Chapter 510: Coming to the fore
The youngest son comes out as the eldest.
Jiang Boxun is only twelve years older than Song Mo.
He was tall and slender, wearing a lilac gown, his face was covered with bruises, and his right eye was swollen to a slit. One could tell at a glance that he had been treated in some way. Logically, he should have looked very savage, but he stood there, his posture straight, his emotions high, his face full of indifference, with the cheerfulness of a northern man.
He is indeed a person worthy of the attention of the owner of Tan Family Manor!
Dou Zhao only took a glance and then lowered his eyes politely, then stepped forward and saluted respectfully.
Jiang Baisun looked at her carefully and said with a smile, "This is the first time we meet, and you should have given me a gift. Unfortunately, your fifth uncle is penniless now, so I can only give you some later." Then, before Dou Zhao could speak, he turned to Song Mo with a smile and said, "Sister once praised Miss Dou in front of mother, saying that she was as capable as any man, and wanted to get to know Miss Dou. Unexpectedly, time has passed, and Miss Dou has become her daughter-in-law. If sister knew about this, she would probably sleep with a smile on her face." As he spoke, he punched Song Mo on the shoulder, "This is the best thing you have ever done. Your grandmother and I were worried about your marriage before!"
He gave Dou Zhao such a high evaluation that Dou Zhao couldn't help blushing.
Song Mo, however, just laughed, his brows full of pride.
Dou Zhao stepped back, told the maids and servants to serve him well, and returned to the main courtyard so that the uncle and nephew could have a good talk.
Dou Shiying already knew about the Xiangshan Villa incident. As the capital was cleaning the streets and cars were forbidden to pass through, he sent Gao Sheng to inquire about the situation.
Dou Zhao naturally only said good things, and as his grandmother was unharmed, Gao Sheng couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief and went back happily to report the news.
Song Mo returned to the main room.
"Why did you come back so early?" Dou Zhao personally twisted a handkerchief and helped him wash and dress. "I thought you would have lunch with Fifth Uncle?"
"He's still injured and is taking medicine!" Song Mo took Dou Zhao's handkerchief, leaned over and kissed Dou Zhao's cheek, then smiled and said, "Rest first. After a few days, when he has recovered, it won't be too late to hold a banquet to entertain Fifth Uncle."
Dou Zhao thought for a moment and said, "Does the Crown Prince know about my fifth uncle's situation? Is he staying here for a few days or is he going to recuperate at home? If relatives and friends come to visit, will he meet them or not?"
"I haven't had time to tell His Royal Highness the Crown Prince about this." Song Mo said, "But I have sent someone to deliver a letter to the palace. But the situation these days is special, and I don't know if the letter can be delivered to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince in time. While the situation in the palace is unclear, Fifth Uncle will temporarily stay with us to recover from his injuries. As for Fifth Uncle's return, I have already told Wuyi and the others not to make a fuss, so just pretend you don't know, close the door of the mansion, and restrict the people at home from running around."
The Liao prince was plotting treason, and such a serious incident had occurred that all the noble families closed their doors and refused to receive visitors, fearing that they would be implicated in the incident, even if it meant their own family would be implicated.
Dou Zhao nodded repeatedly.
Wuyi ran in sweating profusely: "My Lord, Madam, a eunuch came to the palace and said that he was ordered by the Crown Prince to invite you to the palace. He didn't even drink a cup of tea and just stood in the hall waiting. When we asked him, he didn't say anything, only saying that the Crown Prince asked you to come over quickly because the matter was urgent..."
The Song couple couldn't help but exchange glances.
Could it be that the prince knew about his fifth uncle so quickly?
Song Mo said: "I will enter the palace now!"
Wuyi ran to reply, Dou Zhao ordered the little maid to help Song Mo change into official clothes, and Song Mo entered the palace again under the scorching sun.
In order to show respect, the prince did not discuss state affairs with ministers in the East Wing Hall where the emperor usually handled government affairs, but met with ministers in the chamber on the east side of the main hall.
When Song Mo rushed over, not only were several elders from the inner cabinet present, but also several older royal relatives and nobles, such as the King of Huainan, the Earl of Yunyang, the Marquis of Xuanning, and the Earl of Huichang, were also present. The chamber was completely silent. The Crown Prince fiddled with the agarwood Buddhist beads in his hand with a somewhat irritated look. Several princes and ministers also looked gloomy. The Earl of Yunyang even shrank behind the King of Huainan, looking as if he was afraid to see anyone. The atmosphere was very strange.
He stepped forward to pay his respects to the prince, but when he looked up he saw Dou Shishu winking at him.
Song Mo couldn't help but look confused.
The prince has signaled Cui Yijun to bring a stool to Song Mo.
Song Mo had no choice but to thank him and sat below the King of Huainan.
The prince looked at Liang Jifen and said, "Prince Liao has kidnapped my father, and we are afraid to attack. But it is not a solution to continue like this! I asked my uncle and several respected marquises to help me come up with ideas and see if they can persuade Prince Liao. But Liang Ge Lao recommended you to me - saying that you grew up with Prince Liao, and my father likes you the most. The Empress and Madam Jiang have a close personal relationship and have always treated you like their own nephew. You are the most suitable person to persuade him to surrender. So I hurriedly recruited you into the palace!"
At this critical moment of life and death, can it be resolved with just a few words?
I haven't done anything to offend Liang Jifen, right?
How can he be promoting himself? He is clearly putting himself on the spot!
No wonder Fifth Uncle winked at me!
Song Mo cursed Liang Jifen in his heart, but he knew that this matter had become a major concern for the prince. If he rejected the prince outright, the prince would probably be unhappy.
He thought for a moment and said, "Your Highness, can I have a few words with you alone?"
Everyone was surprised. They didn't expect Song Mo to be so bold as to make demands on the future Crown Prince.
The prince didn't think twice and went with Song Mo to a side room that was separated into a lounge.
Song Mo whispered, "Your Highness has always been kind and benevolent. The Liao prince is just being stubborn and resisting. Your Highness may want to announce to the outside world that the Liao prince was instigated by the conspirators around him. Your Highness should consider the relationship between brothers, so he plans not to pursue the Liao prince's treason and just confine the Liao prince in the Liao prince's mansion."
The prince sighed and said angrily, "Brothers are still brothers. Only Yantang is willing to tell me the truth. When I asked them, they kept pushing it back and forth, fearing that they would offend me. I was not prepared to take his life. No matter what, when brothers quarrel, it is my father who is most hurt. If the Prince of Liao is willing, I will ask my father for permission to just take away his title and demote him to a commoner. His eldest son will inherit the title of the Prince of Liao. I believe my father will be able to explain it to his subjects... You go and talk to him!"
This is the best possible outcome.
Song Mo nodded, and left the lounge with the prince and headed straight for Yuquan Mountain.
Hearing that the person coming was Song Yantang, the prince of Duke of England, no one from either side stopped him and let him go into the mountain with his two personal guards.
Prince Liao and his companions rested in a land temple at the foot of Yuquan Mountain. After not seeing him for a night, a few strands of white hair had grown on his temples.
"What are you doing here?" he asked sarcastically, "Are you here to see me make fun of you or to pass on a message to the Crown Prince? How come you guys in the Duke of Ying don't have any backbone? You always clean up after our family, and you don't think it's shameful!"
Song Mo threw his sword to his personal guard, stepped forward and punched Prince Liao in the face.
Someone immediately rushed up to attack Song Mo.
Song Mo's guards drew their swords to meet the attack.
Prince Liao was slightly stunned, then waved his fist at Song Mo with a fierce look on his face.
The two men fought each other.
King Liao's guards didn't know what to do and could only watch them fight each other.
After an incense stick of time had passed, the two men's movements finally slowed down.
The guards of Prince Liao stepped forward to restrain Song Mo, but Prince Liao shouted, "Who are you? Get out of here!"
The guards looked at each other and stepped aside.
Song Mo and Prince Liao stumbled apart, glaring at each other like fighting chickens.
Finally, it was King Liao who spoke first, "Tell me! What does he mean?"
"Release the emperor, and you will be demoted to a commoner and confined to the Liao Palace," Song Mo stared at him with a gloomy look in his eyes, and said concisely, "Your eldest son will guard Liaodong on your behalf."
"What about the Queen Mother?" Prince Liao asked aggressively.
"That's the Emperor and the Empress' business." Song Mo sneered, "Do you know why you lost? At this point, you no longer have the Emperor in your eyes, but the Crown Prince still knows who he is. You deserved to lose!"
He deliberately planted a seed of doubt in the King of Liao's heart.
As expected, Prince Liao looked a little dazed.
Song Mo said: "Is it okay? Give me an answer!"
King Liao came to his senses.
He pursed his lips and said, "As long as my mother's honor can be guaranteed, I will surrender obediently."
Song Mo stood up and said, "I will convey this to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"
King Liao nodded and stood up.
"No!" The queen walked out from behind the statue of the God of Land with a haggard face. She reached out and held the hand of the King of Liao, saying, "You can't surrender! This is just the promise of the prince. When the emperor returns to the palace, he will decide the next matter. They will not let you go!"
Song Mo's feelings towards the Queen had changed from initial respect to contempt.
He said calmly: "According to your Majesty's wishes, what should we do?"
The queen was choked and couldn't speak for a long time.
Song Mo looked at King Liao and said, "You should make your own decisions on some matters. What can you accomplish if you keep wavering like this?"
Prince Liao's face flushed red, he glanced at his mother, and said slowly: "Please ask the crown prince how he plans to deal with my mother."
"My son!" the queen said anxiously.
Song Mo pretended not to see anything, bowed to the empress and Prince Liao, and left the land temple.
The Queen's power in the inner palace was too great, and the Prince could not enter the six palaces, so he was not sure he could restrain the Queen. After listening to Song Mo's report, he turned around with a gloomy face.
Song Mo reminded him: "Your Highness, why don't you ask the Queen Mother for help?"
After the incident in the palace, the Crown Princess brought her three sons to accompany the Empress Dowager in the Cining Palace.
Prince Liao's eyes lit up and he hurried to Cining Palace.
When he came back with an expressionless face, he pulled Song Mo into the side room, and a smile could not help but flow out of her face: "The Queen Mother knew that in order to invite my father back to the palace, she not only promised not to pursue the Liao prince's treason, but was also willing to keep the title of Queen. She praised me for my filial piety and told me to just keep the title of Queen. There are many concubines in the palace who have titles but are not favored. She just didn't want to torture her daughter-in-law. She also said that the matter should be handled by the Emperor, and I should not interfere. I am the future crown prince, and your words are golden..."
Song Mo smiled slightly and ran to Yuquan Mountain a few more times.
At 5 p.m., the Crown Prince went personally to Yuquan Mountain to welcome the Emperor back to the palace.
Song Mo then felt hungry, remembering that he hadn't eaten all day.