Chapter 284 Disappointment

Song Mo decisively handed over all the social engagements at home to Dou Zhao, and took Gu Yu to the Dongping Marquis' Mansion.

Dongping Bo was of medium build and had fair skin. Years of debauchery had made his eyes look a little cloudy.

Suddenly he took over the Wucheng Bingmasi and was given a deadline of one month to close the case. He had no idea where to start. After leaving the palace, he went straight home and discussed with his staff for a long time, but there was no good solution. He was getting impatient when the servant brought Song Mo's visiting card in. He couldn't help but smile bitterly and handed the visiting card to his staff: "What do you think I should do?"

The staff thought for a moment and said, "Duke Dingguo was executed, Madam Jiang died of illness, but Duke Ying couldn't do anything to the Crown Prince. Dong Weng must not offend such a person no matter what... He must meet him... But you have just taken over the Wucheng Bingmasi, and you don't understand the case yet... Didn't the emperor give him the sword of Emperor Taizong and let him investigate the fire in Duke Ying's mansion? Speaking of which, he also has the responsibility to investigate the case... Why don't we go to the Wucheng Bingmasi together tomorrow, ask about the case clearly, and then we can think of a solution together. It would be best to invite the newly appointed Shuntian Prefecture Governor Huang to the Wucheng Bingmasi..."

The Earl of Dongping nodded repeatedly and took the aide who gave him advice to the flower hall.

Song Mo and Gu Yu paid their respects to the Earl of Dongping as sons and nephews.

The Duke of Dongping smiled and asked them to sit down, then asked about the fire in the Duke of Ying's mansion with concern.

Song Mo had no choice but to tell the whole story again.

As soon as he finished speaking, the Earl of Dongping said angrily: "Shuntian Prefecture and Wucheng Bingmasi are too arrogant. If they had rushed over immediately after receiving the report, how could a thief break in? No wonder the emperor is furious. This matter must not be tolerated or compromised. Otherwise, the homes of the nobles in Kyoto will become like vegetable gardens, where anyone can enter. How can there be any safety? This matter must be investigated, and it must be investigated thoroughly. Anyone who dares to tolerate and neglect it will be treated as a thief!" Although his words were spoken in a loud and sharp voice, they were very empty.

Song Mo had seen many bureaucrats like this before, and considering Dong Ping Bo's daily behavior, he could not help but realize that Dong Ping Bo was just trying to please him.

"Your Highness is right." Song Mo said humbly, "But there are so many people here. It has been almost four hours since the incident. Even if the whole city is under martial law, I'm afraid it will be difficult to find the whereabouts of those thieves."

Just you know!

Dongping Bo nodded, but Song Mo changed the subject and said, "But the commander of the East City Military Department is not bad. He has already brought people to investigate all the people in East City and let them identify..."

The Duke of Dongping was still somewhat confused, but his staff had already understood the meaning of Song Mo's words. They coughed lightly and said with a smile, "I wonder what to call the commander of the Dongcheng Military Division? I didn't expect him to be so resourceful. Such a big incident happened in Kyoto. Those performing arts and juggling should be dealt with. Maybe those thieves are hiding among them!"

Only then did the Duke of Dongping come to his senses.

The emperor is angry, so he must give an explanation.

With all these people in Kyoto, there are also people who take the blame!

"Yes, yes, yes!" he said repeatedly, "Not only East City, but also the other four cities should be rectified." He hurriedly called his personal attendant in: "Go, call the East City Commander of the Five Cities Military Department!"

The follower left immediately.

Dongping Bo smiled at Song Mo, half testing and half negotiating, "Sir, where do you think we should start the search?"

Gu Yu was about to speak when Song Mo glared at him. He swallowed his words back. Song Mo then said, "Master Bo is in charge of the Five Cities Military Department under the order of the Emperor. Naturally, Master Bo makes the decision."

When Dongping Bo heard this, he laughed. He thought that Song Mo was a boy with a broad mind and a sense of the overall situation. No wonder people treated him like a son or nephew.

"Then let's start the search from East City!" Dong Pingbo said with a smile, "Hasn't the East City commander already rolled up his sleeves and started working? We don't need to add unnecessary details, just follow him..."

As he was speaking, the East City Commander walked in.

When he saw Song Mo, he was very surprised, but soon gave Song Mo a grateful glance.

If it wasn't Song Mo, why would the newly appointed commander of the Five Cities Military Division call himself to his home?

He accepted the recommendation.

The commander of Dongcheng thought about it and respectfully saluted the Earl of Dongping.

Song Mo stood up and said goodbye with Gu Yu: "...I still have to go see Mr. Huang."

Dongping Bo smiled and sent Song Mo and Gu Yu to the door of the flower hall.

As an elder, he had already shown great courtesy to the two.

Gu Yu was very dissatisfied. He pouted as soon as he got on the carriage: "What else can the Duke of Dongping do except eating, drinking, having fun and currying favor with the emperor? Why did you hand this matter over to him? The thief's shadow is still unknown, and he is already thinking about how to find a scapegoat. Is he catching a thief? You might as well hand it over to me!"

"Gu Yu," Song Mo interrupted him, "catching thieves is the job of the Wucheng Bingmasi and Shuntianfu. If we step in, not only will we be criticized by others, but we may also cause resentment from that person and make him refuse to cooperate with us. What's the point of us stepping in? Why don't we do them a favor so that we can have a say in the future?" He added, "The gates of Kyoto are not under martial law yet. Do you think we can still catch those thieves?" At this point, his expression turned cold, "We will leave Shuntianfu later and go to the Wujun Dudu Mansion. Since those thieves came from Cangzhou, Cangzhou has to give me an explanation, right?!"

Despite this, Gu Yu still felt very proud: "...We need to let those people know how powerful we are!"

If my uncle were still alive, I would probably have the same thought, right?

There was a flash of pain in Song Mo's eyes. He knew that if he didn't find something for Gu Yu to do, he would not be able to live in peace.

"Gu Yu," Song Mo hesitated for a moment and whispered, "I need your help with something."

When Gu Yu heard this, he immediately became alert and asked hurriedly, "Brother Tianci, what do you want me to do? Should I go to Cangzhou Prefecture?"

Song Mo laughed, and after a while he said seriously: "It's my personal matter, I don't trust other people..." He waved to Gu Yu, motioning Gu Yu to lean over and whisper: "Didn't Marquis Anlu act as a matchmaker for my father? Do you think you can let someone in Marquis Anlu's family hide the thief..."

"I know what to do!" Gu Yu was very excited, rubbing his hands and saying, "I will make him suffer so much that he can't even speak out his pain!"

"That's exactly what I mean." Song Mo smiled and said with emotion, "Gu Yu has grown up and knows that some things can't be done rudely!"

Gu Yu blushed at the compliment.

※※※※※

Over there, Dou Ming happily rushed back to Jining Marquis Mansion from Liuye Lane and went straight to Wei Tingyu's study.

Wei Tingyu's study was quiet, with only a servant wiping the table there.

She couldn't help but frown and asked, "Where is the Marquis?"

The servant hurriedly said respectfully: "My Lord, you heard that there was a fire in the Duke of Ying's mansion. The Duke of Ying and his son were not at home. The fire spread to the inner courtyard. My Lord was extremely anxious and rushed to the Duke of Ying's mansion..."

Before he could finish his words, Dou Ming's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot. She turned around and left the study.

Zhu'er, the first-class maid brought by Dou Mingxin, said hurriedly: "Madam, the Duke of Ying's Mansion and the Marquis of Jining's Mansion are relatives after all. Everyone will go to visit them at this time. Madam, why don't you go and see the fourth aunt? You can also come back with the marquis!"

This Pearl originally served her grandmother. Pearl, Pearl, every time she called Pearl, she felt like she was calling Pearl and liked the name very much. Also, seeing that Pearl was smart and clever, she specially asked for her to come over.

Upon hearing this, Dou Ming's face darkened and he said, "I won't go! If he wants to go, he can go by himself. Don't even think about me trying to please Dou Zhao!" He felt so aggrieved that he was about to cry.

Zhu'er sighed secretly in her heart and dared not say anything more. She helped Dou Ming to wash and change clothes.

Dou Ming waited and waited, and it was almost time for dinner when Wei Tingyu finally came back.

She felt sad and said in a somewhat unhappy tone: "Why did you come back at this time?"

Wei Tingyu was stunned and asked, "Don't you know that there's a fire in the Fourth Young Lady's house?"

Fourth Miss, Fourth Miss! Now that he and I are married, he should call Dou Zhao "Aunt Sister" according to etiquette. Even if he feels embarrassed because of the past, calling her "Madam" is also acceptable. But he insists on calling her "Fourth Miss". Does he still think he is before he got married?!

Dou Ming felt even more sour in his heart.

"Can you change your address?" She widened her eyes. "Others thought my sister was still unmarried!" As she spoke, the look in Wei Tingyu's eyes when he turned around and looked at Dou Zhao's residence that day suddenly emerged in her mind. Something surged into her heart like a flood. She couldn't help but say, "Do you think my sister is not married yet? So when you heard that Song Yantang was not at home, you ran over in a hurry! What? Did you talk to my sister? Did my sister cry to you that she was scared..."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Even if Wei Tingyu had a good temper, this inexplicable accusation made him furious. "Do you know what you are talking about? I didn't even see your sister. I just went to say hello to her as a relative. How could you think like that? You were not this kind of person before, how come you have become like this now?"

He was very disappointed, but he couldn't help but think of Dou Zhao's energetic look.

When he went to the Duke of Ying's Mansion today, Wei Tingyu inadvertently saw Dou Zhao coming out to see off a guest. His tall figure, dashing smile, and generous and calm demeanor made him stop and his mood inexplicably became heavy. Although he had been waiting for almost an hour, and the aide named Liao also said that Song Yantang would be back soon, he no longer wanted to stay in the Duke of Ying's Mansion.

He returned home in a daze, and what he received was not gentle words or cheerfulness, but inexplicable accusations from Dou Ming. Dou Zhao's cheerfulness became even more precious.

Thinking of this, he felt it was particularly boring and walked out.

Dou Ming started to panic.

She stepped forward and stopped Wei Tingyu: "You are not allowed to leave! If you leave, I, I...I will never talk to you again!"