Blossom

At this moment, Ji Yong was visiting He Yu's home.

He Yu's wife, Madam Chen, was seven months pregnant. With her large belly, she directed the maids to serve tea and water.

Ji Yong stood up and bowed slightly to Madam Chen, saying politely, "Sister-in-law, you've worked hard."

Madam Chen smiled demurely, her beautiful eyes frequently glancing at Ji Yong with unconcealed curiosity.

Having been stared at since childhood, Ji Yong paid it no mind. He carried himself with natural grace—neither haughty nor humble—exuding the refined demeanor of a noble scion.

Madam Chen nodded inwardly in approval.

He Yu chuckled heartily.

Madam Chen then withdrew with her maids.

The moment they left, Ji Yong's true colors emerged. Slouching in the Grand Preceptor's Chair, his face darkened like impending rain: "What do you want from me?"

"Can't I invite you without a reason?" He Yu retorted, handing him a slice of snow pear. "Trapped at home studying all day, I had to call you over for company—I'm practically suffocating from boredom!"

Irritated, Ji Yong responded sharply: "What's your boredom got to do with me? I've been swamped these past two days!"

"What could possibly keep you busy?" He Yu scoffed. "Isn't that wretched book nearly compiled? Old Man Yu wouldn't make you copy it, would he?" His expression turned incredulous. "Don't tell me he actually ordered you to transcribe it? I heard him praise your calligraphy..."

Yu Li and He Wendao had passed the imperial examinations in the same year.

Ji Yong shot him a disdainful look and stood up. "I'm leaving. Enjoy your wild conjectures alone—"

He Yu blocked his path. "Wait, don't go. I do need you for something."

Ji Yong fixed him with a cold stare.

He Yu hastily pulled him along. "Come with me!" he urged, heading outside.

After a brief hesitation, Ji Yong followed.

They exited the hall single-file, rounded a floral-patterned wall, and arrived at a small courtyard.

In one corner stood two ginkgo trees, beneath which a bluestone flower platform held several camellias of varying colors.

Ji Yong paused in surprise.

He Yu explained, "These are for Minister Yu. Since your family excels at cultivating camellias, I'd like your opinion on their quality."

Ji Yong eyed him skeptically. "Does Minister He intend for you to study under Minister Yu?"

He Yu laughed awkwardly. "Nothing escapes you—I heard Minister Yu enjoys camellias..."

Ji Yong nodded, carefully examining the plants.

Though common varieties, their elegant foliage and vibrant blooms made them visually striking.

"Well?" He Yu grinned, noticing Ji Yong's fleeting approval. "Aren't they splendid? My sister-in-law—Chen Zexi's youngest sister—cultivated them. Gentle-natured, exceptionally beautiful, musically gifted, and skilled in camellia cultivation..."

Before he could finish, Ji Yong tensed, sensing unseen eyes upon him. Whirling around, his gaze locked onto a half-shuttered side-room window.

Ji Yong's expression turned razor-sharp.

Faint rustling came from within the room.

Frowning, Ji Yong's voice chilled as he addressed He Yu: "What exactly are you scheming?"

Seeing his cover blown, He Yu came clean: "Jianming, we're practically family, so I'll speak plainly—my brother-in-law Chen Zexi admires your talents. Knowing you're unmarried, he wishes to propose a match...""So all that talk about camellias and paying respects to a teacher was just an excuse?" Ji Yong interrupted He Yu, his tone sharp and aggressive. "You called me here just so the Chen family could size me up, didn't you?"

As he spoke, a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

He Yu couldn't help but feel a pang of unease, instinctively sensing that Ji Yong wasn't just resistant to the situation but downright furious.

Perhaps being unexpectedly put on display like this, with the initiative held by the woman's side, made him feel humiliated?

The thought crossed He Yu's mind as he chuckled, "What do you mean by 'sizing up'? With Brother Jianming's character and learning, which family with an unmarried daughter wouldn't treat you as an honored guest? I just thought, given our close friendship, that my brother-in-law might get to toast you as a matchmaker..."

But before he could finish, Ji Yong had already stormed off in a huff.

He Yu couldn't help but feel annoyed and turned to Madam Chen with a reproachful look. "I told you earlier that Ji Jianming is an extremely proud man. If you wanted to size him up, you should have invited him to meet your younger sister instead. They would have met eventually anyway. Now look what's happened—you've overplayed your hand..."

Madam Chen hesitated before replying, "Talent and learning are important, but temperament matters even more... So many brilliant scholars have come to grief because of their temper. While our initiative might have bruised his pride, storming off like that without a care shows an awful temper." She glanced at the bright-eyed teenage girl beside her and added, "I think we should just drop this marriage arrangement..."

The girl protested with a soft "Sister!" her cheeks flushing crimson.

Madam Chen sighed. "Fine, I'll go speak with Aunt."

The girl nodded, overcome with shyness.

Ji Yong, however, had already put the matter out of his mind.

If someone wanted to be his wife, fine—but first, they'd have to match the couplet hanging at the entrance of the Ji family ancestral home.

He headed straight for Catkin Lane.

Dou Shiheng happened to be home.

"What brings you here today?" Dou Shiheng had always been fond of this learned young nephew. "I heard the Grand Training of Culture is nearly finished? What are your plans next?"

Instead of answering, Ji Yong asked, "Uncle, are you acquainted with the new Shuntian Prefecture Prefect, Huang Qi?"

In his recollection, the Dou family's ancestors had risen through the ranks starting from the Censorate, and later generations like Dou Shibang had also served there, giving the Dou family deep connections within the institution.

Dou Shiheng looked puzzled. "Why do you need to see the Shuntian Prefect?"

"It's nothing major," Ji Yong said. "Just asking."

"He has a cousin who passed the imperial exams the same year as us. We're on good terms," Dou Shiheng said. "I can't promise anything for major matters, but he'd certainly help with minor ones."

Ji Yong nodded. "Then could you write me a letter of introduction?"

"What for?" Dou Shiheng, a man who believed in upright conduct, felt that one should stand firm in righteousness. If a matter was just, there was no need for connections—one could simply beat the drum at the yamen to demand justice. Requests for letters of introduction usually implied shaky moral ground, and since Ji Yong was a young man he held in high regard, he wanted to ensure the boy didn't compromise his principles. Thus, he pressed for details.

Left with no choice, Ji Yong admitted, "I wanted to ask if there's been any progress in Shou Gu's case at the Shuntian Prefecture."

Reassured, Dou Shiheng went to write the letter for him.Ji Shi, who had come in to bring them some fruit, was startled upon hearing this. She took the opportunity to see Ji Yong off and repeatedly admonished him, "Some things are best left in the past. If they become public knowledge, even relatives will find it awkward to face each other. You grew up with Shou Gu, and she’s all alone now. You should act like her elder brother and protect her, not make things difficult for her."

Ji Yong sneered, "Song Mo has already married Shou Gu. If he starts doubting her because of this, it would be better for her to divorce him and return to her parents' home. If the Dou family thinks she’s freeloading, I’ll take care of her—since I’m like her brother."

"You—" Ji Shi was so angry she couldn’t find the words. Ji Yong, however, brushed her off with a perfunctory, "Auntie, don’t worry. I won’t act recklessly." Then he jumped into his carriage and headed straight for Shuntian Prefecture.

On the bustling Chang’an Avenue, Ji Yong’s carriage passed by Gu Yu’s.

Gu Yu was hurrying to the Hall of Cultivating Will at the Duke of England's Mansion.

Before his carriage even came to a full stop, he leaped out and asked the eager attendant who came forward to serve him, "Is Brother Tianci at home?"

"Yes, yes, yes," the attendant fawned with a smile. "What perfect timing—the Young Lord and Madam have just returned. If you go now, they should have just finished freshening up."

Gu Yu was taken aback. "Where did the Young Lord and Madam go?"

"I don’t know," the attendant replied, bowing as he led Gu Yu through the side gate. "They left with their maids and pages early this morning—I came on duty at dawn, and they were already gone by then."

Gu Yu had no patience for the attendant’s chatter and nodded before entering the Hall of Cultivating Will.

Dou Zhao was about to change her clothes when Song Mo, freshly washed, walked in. Dou Zhao reminded him, "I’m about to change."

Song Mo gave a nonchalant "Hmm" and sat down on the heated brick bed by the window.

Left with no choice, Dou Zhao took her clothes and hid behind the screen at the foot of the bed.

But Song Mo followed her and said, "When is Mr. Chen coming? I might have to go to Cangzhou in a few days, and I’m worried about leaving you without guards."

He leaned against the bedpost, his expression grave.

Dou Zhao, halfway through undressing, paused when she saw him enter. But hearing his words and seeing his expression, she felt a pang of guilt.

When had she become so narrow-minded, assuming Song Mo only wanted to fool around when he came in?

They were already husband and wife, intimate in every way. It was natural for him to be casual, just as she would one day assist him with dressing and bathing.

Still, changing in front of a man made her uncomfortable.

Dou Zhao turned her back to him, quietly taking a deep breath to steady her voice. "They’re scheduled to come at the start of October. If you need them sooner, I can have Duan Gongyi and the others arrive first. But we’ll need your decision on where they’ll stay and how they’ll rotate shifts with the Hall of Cultivating Will’s guards..."

In the dim light, Dou Zhao’s figure was slender and flawless, like untouched snow, making Song Mo’s throat tighten. He quickly averted his gaze, but the image of her jade-like form seemed seared into his heart, lingering in his thoughts.

After speaking for a while without a response, Dou Zhao turned to see Song Mo staring outside the screen, his face suspiciously tinged with a faint blush."Young Master!" Dou Zhao called out to him.

"Oh!" Song Mo snapped out of his thoughts and said, "You should call me by my childhood name instead!" But then he felt the request might be a bit improper—after all, what wife would call her husband by his childhood name? "I don’t call you Shou Gu either," he quickly added. "Hearing 'Young Master' all the time feels so unfamiliar."

Dou Zhao chuckled, recalling past events. She blinked at him playfully and teased, "How about I call you Young Master Mei again?"

This mischievousness, so different from her usual boldness and charm, made Song Mo's heart itch. Unable to resist, he stepped forward, wrapped an arm around Dou Zhao’s waist, and gazed into her eyes before softly replying, "Alright."