Chapter 281 Separation

Dou Zhao motioned Su Xin to take the rosewood box containing the cards, and said to the eldest wife with a smile, "I just came in, and I'm not familiar with the housekeepers in the mansion. I need to trouble the eldest aunt to introduce me to you!"

Now that things have come to this, if I try to make things difficult for her, I will only be bringing shame upon myself.

The eldest wife sighed secretly in her heart and introduced the managing nannies of each room to Dou Zhao. Through this introduction, Dou Zhao also got to know the managing nannies of each room.

But she couldn't help feeling a little strange in her heart.

Since the death of Madam Jiang, Song Yichun has been personally in charge of the backyard of the Duke of Ying's Mansion. After Song Yichun and Song Mo fell out, the staff in the Duke of Ying's Mansion had been thoroughly purged. The maids who had served Madam Jiang were either killed by the so-called thieves, their whereabouts were unknown, or they were sent out of the mansion. However, although the housekeepers who used to follow Madam Jiang have changed, the changes are not big. Some have been replaced, while some are still doing their original jobs. However, they all have one thing in common, that is, they are relatively young - all the older ones have been replaced, and all the young ones have stayed.

Does Song Yichun not want to attract other people's attention or is there something else going on?

Dou Zhao gently stroked the tea leaves in the teacup and drank a sip of tea quietly.

Standing behind the first wife, Tan glanced at the elegant Dou Zhao and felt bitter and sad in her heart.

She and her mother-in-law were at a loss. They stayed up all night last night, discussing and discussing, but they still didn't know how to explain to her second uncle. And her father-in-law, I'm afraid he doesn't know that such a big change has happened in the Duke of Ying's mansion. Her father-in-law will definitely blame her and her mother-in-law for not doing a good job - but her mother-in-law and father-in-law are married, and her father-in-law will only scold her a few times at most. I'm afraid that the responsibility will eventually fall on her.

Tan couldn't help but feel nervous. She saw Dou Zhao asking a fair-skinned, well-looking woman, "Are you Nanny Chen who manages the Second Master's room?"

The woman quickly knelt down and saluted, saying "yes" in a very respectful manner.

Dou Zhao asked about Song Han's monthly salary, how many maids and servants he had, and so on, just like asking the housekeeper at the stove how much the stove's monthly expenses were, how many old women and helpers there were. He didn't pay any special attention to them, nor did he neglect them.

Nanny Chen couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Look at this new wife of the prince. She has quietly taken the card of the housekeeper's power in the Duke of England's mansion after only ten days of marriage. She would never believe that the new wife of the prince is as gentle and polite as she is now. But she works in the second master's house, and the Duke has instructed that the prince is not allowed to interfere in the affairs of the second master's house. She is really afraid that the new wife of the prince will keep asking questions about the affairs of the second master's house, and those who like to gossip will report it to the Duke. She will be scolded by the Duke, but it will be a big deal to implicate the family.

However, since the new prince's wife had the right cards, it was only natural to call her in for questioning...

Thinking of this, a bitter smile appeared on her lips.

Dou Zhao only met with the maids in charge today. After looking at Nanny Chen for a few times, he shifted his attention and continued to ask questions to the other maids.

At this time, Song Mo sat calmly on the armchair in the flower hall. The commander of the East City Military Department was patting his chest with saliva flying: "... our people and the people from Shuntian Prefecture blocked the entrances to the nearby alleys, and sent people to notify several wealthy families that were easy for thieves to sneak into. We caught three people near Shuntian Prefecture School, two in Jianzi Alley, and four near Andingmen Street. They confessed that they had people on the lookout the whole time, and when they saw Yi Zhitang lose the upper hand, they immediately fled the Duke of Ying’s Mansion in twos and threes as planned, and now they are either hiding temporarily or fleeing the city...” The implication was that they had already searched all the places that needed to be searched, and there was no way that thieves could be hiding in the Duke of Ying’s Mansion. Song Mo sent his guards to search door to door and courtyard to courtyard again, which was simply a slap in his face.

His words unintentionally revealed a hint of dissatisfaction.

Song Mo smiled faintly, with a cold look in his eyes and brows.

Tao Qi, who had been silent since Song Mo entered the flower hall, felt his heart skip a beat.

The commander of the East City Army, who was not familiar with Song Mo's personality, was still talking nonstop: "I think the prince might as well talk to all of our commanders and let us send some people to conduct strict checks at the city gates. Maybe we can catch one or two thieves who didn't have time to leave the city..." Last time something was lost in the Third Prince's mansion, the Third Prince sent his guards to check at the city gates. Someone reported it to the Emperor, and the Third Prince had his salary deducted for half a year. Thinking that Song Mo was just the prince of the Duke of Ying's Mansion, and nothing was lost in the Duke of Ying's Mansion, he felt a little disapproving in his heart and wanted to ridicule Song Mo. But before he could utter a word, two tall guards suddenly walked in carrying a tied-up man.

"Your Highness!" They threw the bound man to the ground and saluted Song Mo. "We found one in the bucket of the well in the garden."

The words of the commander of the East City Military Division were stuck in his throat.

Song Mo nodded, his expression very calm, and said: "Hand him over to Shuntian Mansion!"

The guard replied "yes" and walked out again with the thief in his arms.

The commander of the East City Military Department smiled awkwardly at Song Mo.

Song Mo said, "I want to see the Duke of Dongping, the commander of the Left Army of the Five Military Commands. I would like to ask you to take my name card and help him to inform him."

He wants to see the Earl of Dongping. What does it have to do with me?

The commander of the East City Army was stunned.

Song Mo has lowered his head to drink tea.

The commander of the East City Military Division thought of the mistake he had just made. After a moment's hesitation, he decided not to argue with Song Mo. He took Song Mo's name card and left the flower hall. He told the clerk of the East City Military Division who followed him: "Send it to the Earl of Dongping and tell him that the prince of the Duke of Ying wants to see him."

As for whether Dongping Bo saw him or not, it was none of his business.

The clerk took the name card and ran away.

The commander of the East City Army was also from a noble family. Although not as prominent as the Duke of Ying's family, he also had several powerful elders in his family. He was too lazy to serve Song Mo, who was two years younger than his son, so he simply stood on the steps of the flower hall and talked to his confidant.

"Did the thieves really find it in the well? How did they find it in the well?"

"I don't know." The confidant whispered, "The guards around the Prince of England are very skilled. They not only checked the well, but also the roof beams and other places. They even opened the dust cover to take a look before they felt relieved."

The commander of the East City Army was silent.

He stood there for about two incense sticks of time, then ran back with sweat all over his forehead.

"Sir, this is bad!" The official whispered in horror, "Sir, the commander-in-chief and the prefect of Shuntian were both captured by the Imperial Guards. The Duke of Dongping of the Left Army concurrently served as the commander-in-chief of the Wucheng Bingmasi, and the deputy director of the Censorate, Huang Qihuang, concurrently served as the prefect of Shuntian. The Duke of Dongping just entered the palace and hasn't come out yet..."

The commander of the East City Army broke out in a cold sweat.

He hurried back to the flower hall.

"My Lord," the commander of the East City Army said with a red face as he saluted Song Mo, "If you have anything to say, just tell me!"

Song Mo let the commander of the East City Military Department stand there, and sipped his tea carefully. Seeing that the commander's brows were gradually stained with a bit of panic, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and then he slowly said: "I dare not take your order. It's just that these thieves are bold and reckless. If they escape from Kyoto City, it's okay. I'm afraid that these people are still greedy and hide somewhere quietly, ready to wait for an opportunity to rob again. Kyoto is an important place, not only there are many princes and nobles, but also many high-ranking officials. If there is any trouble, I have been ordered by the emperor to investigate the matter. You, the Five Cities Military Department, have the responsibility to defend Kyoto, and you can't get away from it at that time."

"Yes, yes, yes!" The commander of the East City Military Department wiped the sweat from his forehead and dared not neglect Song Mo in the slightest. "What does the prince mean?"

"Search the whole city!"

"Ah?!" The commander of the East City Military Department widened his eyes.

Search the whole city... Without the emperor's decree, who dares to search? If you are not careful, the Jinyiwei will think you are going to rebel...

He just felt more sweat on his forehead: "My Lord, this city-wide search..." He had to get a guarantee from Song Mo. Without any evidence, he would not be able to clear himself even if he jumped into the Yellow River!

Tao Qizhong was also shocked and couldn't help but interject, "My Lord, I'm afraid we need to think about this matter carefully..."

"If you find it difficult," Song Mo said, "I will ask someone to invite a few other commanders of the military division. You can take the people from the East City Military Division back to the yamen to make room for the people from other divisions." He interrupted Tao Qizhong as if there was no such person as Tao Qizhong in the room.

I'm afraid that even my black veil hat will be taken away with me, right? This prince of the Duke of England is not a man who is easy to talk to. He was so cruel that he ordered the killing of his father's guards when there was a rift between him and his biological father. If I offend him... I might be punished later!

The commander of the East City Military Department stamped his feet secretly and shouted "forget it" in his heart. He might as well take the blame. It would take a long time to search the whole city anyway. He would just deal with this plague god first and wait for the Duke of Dongping to come out of the palace.

"Please give your orders, Prince!" He gritted his teeth and bowed to Song Mo.

Song Mo smiled and said, "Sir, please sit down and talk."

He had no choice but to sit down.

Song Mo then said slowly: "Of course we can't force it. There are actually thieves who dare to target the Duke of Ying's Mansion, which shows how Shuntian Mansion has failed in its duties. At this time, Mr. Huang has not yet taken office, and the Duke of Dongping has just taken over the Five Cities Military Department. However, they are both temporary and do not understand the situation yet. You people from the Five Cities Military Department should take this opportunity to rectify all the people in Kyoto, so as to give an explanation to the princes and ministers in Kyoto..."

Before he finished speaking, the commander of the East City Military Division's eyes lit up and he looked at Song Mo with enthusiasm.

"Please teach me, my Lord!"

He stood up and saluted Song Mo, his expression showing submissive respect.

Song Mo and the commander of the East City Military Division went into the study, leaving Tao Qizhong alone in the flower hall.

After a while, the commander of the East City Military Department hurried out of the study.

Dou Shiying rushed over from Jing'an Temple Hutong with a face as pale as gold paper.

"Father-in-law," Song Mo hurried out from the study, but when he looked up, he saw Ji Yong following Dou Shiying with a gloomy face.

Song Mo slowly straightened his back.

The two looked at each other for a long time without saying hello.

Dou Shiying was so anxious that he didn't notice these things. He asked Dou Zhao anxiously, "...Is Shougu injured? Where is she now? I heard that those thieves came for Shougu's dowry." At this point, he felt guilty and regretful, and asked Song Mo, "Yantang, can you tell the outsiders that the banknotes have been deposited in the silver shop... The silver shop has also hired many skilled guards, so that idle people can't get away with it? Wouldn't this be safer?"

"Okay." Song Mo replied with a smile, and asked Dou Shiying to sit in the study. "After this happened, the maids in the house are a little panicked. Shougu is talking to several maids in the house to calm people down."

"This is a good job!" Dou Shiying praised Song Mo.

Song Mo smiled modestly.