Blossom

By the time he next drank with Song Mo, the events of those years gradually unfolded before Song Mo's eyes: "...At that time, the Emperor frequently fell ill, and the prescriptions from the Imperial Hospital were always overly cautious. The Emperor felt he didn't have long to live and was preparing to choose between the Metropolitan Commander of the Shaanxi Regional Military Commission and Duke Ding. The Empress believed Duke Ding was the better choice, citing his noble lineage and marital ties to the Duke of Yingguo as proof he was 'one of us'... Later, when Duke Ding was arrested, several Grand Secretaries pleaded for leniency on his behalf, while high-ranking regional officials from eastern Zhejiang accused him of colluding with court officials. This displeased the Emperor greatly, who ordered the Imperial Bodyguards to interrogate him... The secret memorials from the censors only mentioned the Bodyguards' arrogance and their audacity to torture even the most loyal ministers, but said nothing about the specific tortures Duke Ding endured or the extent of his injuries. The Emperor withheld the memorials and took no action. Yet within days, news arrived of Duke Ding's death."

Zhao Zhangru's child's third-day bathing ceremony and full-month celebration had already passed, so Dou Zhao busied herself preparing for the hundred-day celebration.

Meanwhile, Song Mo decided to provoke Wang Yuan again.

By mid-March, the Metropolitan Commander of the Shaanxi Regional Military Commission had returned to the capital to report on his duties. To commend his achievements in resisting the Mongols, the Emperor rewarded him with a hundred taels of gold, ten hu of pearls, and a hundred bolts of damasks and brocades, along with granting his heir a hereditary rank of fourth-grade Assistant Prefect.

Normally, such high-profile proclamations would be delivered by Wang Yuan. But this time, while attending to the Emperor's morning ablutions, Wang Yuan slipped and nearly overturned the water basin. The Emperor laughed heartily and assigned the vigorous Wang Ge to deliver the edict instead, remarking to Wang Yuan, "My dear minister, you've grown old."

Wang Yuan became increasingly convinced someone had pushed him, but no matter how he scrutinized his surroundings—whether his adopted sons or favored disciples—he found no culprit. Meanwhile, Wang Ge, who was responsible for the Palace of Heavenly Purity's study and shouldn't have been present during the Emperor's morning routine, not only appeared in the imperial bedchamber but also swiftly brought inksticks to serve the Emperor's calligraphy after Wang Yuan's stumble.

Secretly, Wang Yuan instructed a young disciple to hide a memorial about flooding in Jiangsu and Zhejiang beneath the kang cushion.

When the Grand Secretariat urgently awaited the vermilion endorsement, Liang Jifen personally submitted a memorial requesting an audience. Only then did the Emperor realize the memorial that should have been transmitted long ago was missing.

Enraged, the Emperor ordered Wang Ge to receive twenty paddle strokes.

But before the punishment could be carried out, the Empress appeared.

In the end, Wang Ge still received twenty strokes, but they merely caused superficial injuries. Compared to the Empress later awarding him a bottle of golden sore ointment—an extraordinary honor—the punishment was trivial. Instead, it emboldened Wang Ge further.

This was highly unusual.

Wang Yuan knew Empress Wan had earned the Emperor's trust largely because she wholeheartedly supported him, never forming factions or defying his will.

With a gloomy expression, Wang Yuan returned to his residence. After pacing his study for a long time, he sent a young disciple to summon the Pacification Office's commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard Garrison Command.

Liu Yu rushed over and paid his respects respectfully.

Only then did Wang Yuan remember the Pacification Office's commander had already been replaced by Shi Chuan's man.

Regret washed over Wang Yuan.

Dismissing Liu Yu, he ordered the Eastern Depot to investigate Wang Ge.

The investigation shocked him.

Wang Ge had been working for Liao Wang even before the prince left for his fiefdom.

Suddenly, everything became clear to Wang Yuan.Thinking about how the Emperor had been treating him like an old man with clumsy hands and feet these past few days, he felt like vomiting blood.

Upon returning to the palace, Wang Ge's young apprentice was there, arrogantly scolding a few young eunuchs who had made mistakes.

Wang Yuan felt even more uncomfortable inside.

So when he saw Song Mo emerging from the study in the Palace of Heavenly Purity, he gave him a smile.

Song Mo cupped his hands in greeting and said, "When will you be leaving the palace, sir? I'd like to invite you for a drink."

Wang Yuan immediately suspected that Song Mo might have pulled some strings.

But looking at Song Mo's open and radiant face, he thought it unlikely and that he might just be overthinking it.

"Sounds good!" he nodded with a smile. "Let's arrange another day to meet, Young Lord!"

Song Mo nodded with a smile and left.

Wang Yuan glared fiercely at the resting quarters where Wang Ge was staying before bending down and leisurely entering the study.

By the time he next drank with Song Mo, the events of those years gradually unfolded before Song Mo's eyes: "...Back then, the Emperor often fell ill, and the prescriptions from the Imperial Hospital were always overly cautious. The Emperor felt he wouldn't live much longer and was deciding between the Metropolitan Commander of the Shaanxi Regional Military Commission and the Duke of Dingguo. The Empress thought the Duke of Dingguo was the better choice, being of noble lineage and related by marriage to the Duke of Yingguo—someone from our own side... Later, when the Duke of Dingguo was arrested, several Grand Secretaries pleaded for leniency on his behalf, while some high-ranking regional officials from eastern Zhejiang accused him of colluding with court officials. The Emperor was deeply displeased and ordered the Imperial Bodyguards to interrogate him... The secret memorials from the censors only mentioned the Imperial Bodyguards' arrogance and their audacity to torture even the most loyal ministers, but said nothing about the extent of the Duke of Dingguo's injuries or the torture he endured. The Emperor withheld the memorials and took no action. Then, just a few days later, news arrived of the Duke of Dingguo's death.

"The Emperor was furious. He summoned Shi Chuan to the palace and berated him harshly, giving him ten days to uncover the truth.

"Then came a flood of memorials denouncing the Duke of Dingguo.

"The Emperor was so angry it pained his liver. He said, 'The Duke of Dingguo was fair and incorruptible. When he was alive, everyone called him a pillar of the state. Now that he's dead, before even his first-week memorial has passed, they pour all kinds of filth on him. They're nothing but opportunistic scoundrels!'

"He wanted to clear the Duke of Dingguo's name.

"But unexpectedly, the Empress advised the Emperor, 'If Your Majesty pardons the Duke of Dingguo's family now, wouldn't that be admitting the Duke's death was Your Majesty's fault?'

"The Emperor hesitated.

"The Empress continued, 'Besides the Duke of Dingguo, the Jiang Family still has Jiang Zhusun and Jiang Lansun. Since Your Majesty has decided to leave the Jiang Family for the Crown Prince's use, why not let them suffer a bit? Send the adult males into exile in Liaodong and demote the women and children to commoner status, returning them to their ancestral home. The Jiang Family still has their ancestral estate and sacrificial land. If they are truly grateful for Your Majesty's mercy, they will fare well. If they harbor resentment, even if Your Majesty pardons them now, they will still feel wronged. Both thunder and rain are manifestations of imperial grace. This is a good opportunity to see whether the Jiang Family's loyalty is genuine or not.'

"The Emperor found the Empress's reasoning sound.

"Soon after, an imperial decree was issued: male members of the Jiang Family over five years old were exiled to Liaodong, while the women and children were demoted to commoners and sent back to Haozhou.

"As for the Jiang Family's Second and Third Masters, I know the Empress's eunuch once visited Zhong Qiao, but I didn't dare ask Zhong Qiao what was said."Song Mo gazed at the wine cup in his hand, his heart filled with bitterness. After a long silence, he said faintly, "If those ministers hadn’t impeached my uncle but instead pleaded for Duke Ding’s innocence and begged for leniency, how would the Emperor have reacted?"

Wang Yuan sighed. "Exterminating the entire family would have been the best outcome. I fear it might have extended to three generations of kin!"

Song Mo thought of Dou Zhao.

If he hadn’t met Dou Zhao, what would have become of the Jiang Family—and himself?

He returned to the Hall of Cultivating Will. The children were already asleep, and Dou Zhao sat under the lamp, sketching floral patterns.

Hearing the noise, she looked up and smiled warmly at him. "You're back!"

Her clear gaze, like a spring, reflected only his image.

Like surging tides, it struck his chest, leaving him breathless and unable to speak.

He took a few steps forward and embraced Dou Zhao.

"Shou Gu, what would I have become without you?" He closed his eyes, burying his face in her black hair.

Without her rebirth, this life’s Song Mo would have remained as lonely, bitter, and cynical as in his previous life.

Dou Zhao’s heart instantly softened.

She patted his shoulder soothingly and teased, "Without me, you’d surely have married a gentle and considerate wife, taken in a few concubines of unparalleled beauty and talent, and had several lively, adorable children..."

"No," Song Mo retorted. "I only like you. I don’t want anyone else."

No—was it that he wouldn’t marry a gentle wife? Or that he wouldn’t take concubines?

Dou Zhao chuckled.

Regardless, Song Mo was doing well now.

Wealth, honor, power, and a bright future ahead!

She held him tightly and asked with a smile, "Did you drink today? Should I have the kitchen prepare some sobering-up soup for you?"

Song Mo released her and shook his head. "Just call a maid to help me freshen up."

Dou Zhao nodded in agreement.

After washing up, Song Mo pulled Dou Zhao to lean together on the heated brick bed by the window.

Holding her hand, he told her about his meeting with Wang Yuan.

Dou Zhao was stunned, then lost in thought.

Song Mo always valued her feelings. Noticing her distraction, he quickly asked, "What’s wrong? Is there something amiss?"

Dou Zhao snapped out of it.

"No," she paused slightly. "I was just thinking—if everyone had submitted memorials pleading for Duke Ding’s innocence back then, angering the Emperor, would the Empress have added fuel to the fire..."

"No," Song Mo said calmly. "She’s always been virtuous and magnanimous in front of the Emperor. With the Jiang Family already doomed, she wouldn’t have needlessly provoked trouble or made enemies. This time, she intervened only because she saw an opportunity—since she’d already crossed the Jiang Family, she might as well eliminate them to prevent future troubles." He sneered. "Truly ruthless when it comes to great ambitions. Back then, my mother was frantic with worry, and the Empress comforted her, earning her gratitude. Yet little did my mother know it was the Empress who orchestrated my uncle’s downfall. Just for not siding with Liao Wang, she could resort to such cruelty. Imagine opposing her directly—would there even be a place to bury one’s body?"

So, in their past life, the Empress hadn’t acted against the Jiang Family!

Dou Zhao felt a wave of relief, followed by another thought.She pondered and said, "Yantang, have you ever considered that if Duke Ding merely refrained from siding with Liao Wang and the Empress could go to such lengths, wouldn’t those who politely declined the Empress’s overtures be utterly destroyed to satisfy her hatred?"

Song Mo was taken aback.

Dou Zhao continued, "We’ve all sensed Liao Wang’s ambitions, yet no one dares to inform the Emperor—partly due to lack of evidence, and partly out of fear that the Emperor might not believe them, leading to their own downfall. But what if the one who told the Emperor was Duke Ding? How do you think the Emperor would react?"

Song Mo’s expression changed drastically.

If it were Duke Ding, even if the Emperor trusted the Empress and Liao Wang implicitly, he would still harbor doubts!

This was the real reason the Empress sought to eliminate Duke Ding and the Jiang Family.

She feared that Duke Ding’s death might prompt Jiang Zhusun and Jiang Lansun to speak ill of Liao Wang.

Song Mo’s eyes moistened. "It’s infuriating that my fifth uncle remains oblivious, even treating the enemy as kin and aiding their wicked deeds!"

Dou Zhao was also unsettled by her own deduction.

She said, "Should we give Fifth Uncle a hint?"

Song Mo nodded and hurried to his study.

Dou Zhao gazed at the teacup still faintly warm and let out a long sigh.

A small change in this life had led to a dramatic upheaval compared to her past life.

This was something she hadn’t anticipated when she first met Song Mo.

How many more such changes would she encounter in the future?

Would the certainties of her past life still hold true in this one?

Dou Zhao felt somewhat perplexed.