Blossom

The Fragrant Mountain Estate was strewn with scattered corpses and weapons, the stench of blood filling the air.

Gu Yu stopped Dou Zhao at the doorway: "Sister-in-law, please don't be frightened. It's better for you to stay inside. Once they've cleaned up, I'll escort you, the elderly madam, and Yuan Ge'er out through the back gate."

With the protection of the Divine Pivot Camp, they no longer needed to worry about their safety.

The earlier battle cries had been deafening—the fighting must have been intense.

Dou Zhao, still shaken, was even more concerned about frightening her grandmother and Yuan Ge'er, so she nodded slightly.

Chen Jia requested an audience.

Dou Zhao had many questions for him and quickly urged, "Please, let him in at once!"

Considering Dou Zhao's pregnancy might make her sensitive to smells like Jiang Yan, Chen Jia removed his outer armor and washed his hands and feet before following Chen Xiaofeng into the side chamber.

Perhaps to keep the bloody scent from the courtyard at bay, the front windows of the chamber were still covered with felt blankets, while the small rear windows were all open.

The moment Dou Zhao saw him, she hurried forward anxiously. "Where is the Young Lord now? What's the situation? Is his life in danger?"

Seeing the elderly madam present, Chen Jia couldn't afford formalities and gave her a quick bow before answering, "Ever since Jiang Yan kidnapped the Young Lord last time, I've been cautious. I assigned a few highly skilled men to follow you, instructing them to prioritize your safety if danger arose. If the odds were overwhelming, they were to avoid reckless heroics and immediately inform the Young Lord. When Liao Wang's men besieged the estate, they were outnumbered, so one was sent to deliver a message to the Young Lord. Unfortunately, the Young Lord was on duty in the palace and couldn't be reached, so they came to me instead. Coincidentally, Liu Yu had sent someone to invite me for drinks, and I immediately sensed trouble. I had the messenger deliver a letter to Jiang Yi of the Five Cities Garrison while I excused myself to inform Jiang Yan and change clothes, keeping Liu Yu's man waiting in the hall. Meanwhile, I had Huzi hide Jiang Yan in the secret compartment at home and slipped out the back gate, heading straight for the Divine Pivot Camp.

"Ma Youming had no movement on his end. Without an imperial decree or orders from the Emperor or Crown Prince, and with Wang Xu, the Metropolitan Commander of the Divine Pivot Camp, clearly refusing to take sides, he couldn't bypass Wang Xu to mobilize troops. So, he discreetly sent a group of his own men to follow me to the Fragrant Mountain Estate..."

The rest was already known to everyone.

Dou Zhao grew frantic. "So, no one knows what's happening in the Capital?"

"Don't worry, Sister-in-law. I haven't finished," Chen Jia said with a faint smile. "Just as we arrived at the estate, Ma Youming received a message from Jiang Yi stating that Liao Wang had rebelled, the palace was in chaos, and the Young Lord was leading the Golden Guard and Five Armies Battalion into battle. He urged Ma Youming to hurry and send reinforcements.

"Ma Youming forcibly seized Wang Xu's command token, and Wang Xu feigned being coerced, hiding in his room and letting Ma Youming take charge. Only then could Ma Youming successfully mobilize the Divine Pivot Camp."

"That's good, that's good!" Dou Zhao sighed in relief.

With the Divine Pivot Camp and Five Cities Garrison joining forces, the Five Armies Battalion stood no chance.

Chen Jia added, "The Imperial Bodyguards have all vanished—Liao Wang likely has another trick up his sleeve. It's too dangerous for you to stay here, Sister-in-law. The place is also filthy. It would be best for Young Master Gu to escort you away from here to take refuge with the Divine Pivot Camp. Once the Capital is secure, I'll come to bring you back."Dou Zhao nodded and cautioned him, "You must be careful too—don’t push yourself too hard!"

Chen Jia smiled and replied, "Understood."

But Gu Yu said, "I’ll go to the Capital with you."

"No!" The refusal burst from Dou Zhao’s lips before she could stop it. Only then did she realize—if Liao Wang’s palace coup failed, Gu Yu would be branded as a rebel’s kin. Forget about strutting through the Capital with imperial privilege as he had in her past life; even his life would be in danger.

Her face paled.

For Gu Yu, the priority now wasn’t to seek merit but to avoid blame.

He couldn’t be dragged into this.

It was best if he knew nothing at all...

Thinking of Gu Yu’s temperament and the pained way he had crouched with his head in his hands earlier, Dou Zhao quickly ordered Duan Gongyi in a loud voice, "Tie up Young Master Gu for me!"

Everyone in the room froze, exchanging bewildered glances.

Gu Yu, however, laughed—a laugh that seemed particularly bitter.

"Master Duan, I know you’re Madam’s guard, and I won’t make things difficult for you," he said, clasping his hands together and extending them toward Duan Gongyi. "I won’t run. Just make it look convincing—no need to tie me up securely. I’ve never been humiliated like this in my life!"

Duan Gongyi chuckled and turned to fetch some rope.

Gu Yu lowered his eyelids and turned his face away, his back to Dou Zhao.

Chen Jia hesitated, as if wanting to speak but holding back.

Chen Xiaofeng and the others stared at Dou Zhao without blinking.

The atmosphere grew tense.

Duan Gongyi, seemingly oblivious, proceeded to bind Gu Yu, who offered no resistance.

Dou Zhao said to Duan Gongyi, "I recall the Young Lord gave you a waist token that allows passage through cities without inspection. Take Young Master Gu back to Tianjin quietly—make sure no one realizes he ever returned to the Capital..."

The room filled with astonishment.

Dou Zhao ignored it and continued instructing Duan Gongyi, "Young Master Gu is in a precarious position now, and there’s no clear word from the Young Lord’s side. If the Emperor and the Crown Prince show mercy, all well and good. If not, find a way to smuggle him overseas. Let him hide for a few years—once he’s grown taller and his appearance has changed, he can return under a new name..."

Duan Gongyi cheerfully agreed, but Gu Yu began struggling violently. "I won’t go to Tianjin! At worst, I’ll trade my life for another—what do I have to fear? My aunt has shown me boundless kindness—how can I abandon her now? The Yunyang Earl’s estate has no place for me anymore anyway. I refuse to live like a coward! In twenty years, I’ll be a man again!"

Dou Zhao paid him no mind and said to Duan Gongyi, "See? Nothing but childish talk. I’m entrusting him to you for the journey! Once you reach Tianjin, don’t rush back. Stay with Young Master Gu for a while. Wait until the Young Lord’s affairs are settled, then act as circumstances allow."

Duan Gongyi grinned. "Rest assured, Madam. I’ll deliver Young Master Gu safely to Tianjin."

Dou Zhao nodded.

Gu Yu was still shouting, but his eyes had already reddened as he stared at Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao said, "Gag him."

Gu Yu’s eyes widened in disbelief.

But Duan Gongyi obeyed only Dou Zhao. Without hesitation, he gagged Gu Yu and even thoughtfully dressed him in a guard’s plain green robe. "If anyone asks, I’ll say he injured his leg and needs urgent bone-setting."

"Excellent idea!" Dou Zhao praised. Chen Xiaofeng and the others also exhaled in unison, their expressions lightening slightly.

Duan Gongyi left with Gu Yu in tow.Chen Jia escorted Dou Zhao and the others to the Divine Pivot Camp.

Those remaining at the Divine Pivot Camp now were all trusted subordinates of Ma Youming.

Wang Xu was merely confined to a room. Upon hearing that Dou Zhao and her child had arrived, he instructed his personal page to bring out his treasured Da Hong Pao tea to entertain her.

Dou Zhao appreciated the gesture and sent Chen Xiaofeng to convey her thanks.

By noon, news arrived from the Capital.

The Five Armies Battalion, which had only partially guarded the imperial palace, was quickly defeated by the combined forces of the Five Cities Garrison and the Divine Pivot Camp. Meanwhile, the Imperial Bodyguards escorted Liao Wang and the Empress, taking the Emperor hostage and retreating to Yuquan Mountain. Liang Jifen and Dou Shishu soon arrived at Yuquan Mountain to persuade Liao Wang to release the Emperor. Yao Zhongshi and Mu Chuan, who arrived later, looked grim as they stood guard in the Grand Secretariat's duty room alongside the visibly exhausted Dai Jian.

Wang Xu shook his head with a bitter smile.

At this point, whether the Emperor lived or died no longer mattered.

Who would have thought Ma Youming would succeed?

Perhaps there were too many like him—unwilling to offend Liao Wang yet afraid to aid the Crown Prince.

He rocked back and forth in his Drunken Old Man Chair, calculating the merits of those involved this time.

As for himself, his political career had reached its end.

Still, at least he had preserved his life and family, withdrawing unscathed. Unlike Shi Chuan, who had lost everything.

He sighed again.

※※※※※

Song Mo was eager to fetch Dou Zhao.

Cui Yijun urgently said, "The palace is still in ruins..."

"The nobles and ministers will handle it. Nothing will go wrong," Song Mo insisted firmly. "I don’t even know how my wife is faring." His eyes reddened as he spoke.

Cui Yijun frowned.

But the Crown Prince said gently, "Go ahead! Remember to comfort Madam Dou properly—she suffered because of me!"

Grateful, Song Mo bowed and hurried out of the palace.

Cui Yijun couldn’t help muttering, "How can the heir disregard the nation's welfare?"

The Crown Prince glanced at him and remarked, "Loyalty and filial piety have always been hard to balance. His actions show his sincerity." Pausing, he added, "If he abandoned his wife and child now, solely focused on achievements, would you dare to work alongside him? How could I trust him?"

Cui Yijun pondered this and laughed. "Your Highness is truly wise."

The Crown Prince remained silent.

Ji Yong arrived breathlessly before the Crown Prince.

He asked around, "Where did Song Yantang go?"

"He spoke with His Highness and left," someone replied. "No one knows where he went."

"Which direction did he take?"

Someone pointed the way.

Thanking them, Ji Yong rushed after him.

After a long silence, the Crown Prince instructed Cui Junyi, "Investigate what grudge Ji Jianming holds against Song Yantang."

Cui Yijun acknowledged the order.

Ji Yong failed to catch up with Song Mo.

But he dared not pursue further.

The Grand Secretaries were drafting a proclamation. His uncle had lost the contest for Grand Academician to Dou Shishu, and with Dai Jian’s downfall, Mu Chuan might also be forced to retire. This could be an opportunity—he needed to find a way to push his uncle forward.

He sent Zi Xi to the Duke of Yingguo's mansion to inquire about Dou Zhao while he headed to the Grand Secretariat's duty room—the proclamation had to be reviewed by the Crown Prince before issuance.

By the time Song Mo reached the Divine Pivot Camp, the sun was setting.

Dou Zhao stood smiling in the garden, watching her grandmother and Yuan Ge'er dig for wild vegetables.Song Mo's eyes instantly welled up with tears. Standing in the garden's Covered Corridors, his feet felt as if they were weighed down with lead, unable to move.

It was Yuan Ge'er who spotted him first, dropping the flowers and plants in his hands and running over with a loud laugh.

"Daddy! Daddy!" He threw himself into Song Mo's arms.

Dou Zhao walked over with a smile and asked, "Have you finished all your business in the city?"

No panic, no reproach, no blame, no anger—as if he had simply stepped out for a while and returned.

Did she have so much faith in him?

Faith that he would protect her, faith that he would safely overcome the crisis, faith that he would surely give her a stable future.

Wasn’t this the very reason he had fallen so deeply for her?

Song Mo fiercely pulled Dou Zhao into his embrace, ignoring the startled gasps around them, and held her with all his strength.