Chapter 228-11

Ji Yong was able to leave the study thanks to his participation in the compilation of Wenhua Daxun - he couldn't not work in the government office, right?

But he always felt empty inside and couldn't muster the energy to do anything.

Why did he and Dou Zhao end up like this?

What went wrong?

Is he too stubborn? Or is Dou Zhao too biased?

Ji Yong sat in the spacious and bright beamless hall of the Imperial Archives, absent-mindedly flipping through the daily records of Emperor Taizong. Every detail of his acquaintance with Dou Zhao flashed through his mind like pictures.

There was her teasing when she teased him, "Be careful to pass the imperial examination and come back as a fellow Jinshi"; there was her regret when she disappointedly said to herself, "I don't want you to be like Dou Ming"; and there was her anger when she scolded herself for "never seeing each other again"... But every time he thought of it, it was warm, happy, full of vitality and infinite fun. Unlike in his great-grandfather's study, all emotions had a calculation that could be influenced, and all calculations had a predictable result. Life seemed to be fixed and the same things were repeated every day.

At this moment, Ji Yong wanted to see Dou Zhao more than ever before.

He wanted to know whether Dou Zhao would be furious or would stare at Dou Shiying coldly with his cold eyes...

Ji Yong closed the diary and smiled to the eunuch standing by: "I suddenly feel very dizzy. Can you find a place for me to lie down and pour me a cup of maltose water..."

How could a small seventh-rank editor order the eunuchs in the imperial palace around?

The eunuch rolled his eyes and said in a sinister tone, "Since the editor is not feeling well, why don't you come back next time to borrow the Emperor Taizong's daily records?"

Ji Yong signed his name on the borrowing record, left the Imperial History Museum, and headed straight for Jing'an Temple Hutong.

※※※※※

Dou Zhao sat on the big kang by the window, holding a carved headband he was making for his grandmother, and didn't move a stitch for a long while.

Su Xin, who came in carrying autumn pears and melons, saw this and couldn't help but sigh in her heart.

When Dou Zhao and Song Mo were talking, she was standing next to the floor-to-ceiling column under the veranda.

Miss doesn't want to get married, but the prince treats her sincerely, and she must know it in her heart. Miss must be afraid that after she gets married, the prince will change his mind like the old man treated the deceased Madam Zhao, so she is so worried and hesitant, right?

Although the prince is younger than the young lady, he has always been steady. He visited the young lady in Zhending several times, and he always found ways to go there without letting anyone notice. If the young lady marries him, I dare not say anything else, but with the support of the husband's family like the Duke of Ying, the dowry under her name will definitely be able to be taken back. Even if she can't live with the prince in the future, finding a quiet farm to live in is better than the current life of paying for one thing and dealing with another - at that time, the prince will be the young lady's husband, and the young lady only needs to deal with the prince.

She sighed inwardly, then smiled as she took Dou Zhao's needlework and said, "You've been sewing for several days. Watch out. It's not too late to take a break and eat some fruit before continuing. It's still a long way to the New Year!"

Dou Zhao said "Oh" and came to his senses, feeling a little embarrassed.

I was planning to make a headband for my grandmother for the New Year, but I only sewed a few stitches in the past few days. Most of the time I was just daydreaming.

But as she looked at the fruit in front of her, her attention began to wander again.

That night, Song Mo's words, "At least, Chen Qushui and Duan Gongyi can follow you openly," touched her heart.

In his previous life, the women who were given to him as gifts could follow him if they wanted to, and marry someone else if they wanted to. Given the friendship between him and me, there was no need to worry about not being able to live the life the way she wanted!

If I marry Song Mo, at least I don't have to be submissive in front of my husband like I would if I married someone else.

Just thinking about it can make her heart beat!

But if she really married Song Mo, Song Yichun's inexplicable conspiracy against Song Mo, the secrets of the Duke of Ying's Mansion, and the palace coup four years later, would all be like huge obstacles in the sky, blocking her way.

Can she get over it?

Does she have the ability to help Song Mo get through this?

Even if she can finally get through this difficult time, what price will she pay?

If she doesn't marry Song Mo, the marriage with the Ji family will fail, and the Dou family will break their promise, and they will have to pay a heavy price to compensate the Ji family. Dong Dou will not let it go like this, and will definitely suppress and contain her, or even plot against her.

Although she was not afraid, the thought of having to live like this for a long time in the future made her feel bored.

Now, Song Mo has given her a chance to get rid of all this, should she take this step?

Dou Zhao was in a dilemma.

Thinking back to her previous life, she had wolves in front and tigers behind, but she married Wei Tingyu with her eyes closed. She didn't have so much hesitation at that time.

In this life, I have a choice, but I don’t know how to make it.

Is it true that the more choices we have, the easier it is for people to get confused?

Or is it that she is not yet capable of assessing the situation and taking a bird's-eye view?

Dou Zhao asked Su Xin: "Didn't Mr. Chen come to see me?"

"No!" Su Xin brought Dou Zhao a cup of fragrant Yunwu tea.

She hoped that Dou Zhao could discuss the issue with Uncle Chen, so that the young lady wouldn't have to sit here alone and ponder over the issue.

But for some reason, Mr. Chen never came to see the lady.

Dou Zhao said, "Go and ask Mr. Chen to come over."

Su Xin nodded happily.

A little maid came in and reported: "Fourth Miss, Master Ji wants to see you!"

Dou Zhao was very surprised and asked, "Which Lord Ji wants to see you?"

After her marriage was arranged, her father's health recovered quickly. He went to the yamen to work every day with high spirits. After work, he happily went to the homes of his close friends or superiors to deliver invitations, and came back very late.

The maid smiled and said, "Of course it's my cousin!" She then said smartly, "Yuqiao Hutong must have received your invitation. My cousin knows that you are getting married, so he came to congratulate you."

Dou Zhao couldn't help but nodded secretly.

Ji Yong knew that she was going to get married, but she didn't think about how to embarrass Song Mo and wash away the shame. Instead, she came to find herself. No matter why, she was much more rational than before.

She told the maid, "Please invite cousin Ji to the flower hall to serve tea."

The little maidservant left immediately.

Su Xin asked worriedly, "Miss, do you want to tell the Sixth Madam?"

She was afraid that Ji Yong would make a fuss and tell others that the Ji family had once wanted to propose to Dou Zhao. If someone found out that Dou Zhao had not yet broken off the engagement and linked it to the Dou sisters' easy marriage, they might think that the young lady was the instigator, which would be troublesome!

"No need." Sixth Aunt felt that she had married worse and worse each time, which was already sad enough. Dou Zhao didn't want to bother Sixth Aunt about this matter anymore. She said calmly, "This is Jing'an Temple Hutong. If they think the food in Huaishu Hutong is better than that in Jing'an Temple Hutong, then they can go to Huaishu Hutong to work."

Su Xin knew that Dou Zhao was really angry.

She couldn't help but feel ashamed, and said "yes" respectfully. She helped Dou Zhao change his clothes, and then accompanied him to the flower hall.

When Ji Yong saw her, she complained, "Why are you dawdling? I have things to do!"

It's as if those quarrels and hurtful words had never happened.

Dou Zhao suddenly felt like he had returned to Zhending.

Ji Yong was reading in Xidou and teasing the monks; she was confident about canceling the marriage with the Wei family, and she and Ji Yong had a joke in their spare time. Both of them felt that life was very beautiful and were full of longing for the future...

Dou Zhao's eyes suddenly became a little moist.

She asked Ji Yong: "What do you want to talk to me about?"

Ji Yong asked: "Are you planning to marry Song Mo?"

Dou Zhao thought for a moment and said, "To be honest with you, can you please not just do things according to your own preferences?"

Ji Yong asked, "Just because I see you make a mistake, do I have to let you continue to make mistakes?"

"You are not a fish, how do you know the joy of fish?" Dou Zhao said, "I didn't ask you for help, so you shouldn't interfere."

Ji Yong lowered his head and thought for a long time, then he stared into Dou Zhao's eyes with wide eyes, "Is that why you are angry?"

"Yes!" Dou Zhao did not avoid it and met his gaze frankly. "I may not be as good as you, but you should respect my choice. Not only me, but also your friends, classmates, classmates, colleagues, and even family members. Everyone has their own preferences, and these preferences are inseparable from everyone's experience. You can ignore those who have different preferences from you, but you can't ridicule others."

"We're talking about you, why are you dragging in a bunch of irrelevant people?" Ji Yong didn't want to listen to Dou Zhao's lecture, and said, "I won't interfere in your business." He couldn't help but sarcastically said, "I'm waiting to see you fall to the bottom of the pit and can't climb out, and see if you will ask me for help!"

Such childishness made Dou Zhao couldn't help laughing.

Ji Yonghu's face turned red.

Dou Zhao hurriedly sat up straight and said seriously: "I haven't decided whether to marry Song Mo. But I am indeed a little moved."

Ji Yong was furious and said, "That kid is good for nothing except his background. You don't know..." He told Dou Zhao about Song Mo's killing of innocent people, "... and not only did he make friends with the eunuchs, he also colluded with Gu Yu from the Yunyang Earl's family, engaged in speculation and dealing with the clerks in the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Personnel all day long. He is not a decent person at all. You should think carefully about whether you want to marry such a person or not!" Finally, he couldn't help but say, "If you don't want to marry her, I have a way to make the Song family cancel the engagement, and it won't damage your reputation!"

"Thank you!" Dou Zhao thanked him sincerely, and said, "If I want to break off the engagement with the Song family, I will definitely consult you."

It's as good as saying nothing.

Ji Yong turned away.

After leaving the Dou family, he realized that he did not ask what he should have asked, nor said what he should have said. Instead, he just talked a lot of nonsense.

But his mood improved.

Is it because Dou Zhao agrees with his actions?

Ji Yong stood in front of the gate of Jing'an Temple, looking at the two stone lions over ten feet tall in front of the gate, and couldn't help muttering to himself.

When do you need others' affirmation to feel that something is right?

He needs to think carefully about this matter!

Dou Zhao's words may not be entirely correct.

Ji Yong fell into deep thought.