Blossom

Su Lan understood and went to the brokerage the next day.

Dou Zhao also invited Jiang Lizhu, who was married in the capital, into the mansion. After dismissing the maids and old women, they spoke privately in the room for a long time. When Jiang Lizhu emerged, her legs were trembling slightly. She said to her wet nurse, who had come with her as part of her dowry, "I’ll have the guards from the master escort you back to Haozhou to deliver a letter to Eldest Aunt. Remember—if the letter is lost, so are you."

The "master" she referred to was her husband, Wu Zijie.

The wet nurse had lived through the Jiang family’s upheavals and remained calm upon hearing this. Realizing Jiang Lizhu had said this after leaving Dou Zhao’s room, she knew it must concern the Jiang family’s safety and vowed, "Rest assured, Young Mistress. Even if I die, I will deliver this letter to Da Taitai."

Jiang Lizhu nodded absently and returned to write the letter.

Seeing that preparations were nearly complete, Dou Zhao flipped through the almanac with Song Mo at home. She mentioned that Jiang Yan had been asking Su Lan about the affairs of the mansion and said, "I’d like to send Song Shize to serve Sister Yan for a while. If she asks about the family’s past again, there’ll be someone to answer her."

Moreover, he was an old retainer of the Song family, so his loyalty was beyond doubt.

It would also prove that Dou Zhao and Song Mo hadn’t deceived her.

"Arrange it as you see fit," Song Mo replied, considering this a matter of the inner household that should be left to Dou Zhao.

As he spoke, he turned to the first day of the sixth month in the almanac and asked, "What do you think of this date?"

It wasn’t the best, but it was the soonest.

Dou Zhao smiled. "Then let’s set it for the first day of the sixth month."

Just as they were discussing this, Gu Yu rushed in.

He complained, "What has Tianci-ge been up to these days? Why can I never find him?"

Gu Yu sought out Song Mo several times a day, always urgently, yet the matters he brought up were trivial. Song Mo figured that if it were truly urgent, Gu Yu would persist, so he hadn’t paid it much mind. Hearing this, he chuckled and said, "I’ve been quite busy these days. If you have something to say, make it quick. Your sister-in-law and I still need to visit the Green Water Residence later."

The Green Water Residence was separated from the main hall of the Hall of Cultivating Will by two courtyards, making it somewhat secluded. However, it was next to the back lake of the Duke of England's Mansion and featured a small hill of Taihu Rock, making its scenery first-rate.

Gu Yu glanced at Dou Zhao and asked, "Is Sister-in-law planning to move there for the summer?"

Seeing that Song Mo had no intention of mentioning Jiang Yan, Dou Zhao smiled and said, "Not me, but one of your brother’s cousins. She was dearly loved by your Aunt Jiang. As you know, your brother only has brothers—no sisters. Aunt Jiang originally wanted to adopt her as a goddaughter and raise her, but because Second Master’s health was poor and she couldn’t manage, she was sent back to her own family. After the Jiang family’s troubles, no one could spare attention for her. Last year, her husband passed away, and she had no children, so the Jiang family brought her back. We only learned of it during the Jiang family’s Twelfth Miss’s wedding. Your brother thought the Jiang family now consists mostly of the elderly and the young, so we discussed it with Fourth Aunt and decided to invite Cousin Jiang to stay with us for a while. It’ll help her relax, and she can keep me company. If fate allows, perhaps she’ll find another suitable match. She’ll be arriving in a couple of days, so your brother made time to inspect the arrangements for her residence with me."Since she's Song Mo's cousin, she must be quite young.

Gu Yu became interested and said, "The wife of the Five Armies Battalion's Eastern Camp Commander died this spring. What do you think?"

This was exactly the kind of topic to discuss with someone like Gu Yu, who knew everyone in the Capital. He could suggest candidates immediately.

Dou Zhao quickly asked, "What's his surname? How old is he? Who else is in his family? What's his temperament like?"

Song Mo glared coldly at them and said irritably, "His eldest son is only two years younger than me! Stop playing matchmakers here!" Then he asked Gu Yu, "What did you come to see me about?"

Dou Zhao and Gu Yu both looked embarrassed. Gu Yu even whispered to Dou Zhao, "Sister-in-law, could it be that Aunt Jiang originally wanted to betroth this cousin to Brother, which is why he's so concerned? Hearts are separated by ribs—be careful not to bring a wolf into your house! I think it would be better to arrange for this cousin from the Jiang Family to stay in a secluded courtyard outside. Didn't the Jiang Family's Twelfth Miss marry into the Capital? They're cousins—why not have her stay with Jiang's Twelfth Miss? At most, we'll cover the expenses!"

What kind of nonsense was this?

Dou Zhao couldn't help but laugh, finding Gu Yu truly amusing—no wonder even someone as aloof as Song Mo liked him so much.

However, Gu Yu's words also reminded Dou Zhao.

After Jiang Yan entered the household, she would need to take her around to socialize. Otherwise, people might think Jiang Yan was a concubine the Jiang Family had sent to Song Mo.

Song Mo, however, was so angry his face darkened. He said to Gu Yu, "Do you actually have business here or not? If you do, get to the point. If not, go back and practice horse stance!"

Gu Yu hurriedly said, "I do, I do!" Then, like a frostbitten eggplant, he wilted. "In a couple of days, my family will exchange betrothal cards with the Feng Family. Quick, think of a way out for me! I don’t want to marry their Eleventh Miss!"

Song Mo said, "Then what kind of person do you want to marry? Their Eleventh Miss is not only beautiful but also gentle and filial. Matching her with your unruly temperament would be doing her a disservice."

Dou Zhao was stunned. "I heard Miss Feng was plain-looking, extremely timid, and rather dull. Are you sure you've investigated properly?"

Gu Yu immediately chimed in, "Yes, yes! What Sister-in-law heard is the same as what I heard. That Madam Feng has no opinions of her own—aside from being obedient, she has no redeeming qualities. If she enters our household, she’ll surely hold me back. I don’t want to spend every day cleaning up her messes."

Song Mo said to Dou Zhao, "Don’t listen to his nonsense. I’ve seen her myself—she’s nothing like what he describes. He just doesn’t want this marriage!"

But Dou Zhao knew this marriage would ultimately lead to Madam Feng's death, so she firmly sided with Gu Yu. "No matter how good Miss Feng is, if Gu Yu doesn’t like her, then she’s no good at all. If you can’t help, fine. But if you can, you should help Gu Yu!"

Gu Yu now treated Dou Zhao like a bodhisattva, eagerly flattering her. "Sister-in-law, if you help me this time, I promise I’ll help you marry off that cousin from the Jiang Family!"

"This is utterly ridiculous!" Song Mo's face hardened. "Even your uncle says this is a good match. How can you casually dismiss your elders' wishes..."Gu Yu grew increasingly irritated as he listened. "You're all the same!" he said. "My uncle was even more blunt—he told me if I wasn't satisfied after marrying her, I could just divorce her in a couple of years and remarry, and to stop making a fuss. Making a mountain out of a molehill, treating Miss Feng like some common cabbage that can be tossed aside if I don’t like her. What about me? Marriage is about tying the knot, about a lifelong bond. I just want to find a capable girl to live a good life with—is that too much to ask?"

In your past life, you did marry that formidable Zhou-shi, yet you still couldn’t make it work!

Dou Zhao couldn’t help but shake her head.

At this point, Empress Wan must have been entirely preoccupied with Liao Wang. Her approach toward the nobility was one of appeasement, likely worried that Gu Yu’s marital disputes might disrupt Liao Wang’s grand plans. That was probably why she had conceded to Gu Yu on this matter.

Thinking of Gu Yu’s unrestrained and reckless behavior in his past life, Dou Zhao couldn’t help but feel he was a pitiable soul.

Song Mo rubbed his temples in frustration. "Fine, I’ll go talk to your grandfather."

Gu Yu leaped up in excitement. "Brother, I’ll help sister-in-law decorate the courtyard for Cousin Jiang! I promise she won’t have to lift a finger."

Song Mo snorted. "Even if you don’t help, no one in the Hall of Cultivating Will would dare let her lift a finger."

Grinning shamelessly, Gu Yu nudged Song Mo. "Hurry to the Yunyang Earl’s residence. If you’re late, my grandfather might head to the secluded courtyard by Shichahai to fish."

After giving Dou Zhao a few instructions and changing his clothes, Song Mo left.

Gu Yu accompanied Dou Zhao to the Green Water Residence.

On the way, Dou Zhao asked him, "How did things between you and your stepmother get so bad? Even though she holds the title of an ultra-rank noblewoman, the Empress dislikes her. A little trouble from the palace would be enough to make her suffer."

"If she had half a brain, I’d have been finished long ago!" Gu Yu scoffed. "She just clings to the Shen family, thinking my aunt won’t touch her. If she ever pushes me too far, I’ll incite Shen Qing to deal with her—let’s see how smug she is then!"

The Shen family was the maternal clan of the current Crown Prince.

Seeing the ferocity on his face, Dou Zhao sighed. "Look at you—you haven’t even acted yet, but you’re already shouting about it. Anyone would be on guard. Who could you possibly outmaneuver like this? No wonder you, a man with the Empress’s backing, still couldn’t win against your stepmother!"

Gu Yu bristled at this.

Dou Zhao pressed, "Then tell me—when have you ever bested your stepmother?"

Gu Yu opened and closed his mouth but couldn’t muster a reply.

Dou Zhao softened her tone. "Different people require different tactics. For someone like your stepmother, you either ignore her completely or act first and explain later—leave her no room to cry injustice."

Gu Yu lowered his head, deep in thought.

By the time Song Mo returned that evening, the Green Water Residence had been transformed—new bamboo blinds adorned the windows, a painting of a beauty under moonlight hung in the central hall, mugwort incense burned in the floral brazier, and the kang bed was dressed with a cooling lotus mat. The maids and old women were all prepared. Satisfied, Song Mo nodded and invited Gu Yu to stay for dinner.

But Gu Yu was too preoccupied with his own affairs, tugging at Song Mo’s sleeve. "What did my grandfather say? Tell me!"

"If it hadn’t worked out, would I dare face you?" Song Mo chuckled, pulling his sleeve free. "Careful, or you’ll tear it. This robe was sewn for me by your sister-in-law herself."Gu Yu excitedly jumped up, slinging an arm around Song Mo as he called out to Dou Zhao, "Sister-in-law, bring out a whole jar of wine!"

Infected by his mood, Song Mo also showed a rare lighthearted smile and said, "Shouldn't you be the one treating us to the whole jar? I can't both contribute effort and foot the bill, can I?"

"You treat today, I'll treat tomorrow!" Gu Yu chuckled as he sat down on the kang, turning to Dou Zhao. "Sister-in-law, you should come too, so you don't have to stay cooped up at home every day."

Dou Zhao smiled faintly.

Song Han walked in carrying a jar of wine.

Seeing Gu Yu, he showed no surprise but instead raised the jar with a grin. "You're in luck. I went through great trouble to get this jar of Pear Blossom White from Ningde Princess's residence to offer to my brother, and here you are."

Gu Yu waved it off. "It's just a jar of Pear Blossom White. I'll send you a cartload tomorrow."

Song Han wasn't bothered either, smiling as he sat next to Song Mo and said to Gu Yu, "You'd better keep your word. I'll be waiting for that wine tomorrow."

Gu Yu thumped his chest in assurance.

Dou Zhao went to instruct the maids to serve the dishes, but her thoughts lingered on Song Han.

Lately, he's been visiting almost as often as Gu Yu...

That evening, after seeing off Gu Yu and Song Han, Dou Zhao asked Song Mo, "How did you persuade the Earl of Yunyang?"

Song Mo laughed. "Don't think the Earl is senile. He just doesn't want to offend anyone. But for the sake of Yunyang Manor, marrying a capable granddaughter-in-law is the right path." Then he asked Dou Zhao, "Did you notice how Song Han drinks just like Father?"

The vigilant Song Mo had indeed caught on.

If I hadn't met him in his youthful days, gaining his trust would probably be harder than reaching the heavens, wouldn't it?

Dou Zhao sighed and said, "I didn't notice."