Blossom

Song Mo sneered and released Song Han with a flick of his hand.

Song Han staggered back several steps before regaining his footing, rubbing his reddened wrist with a shifty gaze.

Miao Ansu gritted her teeth and shrank slightly behind Dou Zhao.

Exposing Song Han was easy, but the consequences of doing so were severe.

Was this the right thing to do?

She felt lost.

Meanwhile, Song Yichun tried to muddy the waters by scolding Song Mo, "What are you doing? You're brothers! How can you come to blows over a woman..."

Song Mo ignored him, turning instead to speak gently to Dou Zhao, "It's getting late. Father's inner courtyard is in chaos with no decent people around. You and my sister-in-law should go rest. I'll handle matters here and stay in the study in the outer courtyard."

Dou Zhao smiled in agreement, signaling Ruo Tong to support Miao Ansu as they left Cassia Fragrance Courtyard surrounded by maids and old women, not sparing Song Yichun a glance.

Feeling slightly reassured, Miao Ansu said to Dou Zhao, "I have another maid named Ji Hong whose whereabouts are unknown. Could you help find her? Without her, I wouldn't have been able to warn the Young Lord..."

Dou Zhao replied warmly, "Don't worry, I'll send someone to look for her immediately."

After giving the order, they returned to Hall of Cultivating Will. While the maids prepared the guest room, Dou Zhao asked Miao Ansu, "Can you tell me what exactly happened?"

Earlier, while anxiously awaiting news from Duan Gongyi in her room, Liu Zhang suddenly brought Miao Ansu, saying, "This is the Young Lord's wish—to ensure the safety of the Second Madam."

Only then did Dou Zhao learn of Song Yichun and Song Han's sinister plot.

Her heart burned with anxiety. Fearing they might still target Song Mo even after their scheme was exposed, she took Miao Ansu to Cassia Fragrance Courtyard to confront the matter head-on, ensuring Song Mo wouldn't be implicated. In her haste, she hadn't even asked for details.

At this, Miao Ansu burst into tears. "Song Han is inhuman! To frame the Young Lord, he betrayed our marital bond and plotted against me too..."

Through sobs, she recounted how she noticed Liu Hong's odd behavior, sent Ji Hong to investigate (though nothing turned up), and then spent heavily to bribe Song Han's attendants. She discovered he was secretly meeting with people from Prince Liao's Residence and growing increasingly arrogant, boasting about soon making Hall of Cultivating Will pay.

Though unaware of the specifics, Miao Ansu knew Song Mo disliked Song Han.

Hoping to use Song Mo's influence to curb Song Han's behavior but too embarrassed to approach him again, she had someone relay the information to Song Mo.

Unexpectedly, Song Mo uncovered Song Han's plot to frame him.

Dou Zhao was stunned.

What seemed like ordinary inner courtyard jealousy had spiraled into a calamitous scheme.

She said earnestly, "Thank goodness you were observant and informed the Young Lord. Otherwise, both he and you would have been defenseless!"

"Defenseless?" Miao Ansu's heart felt pierced, bleeding profusely at the memory. "He meant to destroy me—the Young Lord could claim drunken confusion, but I'd never clear my name even if I drowned in the Yellow River."She thought of Liu Hong, beaten to within an inch of her life, and of Du Ruoque, whose reputation was ruined.

If she hadn’t been cautious enough to secretly inform Song Mo about the matter, she would have ended up just like Liu Hong and Du Ruoque today!

She couldn’t help but say, “At first, the Young Lord didn’t know what they were planning. He just told me to be careful. But when I was placed in Du Ruoque’s back chamber and Song Han forcibly kept me from leaving, the Young Lord seemed to guess what Song Han was up to…” Miao Ansu still couldn’t fathom how Song Mo had anticipated that Song Han would exploit her and Song Mo’s identities for his schemes, her brows furrowing slightly in confusion. “He ordered Ji Hong to stay by my side at all times and warned me not to consume anything from Cassia Fragrance Courtyard. But I couldn’t bear to let Song Han, that heartless wretch, get away with it, so I begged the Young Lord to punish him. The Young Lord then told me to act according to circumstances and find a way to deceive Du Ruoque and the others.

“I noticed Du Ruoque’s hands trembling slightly when she served me tea, so I secretly poured it out but pretended to have drunk it and acted drowsy.

“She fell for it completely, overjoyed as she helped me to bed.

“I then made a show of finding fault with Liu Hong, criticizing her words and actions, and drove her out.

“Du Ruoque went to comfort Liu Hong.

“Meanwhile, I instructed Ji Hong to find a way to detain both Liu Hong and Du Ruoque while I quietly slipped out of the back chamber and went to the heated room behind the Reception Hall…”

As she spoke, footsteps sounded outside, and a young maid entered to announce that Liu Zhang had arrived with Ji Hong.

Miao Ansu immediately stopped speaking and lifted the curtain to step out of the Resting Chamber.

Mistress and servant embraced tearfully, weeping in each other’s arms.

After a long moment, Miao Ansu pushed Ji Hong away slightly and asked, “Are you alright?”

Ji Hong, her eyes red, nodded repeatedly. “I followed your instructions and stayed by the bed, not letting them lift the bed curtains. Later, Liu Hong started shrieking theatrically outside, and I was worried about how to escape—but then the maid who shared a room with Du Ruoque pulled me out…” She hurriedly recounted what had happened afterward to Miao Ansu. “I hid in that maid’s room until this young man came to find me.” She nodded gratefully toward Liu Zhang before turning back. “Miss, are you alright? Did Second Master harm you?”

“I’m fine too,” Miao Ansu replied with tearful laughter. “The Young Lord’s men found me and brought me to Madam. By the time Madam and I arrived, it was Song Han and Du Ruoque lying on the daybed!”

She laughed triumphantly and instructed Ji Hong to kowtow to Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao listened quietly, piecing together most of what had happened. As for the finer details, she would likely have to wait until tomorrow to ask Song Mo.

She instructed Ruo Tong to take the mistress and servant away to rest. “You’ve just reunited after such an ordeal—I’m sure you have much to discuss. I won’t keep you any longer. The Young Lord has always been clear about gratitude and grudges. Since you’ve helped him so greatly, he must already have plans for your future. For now, rest here peacefully. If there’s anything else, you can discuss it with the Young Lord tomorrow.”

The two thanked Dou Zhao with deep bows before withdrawing.When the night grew deep and all was quiet, Ji Hong whispered to Miao Ansu, "Second Madam, after all, we are from the Four Alleys. The Young Lord can control us for a time, but not forever. Now that we've openly broken with Second Master, what should we do in the future?"

She had been against getting involved in the conflict between Song Mo and Song Han.

But since Miao Ansu had already made up her mind, Ji Hong had no choice but to grit her teeth and follow her lead.

Miao Ansu sighed softly and remained silent.

Ji Hong’s heart instantly grew uneasy.

"Sleep now," Miao Ansu said. "We’ll discuss this after I’ve met with the Young Lord!"

Ji Hong couldn’t sleep a wink and lay awake until dawn.

Ruo Tong arrived with a few maids to serve them breakfast.

Miao Ansu politely declined, "There’s no need to trouble you, Miss Ruo Tong. Ji Hong can handle things here."

Ruo Tong didn’t insist and smiled, "Our Madam instructed us to follow your orders and not disturb you. If you need anything, just call for me." She then led the maids away.

Miao Ansu couldn’t help but sigh, "They’re giving us space to talk! So thoughtful and considerate—no wonder the Young Lord treasures her like the apple of his eye."

Ji Hong knew the "her" Miao Ansu referred to was Madam Dou, the Young Lord’s wife.

Both had married into the Song family, yet Madam Dou and Second Madam were worlds apart in status.

Ji Hong’s expression darkened slightly.

Meanwhile, Dou Zhao was discussing the mistress and maid with Song Mo: "Song Han will certainly not tolerate them anymore. I think it’s best to have Miao Shi claim illness, and you can send escorts to accompany her to the Song family’s farmstead for recuperation."

Song Mo thought this was a good idea and said, "Then go ask Miao Shi for her opinion. If she agrees, I’ll arrange for people to accompany her to the farmstead."

Dou Zhao nodded with a smile and brought up last night’s events: "Just now, Lu Ming came to seek Mr. Chen’s advice on what to do, and in the blink of an eye, you’d already ‘caught Song Han in the act’—making me worry for nothing!"

Song Mo chuckled sheepishly. "I didn’t expect him to resort to such lowly tricks again and again. Fortunately, Miao Shi was determined to break with Song Han, and Song Han was so smug about humiliating me that he sneaked into my heated room behind Father and Liao Wang’s backs to ‘catch me in the act.’ That gave me the perfect opportunity to put Song Han and Du Ruo in the same bed."

Dou Zhao felt a little regretful that she hadn’t been able to witness the expressions of Liao Wang, Song Yichun, and Song Han—it must have been quite a sight!

She couldn’t help but say, "You should have taken this chance to deal with Song Han once and for all, instead of making excuses for him, saying he was drunk and entered the wrong room..."

But Song Mo’s gaze turned cold. "Even if the scandal had blown up, it would’ve only ruined Song Han’s reputation—hardly satisfying for me. This way is better. Let him struggle in the midst of rumors, cling to Liao Wang, and then—that’s when crushing him will truly be satisfying!"

Dou Zhao’s heart stirred, and she smiled. "Did you already plan this when you had him move out?"

Song Mo grinned. "Just preparing for a rainy day!"

How cunning!

Song Han was no match for him.

Dou Zhao suppressed a laugh but then grew concerned. "If something happens to Song Han, won’t it implicate you?"

Song Mo replied, "That’s exactly why I need everyone in the Capital to know about our ‘brotherly discord’!"

Just then, the nursemaid brought Yuan Ge’er over.

The little one babbled, "Daddy!" and insisted Song Mo play with him.Song Mo played with him for a while before leaving for the yamen.

Dou Zhao went to the guest room and conveyed Song Mo's intentions to Miao Ansu.

Miao Ansu smiled and expressed her thanks, but there was a hint of hesitation in her expression.

Grateful for her tip-off to Song Mo, Dou Zhao patiently asked, "Do you have any other requests? I can relay them to the Young Lord for you."

After a long silence, Miao Ansu whispered, "I want a divorce from Song Han!"

Dou Zhao was stunned.

Ji Hong couldn't even restrain herself in Dou Zhao's presence and jumped up: "Second Madam, your marriage to the Second Master was decreed by the Emperor! And if you divorce him, where will you go? Your brother would never allow you to return to your parents' home after being divorced!"

Indeed!

Even if Song Mo could help her get a divorce, where could she go afterward?

Miao Ansu smiled bitterly.