Blossom

Dou Zhao signaled Su Xin to take the sandalwood box containing the tallies and smiled at Da Taitai, saying, "I’ve just arrived and am unfamiliar with the steward mammies in the mansion. I’d appreciate it if Eldest Aunt could introduce them to me!"

At this point, any further attempts to make things difficult for her would only bring humiliation upon herself.

Da Taitai sighed inwardly and proceeded to introduce the steward mammies from each household to Dou Zhao. Through these introductions, Dou Zhao managed to meet all the steward mammies overseeing various affairs.

Yet, she couldn’t help but feel a strange unease.

Since Madam Jiang’s passing, Song Yichun’s people had controlled the inner courtyard of the Duke of England's Mansion. After Song Yichun and Song Mo fell out, the mansion had undergone a purge. Servants who had served Madam Jiang were either killed, disappeared, or dismissed. However, while some of the former steward mammies under Madam Jiang had been replaced, others remained in their positions. One common trait among them was their relative youth—older ones had all been replaced, while the younger ones stayed.

Was Song Yichun trying to avoid drawing attention, or was there something else at play?

Dou Zhao gently stirred the floating leaves in her teacup, took a quiet sip, and continued listening to the reports from the steward mammies.

Dong Shi, standing behind Da Taitai, glanced at Dou Zhao’s graceful posture, her heart filled with bitterness.

Last night, she and her mother-in-law had been at a loss, barely sleeping, unsure how to explain things to Second Uncle. And as for her father-in-law—he likely still didn’t know about the drastic changes that had occurred...

Her heart tightened.

Her father-in-law would surely blame her and her mother-in-law for their incompetence. Since her mother-in-law was his first wife, he might at most reprimand her, but the responsibility would ultimately fall on Dong Shi’s shoulders.

Dong Shi’s face paled as she heard Dou Zhao address a fair-skinned, dignified-looking woman, "Are you Granny Chen, in charge of Second Young Master’s household?"

The woman quickly curtsied and replied respectfully, "Yes."

Dou Zhao then inquired about Song Han’s monthly allowance, the number of maids and pages under his name, much like how she asked the Kitchen Stewarding Mama about the monthly kitchen expenses, the number of old women and helpers—neither showing particular interest nor neglect.

Granny Chen couldn’t help but sigh in relief.

This new Madam had only been in the mansion for a little over ten days, yet she had effortlessly taken hold of the tallies symbolizing the authority over household management. If anyone believed the new Madam was as gentle and courteous as she appeared now, Granny Chen wouldn’t believe it even if beaten to death. As the one overseeing Second Young Master’s household, she had been explicitly instructed by the Duke not to allow the Young Lord to interfere in Second Young Master’s affairs. She had feared the new Madam would press relentlessly on the matter, leading to gossip reaching the Duke. Yet, since the new Madam now held the tallies, summoning her for questioning was perfectly justified. If that happened, she would be caught between a rock and a hard place.

Still, since the Young Lord had taken control of the inner courtyard, he would inevitably meddle in Second Young Master’s affairs sooner or later. Sooner or later, she would find herself in an impossible position.

At this thought, a bitter smile tugged at her lips.

Today, Dou Zhao was merely meeting the steward mammies. After studying Granny Chen for a moment, she shifted her attention and continued questioning the others.At this moment, Song Mo sat calmly in the Grand Preceptor's Chair in the Reception Hall, silently observing the Commander of the Eastern City Military Command and Tao Qizhong.

Just half an hour earlier, when Song Mo had dispatched his own men to search the Duke of England's Mansion again, the Commander had confidently declared, "...We, along with Shuntian Prefecture, have sealed off the nearby alleyways. We also alerted several prominent households where thieves might easily blend in. Three suspects were captured near the Shuntian Prefecture School, two in Jianzi Alley, and four near Andingmen Street. They confessed that lookouts had been posted, and when they saw the situation at the Hall of Cultivating Will turn unfavorable, they scattered and fled the Duke's mansion according to plan. By now, they’ve either gone into hiding or escaped the city..." His implication was clear: they had already searched all possible locations, and there couldn’t possibly be any thieves left in the mansion. Song Mo’s insistence on having the Hall of Cultivating Will guards conduct another door-to-door search was nothing but a waste of time. Yet now, as he stared at the two thieves discovered by Song Mo’s guards—one hidden in the well bucket and the other in the rafters of a guest room—his face flushed red and then paled. Unable to contain his frustration, he kicked the two securely tied thieves and bellowed, "Men! Give these scoundrels a thorough 'loosening' and find out where their accomplices have gone!"

Song Mo remained silent, watching as the Eastern City Military Command dragged the thieves away.

The Commander hastily bowed to Song Mo and said, "Young Lord, I’ll go interrogate them now..." His tone suggested he was eager to make a quick exit.

Song Mo smiled faintly. "Before you go, why not find out who’s currently in charge of the Five Cities Garrison? I’d like to meet your Metropolitan Commander."

The Commander froze, then grew visibly agitated.

Could this incident lead to their Metropolitan Commander being replaced?

Would he himself be implicated?

Without wasting time on pleasantries, the Commander hurriedly acknowledged the order and rushed out of the Reception Hall, heading straight for the Duke’s mansion gates. There, he called over the Vice Commissioner of the Eastern City Military Command and ordered, "Go inform the Metropolitan Commander immediately—the Duke of England’s Young Lord wishes to see him."

The Vice Commissioner opened his mouth to speak, but the Commander cut him off impatiently. "No time for questions—just go!" Swallowing his words, the Vice Commissioner sprinted to the Five Cities Garrison’s Official Residence, only to learn that the Metropolitan Commander had already entered the palace. Meanwhile, clerks and record keepers whispered among themselves, speculating whether the Commander would return unscathed.

Only then did the Vice Commissioner grasp the gravity of the Duke’s mansion being breached by thieves.

He hurried back to the mansion and reported everything he’d seen and heard to the Commander.

The Commander inhaled sharply, realizing Song Mo’s message was a warning.

Fortune or misfortune—neither could be avoided now.

Steeling himself, the Commander returned to the Reception Hall, his face flushed as he bowed to Song Mo. "Young Lord, our Metropolitan Commander is unavailable. If there’s anything you require, please instruct me directly!"Song Mo allowed the Commander of the Eastern City Military Command to stand there while he leisurely sipped his tea. Noticing the commander's fearful expression and the beads of sweat forming on his forehead, he finally spoke slowly: "I happen to have a matter requiring your assistance—these thieves are audacious. If they had fled the Capital, it would be one thing, but I fear they may still lurk in hiding, waiting for another opportunity to strike. The Capital is the heart of the empire, home to numerous nobles and high-ranking officials. Should any disturbance occur, and I am tasked by the Emperor to investigate, you, as those responsible for security, will not escape blame!"

The Eastern City commander wiped his sweat. "Young Lord, your meaning is...?"

"I need to borrow your Five Cities Garrison personnel to conduct a city-wide search." Song Mo's expression remained calm as he gazed at the commander, his tone as indifferent as when he had earlier ordered him to summon the Metropolitan Commander of the Five Cities Garrison. "Go now and bring the other commanders here. I have words for them."

A city-wide search... Without an imperial decree, who would dare? The slightest misstep, and the Imperial Bodyguards might suspect rebellion...

The commander felt sweat pour even more profusely. "Young Lord, this search..." With such a major incident already unfolding, whether his head would remain on his shoulders was uncertain. How could he dare ask Song Mo for an imperial decree? Yet without proper authorization, the Five Cities Garrison would be the ones conducting the search—he would never be able to clear his name even if he jumped into the Yellow River!

Tao Qizhong, who had been ignored by Song Mo and left to drink tea by himself, was also startled and couldn't help interjecting, "Young Lord, this matter may require further deliberation..."

"If you find it troublesome," Song Mo cut him off as if Tao Qizhong weren't even present, "I can have someone else summon the other commanders. You may return to your office with your Eastern City troops and make way for others."

Wouldn't that mean losing his Black Gauze Hat along with his position?

But if he obeyed, everyone would likely assume this was his idea...

The Eastern City commander gritted his teeth inwardly and resigned himself. Fine—he would summon them. If he had to bear the blame, so be it. The Young Lord of the Duke of Yingguo had at his side a sword once wielded by Emperor Taizong... Survival came first.

He went to summon the other commanders.

By the time the Five Cities Garrison officials arrived, the Assistant Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture had also appeared.

When Song Mo announced the city-wide lockdown and search, the group was stunned.

The Five Cities commanders exchanged uneasy glances, but the Assistant Prefect stood and bowed to Song Mo. "We await your orders."

He had just received word that the Shuntian Prefecture Prefect had been imprisoned in the Imperial prison by the Imperial Bodyguards.

The commanders, all shrewd men, immediately sensed the shift in the situation upon seeing the Assistant Prefect's attitude and hastily pledged compliance.

Soon, the entire capital was in motion.

News that the Commander of the Five Cities Garrison had been imprisoned in the Imperial prison by the Imperial Bodyguards also quickly reached the ears of the five commanders.

Dou Shiying, his face as pale as paper, rushed over from Jing'an Temple Alley."Father-in-law," Song Mo quickly stepped forward to greet Dou Shiying with a bow. As he raised his head, he noticed Ji Yong standing grimly behind Dou Shiying.

Song Mo slowly straightened his back.

The two men locked eyes for a long moment without exchanging greetings.

Dou Shiying, frantic with worry, paid no attention to this. He urgently asked about Dou Zhao's condition: "...Was she hurt? Where is she now? I heard the bandits were after Dou Zhao's dowry?" At this point, guilt and remorse filled him, and he asked Song Mo, "Yantang, could we tell outsiders that the silver notes were already deposited in the bank... The bank has also hired many highly skilled guards—ordinary thieves wouldn’t stand a chance against them. It’s safe."

"Of course," Song Mo replied with a smile, inviting Dou Shiying to the study. "After such an incident, the household is in some disarray. Shou Gu is currently speaking with the steward mammies to reassure everyone."

"You handled this well," Dou Shiying praised Song Mo.

Song Mo smiled modestly.