Chapter 337 Return of Gift

When Song Yichun heard the news, he was so angry that his mouth was crooked. He kicked Zeng Wu in the stomach and said, "Go, tie up those gossipers, give them fifty lashes each, and then sell them to human traffickers!"

Zeng Wu held his stomach in pain, wanting to say something but stopping himself.

This matter has spread throughout the mansion. Do we have to sell all the servants in the mansion?

The thought flashed through his mind, and a bold idea emerged in his mind.

The Duke is just trying to scare the monkeys, so why don't I take this opportunity to hand over those guys who don't like me?

Let’s see who dares to look down on him from now on!

Zeng Wu made up his mind, stood up quickly, said "yes" respectfully, and was about to leave, but was stopped by Tao Qizhong who was standing beside him.

"Wait a minute!" He saluted the Duke. "I think we need to think about this matter carefully. It's better to find out where this rumor came from first before making any plans."

Zeng Wu listened and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

The Duke always listened to Mr. Tao. After Mr. Tao said this, his plan to use public power for personal gain was ruined.

Just as the thought flashed through his mind, Zeng Wu was surprised to see Song Yichun jump up with a pale face: "Discuss it in the long run?! Discuss what?! Didn't you hear it?! Yizhitang bought a lot of candles and white cloth! What are they going to do? Curse me to death?! How can I have any mercy on such a traitor? If I don't beat to death those who dare to talk nonsense in the Duke's Mansion today, I don't know what more unbearable words will be heard! I have tolerated him for a long time, don't think I can tolerate it this time!"

Tao Qizhong looked at the irritable Song Yichun, shook his head helplessly, and still shouted "Duke" loudly, saying: "Now is not the time for you to lose your temper and punish people, but you should think about how to clear your name first!"

"Correct the name?!" Song Yichun was stunned.

"That's right!" Tao Qi said seriously, "Just think about it, if this rumor gets to the emperor's ears, what will the emperor think?"

Song Yichun was confused and asked blankly, "What does this have to do with the emperor?"

Tao Qizhong had no choice but to lower his voice and said, "You have been ill for such a long time, but you can't just leave your job at the Five Armies Commandery like this. If this gets to the emperor's ears, and if someone with ulterior motives helps, then the Duke's job as the commander-in-chief..."

I'm afraid we need to change people, right?

Having lost his title as the commander-in-chief of the Five Military Commandery, what could he use to suppress Song Mo?

Song Yichun's heart sank, and he gradually calmed down. But once he calmed down, he was so angry that he vomited blood. He said angrily: "Can we just let it go like this?"

"One step back, the world will be bigger than the sky." Tao Qizhong had to comfort Song Yichun, "Your Highness should put the overall situation first. If you want to deal with a few gossiping maids, you can do it anytime. Why rush it now? Others will think that we are angry and want to cover up your illness. What if the emperor sends the eunuchs in the palace to visit you, or even asks the hospital to submit your pulse report? That will be troublesome!"

Song Yichun clenched his hands into fists, his nails digging into his palms.

"No, I can't let that little beast go like this!" He walked around the room with red eyes, as violent as a beast trapped in a cage. "These dogs in the mansion all have snobbish eyes. If I let that little beast go like this, how can I control those dogs in the future..."

He actually put all the blame on Song Mo.

Tao Qizhong smiled bitterly and said, "Duke, I don't think it was the Crown Prince who did this. If it was the Crown Prince, he would have bribed those eunuchs to flatter you in front of the Emperor. Why would he have to use such childish means?"

Song Yichun's expression froze after hearing these words. In his heart, he had to admit that Tao Qizhong's words made sense, but he was unwilling to admit and believe that it was not done by Song Mo. For a moment, his face was gloomy and unclear.

Tao Qizhong saw it clearly, and hurriedly said to Song Yichun in a negotiating tone: "Why don't you cancel your sick leave and return to the Five Armies Commandery to work in the next two days, and I will find out where this rumor came from?"

Song Yichun said nothing and continued to walk around the room, but he no longer mentioned asking Zeng Wu to arrest someone.

Taoqi breathed a sigh of relief.

Song Mo found this strange and asked Yan Chaoqing: "Who made up this rumor? It forced my father to recover from his illness. I'm afraid my father must be very angry!"

Yan Chaoqing smiled and said, "I also find it strange. I checked it out, but I couldn't find any clues. If the prince wants to know, I will ask Du Wei to check it out. Maybe he can find out something."

"Forget it." Song Mo said, "As long as father recovers, this matter will be solved. Father now regards me as a thorn in his side. He thinks that anything that is unfavorable to him or any rumor is my doing or saying. I don't want to offend him. Let him be!"

Yan Chaoqing smiled and talked about another matter related to this: "Doctor Guo sent people to kidnap Su Xin and others. Do you think you should tell Madam about it? Let Madam have a clue about it and be more careful in the future. Mr. Chen and Guard Duan on Madam's side are not ordinary people. If they know the cause of the matter, they will find a way to protect Madam. It is better than us following Madam from a distance."

Song Mo smiled and said, "Of course I have to tell my wife about this." Then he thought that he had been out for the whole day and had not seen Dou Zhao yet. He didn't know what she was doing today. Suddenly, he felt an urge to go home.

He stood up and said, "I have to go to the palace tomorrow, sir, you should go to bed early!"

Yan Chaoqing escorted Song Mo out of the study.

Song Mo's figure quickly disappeared into the hanging flower gate.

Wuyi, who had just been pouring tea in the study, appeared beside Yan Chaoqing and said hesitantly, "Madam did this. Is it appropriate not to tell the prince?"

"What's inappropriate?" Yan Chaoqing said with a smile, "Madam didn't hurt the Duke at all. She just complained a few words in private, and those maids and old women spread it. What's so surprising? It even reached the ears of the Crown Prince. Although the Duke and the Crown Prince are father and son, Madam and the Crown Prince are husband and wife. Madam is wholeheartedly devoted to the Crown Prince. We, the servants, should be happy."

Wuyi nodded and said with a smile: "I also think that what Madam did is quite satisfying. Now, the Duke will not dare to pretend to be sick anymore, right?"

Yan Chaoqing laughed.

Dou Zhao, who heard that Song Yichun had "recovered" and had returned to work at the Five Military Commandery, also laughed.

Su Xin couldn't help but sigh: "Who would believe it if I told others? The Duke of England was so angry about his daughter-in-law's dowry that he fell ill. Not only did he fall ill, but he also wanted to know how much dowry his daughter-in-law had. He couldn't find out secretly, so he sent assassins to kidnap his daughter-in-law's personal maid, hoping to find out from her where the property under his daughter-in-law's name came from..."

Dou Zhao was also somewhat helpless, and teased Su Xin, "This just shows that you are a good ruler. Even the Duke of Ying couldn't find out what was going on in my house, so he had to take a risk and use a stupid trick."

Su Xin shook her head and laughed.

Dou Zhao said, "He is a Duke, but he has been forced to this point by us. This is unique!" Then he put his hands together, prayed "Amitabha" devoutly towards the west, and said seriously, "In this way, our Su Xin can also set a date for the wedding!"

Su Xin's face flushed and she shyly called out "Madam".

Dou Wu smiled and said, "Go ask Chen He later where the house that Chen Jia originally mortgaged is. Can it be bought? I want to give it to Chen Jia."

Su Xin was very surprised.

Dou Zhao said: "He helped me so much, I can't let him work in vain. I will buy back the house he had mortgaged before and give it to him. It can be regarded as repaying his favor!"

Su Xin nodded and asked Chen He to handle this matter.

Chen He did not dare to hide the truth from Song Mo, so he reported the matter to Song Mo. Song Mo smiled and said, "Since it was given to him by the Madam, you should do your best."

A few days later, Chen Jia received the gift.

Looking at the small courtyard with green tiles and white walls, Chen Jia was filled with emotion.

This house is near Yuqiao Hutong, and there is no demand for it. He originally sold it to the godson of Cui Yijun, the eunuch who was close to the crown prince, for only half of the market price. He never expected to buy it back from Cui Yijun's godson. Unexpectedly, the crown prince's wife not only found out his original residence, but also bought it so quickly...

Chen Jia showed a resolute look on his face, and called out to Hu Zi, who was happily wandering around the house, "Let's go to the antique shop on West Street to see if there is anything we can give to Madam Dou!"

Hu Zi shouted "eh" loudly and locked the door.

Dou Zhao was busy looking at the almanac with his aunt and others to choose a wedding date for Su Xin.

Song Mo smiled and said, "When are you going to hold Sulan's wedding? Whether you have money or not, it's good to have a wife to celebrate the New Year."

Dou Zhao blinked and said, "No one has come to propose marriage, how should I know what to do?"

"You witch!" Song Mo leaned over and bit her shoulder.

Dou Zhao blushed, uttered an "ouch", and said hurriedly: "Stop making trouble, my aunt is here!"

Only then did Song Mo stand up reluctantly.

Winter clothes are thick and will not hurt the skin at all.

Dou Zhao chuckled.

Song Mo asked, "Have you told Su Xin about Su Lan's marriage?"

"I said it!" Dou Zhao said with a smile, "Not only Su Xin thinks it's a good idea, but Mr. Chen also thinks it's a good idea. He's just a little worried that their personalities don't match."

"But Nanny Chen thinks it's a good idea." Song Mo sat down next to Dou Zhao. "She said Chen He is dull and taciturn both at home and outside. Sulan is lively and active, so she can be a good guide for Chen He. I asked Chen He, and he blushed and said he would listen to Nanny Chen in everything. I think this marriage is a good one. You marry Suxin, so you can marry Sulan!"

Dou Zhao nodded.

The Chen family invited an official matchmaker to propose marriage the next day.

Yizhitang was doubly happy, everyone had smiles on their faces, as if it was New Year’s Day.

Song Mo said, "Let's go to the Eastern Palace in the next two days. Before we got married, the Crown Prince asked me to bring you to the palace to pay respects to the Crown Princess. Logically, after you stayed at your parents' home for a month, we would have completed the ceremony and could move around freely. But my father got sick, so we had to postpone our trip to the Eastern Palace. Now that my father has recovered, we should go and pay respects to the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess."