Due to the gravity of the situation, Song Mo asked Lu Ming to personally travel to Liaodong.
Lu Ming was stunned by this news. After a long moment, he regained his composure and silently departed.
Song Mo stood alone in his study for a while before calling Wu Yi in. “Open the storeroom. I want to select a few items to give as gifts.”
The storeroom was immediately illuminated.
Song Mo spent some time carefully selecting items, then had Wu Yi carry several pieces to Dou Zhao.
Seeing a box of gold-painted fans, a wine pot, and several sets of tangram puzzles, Dou Zhao asked curiously, “What’s this for?”
Song Mo replied nonchalantly, “Find some time in the next couple of days to enter the palace and deliver these gifts to the Crown Princess.”
If they were for the Crown Princess, it was indeed fitting.
Dou Zhao hesitated, “Are you planning to curry favor with the Crown Prince?”
“No!” Song Mo smiled, revealing his teeth. “I’m trying to stir up trouble!”
Dou Zhao didn’t understand.
Song Mo explained softly, “I originally planned to stay neutral between the Prince of Liao and the Crown Prince—whoever ascends to the throne, surely Duke Ying’s estate won’t be deprived of its salary? But now, unless the Empress and the Prince of Liao are separated from their bodies, I can’t quell the hatred in my heart!”
“If we support the Crown Prince at this time, without any achievements, it would be difficult to become his confidant. It’s better to wait until the Prince of Liao makes his move. Then, by helping the Crown Prince capture the rebels, we can truly earn great merit worthy of ennobling our wives and children.”
“Fifth Uncle and the Jiang family cousins are still in the Prince of Liao’s hands. We can’t openly turn against the Empress now, and I believe that once Fifth Uncle learns who framed the Jiang family, he won’t continue to aid the Prince of Liao. Rather than letting Fifth Uncle and the Prince of Liao fall out, it’s better to let Fifth Uncle pretend to cooperate with the Prince of Liao and act as an inside agent at the crucial moment. After the Crown Prince ascends the throne, we can not only clear the Jiang family’s name but also establish our own merits and restore the Jiang family’s reputation.”
“I’ve thought it through carefully. While the Emperor is still alive, the Crown Prince is the legitimate heir. The Prince of Liao can’t openly attack the capital. Even if he succeeds, without the support of the empire, he’ll struggle to secure his position. If he wants to achieve his goal, his only option is a palace coup. But for a palace coup, he can’t bypass the Jinwu Guard.”
“If we get close to the Crown Prince and refuse to submit to the Prince of Liao, how can the Empress tolerate me controlling the Jinwu Guard? The Emperor has always trusted the Empress implicitly. If the Empress wanted to deal with us, we’d be defenseless. Since that’s the case, we might as well take the initiative and let the Empress make the first move. The Emperor has been worn down by illness in recent years and lacks energy. People with low energy usually prefer peace to action. As long as we can convince the Emperor that I’m the best person to lead the Jinwu Guard, no matter how much the Empress schemes, she won’t be able to touch me. If she acts too aggressively, it might even arouse the Emperor’s suspicion.”
“As long as the Jinwu Guard is in my hands, the Prince of Liao’s actions won’t escape my notice.”
Dou Zhao smiled, “So you’re having me give gifts to the Crown Princess to make the Empress think we’re trying to curry favor with the Crown Prince, thus causing her anxiety and prompting her to act against you first? In that case, I should visit the Eastern Palace more often in the future.”
“Correct,” Song Mo smiled slightly, knowing his wife understood him best. “It’s best to bring young master Yuan along. When the Crown Prince ascends the throne in the future, Yuan will already be familiar with the royal grandchildren, which can only be beneficial.”
Dou Zhao nodded with a smile and sent a message to the palace the next day.
For a noble family like Duke Ying’s estate, the Crown Prince and his wife were naturally eager to build a close relationship.
On the third day, a eunuch from the Eastern Palace escorted Dou Zhao and her son into the palace.
The Crown Princess was surprised but mostly pleased to receive the gifts from Dou Zhao.
The box of gold-painted folding fans wasn’t particularly rare, but the fan faces depicted the four seasons and twelve months—spring peonies, summer lotuses, autumn chrysanthemums, winter plum blossoms—all intricately carved with layered silk colors, making them exquisitely beautiful and unique.
The wine pot was neither gold nor wood, its material indiscernible. The body was carved with a circle of kneeling beauties in deep robes, its shape elegant and classic, clearly an antique from a previous dynasty.
The sets of tangram puzzles were made of both sandalwood and agarwood. Holding them released a subtle fragrance, bringing peace to one’s mind.
“The Young Duke and his wife have gone to too much trouble,” the Crown Princess smiled, instructing her lady-in-waiting to put away the gifts.
Dou Zhao respectfully replied, “We’ve long been indebted to your care and have no way to repay you. If these small gifts please you, that’s all we could hope for.”
“You needn’t be so formal with me,” the Crown Princess chatted with Dou Zhao, having someone bring in the three royal grandchildren to play with young master Yuan on the large kang bed in the east hall, while she and Dou Zhao talked in the warm chamber.
From this year’s spring weather to potentially trendy hairstyles and clothes, they covered topics essential for noble ladies. The Crown Princess was very interested, and Dou Zhao, with her experience from two lifetimes, had “foresight.” The two became increasingly engrossed in conversation, with Dou Zhao eventually sketching several clothing designs before taking her leave with Yuan.
The Crown Princess had the needlework department make two outfits based on the designs, which the Empress Dowager praised highly upon seeing them.
Being a clever person, since Dou Zhao was willing to befriend her, the Crown Princess naturally reciprocated, elevating Dou Zhao’s status.
The Crown Princess lavished praise on Dou Zhao.
Thinking of the Empress Wan’s upcoming birthday, the Empress Dowager smiled and said, “Have her come to the palace and design a couple of outfits for me as well.” Then, remembering that Dou Zhao was, after all, the wife of a high-ranking Young Duke and shouldn’t be treated as a mere embroiderer, she sighed and said, “Never mind, let the needlework department make them for me instead.”
Previously, to avoid suspicion, Duke Ying’s estate and the Eastern Palace had maintained a distant relationship. If not for young master Yuan and the three royal grandchildren being born just a day apart, with the Emperor personally naming both children, they wouldn’t have dared to interact. However, the Crown Princess felt that Dou Zhao was quite sensible and wouldn’t mind these formalities, so she sent a message to Dou Zhao.
Dou Zhao immediately entered the palace and designed several outfits for the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager instructed her lady-in-waiting to pass the designs to the needlework department, then took Dou Zhao’s hand and smiled, “Thank you for your hard work!”
Dou Zhao humbly replied, “Your Highness, I don’t deserve such praise. You treat our Young Duke like family. That I can show filial piety on behalf of our Young Duke in your presence is an honor for both him and me. How could this be considered hard work?”
The Empress Dowager was very pleased with her response. She not only rewarded Dou Zhao with two gold hairpins inlaid with Hetian jade but also gifted Song Mo two inkstones and young master Yuan several bolts of fabric.
On the day of the Empress’s birthday, the sapphire blue and pink dress the Empress Dowager wore made her radiant yet dignified and elegant. The Crown Princess intentionally complimented her, allowing the Empress Dowager’s brilliance to even outshine the birthday celebrant, the Empress.
The Emperor didn’t notice these subtleties, but the Empress found it a bit strange. She sent someone to inquire and learned that Dou Zhao had designed the Empress Dowager’s dress. She simply smiled graciously and said, “This Dou woman, I didn’t know she had such talent.”
Thinking of the Empress Dowager’s upcoming birthday, the Crown Princess encouraged her to have a few more outfits made. As Empress, the Empress Dowager had always been required to be modest and virtuous, never daring to dress too lavishly. Now, with no one to restrain her and the palace days being lonely, she was excited by this novel diversion. She began calling Dou Zhao to the palace every few days, even asking her to bring young master Yuan along, saying, “He can keep the three royal grandchildren company.” The Crown Princess took the opportunity to bring the royal grandchildren to Cining Palace to play and help the Empress Dowager with ideas. A few times, they even encountered the Emperor coming to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. Seeing the laughter and children’s babbling creating a warm and lively atmosphere, and noticing the Empress Dowager’s improved complexion, the Emperor was very pleased. He played with young Master Yuan and the royal grandchildren for quite a while before having the eunuchs take the children away.
From then on, it became even more convenient for Dou Zhao to enter the palace.
The Crown Princess and Dou Zhao grew closer.
The Empress didn’t take this to heart. On the rare occasions she encountered Dou Zhao in the palace, she would even warmly engage her in conversation.
Dou Zhao smiled at Song Mo, “The Empress is much more magnanimous than you thought. Your plan hasn’t worked.”
Song Mo was unfazed, “If you could see through the Empress’s emotions so easily, how could she survive in the palace?”
Dou Zhao realized he had a point and smiled, pressing her lips together.
Lu Ming returned from Liaodong.
Song Mo went to see Lu Ming.
A few days later, Madam Jiang from Huaizhou spread the word: “It’s not that the Young Duke is unwilling to return what the old master left to the Jiang family. When the old master entrusted these things to the Young Duke, he said: ‘In this world, worthy people shall inherit.’ The Fifth Master Jiang is not fit to support the family. Even if the Young Duke returned these things to the Fifth Master Jiang, they would only be squandered. It’s better to leave them with the Young Duke.”
Song Mo also sent out a message, saying, “I’m not trying to seize what my uncle left behind. It’s just that the Jiang family in Huaizhou only has women and children left, with no one capable of managing affairs. I’m merely safeguarding these things for the Jiang family. When the Jiang family’s descendants grow up, I will naturally return everything.”
Jiang Baisun’s old debts were dug up.
People couldn’t help but sigh at the “prodigal son,” looking down on Jiang Baisun’s dispute with Song Mo over the inheritance.
Dou Zhao asked Song Mo, “Are you trying to force the Empress to make a move?”
Song Mo winked at her and said, “There’s more to come.”
Not long after he said this, they welcomed the Empress Dowager’s birthday.
The entire court came to offer congratulations.
Duke Ying’s estate was invited to attend the royal family banquet held in Cining Palace.
Miao Ruosu was very nervous, while Song Han felt somewhat indignant.
Although they were both descendants of Duke Ying, Song Mo entered the palace as if walking on flat ground, while for Song Han, it was as difficult as climbing to the sky. Moreover, along the way, people frequently greeted Song Yichun, Song Mo, and even Dou Zhao, but few even glanced at Song Han and his wife. They felt like servants to Song Yichun and Song Mo. Especially when Gu Yu appeared, Song Han’s resentment reached its peak.
Gu Yu, who didn’t care about even the princes’ attitudes, certainly wouldn’t pay attention to Song Han’s expression.
He ignored Song Han and pulled Song Mo aside, excitedly whispering, “I’ve sold two more large ships. Do you want to visit the shipyard in Tianjin when you have time? The weather is perfect these days. You could bring your wife and young master Yuan along.”
Song Mo was somewhat tempted but after some thought, said, “I’d better not go.” He looked around and lowered his voice, “I’ve been investigating the cause of my uncle’s death lately. I can’t get away.”
“Oh!” Gu Yu was a bit disappointed.
The Empress hadn’t seen Gu Yu for some time. She quickly summoned him over and chided, “Have you been at the Tianjin shipyard all this time? Is doing business that entertaining? I think you should do something more proper! If you’re bored, go to Liaodong and play with your cousin.” She added, “Sort out the affairs in your hands and hand them back to Yan Tang.”
Gu Yu remained silent.
The death of the Duke of Dingguo was a taboo subject. Song Mo investigating the Duke’s death would only displease the Emperor and Empress. He decided to keep quiet.