.

  To its east is a small river that flows from north to south, and to its west are fields that are slightly lower in elevation. When there is little rainfall, the river can be used for irrigation; if there is flooding, the southernmost outlet can be dug open, allowing the accumulated water to flow into Lang's fields.

  "It's no use digging a hole." Dou Zhao thought of the scene he saw on his way here and said, "The whole Chengde has become a watery village. Even if we dig a hole, it won't solve any problem. Besides, this kind of thing that cuts off people's food supply is not good to do, and it's easy to cause disputes between two families - distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors. Our fields and Lang's family fields have been adjacent for so many years without any disputes. We can't let the Lang family people scold us behind our backs because of this matter."

  Those who can sit here are all elderly and prestigious villagers who understand farming. Previously, everyone was afraid that Du Zhao was too young, and in order to give his grandmother an explanation, they forced them to dig a hole or rob winter seedlings. At this time, after listening to Du Zhao's words, they couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.

  Winter wheat is definitely a grain harvest now it depends on how to deal with the aftermath.

  Several people silently stared at Dòu Zhāo.

  Dong Zhaoye understood their thoughts and said, "When I came, Aunt Cui repeatedly reminded me that everyone has been following her for over a decade, no matter when the rain stops or whether they can catch up with the autumn harvest. This year's rent is waived. Everyone will go back and tell each household not to worry too much."

  Everyone's expression was relaxed, and they all praised Cui Niangniang for her kind heart, praising Du Zhao for his pure and thick heart, and kept saying words of gratitude.

  Dong Zhao looked at the time and it was getting late, so he served tea to see off his guests.

  Chen Qu Shui hastily walked in: "Fourth Miss, there is news from the capital, the Emperor has issued a decree, appointing Liang Ji Fang as the Grand Chancellor of the Imperial Cabinet."

  Dong Zhaoming was taken aback for a moment.

  He has an impression of this person.

  After the Liao Wang Gong Bian, he died in the Jinluan Hall.

  She was just a housewife at that time, caring about the firewood, rice, oil and salt in her family. After hearing people talk about it later, she only sighed twice. She didn't know much about this person.

  But he could die in the Golden Hall, should be a man of strong character!

  She asked Chen Qu Shui to sit down beside her.

  Chen Qushui sighed: "I didn't expect that in the end it was him who became the chief assistant. This is a dark horse, and it caught everyone off guard."

  "What's his background?"

  If there is a relationship with Uncle Five, the possibility of Uncle Five entering the cabinet will be greatly increased.

  He sighed and said, "He was a jinshi of the Renchen year, after being selected as a xiucai he observed politics in the Ministry of Justice, then step by step he rose from the Ministry of Justice to become the Minister of Justice, he was a student of Pan Duchang, the former Left Vice-Minister of the Ducha Yuan. Pan Duchang and Ye Shipei were not on good terms. Zeng Yifen was forced into retirement by Ye Shipei, in order to spite Ye Shipei, he strongly supported Liang Jifang's entry into the Grand Council. Fortunately, Liang Jifang had a sense of self-awareness, although he had been in the council for over a decade, he always followed others and never took charge. This time he was able to enter the council, it was also because Ye Shipei was old, Yao Shiming and Dai Jiandou were at odds with each other, which displeased the Emperor, so Liang Jifang became the chief minister." He said this and then let out a long sigh, "This is just fate!"

  Dong Zhaixin's heart skipped a beat.

  Liáng Jì Fāng was a jinshi of the Ren Chen Ke. Calculating his age, he should also be around 50 or 60 years old, similar to Chén Qū Shuǐ's age. He had fallen on hard times and became her staff member, while Liáng Jì Fāng held the esteemed position of Grand Chancellor - how could this not make him feel melancholic!

  Thinking of this, she wanted to comfort Chen Qu Shui.

  "I doubt it!" Dou Zhao raised an eyebrow and said, "I don't know about others, but just talking about the people you mentioned to me - Ye Shipei doesn't need to be said. Being able to force Zeng Yifen into retirement shows that his methods and strategies are not ordinary. Dai Jian has Wang Yuan's support behind him, and Yao Shiming can actually fight him to a draw, showing that he is also not an ordinary person. With so many formidable figures under Liang Lihong, it's uncertain whether he can keep them in check."

  Chen Qu Shui's face indeed looked much better after hearing this.

  Dòu Zhāo smiled faintly.

  The two chatted for a few more sentences, Chen Quanshui stood up to bid farewell, Su Xin checked the door house, Su Lan ignited insect-repelling moxa in the room, Ganluo put down the mosquito net and served Dou Zhao to rest.

  The rain came down harder and harder, pouring down from the sky like a deluge.

  Dou Zhaolay in bed, with a sense of being on a small boat.

  She wanted to sleep, but couldn't fall asleep no matter what.

  Is he really that Master Yuantong?

  In his heart, he vaguely felt that a stunningly talented person like him couldn't be an unknown minor figure... Eight or nine out of ten, it was that all-around monk who even Wang Xuan had to show three points of courtesy to!

  But why did he want to become a monk?

  He is so arrogant and self-important, even a bit overbearing, that it's impossible for him to have been forced into monkhood.

  Is she fond of Buddhism? Or... She thought of Master Yuantong's...

  If Ji Yong is indeed Master Yuantong, then he can really do such a thing!

  Thinking of this, Du Zhao couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions in his heart and involuntarily turned over.

  There seems to be some movement outside.

  She was startled.

  Ever since being kidnapped by Pang Qianbai, Duan Zhao has been particularly sensitive to such things - if Pang Qianbai hadn't wanted to gain both wealth and her, how could she have escaped unscathed.

  "Be careful!" She got up and lifted the curtain, "You go take a look, I seem to have heard some noise!"

  Su Xin also heard it, so when Dou Zhao shouted her name, she had already woken up Su Lan who was lying beside her. By the time Dou Zhao spoke, she had already gotten out of bed and put on her clothes.

  "Don't worry, miss," she comforted Du Zhao, "I'll go take a look right away."

  Dong Zhao nodded.

  Su Lan sat down on the edge of the bed, yawning and saying: "Miss, it's just Mr. Duan and Brother Chen, nothing will happen."

  Her words had just fallen when Su Xin returned: "Miss, someone has come to stay."

  "Is someone seeking lodging?" Duan Zhao furrowed his brow, glancing at the water clock on the long table. "Arriving at this hour to seek lodging? How many people are there? What is their business?"

  Su Xin hesitated and said: "A young master who claims to be a traveling merchant, accompanied by an accountant and four or five attendants..."

  As she spoke, Du Zhao seemed to hear the sound of a baby crying.

  She couldn't help but feel a chill run down her spine and asked, "What's that noise?" Her voice was strained.

  For a period of time, Duan Zhao often heard the crying sound of an infant for no reason, until she gave birth to her daughter, and all her attention was focused on her daughter, then the crying sound never echoed in her ears again.

  In Su Xin's heart, Du Zhao was calm, rational, tenacious and strong-willed, always elegant and composed no matter what. But now, she had never seen Du Zhao like this before, like a frightened child, with a face full of panic.

  She hastily hugged Dou Zhao, her voice involuntarily becoming gentle: "It was that young master, who also brought a baby in swaddling clothes, saying it was his younger half-brother. His stepmother had passed away and he was ordered by his father to send his half-brother home on the way."

  Dong Zhao immediately calmed down, she sat up straight and thought for a moment before saying: "You help me get dressed, I'll go take a look."

  Su Xin was somewhat hesitant.

  Dòu Zhāo immediately felt it keenly.

  "What's wrong?" she asked in a low voice.

  Su Xin hesitated for a moment, then said: "Uncle Duan said that the young master may be young in age, but his footsteps are light and agile, looking leisurely yet firm and steady. His movements are as smooth and natural as a mountain stream. It's clear that he has practiced some special martial arts skills. And the several guards by his side seem ordinary, but each of them is calm and reserved, with a sense of propriety in their every move. Even in the heavy rain, they don't show any signs of confusion. One of them is like a treasured sword, with a glance that reveals a fierce killing intent in his eyes. He's definitely a top-notch expert. With such abilities, he could easily be a leader of the Imperial Guard in the capital city, so why would he degrade himself to become someone else's guard? And then there's that infant, not even a hundred days old, who can't even lift his head, yet he's traveling with his brother. Doesn't his family worry that he won't survive the journey? And what about the wet nurse who's accompanying them? She's only eighteen or nineteen years old, with skin as white as snow and hands as soft as silk. It's clear she's never done any hard labor before... These people may look ordinary in their clothes and demeanor, but their aura is suspicious, revealing something unusual everywhere. Uncle Duan told us to be careful, to keep the doors closed and not to go out randomly. Tonight, he and Brother Chen will patrol the area personally."

  Dong Zhao's expression slightly solidified.

  Su Lan yawned and said with a smile: "Maybe they're just a young couple eloping! Uncle Duan is being too cautious."

  "Stop talking nonsense." Suzi scolded her sister, "You're being too wishy-washy. Only someone like Uncle Duan can be trusted."

  Su Lan stuck out her tongue.

  Dong Zhao's heart was like something had been touched, with an irrepressible impulse.

  She got out of bed: "I'm going to take a look." Her tone was very firm.

  Su Xin thought for a moment and repeatedly said to Dou Zhao: "Then you must follow me."

  Dong Zhao nodded.

  Su Xin helped her put on her clothes and handed her a raincoat to wear, then opened the tung oil umbrella and accompanied Duan Zhao through the corridor to the front yard.

  Two black lacquer carriages and several horses were parked in the middle of the courtyard, with unfamiliar guards putting up oilcloth canopies over the horses' heads in the heavy rain, yet the horses stood there without moving.

  Duan Gongyi was standing with a young man in the corridor of the east wing, looking at the guards busy in the courtyard and talking.

  The young man had his back to her, the sky was too dark, couldn't see clearly what color clothes he wore, medium build, slightly slender figure straight as a pine tree, hunched back and narrow waist, very beautiful lines.

  The man dressed as a scholar next to him was facing her.

  He was about forty years old, with an ordinary appearance, but his eyes were brighter than the stars, shining with wisdom.

  Dou Zhao saw him and bowed his head to say something to the young man.

  The young man and Duan Gongyi both turned their heads towards her.

  A sudden flash of lightning illuminated the courtyard as bright as daylight.

  The young man's jet-black eyebrows, deep and quiet eyes, slightly pale complexion, and delicate features that were almost imperceptible entered her line of sight.

  Dong Zhao felt as if he had been struck by that bolt of lightning, his mind was buzzing with a loud rumbling sound, and he didn't know where he was.

  Someone frantically called out her name and gently yet firmly grasped her shoulders with a pair of warm hands.

  "Song Mo," she murmured, "How did I run into Song Mo..."

  ※

  Book-reading siblings, I'll catch the typos tomorrow. Please bear with it for today and take a look first. Tomorrow I have to send my niece off at the airport, so I can only update in the afternoon.

  o(n_n)o~

  Looking for pink tickets!

  ※