The Second Lady sat on the big kang by the window with a gloomy face, the agarwood rosary in her hand clicking loudly.

Seeing Dou Zhao and Ji come in, her face darkened again. She pointed to Jin Wu beside her and asked them to sit down. She asked Dou Zhao in a deep voice, "What's going on?"

Dou Zhao repeated to the Second Lady what he had said to Ji Yong.

Ji was so angry that her face turned blue. Before the Second Madam could speak, she could not help but said, "I heard that Third Uncle sent someone back to report the news. I thought that Pang Kunbai was a rogue, so he came up with this idea. He actually wanted to play a 'hero saving the beauty' drama. This is clearly..." She couldn't say the word "seduction" in front of Dou Zhao, and said, "It's clearly bullying Shougu because she is young and ignorant. If Shougu hadn't changed her mind in the crisis, wouldn't the Pang family have succeeded?" At this point, she was shocked to realize that the Second Madam hadn't spoken yet, and hurriedly said, "Mother, this matter can't be let go like this! This is too bullying!"

Pang Kunbai clearly had a good idea of ​​killing two birds with one stone.

He saved Shougu from the robbers, let her stay at the farm for one night because it was too late, and then asked the Dou family for Shougu's reputation. Even if Shougu no longer liked the Pang family and was unwilling to marry into the Pang family, she had no choice but to marry them because of the life-saving grace and the excuse of living in the same room. As time went by, with a child, and Pang Kunbai serving her attentively, Shougu would naturally live with him wholeheartedly. At that time, even if the Dou family and the Zhao family wanted to stop it, Shougu would hand over the property to Pang Kunbai for the sake of her husband and children, and the Pang family would be able to occupy Shougu's property with justification.

The second lady's face was dark, but she said, "Why didn't you tell your family first before reporting to the authorities?"

Of course I’m afraid that you will have a secret deal with the Wang family!

Dou Zhao said: "Because there was a murder case, my cousin Ji, my twelfth brother, and my fourth brother Wu decided to report it to the police."

"You mean, this matter is also related to Jianming?" Ji's eyes widened.

Anyway, Ji Yong has a strong background and the Dou family dare not offend him casually, so it is better to help Dou Dechang and Wu Shan act as a shield!

Dou Zhao nodded.

Ji looked embarrassed.

The Second Lady was a little surprised, but as Dou Zhao expected, she did not ask any further questions.

Dou Zhao now pretended to be a little girl, acting as if she was shocked and terrified, and said, "Madam, if I didn't have Suxin and Sulan by my side, if I hadn't taken them both out, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to come back! I want to ask you a favor, Madam, please agree to it no matter what!" As she spoke, she took a handkerchief and wiped her tears.

If it was someone else who offended the Dou family like this, the Second Lady would have ordered someone to find a reason to throw him into the government office and beat him to death. But when it came to Wang Xingyi, she felt that it was a waste to simply deal with Pang Kunbai like this - when the Zhao family agreed to make Wang Yingxue the legal wife, one of the conditions was that the Wang family would not interfere in Shougu's marriage. Pang Kunbai was a relative of the Wang family, so even if the Wang family wanted to deny it, it was impossible.

She couldn't help but groan and said, "You say!"

"Please help me find out who leaked my whereabouts!" Dou Zhao told the Second Madam about his suspicions.

The Second Lady agreed immediately: "Even if you didn't mention it, I would have investigated it. If we find anyone who sells these things for the sake of glory, we will kill them, no matter who they are!" She was very angry.

"I want to hire a few more guards." Dou Zhao said, "I'm scared. You don't know how powerful Pang Kunbai's followers are, otherwise why didn't I recognize him? Moreover, since the Pang family has such an idea, there is no guarantee that other people will not have such thoughts. I don't want to encounter such a thing again. Even if it is a threat, I want to hire a few experts to protect me."

The second lady thought of the Wu family.

"Okay!" She said without hesitation, "You can discuss this matter with your third uncle and third cousin when the time comes."

Dou Zhao stood up and thanked the Second Lady.

In this way, she could recruit soldiers and buy horses openly.

Madam Liu came in and reported, "There's a letter from the Third Elder."

It seems that the third uncle reported what happened on the farm to the second lady from time to time. No wonder the second lady found out what happened very quickly.

"Let him come in and talk." said the Second Lady.

A twelve or thirteen-year-old, very clever-looking servant ran in and saluted the Second Madam, saying, "Madam, the doctor said that Master Pang is seriously injured and may have to be sent to Zhending Prefecture for treatment. The Third Elder asked me to ask you if you want to notify the Pang family?"

"Notify them." The Second Lady said decisively, "Let them come and get the man with great fanfare. Let everyone in Zhending Prefecture know what a wicked creature their son is!"

The servant ran away.

The Second Madam wanted to tell Dou Shishu about this as soon as possible, so she sent Dou Zhao downstairs to rest: "...It's too late, you can rest in your Sixth Aunt's room! Don't worry about what's going on there, your Third Uncle will take care of it."

Dou Zhao didn't want to go back and scare his grandmother at this time, so he went to Ji's place.

Before going to bed, Ji held Dou Zhao's hand and carefully asked about every sentence and every word Ji Yong said, with a somewhat nervous expression.

Dou Zhao was puzzled, but still answered them one by one impartially.

After hearing this, Ji's expression became sluggish. She ordered the maid to help Dou Zhao wash up, and lit a stove of benzoin in the inner room. She told Dou Zhao to have a good rest and to talk about anything tomorrow.

Maybe the incense worked, or maybe he was too nervous before, Dou Zhao fell asleep quickly without even turning over. When he woke up in the morning, half of his arm was numb.

Ji Yong, Dou Dechang and Wu Shan have returned and are having breakfast.

Dou Dechang and Wu Shan had dark circles under their eyes, and it was obvious that they did not sleep last night, but Ji Yong looked energetic and radiant, as if she had just crawled out of bed.

How come he is in such good spirits?

Dou Zhao muttered to himself.

Ji told her what happened afterwards: "...the Pang family refused to admit that Pang Kunbai robbed you, and instead said that you took advantage of your power to bully others and severely injured Pang Kunbai. Now Pang Yinlou escorted Pang Kunbai to Zhending Prefecture for medical treatment, Pang Jinlou went to Kyoto, and Pang Xilou hired Hu Juren as a lawyer to sue our family." At this point, she laughed coldly and comforted Dou Zhao, "Xing Lao Ba still has a subordinate alive. If that subordinate is willing to testify against the Pang family in court, I'd like to see what the Pang family has to say then!"

Dou Zhao nodded.

If we want to sue, we have to wait until Dou Shishu and Wang Xingyi express their attitudes before we can start the lawsuit.

She asked, "Can you find out who leaked my whereabouts?"

"There is no news yet." Ji said, "Madame Liu used the excuse that something was missing from the house and took people to the West Mansion overnight." She was a little worried, "We have to find this person anyway, otherwise you will be in trouble!"

Ji Yong, who had been sitting next to them and listening to them, suddenly asked, "Do you want me to check for you?"

Before Dou Zhao could say anything, Ji said hastily, "Jianming, you are a guest!"

Ji Yong disagreed and said, "Since I have encountered it, how can I just ignore it?"

Ji stopped him: "This matter will be decided by the elders."

Seeing that the aunt and nephew were about to quarrel, Dou Zhao hurriedly tried to smooth things over: "Thank you, cousin Ji. Since Aunt Liu has already gone, let Aunt Liu investigate first! If Aunt Liu doesn't find anything all day, it won't be too late for cousin Ji to take action!"

Ji Yong nodded and lowered her head to take a sip of tea.

Ji looked at Ji Yong in surprise, then looked at Dou Zhao strangely, and seemed to be hesitant to speak.

Dou Zhao didn't notice.

She was thinking of Chen Qushui.

I wonder if he can find out something in one day and one night?

She didn't want Ji Yong to get involved in this matter.

His attitude is too ambiguous.

After lunch, Dou Zhao returned to the West Mansion.

Grandmother didn't know about this yet, but she was a little unhappy with Aunt Liu for coming to investigate the servants in the house: "After all, even if we want to investigate Xidou's matter, we have to wait until you come back."

"This is also because we are afraid that time will drag on and the traces will be lost." Dou Zhao comforted his grandmother for a while, and when he went out, he saw Chen Qushui standing at the door.

He smiled confidently at Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao knew that he had gained something, and he felt relieved immediately.

The two talked as they walked.

"...The person who reported the news was Liu Wan, but he died at the scene of the robbery...I found out that Duan stayed at an inn called Ping'an in Lingshou County yesterday, and I have asked Chen Xiaofeng to invite him...Madam Liu wants to check one by one, and the progress is very slow. I am afraid there will be no results today."

You can go to Kyoto without passing through Reijuu Prefecture.

"Then let's help Aunt Liu with some advice!" Dou Zhao said with a smile, "It would be better if the Second Madam handles this matter."

"Okay!" Chen Qushui also agreed, saying, "I think you should hire a few more skilled people to serve as guards, or else someone might come after you again."

"Sir, we have the same idea." Dou Zhao smiled and told Chen Qushui that she would receive an annual allowance of 12,000 taels of silver from now on. "How about inviting Chen Xiaofeng and the others?" She mentioned several people she had noticed at the time, including Duan Gongyi.

Mr. Chen smiled and said, "Miss Fourth has a good eye. I will do this right away!"

Soon, Madam Liu found fifty taels of silver from Liu Wan's room.

The Second Lady was very dissatisfied: "Keep investigating and find out who bribed Liu Wan!"

In the evening, Chen Xiaofeng brought Duan back.

When Duan saw Dou Zhao, he looked frightened and kept shouting, "What does Fourth Miss mean by this? Even if you want to kill them all, you should give me a reason."

Dou Zhao laughed and said, "Do I need to give you a reason to kill them all?" Then he ordered Chen Qushui, "Hand them over to the Second Madam."

Duan was stunned and said, "You, you won't interrogate me?"

"If I interrogate you, will you tell me?" Dou Zhao said contemptuously, "Besides, what difference does it make whether you tell me or not? As long as the Second Madam believes that you and Wang Yingxue are involved in this matter, it will be fine. It doesn't matter whether you tell me or not!"

Duan was stunned.

Dou Zhao returned to the house.

Su Xin chased after her and said, "Fourth Miss, the East Palace received a letter from the Fifth Elder of Kyoto."

If it was because of Pang Kunbai's robbery, it shouldn't have happened so quickly, right?

Dou Zhao asked: "Do you know what was said?"

Su Xin smiled and looked at Dou Zhao with a bit of embarrassment in her eyes: "The Fifth Elder said that it would be great if the Dou and Wu families could marry again. He also said that the Wu family has a clean background and is a serious family of scholars. You won't suffer if you marry into their family."