Blossom

Rarely did Song Mo show such filial piety, so Dou Shiying naturally didn’t want to make things difficult for him. He said, "I’ll go alone."

He was afraid Dou Shishu might misunderstand and think Song Mo had urged him to go to Huai Tree Alley.

Seeing Dou Shiying’s firm stance, Song Mo didn’t insist. But as soon as Dou Shiying left Jing'an Temple Alley, Song Mo headed straight for Yuqiao Alley.

Dou Qijun had gone out socializing with colleagues.

Song Mo tracked him down to the tavern where he was drinking.

Dou Qijun’s attendant fetched him out, his face flushed from drink.

Inside the carriage, Song Mo told him about Dou Shishu recommending Dou Shiying to tutor the Crown Prince’s eldest grandson.

Dou Qijun was so startled that his drunkenness vanished instantly. "I’ll go see Fifth Granduncle first thing tomorrow."

He hadn’t realized the situation was so dire—the Dou family could be labeled as either the Crown Prince’s faction or Liao Wang’s at any moment.

Song Mo nodded. "Go back to your drinking. I’ll head home first."

Dou Qijun had no mood left for drinking and asked Song Mo to take him back to Yuqiao Alley.

On the way, he voiced his concerns. "If Fifth Granduncle asks, I’ll say it’s my own observations from recent political affairs. I just don’t know if Fifth Uncle will listen."

"Whether he listens or not, you must explain it thoroughly," Song Mo advised. "It’s not yet time to take sides."

Dou Qijun nodded in agreement.

They parted ways at the entrance of Yuqiao Alley.

Song Mo hurried back to Jing'an Temple Alley.

Entering the inner chamber of the eastern wing, he saw Dou Zhao sipping a bowl of pigeon soup.

The enticing aroma made Song Mo’s stomach growl.

Only then did he realize he had barely eaten all day.

Dou Zhao immediately instructed the kitchen to prepare a meal for him.

Song Mo, not wanting to trouble them, said, "Just bring me some pastries to tide me over."

"That won’t do!" Dou Zhao stepped forward to help him remove his outer robe and called for a maid to fetch water. "You probably didn’t eat properly at lunch either. You can’t keep skipping meals—it’ll harm your health in the long run."

As she spoke, the kitchen matron brought in a low dining table laden with dishes.

A full spread: stir-fried soybeans with preserved vegetables and minced pork, braised pork tripe with garlic, steamed eggplant mash, sesame chicken—all freshly made.

Song Mo was surprised.

Gan Lu chuckled. "The kitchen matron said that when the master returned from the yamen and didn’t see the Young Lord, he assumed you hadn’t eaten well at the palace. So he ordered the kitchen to keep the stove lit and be ready to serve at any time."

Song Mo fell silent for a moment before looking up at Dou Zhao with a smile.

Her heart melted. Smiling, she nudged him to sit on the kang and personally handed him chopsticks.

Song Mo lowered his head and ate heartily.

Dou Shiying returned.

Song Mo and Dou Zhao quickly stood up.

"Don’t mind me—eating comes first," Dou Shiying said, seeing one at the table and the other doing needlework nearby. He craned his neck to peer into the inner chamber. "Where’s Yuange? Asleep?"

"Just nodded off," Dou Zhao replied, taking the tea a maid offered and placing it before Dou Shiying.

"Good." Dou Shiying looked pleased. "A child who eats and sleeps well will grow strong." He motioned for Song Mo to sit back down. "Keep eating. Don’t mind me."

Gazing at the lavish spread, Song Mo smiled and sat down, continuing his meal without hesitation.Dou Shiying watched with a faint smile as Song Mo finished his meal. The two then moved to the small study where Song Mo rested. Dou Shiying recounted his visit to Huai Tree Alley: "...I spoke frankly with Fifth Brother. Although he was somewhat displeased, seeing how resolute I was, he said nothing more, only advising me to think carefully to avoid future regrets."

Song Mo chuckled and asked, "Father-in-law, do you think you'll regret it later?"

"I'm sure there will be some regrets," Dou Shiying replied with a smile. "But compared to regret, I fear a troubled conscience more."

Perhaps this was why Dou Shiying had remained alone all these years without anyone in his chambers?

Song Mo personally brewed tea for Dou Shiying, and they spent the evening discussing court affairs and sharing amusing anecdotes about various officials.

Dou Shiying found the evening thoroughly enjoyable. After seeing Yuan Ge'er and urging them to rest early, he left with a beaming smile.

Once washed up, Song Mo and Dou Zhao leaned against the large bolster on the heated brick bed by the window to chat.

"Why did you return so late today?"

"After leaving the palace, I stopped by the Lu residence," Song Mo explained, then told Dou Zhao about asking Ningde Princess to arrange a match for Jiang Yan.

Dou Zhao felt that although Jiang Yan had just endured a great ordeal, there was no need to rush into marriage. Still, if a good match could be found, settling the engagement early would be ideal. She smiled and said, "Once I return, I'll start preparing the dowry for Sister Yan."

Her words stirred Song Mo's thoughts again.

"Tomorrow, I'll speak with Father and demand Song Han return Mother's dowry," he declared.

Dou Zhao replied, "I doubt they'll be so accommodating."

"That's not up to them," Song Mo said coldly. "If the palace hadn’t known about this, it might have been different. But now that they do, even if I force Song Han to return Mother's dowry, the palace will turn a blind eye."

That was true.

Dou Zhao nodded. "I should return to the mansion tomorrow—for Yuan Ge'er's third-day and full-month celebrations, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess both sent gifts. I ought to enter the palace to express my gratitude after my confinement. I hadn’t expected Father to send for us right after Yuan Ge'er turned a month old. With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, it would seem insincere to thank the Crown Princess only if we happen to meet during the festivities."

Song Mo, recalling Dou Shiying’s satisfied smile earlier, chuckled. "Is there any conflict between entering the palace to give thanks and taking Yuan Ge'er back to your family home? Have Gan Lu fetch your formal attire from the mansion, and you can go directly to the palace from Jing'an Temple Alley."

Dou Zhao laughed at herself. "Once you get stuck in your thoughts, you become foolish. Then I’ll submit my request tomorrow? If I can see Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, I’ll thank her properly. After all, Song Han’s marriage was her idea!"

As wives of high-ranking officials, they were expected to pay respects at the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility when entering the palace. Whether the Empress Dowager received them depended on her mood, so they didn’t always get to see her.

Song Mo agreed.

The next day, Dou Zhao submitted her request.

That afternoon, a eunuch arrived to inform her to enter the palace early the following morning.

It was remarkably swift.

Dou Shiying remarked with a smile, "It seems the Duke of Yingguo's Mansion truly holds favor in the Emperor’s eyes."

Dou Zhao smiled faintly.

Soon after, a steward from the Duke of Yingguo's Mansion arrived to summon Song Mo and Dou Zhao back, explaining that they would soon be sending engagement gifts to the Miao family.

As Song Han’s elder brother and sister-in-law, they were needed to assist—especially Dou Zhao, who would host the female guests coming to offer congratulations.Dou Zhao agreed to return to the mansion in three days.

However, when Song Mo returned, he sent someone to relay a message to the Duke of England's Mansion: "The child is still young. With all the music and private performances at home, what if it frightens them? Besides, Madam has to enter the palace early tomorrow morning. I’ll go back alone."

Song Yichun was so furious that his chest ached. He said to the messenger, "Go tell the Young Lord that if he doesn’t want to come back, he need never return."

The messenger dared not repeat those words to Song Mo and instead went to Huang Qing with a distressed expression.

Huang Qing had no choice but to steel himself and seek out Yan Chaoqing.

Yan Chaoqing merely smiled indifferently and said, "Then go inform the Duke that our Young Lord won’t be returning that day."

For the younger brother’s engagement, the elder brother—the heir—showing no concern at all—what would the Miao family think?

Huang Qing gave a bitter smile but had no other solution. He could only delay the matter for now and deal with it when Song Yichun pressed him again.

Meanwhile, when Dou Zhao entered the palace to express her gratitude, the Crown Princess warmly entertained her and even had the Third Imperial Grandson brought out for Dou Zhao to see. Upon hearing of her arrival, the Crown Prince also sent over several plates of pastries as gifts. When she mentioned paying respects to the Empress and the Empress Dowager, the Crown Princess accompanied her to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility.

On the fourth day of the ninth month, palace ladies and eunuchs were to change into lighter silk garments. Before the fifteenth day of the eighth month, newly made clothes had to be distributed, along with preparations for the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet and gifts for various noble households. The Empress was swamped with work and only had time to share a cup of tea with Dou Zhao. However, the Empress Dowager, upon hearing of Dou Zhao’s arrival, immediately summoned her for an audience.

Dou Zhao entered the side hall with her eyes lowered, maintaining a composed demeanor.

Shi Taifei was also present, playing Leaf Cards with the Empress Dowager.

Before Dou Zhao could even bow, the Empress Dowager asked her, "Do you know how to play Leaf Cards?"

Dou Zhao replied modestly, "I used to play with elders at home, though I’m not very skilled. I lose more often than not."

Shi Taifei giggled at this and said, "If you don’t lose a little, how can the rest of us feel good about ourselves?"

Was she referring to Dou Zhao’s generous dowry?

Or perhaps it was because Dou Zhao held no fondness for Marquis Changxing. Seeing Shi Taifei—a woman of advanced age—giggling like a young maiden in an affected manner, Dou Zhao felt not the slightest goodwill toward her.

The Crown Princess also seemed to dislike Shi Taifei and remarked with a smile, "It seems having too much wealth isn’t always good. One always becomes a target!"

Shi Taifei’s expression stiffened slightly.

The Empress Dowager beckoned Dou Zhao over. "As long as you know how to play. Take Huiying’s place—her eyesight is worse than mine."

As she spoke, a woman who appeared to be a palace official stood up with a smile and handed her cards to Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao hesitated, unsure whether to accept or decline.

The Crown Princess gently nudged her and said, "Her Majesty finds me too clumsy. Why don’t you play a few rounds with her?"

At this point, further refusal would only seem petty.

Dou Zhao smiled and curtsied to the palace official, murmuring, "My apologies," before accepting the cards and sitting opposite the Empress Dowager.

After one round, she had already grasped the situation.

The Empress Dowager treated card-playing as mere leisure, playing without much thought or strategy.

Shi Taifei, on the other hand, was highly skilled, indulging the Empress Dowager by only winning one out of every four games.

The third player was Consort De of the palace.She was the Emperor's companion from his princely days, the same age as him, long past the age of rouge and powder. Often summoned to the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility to accompany Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, she was also skilled at card games. While she dared not challenge the Empress Dowager sitting to her upper hand, she showed no mercy to Dou Zhao sitting to her lower hand.

Dou Zhao believed handling these few opponents wouldn't be a problem.

She followed Shi Taifei's example, winning only one out of every four hands.

This way, the Empress Dowager won the most. And since both Dou Zhao and Shi Taifei occasionally won a couple of hands, it appeared evenly matched with wins and losses, making for a very presentable game.

The Empress Dowager praised Dou Zhao's excellent play, her enthusiasm lasting until the eunuchs came to inquire where lunch should be served, temporarily pausing the game.

Dou Zhao took her leave.

But the Empress Dowager kept her for lunch, saying, "We'll play some more this afternoon!"