Chen Qushui was disappointed when he saw Yan Chaoqing coming in. But he still forced himself to smile friendly and bowed respectfully to Yan Chaoqing.

Yan Chaoqing returned the greeting politely.

The two of them sat down as host and guest.

A thin man served them tea quietly.

Chen Qushui saw that although the man looked very ordinary, he was calm and generous in his gestures. He couldn't help but take a closer look at him. Then he smiled and greeted Yan Chaoqing, "I wonder if Mr. Yan still remembers me? My surname is Chen, my name is Bo, and my courtesy name is Qushui. I once received the favor of Duke Dingguo and was spared from death. Now I am old and live in the house of the seventh elder of the Dou family in Beilou and work as an accountant. I didn't expect that the rain in Zhending County would not stop for a long time. I The seventh master of our family was traveling in Kyoto, and the lady at home was worried about the crops. Our young lady was very filial to her parents, and she couldn't bear to see the lady go out in the rain. After much persuasion, she finally persuaded the lady to come over to see her. Seeing that I was the oldest, the lady appointed me to accompany the young lady so that she would have someone to call on if anything happened. I didn't expect to meet Mr. Yan here.

I was really shocked at that time. I thought that I was in such a state, how could I have the face to see my old friend again? But I also thought that Duke Dingguo had been so kind to me, but I had never been able to repay him. I felt very uneasy. If I could talk to my old friend about my shame, it would be fate. So I came here without permission. I hope Mr. Yan will forgive me for disturbing you!"

His words convey several layers of meaning.

First, he said that he had not forgotten the Duke Ding's kindness of not killing him, and was very grateful for it. Second, he warned Yan Chaoqing and the others that Dou Zhao was the daughter of the Dou family in the north building, and that she had informed the elders in her family before coming to the farm, and signaled Yan Chaoqing not to come rashly, otherwise he would cause trouble for the Dou family in the north building. Third, he said that he was now poor and had to work as an accountant in the Dou family to make a living. The reason why he could accompany the daughter of the Dou family to the farm was entirely because he was the oldest and did not need to avoid suspicion, not because the Dou family treated him differently, implying that Yan Chaoqing and the Dou family did not know his identity. Fourth, he explained that he was very satisfied with his current life, and hoped that Yan Chaoqing would not expose his identity, and he would not mention their identity to the people of the Dou family.

Yan Chaoqing didn't believe a word of it!

When the Japanese pirates were defeated, Duke Dingguo was kind-hearted and allowed Zhang Kai's men to choose whether to stay or leave. Chen Qushui was the first person to leave Fujian.

Since the fourth young lady on the estate is so highly regarded by the Dou family's lady-in-waiting, why not send a steward to the estate to take a look in such a storm? Why does she need to go there in person?

Chen Qushui claimed that he was just an ordinary accountant. Why did he come to visit the young master only after meeting the fourth daughter of the Dou family?

What he said about not revealing the young master's identity to others was an outright lie - if the fourth lady of the Dou family knew nothing about the young master, how could he say such a thing?

He had no intention of saying more to Chen Qushui. The young master had already made his decision, so saying anything would just be a waste of words.

"Mr. Chen, you are too kind." Yan Chaoqing smiled tolerantly, cordially and perfunctorily. "These are all old stories. You don't have to take them to heart. Actually, it was fate that we met in a different place. I still remember the events of that year. I remember that the autumn was particularly hot that year. I was still fanning myself after August 15th. When the news of the Japanese pirates' siege of Fuzhou City came, Duke Dingguo and I were eating newly-released autumn pears in the yard..."

He refused to mention what happened today.

Chen Qushui's heart seemed to be soaked in water and slowly sank.

※※※※※

Half an hour later, Yan Chaoqing sent Chen Qushui away.

He went to Song Mo's inner room.

Song Mo was sitting on the big kang by the window, looking down at a map of the world. The man who had served tea to Chen Qushui was now standing behind Song Mo with his head lowered, as quiet as a wooden sculpture on the shelf of the Duobao Pavilion next to him.

Hearing the noise, Song Mo raised his head and asked calmly, "Did he leave?"

"Let's go!" Yan Chaoqing reported to Song Mo what had happened between the two.

Song Mo nodded slightly and said, "Don't worry about them." Then he asked the person behind him, "Lu Ming, go see if Shi An is back?"

Lu Ming left immediately.

Yan Chaoqing looked confused.

Song Mo smiled and said, "I plan to take action at midnight tonight."

Yan Chaoqing's eyes fixed.

Xu Qing, a man with a simple and honest appearance, walked in.

"Sir!" He saluted Song Mo with his fists clasped. "The guards of the Dou family were suddenly called to the front yard, ready to go, as if they were about to leave."

"Oh!" Song Mo raised his eyebrows, glanced at Yan Chaoqing with a smile, and said, "I didn't expect that Mr. Chen would act so quickly. He is a man of talent in assessing the situation." After thinking for a while, he got off the kang and said, "Let's go and see how they are going to leave."

He assigned people to guard all the places where people could enter and exit the house.

The two of them responded in unison and accompanied Song Mo out of the room.

The rain continued to fall without a drop in intensity, hitting the roofs, leaves and the ground with a crackling sound, and the air was filled with bursts of moisture.

The guards of the Dou family were wearing straw raincoats and hats, and were escorting a girl who was also wearing straw raincoats and hats, but wearing a pair of clogs. They hurried out, and Chen Qushui, who was known for never telling anyone where they were going, followed the girl closely with a tung oil umbrella. The maids and old women were nowhere to be seen, and it was obvious that they were sacrificing pawns to save the chariot, and were ready to escort the fourth daughter of the Dou family away from the farm with all their strength.

Song Mo couldn't help but sneer and called out "Miss Dou Si".

The girl turned her head and looked over.

Under the Dou hat, there is a snow-white face with long eyebrows, bright eyes, and a bit of heroic spirit in her gentleness.

He was slightly stunned.

Yan Chaoqing has already made a gesture.

On the rooftops of all four sides, a man appeared like a ghost. They all carried heavy quivers on their backs and held bows and crossbows that only the military had. They locked onto the people in the courtyard tightly.

Chen Qushui's scalp felt numb.

This kind of bow and crossbow can shoot through anyone within a hundred feet.

"Miss," he reminded Dou Zhao, "be careful of those crossbows!"

Duan Gongyi also said in a buzzing voice: "Miss, please hide behind me!"

Dou Zhao nodded, but walked a few steps towards the east room where Song Mo was standing, and asked Song Mo loudly: "Mr. Mei, what do you want?"

The guards of the Dou family moved quickly and surrounded Dou Zhao again.

Seeing that the Dou family's guards were moving in an orderly manner, Song Mo couldn't help but show some admiration in his eyes.

"Miss Dou, the wind is strong and the rain is heavy," he said with a smile, "I just want to ask Miss Dou to go back to her room." His voice was gentle, but the words he said were chilling to the bone.

Dou Zhao seemed extremely angry and shouted, "Master Mei, I let you stay here out of kindness, but you turned your kindness into hatred and wanted to kill me. How can you be a gentleman?"

Song Mo couldn't help but sneer.

This Miss Dou Si looked quite smart, but she would say something so stupid. What did she want to do? Wasn't it obvious? It was such a pity to waste such a good-looking girl.

"Miss Dou Si, what you said is wrong!" He suddenly lost interest and said, "I just want to ask Miss Dou Si to go back to the room. How can it be a matter of life and death? I hope Miss Dou Si will not misunderstand me." As he said that, he made a gesture, and the sharp sound of tearing cloth was immediately rang in the air. Several feather arrows "clang clang clang" and nailed the feet of the guards closest to the gate. The guards were frightened and retreated one after another. The people who were squeezed behind them also retreated. The formation surrounding Dou Zhao was broken up, and the scene seemed a little chaotic. If it weren't for Duan Gongyi's protection, Dou Zhao would have been knocked down.

"Mr. Mei, you've gone too far!" Dou Zhao's face turned red with anger, and he shouted, "How can you kill innocent people?" His voice was choked with sobs.

Song Mo was too lazy to take another look. He said coldly, "Since Miss Dou has a kind heart, why did she hurt innocent people? Why did she let those guards lose their lives in vain? Please go back to your room, Miss Dou!"

"You..." Dou Zhao was so angry that he jumped up and down.

Song Mo remained unmoved.

During the stalemate, the sound of a baby crying suddenly came from the yard.

"Miss!" Su Lan suddenly came out from behind the holly tree and ran to the veranda of the main house. "I have fulfilled your mission!"

She held the child in her arms and smiled at Dou Zhao.

Song Mo and others were horrified and rushed out of the corridor of the east wing. The guards of the Dou family were like a heavy mountain separating them from the main house. Dou Zhao also ran back to the corridor of the main house under the protection of Duan Gongyi and Chen Qushui.

She took the child, patted him gently, and made soft, clear but unknown sounds from her mouth, and the child soon calmed down.

Song Mo stood in the rain, letting the rain hit his face, his face was ashen, and the faces of Yan Chaoqing and others following behind him were even more gloomy.

The wet nurse rushed out of the room.

"Sir, someone has taken the child away..." She screamed at the top of her lungs, her face full of tears.

Song Mo made a gesture to keep quiet.

The wet nurse covered her mouth and cried silently. When she looked up, she saw Dou Zhao coaxing a child in the corridor of the main house opposite. She opened her eyes wide in shock.

"Miss Fourth Dou," Song Mo stared at Dou Zhao, his voice extremely cold, "Why don't we sit down and have a good talk, what do you think?"

Dou Zhao smiled slightly, his eyes seemed to be brighter than before: "Master Mei, I also think we should sit down and have a good talk."

※※※※※

The hall was filled with the scent of lilies, floating faintly in the air and mixing with the humid air, giving a depressing feeling.

Song Mo changed into a clean lotus blue plain robe and walked in slowly with Yan Chaoqing and Lu Ming.

Dou Zhao sat on the armchair at the head of the hall, holding the child in his arms, with Chen Qushui and Duan Gongyi standing on his left and right.

Dou Zhao nodded to the newcomer and said with a polite smile, "Mr. Mei, please take a seat."

Song Mo glanced at the child.

The child seemed to be asleep and was very quiet.

He sat below Dou Zhao, with Yan Chaoqing and Lu Ming standing behind him.

Sulan quickly served them tea.

Song Mo couldn't help but glance at Su Lan.

It was this maid who entered the house and snatched the child away.

I really didn't expect that there would be such a person around the fourth young lady of the Dou family!

He raised his head and for the first time took a serious look at the girl sitting opposite him.