Chapter 283: Context

On the way back to Yizhitang, Song Mo asked Dou Zhao: "Is everything going well?"

"Hmm!" Dou Zhao recalled the wolf-like figures of the eldest wife and her daughter-in-law when they left, and couldn't help but smile slightly. "It's just a meeting with the maids in charge of each room. They didn't intend to hold the backyard hostage, so they were polite to each other."

After all, the Duke of England's Mansion belongs to the Duke of England, and he can take back the power of the steward at any time. What Dou Zhao has to do now is to let Song Yichun know that no matter who he wants to hand over the power of presiding over the Duke of England's Mansion to, he can never sit firmly in this position without Yi Zhitang's consent.

She asked Song Mo: "Is there any news about the Hua family?"

The two of them were talking in private, so the maids and servants naturally didn't dare to get too close and followed them from a distance.

Song Mo lowered his voice and said, "The official document that the eldest son of the Hua family is appointed as the head of Qiuling Thousand Households has been sent to Weizhou." A hint of coldness flashed in his eyes, "However, the old lady of that family has also decided to come to Kyoto in person to file a complaint - let the Hua family be happy for now. Falling from the top of the mountain to the bottom of the valley is a feeling that is even more worth recalling..."

An old and helpless woman dared to come to the capital to sue a third-rank official. Anyone would suspect that this woman was instructed by someone... Dou Zhao couldn't help but say, "Be careful, don't get yourself involved." If someone with ulterior motives used it, people would think that Song Mo was targeting Marquis Changxing and Marquis Anlu. Song Mo is still young and his foundation is not stable, so he shouldn't make too many enemies.

Song Mo was not afraid at all, and said, "Even if someone suspects that the old lady had someone behind it, it doesn't matter. Things have gotten out of hand, and the radish is pulled out with mud. Do you think there are a few people in the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War who are clean? They will only deal with the matter at hand and quickly resolve the situation. If they really find out that it was me who ordered it, it doesn't matter. It's a good opportunity to let them know why I did this. Maybe the Hua family will take the initiative to cancel the engagement soon, and I won't have to "remind" them later."

The impression from the previous life was too deep. Dou Zhao always thought that Song Mo was a very capable person. He nodded when he heard this.

From a distance, Song Han left the servants who were surrounding him and ran over.

"Brother, brother, you are finally back!" He hugged Song Mo's arm, tears flashing in the corners of his eyes, and looked at Song Mo with an uneasy expression, "The house was broken into, and a thief took the opportunity to break in, but Tao Qizhong didn't know anything." He complained, "I ran to see my sister-in-law, and my brother's guards were guarding my sister-in-law..." He glanced at Dou Zhao quickly, and saw that Dou Zhao was just standing quietly beside Song Mo and smiling. He was immediately relieved, but he didn't see the embarrassment that flashed across Song Mo's face.

I was only concerned about Dou Zhao's safety, but I forgot to check on my brother who had lost his mother's love and was treated rudely by his father...

"It won't be like this again." Song Mo put his arm around Song Han's shoulders and said with a double meaning, "When father comes back, I will ask him to send you some guards..."

Before he finished speaking, Song Han said in surprise: "Really? Then wouldn't I have my own bodyguard like my brother?" He held Song Mo's hand and said coquettishly, "Brother, I want a bodyguard that is more powerful than yours!"

It's a small matter.

Song Mo laughed and said, "I'll keep an eye out for you."

Song Han chuckled, and his smile was very happy, like the sun in the morning light, with a little warmth.

Is this Song Han?

Is it the Song Han who had his limbs cut off by Song Mo and died wailing?

Dou Zhao just felt very uncomfortable.

A servant came trotting over, chasing after a figure.

Dou Zhao looked closely and found that it was Gu Yu.

Song Mo and Song Han also saw it. Song Mo smiled at Gu Yu, and Song Han muttered a few words quietly. Song Mo didn't hear it, but Dou Zhao heard it clearly. What he muttered was "Why is he here?" There was undisguised disgust in his tone.

Dou Zhao pretended not to hear.

"Brother Tianci, how did the fire break out at home?" Gu Yu was sweating profusely, and looked a little panicked. "Is anyone injured at home?" He said, glancing at Dou Zhao and Song Han. Seeing that they were both standing there safely, he breathed a sigh of relief, and his expression gradually calmed down. He said, "What's the matter with those thieves? I went out drinking with Wang Dahai yesterday, and didn't get home until the morning. I heard vaguely that your family had a fire, so I rushed here. You came back so early, you must have asked for leave from Shao Wenji, right? Has the emperor known about it? Has the empress known about it? Do you want me to help you go to the palace? Those people from the Five Cities Military Department are used to shirking their responsibilities, and Shuntian Prefecture has always been a person who prefers to keep things to themselves. It is better to expect them to help chase the thieves than to expect the iron tree to bloom..."

He talked a lot in a long-winded manner.

Dou Zhao only felt warmth in his heart.

Song Mo might have the same idea as Dou Zhao, and his gaze towards Gu Yu became even gentler.

"The Emperor gave me the precious sword of Emperor Taizong and asked me to investigate the robbery in the Duke of Ying's mansion..." He briefly recounted the course of events.

Gu Yu immediately said, "Brother Tianci, I'll help you! I'm familiar with most of the people in Kyoto. If I don't turn them upside down, I'm not Gu! You dare to target Brother Tianci without even looking at where you are..." As he spoke, his eyes and eyebrows showed a bit of murderous intent, making his beautiful face like a woman become a little cold. "If you don't hand over the person, those people with the names of Master and Brother will never be able to get away from it!"

Dou Zhao was shocked, but then an idea came to his mind.

She winked at Song Mo.

Song Mo nodded barely perceptibly and smiled at Gu Yu, "Don't mess around. It's best for Wucheng Bingmasi and Shuntianfu to take charge of this matter." He added, "Have you had breakfast? Come on, let your sister-in-law get you something to eat. Take a rest and come with me to see the Earl of Dongping later... Look at you now, your face is pale and your spirit is low... How much did you drink yesterday?"

"I didn't drink much." Gu Yu muttered softly, "I met Feng Zhi and the others on the way and played a few rounds of Pai Gow, so I was a little late..."

Song Mo was a little annoyed and said, "From tomorrow on, you must get up early every day and do horse stance with the master at home..."

Gu Yu said nothing, and followed Song Mo into Yizhi Hall somewhat awkwardly.

Dou Zhao deliberately fell back a few steps and glanced at Song Han.

He stared at Gu Yu with sparks in his eyes.

Dou Zhao smiled and asked Song Han, "Has Second Master had breakfast yet?"

"No!" Song Han answered stiffly, and then he seemed to sense that his tone was not good, and hurriedly showed a somewhat forced smile, and his voice became much gentler, "I can't eat! As soon as I heard that my brother was back, I rushed over."

His voice was so loud that Song Mo and Gu Yu, who were walking in front of him, couldn't help but turn their heads.

Song Mo said, "Then you can eat something with Gu Yu later."

Song Han smiled and nodded.

However, Dou Zhao discovered that Song Han's hands were clenched into fists.

She calmly prepared breakfast for Gu Yu and Song Han, and returned to the inner room to change clothes.

Song Mo followed in without missing a beat, and immediately saw Dou Zhao's fair, round shoulders and beautifully shaped collarbone...

He thought of the plum-red mark he had left on it that night… His mouth suddenly went dry, and he dared not look at it any more… He stood there with his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart, and said calmly, "What do you want to tell me?"

Dou Zhao was preoccupied with something and did not notice Song Mo's strange behavior. She went behind the screen and while changing her clothes, she told Song Mo that Zhang Zhiqi, the manager of Risheng Silver Shop, had persuaded her father to buy shares in the company.

Who said that the woman holding a pipa with her face half covered is the most charming?

Song Mo stood outside the screen, listening to the rubbing sound of clothes, his mind was full of the beautiful scene he saw that night... At some point, a drop of sweat appeared on the tip of his nose and fell silently on his collar. Song Mo was horrified, and then he reluctantly calmed down and listened to Dou Zhao's words, but even so, his thoughts were still a little tangled, and after a while he said: "Do you want me to take this opportunity to take back all the things that my father-in-law left with Zhang Zhiqi?"

When did this guy become so stupid?

Dou Zhao walked out from behind the screen with a scolding look on her face. Her rose-colored floral jacket made her look prettier than a flower.

"I asked you to help me check Zhang Zhiqi's background. A small merchant, who has no business to do business with, actually dared to set his sights on the Shao Zhan of the Zhanshi Mansion and the Director of the Xingren Department. Don't you think it's a bit strange?"

It would be even better if Song Mo could discover the shadow of Prince Liao.

Thinking that he had already stayed in the inner room for some time, if he stayed too long, people would think that Dou Zhao had kept him in the room, which would be disadvantageous to Dou Zhao who had just entered the house. So Song Mo smiled and responded, then returned to the hall.

Gu Yu and Song Han were sitting at the table, one on each side, having breakfast.

Song Mo thought about what Dou Zhao said, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt that what Dou Zhao said made sense - this Risheng Silver Shop was probably not simple, and what they were after was definitely not just a silver shop. His father-in-law had always been indifferent, and getting involved with such an ambitious person would only drag him down, so it would be a good opportunity to take back the things that his father-in-law left with Zhang Zhiqi.

After all, it concerns my father-in-law, and it would not be a good idea for other people to handle this matter.

After Gu Yu and Song Han finished their breakfast, Song Mo asked Song Han to go back to study early, but called Gu Yu into the study.

Song Han stared at the closed door of the study for a while before he walked out of the hall with his fists clenched.

Dou Zhao instructed Su Xin: "Arrange someone to find a way to talk to the people in the Second Master's room."

Su Xin left immediately.

Mr. and Mrs. Wang Qinghuai came to visit.

Song Mo received Wang Qinghuai, and Dou Zhao received Mrs. Wang Shao.

The young couple, one in the flower hall and the other in the banquet room in the main courtyard, recounted the whole story of the fire in the Duke of England's mansion.

Wang Qinghuai was filled with righteous indignation and wanted to go to see the Duke of Dongping with Song Mo, asking him to catch the thieves as soon as possible. Madam Wang Shao held Dou Zhao's hand with tears in her eyes, and kept saying: "How could this happen? These thieves are too rampant! Fortunately, nothing happened to you. Good luck will come to you in the future!"

Before the Wang couple left, Lu Zhan and his wife came to visit them on the orders of Madam Lu and Princess Ningde.

Song Mo and Dou Zhao had no choice but to recount what had happened, but before they could finish their words, Zhang Xuming and his wife arrived... Before noon, Song Mo and Dou Zhao's throats were already smoking, and the Duke of Dongping finally left the palace.