Blossom

Dou Zhao was a clever woman. She immediately grasped Miao Ansu's implication from her words.

Framing someone?

In her past life, hadn't Song Yichun and Song Han treated Song Mo exactly like this?

A faint smile crossed Dou Zhao's lips as she said softly to Miao Ansu, "The idea is good, but who would be the target?"

Miao Ansu's eyes lit up at this.

She had spent half the night thinking about it.

The Duke of Yingguo was determined to use Song Han against Song Mo. Right now, Song Mo had the upper hand, but who knew when the tide might turn? If Song Han gained the advantage, how could he possibly spare her?

Between her and Song Han, it was a fight to the death.

But if she wanted to deal with Song Han, she couldn't do it without Song Mo's help.

Setting aside everything else, her status alone was a problem.

A marriage bestowed by the emperor, a daughter-in-law of the Song family. The matter of Liao Wang couldn't be mentioned—in the eyes of others, Song Han was merely indiscreet with women. If she made a fuss over this, she would be the one at fault. To distance herself from Song Han, she needed another approach.

She recalled how Song Han had tried and failed to frame Song Mo for adultery with Du Ruo.

Dou Zhao must surely despise Song Han and Song Yichun to the core.

This might be her only chance.

Miao Ansu whispered, "If Sister-in-law trusts me, perhaps you could leave this matter to me."

"Oh?" Dou Zhao leaned in to listen.

Miao Ansu continued quietly, "Do you remember Qi Xia, the senior maid in Song Han's quarters? She's a proud one. After Song Han violated her, she came to loathe him utterly. Just tell me where she lives now, and I'll persuade her to testify for me when I accuse Song Han. As for the illegitimate daughter, elevating a bedroom servant to concubine without a proper wife is just a matter of paperwork. Besides, Du Ruo is the daughter of a disgraced official. The Duke didn't publicize it but had the household servants treat her with the respect due to a secondary wife—she could be considered a stepmother."

Dou Zhao frowned slightly and said, "So you're planning to accuse Song Han in Shuntian Prefecture?"

A flicker of surprise crossed Miao Ansu's face.

She had expected Dou Zhao to applaud her plan.

"I won't rest until his crimes are exposed to the world," Miao Ansu said, a shadow passing over her brow. "Even if it means enduring the paddle beating, I'll accept it."

A wife accusing her husband had to endure twenty strokes of the paddle before the magistrate would even look at the petition.

But Dou Zhao had other concerns.

Ultimately, the Duke of Yingguo's Mansion would belong to Song Mo—and to her son. If the scandal of Song Han committing adultery with his stepmother came to light, the Duke of Yingguo's Mansion wouldn't be able to hold its head high for at least fifty years.

Why should her husband and son bear the consequences of Song Han's sins?

Accusing Song Han in Shuntian Prefecture was out of the question.

Yet collaborating with Miao Ansu was a rare opportunity.

Dou Zhao tapped her teacup thoughtfully and said, "Let me think this over carefully."

Miao Ansu left the farmstead disappointed.

Dou Zhao paced her room for a long while before instructing Ruo Tong, "Invite Mr. Chen here!"

She needed to carefully strategize this matter.

Chen Qushui soon arrived at the study with Ruo Tong.

Dou Zhao was already waiting there.

She explained the entire situation to Mr. Chen and added, "I feel this is a rare opportunity, but to handle it perfectly, I need your advice."

Chen Qushui also resented Song Han for scheming against Dou Zhao and eagerly replied, "What outcome would satisfy you, Madam?"

Knowing Dou Zhao's bottom line would help him devise a plan.Dou Zhao said, "Since the Young Lord has sent Song Han to the northwest military camp, he must have already made arrangements. Song Han will definitely meet a terrible end there. But Miao Ansu’s words struck a chord with me—even if he dies after enduring endless torment in the northwest camp, the thought that in the eyes of the world he remains a dignified and respectable descendant of a meritorious family makes me feel deeply resentful."

Chen Qushui remained silent, the lid of his teacup lightly clinking as he sank into contemplation.

Dou Zhao didn’t disturb him, quietly sipping her tea beside him.

After about the time it takes to burn two incense sticks, Chen Qushui spoke: "Having the Second Madam file a complaint with Shuntian Prefecture is out of the question. Fortunately, her goal aligns with ours. If she takes action, the Young Lord and you can remain uninvolved. Moreover, there have long been rumors in the Capital about Song Han’s improper relations with the Duke’s bedroom servants. This is an excellent pretext. Qi Xia is currently in Zhen Ding—not just her, but even Song Han’s former personal maid Caiyun could testify. If only the Duke could stand on our side... If the Duke were to confront Song Han, he would have no defense. We could even bring this matter to the Emperor’s attention and request permission for the Song family to disown Song Han. That way, we wouldn’t have to explain his actions to outsiders—let them speculate. This approach avoids involving the authorities while ensuring Song Han’s complete disgrace."

It was indeed a brilliant plan.

But how could they get Song Yichun to side with them?

Dou Zhao and Chen Qushui spoke in unison: "Can we use the matter of Liao Wang?"

They exchanged smiles and then deferentially said at the same time, "You go first!"

The room filled with cheerful laughter.

Once the laughter subsided, Chen Qushui again urged Dou Zhao to speak first.

This time, she didn’t hold back. "Song Han was locked in the woodshed as soon as he returned. The Duke of Yingguo came twice, but the Young Lord turned him away both times. Song Han has always seen the Duke as his pillar—there’s no way the Duke didn’t know about his collusion with Liao Wang. Why don’t we bluff the Duke? We’ll say Song Mo tortured Song Han, and he confessed that his dealings with Liao Wang were all orchestrated by the Duke. Out of filial piety, Song Mo has kept this hidden—neither the Emperor nor Liao Wang knows. If the Duke disowns Song Han, we’ll risk the Duke of England’s Mansion’s century-old reputation to bring this matter to the Emperor’s attention." She let out a cold laugh. "This would be giving Song Han a taste of his own medicine—letting him experience the betrayal of his own father!"

In her past life, hadn’t Song Yichun and Song Han done exactly the same?

Chen Qushui nodded repeatedly, smiling. "It’s best if you handle this—you’re the Duke of England’s daughter-in-law, so your attachment to the mansion isn’t as deep as the Young Lord’s. Most importantly, as a woman, you can easily make the Duke suspect you’re clearing obstacles for your son’s inheritance."

Dou Zhao stood up excitedly. "Then it’s settled! I’ll go see the Duke right away."

Chen Qushui quickly cautioned, "Be careful—you’re still pregnant!" Then, still uneasy, he added, "Let me accompany you. If you get too agitated when facing the Duke, it might harm the baby."

Dou Zhao nodded with a smile. "Let’s also bring Jin Gui and Yin Gui, along with Duan Gongyi and the others, just in case the Duke flies into a rage and resorts to violence. We shouldn’t suffer any losses!"

It sounded like they were preparing for a brawl.Chen Qushui felt both amused and fired up, saying, "Good, I'll give the orders right away."

Dou Zhao then sent an old woman to arrange a meeting with Song Yichun.

Song Yichun was already unsettled by the news of Liao Wang being detained in the imperial palace. To make matters worse, Tao Qizhong insisted on resigning and returning home, and no amount of persuasion could make him stay. Furious, Song Yichun turned pale with anger and simply pretended not to know when Tao Qizhong would depart. He neither instructed the stewards to prepare local gifts for Tao Qizhong nor arranged a farewell banquet. Instead, he shut himself in his study, burying himself in writing.

When he heard Dou Zhao wanted to see him, he impatiently waved his hand and scolded the old woman, "I'm swamped with work—how could I possibly have time to see her? If she has something to say, she can just send a message."

The old woman smiled, curtsied, and withdrew.

The next person to see Song Yichun was a maidservant.

Song Yichun recognized her as the wife of Gaoxing (Happy), one of Dou Zhao’s dowry servants. His face immediately stiffened, and his expression turned grave. "What does Madam want?" he asked sternly.

Gaoxing's wife replied amiably, "Our Madam said that the Young Lord has punished the Second Master with the paddle. The Second Master confessed that it was you, Lord, who ordered him to collude with Liao Wang. He even produced a letter you once wrote to Liao Wang."

Song Yichun shuddered, nearly stepping forward to cover Gaoxing's wife’s mouth.

Truly, what one fears most always comes to pass.

He had been dreading the Emperor prying open Liao Wang’s mouth, fearing Liao Wang would spill everything like beans from a split bamboo tube.

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Song Yichun’s face turned frosty as he bellowed, cutting her off. "A mere servant like you dares to discuss such matters? Get out of here at once! Or don’t blame me for enforcing household discipline!"

All bluster and no bite—when faced with the Young Lord or our Madam, he doesn’t dare make a peep.

Gaoxing's wife inwardly scorned Song Yichun but feigned fright on her face. "Lord, it was our Madam who told me to say this—not my own words."

Song Yichun was so furious he couldn’t speak. He grabbed a teacup, ready to hurl it at her, but then remembered she was Dou Zhao’s dowry servant—and Dou Zhao was a fierce woman. Swallowing his rage, he slammed the cup back onto the table and snapped, "Tell your Madam to come speak to me herself."

Gaoxing's wife meekly assented and withdrew.

But as she reached the door, she muttered just loud enough for Song Yichun to hear, "So hard to please—first, our Madam wants to come, and you say no, just send a message; then when she does as you say and sends someone, you demand she come in person."

Song Yichun nearly choked on his fury.

Since when did household servants dare talk back to him?

He wanted to call Gaoxing's wife back but then thought better of it, not wanting to lose face. He let it go, though his chest ached with suppressed anger.

Fortunately, Dou Zhao arrived soon after.

He left her waiting outside while he secluded himself in his inner chamber, writing five pages of calligraphy. Only when he grew impatient with himself did he finally go to the Reception Hall.

To his surprise, Dou Zhao wasn’t sitting stiffly waiting for him. Instead, she had summoned all the steward mammies to his side for instructions.

When he entered, he almost thought he’d walked into the wrong place.

The steward mammies all bowed to him in greeting.Dou Zhao also stood up and curtsied to him, smiling as she explained, "The household is busy with Mid-Autumn Festival preparations. When the pages mentioned you were practicing calligraphy, I thought it wouldn’t be a quick task, so I had them come directly." She then asked with concern, "I hope I didn’t disturb your practice?"

Song Yichun was furious, gritting his teeth as he retorted, "If you knew I was practicing calligraphy, you should have waited. What kind of behavior is this?"

The atmosphere instantly grew tense.

The steward mammies lowered their heads, hunched their shoulders, and stood aside, with some quietly inching toward the door.

Unfazed, Dou Zhao chuckled and said, "Truly, the Emperor isn’t anxious, but the eunuchs are dying of worry. It seems Father hasn’t taken Liao Wang’s matter to heart—I must have overestimated my own importance. Since you’re occupied and I’m also busy, I’ll wait until we’re all free to discuss this with you!" With that, she strode out with her head held high.