Chapter 225: Appointment

On August 12, the emperor moved from his summer palace in Xiyuan to the Forbidden City.

The team returning to the palace had flag bearers leading the way in front and Jinwu guards following behind. But after just a few dozen miles, they were a mighty force with flags flying. The people in front had entered the palace gate, while those behind had not yet left the summer palace, causing the people who were watching from afar to point and talk excitedly.

Song Mo finished his task and was about to leave the palace, but was invited to Cining Palace by Wang Yuan's godson Wang Ge.

Princess Jingfu's biological mother, Concubine Ning, was also present.

She sat down below the Empress Dowager with a smile on her face. When she saw Song Mo coming in, she stood up and whispered a few words to the Empress Dowager.

The Queen Mother nodded with a smile and looked at him with a very kind look.

"How is the Duke of England?" The Queen Mother called Song Mo over and started chatting with him in a friendly manner.

On weekdays, Concubine Ning seemed to be hesitant and had no idea what to do, but she was so decisive at the critical moment. She came to the Empress Dowager for help as soon as she entered the palace.

It seems that I still underestimated these concubines in the palace!

Song Mo was secretly ashamed, and answered the Queen Mother's questions with a respectful smile.

After a while, the Empress Dowager and the Concubine Shu came in hand in hand.

Seeing Song Mo, the Empress smiled and nodded to Song Mo. However, Concubine Shu was very surprised, and there was a hint of mockery in her eyes when she looked at Concubine Ning.

Song Mo didn't want to stand here and be remembered by others, and it was impossible for him to have anything to do with these people anymore.

He bowed with a smile, exchanged a few pleasantries, stood up, said goodbye, and returned to the Duke of England's mansion.

Yan Chaoqing told him: "The Duke submitted a memorial early in the morning and has now gone to the palace to ask to see the Emperor."

Song Mo smiled and said, "He must have gone to the palace to tell the emperor about my engagement with the Dou family." Otherwise, by the time the emperor's decree came down, he would have been engaged to Dou Zhao, and the decree would have become a joke - if the Song family broke off the engagement with the Dou family, the royal family would inevitably be accused of forcing their subjects to marry another woman; if the Song family did not break off the engagement with the Dou family, then where would the dignity of the royal family be?

The emperor returned to the palace and had just settled down when he heard that Song Yichun wanted to see him. Thinking that he might become his relative in the future, he put the prince's letter aside and met Song Yichun first.

But he never expected that Song Yichun came to see him in a hurry just to ask for a few more days of leave for Song Mo.

"So, you and the Dou family have already signed the marriage certificate, and the wedding date is set for the 24th of this month?" The emperor leaned on the big kang, his eyes, which seemed to be cloudy due to excessive drinking and sex, flashed a gleam of light, and his tone was very brisk, "Then you are not related to Dou Yuanji? This Dou Yuanji, in front of me, did not leak a single word!"

Song Yichun hurriedly said, "How dare I disturb the emperor's peace with my family affairs?"

The emperor said nothing more and waved his hand.

Song Yichun retreated respectfully.

The emperor's face darkened.

Wang Ge walked in with a smile on his face: "Your Majesty, the Queen Mother asks you to come over and talk." He added, "The Queen Mother, Concubine Ning, and Concubine Shu are all here."

Wang Yuan, who was serving nearby, couldn't help but glare at Wang Ge fiercely.

Wang Ge was slightly surprised.

The emperor threw the memorial in his hand onto the desk.

Song Yichun wiped the sweat off his forehead and went home.

Hearing that Song Mo had returned, he ordered the servant to call Song Mo over.

If Song Mo knew what kind of marriage I had arranged for him, his expression would definitely be very interesting.

Song Yichun couldn't help but reveal a smug smile.

The servant came back and said, "The prince has gone out."

It was as if he had drunk some wine and was slightly tipsy, floating lightly as if he was walking on the clouds, but someone hit him on the head and he fell down from the clouds.

Song Yichun shouted, "What a bunch of idiots! Where did the prince go?"

The servant shuddered and said in fear and trepidation, "I don't know either! The people in Yizhitang only said that the prince went to meet a friend, but I didn't dare to ask who it was..." He muttered, and his body shrank involuntarily, looking like he was ready to be beaten.

Song Yichun was so angry that his chest heaved. After thinking it over, he finally decided not to bother with the boy.

At this moment, Song Mo quickly hid in the shadow of a nearby flower tree. After two night watchwomen walked past, talking and laughing in low voices, he picked up a small stone from under the tree and hit Dou Zhao's window frame with a "bang".

The light was still on in Dou Zhao's inner room, but there was no movement for a long while.

Song Mo was not in a hurry and threw a stone over every few minutes.

Dou Zhao was leaning against the bedside reading a book, so focused that he didn't notice these things. But Su Xin, who was sewing nearby, had an idea and quietly opened the window a little, and saw Song Mo standing under the shadow of the tree.

"Miss, the prince is here." She said in a low voice.

Dou Zhao was shocked.

The emperor had just returned to the palace and the guards had to be changed, so she thought she would not be able to see Song Mo until tomorrow morning.

"Let's talk in his room!" Dou Zhao said, changed his clothes, and went to the unlit hall.

Su Xin opened the door for Song Mo.

Song Mo handed Su Xin two boxes of snacks and said, "Pea yellow from the palace."

Su Xin lowered her head and glanced at Dou Zhao.

No one knows better than her and Mr. Chen why the Fourth Miss wants to meet the Crown Prince.

Her hands trembled as she took the snack... She quickly knelt down, thanked him politely, served him tea, and left.

Song Mo asked Dou Zhao: "What urgent matter do you want to talk to me about?"

Dou Zhao didn't know what to say for a moment.

Song Mo didn't ask, but sat there quietly waiting for her to speak.

The bright moonlight shines through the window lattice, sparse as snow.

"I'm sorry." Dou Zhao said guiltily, "When you asked me if I was willing to marry you, I knew your father would never agree to marry you, so I said that if we were destined to be together, we would naturally become husband and wife..."

The clever Song Mo can appreciate elegance by hearing the music.

His mind went blank and his face turned pale.

Dou Zhao was a little afraid to look at him.

He lowered his head and murmured, "This is all my fault. I'm sorry..."

"I understand!" Song Mo came back to his senses and said softly, "Don't worry, I will take care of this matter."

His voice was very light, like the clouds floating around the crescent moon, which would dissipate in the blink of an eye, yet it gave one a sense of inexplicable firmness. He didn't need to raise his voice too loudly or show too many expressions to make you believe that he would do what he promised, and this made one feel at ease.

"I'm sorry!" Dou Zhao apologized to Song Mo again, but for some reason, her heart ached and tears filled her eyes in an instant.

She quickly closed her eyes, trying hard to hold back the tears.

"It's okay." Song Mo didn't even look at her, but looked at the moon outside the window and whispered, "I didn't think it through at the time..."

Or maybe he didn't even think about it!

Song Mo couldn't help but curl his lips in self-mockery.

If she breaks off the engagement with me again and the news gets out, it will be difficult for her to find a husband in the future.

She's so smart, how could she not think of it?

I'm afraid he has other plans?

But he barged in self-righteously.

Like a fool.

Fortunately, Dou Zhao still trusted me and left the matter to me.

Is this another kind of comfort?

Song Mo thought with a hint of sarcasm, and Ji Yong's shadow suddenly appeared in his mind.

He was slightly stunned.

Or, is this the reason why the Dou family allowed the Dou Zhao sisters to remarry?

But in a flash, he suppressed this thought in his heart.

Or maybe his self-esteem didn't allow him to think any further.

It would make him look like a jerk.

Song Mo felt bitter and sad, as if he was sitting on a bed of needles and felt.

He stood up and said, "Then I'll go first!"

Dou Zhao knew that he had hurt Song Mo.

There are some things that, unless she forces herself, there is no way to avoid hurting others.

But sometimes, speaking insincerely can do more harm than telling the truth.

Especially when facing other people's sincerity, it becomes hypocrisy.

"I'm sorry! I just don't want to get married." Dou Zhao stood up and explained hastily. His voice sounded dry and no longer cheerful as usual. "Let me see you off!"

Is that so?

Song Mo pursed his lips and said, "In order to avoid being seen by others and giving people a chance to gossip." As he said that, he strode forward and opened the door.

The bright moonlight shines in.

His figure was tall and lean, strong but lonely, with a kind of loneliness that made him feel isolated from the world.

Dou Zhao stood under the eaves, watching Song Mo walking away, thinking about the two boxes of snacks, and felt very uncomfortable.

After today's separation, given Song Mo's arrogance, they might never see each other again!

How would he break up their engagement?

Taking advantage of Princess Shang? Or the conflict with Song Yichun?

What would others say about him?

After he already had a reputation as a wanton killer?

"Song Yantang!" Dou Zhao couldn't help but call him softly, "I will feel unwell early tomorrow morning. You...don't do anything..."

What is this?

Give him a slap and then give him a date?

Song Mo couldn't help but turn around and said with a smile: "I'm afraid your idea won't work - my father is in urgent need of finding me a wife with problems!"

He smiled and teased himself, his voice was so gentle and yet so hypocritical.

But at least it can make me look less fierce!

Dou Zhao couldn't laugh.

In two lifetimes, only Song Mo would take her words to heart.

She stepped forward and whispered, "Since your father is willing to pay twenty thousand taels of silver as a betrothal gift, he must not want to break up with you. I have a serious illness, if the news gets out, he can't just ignore it." At this point, she couldn't help but raise her eyebrows, "Even if he wants to ignore it, I will make sure he can't ignore it!"

Dou Zhao's expression was serious and earnest, and Song Mo had no doubt about her determination.

But if this happens, what will the elders of the Ji family say?

Dou Zhao's strong self-confidence made Song Mo silent for a moment.

He thought of their first meeting at the farm, her life-saving grace of sending people from thousands of miles away to help him, and her guilty look just now...

Song Mo felt a chill in his heart.

She always has her own opinions!

I'm just worrying about nothing.

Song Mo felt that he should feel relieved, but strangely, he felt a slight sense of loss in his heart.

But his mind was in a mess and he just wanted to leave here as soon as possible.

He ignored all the emotions in his heart, smiled and nodded at Dou Zhao, then turned and left again.

In front of us is the Ruyi Gate with dripping masts of the Dou family’s main courtyard.

After that, he and Dou Zhao had no contact anymore.

By helping Dou Zhao break off her engagement with him, he was also repaying her for saving his life.

From then on, the two of them became strangers, and even being just nodding acquaintances would make each other uncomfortable, right?

Do the two of you really have to go that far?

Song Mo's steps paused, and he turned around involuntarily to glance at Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao stood under the eaves, the moonlight and the shadow of the eaves divided her face into two parts.

In the moonlight, the round and white chin is as white as jade, and it also radiates the same luster as jade.

In the shadow of the eaves, her pair of bright eyes were as deep as a spring, staring at him quietly in the darkness, as if it had been years since he turned away and she would never see her again!

Song Mo's heart sank for no reason as he recalled what she had just said.

"I just don't want to get married!"

Is this really true?

Song Mo couldn't help but turn around and walk towards Dou Zhao.

He should not be the kind of person who runs away when faced with difficulties.

If this is a wound, he would rather let the wound become deeper and heal slowly in the future than let the confusion grow into a permanent thorn in his heart.

"Dou Zhao," Song Mo stood in front of her, "Do you not want to marry me, or do you just not want to get married?"

This is the first time that a person has asked his own question so clearly.

Dou Zhao said sincerely, "I don't want to get married." She looked at his pale face under the moonlight and added, "It doesn't matter who it is!"

Song Mo's eyes suddenly lit up, dazzling Dou Zhao.

"Why?" he asked, "Why don't you want to get married? Is it just because you are afraid that it will be too hard after getting married? Then you have been in charge of Xidou's Zhongfu these years, isn't it hard? You will have to survive between your nephews in the future, isn't it hard? Why don't you want to get married? The fourth daughter of the Dou family that I know is not a person who fears difficulties!"