Dou Zhao’s deepest desire, both in her previous life and current one, was to have a family of her own. In her past life, she had even joyfully married Wei Tingyu for this reason. Empathizing with others, she naturally didn’t want Su Xin to devote all her energy to tending to her daily needs.

“That won’t be necessary,” she said, unconsciously placing her hand on her abdomen. “Once Su Xin and Su Lan’s marriages are arranged, let them move out and live independently. They can come visit me when they have time.” She then discussed adding staff with Song Mo. “I’ve already asked the estate manager’s wife in Daxing to have Su Xin go to the Daxing estate and select a few people to bring back while she’s not busy these days.”

If she truly was pregnant, she would need to rest quietly for the first three months when the fetus was unstable.

These were all minor matters, and Song Mo naturally agreed to all of Dou Zhao’s wishes.

Dou Zhao sent a message to the Daxing estate, setting November 21st as the date to go there and select staff.

Coincidentally, that day Zhao Liangbi’s parents received news and rushed from Zhending to the capital to discuss Zhao Liangbi’s marriage with Chen Qushui. Su Xin, blushing bright red with embarrassment, ordered a carriage prepared early in the morning to go to the Daxing estate. To save face for Su Xin, Dou Zhao had Song Mo’s coachman drive Song Mo’s carriage to take Su Xin to Daxing, while she met with Zhao Liangbi’s mother.

Zhao Liangbi owed his current success entirely to Dou Zhao’s support. Now that she was arranging to marry her most trusted maid to him, Zhao Liangbi’s mother was overwhelmed with gratitude towards Dou Zhao. As soon as she entered, she knelt and kowtowed to Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao hurriedly went forward to help Madam Zhao up, saying, “We’re all from Cui Family Village. There’s no need for such formality, Madam Zhao. Please consider us family.”

Perhaps because Zhao Liangbi had been taken in early by his grandmother, not only did they save on expenses for one person, but they also received a monthly allowance from the Dou family. With Dou Zhao’s occasional rewards on top of that, the Zhao family had extra money to seek medical treatment for Madam Zhao, and her health gradually improved.

She was a simple woman and faced with the graceful yet spirited Dou Zhao, she could barely lift her head as she mumbled. Dou Zhao took the initiative to chat about everyday matters, asking how the crops were this year if all the children at home were engaged, and how many pigs and chickens they were raising. Seeing Dou Zhao speak so warmly and considerately, Madam Zhao’s anxious heart finally settled, and she began to answer Dou Zhao’s questions.

Chen Qushui’s side of the discussion went even better.

According to Zhao Liangbi’s father, Zhao Liangbi had not only become successful in his years with the Dou family but had also gained insight. He wanted Zhao Liangbi to make his own decisions about his marriage – the number of betrothal gifts, where to set up the new home, where to hold the wedding ceremony – the elderly couple had no objections to any of it.

It was only then that Zhao Liangbi learned Dou Zhao intended to marry Su Xin to him.

Years of dreams becoming reality left him overwhelmed with emotion. His eyes grew moist, blurring his vision. He longed to see Su Xin immediately, wanting to see her expression upon hearing this news.

Would she be happy or disappointed?

Did she anticipate this marriage as eagerly as he did? Or had she reluctantly agreed out of obligation?

Zhao Liangbi stood anxiously under the veranda outside Chen Qushui’s room.

Chen Qushui emerged with Zhao’s father, whose face was wrinkled and body hunched.

Seeing Zhao Liangbi, his father chuckled and couldn’t help saying, “No wonder you refused every girl we suggested. Other families’ daughters are good!”

Zhao’s father had met Su Xin before.

At the time, he thought Su Xin was not only beautiful but also virtuous and capable. He wondered which family would be fortunate enough to marry her.

He never imagined she would become their daughter-in-law.

Even now, it felt like a dream.

Zhao Liangbi, blushing, went forward to support his elderly father.

Zhao’s father politely waved to Chen Qushui, saying, “Please go rest inside. We’ll discuss the children’s marriage further with his mother. We won’t shortchange the young lady in any way.”

Chen Qushui nodded with a smile and saw the Zhao father and son out.

Madam Zhao, accompanied by Gan Lu, was waiting at the entrance to Chen Qushui’s courtyard for her husband and son.

The family reunited, with Zhao Liangbi too embarrassed to lift his head. The Zhao couple exchanged a few more pleasantries with Chen Qushui and Gan Lu before returning to Zhao Liangbi’s room in Yizhi Hall.

Chen Qushui went to Dou Zhao’s quarters to report on how things had gone: “…The old couple was overjoyed. When they heard we were arranging a marriage for Liangbi, they brought all eighty-some taels of silver they had saved. They plan to hire an official matchmaker this afternoon to propose the marriage.”

Dou Zhao smiled brightly upon hearing this and called for Housekeeper Gao’s wife, asking her to help engage an official matchmaker as well.

The news that Su Xin was to marry Zhao Liangbi couldn’t be kept secret and soon spread.

Although Song Yichun’s condition had greatly improved, his mood had not. He still lay sickly in bed.

Because of this, no one in Xiangxiang Court dared to tell Song Yichun about Su Xin’s impending marriage. However, Song Mo rushed back early from the Five Cities Command to ask how the marriage arrangements were progressing.

“Very smoothly,” Dou Zhao couldn’t help but reveal a sweet smile. “Madam Zhao is very reasonable. She’s agreed to let Su Xin live with Zhao Liangbi in the capital after they’re married. I plan to buy a small three-courtyard house as part of Su Xin’s dowry.” As she spoke, she thought of Su Lan and added, “I’ll buy one for Su Lan, Gan Lu, and Su Juan as well.”

In her previous life, Gan Lu and Su Juan had suffered too much alongside her. In this life, she wanted them to live as they wished.

Song Mo laughed, “You’re so generous. But if you send all your senior maids away, how will you manage your household?”

Learning proper etiquette wasn’t something that could be accomplished in a day or two. Moreover, understanding Dou Zhao’s moods and reading her expressions was even more challenging.

“We’ll take it slowly,” Dou Zhao sighed. “After all, there’s no sign of marriages for Gan Lu and Su Juan yet!”

She leaned back against the large pillow, looking somewhat fatigued.

Song Mo concernedly felt her forehead and asked gently, “Did something happen? You don’t look well.”

Dou Zhao touched her face reflexively and said, “Maybe I didn’t sleep well last night.” As she said this, she suddenly realized she did feel quite tired.

No wonder people say the mind shapes reality. She had only just begun to suspect she might be pregnant, and already various discomforts were appearing. Why hadn’t it been like this in her previous life?

She mused inwardly, then asked Song Mo, “Should we have the maids set out the meal?”

“That’s a good idea,” Song Mo’s eyes never left her face, his voice tinged with worry. “After you eat lunch, get some good rest. The Empress has summoned me to the palace this afternoon. I’ll try to return early to keep you company.”

Hearing this, Dou Zhao sat up straight, suddenly tense. “What does the Empress want with you?”

She had been constantly worried about the Empress asking Song Mo to deliver something to Prince Liao.

“I don’t know yet,” Song Mo was always cautious and wouldn’t speak without absolute certainty.

Dou Zhao reminded him, “If she asks you to deliver something to Prince Liao, please don’t go.” She tugged at Song Mo’s sleeve as if possessed, “I’m not feeling well. Don’t go…”

Song Mo was startled.

Dou Zhao, who had spoken, was equally stunned.

She had wheedled Song Mo in such a coquettish manner…

Dou Zhao’s face burned with embarrassment.

However, Song Mo’s eyes danced with amusement. He gently kissed her cheek and said softly, “Alright, I won’t go. I’ll stay home with you.”

In two lifetimes, she had never acted coquettishly like this before.

She felt her whole body radiating heat. She wanted to tell him that she didn’t want to keep him home to accompany her, but rather she didn’t want him getting too close to the Empress and Prince Liao. She hadn’t forgotten for a moment how Prince Liao had manipulated Song Mo in her previous life. But as the words reached her lips, she felt instinctively that saying this would ruin the mood, so she swallowed them back.

Song Mo saw that even her ears had turned red. He thought that no matter how open-minded Dou Zhao was, she was still a woman. If he responded inappropriately and angered her, she might act formally with him in everything they did from now on, which would deprive their marriage of much joy. So he didn’t dare to joke with Dou Zhao and pretended not to notice, calling loudly for the maids to set out lunch.

Dou Zhao couldn’t help but feel relieved.

The maids brought in the table for the kang bed.

Gan Lu rushed in impetuously, calling out “Madam” before looking up to see Song Mo. She hurriedly curtsied to Song Mo, addressing him as “Young Master.”

Dou Zhao quickly asked, “What’s happened?”

Gan Lu urgently replied, “Sister Su Xin went to the Daxing estate but was robbed halfway there. Fortunately, Guard Zhou and the others were with her, and they encountered Commander Chen of the Imperial Guard. Thanks to that, disaster was averted…”

Before she could finish speaking, both Song Mo and Dou Zhao’s expressions had changed.

Su Xin had been riding in Song Mo’s carriage, escorted by Dou Zhao’s guards.

Song Mo’s face immediately darkened as he asked, “Where is Su Xin now?”

“She’s directing the servants to help the injured Ruo Dan and Ruo Zhu to the back rooms.”

Ruo Dan and Ruo Zhu were two second-tier maids in Dou Zhao’s household. Su Xin found them both very reliable and had been carefully instructing them lately. She had brought them along to the Daxing estate to broaden their horizons.

Dou Zhao and Song Mo went to the back rooms where the maids rested, their expressions grave.

Ruo Dan had a head injury, while Ruo Zhu’s left arm was broken. Both had been bandaged and were lying pale-faced in their respective beds, still looking shaken.

Seeing Dou Zhao enter, they both struggled to sit up.

“Stay lying down,” Dou Zhao stopped the two maids and asked Su Xin, whose expression was heavy, “What exactly happened?”

A flash of sharpness passed through Su Xin’s eyes as she said solemnly, “I’m not sure what happened either. We had successfully passed through the city gates and were less than fifty li from the estate when the horses suddenly spooked, and the carriage overturned by the roadside. Guard Zhou and the others rushed forward to check, when suddenly a group of masked men in black clothing burst out of the forest, slashing at us with their swords.”

“Those men were highly skilled and struck hard. It was so sudden that Guard Zhou, Guard Huang, and the others were all injured.”

“We were gradually losing ground when, by chance, Commander Chen of the Imperial Guard’s Inspectorate passed by and saved us. He even captured two of the bandits. I didn’t dare continue, so I asked Commander Chen to escort us back to the manor. He was very kind-hearted and not only escorted us all the way but also called for a doctor to treat Guard Zhou and the others’ wounds after we entered the city.”

As she spoke, Su Xin gave Dou Zhao a complex look.

Years of cultivating understanding between them allowed Dou Zhao to immediately grasp Su Xin’s meaning.

There was more to this incident than met the eye.

Chen Jia’s appearance was far too coincidental.

Dou Zhao maintained her composure, comforting Ruo Dan and Ruo Zhu briefly before leaving the back rooms.

Su Xin followed her out.

Dou Zhao exchanged a glance with Song Mo, who was waiting outside.

The three of them went together to the study.