Chapter 182 Inquiry

Song Mo really wanted to go to Zhending.

Before he went to Qianfosi Hutong, he asked someone to check Ji Yong's background.

Just because he was afraid that Wei Tingyu might cause some unmanageable trouble, he hurried to Qianfosi Hutong without waiting for Du Wei, who was in charge of collecting intelligence, to report.

When he returned to Yizhitang, he received the news from Du Wei.

Ever since Ji Yong went out for travel three years ago and visited his aunt, the sixth wife of the Dou family, Ji, he has stayed at the Dou family for a long time many times. Before taking the imperial examination, he even stayed in Heshou Hall, where Dou Zhao's grandfather practiced meditation in his later years, to study. He and Dou Zhao had a close relationship.

His heart was in turmoil and he almost couldn't control his emotions.

Ji Yong and Wei Tingyu had no grudges against each other, so why did he frame Wei Tingyu?

Does Dou Zhao have anything to do with this matter?

If she didn't know, what was the point of Ji Yong doing this?

If she knew...or, did she want to break off the engagement with the Wei family?

Song Mo felt as if there was a stone blocking his heart, heavy and pressing him so that he couldn't breathe.

There are hundreds of ways to break off an engagement, why would you use this method of framing someone else to break off the engagement?

Song Mo thought of Dou Zhao's hearty laughter, her dignified yet charming face, her eyes as bright as stars, and her long eyebrows, and his heart felt like it was being fried in a pan.

Dou Zhao, do you know about this?

That woman who was as cool as the breeze and the bright moon, yet faintly revealing a hint of warmth, that woman who made him feel as strong and beautiful as a plum blossom blooming in the cold winter, would really do such a thing?

Expectation, suspicion, disappointment, guilt... all flooded into Song Mo's heart, making him confused and not knowing what to do.

After running around the farm in Daxing for more than half an hour, he gradually calmed down and told Chen He: "Let's go to Zhending!"

Since he was a child, his uncle told him that if you have doubts about something, instead of wasting time guessing and thinking about it over and over again, it is better to confirm it or overturn it as quickly as possible.

Chen He glanced at Xia Lian and answered "yes" loudly, but he was muttering in his heart: This guy really guessed it right! The prince came to Daxing just to find an excuse to go to Zhending.

Xia Lian, however, was not at all proud. He smiled at Chen He and wondered with a heavy heart whether he should remind Song Mo not to interfere in this matter.

Unfortunately, until he arrived in Zhending, he didn't find a suitable opportunity to mention it to the stern-faced Song Mo.

Song Mo stood beside the small river on the back hill of Doujia Farm.

In the summer, the back hills are shaded by green trees, the water flows gently, and the breeze is refreshing.

This place is so beautiful.

Song Mo gazed at the three lush wild peach trees on the other side of the river, and his anxious heart slowly calmed down.

He remembered what Dou Zhao said. Standing on the peach tree, he could see the wife of the head of Langjia Village beating her husband when she was drunk. The father of the village, who worked as a porter to supplement the family income in his spare time, would buy steamed cakes for his two daughters every time he came back from visiting villages and towns to satisfy their cravings. The daughter-in-law of the neighboring family was often disliked by her mother-in-law, but at the critical moment of life and death, the mother-in-law ran around to seek medical treatment for her... But that time, he saw nothing except the curling smoke.

Song Mo tucked the corner of his clothes around his waist and climbed up the peach tree.

Langjiazhuang and Doujiazhuang were like small bonsai, appearing before him one by one.

When Dou Zhao climbed up the back mountain, he saw Song Mo standing on a tree fork with his back against the tree trunk, looking at the scenery at the foot of the mountain, just like last time.

I wonder what happened to this guy?

Yesterday she received a letter from Chen Qushui, telling her everything that had happened in the past few days in detail.

Two people who disliked each other in their previous lives could be together in this life. Apart from having a common goal, she couldn't think of why they would tolerate each other.

Dou Zhao was certain that Wang Yingxue and Wei Tingzhen were in cahoots with each other, and she was also certain that with Wang Yingxue's participation, her plan to break off the engagement would go more smoothly.

So she was in a good mood.

She didn't take it seriously when Song Mo suddenly asked to see her.

She lifted her skirt and stepped on the bluestones to cross the river. She shielded her face from the sun with her hands and looked up to ask Song Mo, "What did the prince see?"

She used to call him Master Mei, then she called him Lord Shizi, and now she calls him Prince.

Has she never really been afraid of him in her heart?

Unlike the people in Kyoto, who were more or less terrified when facing him because he had killed their own guards and left the bodies in the middle of the yard, Dou Zhao never questioned him.

Song Mo couldn't help but smile and said, "Want to know? Then climb up!"

It’s so hot, who has the energy to play with you!

Dou Zhao complained in his heart and said with a smile: "I am wearing a white lace skirt today, and I don't want to get it dirty."

Song Mo was a little dumbfounded.

Can this be a reason for rejection?

He couldn't help but burst out laughing.

The laughter startled the guards, and everyone glanced at Song Mo and Dou Zhao.

Chen He couldn't help but sigh.

The prince is always so happy every time he meets Miss Dou Si.

Xia Lian sighed secretly.

Song Mo jumped off the tree.

Dou Zhao asked him, "How is your injury?"

"It's no big deal." Song Mo smiled, his eyes lingering on Dou Zhao's brows, looking at her carefully, as if he wanted to see clearly what she looked like, but his expression gradually became serious, "I came here because I have something to tell you." He pondered, and saw beads of sweat on Dou Zhao's forehead. Thinking that the woods would be cooler than here, he walked towards the woods while briefly telling Dou Zhao about Ji Yong taking Wei Tingyu to stay overnight in Qianfo Temple Hutong. As for the matter of him asking Wei Tingyu to partner in business, he did not mention a word. He only said that he occasionally heard Gu Yu mention it, and knowing that he was Dou Zhao's future husband, he felt something was wrong, so he hurried over.

Dou Zhao was shocked.

How could this happen?

I have spent more than half a year planning this, and now I am only one step away from success... Why did Ji Yong show up?

Could it be that like last time, he would be able to see the whole picture if I showed the slightest clue?

Dou Zhao didn't know what to say.

Although she wanted to break off the engagement, she never thought of hurting Wei Tingyu.

The happiness gained by hurting others is not real happiness.

Dou Zhao tried hard not to frown, but her expression gradually became serious: "Is this true?"

Song Mo nodded seriously and said, "It happened three days ago. Ji Jianming did not deny it."

No wonder she didn't know.

At that time, Chen Qushui had already set out to return to Zhending.

This is really how Ji Yong acts!

Dou Zhao smiled bitterly and thanked Song Mo sincerely: "Thank you for telling me!"

Song Mo arrived in Zhending in three days and came to tell her in person, which showed that he was aware of the seriousness of the matter.

That's great!

With Ji Yong's intervention, even if Wei Tingzhen couldn't figure out his intentions for the time being, Zhang Yuanming, who was wise but appeared foolish, would probably be able to guess what he meant.

After all, her wanting to cancel the engagement and the Wei family wanting to cancel the engagement are two different things - the former is that she is dissatisfied with Wei Tingyu, and the latter is that Wei Tingyu is dissatisfied with her.

When Wei Tingzhen found out, she would definitely feel humiliated, and there was no way she could break off the engagement without attracting attention.

This Ji Yong is really... not good enough to accomplish anything, but more than enough to cause trouble! The destructive power is extraordinary... I'm afraid I need to think about this matter carefully.

Dou Zhao couldn't help but sigh softly.

Watching her expression change from initial surprise to bitterness, helplessness, and worry, Song Mo breathed a sigh of relief.

Dou Zhao was indeed unaware of the situation.

She was still as open, generous, sincere and beautiful as he remembered.

Song Mo couldn't help but say "thank you" and then "sorry".

He wanted to thank Dou Zhao for not letting him down after he had experienced so much darkness and haze; he wanted to apologize to Dou Zhao for his previous suspicion and speculation about Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao was surprised.

Song Mo smiled and didn't mention it, but asked her: "Do you know why Ji Yong treated Jining Hou like this?"

"Cousin Ji has a volatile personality," Dou Zhao could only answer vaguely, "Maybe he doesn't like Marquis Jining?"

Song Mo's heart moved when he heard this.

In his opinion, Ji Yong's character is not so much eccentric as arrogant and willful.

Moreover, Ji Yong and Dou Zhao had a close relationship, so it was impossible for him to plot to break off the engagement between Dou Zhao and Wei Tingyu just because he disliked Wei Tingyu.

Unless there are some other reasons.

With Dou Zhao's intelligence and wisdom, it was obvious that he was hiding something when he said this.

He couldn't help but ask: "Do you want to break off the engagement with Marquis Jining?"

Dou Zhao was shocked.

Is it so obvious?

Ji Yong knew it, and now Song Mo also knew it.

She couldn't help but look at Song Mo.

Under the lush camphor tree, Song Mo, wearing a moon-white Taoist robe, lowered his eyelids, with a kind of forbearance that was hard to describe.

Dou Zhao just felt a headache.

Ji Yong alone has almost ruined Wei Tingyu's reputation. If Song Mo is added to the mix... Wei Tingyu will be eaten up till not even a bone will be left!

She shook her head repeatedly: "No, no!", fearing that Song Mo would also get involved.

Song Mo said "Oh" lightly, raised his eyelids, and turned into the reserved and indifferent British prince before.

Dou Zhao couldn't help but smile and said, "You look tired. You must have had hard time rushing here. It's getting late. Let Chen He get you something to eat. Wash up and have a good sleep. The weather has been quite cool these two days." His tone was very gentle.

Song Mo suddenly didn't want to leave.

He thought for a moment and said, "I will be leaving mourning at the beginning of next year. Mr. Yan suggested that I marry the daughter of Marquis Yan'an or Princess Yijing, the daughter of Empress Wan..."

Dou Zhao felt a pang in his heart.

If Chiang Kai-shek or Mrs. Mei were still alive, why would he say these to me?

She thought carefully about Song Mo's marriage, but it was still surprising that Wang Qingyuan was also among the candidates for Song Mo's wife: "Miss Wang from the Yan'an Marquis's family is outstanding in appearance and has a good character. She also has a brother like Wang Qinghuai. If your madam is still alive, it would naturally be a very good marriage. But she has a gentle temperament. If your father's successor is of a prominent family and is smart and capable, it will be very inconvenient for you to do things without a capable arm in domestic affairs." Dou Zhao said seriously, "The princess is very good. No matter who your father marries as a successor in the future, you must not marry her. It can suppress the princess, and it can make your position as the crown prince more stable, and it will be smoother for you to inherit the title in the future. However, Princess Jingyi is not so good, her relationship with the emperor is too close, and the crown prince is born by Empress Yuan, so it is easy for him to be involved in the internal affairs of the royal family. It is best to find a princess whose birth mother is of a high status and who is good at socializing. If I remember correctly, Princess Fuyuan, born to Concubine Chen, and Princess Jingtai, born to Concubine Shu, are both of the same age as you, and are gentle and honest. You may wish to discuss with Mr. Yan and choose one of these two princesses."

Since Song Mo has retained his position as the crown prince in this life and has not been expelled from the family, she does not want him to get involved in the dispute between the crown prince and Prince Liao.

After all, no matter who inherits the throne in the future, they will be polite to the Duke of England's Mansion. Although it is good to follow the dragon, the Duke of England's Mansion may not need it.