Chapter 220

Dou Shiying paced back and forth in the study for the whole morning before calling Gao Sheng in.

"Besides the murder you mentioned, Prince of England, are there any other untrue things in what Tao Qizhong said?" he asked Gao Sheng solemnly.

"No!" Gao Sheng shook his head. "Everyone says that the Prince of Ying is as handsome as Song Yu, as good-looking as Pan An, and is both civil and military."

"Oh!" Dou Shiying was even more unwilling to give up so easily. He thought about it and decided to go to the summer palace in person: "Seeing is believing, hearing is false. You have to see what a person is like before you know it!"

Gao Sheng agreed very much, thinking that Dou Shiying was doing this for the good of Dou Zhao, and hurriedly said attentively: "I'll go to Huaishu Hutong now."

It was impossible for Dou Shiying to enter or leave the palace without being summoned, given his rank. He could only ask Dou Shishu for help.

"No need!" Dou Shiying's expression suddenly turned cold. In the eyes of those people in Huaishu Hutong, Dou Zhao was just an object. Without the He family, there was the Wei family. Without the Wei family, there was the Ji family. They were always thinking about how to sell her for a good price. They never understood or cared about Dou Zhao's feelings. Even if they raised a cat or a dog, they would have feelings for it after a long time. Moreover, Dou Zhao and Wei Tingyu had been engaged since childhood, but they let Dou Ming marry Dou Zhao to the Jining Marquis's Mansion...

Compared to the Duke of Yingguo's Mansion, the Ji family can naturally bring more benefits to the Dou family. If Huaishu Hutong knew about the Song family, who knows what they would do!

This time, no one can influence Dou Zhao’s marriage, he has to make the decision on his own!

Dou Shiying whispered to Gao Sheng, "You must not tell anyone in Huaishu Hutong about the Fourth Miss's affairs." After thinking about it, he added, "Don't tell anyone!"

Gao Sheng nodded repeatedly.

He would not go around making a fuss about something that had nothing to do with the fate of the couple. Moreover, the Fourth Miss had just been robbed of her husband's family by the Fifth Miss. No matter how nicely he said it, anyone with a discerning eye would know what was going on. If the Fourth Miss's marriage to the Song family failed and the news got out, how would the Fourth Miss live in the future? It would be best to do as the Seventh Elder said, wait until the two families officially made the betrothal, and then tell those who wanted to see the Fourth Miss laugh, and clear her name. That would be the proper thing to do.

He assured Dou Shiying: "Even if it's my Na Hun family, I won't tell anyone."

Dou Shiying said "hmm" with satisfaction.

Gao Sheng hurriedly harnessed the carriage and personally drove Dou Shiying to the summer palace next to the Taiye Lake in the Western Garden.

Dou Shi had a classmate who was serving as the director of the Ministry of Rites. This time, he happened to accompany the emperor to the summer palace. He decided to lure Song Mo out through this classmate. He glanced at him calmly.

Gao Sheng parked the carriage next to the grove opposite the side gate of the Summer Palace, took Dou Shiying's business card and asked someone to pass the message to his classmate, while Dou Shiying sat in the carriage and waited.

The autumn afternoon sunshine was warm, half shining on the treetops and half shining on the car.

Dou Shiying, who had not slept well since he found out about the sisters' easy marriage, closed his eyes tiredly.

Perhaps it was more than half an hour, or perhaps just a moment, he vaguely heard the sound of galloping horses.

This is close to the Summer Palace, and any noise would alert people.

Dou Shiying lifted the curtain and looked out, and saw several people wearing the uniforms of the Five Military Camps, escorting a person wearing the uniforms of the Jinwu Guards, coming towards them.

He couldn't help but let out an "eh" and leaned out.

The Five Military Battalions were stationed outside the city, responsible for the defense of Kyoto, while the Jinwu Guards were the emperor's personal guards. Although both guards were personal guards, there was a world of difference between them. The people of the Five Military Battalions had their own pride, and they could not be commanded by the Jinwu Guards at will, let alone the people surrounding the Jinwu Guards. It was obvious that the people of the Jinwu Guards were acting on orders from above and allowed the people of the Five Military Battalions to protect them.

There was a lonely horse-drawn carriage parked in front of the side gate of the Summer Palace, which was hard not to attract attention.

Song Mo and the others who were riding on horses couldn't help but glance over.

Song Mo almost fell off the horse.

It turned out to be the seventh master of the Dou family!

What is he doing here?

The fifth elder of the Dou family stayed in the Forbidden Palace with Liang Jifen.

Do you want to go up and say hello? Apart from anything else, if he wants to find someone, it is more convenient for me to do so than for him!

The thought flashed through his mind, and he suddenly became alert.

Could it be that he is... coming to see me?

As soon as the thought came to his mind, he realized that he was about to pass by Dou Shiying's carriage. Without hesitation, he pulled off the jade pendant from his waist, pinched it into several pieces with his hidden strength, and shot towards the horse pulling Dou's carriage.

The horse was frightened and rushed out neighing.

Dou Shiying was thrown into the carriage by the sudden impact. He was dazed for a while, but his mind was clear as a mirror.

This is really troublesome!

The emperor's personal guards have always been domineering. They don't even take the six ministers seriously, let alone a small fourth-rank Hanlin like him!

What's more, he was on the only way to the summer palace. If we talk about the pros and cons, he would not be able to escape the charge of "spying on the forbidden palace"!

In his bewilderment, he heard a clear voice shouting in a hurry: "Quick! Stop the carriage! There are people inside!"

There was a clattering sound, and the carriage stopped with the man's high-pitched shout.

Dou Shiying tried to sit up dizzily.

The car curtain was lifted and someone poked his head out: "Sir, how are you?" Then he reached out to help him.

The sound was as soothing and pleasant as spring water.

Dou Shiying couldn't help but look up.

I saw a face as beautiful as the breeze and the bright moon, especially a pair of eyes, which seemed to have condensed the essence of stars and were as bright as the moon.

He looked carefully and realized that the person in front of him was a boy of no more than sixteen or seventeen years old, with a warm smile, a steady expression, and elegant manners. He had the composure of a child of a wealthy family and the bearing of a meritorious noble, making him unforgettable at first sight.

The saying "as handsome as Pan An, as pretty as Song Yu" in the book refers to this kind of young man, right?

Dou Shiying pondered for a moment, then got off the carriage with the help of the young man.

Only then did he realize that the carriage had only moved forward a short distance and there was nothing serious.

Dou Shiying heaved a sigh of relief, but was also worried about how to explain to the emperor's guards why he was staying here. Then he heard the men from the Five Army Battalions gathered around him, laughing and calling the young man "Sir Song". They praised him, saying, "I've heard that the prince is a great horseman. This time I've really learned something new. If nothing else, just the skill of reining in a horse is enough for us to learn for a lifetime."

It turned out that this young man saved me!

Dou Shiying looked over with a smile, but something moved in his heart.

His surname is Song... Crown Prince... about sixteen or seventeen years old... as handsome as Pan An and as pretty as Song Yu... working for the Jinwu Guard... could he be the Crown Prince of the Duke of England, Song Yantang Song Mo?

His gaze towards the young man suddenly became fiery.

Song Mo kept saying "lucky" in his heart.

The emperor had not practiced horseback riding for many years. When he saw the heroic figures of the Guards on horseback, he was immediately inspired and went to the parade ground every morning to ride horses with them.

Who dares to let the emperor ride a horse?

But who can stop the emperor?

Wang Yuan came up with an idea. He assigned a horse-pulling servant to each of the emperor's personal guards, and also sent a person with excellent archery skills to help the emperor pull the horse. This way, he could control the emperor's mount.

Seeing that everyone was doing the same, the emperor did not refuse and went for a ride on horseback with them every morning, with someone leading his horse.

He found a way to make a "mark" on the emperor's favorite whip. As a result, when the emperor was about to whip his horse as usual, the whip broke.

Everyone was dumbfounded.

The emperor was furious.

Song Mo took the opportunity to pick up the broken horsewhip.

Wang Yuan knelt before the emperor with a smile on his face: "It can be seen that this old thing is also nostalgic. He knows how to bow and do his best until his death. This old servant congratulates the emperor. Congratulations to the emperor. You have good generals outside and loyal ministers inside. The world is peaceful and the sky is clear..."

A group of bodyguards also came to their senses and praised the whip for "fulfilling its duty".

The emperor burst into laughter, and his anger disappeared.

Song Mo took the opportunity to say, "Your Majesty, please allow me to take it to the workshop to repair it. It can be hung in your study in the future as a warning to future generations."

The emperor nodded and casually pointed to a few people from the Five Armies to escort him to the workshop.

That's how he got the job.

Due to the limited time he had left the palace, Dou Shiying took sick leave and did not go to the government office. He stayed at home every day. He was worried whether Mr. Yan could find an opportunity for him to meet Dou Shiying by chance. Unexpectedly, he met Dou Shiying as soon as he left the palace.

Is this God's will?

He felt inexplicably excited.

He became more humble in his words: "I really don't deserve the compliments from you brothers." Then he asked Dou Shiying with some concern: "Sir, how are you? Are you injured? Do you want me to ask a doctor to take a look?" He added, "This place leads to the emperor's summer palace. It's okay to stop here occasionally on weekdays, but the emperor is staying here these days. If you have nothing to do, it's best not to go near this place."

Is this amiable and humble young man in front of me the British prince who is rumored to have killed so many people?

Dou Shiying couldn't help but widen his eyes.

Someone nearby was dissatisfied and said, "You sour scholar, this is the prince of the Duke of Yingguo, Lord Song, the right commander of the Jinwu Guard. It was he who saved your life, why don't you thank him quickly? What are you doing here? You look like a scholar, why are you so rude..."

Song Mo broke out in a cold sweat.

Let Master Dou Qi thank him?

He quickly shouted at the man, "It's just a small matter, not worth worrying about, why take it to heart!" Then he gently said to Dou Shiying, "We all have the emperor's order. Since you are fine, we will leave first."

Some things should be done in moderation.

Having said this, he jumped onto the horse.

Dou Shiying suddenly had an idea and hurriedly said, "Sir Song, wait a minute! I came here to look for someone. Since Sir Song is a close minister of the emperor, could you please pass on the message for me?"

Song Mo smiled and said, "It's not convenient right now. I'll arrange for someone to tell them for you, shall I?" Then he called the soldier he had scolded, "Please ask this brother to take this gentleman to find my follower and ask him to help pass the message." He whispered to the man, "The person he found is working in the Pedestrian Department. You must make up for your mistake and stop making a fuss!"

At this moment, Song Mo couldn't help but feel fortunate that he had a good relationship with the people in the Fifth Army Camp, and that he brought this somewhat reckless guy with him.

If Dou Shiying wanted to find out about me, there was no better person than him.

Especially after I hinted that he should "make amends for his mistakes".

Song Mo smiled and rode away.

The sound of horse hooves echoed through the woods, and Dou Shiying cautiously asked, "It seems that the captain and Prince Song are very familiar with each other..."