Chapter 310 Matchmaking

At Qi Jin's third-day baptism ceremony, Dou Zhao met Dou Ming.

Dou Ming wore a bright red silk jacket with hundreds of butterflies and flowers, and looked arrogant. He ignored everyone and followed behind them. When her turn came, he came forward and threw a few silver coins. Dou Zhao, on the other hand, was surrounded by people. When her turn came, everyone joked, "Let's see what the fourth aunt threw, and then we'll throw something too."

Dou Zhao couldn't help feeling a little emotional.

In her previous life, she was like Dou Ming, not very interested in the affairs of the Dou family, just coming to join in the fun. But in her previous life, Dou Ming was not as popular as she is now. The women of the Dou family treated Dou Ming politely, but also showed a coldness and aloofness, which shows that some things cannot be won by simply being strong.

On the second day after the baptism ceremony, Song Mo took Dou Zhao back to the Duke of Ying's Mansion.

Gao Xing, the daughter-in-law who stayed at home, brought a group of maids, wives and old women to pay their respects to Dou Zhao and report to her some things that happened when she was away.

Dou Zhao held her usual pink plum blossom teacup, drank her usual Dahongpao tea, and leaned against the large pillow that Su Xin had sewn herself. She couldn't help but sighed comfortably and said secretly in her heart, "Home is still the best!" She had no idea that she had only been married for more than a month.

At night, the Song couple, who were reunited after a short separation, were in a romantic mood until the third watch drum sounded.

Song Mo was like a well-fed lion, lazily stroking Dou Zhao's exquisite curves.

Dou Zhao, however, seemed a little absent-minded.

Song Mo was dissatisfied and held Dou Zhao in his arms: "What are you thinking about? You are so absent-minded."

"Thinking about my cousin." Dou Zhao hugged Song Mo back and patted his back gently, which was like soothing a naughty child and asking him to stop making noise.

Song Mo was even more unhappy and asked, "What's wrong with my cousin?"

You have to save face for your husband's family in your parents' home, and save face for your parents' family in your husband's home. This is something that any smart married woman knows. In her previous life, Dou Zhao had such a bad relationship with the Dou family, and she never said anything bad about her parents' family in front of Wei Tingyu. But this time, without any hesitation, Dou Zhao told Song Mo about Zhao Zhangru's affairs. She had a firm confidence in her heart that no matter how unbearable she was, Song Mo would not dislike her, nor would he laugh at her because of her parents' family affairs.

"I originally thought that my cousin was a little heartless, but who knew that she was the clearest and most understanding person in her heart." She sighed, "She always pretends to be ignorant of the world, but it's just to comfort those of us who care about her. The more she is like this, the more I want to help her. But for a woman, getting married is like a second life. I don't even know my own affairs, so how can I dare to interfere in her affairs so easily?"

This is exactly in line with the saying, the more you care, the less you know what to do.

Song Mo leaned close to her face and whispered in her ear, "Just call me 'good dad' and I'll help you!"

Dou Zhao felt his face burning and said "Pooh" to him.

Song Mo naturally refused. Knowing that Dou Zhao was ticklish, he gently tickled her waist. Dou Zhao dodged left and right, and her clear laughter was like silver bells in the wind, filling the whole tent.

The two of them got together again without knowing when...

In the end, Song Mo was satisfied.

He kissed Dou Zhaoxue's white and round shoulders and said vaguely: "Isn't it just to find a man? There are not many other things in the Guards, but there are many men! Don't worry, let your aunt stay in Kyoto for a few more days, I will definitely find a suitable husband for your cousin!"

Those who can enter the Guards all have good family backgrounds, which provides a basic guarantee.

Dou Zhao reminded Song Mo: "My uncle's family is looking for a live-in son-in-law!"

"It's easier to find a live-in son-in-law." Song Mo said distractedly, "There are always brothers in their family. Brothers and sisters can always find a suitable one by asking for help."

That's true.

Besides, Song Mo knows more people than me, a woman who stays in the inner courtyard every day!

She had made up her mind, but because she hadn't made any plans yet, she didn't dare to tell her aunt. She just said that she and her sixth aunt would go to Kaiyuan Temple to burn incense on the tenth day of the tenth month, and invited her aunt to go with her. She also said, "It is said that the Thousand-armed and Thousand-eyed Guanyin Bodhisattva enshrined in Kaiyuan Temple is the most effective in praying for marriage."

My aunt was indeed moved and decided to set off again after the tenth day of the first lunar month.

Song Mo went to the Ministry of War the next day and found Zheng An, a doctor in the Military Selection Department of the Ministry of War. He said, "I want a list of Guards who are between 18 and 24 years old, unmarried, over 5 feet tall, good-looking, and not the only son in the family." After thinking for a while, he added, "Those who have studied will be given priority!"

Zheng An was stunned, then frowned almost imperceptibly, and said, "I wonder if the prince has a written order from the emperor, the Five Military Commands Office, or the Minister of War?"

"No!" Song Mo looked at Zheng An calmly.

Zheng An hesitated for a while, then said, "Please forgive me, my Lord. The Imperial Guards are the emperor's personal guards and are responsible for protecting the emperor. The list cannot be given to anyone at will."

Song Mo nodded, said nothing, and walked away.

Zheng An felt very uneasy, but soon felt relieved.

Since he was doing things according to the rules, even if his superiors blamed him, it couldn't be blamed on him.

But in the afternoon, Zheng An was called over by his superior, Quan Ziyi, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War.

"After the Qiu Lingwei incident, the Ministry of Personnel has been clamoring to thoroughly investigate the list of people who have taken office in the Ministry of War over the past ten years. This morning, the old matter was brought up again during the cabinet meeting. I think they will not give up unless they investigate." Quan Ziyi said with a smile, "You are a veteran of the Ministry of War and in charge of the Military Selection Department. You have been dealing with the clerks in the Ministry of Personnel for many years and are very familiar with them. This matter is handed over to you. You must do it well, but you can't let them find any faults."

The incident happened suddenly, so Zheng An had no choice but to lead a few old officials from the Military Selection Department to help the Ministry of War check the list.

When it was almost time to leave the office, Zheng An naturally had to arrange for the people from the Ministry of Personnel to have a meal.

He returned to the office to change his clothes, but found the chief clerk of the Military Selection Office and seven or eight other people copying things in the warehouse. As they copied, they asked, "What is the standard for a good-looking person?"

To prevent impersonation, each person's physical characteristics will be written in the file.

Zheng An immediately thought of Song Mo's purpose.

He entered the warehouse with a sullen face.

The chief clerk immediately came forward with a big smile on his face and asked cordially, "Master Zheng is back? What do you want me to do for you?"

Zheng An pointed at the list that was torn all over and asked, "Who asked you to copy it?"

The chief clerk smiled and said, "Yes, Lord Quan! Lord Quan said that you will entertain people from the Ministry of Personnel today, so we should not trouble you."

Zheng An felt as if a breath of air was stuck in his chest, but he couldn't say anything in front of the chief clerk.

He nodded slightly and slowly walked out of the warehouse.

The chief clerk's voice came from behind, whether intentional or unintentional: "You all should be quick, the Prince of England said that it will be tonight!"

After entertaining people from the Ministry of Personnel, he returned home in a restless mood.

Mrs. Zheng asked him concernedly, "What happened?"

"It's okay, it's okay." Zheng An waved his hands, but there seemed to be a shadow in his heart. He always felt a little uneasy about what happened today.

After Song Mo had dinner, the list of names from the Military Selection Department of the Ministry of War was delivered to him.

He and Dou Zhao sat under the light and looked at them one by one.

"How about this one?" Dou Zhao discussed with him, "I'm the third child in the family. I have two older brothers and two younger brothers. My grandfather was once a deputy governor of Henan Province."

"Put it aside for now." Song Mo took a look and said, "Screen it twice more later."

"Hmm!" Dou Zhao picked up another list, "General Flag Officer of the Divine Shuying, 20 years old, handsome, fourth-rank associate, promoted..." People who promoted were usually there to support the family, definitely not for free. She couldn't help but sigh, put the list aside, and muttered, "I wonder who copied this list? They were quite clever, one for each person. If they copied all of them together, they would have to find someone to help re-copy the selected candidates."

Song Mo also felt that this person was very meticulous and thoughtful, and said with a smile: "He is the chief clerk of the Military Selection Department!"

Dou Zhao didn't think much about it.

Just two days later, Song Mo went to the Ministry of War and praised the chief clerk in front of Quan Ziyi. Then he took out the list he and Dou Zhao had selected and said, "I have something urgent to do. Lord Labor Quan asked these people to go to the Duke of Ying's Mansion tomorrow at noon."

Quan Ziyi smiled and handed the list to a clerk beside him, and talked to Song Mo: "I never thought that the prince and Lord Mu are also very familiar with each other."

Song Mo smiled and said, "Lord Mu and I are just nodding acquaintances, but I have some friendship with Earl Jiading."

Even though I instructed Mu Chuan to greet him through Earl Jiading, the result was the same!

Quan Ziyi felt a little sour in his teeth.

The two of them talked in a friendly manner about the occasion.

The clerk came in and said, "We have sent people to notify everyone one by one. They will definitely arrive tomorrow afternoon."

Song Mo said goodbye with a smile.

Quan Ziyi was a little worried: "I see two of them are from Tianjin. Can they make it?"

"Six hundred miles in an emergency, how can they not come in time?" the clerk said, "Besides, I have already made it clear to the messenger that it is the Prince of the Duke of Ying who wants someone, who dares not come?"

Quan Ziyi was a man of status after all. Although he had heard about Song Mo's recent actions, he did not take it seriously. Hearing this, he asked in surprise, "Is the reputation of the Duke of Ying's mansion so great now?"

The clerk was Quan Ziyi's confidant, and he said bluntly: "Just look at how he caught the thieves who used the water to break into the Duke of Ying's mansion. Whether he did it intentionally or not, such a big move can make people look up to him."

Quan Ziyi nodded gently, and at noon the next day he sent a clerk to the Duke of Ying's mansion to inquire, "See if everyone has arrived."

There are more than twenty of them!

Some of them are branches of noble families.

An hour later, the clerk came running back, "Sir, everyone is here, not one is left behind."

Quan Ziyi felt mixed emotions, some of which were not very palatable.

Song Mozheng met and talked to the visitors one by one.

Some of those waiting outside inevitably lost their patience and whispered to the familiar face: "Do you know why you were called here?"

"I don't know. Even the commanders of the Five Military Commandery don't know what it is!"

Someone came over and asked, "It should be a private matter, right? Otherwise, why would he meet us at the Duke of England's mansion?"

"That's not certain. Meeting in a private residence is not that formal, and even if I'm not selected, it won't hurt anything."

Those who have met Song Mo feel even more shameless.

Why is it that the Prince of the Duke of England's Mansion is asking about matters concerning the mansion?

The strange atmosphere lingered for a long time until Song Mo met everyone.