Chapter 255 Status

Song Han had never thought that he would be able to follow his brother to burn incense for his mother. A few traces of red appeared on his usually pale face. He timidly called out "Brother", unable to hide the joy between his brows.

Song Mo felt a pang in his heart and patted his shoulder gently.

Song Han, however, grinned.

Song Mo's eyes turned cold, and he asked sharply, "What's wrong?"

Song Han lowered his head and said sullenly, "It's nothing."

Song Mo sneered and pulled down his collar.

Two purple marks loomed on Song Han's shoulders.

"He hit you?!" Veins popped out on Song Mo's forehead and his bright eyes flashed with coldness.

"No, no." Song Han murmured, "I bumped into it accidentally." He looked a little panicked, "Really, I bumped into it myself." As if afraid that Song Mo would have a conflict with his father, he held Song Mo's hand tightly, with pleading look in his eyes.

There was a gleam of tears in the corners of Song Mo's eyes.

He was silent for a long while, then whispered, "If he hits you again, run away and beg for mercy loudly - he cares about his reputation the most, and he definitely doesn't want anyone to know. Don't just stand there and let him do whatever he wants."

He seemed to feel again the heart-wrenching pain when his father's whip fell on his back that day... He hugged his brother's shoulders tightly.

"I understand!" Song Han smiled at Song Mo, his smile was pale and weak. Dou Zhao couldn't help but wonder, if Song Yichun really hit him again, whether he would have the courage to resist as Song Mo said.

Song Mo ordered Chen He to get two bottles of the best golden medicine, then pointed at Dou Zhao and said, "Your sister-in-law!" and motioned him to salute Dou Zhao.

Song Han stepped forward shyly, bowed respectfully, and called out "Sister-in-law".

Dou Zhao gave him a purse filled with 20 taels of silver and said with a smile, "I'll buy you some snacks."

Song Han immediately realized that there were banknotes in his purse, and he quickly said, "I don't want it!"

Song Mo smiled and said, "Your sister-in-law gave it to you, so just take it. If you can't find me for anything in the future, go and tell your sister-in-law."

Song Han said "hmm", took the purse, and looked at Dou Zhao with curiosity.

Dou Zhao smiled at him friendly, and with the help of Song Mo, he got into the carriage.

Song Han and Song Mo mounted their horses, and followed Dou Zhao's carriage, one on the left and one on the right, out of the Yingguo Mansion Hutong.

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The ancestral tomb of the Song family is located in a Feng Shui treasure land in Daxing County, with mountains behind and water in front. There are loyal servants who once followed the ancestors of the Song family in battles and have lived here for generations as tomb keepers. After hundreds of years of reproduction, the original two or three families have formed a small village called Songjiazhuang.

When Dou Zhao and others arrived, the head of Songjia Village, who had already received the news, led the whole village, young and old, to welcome them at the entrance of the village.

Song Mo and Song Han dismounted, talked cordially with the head of the village, and then, accompanied by several elders, they went up the hill with the sacrifices of whole pigs and sheep.

Dou Zhao, wearing a veiled hat, was supported by Sulan and Suxin, following behind Song Mo.

The tomb built of white marble is clean and tidy, and it is obvious that someone has been cleaning it all year round.

Song Mo and a few others burned incense for Jiang. Song Mo then stood alone at Jiang's grave and muttered to himself for a long time before they went down the hill.

The village head invited them to have lunch.

Song Mo declined politely: "I have to go to the palace to work in the afternoon. I will come back to burn incense for my mother during the winter solstice."

The head of the manor repeatedly praised Song Mo for his filial piety and was very attentive. He personally sent them out of Songjia Manor.

Song Mo smiled and asked Song Han: "Is there any place you want to go? I'll give you half a day off today, and let Chen He accompany you to relax for half a day."

Song Han's eyes sparkled, but after hesitating for a long time, he finally said, "I'll stay with my brother!"

Song Mo laughed and said, "There is a long way to go. You have to think carefully. If you miss this opportunity, you will never have it again. Will you accompany your brother, or go to East Street, Baiyun Temple, or Daxiangguo Temple?" Then, before Song Han could speak, he smiled and said, "Go ahead. Let Chen He accompany you for a walk. If you see something you like, your brother will pay for it for you." He also tempted him, "Don't you want to buy a paper-thinning enamel like Gu Yu's? Take this opportunity to go to Yubaoxuan to see if there is anything suitable." Then he joked, "I think Jifen Pavilion must have it, but I'm afraid that people will say that your sister-in-law just got married, and we brothers went to the Dou family to ask for money. Forget about Jifen Pavilion."

Song Han still wanted to decline.

Song Mo sighed, "This is all I can do for you right now. We'll be waiting for you in Zuixianlou. Once you've picked out your stuff, just go straight to Zuixianlou."

Seeing Song Mo's sincerity, Song Han's eyes turned red, and he asked Dou Zhao shyly and with a hint of flattery: "Sister-in-law, is there anything you want to buy? I'll bring it back for you."

"I've already paid a huge sum of money to my father before I got married," Dou Zhao joked, "and now I really can't think of anything to buy. When I think of something, you can't refuse!"

"No, no!" Song Han assured hurriedly, looking very serious, and Dou Zhao didn't know what to say.

Song Mo gave the horse to Chen He and got into Dou Zhao's carriage.

The group went their separate ways on the official road.

Song Han was accompanied by Chen He into the city, and they went to the estate that the emperor had given to Song Mo.

Yan Chaoqing had arrived a long time ago and was waiting in the yard with a group of people.

In addition to Lu Ming and Xia Lian, Dou Zhao also saw a tall, thin scholar with legs like a heron, who was said to be Liao Bifeng, another aide to Song Mo. There was also a handsome middle-aged man named Zhong Bingxiang, who had just come from Guangdong. He was the head clerk of Song Mo's Thirteen Hongs in Guangdong...

After the ceremony, Song Mo left Zhong Bingxiang behind and told him, "From now on, the profits from the shop in Quanzhou will be handed over directly to Madam."

The shop in Quanzhou has the best profit among all the shops.

Zhong Bingxiang responded respectfully and couldn't help but look at Dou Zhao twice before retreating.

Now that they are married, the expenses of the inner and outer courts should be clearly distinguished.

Dou Zhao gladly accepted.

Song Mo took her to the backyard.

A thin, fair-skinned, and very ordinary-looking young man walked out of the woods.

"This is Du Wei." Song Mo introduced him to Dou Zhao implicitly, "He used to work for the Duke of Dingguo's Mansion. My fifth uncle gave him to me, and now he helps me manage a few shops in Kyoto."

Dou Zhao understood immediately.

This person helps Song Mo gather information. He is one of Song Mo's trump cards and Song Mo's secret force.

"Prince!" Her eyes were sad and her chest was swollen, like a dam filled with water, which would overflow if she was not careful.

Song Mo made a gesture to indicate that there was no need to say more and said, "Since you and I are husband and wife, there are some things that should not be kept secret from you."

Dou Zhao was afraid that tears would fall, so he turned his face away.

Dou Zhao like this made Song Mo feel strange yet inexplicably palpitating, just like when he was a child and did well in his homework and received generous praise from his mother, and even a bit of joy. This inexplicable feeling came so quickly that he didn't know what to do for a moment, so he had to cover it up and joked: "If you have anything, you can also tell Du Wei. Otherwise, you will be like a blind man groping in the dark and get yourself into trouble. You still need me to rescue you. I am doing this for my own good..."

This beautiful boy in front of me is so nice to me, but he always seems to be afraid that I am unwilling to accept his kindness, as if he is afraid that I will feel hurt in my self-esteem, and he tries his best to downplay his kindness... Could it be that I performed so poorly that he has no confidence in me?

Dou Zhao suddenly felt that there was no need to bring her previous forbearance to the Duke of Ying's Mansion. With this thought in mind, she immediately relaxed and was filled with joy. She couldn't help but burst out laughing and said, "Don't worry, I'm a very timid person. If it's something like touching an elephant, I will definitely push you to the front. There are not many opportunities for you to get involved. I'm afraid you won't have much chance to be busy!"

Song Mo blushed slightly when he thought about how she had once saved his life and how she had once forced him into a corner. However, he did not refute what she said.

Although Du Wei was responsible for helping Song Mo collect and deliver information, Song Mo might not let others know about some things that happened to him. Du Wei didn't know why Song Mo acquiesced to this statement, but he could feel Song Mo's trust in Dou Zhao, and this trust was not just ordinary trust, but the kind of trust that he could trust with his back to the other person.

He couldn't help but look at Dou Zhao in surprise and lowered his head deeply.

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Coming out of the farm, Dou Zhao said with a smile, "It's getting late. We have to hurry to Zuixianlou. If the Second Master gets there before us, we'll be in trouble!"

"What kind of Second Master is he? Just call him by his nickname." Song Mo said with a smile, "If there is any problem, Chen He will handle it. Nothing will happen."

Dou Zhao knew that it was a bit strange for her to call Song Han like that, but whenever she thought that Song Mo might fall out with Song Han one day, for some reason, she couldn't get close to Song Han.

Maybe, after she finds out why Song Yichun treats Song Mo like this, she will change her mind towards Song Han?

Dou Zhao pondered over it, and went to Zuixianlou with Song Mo.

Song Mo told her: "I have booked a private room in Zuixianlou. We will have lunch before going back."

"Is this okay?" Dou Zhao was stunned.

Song Mo smiled slyly and said, "It's a rare trip. If you can't have fun, you have to have a good meal, right?"

Just like when he took himself to Jiangmixiang Hutong, he could see the six government offices.

Today, he took himself to Zuixianlou for dinner.

Dou Zhao smiled and said "OK", turned her back, quietly wiped the corners of her eyes, fixed her makeup, and then got off the carriage with Song Mo.

In her previous life, she had only heard of Zuixianlou but had never set foot there.

Song Han hasn't arrived yet.

The private room Song Mo booked was called Canghai Pavilion, on the top floor of Zuixian Tower. The room was furnished with a full set of mahogany furniture, and porcelain from the Ru kiln and Ding kiln were displayed. On the walls hung authentic calligraphy and paintings by famous artists of the previous dynasties, and gauze curtains donated by Jiangnan weaving factories. When one opened the windows, half of Kyoto could be seen.

Excellent geographical location, valuable furnishings. Although it was his first time here, Dou Zhao could already foresee how luxurious it would be to have a meal here.

Song Mo pointed to a vaguely visible street in the distance and said to her: "Whenever the emperor moved from the Forbidden Palace to the Western Garden to escape the summer heat, he would pass by there. Many people specially booked Canghai Pavilion to watch the parade..."

"Can you see clearly?" Dou Zhao asked with a smile, but his eyes fell on a crowded snack shop opposite Zuixianlou.