The investigation into Liang Jifen had to be put on hold for now.
Song Mo was deeply frustrated by this.
After returning from the New Year’s Eve banquet at the palace, he couldn’t help but whisper to Dou Zhao in the carriage: “Why do you think Uncle offended Liang Jifen? Uncle was persecuted to death by the Imperial Guard, yet he could just stand by and watch…”
For all these years, the tragic death of the Duke of Dingguo and the falling out with the Duke of Ying had been knots in Song Mo’s heart. He couldn’t find peace until they were untangled.
Dou Zhao held Song Mo’s hand, comforting him softly: “Now that we’ve found the person, it’s only a matter of time before we know the truth. Don’t be anxious.”
Song Mo nodded, letting out a light sigh.
Dou Zhao then spoke about her visit to the palace: “…The Crown Princess was very enthusiastic. In front of the Empress Dowager and the Empress, she invited me to bring the child to observe the lanterns in the palace during the Lantern Festival. The Empress Dowager laughed happily, seeming very pleased, but the Empress acted as if she hadn’t heard, continuing to talk with the Marquis of Changxing’s wife.” She smiled bitterly, “I’m afraid the Crown Prince also has his plans!”
She had previously thought the palace coup was simpler than it was.
She had always felt that the Crown Prince was naive and weak, which was why he was outmaneuvered by the Prince of Liao.
But after these few interactions with the Crown Princess, she realized things might not be as she had imagined.
Her confidence that she and Song Mo could overcome this challenge if they worked together was largely due to her belief that she had glimpsed heaven’s will. Now, she felt somewhat uneasy.
“Unless the Prince of Liao is planning to attack from outside the city, there’s no way to bypass the Imperial Guard and the Five Cities Military Command,” she continued. “The Crown Prince probably knows this too, which is why he wants to keep you in his grasp. We need to prepare for the worst.”
Dou Zhao now recognized the importance of the Inspectorate of the Imperial Guard.
She finally sighed, “If only brother-in-law were still in the Inspectorate.”
“A prepared mind will always beat an unprepared one. Even if Chen Zanzhi had three heads and six arms, it wouldn’t be enough,” Song Mo said dismissively. “It’s better to let it go like this. We’ve shown weakness to the Prince of Liao while also preserving Chen Zanzhi’s life.” At this point, he asked impatiently, “Is Chen Zanzhi treating Ah Yan well? Why haven’t we seen Ah Yan visiting?”
Dou Zhao laughed, “Ah Yan has been married for less than a month, and it’s near the New Year. She’s a new bride, how could she have time to return home? After the Lantern Festival, we can invite her back for a good stay.” She added with a smile, “If you have anything you want to ask her, tell me now, so you don’t overthink things later.”
Song Mo smiled sheepishly, “I don’t mean anything by it. As long as Chen Zanzhi treats Ah Yan well, I won’t mistreat him.”
“I know!” Dou Zhao teased him, “I know you’re always generous to others. Why don’t you accompany me to pay New Year’s respects to Old Madam An on the second day?”
“Of course,” Song Mo smiled. “I heard Old Madam An likes flowers and plants. I’ve already had people prepare several pots of narcissus, asking them to nurture them so they’ll bloom by the second day.”
Dou Zhao was very pleased. She chatted with Song Mo about New Year’s rewards and red envelopes for little Yuan. The atmosphere gradually became cheerful. By the time they got out of the carriage, Song Mo was all smiles. That night, they even indulged in two rounds of lovemaking, almost making them late for the early morning court session the next day.
Because it was the New Year, both Yan Chaoqin and Liao Bifeng had left the mansion. Chen Qushui, being alone, mooched meals at Duan Gongyi’s place. During the day, he ate, drank, and chatted with people who came to pay New Year’s respects to Duan Gongyi and his mother. At night, when he returned home alone, he would take out the clues he had collected about the Duke of Dingguo’s death and ponder over them by lamplight.
Meanwhile, Song Yichun was busy trying to secure a position for Song Han.
Soon, it was the fifteenth day of the first month – the Lantern Festival.
Chang’an Street was filled with lanterns.
Fearing that the bitter wind from the city gate would chill little Yuan, Dou Zhao held her son to watch the lanterns for a while before excusing herself, claiming she felt unwell.
However, little Yuan was just getting excited, squirming in Dou Zhao’s arms and refusing to be comforted. In contrast, the Third Imperial Grandson was already asleep in his wet nurse’s arms, yawning.
The Crown Princess then had the Imperial Grandson give his octagonal glass revolving horse lantern to little Yuan to play with.
The Imperial Grandson, who could recognize characters at three and understand literature at five, was exceptionally good at his studies. The Emperor greatly valued him for this, often calling him to inquire about his lessons. Perhaps because of this, he was quite generous, readily handing the palace lantern to Dou Zhao’s attendant.
If nothing unexpected happened, the Imperial Grandson would also be the future Crown Prince.
How could Dou Zhao dare to accept? She repeatedly declined.
The Imperial Grandson smiled, “It’s alright. Last year, my Great-grandfather also rewarded me with such a palace lantern, but it was the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea. This one, let Hao brother take it to play with!”
His voice was as smooth as jade, instantly likable.
As a mother, Dou Zhao felt a pang of heartache.
Such a good child would ultimately starve to death in Zhongcui Palace.
She thanked him respectfully and let Jin Gui accept the lantern.
Little Yuan was immediately attracted by the revolving palace lantern, twisting his little body to poke at it.
The Imperial Grandson found it amusing and asked Jin Gui to bring the lantern closer to little Yuan’s face.
“No!” The Crown Princess hurriedly said, “Be careful not to let the light hurt Hao’s brother’s eyes.”
The Imperial Grandson’s face immediately turned red, looking at Dou Zhao embarrassedly.
Dou Zhao smoothed things over for the Imperial Grandson, smiling, “The Princess is so thoughtful. I hadn’t even considered that.”
As she finished speaking, she heard the Imperial Grandson let out a light sigh.
Dou Zhao couldn’t help but smile slightly as the group headed to a warm pavilion not far from the city gate.
Along the way, various palace lanterns hung, as brilliant as stars. Little Yuan stared at them intently, completely forgetting about the octagonal glass revolving horse lantern given by the Imperial Grandson. By the time they entered the warm pavilion, he was yawning repeatedly. Before the palace maids serving tea could withdraw, he had already fallen asleep with drooping eyelids.
The Crown Princess smiled, stroking little Yuan’s small head, “This child is just like our third son, able to eat, sleep, and make noise. Who knows what kind of temperament he’ll have when he grows up!”
Dou Zhao smiled without saying anything.
The Crown Princess instructed little Yuan’s wet nurse: “Let Hao’s brother sleep next to the Third Imperial Grandson. Holding him like that, he won’t sleep comfortably!”
Although the Emperor had generously allowed Dou Zhao and the Crown Princess to leave the city gate early with their children, little Yuan had no place to rest in the palace.
Dou Zhao knew this was the Crown Princess showing goodwill towards her. If she refused repeatedly, who knows what the Crown Prince and Crown Princess might think?
She thanked her with a smile and let the wet nurse take the child to rest.
The two then sat in the resting room and talked about the clothing and jewelry of various consorts during the New Year.
A palace maid entered, looking slightly flustered, and whispered something in the Crown Princess’s ear.
The Crown Princess’s expression tightened, her lips pressed together firmly. She turned her gaze to Dou Zhao and said bitterly, “A censor has accused the Young Master, saying he’s arrogant and misusing public resources, ordering the Five Cities Military Command to arrest the bodyguards of a wealthy gentry who offended the Young Master’s cousin.”
Dou Zhao was stunned, “At this time? In front of the Emperor?”
The Crown Princess nodded.
Dou Zhao wanted to send the palace maid to find out exactly what was happening, but her status didn’t allow her to command the maid. She couldn’t help but frown, feeling anxious.
Was it the Prince of Liao’s doing? Or was someone genuinely dissatisfied with Song Mo’s behavior and taking the opportunity to attack?
Or perhaps someone had seen them getting too close to the Crown Prince recently and wanted to give them a warning?
Whether it was the former or the latter, accusing Song Mo at this time showed a determination to destroy him. How would the Emperor handle this matter?
As she worried silently, the Crown Princess had already angrily scolded the palace maid: “Hurry and listen. If there’s any change, report to us immediately.”
The palace maid responded fearfully with a “Yes” and hurriedly withdrew.
A flash of guilt crossed the Crown Princess’s eyes as she comforted Dou Zhao: “It will be fine. Today is the Lantern Festival. The Emperor won’t punish officials on such a day.”
Dou Zhao nodded, but her brow still showed traces of anxiety.
Hopefully, the Crown Princess was right.
She involuntarily clasped her hands together and chanted “Amitabha” towards the west a few times.
The two waited quietly in the warm pavilion.
About an incense stick’s time later, the palace maid returned joyfully.
“Your Highness, Madam,” she curtsied, her eyes full of admiration, “The Young Master said that even in recommending the worthy, one doesn’t avoid relatives. The Five Cities Military Command has always maintained peace in the capital. Just because the kidnapped person was the Young Master’s cousin doesn’t mean the Young Master must remain idle. The Emperor found this reasoning very sound and laughed, punishing that censor with three cups of wine, ready to let the matter drop.
But the censor kept pushing, babbling on. The Emperor became angry and had the censor dragged out. He even lost his temper, asking if they thought he was a tyrant like King Zhou. Were they all competing to be remonstrating ministers for fame? This frightened all the officials in the hall into silence. It was only when the Empress had a nanny bring the Fifteenth Prince to the great hall that the Emperor’s anger subsided.”
The Fifteenth Prince was only three years old this year, the youngest prince at present. The Emperor treated him entirely like a grandson, doting on him immensely.
Dou Zhao and the Crown Princess both let out sighs of relief.
Although this incident seemed to have passed, it put Song Mo and Dou Zhao on alert.
Song Mo sent people to monitor the censor’s every move.
Dou Zhao sent people to bring Jiang Yan back home to spend the month.
Chen Jia escorted Jiang Yan back.
Dou Zhao invited Jiang Liuzhu to keep them company.
Seeing Jiang Yan’s rosy complexion and vibrant spirit, Jiang Liuzhu teased her: “Are you still worried that Chen Zanzhi will despise you?”
Jiang Yan’s face turned bright red. She clung to Dou Zhao’s arm and sat down beside her, quietly asking Dou Zhao: “Sister-in-law, did you not manage the household when you first married?”
Hearing the implication in her words, Dou Zhao smiled, “What’s this? Are you not managing the household?”
Jiang Yan shook her head, then nodded.
Dou Zhao was confused.
Jiang Liuzhu also pricked up her ears to listen.
Jiang Yan then said shyly, “Zanzhi did entrust me with the internal affairs of the household, but he also instructed that Tao Erniang help me manage the household supplies. There are only Zanzhi and me, along with a dozen servants in the house. Tao Erniang is very capable, so every day, apart from listening to her report the accounts, I have nothing else to do… I eat and sleep, sleep and eat…”
She was very uneasy.
Dou Zhao and Jiang Liuzhu looked at each other, then couldn’t help but smile.
Jiang Liuzhu even said, “You’re born into blessings but don’t know it! Do you think managing a household is easy? It’s oil one moment, rice the next, it’s exhausting. Since Chen Zanzhi has found someone to help you, you should just relax. What’s there to worry about?”