Blossom

Under the glow of the red lanterns, Song Han's face appeared even paler.

He whispered, "Come out now!"

Five or six guards emerged from behind him, dropping their weapons in the courtyard and raising their hands high.

Duan Gongyi didn’t approach but instead smiled and asked, "Is this all?"

"Just these few!" Song Han replied with a grim expression. "The others aren’t my men!"

Duan Gongyi nodded to those beside him.

Several agile guards stepped forward with ropes and swiftly bound Song Han’s men.

Song Han’s face flushed and paled in turns as he watched.

With a polite but firm "Apologies," Duan Gongyi suddenly produced a rope from somewhere and moved toward Song Han.

Realizing his intent, Song Han stumbled back several steps, shouting, "You dog! What do you think you’re doing?"

Duan Gongyi’s expression darkened. "Second Master, you plotted against the Young Lord’s wife and the Duke of Yingguo’s legitimate eldest grandson. Even before His Majesty, this is a capital offense. I address you as ‘Second Master’ out of respect, but don’t mistake courtesy for weakness!" With that, he roughly bound Song Han and dragged him toward the small side houses in the western part of the rear garden.

The secluded courtyard in Xiangshan was the Duke of Yingguo’s property. Song Han had often visited here with Madam Jiang as a child to escape the summer heat and knew the small side houses were where the courtyard’s female servants lived. He inwardly regretted his oversight—how had Dou Zhao hidden here? And how had she uncovered his scheme?

He racked his brain but couldn’t figure out where he’d slipped up. Clenching his jaw, he staggered as Duan Gongyi hauled him into the rearmost room of the side houses.

The windows were covered with blankets, making the room appear pitch-black from outside. Inside, however, two palace lanterns cast a dim glow. The air was stuffy from lack of ventilation, but the faint scent of wintersweet made it bearable. Yuan Ge'er slept soundly on the heated brick bed by the window, fanned by an unfamiliar elderly woman with a palm-leaf fan, while Jin Gui and Yin Gui stood nearby in attendance. Dou Zhao sat at the edge of the bed, her gaze as cold as distant stars, betraying no emotion.

Song Han’s heart trembled. "Sister-in-law!" he cried, tears falling. "I’ve been throwing fits in the courtyard, but no one paid me any mind. I couldn’t even send word to you or the Old Madam. Thank heavens you and Yuan Ge'er are safe—I feared the worst for you both. Had anything happened, I could never atone for it..."

Dou Zhao felt nothing but disgust.

She replied coolly, "Second Master, if you’re not tired of acting, I’m certainly tired of watching. Tell me the truth, and I’ll treat this as if you were coerced—no further consequences. But if you keep playing games, I’ll have no choice but to hand you over to the Young Lord. Decide quickly—it’s hot, and I’ve no patience for your calculations."

Song Han struggled forward. "Sister-in-law, you can’t wrong me like this—"Dou Zhao coldly interrupted him with a sneer: "When the Duke of England's Mansion caught fire, the Young Lord wasn't home, yet didn't I still defend the Hall of Cultivating Will? Song Han, you're really underestimating me!" As she spoke, she instructed Jin Gui, "Count to one hundred for me. If Second Master still gives the same story... Master Duan," she turned to Duan Gongyi, her face as if covered in frost, "drag Song Han out and execute him for me. Since he keeps insisting he was kidnapped, we'll just say the kidnappers silenced him afterward!"

Duan Gongyi cheerfully responded, "Yes!" His eyebrows danced with excitement as he added, "Don't worry, this isn't my first time doing something like this. Wasn't that brat from Pang Jia paralyzed the same way by us last time?"

The two discussed killing and fighting as if no one else was present, while the elderly woman nearby remained as composed as if they were talking about the weather.

Amid Jin Gui's slightly trembling count, a chill rose in Song Han's heart.

Suddenly, the door burst open as Chen Xiaofeng, who had been guarding outside, rushed in: "Madam, something's wrong! There's not even the sound of insects outside."

Dou Zhao's hair stood on end.

She exchanged a glance with Duan Gongyi, who said, "I'll go check outside."

Dou Zhao nodded.

Chen Xiaofeng swiftly slipped out.

A rustling sound came from outside, followed by a man's sinister voice: "Madam Dou, please come out holding your eldest son. We mean no harm—we only wish to invite you to our residence as guests for a few days. We advise against futile resistance, as we have over fifty crossbows aimed at your house. Be careful not to end up full of holes."

Crossbows were restricted items, reserved for military use.

Dou Zhao's expression changed drastically.

A thought flashed through her mind.

Duan Gongyi was filled with regret. He stamped his foot and said, "The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. It's my fault—I fell right into Song Han's trap!"

Dou Zhao glanced at Song Han, whose face still bore traces of shock, and shook her head. "It's not your fault. Song Han didn't know he was being used as bait either. It seems our opponents are determined to capture me and Yuan Ge'er." She asked Duan Gongyi, "Could Song Han break free suddenly?"

Duan Gongyi puffed out his chest. "Aside from my late master, no one has ever untied my knots."

Dou Zhao nodded. "Push Song Han out in front of me. I need to speak with them."

"No..." Song Han's legs gave way, nearly collapsing to the ground.

But Duan Gongyi mercilessly hauled him up and shoved him toward the door.

Dou Zhao peered over Song Han's shoulder.

Under the bright moonlight, figures stood on the surrounding rooftops, the sharp tips of their arrows glinting coldly, as if a single misstep would send them flying, piercing hearts with lethal precision.

Dou Zhao's heart tightened.

Song Han let out a desperate wail: "Don't shoot, don't shoot! I'm Second Master Song of the Duke of England's Mansion! Your master promised me a future if I could capture Dou Shi..." Then came the stench of urine, which Dou Zhao and Duan Gongyi both noticed.

Dou Zhao frowned.Duan Gongyi sneered, "With such little courage, you still want to imitate others in murder and robbery! No wonder your master doesn’t even regard you as worth a glance." He then mocked him further, "You’re nothing but a discarded pawn. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have used you as bait to lure out the real target. Stop trying to glorify yourself here. Believe it or not, the moment they disagree with Madam, the first one they’ll shoot dead is you!"

Song Han trembled uncontrollably, unable to utter a word.

Duan Gongyi kicked him and said, "Why don’t you hurry up and reveal the mastermind? Do you really want to wait for death?"

Fear flashed in Song Han’s eyes, but he kept his mouth tightly shut.

Dou Zhao couldn’t be bothered with him and asked Duan Gongyi, "How long can we hold out against those crossbow arrows?"

Duan Gongyi hesitated for a moment before replying, "If none of us are injured, and we defend this small house, we should be able to hold out until dawn."

Chen Xiaofeng and the others were outside the house. The worry was that if they moved, the enemy would unleash a volley of arrows.

Not daring to take the risk, Dou Zhao decided to buy time. She said to Duan Gongyi, "I’ll try to talk to them. Signal Chen Xiaofeng and the others to slowly move over here. Every man who can make it inside counts."

Duan Gongyi nodded.

Dou Zhao raised her voice and called out, "Who are you people? I am the wife of the heir to the Duke of Yingguo’s mansion, a first-rank titled Madam. Has no one told you that kidnapping an official’s family member is a crime punishable by even greater penalties?"

The other side replied unhurriedly, "Madam, we are acting out of necessity. Please do not make things difficult for us..."

As they spoke, the sound of an arrow cutting through the air suddenly rang out. An arrow shot toward Chen Xiaofeng, who had been quietly inching forward. If not for Chen Xiaofeng’s sharp awareness of his surroundings and his excellent reflexes—allowing him to dodge swiftly—he would have been hit.

Dou Zhao’s expression turned icy.

The enemy’s voice grew sinister as they said, "Madam, don’t refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit."

Dou Zhao scoffed disdainfully and whispered to Duan Gongyi, "Push Song Han out and have him shield Chen Xiaofeng."

"Ah!" Duan Gongyi’s mouth fell open.

Song Han, meanwhile, began screaming hysterically, "How dare you treat me like this! I am the Second Master of the Duke of Yingguo’s mansion! Those lowly guards aren’t even fit to carry my shoes, and you want me to block arrows for them?!"

Duan Gongyi also protested, "Didn’t you still need Song Han’s confession?"

Dou Zhao raised her head and glanced at the moonlit, star-speckled night sky before replying, "No need. I already know who wants to capture me and Yuan Ge’er. He’s useless now—push him out!"

Song Han’s shouts became incoherent.

Dou Zhao hid behind the door.

Duan Gongyi called out "Chen Xiaofeng!" and mercilessly shoved Song Han forward.

Chen Xiaofeng grabbed Song Han and used him as a shield, retreating toward the side room.

Seven or eight arrows shot toward them like meteors.

Instinctively, Chen Xiaofeng swung his broadsword, knocking the arrows to the ground, and used the moment to dash into the side room.

Dou Zhao grinned.

Chen Xiaofeng dropped Song Han, who had already fainted from terror, and clasped his hands in salute to Dou Zhao, exclaiming emotionally, "Madam!"

"Say no more," Dou Zhao said with a smile. "Tell the guards outside to use Song Han as a shield and charge in."

Chen Xiaofeng hesitated for a moment, but in the end, brotherly loyalty prevailed. He bowed respectfully and replied, "Yes," before tossing Song Han out again.

This time, Song Han wasn’t as fortunate as he had been in Chen Xiaofeng’s hands. Arrows struck his shoulder and thigh, and the pain jolted him awake.Dou Zhao once again ordered Duan Gongyi to throw the man out.

Song Han clung tightly to Duan Gongyi’s leg, his face a mess of tears and snot. "Sister-in-law! Sister-in-law! I’ll talk! I’ll tell you everything! Just please, don’t throw me out again!"

But Dou Zhao remained unmoved, her voice icy. "Throw him out."

After all, Song Han was the son of the Duke of Yingguo. Duan Gongyi and the others exchanged uncertain glances.

Dou Zhao said, "In my heart, you all matter more than him. Just follow my orders—if anything happens, I’ll take responsibility!"

For a moment, everyone inside and outside the room felt their noses sting with emotion. Chen Xiaofeng’s eyes even grew slightly moist as he cupped his fists and answered, "Yes!" before tossing Song Han out.

Song Han shrieked, "If you dare shoot, I’ll expose your master!"

The enemy hesitated.

Seizing the opportunity, Dou Zhao’s guards charged toward the side rooms.

"Loose arrows!" Seeing this, the enemy still chose to fire.

A rain of arrows filled the sky.

Several men at the rear were hit, though fortunately, none in vital areas.

Song Han, however, had been lying on the ground and narrowly escaped death—though he took two more arrows in his back and arm.

The guards he had brought, bound and discarded in the courtyard, were all turned into human pincushions by the arrows.

Terrified, Song Han fainted once more.

With no time to worry about propriety between men and women, Chen Xiaofeng helped tend to his injured comrades while Duan Gongyi couldn’t help but ask Dou Zhao, "Who is trying to abduct you and the master?"