Blossom

Fragrant Mountain Estate.

Song Han’s furious roar froze Dou Zhao and the others in place, leaving the room eerily silent.

“Mother!” Yuan Ge’er, who had been sound asleep, rubbed his bleary eyes and sat up. “I need to pee!”

He stood on the kang, stretching his little hands toward Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao inwardly groaned.

Why did this little ancestor have to wake up now?

Would he be frightened by all this?

Her grandmother quickly scooped Yuan Ge’er into her arms, soothing him gently. “Be good, your mother is busy. Let your great-grandmother help you.”

Children were sensitive. Normally, he would have giggled and thrown himself into her arms, but this time, he squirmed stubbornly, insisting, “I want my mother! I want my mother!”

Dou Zhao walked over with a smile, kissed Yuan Ge’er’s little cheek, and said, “If you need something, just say so. Making a fuss isn’t how good children behave.”

Yuan Ge’er clung tightly to Dou Zhao’s embrace.

The others in the room turned away as her grandmother found an unused basin to help him relieve himself.

Dou Zhao carried Yuan Ge’er back to the kang and coaxed, “Go back to sleep. When you wake up, your father will be home from the yamen.”

Yuan Ge’er gripped her hand and refused to let go. “Mother, stay with me!”

“Alright,” Dou Zhao agreed, her heart burning with anxiety, though she dared not show it.

She had assumed Liao Wang would act as he had in her past life—waiting until the Emperor’s health failed before making his move. Never had she imagined he would be so bold as to snatch victory from the jaws of danger, heedless of the consequences.

Was it because the longer he delayed, the worse his position became?

A thief could strike at any time, but one couldn’t stay on guard forever. Though Song Mo had been wary of Liao Wang, even he couldn’t have anticipated such a sudden attack. Had he uncovered Liao Wang’s schemes?

Suppressing the turmoil in her heart, Dou Zhao took a deep breath and, as usual, gently patted Yuan Ge’er to lull him to sleep.

But Yuan Ge’er’s eyes remained wide open, his gaze flickering between Dou Zhao and Duan Gongyi, who stood guard by their bedside.

Dou Zhao chuckled softly and pinched his tiny nose. “Close your eyes now.”

Yuan Ge’er giggled, his face full of curiosity. “Where’s the wet nurse? Why is Master Duan watching over me instead?”

This child was far too sharp.

Dou Zhao smiled. “Today, your mother is here with you, so I let the wet nurse rest.”

No sooner had she spoken than the courtyard, which had fallen silent, erupted again with the sound of arrows and Song Han’s shrill screams.

Duan Gongyi and the others tensed.

Yuan Ge’er, frightened, burrowed into his mother’s arms, trembling as he whimpered, “Mother…”

Dou Zhao’s heart ached as if pierced by knives. She wished she could slap Song Han dead on the spot.

Covering Yuan Ge’er’s ears, she kissed his soft, dark hair. “It’s alright. Mother is here, Master Duan is here. There’s nothing to fear.”

Gradually, Yuan Ge’er calmed down.

And the courtyard, too, slowly quieted once more.Faint moans could be heard as the voice outside called out, "Madam Dou, your people are still alive. Since you care so much for your subordinates, how could you bear to watch them die in vain? You are of noble status, and we dare not treat you with disrespect. If you agree to come with us, we will immediately send someone to tend to your guards and respectfully escort you to Prince Liao's Residence. Dawn is approaching, and my master instructed me to bring you back before daybreak. If we fail to persuade you by then, we are to burn the house. Firewood and vegetable oil have already been piled around the secluded courtyard. The moment the sky brightens, we will set it ablaze."

Dou Zhao and the others paled at these words.

Chen Xiaofeng drew his blade. "I'll check if this is true."

"No need!" Dou Zhao said somberly, her voice tinged with sorrow. "Several have already died or been injured. We must protect those still alive. They wouldn’t lie about something like this." She glanced down at Yuan Ge'er in her arms, tears welling in her eyes.

Duan Gongyi turned his head away.

Her grandmother trembled as she grasped Dou Zhao's hand.

The voice outside continued to persuade her: "If Madam Dou doubts us, you may send someone to investigate. Even in war, envoys are not harmed. As long as your scouts do not leave the courtyard, we will not attack them."

Dou Zhao pretended not to hear.

Steadying herself, she gently pulled her son from her embrace and smiled softly. "Yuan Ge'er, let’s play a game. In a moment, Master Duan will carry you over the courtyard wall to find your father. If you stay completely silent, I’ll tell your father to take you riding in the secluded courtyard. Can you do that?"

"Madam!" Duan Gongyi and the others knelt, their eyes reddening.

Yuan Ge'er looked at them in confusion.

"Get up!" Dou Zhao said firmly. "Yuan Ge'er is the Young Lord’s eldest and only son. If he falls into Liao Wang’s hands, even if the Young Lord submits to him, Yuan Ge'er may never return to us. If he stays here, he’s in even greater danger!"

The world values sons over women.

In Liao Wang’s eyes, Yuan Ge'er was far more important.

But to Duan Gongyi and the others, Dou Zhao mattered more.

"What about you, if we leave?" Duan Gongyi shook his head vehemently.

"At worst, I’ll be their guest," Dou Zhao replied lightly, stroking her son’s head. "I’ll go out to negotiate with them while you take Yuan Ge'er and break through. They won’t have time to bother with Grandmother then." She turned to her grandmother. "Find a way to hide, and you’ll surely escape unharmed."

Yuan Ge'er, still too young to understand his mother’s decision, instinctively nestled closer to her amid the tense atmosphere.

"You should go with Yuan Ge'er," Grandmother said gravely. "I’ll stay and delay them. Through the window, they won’t be able to tell us apart."

She meant to take Dou Zhao’s place.

Dou Zhao gazed at the silver strands in her grandmother’s hair and shook her head with a faint smile. "Please, follow my plan."

Did she really think they could be fooled so easily?

Before Grandmother could argue further, a commotion erupted outside—something seemed to have happened.

The group inside perked up, and Duan Gongyi quickly lifted the thick window covering to peer out."Madam!" Soon, he turned back excitedly, "It seems someone has clashed with them!"

The reason Prince Liao's men could surround them was because no one had noticed. If someone had spotted the anomaly in the secluded courtyard, they would have reported it to the authorities, and Prince Liao's siege would have been lifted without a fight. That was precisely why they had to abduct Dou Zhao and her child to Prince Liao's Residence before dawn.

A collective sigh of relief swept through the group. Dou Zhao handed Yuan Ge'er to her grandmother and walked to the window.

The men guarding the main gate appeared flustered, their crossbows in hand but unsure where to aim, clearly troubled by the intruders.

Dou Zhao frowned in confusion.

Then she saw a young man, more beautiful than any maiden, striding in alone with a blade in hand.

As he walked, he cursed, "You pack of mutts! Given an inch, you take a mile? Have you no idea where you are? Daring to pile firewood and set a blaze!" With a defiant stance in the middle of the courtyard, he declared, "Liao Wang and I are cousins by blood. If you have the guts, burn me alive too! I'll stand right here and see if you dare!"

Gu Yu!

It was actually Gu Yu!

Wasn't he in Tianjin? How did he end up in the Capital?

Dou Zhao's eyes widened in surprise.

One of the men couldn't help but say helplessly, "Young Master Gu, why must you be like this? We're only following orders."

"Nonsense!" Gu Yu retorted, hopping mad. "How could my cousin order such a thing? If you're truly following orders, show me his handwritten decree! If it's really his will, I won't say another word and will persuade my sister-in-law to go with you at once!"

How could there be a handwritten decree for such a matter?

The man fell silent.

Gu Yu grew smug. "I knew you were lying! You must be coveting Madam Dou's wealth, using my cousin's name to rob and plunder! Disperse now, or when this is investigated, none of you will escape unscathed!"

The man, entrusted by Prince Liao with this task, was no fool. His tone hardened immediately. "Young Master Gu, if you persist in this mischief, don't blame me for being impolite!"

"You ruin my cousin's name and dare to be impolite to me!" Gu Yu shouted, striding toward the side chamber. "Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, are you in there?"

As he drew closer, Dou Zhao saw not only the dust on his face but also his reddened eyes.

Prince Liao's rebellion, using her and Yuan Ge'er to threaten Song Mo—Gu Yu must be suffering the most!

Her heart ached at the sight. She called out loudly, "Brother-in-law, I'm here! Yuan Ge'er and I are fine!"

Hearing Gu Yu's voice, Yuan Ge'er cried out childishly, "Uncle Gu!"

Gu Yu's eyes reddened further.

Instead of entering, he positioned himself at the door and barked, "Let's see who dares to fire that crossbow!"

The air in the courtyard froze.

Song Han crawled out from under the holly bush by the wall, disheveled. "Gu Yu, save me!" he cried, scrambling toward them on all fours.

Dou Zhao quickly said, "Brother-in-law, he's the one who led them here."

"No, it wasn't me!" Song Han shrieked. "I was forced!"

Gu Yu hesitated for a moment.

Dou Zhao was utterly disgusted. Coldly, she said to Gu Yu, "Ignore him! He's nothing but a treacherous ingrate."Before she could finish speaking, Song Han lunged at Gu Yu, suddenly brandishing a chilling dagger in his hand.

Dou Zhao and the others gasped in shock.

Duan Gongyi and Chen Xiaofeng simultaneously rushed toward the door.

Gu Yu's expression turned icy as he kicked Song Han flying: "Just as sister-in-law said, you're truly an ungrateful wretch!"

He laughed bitterly in fury.

Song Han landed with a thud in the middle of the courtyard, lying motionless for a long while.

Dou Zhao said hatefully, "Why didn't that kick just finish him off?"

Hearing this, Gu Yu burst into laughter, "Sister-in-law, you and I think alike!"

As he spoke, he strode toward Song Han with clear intent to kill.

"Fire arrows!" came a cold voice from the courtyard.

Duan Gongyi swiftly pulled Gu Yu inside, while Chen Xiaofeng seamlessly shut the door.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Arrows embedded themselves into the doors and windows like sudden rain.

Gu Yu dropped his knife, crouched on the ground clutching his head in anguish: "Why didn't you just let them shoot me dead and be done with it!"