Blossom

When Song Mo returned to the Hall of Cultivating Will, his entire body exuded a chilling aura, enough to silence anyone who saw him from afar. Yet, he assured Dou Zhao with conviction, "Don't worry, I will handle this matter properly."

His father could marry whomever he pleased—Song Mo couldn’t care less. But if his father sought someone to suppress Dou Zhao, he would never allow it.

Noticing the veins bulging at his temples, Dou Zhao soothed him, "It’s not as bad as you think. The engagement gifts haven’t even been sent yet. It’s fortunate Father informed us early. Had we found out after the betrothal, we’d be in a far worse position. Right now, the priority is to understand how Father suddenly became involved with the Hua family. Only then can we counter his moves."

Whether Song Yichun was drawn to the Hua family’s daughter or decided to remarry to restrain her, Dou Zhao didn’t want this to happen before she took charge of the Duke of England's Mansion’s inner household.

The Hua family was Wang Qingyuan’s in-laws in her past life. Their domineering and ruthless nature had left a deep impression on Dou Zhao. Who would have thought she’d have to deal with them again in this lifetime!

Song Mo had been so angered by his father that he lost his composure, but Dou Zhao’s words quickly calmed him. He summoned Chen He, "Go ask Du Wei what exactly is going on."

If his father intended to arrange a marriage alliance, Du Wei couldn’t possibly be unaware.

Chen He hurried off, but before even half the time it took to drink a cup of tea had passed—before Song Mo and Dou Zhao had even changed into their home attire—Chen He returned. "Young Lord, Du Wei sent someone over. They say it’s an urgent matter concerning the Duke’s remarriage and are waiting outside the second gate for permission to report."

It seemed Du Wei hadn’t neglected his duties.

Song Mo’s expression eased slightly. He instructed Chen He to bring the messenger to the study, then turned to Dou Zhao, "Change your clothes and join me to hear what they have to say."

Dou Zhao, equally eager to uncover Song Yichun’s schemes, agreed and quickly changed before heading to the study.

The messenger Du Wei had sent was a fifteen or sixteen-year-old page, unremarkable in appearance and stature—the kind who would disappear in a crowd. Yet, his eloquence hinted at something extraordinary."...The hereditary captain of the Qiu Ling Battalion in Weizhou Garrison was involved in a dispute over the temporary inheritance of his position. The aggrieved party reported it to the Ministry of War, which verified the claim. Since the aggrieved family had no heir to inherit the position, the ministry decided to revoke the hereditary captaincy of Qiu Ling Battalion. Hua Tang wanted his eldest son to fill this vacancy and sought Marquis Changxing's connections, coming to the capital to deliver bribes." The page hadn't expected anyone else to enter and listen in, so he couldn't help but glance over. However, this glance made him look twice more, and his speech slowed down. "Coincidentally, they ran into the Duke at the entrance of the Five Armies Commandery. The Commander-in-chief of the Rear Army Commandery, Marquis Anlu, invited the Duke for drinks. Since the Duke seemed free at the time, he joined them. No one knows what was discussed during the gathering, but as soon as it ended, Hua Tang excitedly ordered his personal attendant to rush back to Weizhou. As you had instructed, any unusual behavior from the Duke must be investigated. The surveillance team sent a covert signal to Master Du, who then dispatched men disguised as bandits to intercept the attendant and retrieve a letter. That's how we learned Hua Tang, knowing the Duke hadn't remarried, wanted to marry his eldest daughter to the Duke, with Marquis Anlu as the matchmaker. The Duke didn't refuse, so Hua Tang hurriedly sent someone to Weizhou to inform Madam Hua and request his eldest daughter's birth details. Master Du sensed something amiss—"

Song Mo's eyes gleamed like cold stars. "Did the messenger notice the letter was missing?"

"No," the page replied, not daring to look at Dou Zhao again, keeping his eyes downcast as his voice steadied. "Master Du had the letter secretly returned."

Song Mo nodded and, fearing Dou Zhao might not understand, explained, "Most captain and lieutenant positions in garrisons are hereditary. Sometimes, when a father dies and the son is too young to manage the garrison, the position is temporarily lent to a relative, with an agreement to return it in five or ten years. Honorable relatives return it as promised, but dishonorable ones often keep it indefinitely. Presumably, the hereditary captaincy of Qiu Ling Battalion was lent to a relative, but the son died before coming of age. Negotiations with the relative broke down, leading the family to report the matter to the Ministry of War, resulting in neither side benefiting. Weizhou Garrison falls under the Datong Garrison Command, which is overseen by the Rear Army Commandery of the Five Armies Commandery. If Hua Tang wants his eldest son to take over the Qiu Ling captaincy, he needs support from both Marquis Changxing Shi Duanlan and the Commander-in-chief of the Rear Army Commandery, Marquis Anlu Zhou Chao."

Dou Zhao understood everything the page said.

She gave a slight nod.

Song Mo sneered, "Hua Tang has a clever plan—but this time, he's miscalculated." He instructed the page, "Tell Du Wei to keep a close watch on the Hua family, including Marquis Anlu. I want to know everything they do in the coming days."

The page bowed and withdrew.

Song Mo and Dou Zhao returned to the inner chamber.

Dou Zhao poured him a cup of tea.

Song Mo sat by the window on the heated brick bed, sipping tea while lost in thought.

Seeing him like this, Dou Zhao had no intention of sleeping. She sat beside him, doing needlework.

Song Mo smiled. "You should rest. You have to enter the palace early tomorrow."Dou Zhao wanted to make a good impression on the Empress Dowager and the Empress, and she truly didn’t wish to stay up late. But seeing Song Mo like this, she couldn’t bring herself to lie down either. She couldn’t help but say, “Anyway, it’s not like we can reach Weizhou in a day or two. You should rest early too! After a good sleep, you’ll feel more refreshed and clear-headed. Who knows, you might even come up with a brilliant idea.”

Song Mo nodded, climbed into bed, and leaned against the headboard, still lost in thought.

The earlier romantic atmosphere had completely dissipated.

Dou Zhao couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

This kind of conflicted feeling was probably something only someone who had lived two lives could understand.

※※※※※

Shortly after the hour of Chou the next day, Song Mo and Dou Zhao got up. After dressing according to their ranks, they went to pay their respects to Song Yichun.

Song Yichun’s gaze lingered on their faces for a long while, as if trying to discern something from their expressions. In the end, he found nothing and could only frown before waving them away.

He showed no intention of escorting them to the palace.

This suited them just fine!

Dou Zhao and Song Mo took a carriage to the palace.

Along the way, they frequently encountered carriages and sedan chairs of officials on their way to the morning court.

The carriages and sedan chairs of officials ranked third-grade and above had attendants carrying windproof lanterns inscribed with their family names, while those below third-grade carried plain windproof lanterns. This made it easy for everyone to identify whose carriage or sedan chair it was, allowing them to yield according to rank, maintaining an orderly procession.

Dou Zhao found this amusing and was in high spirits, scanning the crowd in hopes of spotting her uncle or father’s carriage. Unfortunately, she didn’t see either.

Upon entering the palace, they learned that the Emperor had already left for the morning court.

Song Mo smiled and said, “Let’s wait here for a while.”

As if they had any choice but to wait—it wasn’t like they could just turn back.

Dou Zhao pursed her lips in a smile.

Seeing her in good spirits, Song Mo felt slightly reassured.

Surrounded by palace maids, the two couldn’t speak freely. They sat idly, drinking a few cups of tea until the sky brightened, when a eunuch hurried over.

“Young Lord, the Empress has gone to the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility. She requests your presence there to pay respects.”

Dou Zhao and Song Mo headed to the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility.

In her previous life, although she had entered the palace for grand and minor court assemblies, she had always followed the crowd of inner and outer court ladies. They would glance at each other, occasionally exchanging a few whispered words, and the journey seemed to pass quickly. But now, the path was lined with towering walls and deserted corridors, identical no matter which direction she looked, with only the sound of their own footsteps echoing, making it feel endless.

Only now did she truly understand how arduous it was to serve in the palace. No wonder Wei Tingzhen was unwilling to let Wei Tingyu take up an official post.

Noticing beads of sweat on Dou Zhao’s forehead, Song Mo took out a handkerchief and handed it to her. “Wipe your sweat. We’re almost there.”

The eunuch leading them to the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility couldn’t help but glance back at Dou Zhao.

She was smiling at Song Mo and didn’t notice.

The eunuch led them into the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility, straight to the rear side hall.

Dou Zhao knew that was where the Empress Dowager’s private quarters were located.

In her previous life, she had only ever reached the main hall, so she couldn’t help but glance around as they walked.

A graceful palace maid, in the bloom of her youth, stood waiting in front of the side hall.

Song Mo cupped his hands in greeting and addressed her as “Aunt Lan.”

Dou Zhao stepped forward and curtsied, also calling her “Aunt Lan.”

Aunt Lan smiled and nodded, looking Dou Zhao up and down with gentle, friendly eyes before turning to lead them into the side hall.Only the Empress Dowager and the Empress were in the side hall.

The Empress Dowager, dressed in a casual lilac Ornate Back Coat, sat on the daybed. Her jet-black hair was neatly tied into a bun, and she wore only a pigeon-egg-sized emerald ring on her finger. She appeared to be just over forty, though in reality, she had already celebrated her sixtieth birthday five years prior.

The Empress sat at the Empress Dowager’s side. Her fair and delicate skin, oval face, and bright, piercing eyes gave her a striking presence. Though fine wrinkles had begun to form at the corners of her eyes, they did not make her seem weary—instead, they lent her an air of warmth and approachability.

Dou Zhao had encountered both women many times in her past life, yet the impressions they left on her then were entirely different from now.

The Empress Dowager had been kind and gentle, while the Empress had been solemn and dignified.

Especially the Empress Dowager—the last time Dou Zhao had seen her, the Emperor had already passed away. Liao Wang had honored her as Grand Empress Dowager, and outer court ladies like Dou Zhao had been summoned to the palace to offer congratulations. At that time, the Empress Dowager had been gaunt and frail, resembling an eighty-year-old woman. She had to be supported by attendants and fainted before the ceremony could be completed. Within two days, she had succumbed to illness.

Dou Zhao still remembered the Empress Dowager’s skeletal, rigid face.

She lowered her head and, together with Song Mo, performed the ceremonial kowtow to the two noblewomen.

Then she heard the Empress speak softly to the Empress Dowager, "Though she was raised in the countryside, her manners are quite proper. She must be a clever and quick-witted girl."

Dou Zhao thought of how this very Empress, after being elevated to Empress Dowager, had dared to have Liao Wang’s favorite concubine beaten to death—and how Liao Wang, by then the Son of Heaven, had not dared to utter a single word of protest. The memory made her tense.

Keeping her eyes downcast, she stood respectfully with her hands at her sides as the Empress Dowager spoke with a hint of displeasure, "The Dou Family of the Northern Mansion is a lineage of scholars and refined etiquette. Naturally, the daughters they raise would not be lacking."

Dou Zhao heard the Empress quickly respond with a compliant "Yes," her voice unusually meek.

This Empress was not the same one she had known in her past life.

The Empress Dowager beckoned to Dou Zhao. "Come closer," she said, "and let me have a proper look at you."