Chapter 321 Entrusted

After much deliberation, Song Yichun finally decided to entrust the task of obtaining information from Dou Zhao's personal maids and old women to Lu Zheng.

After the death of Madam Jiang, the people in the Duke of Ying's mansion were purged. Under his arrangement, Lu Zhengjia took over the job of the Upper House. Lu Zhengjia was not only smart and capable, but also smooth. In just a few days, she sorted out the affairs of the Upper House. Therefore, Song Yichun also handed over the affairs of Song Han's room to her. The housekeeper of Song Han's room had to report to Lu Zhengjia before anything.

Because of Lu Zhengjia, he hasn't had to worry about the affairs of the Senate in the past few years.

This made Song Yichun feel relieved and a little proud.

Who said that the family would be in chaos without Jiang?

It was just because the Jiang family was in charge at that time, so people she disliked had no chance.

Now that he has handed over all matters to Lu Zhengjia, the Senate is still in good order!

Since he had to start with the people around Dou Zhao, this matter had to be handled by a woman. Lu Zhengjia was loyal to him and knew a thing or two about the affairs of the age, so it was most appropriate to hand this matter over to Lu Zhengjia.

Song Mo showed a smug expression.

Lu Zheng replied "yes" and went back to tell his wife about it.

When Lu Zhengjia heard this, he immediately lost his temper: "How could you agree to such a thing?" He pointed at the red centipede-like whip wound on his face and said, "Isn't this a lesson?"

After her husband was beaten by the Crown Prince, the Duke came back and rewarded them with fifty taels of silver without saying anything else. As for the guards in Yizhi Hall who were injured in the fight with the thieves during the fire, the Crown Prince not only rewarded them with fifty taels of silver each, but also visited them in person, which made the guards who were not injured very jealous and regretted not getting injured at that time so that the Crown Prince could come to his house to visit them.

This is real decency!

Lu Zheng's face turned purple, and he said in a muffled voice: "Do I dare to say 'no'?"

"I didn't ask you to refute the Duke's words!" Lu Zhengjia said dissatisfiedly, "I just told you to be careful! The Duke of Ying's mansion has Mr. Tao for civil affairs and guards for military affairs, so why is it our turn to be in the limelight?"

Even if the whip mark on my face heals, it will leave an extremely ugly scar.

A personal servant like him needs to follow the Duke to various occasions. If he scares a noble, it will be troublesome. The Duke will never let him serve by his side again.

Lu Zheng already felt a little regretful in his heart.

Was I fooled by a ghost at that time? I knew the prince's character very well, so how could I dare to step forward to stop him?

He could not help but sit on the kang with his head in his hands.

He Chang, the wife of Lu Zheng, didn't know what her husband was worried about. She comforted Lu Zheng in a gentle voice: "Although the Madam has only been in charge of the Zhongfu for a few days, it is obvious that she knows everything. The two most proud girls around her, Su Xin and Su Lan, one is quiet and the other is lively, but they are not easy to deal with. It is impossible to get anything out of the people around her. Rather than making a fuss and being discovered by the Madam, it is better to turn a blind eye. When the Duke asks, just say that you didn't find out anything. If you can let other people investigate, wouldn't it be better?"

Lu Zheng was a little hesitant.

Lu Zhengjia said: "Don't worry, I will never let the Duke get suspicious."

The next day, she asked her maid to pick some camellia flowers from the garden and personally delivered them to Yizhitang.

"The camellia flowers in the back garden are in full bloom. Give a few to the sisters around the lady!" She explained to the maids in Yizhitang and gave a few camellia flowers to them.

Madam did not forbid the maids and servants of the Duke of England's mansion to visit, but she did not allow these people to enter and leave Yizhi Hall at will, let alone walk around in Yizhi Hall at will.

The maids took the flowers sent by Lu Zhengjia and led her to the upper room: "The flowers and plants that Madam kept in Zhending are here. The girls around Madam are helping Madam to take care of the flowers and plants in the small garden!"

Lu Zhengjia was very surprised: "Madam, are these flowers and plants that you keep at your mother's house?"

"Yes!" the old woman laughed, "There are so many! There were seven or eight large carts with all kinds of flowers, filling up the small garden. Fortunately, we moved some flowers and trees that can be transplanted in the winter, and the prince had someone help build a shed overnight, otherwise it would be troublesome."

Lu Zhengjia's heart skipped a beat and he said with a smile, "The prince still cares about these things?"

She remembered that Song Mo never cared about these things before.

"It's Madam's business, how could the prince not care?" The old woman smiled. The two of them turned around the alley of the side room of the main house. Lu Zhengjia saw Song Mo and Dou Zhao standing side by side in the corridor and talking.

Song Mo looked at Dou Zhao with a smile in his eyes and listened very seriously, as if there was nothing more important in the world than listening to what Dou Zhao said.

Lu Zhengjia's eyelids twitched.

A maidservant had already pointed at Lu Zheng's wife and reported to Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao looked over with clear eyes and a gentle expression.

Lu Zhengjia hurried forward and bowed respectfully, calling her "Prince" and "Madam".

Dou Zhao smiled and glanced at the flower in her hand, saying, "It's rare that you are so thoughtful. Ganlu, I'll give you a Fenghong from Lu Zheng's family."

Lu Zhengjia thanked them again and again.

Song Mo reached out and helped Dou Zhao: "It's too cold outside, let's go inside! If you are worried, I'll watch over you here."

"Let's go inside together!" After standing for a while, the hand warmer had become cold. Dou Zhao smiled and said, "I feel relieved to have Su Xin here."

Song Mo asked, "Have you bought everything for your aunt? I'm afraid it's going to snow based on the weather. You guys don't have to run around. If you need anything, ask the shopkeepers to bring it to your house and you can choose."

Dou Zhao replied "OK" with a smile, and walked out of the small garden side by side with Song Mo.

Ganlu took the camellia from Lu Zhengjia's hand with a smile and warmly invited her: "Mom, come to my room and have a cup of hot tea!"

Lu Zhengjia smiled and thanked repeatedly, but when he looked up, he saw a patch of camellia trees in the corner of the garden, with all kinds of flowers, some delicate and gorgeous, some intricate and beautiful, and some elegant and noble. Then he looked at the flowers she was holding, with red double petals and yellow cores, which were simple and a little thin.

She couldn't help blushing, secretly blaming the maids who were picking flowers for not doing their job well.

Ganlu, however, seemed unaware and entertained her warmly, introducing this and that to her, and even personally escorted her out of Yizhi Hall.

Su Jin covered her mouth and smiled, saying, "What is she doing here?"

"I don't know!" Gan Lu sighed and said, "It's really exhausting to entertain people like this!" Then she asked, "Is the prince still in Madam's room?"

Su Si nodded.

Gan Lu smiled and said, "Then I will go and report to Madam later what Mr. Lu Zheng said to me."

Su Jin smiled and said, "Okay, help us move the flowers first."

Ganlu groaned and said with a bitter face, "Can I not go?"

"Okay!" Su Jin said, "Then you will be responsible for washing all our clothes today!"

Ganlu said hurriedly: "Then I'd better go move the flowers!"

Su Jin giggled.

The two of them went to the small garden arguing with each other.

In the main house, Song Mo looked unhappy and said, "You don't have to consider my face. If these people come again, just call the guards to throw them out." He added, "Without rules, there will be no order. It's no wonder that the house is in such a mess since father treats these maids like this."

"How could it be as bad as you say?" Dou Zhao said with a smile, "I have always had a bad temper. Are you afraid that I will be bullied? Isn't Lu Zheng's wife in charge of the affairs of the upper house? I thought that if she came to Yizhi Hall often, I could ask her about the daily life of the second master. After all, they are children. If there is anything they don't take good care of, we can help take care of them. If she wants to come, let her come."

After all, Dou Zhaoquan did it all for him.

Song Mo's expression was slightly solemn, and he said: "How about I talk to Madam Lu and ask her to let my father officially hand over the power of presiding over the reward to you..." In this way, Dou Zhao would be able to ask about Song Han's affairs with justification. Why should she let those maids act so rampant in front of her?

"The affairs of the inner courtyard should be solved by the inner courtyard's methods." Dou Zhao smiled confidently, "Isn't it almost the New Year? In previous years, it was because there was no mistress at home. Could it be that the Duke will let the aunt host the Spring Banquet this year? Even if the Duke wants, will the aunt dare to come?" This was her responsibility, and she couldn't push it to Song Mo and let Song Mo stand up for her. Song Mo had his own responsibilities and obligations, but Song Mo's attitude still made her feel warm.

A maid came in and reported, "Master, Madam, the shopkeeper Zhong is here!"

"So fast?" Dou Zhao was surprised.

Song Mo smiled and teased her: "When you asked me for someone, you urged me to come quickly. Now that he is here, you complain that he came too fast. You are really hard to serve!"

Dou Zhao pursed his lips and smiled.

Song Mo said, "Let's invite Mr. Chen over! It's not easy for you to handle this matter in person, so it's best to let Mr. Chen handle it."

Dou Zhao agreed.

Song Mo arranged for Zhong Bingxiang and Chen Qushui to meet.

Zhong Bingxiang was summoned from Guangdong by Song Mo just to meet the new wife. He already knew how important Dou Zhao was in Song Mo's heart. Song Mo arranged for him to help Dou Zhao manage her dowry for a period of time. Although he felt that Song Mo was making a fuss, he still accepted Song Mo's arrangement with a smile and asked Song Mo for advice: "Should I help my wife sort out the accounts first or settle the accounts with Mr. Yan first?"

"Let's settle the accounts first!" Song Mo said, "Madam, the person who needs you to lead has not arrived in Kyoto yet."

If I arrive in Kyoto, should I help my wife sort out the accounts first?

Zhong Bingxiang smiled and replied "yes", muttering to himself.

In the next few days, Song Mo was busy settling accounts with Zhong Bingxiang.

Some of the officials in the Duke of England's mansion also began to settle accounts with Song Yichun one after another.

Although the income of the British Mansion this year is not as good as in previous years, it is not too bad.

But when Song Yichun thought of the thirteen businesses in Song Mo's hands, he felt as if something was blocking his heart and he couldn't breathe.

If there were no thirteen businesses, would he have the capital to do right by himself?

Song Yichun suddenly became impatient and shouted to his new personal attendant Zeng Wu: "Go! See what the prince is doing!"

Zeng Wulian rolled and crawled out of the main room of Osmanthus Courtyard and asked a servant to go and inquire.