Chapter 222: Not Enough

The sudden visit of British Duke Song Yichun to Jing'an Temple Hutong made Chen Qushui, who had always focused on Huaishu Hutong, feel something unusual.

This happened in Jing'an Temple Hutong, Dou Zhao should know it better than him.

He hurried to see Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao went to Gulou Street with her aunt and cousin to buy things.

By the time he arrived at Gulou Street, Dou Zhao and the others had already returned to Jing'an Temple Hutong.

Chen Qushui hurried back to Jing'an Temple Hutong.

As soon as he entered the door, he met Gao Sheng.

Gao Sheng greeted him with a smile on his face: "Mr. Chen, you came at a great time. The fourth young lady just came back and was talking to the old man! What's the matter? Is there something urgent in the shop?"

"It's not an urgent matter." Chen Qushui perfunctorily said, "I have a business to buy and sell, but I'm not sure. I want to ask the fourth lady for advice."

Gao Sheng asked enthusiastically: "Do you want my help?"

Compared with the Dou family's industry, Dou Zhao's small writing shop is not worth mentioning at all.

"You'll know after you ask the young lady." Chen Qushui evaded him.

Gao Sheng did not suspect anything, but smiled and nodded, and personally welcomed him to the account office to sit down, and told the servant: "When the master and the fourth lady have finished talking, you should immediately inform Mr. Chen." The unusual hospitality made Chen Qushui's heart beat fast. After finally waiting for Dou Zhao and Dou Shiying to finish talking, it was already time for dinner.

Dou Zhao met Chen Qushui in the flower hall.

Chen Qushui told Dou Zhao about Song Yichun's visit to Dou Shiying, and asked, "Miss, do you know why the Duke of Ying came to see the Seventh Elder?"

Their relationship with Song Mo has always been kept secret. If the Duke of England finds out, no one can predict what will happen!

Dou Zhao was stunned: "What did you say? The Duke of England came to visit my father?"

Chen Qushui nodded: "I have checked it out. It seems that Tao Qizhong, an aide of the Duke of Ying's Mansion, made the connection through Xu Zhiji, a colleague of the Seventh Elder in the Hanlin Academy. But I haven't found out why yet as time is running out."

However, beads of sweat appeared on Dou Zhao's forehead.

The Duke of England and my father are two people who have no connection with each other.

The world is so big and I am unknown. Under normal circumstances, it is impossible for the Duke of England to notice me.

If there is a connection between them, it is Song Mo.

If the Duke of England knew that it was me who rescued Song Mo, he would have plenty of ways to deal with me and would never come to Jing'an Temple Hutong to visit me in such a polite manner.

In other words, the Duke of England is most likely unaware of the connection between himself and Song Mo.

So why did he visit his father?

Song Mo's eyes, as quiet as the night sky, appeared in Dou Zhao's mind.

That day, he learned that Dou Mingdai had married Wei Tingyu, and impulsively said to her, "Dou Zhao, I will marry you."

She took it as teenage anger.

I didn't take it to heart.

And she was sure that he would not be able to convince the Duke of England to agree to marry her.

So, she told him firmly, "If we can get married, it must be fate."

Could it be that the Duke of England came to propose marriage to Song Mo?

After the sisters got married, their father's greatest hope was to find a family for her to marry into that was no worse than the Jining Marquis's Mansion. But how did Song Mo get Song Yichun to agree to let him marry her?

She thought of what she had suggested to Princess Song Moshang before.

Even if he had intended to reveal the news to Song Yichun, how did he quietly put himself in Song Yichun's sight? How did he make Song Yichun feel that he was a suitable daughter-in-law?

Song Mo once again demonstrated his strength.

Dou Zhao took out a handkerchief and wiped his forehead.

She ordered Su Xin: "Quick, find out why the Duke of England came to see my father!"

Su Xin left immediately.

Chen Qushui was as anxious as an ant on a hot pot.

Dou Zhao has always been careful, so he focused his main energy on Huaishu Hutong. Who knew that Dou Zhao was careless this time!

He is not Dou Zhao, and Dou Zhao could not have told Chen Qushui all the conversations between him and Song Mo. Chen Qushui did not think about Dou Zhao's marriage at this time, but murmured: "I know Tao Qizhong went to ask Xu Zhiji for help, and then Xu Zhiji brought him to see the Seventh Master. I just thought it was a normal introduction. Although I sent people to keep an eye on it, I did not investigate it carefully." He regretted, "If I had known this, I should have told the young lady earlier."

Dou Zhao was more anxious than he was, but he still comforted Chen Qushui: "It has already happened, there is no point in being anxious. The most urgent thing is to find out the purpose of the Duke of England!"

"Of course I know that," Chen Qushui said with a wry smile, "but this matter is of great importance and I can't calm down." Also, as it was getting late, it was inconvenient for him to stay for long, so he had to leave Jing'an Temple Hutong with a heavy heart.

Until the hour of midnight, Su Xin turned back with shame on her face.

"Miss," she said uneasily, "I haven't found anything... Tao Qizhong met the master alone without Master Xu. When the Duke of Ying was talking to the master, he sent all the servants out of the room. It was Chief Butler Gao who personally helped to pour the tea... Chief Butler Gao was very tight-lipped. Even the Gao Sheng family was completely confused and didn't know anything when asked."

Dou Zhao frowned and said, "It's impossible that there is nothing unusual. Think about it carefully and see if there is anything unreasonable. For example, what did Chief Butler Gao do after the Duke of England left? After Tao Qi saw my father again, did my father call anyone to question him? Or where did he go?"

"I remember now!" Her reminder made Su Xin's eyes light up. "After Tao Qi came back to see the Seventh Master, the Seventh Master went out with Manager Gao. Manager Gao drove the car himself. As for where they went, no one knows. And didn't the Seventh Master ask Manager Gao to put away all the things with big red wedding characters or red and green decorations in the house a few days ago? When I went to find Manager Gao just now, I found that Manager Gao was instructing the servants to count the lanterns, curtains, candles and other things..."

Dou Zhao's face changed drastically when he heard this, knowing that his guess was almost right.

Before Su Xin could finish her words, she said anxiously, "Go find Mr. Chen quickly. First, ask him to find out where my father and Gao Sheng went. Second, ask him to find a way to send a letter to Song Yantang, saying that I have something important to see him about!"

After all, the two companies have not officially proposed, I hope it’s not too late!

Su Lan replied "yes" and found an excuse to go to the calligraphy and painting shop on the street below the Drum Tower.

However, Dou Zhao did not sleep all night.

The next day, she had no intention of going out.

Her aunt thought she was tired and just told her to have a good rest. However, Zhao Zhangru laughed at her and said that she was not as strong as herself, and stayed with her in the room to chat.

Dou Zhao responded incoherently until the afternoon when Chen Qushui came over.

He looked very unhappy.

"A few days ago, Chief Steward Gao drove the Seventh Elder to the Summer Palace. It is said that he went to meet a colleague who works in the Pedestrian Department." Chen Qushui said solemnly, "I have asked Mr. Yan to pass a message to the Crown Prince. Mr. Yan said that the Emperor will move to the Forbidden Palace in the next two days, and the Crown Prince will definitely be very busy. But if the Crown Prince gets the message, he will definitely find a way to see Miss, so Miss, please be patient."

How could this be such a coincidence?

Dou Zhao felt that there seemed to be more sweat on his forehead.

Could it be that father was going to see Song Mo?

she thought in shock.

If my father really went to see Song Mo... wouldn't it be considered that I was shooting myself in the foot?

Dou Zhao regretted it deeply.

She should have told Song Mo clearly and explicitly that she didn't want to get married, and shouldn't have been vague and ambiguous.

Chen Qushui frowned, feeling that Yan Chaoqing's smile when he said "be patient" was quite meaningful, as if something was about to happen but Yan Chaoqing was hiding it from him.

He couldn't help but ponder, "Two days ago, the old lady of the Ji family sent an invitation to the Seventh Master, inviting him to Yuqiao Hutong for a drink and an opera. But the Seventh Master didn't even say hello, and went to Wanming Temple in the southern suburbs of the city, making it difficult for everyone to find him. You see, the Seventh Master avoided the Ji family, could it be related to the Duke of England?"

She doesn't know what happened to her in this life?

First there was Wu Shan, then there were He Yu and Ji Yong, and now Song Mo has also got involved!

In my previous life, I couldn’t even find someone who loved me!

Dou Zhao sighed and was thinking about how to tell Chen Qushui his guess when suddenly a loud sound of gongs and drums came from outside.

My aunt and cousin Zhangru came together.

Both of them looked overjoyed, especially Zhao Zhangru, who, regardless of Chen Qushui's presence, pulled Dou Zhao's hand with a smile and said, "Shougu's jade ruyi is indeed auspicious."

There was a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

Dou Zhao was stunned.

My aunt laughed and scolded my cousin, saying in a gentle voice, "Don't listen to your cousin's nonsense. She is just jealous of you."

Dou Zhao suddenly felt a bad feeling in his heart.

She couldn't help but look towards Chen Qushui.

Chen Qushui happened to be looking at her.

Their eyes met, and they saw deep worry in each other's eyes.

The aunt smiled and walked forward to hold Dou Zhao's hand: "Shougu, congratulations, the Duke of Ying has come to propose marriage for his eldest son, the Duke of Ying's son Song Yantang. Your father has gone to see him in person. The boy is very outstanding in both character and appearance. Your father has already agreed, and the Duke of Ying is now here to propose marriage!"

"What did you say?" Dou Zhao gasped.

Chen Qushui opened his mouth and stared at Dou Zhao blankly, not coming back to his senses for a long time.

※※※※※

Before the Fifth Lady's sedan chair reached Jing'an Temple, they heard a burst of crackling firecrackers coming from the front, followed by the sound of drums and music, the noise of which was deafening.

She couldn't help but smile and lifted the curtain to ask the maid who was following the carriage: "Whose family is having a wedding?"

The old woman laughed and said, "Shall I go and ask now?"

"No need." Mrs. Wu said, "I'm just asking casually. It's more important to go to Mr. Qi's house."

The old lady of the Ji family specially prepared a banquet for Uncle Qi, but Uncle Qi didn't even say a word and broke the appointment, which made both the Ji and Dou families very embarrassed. Her husband specially asked her to come over to ask what happened.

Since she had ordered them to go to Dou Shiying's house in a hurry, the coachman quickened his pace and soon arrived at Jing'an Temple Hutong. However, he was blocked at the entrance of the alley by a crowd of people.

The Fifth Madam raised the curtain again in displeasure and asked in a deep voice, "What's going on?"

The maid who accompanied the carriage came running over and said, "Fifth Madam, it was said that the eldest daughter of Dou Hanlin's family in Jing'an Temple Hutong is getting engaged, and everyone is gathered at the door of the Dou Mansion to watch the excitement!"

"What did you say?" The Fifth Madam was horrified and asked hurriedly, "Have you asked clearly which Dou Hanlin it is?"

In Jing'an Temple Hutong, besides Qi Laoye, who is the other Hanlin, are there any other Hanlins?

The old woman grumbled in her heart but did not dare to say much. Even though she knew which family it was, she still ran over to ask again.

"How could this happen?" Upon hearing this, the Fifth Madam slumped down in the sedan chair, feeling as if a huge rock was blocking her chest, making it hard for her to breathe.