Chapter 363 Church

While Yizhi Hall was filled with endless romance and joy, Xixiang Courtyard seemed to have been blown by a strong wind. Even the grass and trees were trembling, not to mention the maids and servants on duty.

Song Yichun walked back and forth in the book with his hands behind his back, looking anxious.

The flickering light from the Octagonal Palace sometimes fell on his face and sometimes on his body, making his expression seem a little uncertain.

"I should have thought of it a long time ago. That little bastard would not let Dou suffer any injustice because she had hundreds of thousands of taels of silver as a dowry." He stopped and looked at the palace lanterns with a somewhat sinister look. "He presided over the banquet on behalf of Dou today. The venison was not cooked, the prawns still had a fishy smell, and egg shells were found in the lotus soup. Because that little bastard stood there and toasted with a smile, none of those people dared to say a word, and they kept praising the singing at the party today..." At this point, he suddenly remembered and asked, "Didn't we have someone watching over Yizhi Hall? How come you didn't know that Song Mo invited Zeng Chusheng from Guanglian Society to sing at the party? Whose idea was this?"

Last month, the eighth prince held a banquet and invited Zeng Chusheng to sing. Zeng Chusheng did not dare to refuse and went despite his illness. He lost his voice in the middle of the performance. Everyone knew that he was ill, so no one invited him to sing during the Spring Festival. I didn't expect him to appear in the Duke of Ying's mansion. The guests were surprised. Who would care about the quality of the banquet at the Duke of Ying's mansion?

Song Yichun, as the host, was also present.

He was so angry that his face turned blue, but not only could he not vent his anger, he had to suppress his rage and listen to the crowd's applause, forcing a smile while commenting on the opera sung by Zeng Chusheng.

Tao Qizhong couldn't help but smile bitterly when he heard this, and said, "I don't know what happened either. There was absolutely no movement over there beforehand."

Song Yichun was too lazy to listen to Tao Qizhong's words and said, "If you didn't know it beforehand, won't you check it out afterwards?" He said coldly, "Today he can use Zeng Chusheng to save the situation, but I wonder what he will do tomorrow?"

Tao Qizhong was silent for a moment, replied "yes" in a low voice, and took the opportunity to retreat.

Standing on the porch, he couldn't help but let out a long breath.

The Duke seemed to be so angry that he was confused. Now his mind was focused on these trivial matters. What's the use of suppressing the lady? As long as the prince was still favored by the emperor and his career was smooth, those people would be courteous to the lady. Don't say that the lady was smart and capable. Even if they found her fault, would those people blame the lady for the sake of excitement and make enemies with the prince?

Taoqizhong walked out shaking his head.

When he passed by the teahouse, he saw Zeng Wu, grinning, tangling with a maid in a purple jacket at the corner of the corridor.

Tao Qizhong sighed somewhat helplessly.

Zeng Wu, the new person promoted by the Duke, is far inferior to Lu Zheng!

The thought flashed through his mind and his expression paused slightly.

The maid in the black jacket seemed to be Luoyan from the Duke's room...

He hurriedly turned back.

Zeng Wu and Luo Yan are both missing.

There was only a little maid in the tea room watching the fire.

He looked around and didn't see Zeng Wu, but he saw Luo Yan coming out of Song Yichun's room holding an empty red bowl.

Seeing the heavy pottery, she was startled and called out "Mr. Tao" in a tense voice. She said in a panic, "The Duke hasn't gone to bed yet. I'll go and tell him now."

"No need." Tao Qizhong said calmly, "I just came out of the Duke's room. You go and do your thing!" Then he walked out.

Luoyan breathed a sigh of relief.

Watching Tao Qizhong's figure disappear into the night, he ran towards the osmanthus forest behind the teahouse.

Zeng Wu was waiting there with his head cocked in anticipation.

Seeing Luo Yan, he hurriedly asked, "What's wrong?"

Luo Yan covered his chest and panted imploringly, "We were almost discovered by Mr. Tao... Hurry up and write it down, this is all I remember... There are a total of 28 people, all from the Third Princess's Mansion, in addition to the Third Princess, there are 12 female relatives..."

He talked about the people Song Yichun was going to host a banquet for tomorrow in detail.

Although Zeng Wu could write a few poorly scribbled words, it was pitch dark and he had no paper or ink, so what could he use to write?

But he has a good memory and he remembered most of the people Luoyan mentioned.

After giving Luoyan a gilded hairpin, two pearl flowers and some silver coins, Zeng Wu ran away in a flash.

Luo Yan didn't want any hairpins or pearl flowers. When she was discovered, people thought she and Zeng Wu were having an affair. But Zeng Wu ran so fast that he disappeared before she could say anything.

She had no choice but to leave the osmanthus forest in disappointment.

In front of the teahouse door, I saw Tao Qizhong looking inside.

She was a little stunned for a moment.

Tao Qizhong smiled and said, "I seemed to see Zeng Wu just now..."

Luo Yan felt that the jewelry in her sleeves was a little hot, and said, "I didn't see Zeng Wu..."

Tao Qizhong walked out while smiling and said, "Maybe my eyes are blurry." After leaving the Osmanthus Courtyard, he secretly wondered in his heart, could it be that he was wrong?

He went to Zeng Chusheng's house next to the Thousand Buddha Temple.

Zeng Chusheng came out in person and said to him very politely, "The Duke has already rewarded you with a valuable gift of silk, so why bother Mr. Tao to make a personal trip? If you have anything to say, just send someone to let me know." He also brought out the best Biluochun tea to entertain the guest.

Tao Qizhong was secretly surprised.

Judging from Zeng Chusheng's tone, it was the Duke who invited him to sing at the party!

How is this possible?

Could it be that someone did this in the name of the Duke?

He probed, "It's not a big deal. The Duke just wanted to ask what Mr. Zeng has planned next."

Zeng Chusheng smiled and told his apprentice to take a red and gold-sprinkled playlist and hand it to Tao Qizhong, saying, "This is the play I will sing next. If the Duke thinks it is not good, you can always change it according to your wishes."

Tao Qizhong took the playbill and said, "I just got the instructions when I arrived, and I don't know the whole story..."

Zeng Chu was used to hanging around in wealthy families, so he thought Tao Qizhong was trying to compete for attention with some manager, so he said hurriedly, "It was Mr. Cui Shisan, the director of the Registrar's Office, who invited me. This list of plays was also Mr. Cui's idea."

Is there anyone named Cui in the Duke of England's office?

Tao Qizhong was at a loss for a moment, but soon realized that this person surnamed Cui was most likely a relative of his wife's aunt, Cui's grandmother...

Zeng Chusheng has already given a performance and was received by the Duke of Ying's Mansion. Can he really say that the man surnamed Cui is fake?

Tao Qi exchanged a few words with Zeng Chusheng, feeling short of breath and chest tightness, then stood up, said goodbye, and returned to the Duke of England's mansion.

Song Yichun had already fallen asleep, but when he realized that the pottery had returned, he got up again.

Tao Qizhong told Song Yichun what had happened.

Song Yichun kicked over a footstool on the spot.

The footstool fell over and his toes were in terrible pain.

He covered his toes and shouted at Tao Qizhong, "Kick that actor out tomorrow! He wants to perform a few more shows in our house? No way!"

"Absolutely not!" Tao Qizhong said hurriedly, "That actor often travels around the palaces, especially with those old ladies and grand ladies. There is no guarantee that he will not be as talkative as a woman. If we drive him away without hesitation, those old ladies and grand ladies will definitely ask about it. What if Zeng Chusheng doesn't answer well and some rumors get out, wouldn't the Duke of Ying's Mansion become a laughing stock? Guanglian Society is known as the best opera troupe in Kyoto. During the New Year and other festivals, why not let him finish singing for a few days and add to the fun!"

Song Yichun jumped up and said, "I can't do anything to that evil couple, can I not do anything to an actor? Let him get out of here tomorrow!"

Tao Qizhong knew that he was angry and no matter how he tried to persuade him, it was useless, so he had to retreat sadly.

Song Yichun kept cursing in the room for a long time, scaring the maids and servants on duty so much that they trembled with fear for half the night.

But when Song Mo looked at Dou Zhao, whose hair was wet with sweat, he felt heartbroken.

He pulled his small clothes to help Dou Zhao wipe her face, and asked her worriedly: "Are you feeling uncomfortable somewhere?"

Dou Zhao felt as if he had run several blocks. He was very tired, yet at the same time, he felt inexplicably comfortable.

"Where did you learn these tricks?" Her voice became a little hoarse because of the previous moaning. "Tell the truth?"

Dou Zhao glanced at Song Mo with a sparkling look in his eyes, but he was very unhappy in his heart.

She knew that she was Song Mo's first woman, and she knew what Song Mo liked and what he was capable of, but those romantic tricks just now were definitely not something Song Mo could imagine out of thin air. She was afraid that Song Mo went to drink wine or have sex, because only in such places could someone know how to have sex with a pregnant woman.

After the feast, Song Mo felt as if the clouds had finally cleared and the moon was shining. He was extremely happy and had no idea that Dou Zhao was vaguely unhappy.

He held Dou Zhao in his arms, bit her ear and asked her, "Is this okay?"

Dou Zhaowei thought for a moment, smiled sincerely and whispered "Okay", and put her arms around his waist.

Song Mo suddenly felt a little proud and whispered, "I asked the maids in the palace... they said it would work..."

Dou Zhao was surprised, and then felt a little embarrassed.

She should have more confidence in Song Mo.

But this answer made her even more angry.

Nanny Yan Xi, who knew about this matter, was usually under the supervision of the Empress.

They will definitely report the truth to Her Majesty.

The family reunion dinner on New Year's Eve and the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month are all royal family banquets. Not to mention the nobles, even the Empress's family members have to obtain special permission to attend. The Duke of England's Mansion benefited from the fact that his ancestors were adopted royal children, so he was considered a member of the royal family and had to enter the palace during every festival. Therefore, the Duke of England's family reunion dinner was scheduled for the eve of the Chinese New Year.

When Dou Zhao thought about having to accompany the ladies in the palace to admire the moon and lanterns on the Lantern Festival, she wanted to cover herself with the quilt and sleep forever.

But Song Mo teased her and said with a smile: "If you go to the palace and see the Empress, and she asks you to arrange a concubine for me, you should say that it has already been arranged. I gave the two beauties sent by the Earl of Jiading to Gu Yu, so you must not reveal my secret!"

Dou Zhao just hoped there was a hole in the ground he could crawl into.

"Can't you just hold back?" She turned away coquettishly, sulking with Song Mo, "Now everyone must know about this, how can I go to the palace to see the Empress?"

"No!" Song Mo gently stroked her shoulder and smiled softly, "When the Queen called me, I told her that I only like you, and I don't like anyone else... The Queen also told me to treat you well, saying that you are pregnant and it is inevitable that you will have a bad temper, and asked me to be more tolerant of you..."