While Song Yichun was struggling to find a suitable position for Song Han, the palace bestowed Laba porridge for the Laba Festival. Coincidentally, it was also the day for Jiang Yan to visit her maiden home.
Song Mo invited Chen Jia to stay for porridge, while Dou Zhao went with Jiang Yan to the inner chamber of the main room to talk.
Looking at Jiang Yan, who was as fresh and blooming as a spring flower, Dou Zhao teasingly asked with a smile, “Did my sister-in-law deceive you?”
Jiang Yan shyly lowered her head.
Dou Zhao chuckled and advised her, “Don’t overthink things. What’s past is past. Focus on living well with your husband. Who likes to spend their days with someone who’s always gloomy?”
Jiang Yan responded with a blushing “Yes.”
Jiang Lizhu and Wu Zijie arrived.
Jiang Yan was surprised.
Dou Zhao explained with a smile, “I invited them – since you’re visiting your maiden home today, I asked them to come as companions.”
Nominally, Jiang Yan was the daughter of the Jiang family. When she got married, Madam Jiang and others had sent congratulatory gifts.
Jiang Yan was fond of Jiang Lizhu. Hearing this, she couldn’t help but look delighted. When Jiang Lizhu came over, the two of them huddled together, whispering.
Outside in the flower hall, a different scene was unfolding.
Wu Zijie, tall and handsome, now had a solemn expression, his eyes and brows exuding a sense of uprightness and dignity.
“Cousin,” he addressed Song Mo, following Jiang Lizhu’s way of addressing him to show closeness, “This matter is being talked about everywhere outside. Is there some misunderstanding?”
Recently, the latest gossip in the capital was about Song Mo and Jiang Baisun’s dispute over property.
It was said that the two were at odds, and some people who had previously allied with Song Mo had stayed, while others had left Yizhi Hall because of this.
Wu Zijie didn’t believe Jiang Baisun was that kind of person. When discussing sending New Year’s gifts to Huzhou, Wu Zijie couldn’t help but bring up this matter.
Chen Jia kept his eyes down, inwardly cursing Wu Zijie for his stupidity – you’re here as a guest, why bring up things that would upset the host? What a fool!
Since the Wu family had agreed to marry Jiang Lizhu as originally planned, Song Mo held them in higher regard. Moreover, this matter was something he had people spread, so he didn’t think much of Wu Zijie bringing it up. He explained, “It’s not a misunderstanding. Fifth Uncle indeed asked me to return some things that Big Uncle had given me before. I’ve been hunting in the mountains and fishing in the rivers with my Fifth Uncle since I was little, so I know his temperament very well. Fifth Uncle never used to care about material possessions, so I was afraid there might be some misunderstanding and specifically sent someone to ask. But Fifth Uncle’s words were very clear – he wanted me to return the things I had received to the Jiang family. I think perhaps the change in environment has changed his mindset…”
Wu Zijie fell silent, but a hint of disappointment flashed across his brow.
Song Mo sighed inwardly.
With this news spreading, who knew how many people like Wu Zijie would be disappointed in Jiang Baisun?
A flicker of hesitation crossed his mind.
Was what he was doing right or wrong?
In the evening, after seeing off the guests, he brought up this matter with Dou Zhao.
Dou Zhao asked, “Do you have a better solution?”
“No!” As Song Mo spoke, his resolve gradually strengthened again.
He couldn’t help but take Dou Zhao’s hand, murmuring, “I’m glad you’re by my side.” With her, he wouldn’t lose his way due to momentary confusion.
However, this matter had far-reaching implications. Not only did the Emperor know about it, but even the Crown Prince had heard of it.
The Crown Prince asked Song Mo about this matter with great concern.
Song Mo replied rather helplessly, “You know my Fifth Uncle – he’s excellent at eating, drinking, and merrymaking, but he’s never cared much about other matters. If the people in Huzhou shared my Fifth Uncle’s mindset, I wouldn’t hesitate to return the things my Big Uncle gave me to my Fifth Uncle. But my Big Aunt’s thoughts are opposite to my Fifth Uncle’s. The things were left by my Big Uncle, how could I disregard my Big Aunt’s wishes?”
The Crown Prince nodded repeatedly and said, “Your Fifth Uncle was indeed a bit reckless when he was in the capital, so, understandably, you’re hesitant to return the things your Big Uncle gave you to him.” He couldn’t help but sigh for the Duke of Dinguo, “Such a heroic person, to end up in such a situation.”
Song Mo’s heart stirred upon hearing this, but he pretended to be sad and lowered his head, wiping his eyes.
The Crown Prince heaved a long sigh and picked up his tea.
Song Mo sent people to inquire about this matter, but there was no progress. Coincidentally, the Crown Princess bestowed several New Year’s clothes on Yuan’er, and Dou Zhao was to enter the palace to express gratitude. She tentatively brought up the matter of the Duke of Dinguo: “Although the Young Master was upset for a while after returning, he was grateful for Your Highness’s concern. He wanted to come to the palace to express his gratitude but feared it might cause trouble for Your Highness. He specifically instructed me to ask the Crown Princess to convey our Young Master’s gratitude to Your Highness.”
The Crown Prince and his advisors were not unaware of the Liao Prince’s actions. The Crown Prince’s strategy was to remain unchanged in the face of change, to be an obedient and reassuring Crown Prince that the Emperor couldn’t find fault with. If he were to move against the Liao Prince, it would only alarm the Emperor, making him think that the Crown Prince was ungrateful to his brothers and eager to settle scores before even ascending to the throne, potentially jeopardizing his position as heir apparent.
Throughout history, countless crown princes have been ruined by rash actions.
But watching the Liao Prince’s restlessness and Empress Wan’s constant cover-ups for him, the Crown Prince felt like he was sitting on the edge of a cliff, feeling he could fall into an abyss at any moment, yet powerless to do anything.
He might be able to hide his anxiety from others, but not from his wife of many years who had always worked alongside him.
It was for this reason that the Crown Princess had been working on gaining the Empress Dowager’s support, which she had finally obtained.
Song Mo was the Commander of the Jinwu Guard, responsible for the safety of the Forbidden City, and also oversaw the Five Cities Military Command. If Song Mo stood on their side, no matter what methods the Liao Prince might employ in the future, Song Mo’s abilities would surely be able to resist to some extent. With this buffer, the Divine Machine Camp and the Five Armies Camp would be able to come to the rescue.
Dou Zhao’s words stirred the Crown Princess’s thoughts. After some consideration, she dismissed everyone else and spoke softly to Dou Zhao: “The Emperor is well aware of what the Duke of Dinguo did in Fujian. Even if there were one or two audacious acts, they don’t outweigh his merits. When the Emperor wanted to punish the Duke of Dinguo, His Highness once pleaded with the Emperor on the Duke’s behalf – I remember it was in the side hall when the Imperial Grandson was ill and the Emperor came to visit – the Emperor was very disappointed with His Highness and said, ‘What kind of person is the Duke of Dinguo? He’s a pillar of the state. Even if you want to plead for him, you should wait until he has been tortured in prison, when his pleas to heaven and earth go unanswered. You’re the heir apparent, yet you can’t even grasp such timing. How will you govern this great land left by our ancestors in the future?’ His Highness was extremely pleased when he heard this and told me that the Emperor was paving the way for him, intending to keep the Duke of Dinguo for him to use after his ascension to the throne. But who would have thought that just a few days after the Emperor said this, the Duke of Dinguo would die on the road… His Highness has always been puzzled, not knowing whether the Emperor changed his mind at the last moment, or if someone pushed things along and harmed the Duke of Dinguo…”
Dou Zhao’s heart pounded, her mind buzzing. It took her a while to come back to her senses.
The Crown Princess had already started asking about Yuan’er’s daily life with a smile.
Dou Zhao quickly composed herself and chatted with the Crown Princess about child-rearing until a court lady came to inform the Crown Princess that the Empress Dowager had summoned her. Only then did Dou Zhao take her leave from the Eastern Palace.
The palace corridors were wide and flat, but she didn’t know how she managed to walk out.
Seeing Dou Zhao’s pale face, Jin Gui and Yin Gui hurried forward to help her into the carriage.
Dou Zhao gathered herself and instructed the driver, “Hurry back!”
She rarely showed such urgency. The driver didn’t dare hesitate, responded with a “Yes,” and whipped the horses, driving the carriage swiftly towards the Duke Ying’s mansion.
Dou Zhao took deep breaths, trying to calm herself down.
In less than the time it takes to burn two incense sticks, the carriage steadily stopped in front of the hanging flower gate of Duke Ying’s mansion.
Dou Zhao instructed Jin Gui, “Quickly go and call the Young Master back, say there’s an urgent matter at home.”
Jin Gui took Dou Zhao’s carriage to the Jinwu Guard’s office, while Dou Zhao let out a long sigh and returned to the inner chamber.
Even after Gan Lu helped her wash and tidy up, she still felt her legs were a bit weak.
Dou Zhao lay down on the large kang bed by the window for a short rest.
Song Mo rushed back hurriedly.
Before he could speak, Dou Zhao instructed Gan Lu, “Have everyone in the main courtyard go stand in the yard, I have something to say to the Young Master.”
Gan Lu quickly withdrew.
Only then did Dou Zhao pull Song Mo close to whisper in his ear.
Song Mo’s expression changed drastically, and he asked in shock, “Is this true?”
“I don’t know,” Dou Zhao replied, “The Crown Princess told me this herself.”
Song Mo couldn’t sit still. He paced around the room twice and said, “There are some things I need to have investigated.”
Dou Zhao cautioned him, “Be careful!”
Song Mo nodded with a smile, kissed her cheek, and turned to leave the inner chamber.
Dou Zhao couldn’t help but light a few incense sticks before the Guanyin statue in their home.
Song Mo left early and returned late for several days in a row, and also called Yan Chaoqing and Chen Qushui to his study.
Dou Zhao was busy sending New Year’s gifts.
Song Yichun thus found himself at leisure.
He invited the vice ministers of the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War for a meal, hoping to secure a position for Song Han.
The vice minister of the Ministry of Personnel spoke very politely but passed the buck to the vice minister of the Ministry of War: “Minister Dou is your relative. This matter of a position is just a word from you. Whatever procedures the Ministry of War tells us to follow, we’ll follow.”
The vice minister of the Ministry of War smiled and said, “Aren’t you using a sledgehammer to crack a nut? The Young Master of your household controls the Jinwu Guard and has his eyes on the Five Cities Military Command. You just need to say a word at home, why bother with us?”
He had heard rumors about the discord between father and son in Duke Ying’s household.
Song Mo was too ruthless, and he didn’t want to offend him.
Whatever issue you father and son have, resolve it yourselves.
When the time comes, as long as you speak up, you can choose any vacant position in the Ministry of War!
Song Yichun couldn’t possibly admit in front of outsiders that he couldn’t influence his eldest son.
He smiled and said, “For matters of appointing and dismissing officials, we still need the support of you two gentlemen. Having your endorsement is much more reliable than relying on Yantang.”
The two vice ministers chuckled but gave no definite answer.
Song Yichun was furious but helpless. He could only shut himself at home and stew in his anger for a few days.
Song Han had bought off a personal servant close to Song Yichun.
He soon learned of this matter.
Song Han was stunned for a long while.
Who would have thought that Song Mo was so feared by others?
Did this mean that unless Song Mo nodded his approval, there would be no progress on his official position?
Song Han felt like a caged beast, growing increasingly frantic.
Miao Ansu kept his distance, fearing that Song Han’s fury might burn him as well.
Meanwhile, Song Mo, along with Yan Chaoqing and Chen Qushui, were meticulously unraveling clues, slowly discovering that the trail seemed to lead toward the Prime Minister, Liang Jifang.
At this time, as snow fell heavily, they welcomed the Spring Festival of the 18th year of Chengping.