Chapter 267: Visit

Princess Ningde's banquet room is decorated with flower trees planted in flower pots. Although it is late autumn, the trees are still lush and green.

When Dou Zhao walked in, he couldn't help but feel refreshed. He stepped forward respectfully and paid his respects to Princess Ningde who was sitting on the Luohan bed.

Princess Ningde was startled and said, "Get up quickly! Get up quickly! There is no need to perform a grand ceremony."

Lu Shi's wife, Mrs. Lu Er, who came with her, hurried forward to embrace her.

Dou Zhao refused to get up, saying: "If it weren't for your advice, I wouldn't even know what clothes to wear to enter the palace today, let alone receive rewards from the Empress Dowager and the Empress, and be named 'Madam' in advance by the Emperor." He paid great tribute to Princess Ningde.

When you do good things, you don't necessarily need to ask for anything in return, but it can make you feel very happy when someone expresses their sincere gratitude for you.

Princess Ningde laughed and pointed to the empty seat beside her: "Sit down and talk."

Dou Zhao naturally wouldn't be so arrogant.

She thanked him with a smile and sat on the embroidered cushion below Princess Ningde.

Princess Ningde nodded secretly after seeing this. After the maids served tea and snacks, she asked about her visit to the palace: "Where did the Empress Dowager meet you? Who led you in? Is the Empress Dowager all right?"

Dou Zhao answered carefully, and said, "...The Empress Dowager heard from you that I could play mahjong, and she even asked the Crown Prince to bring me into the palace when he had time to play mahjong with her."

Princess Ningde smiled and said, "I heard that you grew up in Zhending with the Dou family's madam. I guess you always showed filial piety to her, so you got such a good hand!"

Dou Zhao was embarrassed.

Because of the memories of her previous life and her dislike in this life, although they lived together in Zhending, she seldom accompanied the Second Lady for entertainment. She would play mahjong, but this was because she had often been filial to Mrs. Tian in her previous life.

But no matter what, Princess Ningde's intention to mention her in front of the Queen Mother gave her a rare opportunity, and she thanked Princess Ningde again.

Princess Ningde smiled and said, "We are one family and don't talk behind each other's backs. When your second aunt entered the palace, I also gave her some advice, but she didn't have the luck you have. It seems that this kind of thing also depends on who is involved."

Mrs. Lu couldn't help but blush.

Dou Zhao said hurriedly: "Man proposes, God disposes. But the princess's kindness has made us remember it in our hearts, and we are very grateful."

Mrs. Lu nodded continuously.

Dou Zhao suddenly sighed, "Everyone knows that the closest people in this world are blood relatives. Even if the bones are broken, the tendons are still connected. But when something happens, some people would rather give benefits to others than to their own blood relatives. They also say something like 'giving benefits to others is still a favor, and you can get a compliment from others; if you give benefits to relatives, those relatives will take it for granted, not only will they not say a word of praise, but if things go wrong, they will blame you for being incompetent, and you will have to help them clean up the mess'... They didn't expect that at the critical moment of life and death, it is still those relatives who can help you wholeheartedly and regardless of gains and losses."

Princess Ningde listened with a slight frown, lowered her head and drank a sip of tea, and said leisurely: "But at the critical moment of life and death, those who took advantage of your misfortune and put you to death were also your blood relatives..."

"Yes!" Dou Zhao responded with a bright smile, saying, "Look at me, look at you still saying these things - it can be seen that relatives, like friends, must be distinguished into good and bad, and we cannot just look at the closeness, nor can we always condone and accommodate." Then she changed the subject and said with a smile, "The prince said that we should confer the title of the prince's wife. The court has rules. The emperor has issued a special decree to confer titles, which is rare in this dynasty. It is also the emperor's favor to us, and we should celebrate it well. We want to take advantage of the good weather these few days and hold a chrysanthemum viewing banquet at home tomorrow, inviting relatives and friends to come home to liven up the atmosphere." As she spoke, she smiled and glanced at Mrs. Lu Er, "Princess and second cousin are also invited to come."

Mrs. Lu Er had known about this before, so she didn't mind. However, Princess Ningde was very surprised and asked the maid beside her, "What day is tomorrow?"

The palace maid smiled and replied: "Tomorrow is the fourth day of the New Year."

Princess Ningde thought for a moment and said, "I have nothing to do tomorrow...so let's go there early in the morning." The last sentence was an instruction to Mrs. Lu Er.

Mrs. Lu Er responded respectfully.

Dou Zhao was also very happy.

After chatting for a while, she stood up and said goodbye.

Mrs. Lu Er saw Dou Zhao out.

Princess Ningde was helped back to the inner chamber by a female official who looked like a palace maid.

"The daughter-in-law of Yantang is quite interesting!" She smiled at the female official, "Every word she says has a deep meaning."

The female official obviously understood what Princess Ningde said, and asked respectfully, "Are you going to the Duke of Ying's mansion tomorrow?"

"Go! Why not?" Princess Ningde said with a smile, "What she said makes some sense. When the Duke Dingguo's Mansion was in trouble, Yantang helped and ran around. A biological son should not be any more than this!" As she spoke, her smile gradually faded and her voice became lower. "Han'er and Qin'er are both older than Yantang, but they are not as good as Yantang. The Lu family has already shown signs of decline. If Yantang can take care of them, perhaps one or two of Han'er and Qin'er's children and grandchildren can support the family..."

The female official was shocked and said hurriedly: "Princess, you are too kind. I think Master Han and Master Qin are filial and sensible..."

Ningde Changgong listened and waved his hands, interrupting the female official with some displeasure: "You have served me since you were a child, and our relationship is extraordinary. Others can say such polite words, but you cannot."

The female official blushed and lowered her head.

Princess Ningde looked at it, sighed, and murmured, "It depends on what kind of person Dou is! If she is grateful, I don't mind lending her some help... It depends on what choice she will make..." After that, she sipped the tea carefully as if she was waiting for something.

For a moment, the room was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

The female official held her breath and concentrated, not daring to make a sound.

After a while, a servant came in hurriedly.

"Princess," he reported, "the Crown Prince's wife went to the Second Elder's residence."

Upon hearing this, Princess Ningde let out a long sigh, ordered the female official to reward the boy with one or two taels of silver, and smiled with delight.

※※※※※

Dou Zhaotian returned to the Duke of Ying's Mansion at dusk, and happened to meet Song Mo and Yan Chaoqing coming out of the study.

"Have you had dinner?" Song Mo asked Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao shook his head and said, "After leaving Old Madam Lu's place, I went to the Marquis of Yan'an's Mansion and the Duke of Jing's Mansion and invited people from the Wang and Zhang families to a banquet. Since I have decided to treat them as relatives, I might as well do it as soon as possible."

Song Mo nodded and said, "I haven't had dinner yet, why don't we eat together!"

Yan Chaoqing hurriedly said goodbye.

Dou Zhao felt a little embarrassed.

Song Mo went to the hall as if nothing had happened.

Dou Zhao had no choice but to follow in.

Neither of them noticed that Yan Chaoqing, who had already walked to the door, turned around and stared at them. It was not until the curtain in the hall fell and blocked their backs that he turned and left.

Dou Zhao asked Song Mo, "Why haven't you had dinner yet?"

"I have been discussing my father's marriage with Mr. Yan!" Song Mo said frankly, "I have thought of several methods. Although they are all feasible, I always feel that they are only temporary solutions and not fundamental solutions. I want to think about it again!"

Dou Zhao went into the house and changed his clothes. When he came out, Song Mo had already asked Su Xin to serve the meal.

"Would you like me to say hello to my fifth uncle?" Dou Zhao and Song Mo sat down at the square table in the hall, one on the east and one on the west. "The promotion of officials is the responsibility of the Ministry of Personnel. My fifth uncle has worked in the Ministry of Personnel for many years, and now he is a senior scholar in the inner cabinet. Those people will definitely give my fifth uncle some face."

"Not yet." Song Mo said, "I want to test how much support Changxing Hou Shi Ruilan will give to Huatang first."

Dou Zhao couldn't help but feel a little worried when he thought about the character of Marquis Changxing, and said, "I heard that if you want to ask Marquis Changxing to do something, you have to use money to knock on the door. But as long as Marquis Changxing accepts the money, there is nothing he can't do. Even if the thing can't be done, the money will be returned intact... Everyone says that he is very trustworthy!" At this point, Dou Zhao himself felt it was ridiculous and showed a bitter smile, "Stealing a beam to replace a pillar, and seeking a job for his son, I'm afraid the price will be high, I'm just afraid that Marquis Changxing will be reluctant to return the money..." As long as Marquis Changxing turns a blind eye, he can get the job done.

Song Mo sneered: "If he doesn't retreat, he will have to live like this!"

Dou Zhao was shocked and couldn't help wiping his forehead which was not covered with sweat.

Why is it that when things come to Song Mo, they become... so sweaty?

Dou Zhao whispered to Song Mo: "Marquis Changxing is the general of Datong."

Song Mo said disapprovingly: "Many people want to be the general of Datong."

Dou Zhao was speechless.

After dinner, the two went to greet Song Yichun.

In the afternoon, Song Mo had someone tell Song Yichun that he would hold a chrysanthemum viewing banquet at home tomorrow to celebrate Dou Zhao's title of "Madam". However, Song Yichun refused to mention this matter and instead told Song Mo about his marriage to the Hua family: "...There is no one in the family to take charge of the marriage. I want to invite your eldest aunt to come to the house to assist. You don't have to worry about this matter."

In fact, he was preventing Dou Zhao from taking advantage of this opportunity to keep the power of presiding over the reward in his hands.

Song Mo said "OK" calmly.

Song Yichun glanced at Dou Zhao and saw that Dou Zhao was standing there with his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart, looking unusually docile.

He doesn't look like a hot-tempered person at all!

Is there some misunderstanding here?

This thought flashed through Song Yichun's mind, and he felt it necessary to call Tao Qi again to ask him.

Tao Qizhong, who was drinking with his followers, sneezed several times and couldn't help but muttered, "Who is scolding me?"

I rushed into Chenqushui in Kyoto before sunset and sneezed several times.

The servant asked him, "What's wrong with you? Do you want to see a doctor?"

"No need." Chen Qushui rubbed his nose and told the servant, "Go to the Duke of Ying's Mansion to find the Crown Prince's aide Yan Chaoqing and tell him that I'm waiting for him in the pen and ink shop on the main street under the Drum Tower."

It's also closer to the British Palace.

I wonder what urgent matter Yan Chaoqing wants to talk to me about?