Chapter 253: Unwilling

Dou Ming did not notice Han's abnormality. Dou Shishu and others who were sitting behind the screen were asking Song Mo questions, and she listened attentively.

"…At that time, my father wanted to ask Lord Yu to give me enlightenment, but Lord Yu refused again and again." Song Mo smiled, "It happened that I met the emperor in the Hanlin Academy that day. Seeing that my father was very angry, the emperor asked a question. My father was angry and complained about Lord Yu. The emperor laughed and said that Lord Yu was a 'stubborn donkey'. Instead of letting him teach me to be a little stubborn donkey, it would be better to choose another wise teacher. At that time, Lord Zhongyi was with the emperor, so the emperor pointed out Lord Zhongyi to give me enlightenment. From then on, I entered the palace at yin time and left the palace at you time every day, and studied with the prince and several princes. It was not until I was ten years old that Lord Zhongyi retired due to illness that I could sleep peacefully."

His tone was brisk, without a trace of dissatisfaction, but rather a hint of nostalgia and regret, which made Dou Shishu and others nod their heads continuously, thinking that this was the right attitude to adopt when studying.

"I was wondering how you ended up being a disciple of Lord Zhongyi." Dou Shiheng said with a smile, "I see! This is also your good fortune." Then he asked about the crown prince and several princes, "...how are their studies?"

How could Song Mo comment on it? He smiled and said, "Better than me."

Dou Shiheng wanted to ask more, but Dou Shishu thought that this was not the time to discuss this matter, so he smiled and took over the conversation, talking about Yu Lilai, who is now the dean of the academy, "...your father has good eyes. Mr. Yu's knowledge is first-class, but his temper is also very stubborn. The emperor let him preside over the compilation of "Wenhua Daxun", which can be regarded as the best use of his talents."

As a result, the topic turned to the emperor's ability to judge people. Dou Shiheng even said, "Master Yu is old and has little energy. I heard that the emperor intends to change someone to preside over the compilation of "Wenhua Daxun". Given Master Yu's personality, although he would be unhappy, if the emperor asked, he would definitely agree. I wonder who will take over the position of the president of the Hanlin Academy?"

Dou Shiying had obviously heard this, and said with a smile: "Anyway, with our qualifications, the position of President of the Hanlin Academy will never fall to us!"

Dou Shishu obviously heard such a rumor for the first time. He frowned and asked, "Who told you this?"

Dou Shiheng laughed and said, "The source is no longer traceable, it has already spread throughout the Hanlin Academy."

Dou Shishu couldn't help but rub his forehead when facing his two careless younger brothers.

If the position of President of the Hanlin Academy is based on seniority, what about those old Hanlin scholars who have more seniority than the President?

Looking at Dou Wenchang and others sitting at the table next to them, listening to their conversation with sharp eyes, Dou Shishu seemed to be hesitant to speak.

Seeing this, Song Mo smiled slightly and said, "It's probably because the last time the emperor summoned Lord Yu, he heard that Lord Yu suffered from rheumatism, which has become more and more serious in recent years. The little finger of his left hand can no longer be straightened. The emperor sympathized with Lord Yu's old age and exempted him from the court meeting, so this rumor spread." He said, jokingly, "Writing books is a lifetime honor for scholars, let alone a book that can be published with the emperor's preface! Even if Lord Yu is honest and incorruptible and does not cling to power, I'm afraid he will not retire at this time! Father-in-law and sixth uncle don't need to rush to prepare the ceremony!"

Dou Shiying laughed and said, "That makes sense!"

Dou Shiheng couldn't help but show an admiring look.

Dou Shishu's eyes lit up, and he twirled his beard and smiled.

Wei Tingyu sat aside and could not get a word in.

Also paying attention to what was happening outside the screen were Dou Zhao, his aunt, and Zhao Zhangru.

My aunt heaved a sigh of relief when she heard this.

Zhao Zhangru winked at Dou Zhao and whispered to her, "This son-in-law your uncle found for you is not bad!"

Dou Zhao, who had lived two lives, couldn't help but blush. He picked up a spring roll and put it in Zhao Zhangru's bowl, saying angrily, "These are all your favorite foods, and they can't stop you from eating!"

Zhao Zhangru laughed softly.

Dou Ming's face turned blue.

After lunch, Dou Zhao and Song Mo went to Huaishu Hutong to kowtow to the Second Lady, who was a widow and was not convenient to appear in such occasions.

The Fifth Madam would naturally accompany them. Dou Shiying thought that the Second Madam had insisted that Dou Zhao marry into the Ji family. If the Second Madam gave Song Mo a bad look, he could go along to smooth things over. Dou Shiheng thought that Dou Zhao would return home three days later, and they all had to take leave. In that case, they might as well take this opportunity to go and see their mother. However, if they did so, Ji would also have to go along to show her filial piety... Dou Shishu simply suggested that everyone go to Huaishu Hutong for dinner: "It's rare that everyone is here, let mother be happy too!"

The group went to Huaishu Hutong in the rain.

Dou Shiying's tough attitude towards Dou Zhao's marriage made the Second Lady feel uneasy. She was not sure whether Dou Zhao would bring her husband to pay respects to her. She was waiting at home anxiously, and suddenly saw a large group of people coming. She was overjoyed. Especially when she saw the handsome Song Mo, she could not help but be surprised. She looked at Dou Zhao, then at Song Mo, her expression was slightly gloomy, and she sighed deeply in her heart.

If she were Dou Shiying, she would also hold on to Song Mo and not let go, right?

The Fifth Madam was afraid that the Second Madam would say something that would ruin the atmosphere, so she hurriedly helped the Second Madam onto the big kang by the window and told Madam Liu to bring the futon over: "Fourth Aunt and Fourth Aunt are going to kowtow to the Madam!"

Nanny Liu was already prepared. Before the Fifth Madam finished speaking, she had already placed the futon in front of the Second Madam with a smile.

Dou Zhao and Song Mo kowtowed to the Second Madam.

The Second Lady gave the two of them a pair of glass cups as a gift.

This kind of glass cup is very rare to outsiders, but to the Dou family, who are related to the Ji family by marriage, it is just more valuable. However, in the eyes of the maids who are used to guessing their masters' thoughts, they just smile at each other.

A few days ago, Fifth Aunt and Fifth Aunt came to kowtow to Second Madam, and Second Madam rewarded them with 140 taels of silver. How can it compare to this pair of glass cups?

The tea served to Dou Zhao and Song Mo was still the same tea, and the cakes were still the same cakes, but the smiles were more attentive, the voices were softer, and the attitudes were more cautious.

Dou Shishu invited Dou Shiheng, Dou Shiying, Song Mo and Wei Tingyu to the study to talk, and no one else was invited. He only invited Wei Tingyu last, and he hesitated when inviting Wei Tingyu.

Wei Tingyu didn't feel anything, but Dou Ming, who had lived under the public eye since childhood, saw it clearly.

Her face turned pale. Seeing the Second Lady holding Dou Zhao's hand, and everyone sitting around them like stars surrounding the moon, laughing and chatting, she quietly went to the corridor outside the study.

Dou Shishu was chatting with Song Moxian, and the content of their conversation turned out to be the anecdotes of several great scholars in the cabinet.

Song Mo added a few sentences from time to time, and it was obvious that he was very familiar with these great scholars. Moreover, what he added were all the affirmations of several great scholars by the emperor, the prince, or the princes and ministers. This made Dou Shishu more interested, and even Dou Shiheng and Dou Shiying joined the discussion.

She never heard Wei Tingyu's voice.

After coming out of Huaishu Hutong, Dou Ming discussed with Wei Tingyu: "Why don't you go to Jinwuwei or something like that to get a job?"

Wei Tingyu looked at her as if she were a child asking for candy, with a hint of pampering: "How can it be that easy? The Jinwu Guard is a personal guard, and the number of personnel is limited. If there is no vacant position, it will be useless even if you spend money."

Dou Ming bit his lip and said, "How can Song Yantang enter the Jinwu Guard?"

"He's different." Wei Tingyu's tone revealed envy that he himself didn't even notice. "He was born with a fourth-rank rank. He was appointed to the Jinwu Guard by the emperor, and he was a third-rank commander right after he entered. The former Jinwu Guard vanguard commander was transferred to Henan Dusi as deputy commander because of this. He's the second son of Marquis Jingjiang! So they had to make room for him! Who else but the emperor could be so generous?"

Dou Ming's face flushed red, and he said unwillingly, "Then there is no other way?"

"Yes!" Wei Tingyu felt that it was very difficult and impossible to do it with his own ability, so he said it very easily, "After going through the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Personnel and the Five Military Commandery, when the Jinwu Guards are adjusted, you can find a job."

Dou Ming didn't say anything, but he was thinking in his mind that he could ask his father to go and say hello to the Ministry of Personnel because of his fifth uncle's relationship with him; he could ask his eldest uncle to go and say hello to the Ministry of War because of his grandfather's relationship with him; but he didn't know anyone at the Five Military Commandery... But everything depends on human effort... My grandfather had fought in wars for so many years, and he should have some connections with those generals and governors, and he could always get some help from some acquaintances...

Thinking of this, she felt relieved and told the driver, "Go to Liuyexiang Hutong!"

Wei Tingyu was startled and asked, "What are we going to Liuyexiang Hutong for?"

There is not even a single step towards this matter. If it fails, it will be a waste of time and effort. Wouldn't that make people even more disappointed?

Dou Ming decided not to tell Wei Tingyu about this for the time being, and said, "My father said that when my sister returns home, we should send my mother back to Liuye Lane. I want to ask my grandmother for advice."

It was Wei Tingzhen who told Wei Tingyu about this matter. At that time, he and Wei Tingzhen both believed that Wang Yingxue had been a member of the Dou family for more than ten years. Even if Dou Shiying was dissatisfied, he could just make a fuss and vent his temper, and then it would be over. They did not expect that the matter would become so serious.

He asked in shock: "Does my father-in-law really want to send my mother-in-law back to her parents' home?"

Dou Ming nodded and was not worried about it.

As long as my grandfather was around, my fifth uncle would definitely not allow my father to divorce my mother. At most, he would send my mother back to the Wang family to live for a few days.

"Don't worry, Lord Hou." She comforted Wei Tingyu, "Father only told mother to go back to her parents' home and live for a few days."

In a flash, Wei Tingyu suddenly realized that the reason Dou Shiying insisted on sending Wang Yingxue back to her parents' home this time was probably because Dou Ming had married Dou Zhao to him!

He closed his mouth.

But I was thinking of Dou Zhao in my heart.

It would be nice if I could have a few words with her alone.

Thinking back to the time when I accepted Dou Ming's invitation to go to Daxiangguo Temple, Dou Zhao was very sad and said that he believed there was nothing between me and Dou Ming. I accepted Dou Ming without even a word of explanation...

Thinking of this, he turned his head and looked out the window.

I don't know when the rain stopped, and the branches on the roadside are bare, which makes people feel desolate.

Winter is coming!