Blossom

Finding someone suitable to rely on is no easy task!

Su Xin and Su Lan had already served her for four or five years, and she couldn’t delay their futures any longer.

Dou Zhao smiled. “Isn’t it just the New Year season? The matter of maids can wait until after the Dragon Head-Raising Festival in February when the weather warms up. How could we delay Su Lan’s wedding for this?”

Before the New Year, Dou Zhao had discussed with Song Mo about holding Su Lan and Chen He’s wedding on the fourth day of the second lunar month.

Su Xin knew Dou Zhao hadn’t yet found a maid skilled in martial arts. Considering Dou Zhao was currently in a standoff with Song Yichun—who was capable of anything, even using martial retainers to kidnap them just to investigate Dou Zhao’s assets—she grew extremely anxious.

Though she and her sister weren’t as skilled as men like Duan Gongyi, they could still fend off ill-intentioned intruders unexpectedly, buying Dou Zhao time to escape. If both of them left, what would happen to Dou Zhao’s safety? After all, Duan Gongyi and the others were men—they couldn’t follow her around all day and night.

After much hesitation, Su Xin said, “How about I come back to accompany you? Zhao Liangbi will be away inspecting the shops these days anyway…”

“There’s no need for such trouble,” Dou Zhao replied with a smile. “I won’t leave the Duke of England’s Mansion, so nothing will happen.”

Su Xin said solemnly, “It’s better to be safe than sorry. If you don’t agree, I’ll speak to the Young Lord…”

Before she could finish, Song Mo’s voice suddenly came from inside the room. “What do you need to tell me?”

They turned to see Song Mo walking in with a smile.

“Young Lord!” Su Xin hurried forward to curtsey and explained the situation. “Please allow me to serve Madam as I did before.”

“How can that be?” Dou Zhao interjected before Song Mo could respond. “If you’re bored, visiting me would be lovely. But serving me again? You’re a manager now—it’s not proper for you to return to such duties.”

“She came from your household, so serving you is only natural,” Song Mo mused before smiling at Dou Zhao. “Let’s not argue over this. Su Xin may return to serve you. Her monthly allowance will be doubled and covered by my expenses.” Seeing Dou Zhao about to protest, he added, “Once Zhao Liangbi returns, Su Xin can go home. And if she becomes pregnant, she can rest at home without needing to come back.”

Su Xin, being a newlywed, blushed at his last remark and lowered her head, answering loudly, “Yes.”

Dou Zhao wasn’t one to stand on ceremony. She decided she’d just have to be mindful later, ensuring Su Xin wouldn’t repeat her own past mistake of unknowingly becoming pregnant and suffering the consequences.

“Then come back to keep me company!” She nodded with a smile and instructed Gan Lu and the others to prepare accommodations for Su Xin.

Su Xin knew that whenever Song Mo returned to the main quarters, he would dote on Dou Zhao. She used to think Song Mo was too indulgent, but now that she was married, she understood the sweetness of it. Smiling faintly, she curtseyed and pulled Gan Lu out with her.

Song Mo chuckled. “It’s better to have these married women around.”

“Better your head!” Dou Zhao shot him a glance, her eyes as alluring as spring water.

Song Mo laughed, leaned down to kiss her cheek, and then went to change his clothes.Dou Zhao handed the tea served by the maid to Song Mo and asked seriously, "Is the Kuang Family matter not going smoothly?"

Song Mo was taken aback. "Why do you say that?"

"I noticed you left the office early today, spent a long time talking with Master Yan in the study, and then came back to tease me," Dou Zhao said. "After thinking it over, these days there's nothing else that would trouble you except the Kuang Family affair..."

Song Mo laughed. "You really can read my mind!"

But Dou Zhao's expression grew tense. "What exactly happened?"

Song Mo had always considered Dou Ming exceptionally intelligent. Rather than keeping her in the dark and letting her speculate wildly, it was better to tell her the truth. With her sharp mind, she could at least find a way to protect herself in a crisis. So he spoke frankly: "I sent Master Yan to see Wang Ge, but Wang Ge refused to let the Kuang Family stay out of this!"

Dou Zhao was very surprised.

She raised her eyebrows. "Where does he get the audacity to refuse you? Even Wang Yuan wouldn’t offend you over an annual income of twenty or thirty thousand taels of silver. Does he think he has more influence than Wang Yuan?"

As she spoke, Dou Zhao sensed something strange.

Why would Wang Ge refuse Song Mo?

In her past life, he had been purged.

Could it be that in her past life, he wasn’t just an unrelated casualty but was silenced because he knew too much?

Her heart pounded as she asked Song Mo, "Did you find out how Jiang Jie brought the Kuang Family matter to Wang Ge’s attention?"

"We did." Song Mo also found the situation somewhat absurd and said with a wry smile, "Jiang Jie resented the Kuang Family’s arrogance and wanted to teach them a lesson. But the Kuang Family is a century-old influential clan in places like Panyu, deeply rooted and hard to shake. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, his advisor was sent to deliver gifts to Dai Jian and happened to see Wang Ge leaving Grand Secretary Dai’s residence. Later, when the advisor reported back about Dai Jian, he mentioned that Wang Ge had personally visited to offer holiday greetings. Hearing this, Jiang Jie got an idea. When sending winter solstice gifts, his advisor used Dai Jian’s name to visit Wang Ge, complaining for hours and begging Wang Ge to help Jiang Jie teach the Kuang Family a lesson out of respect for Dai Jian..."

Dou Zhao pondered. "That still doesn’t add up. Jiang Jie is just a seventh-rank county magistrate. Even if he’s connected by marriage, Wang Ge wouldn’t risk offending you for him and a mere twenty or thirty thousand taels." She then said solemnly, "Yantang, you should take this seriously and investigate thoroughly. It’s not about standing up for the Kuang Family—this situation is just too illogical. Wang Ge has always seemed respectful toward you. If he’s suddenly turning against you, the problem might lie with you. Perhaps you should visit Wang Yuan. Matters concerning the Emperor cannot be taken lightly. As for the Kuang Family, I’ll speak to Kuang Zhuoran. Since Wang Ge is determined to back Jiang Jie, they should stop hoping for favors or mediation and decide what to do as soon as possible."

Song Mo and Dou Zhao were thinking along the same lines.He smiled and said, "It's not as serious as you make it out to be. If the Emperor truly held any grudge against me, he wouldn't have allowed you to stay home for your pregnancy during the New Year and even bestowed gifts upon us. Regardless of what's going on with Wang Ge, we'll have to pay Wang Yuan a visit. As for the Kuang Family, since the issue lies with Grand Secretary Zeng, let him help Jiang Jie clean up the mess. I don’t believe he’d appreciate someone using his name to bully others behind his back!" By the end, his lips curled into a cold smirk.

Seeing Song Mo’s expression, Dou Zhao knew Dai Jian was about to have a headache.

But whether Dai Jian suffered or not was none of her concern. What she was certain of now was that this matter was connected to Liao Wang.

Only by leaning on Liao Wang’s towering influence could he have such audacity.

As someone reborn, she knew Liao Wang would eventually ascend the throne, which was why she had been wary of him. But at present, the Crown Prince had committed no faults, and the Emperor showed no intention of replacing him. In her past life’s memories, the Crown Prince had remained blameless until his assassination, with no signs of the Emperor reconsidering the succession. The Crown Prince’s ascension was universally expected. Wang Ge was a eunuch—even if Liao Wang continued to rise as he was now, becoming the King of Liaodong, it would bring Wang Ge no benefit. If Wang Ge got into trouble, Liao Wang wouldn’t step in to protect him. So why would Wang Ge stake everything on Liao Wang?

She thought of Liao Wang’s birth mother, Empress Wan Shi.

Could it be that he was relying on the Empress?

But that didn’t make sense either!

Eunuchs like Wang Ge were a dime a dozen in the inner palace. If he weren’t Wang Yuan’s adopted son, even Song Mo wouldn’t spare him a glance, let alone the Empress.

Where, then, did his confidence come from?

Dou Zhao took a sip of tea, feeling agitated, when suddenly an idea struck her.

"Yantang, I just remembered something," she said urgently to Song Mo. "I think I heard someone mention that Wang Ge and Cui Junyi were sworn enemies. Do you think this matter might be tied to conflicts among the eunuchs?"

Song Mo’s eyes lit up. "I hadn’t thought to investigate from that angle," he said, leaning toward her. "Tell me, what are your thoughts?"

"My thoughts?" Dou Zhao twisted the ruby ring on her finger awkwardly and gave him an apologetic look. "My mind’s a jumble right now—I don’t have any concrete ideas. It was just a passing thought, and I’m not sure if it holds water."

In her past life, she had been an inconspicuous marquise, always trailing behind the more illustrious noblewomen during palace visits. Once, lagging a few steps behind, she had overheard two eunuchs muttering complaints. She hadn’t caught the specifics, only a line like, "Cui Junyi dragged Wang Ge down with him in death—if I die, I’ll take him down too!" Back then, she hadn’t known Wang Ge but recognized Cui Junyi’s name. Since it was just palace gossip, she had dismissed it—until now. But voicing it aloud made her realize how absurd it sounded.

Cui Junyi had been the Crown Prince’s man, and Wang Ge’s coveting of the Kuang Family’s assets could only be tied to Liao Wang. How could this be about eunuch rivalries?

Dou Zhao felt uneasy.

Song Mo, ever perceptive, couldn’t miss her discomfort.He hugged Dou Zhao and said with a smile, "It's fine! Don't they always say in those storybooks that 'no coincidence, no story'? When we encounter things we can't figure out, sometimes we need to let our imaginations run wild—who knows, we might just find a way. I'll have someone thoroughly investigate the matter you mentioned. Perhaps we'll actually discover something?"

Dou Zhao gave a reluctant smile.

The affairs of the Kuang Family seemed to be growing increasingly complicated, while the usable leads were so few...

Her head was starting to ache from it all.

Forget it—she’d leave it to Song Mo to figure out!

She pushed the matter to the back of her mind and comfortably sipped her bird's nest porridge.

Song Mo, meanwhile, went off to attend to the issue.

After finishing her bowl of porridge, Dou Zhao looked up and saw the large bolster across from her, still bearing the indentation where Song Mo had leaned against it. She suddenly found herself lost in thought.

Ever since marrying Song Mo, she had grown accustomed to leaving problems for him to handle, rarely exercising her mind as she once did.

But Song Mo knew nothing of the future.

She, on the other hand, was someone who knew the course of history.

How could she let Song Mo grope in the dark like a blind man while she simply reaped the benefits?

Was it true that once a woman became dependent on someone, she would no longer bother to think for herself?

Dou Zhao couldn’t help but shudder.

No, she couldn’t go on like this.

She had to help Song Mo uncover the truth of those past events. She had to prevent him from suffering the same tragic fate as in his previous life. She should be striving alongside him—how could she just nestle under his wings like this?

After all, he was the one who had treated her the best in both her lifetimes!

Dou Zhao took a deep breath, straightened her back, and called out loudly to Gan Lu, "Bring me the Four Treasures of the Study!"

Gan Lu promptly obeyed and soon returned with brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.