Blossom

At Qi Jin's third-day bathing ceremony, Dou Zhao saw Dou Ming.

Dou Ming wore a bright red silk jacket embroidered with butterflies and flowers, her expression haughty and aloof. She kept to herself, trailing behind the crowd, only stepping forward to toss a few silver ingots when her name was called. In contrast, Dou Zhao was surrounded by people, and when her turn came, they teased, "Let's see what Fourth Paternal Aunt throws in, and we'll follow suit!"

Dou Zhao couldn't help but feel a twinge of emotion.

In this life, she was like Dou Ming—disinterested in the affairs of the Dou family, merely attending to make up the numbers. But in her past life, Dou Ming had never been as warmly received as she was now. The women of the Dou family had treated Dou Ming with polite courtesy, but never with the same fawning admiration they showed her. It seemed some things were simply destined to be different.

The day after the bathing ceremony, Song Mo took Dou Zhao back to the Duke of Yingguo's Mansion.

Gaoxing's wife, who had stayed behind, led a group of maids, servants, and old women to greet Dou Zhao, filling her in on what had happened during her absence.

Dou Zhao sipped from her familiar famille rose plum-blossom teacup, drinking her usual Da Hong Pao tea, leaning against the large bolster Su Xin had personally sewn for her. She exhaled contentedly, thinking to herself, "It's so good to be home!"—completely unaware that she had only been married for just over a month.

That night, the reunited couple made up for their time apart with fervor, their passion only subsiding when the third watch drum sounded.

Song Mo, like a well-fed lion, lazily traced the curves of Dou Zhao's slender figure.

But Dou Zhao seemed distracted.

Dissatisfied, Song Mo pulled her into his arms. "What are you thinking about so intently?"

"About Cousin's situation," Dou Zhao replied, patting his back lightly as if soothing a restless child.

Song Mo grew even more displeased. "What about your cousin?"

Every married woman knew the importance of upholding her family's dignity—both in her maiden home and her marital one. In her past life, even when her relationship with the Dou family had been strained, Dou Zhao had never spoken ill of them in front of Wei Tingyu. Yet now, without hesitation, she confided in Song Mo about Zhao Zhangru's troubles. Deep down, she felt certain that no matter how flawed she might be, Song Mo would never scorn her or mock her for her family's affairs.

"I always thought Cousin was a bit careless and oblivious, but it turns out she's the most clear-sighted of all," she mused. "She puts on an air of naivety just to comfort those of us who worry about her. The more she does this, the more I want to help her. But marriage for a woman is like a second rebirth—I can barely handle my own affairs, let alone interfere in hers."

It was as the saying went: the more important something was, the harder it was to know how to act.

Song Mo pressed his cheek against hers and whispered suggestively in her ear, "Call me 'darling,' and I'll help you with this."

Dou Zhao's face burned, and she scoffed at him.

Naturally, Song Mo wouldn’t let her off so easily. Knowing she was ticklish, he lightly traced his fingers along her waist. Dou Zhao squirmed away, her laughter ringing like silver bells in the wind, filling the bedchamber.

Before they knew it, they were tangled together again...

In the end, Song Mo got his way.He kissed Dou Zhao's fair and plump shoulder, murmuring indistinctly, "Isn't it just about finding a man? The Imperial Guards may lack many things, but they certainly don’t lack men! Don’t worry, let Aunt stay in the Capital a few more days, and I’ll definitely find a perfect match for your cousin!"

Those who could enter the Imperial Guards usually came from decent family backgrounds, which provided a basic guarantee.

Dou Zhao reminded Song Mo, "My uncle’s family wants a live-in son-in-law!"

"Even better," Song Mo replied distractedly. "They must have brothers. Through connections among siblings and friends, we’ll surely find a suitable one."

That made sense.

Besides, Song Mo undoubtedly knew more people than she did, a woman who spent most of her time in the inner courtyard.

She made up her mind. Since nothing was certain yet, she didn’t dare reveal the plan to Aunt. Instead, she simply mentioned that she and Sixth Aunt would visit Kaiyuan Temple on the tenth day of the tenth month to offer incense and invited Aunt to join them, adding, "They say the Thousand-Handed Guanyin enshrined in Kaiyuan Temple is especially efficacious in granting marriage wishes."

Aunt was indeed tempted and decided to delay her departure until after the tenth.

The next day, Song Mo went straight to the Ministry of War and sought out Zheng An, the director of the Military Appointments Bureau: "I need a list of unmarried Imperial Guards between the ages of eighteen and twenty-four, at least five feet seven inches tall, with decent looks, and not the only son in their family." After a moment’s thought, he added, "Preferably those who are literate!"

Zheng An was stunned, then frowned almost imperceptibly. "Does the Young Lord have an edict from the Emperor, the Five Armies Commandery, or the Minister of War?"

"No," Song Mo replied calmly, meeting Zheng An’s gaze.

After hesitating for a long while, Zheng An said, "I beg the Young Lord’s pardon, but the Imperial Guards are the Emperor’s personal defense force, tasked with protecting His Majesty. Their roster cannot be casually disclosed."

Song Mo nodded without another word and left.

Zheng An felt uneasy but soon reassured himself.

As long as he followed protocol, even if his superiors reprimanded him, he wouldn’t be at fault.

However, by the afternoon, Zheng An was summoned by his superior—Quan Ziyi, the Vice Minister of War.

"After the Qiu Lingwei incident, the Ministry of Personnel has been clamoring to investigate the Ministry of War’s hereditary appointment records from the past decade. They brought it up again during this morning’s Grand Secretariat meeting. I doubt they’ll let it go unless we allow them to inspect the records," Quan Ziyi said with a smile. "You’re a veteran in the Ministry of War and oversee the Military Appointments Bureau. You’ve dealt with the Ministry of Personnel’s clerks for years and know them well. I’m entrusting this matter to you. Handle it deftly, and don’t give them any grounds for criticism."

The task came abruptly, so Zheng An had no choice but to lead a few experienced clerks from the Military Appointments Bureau to assist the Ministry of War in reviewing the records.

As the workday neared its end, Zheng An naturally had to arrange dinner for the Ministry of Personnel’s officials.

When he returned to his office to change clothes, he found the bureau’s Record Keepers with seven or eight others copying documents in the archives. One of them muttered, "What exactly counts as 'decent looks'?"

To prevent impersonation, each person’s physical characteristics were recorded in their dossier.

Zheng An immediately realized Song Mo’s intent.

With a dark expression, he entered the archives.

The Record Keeper hurried forward with a smile, asking obsequiously, "Director Zheng, you’re back? Is there anything you need?"

Zheng An pointed at the scattered records. "Who ordered these copies?"

The Record Keeper grinned. "Vice Minister Quan! He said you were hosting the Ministry of Personnel’s officials today and told us not to trouble you."Zheng An felt a lump of frustration stuck in his chest, yet he couldn't voice it in front of the Record Keeper.

He gave a slight nod and slowly exited the storeroom.

Behind him, the Record Keeper's voice drifted over, whether intentional or not: "Hurry up! The Young Lord of the Duke of England's Mansion has ordered that this must be done by tonight!"

After finishing his dealings with the Ministry of Personnel officials, he returned home with an unsettled mind.

Madam Zheng anxiously asked him, "What happened?"

"Nothing, nothing." Zheng An waved his hand dismissively, but a shadow lingered in his heart, leaving him uneasy about the day's events.

After dinner, Song Mo received the list from the Military Appointments Bureau of the Ministry of War.

He and Dou Zhao sat under the lamplight, reviewing each name one by one.

"What about this one?" Dou Zhao consulted him. "Third in line, with two older brothers and two younger brothers. His grandfather once served as Vice Commissioner of the Henan Regional Military Commission."

"Set it aside for now," Song Mo glanced at it and said, "We'll make another selection later."

"Mm." Dou Zhao picked up another roster. "A Banner Commander of the Divine Pivot Camp, twenty years old, handsome in appearance, fourth-rank Assistant Prefect, inheriting the position..." Those who inherited positions were usually meant to uphold the family's prestige and would never agree to marry into another household. She sighed and set the list aside, muttering, "I wonder who transcribed this roster. They were quite meticulous—one person per sheet. If it had all been copied together, we'd have to find someone to rewrite the selected names separately."

Song Mo also thought the person had handled the task with great care and chuckled, "It was the Record Keeper from the Military Appointments Bureau."

Dou Zhao didn't dwell on it further.

Two days later, when Song Mo went to the Ministry of War, he praised the Record Keeper effusively in front of Quan Ziyi before presenting the list he and Dou Zhao had finalized. "I have urgent business. Please have these men come to the Duke of England's Mansion tomorrow at noon."

Quan Ziyi smiled and handed the list to a clerk beside him while continuing his conversation with Song Mo. "I didn’t realize the Young Lord was also acquainted with Lord Mu."

Song Mo replied with a smile, "Lord Mu and I are merely nodding acquaintances, but I do have some rapport with the Jiading Marquis."

Using the Jiading Marquis to instruct Mu Chuan to relay his request—the outcome was the same either way!

Quan Ziyi felt a slight twinge in his teeth.

The two exchanged pleasantries for a while.

The clerk returned to report, "Messengers have been dispatched to notify each one. They will definitely arrive by tomorrow afternoon."

Song Mo left with a satisfied smile.

Quan Ziyi, however, was somewhat concerned. "I noticed two of them are from the Tianjin Garrison. Will they make it in time?"

"With a six-hundred-li express dispatch, of course they will," the clerk assured. "Besides, I made it clear to the messengers that the Young Lord of the Duke of England's Mansion is summoning them. Who would dare not come?"

Quan Ziyi, being a man of status, had heard of Song Mo's recent activities but hadn't paid them much mind. Surprised, he remarked, "Has the Young Lord's reputation grown so formidable already?"

The clerk, being Quan Ziyi’s confidant, spoke frankly. "Just look at how he handled the arrest of the arsonists from the Duke of England's Mansion. Whether intentional or not, such a grand display naturally commands respect."

Quan Ziyi nodded faintly. The next day at noon, he sent the clerk to the Duke of England's Mansion to check. "See if everyone has arrived."

There were over twenty men, after all—some even from cadet branches of noble families.

An hour later, the clerk scurried back excitedly. "Sir, not a single one is missing. They’re all here."Quan Ziyi felt a mix of emotions, somewhat unsettled.

Song Mo was meeting each visitor one by one, speaking with them individually.

Those waiting outside couldn’t help but grow impatient, whispering among familiar faces: "Do you know why we’ve been summoned?"

"No idea. Even the seal-holding Commanders-in-chief from the Five Armies Commandery don’t know what this is about!"

Someone chimed in, "It must be a private matter, right? Otherwise, why would we be meeting at The Duke of England's Mansion?"

"Not necessarily. Meeting at a private residence is less formal—even if we aren’t chosen, it won’t be a loss of face."

Those who had already met with Song Mo felt even more uncertain.

Why was the heir of The Duke of England's Mansion asking only about household matters?

The strange atmosphere lingered long after Song Mo had finished meeting everyone.