Dou Zhao, sitting in the carriage, was full of doubts.

The Dou family was very prominent in Zhending. People who came to them for help were numerous, but a single tree cannot make a forest. In order to firmly take root and thrive here, the Dou family not only had to make friends with local officials and wealthy people in the surrounding areas, but also had to entertain those idle people. When people came to them for help, as long as it did not harm the interests of the Dou family, the Dou family would help them if they could. If they could not help, they would give them some money to help them out. This is how they got their good reputation for being kind and generous.

I am just a weak girl in a secluded house. Since this little girl has a grievance, why would she come to me instead of looking for my third uncle who is the head of the family or my third cousin who often goes out?

If what the girl said was not untrue, then it was not convenient for the Dou family to intervene in this matter.

She told Haitang: "Ignore it, let's go back home."

If someone blocked her way, would she have to stop here and confront them?

It was the first time that Haitang encountered such a situation. She was trembling with fear. She opened the curtain, loudly instructed the driver, and moved towards Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao couldn't help but sigh secretly after seeing this.

All the old people from the previous life have been contacted. In a few years, Cui Da will manage her farm, Zhao Liangbi will help her with business, and she can rest assured about the affairs of the outer courtyard, but the affairs of the inner courtyard... Ganlu and Sujun can't be close to her, and Haitang and the others are not very useful, so I'm afraid it will take some effort.

Thinking of this, she heard the young girl who was stopping the car say, "Miss Fourth, I kowtow to you, please save my father! I will set up a longevity tablet for you, and I will repay you by working like a slave... They said that as long as the Dou family is willing to guarantee that my father has not colluded with bandits, my father will be released immediately... Please say something to Lord Lu..." As she spoke, she burst into tears.

The cry was heart-wrenching and pitiful.

Dou Zhao frowned and said to Haitang, "Tell her to stop crying. Take her to see Third Uncle."

Haitang got out of the car as soon as she was asked.

The little girl held on to the wheel tightly and refused to let go, saying, "I begged Third Master, but he said that the evidence was solid... My father was clearly wronged... It was all because of that fat guy Shan Jie. He wanted to take my sister as a concubine, but my sister disagreed, so he framed my father and forced my father to sell my sister to him... Fourth Miss, I didn't lie to you! If I had lied to you, may I be struck by lightning and die a miserable death! No, even if I told a lie, I will not be reincarnated after death..."

How could you make such a vicious oath!

Dou Zhao couldn't help but be moved.

Regardless of whether the little girl's father was framed or not, at least in the little girl's heart, her father was innocent.

There are countless children in this world who, out of admiration, always believe that their fathers are upright gentlemen with high moral character, but in reality, they are despicable villains who do all kinds of evil...

For some reason, Dou Zhao suddenly thought of Dou Shiying.

She suddenly felt a little depressed. She took a deep breath and then said to the little girl who was blocked outside the car curtain in a gentle voice: "You said your father was framed, and you also said that my third uncle said that your father's story had 'conclusive evidence'. Who do you want me to believe?"

The little girl was startled, then she said hurriedly, "Fourth Miss, if I can find evidence, can you guarantee my father?"

This little girl is quite clever in being able to draw inferences from one instance.

Unfortunately, even her third uncle said that there was “conclusive evidence” regarding her father’s case, so it might not be that easy to handle!

Dou Zhao pondered and asked, "Who is Shan Jie?"

"He is the only son of Master Shan from Zhending Prefecture." The little girl said hurriedly, "Master Shan used to be the prefect of Songjiang, and his family is very rich. My father runs a martial arts school, and one of his disciples, Chen Xiaofeng, works as a security guard in Master Shan's house. Last year, when my father celebrated his birthday, Chen Xiaofeng came to celebrate, and Shan Jie, who had nothing to do, also came. My father treated him with good food and wine, but he He took a fancy to my sister. How could my father agree to let my sister be a concubine? Shan Jie felt that he had been humiliated. It happened that a family in Zhending Prefecture was robbed, so he framed the robber as my father's friend, and said that the robber was robbed and my father informed the robber, and it was my father who arranged a carriage for the robber to escape afterwards. My father knew that he had offended Shan Jie, so he sent his family to the emperor. "They sold all the ancestral property and collected three thousand taels of silver to give to Shan Jie. Shan Jie took the silver but refused to acknowledge it. He insisted that my father give my sister to him as a concubine. How could my father bear to let my sister be a concubine of Shan Jie? Even after he kowtowed and admitted his fault in front of so many people, he refused to say a word for my father..." The little girl cried, "Fourth Miss, I really didn't lie to you! If you don't believe it, you can just ask someone in Zhending Prefecture. Everyone knows about this... Master Chen next door said that Lord Lu used to be the parent official of Zhending County, and the Dou family must have a say in front of him, so I ran here quietly, but who knew that Master Dou San was unwilling to show up." As she spoke, she knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Dou Zhao again.

Dou Zhao's face darkened.

Since Mr. Shan had been the prefect of Songjiang, the Dou family must have had dealings with him.

No wonder my third uncle is unwilling to take care of it.

Dou Zhao already had some faith in his heart.

She had lived two lives, and in her previous life she had lived in Kyoto. She had heard of countless unjust, false and wrong cases, but this was the first time she had encountered such a case of bullying men and women and forcing good women to become concubines.

As a woman, she was very angry.

Dou Zhao asked Haitang to help the little girl up, and said thoughtfully, "How did you find me here?"

The little girl said uneasily, "Master Dou San was unwilling to help me, so I had to find out who could have a say in front of Master Dou San. Someone mentioned you. They said that you are not only dignified and beautiful, calm and generous, but also kind and willing to help others. Not only does the lady of the Dou family love you like a pearl in the palm of her hand, but several other ladies also like you very much. I just want to ask you for a favor..." she murmured.

Dou Zhao frowned.

Is this talking about yourself?

Why did she feel that she was so cold-hearted? If the oil bottle hadn't fallen in front of her and blocked her way, she wouldn't even help it up...

However, Third Uncle was unwilling to come forward, which showed that this matter still had some impact on the Dou family. She couldn't just take this matter on herself out of a little bit of passion.

"You know, even if you find me, I'm afraid I won't be able to help you." Dou Zhao said, lifting the car curtain, revealing a face that still had a bit of childishness.

The little girl stood next to Haitang. She looked no more than twelve or thirteen years old, with slightly dark skin, thick eyebrows and big eyes, a solid figure, and was wearing a lilac-colored cotton jacket. At first glance, she looked like a boy.

I wonder what her sister looks like?

A thought flashed through Dou Zhao's mind.

The little girl jumped up and asked, "You, why are you so small?"

"You" was also replaced by "you".

Dou Zhao was surprised: "Didn't you find out clearly when you came to see me?"

The little girl said embarrassedly, "I heard them talk about you with great respect, and I thought you had reached the age of marriage..." As she spoke, she perked up and said, "Fourth Miss, if it is inconvenient for you to come forward, can you ask the elders of the Dou family to help my father speak in front of Master Dou San? I can go to Master Dou San again." Then, as if she remembered something, she hurriedly said, "I will not go to see Master Dou San empty-handed this time. Instead, I will ask a lawyer to write down the evidence that Fourth Miss mentioned and bring it to Master Dou San. After seeing it, Master Dou San may change his mind!"

Despite her young age, it's amazing that she's so smart. If she fails at one thing, she'll immediately come up with another idea and won't let go of any opportunity.

Dou Zhao couldn't help but praise secretly.

This reminded her of when she first arrived at the Jining Marquis' Mansion. Seeing that there had only been two rains in the spring, she suspected that there would be a drought in Kyoto. She remembered that Xuanning Marquis Guo Haiqing's uncle worked in the Grain Transport Governor's Office, and he visited Madam Guo many times and persuaded Madam Guo to do grain trading with him, making a lot of money. Only then did she have the confidence to stop Wei Tingzhen from interfering in the miscellaneous affairs of the Jining Marquis' Mansion.

She felt a certain sympathy for the little girl.

"What's your father's name?" she asked the little girl. "Where is your martial arts school? What's its name?"

"My father's surname is Bie, his given name is Dayong, and his courtesy name is Gangyi," the little girl said. "The martial arts school is in my house, on Dongxiang Street in the east of the city. It's called Bie's Martial Arts School. You'll know when you go into the city." She added, "My name is Sulan."

Dou Zhao pointed at Haitang and said, "Just go find her when the time comes."

Bie Sulan was overjoyed when she heard that. Her small eyes curved into crescent-shaped shapes due to her smile. She quickly pulled Haitang's hand and called her "sister" sweetly, and asked her what her name was.

Not only Dou Zhao but even the old women following in the carriage could feel the joy.

Bie Sulan kowtowed three times to Dou Zhao respectfully: "Fourth Miss, I will never forget your great kindness."

Dou Zhao smiled at her, returned to the West Mansion, and then sent for Zhao Liangbi to come over, saying, "Go to Zhending Prefecture and find out about the Bie family martial arts school, and get back to me as soon as possible."

Zhao Liangbi nodded and left.

Dou Zhao went to see his sixth aunt as if nothing had happened, but unexpectedly met Wu Shan.

He smiled and explained, "I don't quite understand what the Master said, and I've been thinking about it at home these past two days. Why did Fourth Sister come so late today?"

In order to avoid Wu Shan, she chose the time when he went to school to attend classes at her sixth aunt's place.

"Something happened." Dou Zhao said with a smile, "Next year, Fourth Brother Wu will be gone. I wonder how the preparations are going?"

"It's okay!" Wu Shan said with a confident look.

The two chatted for a few more words, and then Wu Shan returned to the east room.

After having lunch and taking a nap at Ji's place, Ji and Dou Zhao returned to Xidou together.

The native Jianlan seedlings that Dou Zhao bought from someone have arrived, and she has been busy processing the seedlings these days.

Ji helped her and carefully planted the orchid roots that had been softened by the sun into the pots.

The grandmother watched from the side and fetched water for them to wash their hands.

Everyone chatted and laughed, and went to see the camellia plants that were growing well. It was not until dark that Ji got up to say goodbye.

Zhao Liangbi, who had been waiting outside, came in and replied to Dou Zhao: "... Shan Jie said that as long as Bie Gangyi was willing to sell his daughter to him as a concubine, he would immediately come forward to guarantee Bie Gangyi. But Bie Gangyi refused to do so, and I heard that he was beaten to the point of being unable to breathe. I changed my clothes and went to the prison to take a look, and the rumors are true. I think if no one guarantees him, he will be in prison in a few days."

Dou Zhao's eyes flashed with anger, and he asked, "Does Bie Gangyi have anything to do with that case?"