Chapter 358 Spring Festival
Song Mo's words left Kuang Zhuoran and others dumbfounded.
"My Lord," Kuang Zhuoran said hesitantly, "Are you saying that my father was deceived?"
Dou Dechang and Dou Qijun also had the same idea. They looked at Song Mo with burning eyes, wanting to hear what Song Mo had to say.
The look of attentive listening made Song Mo smile.
"That's not the case." He said, "I just think that their purpose is clearly to take over the Kuang family's business. According to my understanding of the eunuchs, they usually don't have the patience to run such a business. You should check who the new official Jiang Jie is a student of or who is his fellow apprentice. Only with such a relationship can he talk to the eunuchs. Instead of asking Fan Shiquan for help, it is better to find out Jiang Jie's backers. With the Dou family's connections in the literati, we have a better chance of turning danger into safety."
Kuang Zhuoran and the others' eyes lit up when they heard this. Kuang Zhuoran even bowed to Dou Dechang and said, "Uncle Twelve, Boyan will soon take part in the Spring Examination. I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you to find out a little about this matter."
Although this was the first time he and Song Mo met, he was very impressed by the sharpness Song Mo showed. However, there was a huge gap between him and Song Mo in terms of status and friendship, so he really couldn't bring himself to say it.
When they couldn't find anyone, the first person Dou Qijun thought of was Dou Dechang. Dou Dechang didn't know anything, but just because Dou Qijun asked him to do so, he started helping to find someone without saying a word. It can be seen that Dou Qijun and Dou Dechang not only had a good personal relationship, but also that Dou Dechang was a person worthy of trust, so he had to turn to Dou Dechang for help.
Song Mo and Dou Zhao saw that Kuang Zhuoran was still thinking about Dou Qijun when his family was in deep trouble, so they couldn't help but look up to Kuang Zhuoran. Song Mo even said to Dou Dechang and Dou Qijun, "I think you two should not get involved in this matter, just leave it to me." He also said, "Kuang Zhuoran, if you have any questions, just come to me directly!"
Kuang Zhuoran was naturally overjoyed. He thanked Song Mo and then went to thank Dou Dechang and Dou Qijun.
It would definitely be much better for Song Mo to intervene than for them to rush in like aimless flies.
Dou Qijun was also happy to have Song Mo intervene. He thanked Song Mo happily and stood up to say goodbye in a happy mood.
Kuang Zhuoran went back to the inn with him, but Dou Dechang stayed.
The affairs of the Kuang family involved a great eunuch like Wang Yuan, which made his gossipy heart burn like a raging fire.
He and Song Mo whispered, "I heard that the Jinwu Guards haven't had their holiday yet. You can't do everything yourself, right? How about I run some errands for you?"
Song Mo knew that his father-in-law had intended to pass Dou Dechang to Xidou. Although this matter was not carried out later, his father-in-law was still unwilling to take a concubine and was determined to divorce Wang. Although the Wang family took Wang back, every time his father-in-law came to talk about this matter seriously, the Wang family would make excuses and refuse to respond. This matter might continue to cause trouble for a few more years. His father-in-law was already nearly 40 years old. In a few years, even if he wanted to have a child, it would be a bit difficult. In the end, he might still have to pass on the child.
In terms of closeness and kinship, Dou Dechang was the best choice. Moreover, Dou Zhao grew up under Ji's wing, and he was happy to be close to Dou Dechang: "If it doesn't interfere with your studies, you can run errands for me!"
Song Mo has all kinds of people under his command, so why would Dou Dechang need to take action? However, since Dou Dechang is curious, he assigned a few tasks to Dou Dechang to do, just as if he was taking Dou Dechang out for fun.
Dou Dechang was overjoyed when he heard this, and hurriedly said, "The school has already been closed for the holiday. Classes will not resume until after the Lantern Festival. There is no need to delay your studies. There is no need to delay your studies!"
"That's good!" Song Mo smiled and made an appointment with him to meet Chen Zheng at the palace gate tomorrow morning.
Dou Dechang left happily.
Dou Zhao asked Song Mo: "Do you really think that this matter is someone using Fan Shiquan's tiger skin as a banner?"
"We don't know yet." Song Mo said calmly and rationally, "We can only be sure after checking."
Dou Zhao couldn't help but curl his lips.
Song Mo smiled, pinched Dou Zhao's cheek, and went to the bathroom.
Dou Zhao thought of Wang Yuan from Wang Ge.
She would never believe that Wang Yuan had not participated in the palace coup in his previous life.
But why does Wang Yuan think that Prince Liao will definitely succeed?
When did he surrender to King Liao?
What conditions did Prince Liao use to impress Wang Yuan?
Dou Zhao thought of the things that Gu Yu had taken from the Liaowang warehouse, and of Zhang Zhiqi from Risheng Silver House...
Treason requires money.
And it’s a lot of money.
Before success, it's like a bottomless pit.
No amount of silver can fill it.
The Kuang family's annual income of thirty thousand taels of silver, which was a deal that had already been made and could only make profits but not losses, was exactly what King Liao needed.
Dou Zhao has always wanted to remind Song Mo to be on guard against Prince Liao's ambitions, but there has never been a suitable opportunity.
She vaguely felt that if this matter was really related to Wang Yuan, it might be an opportunity for both her and Song Mo.
While Dou Zhao was paying close attention to the developments at the Kuang family, he began to make arrangements for the New Year celebrations at the Duke of Ying's Mansion.
The sacrifice on New Year's Eve, the New Year's Eve dinner in the palace, the first day of the New Year's Day, the second and third days of the New Year, the family dinner on the fourth and fifth days, the spring banquet from the sixth day to the Lantern Festival, everything from the guest list to the tea utensils, all have to change according to the scene. For a noble family like the Duke of Ying, who has to participate in the royal celebration and entertain colleagues, there are so many things to do, which is no less busy than the New Year celebrations in a state or prefecture, and far more than ordinary officials.
Fortunately, Dou Zhao was very familiar with this and no matter what the task was, it could not stump her.
The maids in charge first saw Dou Zhao's methods, and then saw Dou Zhao's ability as a housekeeper. They were all afraid to act rashly. Dou Zhao also spread the word that he had no intention of making a big move. As long as they were competent, they would continue to stay; if they were not competent, no matter who they were, they would be fired. None of the maids in charge wanted to be the chicken that scared the monkey, so they tried their best to keep their jobs. For a while, Dou Zhao's words were more effective than the imperial edict. In just two days, she had arranged everything.
Dou Zhao took out his own silver and gave ten taels of silver to each of the housekeepers who did their job effectively. Those who did their job well were rewarded with two taels of silver each.
For a time, everyone in the Duke of Ying's mansion praised Dou Zhao like a Bodhisattva.
Song Yichun felt like he was slapped in the face.
The reason why he so easily agreed to hand over the power of managing the Duke of Ying's Mansion to Dou Zhao was not only because he was forced by the situation, but more importantly, he wanted to see Dou Zhao, who had no experience in managing the Duke's Mansion, get overwhelmed and get a thankless job.
But unexpectedly, he helped Dou Zhao succeed.
Song Yichun was angry and annoyed. On the way to Baohedian for the New Year's Eve dinner, he kept a stern face and didn't even glance at Dou Zhaoliang.
Song Mo just pretended he didn't see it, and Dou Zhao didn't take it to heart either.
This is like a defeated general who has no power to fight back. Who would care whether he is happy or angry?
The main hall of Baohedian was occupied by civil and military ministers and royal relatives whom the emperor valued, while the back hall was occupied by the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and other ladies of high rank.
Dou Zhao had no intention of having anything to do with the Empress Dowager, the Empress or the Crown Princess. He dressed according to his rank and sat obediently at the table, occasionally whispering a few words to the wife of the Crown Prince of Changxing and the wife of the Duke of Xingguo who were sitting next to him. He behaved in a proper manner and did not stand out in any way.
But there are some things that you can't avoid just because you want to.
The maid beside the Crown Princess brought a large pillow to Dou Zhao on her orders and whispered, "The Crown Princess said to let you use it as a cushion to prevent back pain."
Dou Zhao thanked him quietly, but when he looked up, he found that he had become the focus of the whole audience.
She lowered her head quickly.
But the Queen Mother still pointed at her and asked, "Isn't this the daughter-in-law God has given me?"
The Queen Mother smiled and said, "Your old eyes are still so sharp - she is none other than the wife of the Crown Prince of the Duke of Ying, Lady Da Dou."
The Queen Mother smiled and said, "I remember." Then she said with interest, "Since there is a Big Dou, there must be a Little Dou. Who is the Little Dou?"
"She is the wife of the Marquis of Jining." The Queen Mother smiled, "She is a half-sister of the wife of the Duke of Ying. The wife of the Duke of Ying is the eldest daughter of Dou Wanyuan, the Lord of the Hanlin Academy, and the wife of the Marquis of Jining is the second daughter."
The Wei family was not qualified to attend such a banquet, so Dou Ming was not in the hall.
"Is there such a thing?" The Queen Mother became even more interested. "Who was the matchmaker for the elder Dou? And who was the matchmaker for the younger Dou?"
"Little Dou was betrothed since childhood, and Big Dou was chosen by the Duke of England himself." The Empress glanced at Dou Zhao and said with a smile.
The Queen Mother carefully looked at Dou Zhao a few more times and said with a smile, "This child is good-looking. At the next grand court meeting, please point out the little Dou to me."
The Empress smiled and said "Yes", and said: "There is another thing, which you certainly don't know - Da Dou is already pregnant, and her due date is the same as the Crown Princess's, only a few days apart."
"That's great!" At her age, the Empress Dowager liked to hear the good news of a new baby, and she gave Dou Zhao a string of sandalwood Buddhist beads, a pair of peace lockets, some plain silk for children to make clothes, and a piece of bright red silk with the pattern of "Hundred Children Playing with Spring" for making a quilt for the child.
Dou Zhao stepped forward to express his gratitude.
The Empress Dowager smiled and waved her hand, signaling her to leave, and lowered her head to discuss which play to order with the Empress Dowager. The wife of the Marquis of Changxing, who had just been chatting and laughing with the Empress Dowager and the Empress and ignored everyone else, became obviously enthusiastic about Dou Zhaoming, and even the somewhat dull wife of the Duke of Xingguo looked at her twice.
Dou Zhao nodded kindly to the wife of Duke Xingguo.
In her previous life, even if the Jining Marquisate was revived under her leadership, it was still far behind the nobles like the Xingguo Marquisate. She had no friendship with the wife of the Xingguo Marquis. But she knew that after the Yingguo Marquisate was stripped of its title, the Xingguo Marquis waited for the decline of the Changxing Marquisate with his low-key and tolerant attitude, and became the first among the nobles in Kyoto.
Because he had received the empress dowager's reward, after the first court meeting of the new year, Dou Zhao first thanked the empress dowager, and then went to Cining Palace to express his gratitude. When he left the inner palace, it was already noon.
Du Ming was anxiously waiting for Song Mo in the small study.
Seeing Dou Zhao and Song Mo coming together, he bowed respectfully and said straight to the point: "My Lord, Madam, I found out that Jiang Jie is actually the nephew of the cousin of the wife of Dai Jian, and a student of Mu Chuan, the Minister of Works and the Grand Academician of Zhongji Palace."