to judge.
A glimmer of joy flashed in Guard Chang’s eyes.
Tao Qizhong, however, sighed heavily inside.
Even if he didn’t want to admit it, when even Guard Chang realized there were issues with the Young Master’s marriage, he could no longer deceive himself.
He had truly been outsmarted by the Young Master!
After serving the Duke for over a decade, how could he not know his temper? The Duke might tolerate other matters, but not this. Talk of opening the ancestral hall and inviting Old Lady Lu to punish Lady Dou was easier said than done. The Duke would likely blame him entirely for this situation.
Tao Qizhong couldn’t help but laugh bitterly to himself.
How could he have anticipated this?
On the way to Qixiang Court, he had vaguely sensed something amiss. From that wonton shop onwards, he had fallen into someone else’s trap!
But he couldn’t bear the consequences of this affair.
At least not while the Duke was in such a rage!
Otherwise, he might face disgrace, forced to leave the capital bearing an indelible shame, potentially affecting his descendants’ reputations…
“My Lord!” Tao Qizhong glanced lightly at Guard Chang and said softly, “This marriage followed all proper rites and ceremonies. If rumors spread of the Young Master and Lady ‘privately consorting’ before marriage, both the Dou and Song families’ reputations would suffer! Guard Chang’s words have merit, but consider, my Lord – before this incident, how could the Young Master and Lady have met, with one in Zhending and the other in the capital? How could a mere woman command her guards to rescue the Young Master? Even I didn’t know about this.”
He paused meaningfully, glancing at Guard Chang again. “How did Lady Dou know? How did Mr. Chen know? How did Mr. Chen manage to rescue the Young Master from the heavily guarded Duke Ying’s mansion?” He bowed deeply to Duke Song. “My Lord, please think carefully! The Young Master has just been promoted to Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard. If you confirm rumors of his impropriety with Lady Dou before marriage, what will His Majesty think? What will the Dou family think? What will the public think? The Young Master could easily dismiss this as slander, leaving you in an awkward position!”
Duke Song was startled.
He recalled the Emperor summoning him to personally inform him of Viscount Song’s promotion.
That little beast was always cunning. Considering how he had been deceived, who’s to say the Emperor hadn’t also been fooled?
As Tao Qizhong said, if this got out, he would be the one to suffer.
Perhaps that little beast was waiting for him to fall into this trap! Otherwise, why would he let Guard Chang discover Chen? Given Viscount Song’s ruthlessness, how could he have left Chen alive… No, he couldn’t fall for his son’s tricks again… He needed to discuss this further with Tao Qizhong… But had Tao Qizhong been secretly communicating with that little beast?
His expression wavered between anger and uncertainty.
Tao Qizhong could guess Duke Song’s thoughts.
Wanting to discuss the matter with him, yet suspecting he might be colluding with Viscount Song…
He bowed, speaking sincerely, “I’m approaching the age of knowing Heaven’s will and have long abandoned thoughts of official service. These past years, I’ve been grateful for your kindness, my Lord, and have served diligently without a moment’s carelessness. Though the Duke’s mansion will eventually be the Young Master’s domain, by then I’ll be old and retired from the capital. What concern is it of mine? There were Fang and Du of old, and Sun Huai today! Though I’m unworthy to compare myself to those sages, I dare not tarnish the reputation of the scholarly class!”
Fang and Du referred to the famous ministers Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui from Emperor Taizong’s reign. Sun Huai was the Chief Grand Councilor during Emperor Xianzong’s time – out of gratitude for the Emperor’s favor, he resigned after Xianzong’s death despite the new emperor’s attempts to keep him and spent ten years as a school principal. Emperor Xianzong was also known as a benevolent ruler.
Flattered by the comparison to wise emperors, Duke Song’s expression softened, and his voice grew gentler, “Master Tao, you speak too seriously. I was just driven to desperation by that little beast, grasping at straws! You don’t know how the Emperor protects him. Once, he even told the Marquis of Dongping, in my presence, that if the little beast acted frivolously, the Marquis should report it directly to His Majesty. Ah! How is this punishment? It’s suppressing the Marquis of Dongping! All to ensure that little beast smoothly takes over the Five Wards Commander’s position! Now I haven’t raised a son, but an ancestor! Tell me, is there any father in this world who suffers like me…”
Tao Qizhong sighed deeply, unable to suppress his inner thoughts.
There’s no father in the world quite like you – a perfectly capable son who could support the family, yet you insist on destroying him… But why can’t the Duke tolerate the Young Master?
For the first time, Tao Qizhong seriously considered this question.
Duke Song was already dismissing Guard Chang, “Keep this matter quiet for now, until Master Tao and I devise a plan. You may go now. I’ll send for you if I need anything.”
Guard Chang had no choice but to leave, glancing dissatisfiedly at Tao Qizhong, who didn’t even look at him.
Duke Song sincerely asked Tao Qizhong, “What do you think we should do? Must I simply swallow this bitter pill?”
He gritted his teeth, his anger visible.
“My Lord, the most urgent matter is to investigate whether the Dou family knows about this,” Tao Qizhong knew that Viscount Song had become a thorn in Duke Song’s side, capable of enraging him at the slightest provocation. He needed to remove Viscount Song from the equation. “As for whether the Young Master and Lady knew each other before marriage, that’s a minor issue. If the Dou family knows, what are their intentions? How did they find out? You need to decide on a course of action, my Lord. If the Dou family doesn’t know, does Lady Dou have a powerful backer? Or did Chen Bo act on someone else’s orders… As far as I know, Chen Bo and Yan Yun, who serve the Young Master, are close friends. Before we clarify these matters, we’re at a disadvantage – even with the best strategy, we’d still lose!”
The implication was clear: You’ve never told me why you want to frame Viscount Song. Now that problems have arisen, how can I know where to start investigating?
You’ll have to figure this out yourself!
Duke Song seemed about to speak, then stopped.
Seeing this, Tao Qizhong pretended not to notice and continued, “Perhaps we should start by investigating Lady Dou’s maids and servants, especially those she favors. If the Young Master and Lady had any improper relations before marriage, these people would surely know.”
“Master Tao’s words are wise,” Duke Song perked up, considering how to proceed and who to assign this task to.
Meanwhile, Tao Qizhong reflected on his experiences in Zhending.
For Lady Dou to beat the grandson of Wang Yousheng’s in-laws, the Yunnan Provincial Governor, so severely he couldn’t leave his bed, ultimately forcing his family to pay a hefty compensation while she remained unscathed… This was no ordinary woman’s doing.
The person who rescued the Young Master must have been Lady Dou!
This explained the Young Master’s respect for her.
After serving the Duke for over a decade, he still didn’t understand why the Duke treated the Young Master this way. Even the Young Master himself hadn’t realized it, so how did Lady Dou know?
Did she possess some supernatural foresight?
If she knew, surely the Young Master must know by now?
This was truly a battle of the gods, with mortals caught in the crossfire.
Tao Qizhong felt an immense headache coming on.
Without uncovering the root of the Duke’s intolerance towards the Young Master, this situation could never be fully explained, let alone finding ways to suppress the Young Master!