The Dou family's farm has an excellent geographical location.

To its east was a small river running from north to south, and to its west was a piece of fertile farmland that was lower than the river. When there was little rain, the river could be used for irrigation; if there was a flood, the southernmost opening could be dug open, and the accumulated water would flow to the Lang family's farm.

"We can't dig a hole!" Dou Zhao thought of the scene he saw when he came here, and said, "The whole Zhending has become a land of water and marshes. Even if we dig a hole, it won't solve any problems. What's more, if we cut off the population and food supply, it will easily cause disputes between the two families. A close neighbor is worse than a distant relative. Our fields are next to the Lang family's, and we have never had any disputes for so many years. We can't let the Lang family point fingers at us and scold us because of this matter."

Those who could sit here were all elderly and prestigious people in the village who understood farming. Before, everyone was afraid of Dou Zhao's young age, and in order to give an explanation to his grandmother, they forced them to dig holes or snatch the winter seedlings. After hearing what Dou Zhao said, they all breathed a sigh of relief.

There is definitely no harvest of winter wheat, and now it depends on how to deal with it.

Several people looked at Dou Zhao in silence.

Dou Zhao also understood their thoughts and said, "When I came here, Aunt Cui repeatedly reminded me that we have all followed her as farmhands for decades, and no matter when the rain stops and whether we can plant the autumn corn in time, the rent for this year will be waived. When you go back, tell each household to live peacefully and not to worry too much."

Everyone's expressions relaxed, and they praised Aunt Cui for her kind heart and Dou Zhao for his kindness, and kept expressing their gratitude.

Dou Zhao saw that it was getting late, so he served tea to the guest.

Chen Qushui hurried in and said, "Fourth Miss, there is news from Kyoto that the Emperor has issued an edict appointing Liang Jifang as the chief minister of the inner cabinet."

Dou Zhao was slightly stunned.

She had an impression of Liang Jifang.

After the Liao Palace coup, he was killed in a collision in the Golden Palace.

She was just a woman in the inner chamber at that time, and she was concerned about the daily necessities of the family. When she heard people talking about it afterwards, she just sighed twice and didn't know much about this man.

But he could have died in a collision in the Golden Palace, so he must be a man of great character!

She asked Chen Qushui to sit aside.

Chen Qushui sighed, "I didn't expect that he would be the first support in the end. This is a surprise and caught everyone off guard."

Dou Zhao said: "What is his origin?"

If you have some relationship with your fifth uncle, the possibility of him entering the palace will greatly increase.

Chen Qushui sighed and said, "He was a Jinshi in the Renchen year. After passing the examination for the title of Shujishi, he served in the Ministry of Justice. After that, he rose from the position of Jieshizhong to the position of Shilang. He was a student of Pan Tuchang, the former Zuodu Yushi of the Censorate. Pan Tuchang and Ye Shipei were not on good terms. Zeng Yifen was forced to retire by Ye Shipei. In order to dislike Ye Shipei, he supported Liang Jifang to enter the inner cabinet. . Liang Jifang is self-aware. Although he has been in the cabinet for more than ten years, he is always submissive and has never made any decisions. This time he was able to enter the cabinet because Ye Shipei was old, Yao Shizhong and Dai Jian were fighting to the death, which made the emperor unhappy, so he simply let Liang Jifang be the prime minister. "Speaking of this, he sighed bitterly, "This is luck!"

Dou Zhao's heart moved.

Liang Jifang was a Jinshi in the Renchen year. Considering his age, he should be in his fifties or sixties. Chen Qushui was about the same age as him. He had fallen on hard times and became a staff member, while Liang Jifang was promoted to the position of chief assistant. How could he not feel emotional?

Thinking of this, she comforted Chen Qushui: "I don't think so! I don't know about the others, but you mentioned these people to me - Ye Shipei is needless to say, he was able to force Zeng Yifen to retire, and his tactics and strategies are extraordinary. Dai Jian has Wang Yuan's support behind him, and Yao Shizhong can actually fight him on equal terms, which shows that he is not an ordinary person. Liang Jifang has so many powerful people under his command, it is still unclear whether he can control them!"

After hearing this, Chen Qushui's complexion improved a lot.

Everyone has sad things!

Dou Zhao smiled slightly.

The two chatted for a while, then Chen Qushui stood up to say goodbye. Suxin checked the gatehouse, while Sulan lit some insect-repellent wormwood incense in the house. Ganlu put down the tent and waited for Dou Zhao to rest.

The rain was getting heavier, like water pouring down from the sky.

Dou Zhao lay on the bed, having the illusion of being in a boat.

She couldn't fall asleep because she was thinking about Ji Yong.

Is he the Master Yuantong?

But I felt that a person as brilliant as him would be a nobody unless he died young. And Ji Yong didn't look like he would die young. He was most likely the Yuantong Master that even Wang Yuan had to give way to!

But why did he become a monk?

It is impossible that a person who is so arrogant and even a little conceited was forced to become a monk.

Do you like Buddhism? Or have you seen through the world? Or both?

There were rumors that he encouraged the emperor to become a monk.

If Ji Yong is Master Yuantong, he can really do such a thing!

Thinking of this, Dou Zhao felt indescribable emotion in his heart and could not help but turn over and over.

There was some movement outside.

She was startled.

Ever since she was kidnapped by Pang Kunbai, Dou Zhao has been particularly sensitive to such matters - if Pang Kunbai had not been so greedy as to seduce her for both money and love, how could she have gotten away with it?

"Su Xin!" She stood up and lifted the curtain, "Go and have a look, I think I heard some sound!"

Su Xin also heard it, so when Dou Zhao called her, she had already woken up Su Lan who was lying beside her. When Dou Zhao spoke, she had already put on her clothes and got out of bed.

"Miss, don't worry." She comforted Dou Zhao, "I'll go check it out right away."

Dou Zhao nodded.

Su Lan sat down on the bed and yawned, "Miss, with Uncle Duan and Brother Chen here, nothing will happen."

As soon as she finished speaking, Su Xin replied: "Miss, someone is staying here."

"Anyone is staying here?" Dou Zhao frowned and looked at the clock on the long table. "How many people are there staying here at this time? What are they doing?"

Su Xin said hesitantly, "A young man who said he was a merchant, with a bookkeeper and four or five followers..."

As she spoke, Dou Zhao seemed to hear a baby crying.

She couldn't help but shudder and asked, "What's that sound?" The voice was tense.

There was a period of time in her previous life when Dou Zhao often heard the crying of babies for no reason. It was not until she gave birth to Yin Jie'er that she focused all her attention on her daughter and the crying stopped ringing in her ears.

In Su Xin's heart, Dou Zhao is calm, rational, strong, and stubborn. He is always generous, decent, and calm. She has never seen Dou Zhao like this before, like a frightened child with a face full of panic.

She hurriedly hugged Dou Zhao, her voice involuntarily becoming gentle, "It was that young master, and he brought a baby with him. He said it was his half-brother, whose mother had passed away, and he was following his father's orders to send his half-brother home."

Dou Zhao calmed down immediately. She sat up straight, thought for a moment, and said, "Help me get dressed, I'll go take a look."

Su Xin was a little hesitant.

Dou Zhao sensed it immediately.

She said in a deep voice: "What happened?"

Su Xin hesitated for a moment and said, "Uncle Duan said that although the young man is young, he walks lightly. He seems leisurely but dignified and firm. His gestures are as smooth and natural as the flowing water in the mountains. It is obvious that he has learned some special martial arts. The guards around him have ordinary looks, but they are all calm and restrained. They advance and retreat in moderation. They are not confused at all in the heavy rain. One of them is like a treasured sword hidden in a box. At a glance, his eyes are full of murderous aura. He is definitely a top master. Such a person is more than qualified to be the head of the imperial guards in Kyoto. How can he be so arrogant? Why would they commit themselves to being the guard of the merchant family? And the baby in the cradle, less than a hundred days old, can't even lift his head, but he is traveling with his brother. Aren't his family afraid that he will not be able to withstand the bumps and die? Then there is the wet nurse who is accompanying them. She is only eighteen or nineteen years old, with fair skin and soft hands. It is obvious that she has never done heavy work... These people are dressed very ordinary, but their demeanor cannot deceive people. There is a sense of weirdness everywhere. Uncle Duan asked us to be careful, close the door tightly, and don't go in and out casually. He and Brother Chen will patrol the night personally tonight."

Dou Zhao's expression was slightly solemn.

Su Lan yawned and jokingly said, "Maybe they are a young couple who eloped! Uncle Duan is too cautious."

"You're talking nonsense again!" Su Xin scolded her sister, "It's better to be safe than sorry. Only someone like Uncle Duan can make people feel at ease!"

Sulan stuck out her tongue.

Dou Zhao felt as if something was triggered in his heart, and he had an irresistible impulse.

She got out of bed and said, "I'm going to go take a look." Her tone was very firm.

Su Xin thought for a while, and repeatedly said to Dou Zhao: "Then you must follow me."

Dou Zhao nodded.

Su Xin helped her put on her clothes and gave her a straw raincoat to put on. Then she held up a tung oil umbrella and accompanied Dou Zhao through the corridor to the front yard.

Two black carriages and several horses were parked in the middle of the yard. Strange guards were putting oilcloth on the tops of the carriages in the heavy rain. Even in such heavy rain, the horses stood there motionless.

Duan Gongyi was standing in the corridor of the east wing with a young man, talking to the guards who were busy working in the courtyard.

The young man had his back to her, and it was too dark so she couldn't see clearly what color clothes he was wearing. He was of medium height, slightly thin, and as straight as a pine tree, with a monkey back and a wasp waist, and very beautiful lines.

The man dressed as a scribe next to him was facing her direction.

He was about forty years old, with an ordinary appearance, but his eyes were brighter than stars and flashed with wisdom.

Seeing Dou Zhao, he lowered his head and said something to the young man.

The young man, Duan Gongyi and others turned their heads to look at her.

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning exploded in the sky, illuminating the yard as bright as day.

The boy's dark eyebrows, deep and quiet eyes, slightly pale face, and delicate and flawless facial features were all reflected in her eyes.

Dou Zhao felt as if he had been struck by lightning. There was a loud rumbling sound in his ears and he didn't know where he was.

Someone called out "Fourth Miss" in panic and held her shoulders with a pair of gentle but firm hands.

"Song Mo," she murmured in fear, "How did I meet Song Mo? Am I dazzled..."