Blossom

Song Mo nodded slightly upon hearing Wei Tingyu's reply.

As they walked out together with Wei Tingyu and the others, Song Mo made small talk: "What do you usually do for leisure?"

Wei Tingyu replied respectfully, "I mostly read and practice calligraphy at home, with little else for entertainment." Then he politely asked in return, "Might I ask what the Young Lord of Duke of Yingguo usually enjoys for leisure?"

Zhang Yuanming broke into a cold sweat at this.

Who speaks like that?

Song Mo was the heir of Duke of Yingguo.

Before Song Mo could answer, Zhang Yuanming hastily added, "My brother-in-law here enjoys horseback riding and archery! He often rides along the moat outside Xuanwu Gate!"

Living in the Capital wasn't easy. Not every household had grounds large enough for galloping horses.

"Oh?" Song Mo's interest was piqued. After a brief thought, he said to Gu Yu, "How about we join Marquis of Jining for a ride along the moat tomorrow?"

Gu Yu could clearly see Song Mo's intention to befriend Wei Tingyu and naturally wouldn't oppose it.

"Excellent!" he laughed loudly and said to Wei Tingyu, "Then it's settled—tomorrow at mao hour (5-7 am), rain or shine!"

Wei Tingyu and Wang Qinghai were stunned, exchanging glances that betrayed their unease.

Zhang Yuanming, thinking Wei Tingyu had caught Song Mo's favor, was overjoyed and quickly answered for him, "We'll definitely be there!"

Song Mo gave a slight nod, his noble and composed demeanor making others feel as if they stood beside rare jewels.

Wei Tingyu and Wang Qinghai couldn't help but look troubled.

Wang Qinghai tugged at Zhang Yuanming's sleeve.

Though Zhang Yuanming had grown up disliked by his mother, Madam Yuan, and his honest appearance made him seem slow-witted—often excluded from family discussions—he was far from foolish.

He subtly slowed his pace, gradually creating distance between themselves and Song Mo and Gu Yu.

Wang Qinghai immediately moved closer: "Brother-in-law, how can we compare to the Young Lord of Duke of Yingguo and the Capital's little tyrant... We'll only embarrass ourselves!"

Since it was a riding outing, they'd inevitably have to race.

Wei Tingyu's mount was an ordinary Shandong bay, while Wang Qinghai's was a gift from his father, the Marquis of Yan'an, four years ago—already aging...

Zhang Yuanming understood immediately. After a moment's thought, he whispered, "Don't worry about this. After seeing off the Young Lord of Duke of Yingguo, we'll discuss it further. The chance to befriend him is too rare to miss!"

Wang Qinghai fully agreed, nodding repeatedly.

Unexpectedly, Song Mo and Gu Yu escorted them all the way to the main gate. With no alternative, they had to circle the Jingguo Duke's residence in their carriage before returning.

The relationship between the Zhang brothers was complex, and Zhang Yuanming didn't want others knowing about this matter. He waited for Wei Tingyu and Wang Qinghai in his private study.

"I've had two fine Mongolian horses selected from my stables for you. Take them with you now," he instructed quietly. "This afternoon, go test the horses by the moat. If anything seems amiss, make sure to leave a good impression on the Young Lord of Duke of Yingguo and Gu Yu." He added firmly, "Remember, tomorrow you're there as companions—don't try to compete with them. Just ensure they enjoy themselves, understood?"The Mongolian horse is one of the finest warhorses. With such a mount, Wei Tingyu was brimming with confidence about tomorrow's ride.

"Don't worry, brother-in-law," he said with a laugh. "They're just two kids, and with their noble status, we wouldn't stoop to their level anyway."

"You'd need the skill to even match them!" Wang Qinghai replied, both amused and exasperated. "You probably don't know this yet, but the heir of the Duke of Yingguo can draw a bow of at least three stones. His steed is called 'Feidu,' a Wusun horse said to travel a thousand miles in a day—a gift from Duke Ding for his tenth birthday. The Song family also owns several prized horses, including Crimson Jade, Floating Cloud, Red Lightning, Dustless, and Pingshan. Our family's Juequn was sired by one of the Song's horses and shares the same dam as their Crimson Jade."

While Wei Tingyu might not know much else, he had seen the Wang family's Juequn with his own eyes—tall, robust, and swift as the wind, leaving him envious and secretly wishing for such a fine horse one day.

Wei Tingyu gave an awkward chuckle.

Seizing the moment, Zhang Yuanming advised, "There's always someone better. You should be more cautious in the future."

His brother-in-law had always treated him well.

Wei Tingyu promptly responded with a respectful "Yes."

After a few more words of caution, Zhang Yuanming saw the two out.

Meanwhile, Song Mo was playing tiles with Zhou Jinping, the youngest son of the Duke of Dongping Zhou Shaochuan; Feng Zhi, the eldest grandson of the Earl of Yong'en Feng Jian'an; and Dong Qi, heir of the Earl of Guang'en.

A pile of silver fragments and silver notes, totaling at least two thousand taels, already lay on the table.

Gu Yu, Zhang Xuming, and other young nobles gathered around the table, watching in complete silence, so quiet one could hear a pin drop.

Zhou Jinping, in his twenties, had regular features, but his shifty eyes gave him a cunning, untrustworthy air.

He rubbed the tiles in his hand, glanced at Song Mo—who lounged casually in a Grand Preceptor's Chair, barely looking at his tiles before setting them down—then at Feng Zhi, whose face was livid, and Dong Qi, who wore a grave expression.

After another moment of hesitation, Zhou Jinping tossed his four tiles onto the table and declared loudly, "I fold!"

His hand consisted of two matching pairs—a six and a five—which could form a "Double Geese" and a "Tiger's Head."

"Double Geese" ranked fifth, just below the "Supreme Pair" and "Double Heavens."

The onlookers erupted in murmurs.

Feng Zhi's expression darkened further, his eyes blazing with fury. "You're folding with Double Geese? Are you a coward?"

Zhou Jinping sneered. "Song has opened with the Supreme Pair three times in a row, and I haven't even seen a Three of Clubs yet. If you're so bold, you go ahead—I can't afford to keep up."

"Neither can I!" Dong Qi immediately threw down his four tiles—a Heaven, a Mixed Five, a Plum, and a Red Head, forming a seven and a ten.

Still no Three of Clubs.

The crowd held their breath.

Feng Zhi's face cycled between pale and green before he finally slammed his tiles onto the table. "I fold too."

His hand was two Plums, an Earth, and a Mixed Nine, forming a "Double Plums" and an "Earth King."

"Double Plums" ranked sixth.

Zhou Jinping scoffed softly.Feng Zhiping was furious and about to say something when Song Mo suddenly stood up. With a smile, he said, "The banquet should be starting soon. Let's call it a day here!" Then he pointed at the scattered silver and silver notes on the table. "It's rare for us to gather like this. If I leave just like that, I’m afraid you’ll all get me drunk later. I’ll return this silver to you, so you can’t use it as an excuse to force me to drink."

The crowd, caught off guard, erupted in cheers and eagerly stepped forward to retrieve their silver.

Zhang Xuming, still smiling, left the mountain lodge with Song Mo and Gu Yu.

Feng Ye stared at Song Mo’s retreating figure, his expression shifting between dark and uncertain.

Dong Qi, who was also watching Song Mo’s back, seemed lost in thought.

Just then, a distant relative of Marquis Changxing—someone whose father worked in the Shanglin Imperial Park—somehow spotted Gu Yu and shouted, "Gu Yu is here! Quick, call him in to gamble!"

Everyone knew Gu Yu had inherited his late mother’s dowry, which yielded an annual income of twenty to thirty thousand taels of silver.

A few of Gu Yu’s acquaintances joined in the clamor, volunteering to drag him over. But they hadn’t expected Song Mo, the heir of Duke of Yingguo, to follow along.

Most of them only had a nodding acquaintance with Song Mo, but he had always been the object of their envy—he was one of only two brothers in his family, designated as the heir from childhood. There were no internal conflicts; his family was wealthy, and he had personal assets of his own, with seemingly endless silver to spend. He carried himself with effortless elegance and nobility, yet there was genuine substance beneath that refined exterior...

Feng Zhiping overheard Feng Zhi whispering to Zhou Jinping, "Another rich one’s here!"

Zhou Jinping hesitated slightly.

Feng Zhi urged, "What’s there to fear? There’s no such thing as the Duke Ding’s family anymore!"

After a moment’s thought, Zhou Jinping muttered under his breath, "Let’s do it!"

Then he egged him on: "Back in the day, your family’s private ships were confiscated by Duke Ding. Don’t you want to win some of it back?"

Of course, he wouldn’t fall for it.

But when he saw Song Mo’s hand resting so naturally on the grand preceptor’s chair draped in crimson gold brocade—the contrast between the jade-like white and the vivid scarlet creating a dazzling beauty—he inexplicably found himself agreeing with a single "Alright."

Who would’ve thought Song Mo knew how to gamble?

In less than half an hour, everyone had lost so much their faces turned pale.

He was certain Song Mo had cheated, but no matter how hard he looked, he couldn’t spot any tricks.

"Damn it!" Feng Zhi’s furious voice rang in Dong Qi’s ears. "It’s actually a mixed five and a high nine!"

Dong Qi couldn’t help but glance over.

Four cards lay discarded in the center of the table by Feng Zhi, their ivory surfaces pale as moonlight, the seven red dots glaring mockingly as if taunting their cowardice.

"What’s so impressive?" Feng Zhi spat bitterly. "Watch out—the Emperor might just wipe out his family too!"

A few stragglers still lingered in the mountain lodge, but at these words, they scattered like startled birds.

Dong Qi eyed the remaining silver notes on the table, slowly gathered them, and tucked them into his robe. Calmly, he remarked, "What’s truly frightening is if the Emperor still holds some sentiment for the Jiang Family’s past ties. Otherwise, why would he have spared their sacrificial lands, ancestral home, and the under-five male heirs…"

Feng Zhi was stunned.

Dong Qi had already left the lodge.

Outside, he saw Song Mo and Gu Yu bidding farewell to Zhang Xuming.

Zhang Xuming earnestly tried to persuade them to stay, but seeing their resolve, he personally escorted them out.

"Brother Tianci," Gu Yu grumbled indignantly, "that Zhou Jinping and Feng Zhi..."Song Mo raised his hand, signaling to stop further discussion, and said indifferently, "They're just insignificant clowns, not worth worrying about." Yet in his heart, he understood that with the Jiang Family in trouble, some were eager to capitalize on the situation to make a name for themselves.

Gu Yu swallowed his anger forcefully, but his expression still betrayed his resentment.

※※※※※

The next day, Song Mo and the others met by the moat outside Xuanwu Gate.

Wei Tingyu and Wang Qinghai rode the Mongolian horses gifted by Zhang Yuanming, while Song Mo and Gu Yu rode two ordinary Mongolian steeds.

The two were somewhat surprised.

Song Mo offered no explanation. Instead, he let his horse graze freely along the embankment as he chatted idly with Wei Tingyu—asking about his family, their personalities, when he began his studies, who his first tutor was...

The morning air by the moat was fresh, and the surroundings were lush and green.

Wei Tingyu and Song Mo found themselves increasingly in sync, to the point where Wei Tingyu even shared when he was weaned as a child.

How could there be such a simpleton in the world!

Gu Yu rolled his eyes and followed behind Song Mo and Wei Tingyu with Wang Qinghai, like two shadows.

It wasn’t until the sun rose that Song Mo bid farewell to Wei Tingyu, arranging to meet again in three days.

Upon returning home, Chen He quietly reported to Song Mo, "Mr. Chen seems to be investigating something. He had the pages gather the officials and gentry records from the past twenty years, saying he wanted to review them."

Since he had entered the household, what could he possibly hide from him?

What was his intention in doing this?

Could it be related to Dou Zhao?

Or was it simply out of curiosity?

Song Mo pondered for a moment before saying, "Don’t alert him yet. Have those two pages serve Mr. Chen attentively."

Chen He acknowledged the order and withdrew.

Song Mo stood by the window, gazing at the vibrant blossoms outside, lost in thought for a long while.