Watching the two embracing, Grandmother smiled with narrowed eyes and took Young Master Yuan’s hand, saying, “Look, there’s a clump of foxtail grass in the corner. Shall we pick some and put it on your father’s desk?”
Usually agreeable, Yuan was now being stubborn. He clung to Song Mo’s sleeve, calling out “Father” through tears, saying, “I want a hug too! I want a hug too!”
Dou Zhao’s face burned hot.
She gently pushed Song Mo, whispering, “Everyone’s watching.”
Her flushed cheeks were like winter-blooming trumpet creeper flowers, bright and proud.
Song Mo’s heart raced, and he couldn’t help but whisper, “So it’s alright when no one’s around? Fine, wait for me tonight.”
His words were becoming increasingly improper.
Dou Zhao feared the servants would notice something amiss and barely managed to hold back from spitting at Song Mo.
Song Mo, however, knew when to stop. He released Dou Zhao and respectfully bowed to Grandmother.
Seeing Dou Zhao’s embarrassed face and awkward demeanor, Grandmother sought to ease the situation. She smiled, chatting with Song Mo while walking towards a nearby pavilion. “I heard the Emperor is still being held hostage. Is it alright for you to return like this?”
“It’s fine,” Song Mo said, gently supporting Grandmother into the pavilion and helping her sit on the beauty couch. “I’ve done what I should. Getting involved further would draw too much attention, which wouldn’t be good.”
“Knowing when to stop. Not only can you think of it, but you can also do it. That’s truly remarkable,” Grandmother praised Song Mo. “As long as your merit in rescuing the Emperor is recognized in the end, that’s enough. Continuing to compete with others would block their prospects and invite resentment.”
“That’s exactly right,” Song Mo smiled, taking the tea from a maid and placing it in front of Grandmother. He then turned and set Yuan, whom Dou Zhao was holding, next to Grandmother. Smiling at Dou Zhao, he said, “I’m glad you’re all safe. I still need to go rescue Fifth Uncle. The situation in the capital is now under control. Chen Jia will escort you back to the mansion later.”
Dou Zhao’s heart skipped a beat as she listened. “Did Fifth Uncle come along too? The King of Liao didn’t mistreat him, did he?”
Song Mo sighed deeply and said, “The King of Liao doesn’t trust Fifth Uncle very much. He brought Fifth Uncle to the capital not only to utilize the connections left by Eldest Uncle to assist his actions but also to use Fifth Uncle to threaten me. What he didn’t expect was that Fifth Uncle, despite seeming careless, is very perceptive. He quickly discerned the King’s intentions from his actions. Before they left Liaodong, Fifth Uncle had already secretly sent someone to notify me. Unfortunately, Fifth Uncle didn’t know the exact time the King of Liao would arrive in the capital, and he certainly didn’t expect the King to involve you in his schemes as well.”
Dou Zhao was stunned. “So you knew about the King of Liao’s plan to enter the capital early on? Is that why you sent me, Yuan, and the elder to the Xiangshan villa?”
Song Mo didn’t respond, but his gaze revealed deep remorse.
Dou Zhao laughed softly. “You’re not blaming yourself for this again, are you? You’re not a god—even gods make mistakes sometimes, don’t they?”
In her two lifetimes, she had never anticipated the King of Liao’s sudden attack, let alone Song Mo.
Song Mo smiled sheepishly.
Dou Zhao then asked, “Do you know where Fifth Uncle is?” She told Song Mo about Gu Yu’s situation. “I’m afraid the Crown Prince might seek retribution later, so I had Duan Gongyi take him back to Tianjin. What do you plan to do about Fifth Uncle? Ask the Crown Prince for leniency. Or have someone quietly send Fifth Uncle back to Liaodong?”
Song Mo didn’t know Gu Yu had been there and was very surprised. He said, “Shou Gu, you did the right thing! Given Gu Yu’s awkward position now, it’s best for him to stay away from these disputes. As for Fifth Uncle, we’ll discuss what to do after I meet with him. Honestly, this is an opportunity, but it could also be a storm.
The Jiang family is now headed by Fifth Uncle, and how they proceed depends on his intentions. As for Fifth Uncle’s current whereabouts… since he’s not with the King of Liao, he must be detained at the King’s mansion. Besides the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Emperor also uses people from the Eastern and Western Depots. The King of Liao wouldn’t dare to secretly set up a residence in the capital. I think I’ll be able to find him once I get there.” He added, “I’m worried Fifth Uncle might suffer if I’m late.”
Dou Zhao didn’t dare detain him and hurriedly said, “Then be careful and come back quickly!”
Song Mo nodded, exchanged a few words with Grandmother, kissed Yuan, and left as swiftly as he had arrived.
Shortly after, Chen Jia came to escort Dou Zhao.
Chen Xiaofeng asked, “What about the Second Young Master?”
Before leaving the Xiangshan villa, while cleaning up the battlefield, they had found Song Han hiding behind a corpse, shivering and with two arrows in him. They had brought him along.
“Take him back to the Duke Ying’s mansion,” Dou Zhao said. “We’ll decide what to do when the Crown Prince returns.”
It was best to leave such matters for Song Mo to decide.
Chen Xiaofeng complied and withdrew.
Dou Zhao asked Chen Jia, “Is Ayan alright?”
Her tone was very sincere.
“She’s fine,” Chen Jia said. After the palace situation was brought under control by the Crown Prince, he quietly returned to Yuqiao Hutong. “When I went back, she was sleeping because she felt drowsy.” As if recalling his wife’s adorable sleepy state, Chen Jia’s smile grew brighter.
Dou Zhao felt relieved. She bid farewell to Wang Xu and, escorted by Chen Jia and others, returned to the capital.
It was now dusk, and the faint fragrance of tuberose flowers carried on the wind. Dou Zhao felt as if she had been in a dream.
She shook her head, banishing those fragments from her mind.
Some things were best not dwelt upon!
After Dou Zhao and the others had bathed, the kitchen sent over iced mung bean soup.
The cool, refreshing taste made one’s head feel light, and fatigue quickly set in. Before they could have dinner, everyone retired to bed. When Dou Zhao woke up, it was already the next morning, with sparrows chirping on the branches.
“Where are Yuan and the elder?” Dou Zhao asked as soon as she got up.
Ruotong, along with several young maids, brought hot water, soap, towels, and a mirror to help her with her morning routine.
“The elder took Yuan to look at flowers in the courtyard,” Ruotong said with a smile. “Seeing you sleeping so soundly, the elder didn’t let us wake you. She said your nerves had been tense for so long, a good sleep like this would help you recover.”
So they hadn’t even called her for dinner?
Dou Zhao pondered, indeed feeling her energy restored.
She ate two bowls of porridge and four pan-fried buns before putting down her chopsticks. She asked Ruotong, “Did the Crown Prince not return last night?”
“No, he didn’t!” Ruotong smiled, directing the young maids to clear the dishes.
Dou Zhao wondered if Jiang Bosun had been rescued.
“Has the lockdown in the capital been lifted?” she asked.
When they returned yesterday, the capital was under lockdown with streets cleared. If it weren’t for Chen Xiaofeng producing the token Song Mo had left beforehand, they might not have been able to enter the city.
“No,” Ruotong said softly. “I heard the Emperor is still in the King of Liao’s hands!”
Dou Zhao frowned.
The longer this dragged on, the more unfavorable it would be for the Crown Prince.
She got off the kang bed, intending to go to the garden to join Grandmother and Yuan.
A commotion arose outside, growing louder.
Ruotong immediately ran out and soon returned to report, “Madam, it’s the Duke. He’s insisting on taking the Second Young Master to Xixiang Court!”
Dou Zhao sneered, “Go and convey a message for me. Tell him that the Second Young Master deliberately plotted to harm Yuan and falsely claimed it was the Duke’s idea. Let the Second Young Master stay in Yizhi Hall until the Crown Prince returns to make a decision. This way, the Duke won’t be misunderstood as trying to silence someone!”
Ruotong complied and left.
Soon, the commotion subsided, and Yizhi Hall returned to its original tranquility.
Dou Zhao went to the garden.
Song Yichun, however, returned to Xixiang Court with a pale face.
He summoned Tao Qizhong, who was “seriously ill,” to speak with him.
Tao Qizhong instinctively wanted to refuse, but considering the recent upheaval in the capital, he thought for a moment and followed Zeng Wu to Song Yichun’s study.
Song Yichun immediately berated Song Han with words like “fool” and “idiot,” then dejectedly said, “Qizhong, this unfilial son said he was acting under my instructions to help the King of Liao hold Dou Shi hostage. What should I do now?”
Upon hearing this, Tao Qizhong was so shocked he almost fainted, regretting that he hadn’t decisively left Duke Ying’s mansion out of concern for Song Yichun’s face. Now, Song Yichun had gotten involved in such a matter. No wonder he had been insisting that Tao Qizhong “rest well” these past days.
He couldn’t help but stamp his foot and say, “Master, how could you be so foolish as to get involved in such a thing?”
Song Yichun was displeased at being criticized, but he wanted Tao Qizhong’s advice, so he suppressed his displeasure and asked, “Then what do you suggest?”
“Deny it outright,” Tao Qizhong said firmly. “Not only must you deny it, but you also can’t involve yourself in the Second Young Master’s affairs anymore.”
Song Yichun was stunned and after a while said, “I’m his father. Is it inappropriate even to ask about him?”
Tao Qizhong, who had long disliked Song Han’s duplicity and cruelty, quickly said, “Don’t you know the Second Young Master’s nature? If he pushes all his actions onto you, what will you do? The King of Liao is still on Yuquan Mountain!”
Song Yichun gritted his teeth as he listened, reluctantly saying, “Are we just going to stand by and let Song Mo dominate everything?”
Tao Qizhong laughed bitterly and said, “Master, you should focus on extricating yourself first!”
After a long internal struggle, Song Yichun nodded helplessly.
Tao Qizhong finally felt the weight lift from his heart.
Regardless, Song Yichun was Song Mo’s father. If Song Yichun got entangled in the succession struggle, even with Song Mo’s merit in rescuing the Emperor, he would still be affected by Song Yichun’s involvement. Presumably, Song Mo would spare Song Yichun’s life…
Tao Qizhong decided that regardless of Song Yichun’s intentions, once the dust settled on the palace coup, he would resign and return to his hometown.
Song Han, hastily bandaged and thrown into a side room, understood the situation more clearly than Song Yichun.
After such an incident, it would be good enough if his old man didn’t kick him while he was down, let alone expect him to come to the rescue.
Song Mo wasn’t home.
He was likely currying favor with the Crown Prince.
When he returned, the situation would likely be dire.
Song Han looked at the towering guard at the door, his brow furrowed.
Dou Zhao, however, was very happy.
Halfway to the garden, a sweating Wu Yi stopped her: “Madam, the Crown Prince has brought Fifth Uncle back. He asks you to help prepare a guest room and arrange for some maids and servants to attend to him.”
“So everything went smoothly?” Dou Zhao asked him.
Wu Yi hesitated for a moment before saying, “Fifth Uncle was severely tortured, but fortunately we arrived in time… The Crown Prince has already sent for a doctor on the way back.”
Dou Zhao couldn’t help but sigh. She instructed Ruozhu to prepare the guest room while she returned to her chambers to freshen up, preparing to pay her respects to Jiang Bosun.