Early morning,

  Dong Shao and Chen Quanshui sat in front of a black lacquered square table in the hall for breakfast.

  Green and tender small bok choy, bright yellow eggs, a dish of ten-spice sauce cucumber, a dish of steamed fish jerky, a dish of stir-fried double winter vegetables, a dish of assorted vegetables, two bowls of millet porridge, big white mantou, fresh meat baozi, scallion oil pancakes are all packed in small bamboo baskets, filling the whole table.

  The two of them sat opposite each other in silence, with no appetite for food.

  Duan Gongyi walked in with big strides.

  "Fourth Miss," he said with a serious expression, "I found that the surroundings of the house seem to be watched by someone... He didn't know what had happened, but felt something was off. "Could it be that the guest who came to stay has caused some trouble? Do you think we should talk to them about it? If it's really a fight, shouldn't we know why? Otherwise, wouldn't we become the fish in the pond who get affected?"

  Chen Qu's water faces towards Dou Zhao.

  This trouble was caused by him, and he originally wanted to resign from Duan Zhao before things got out of hand.

  "But I'm afraid it's already too late - even if they didn't recognize you before, the fact that you've been sending servants to ask about my movements must have drawn their attention and made them guess your identity. Rather than trying to clear yourself hastily, wouldn't it be better to just stay in the countryside? Their goal is to quietly send that child to a safe place. We can see that they have skilled guards with them, so surely they can also see that our own guards are not weak. If both sides were to clash, although their skills may be good, we have more people and this is our territory - they won't necessarily be able to retreat unscathed. You're safer staying in the countryside. As for resigning, there's really no need for that. Who hasn't encountered some ups and downs in life? Let's just get through it together."

  There's another thing she's afraid of saying, fearing it would make Chen Qu Shui feel even more guilty.

  It has come to this, even if he leaves, with Song Mo's personality, it is likely that he would rather kill the wrong person than let them off, and it is not certain that they can be cleared of suspicion.

  Chen Qu Shui was left speechless by Dou Zhao's words, or rather, he was deeply moved.

  As for debating skills, there were a few who could surpass him, but under Du Zhao's overwhelming emotions, he felt that saying anything would seem pale and powerless.

  He bowed deeply to Yu Zhao and said nothing more, watching with him as events unfolded.

  Duan Zhaoyi was startled when he heard Duan Gongyi's words.

  Was someone really chasing after him?

  Things have become more and more complicated.

  Logically speaking, even they should have discovered someone was spying on them. It's impossible that Song Mo didn't know?

  She asked Duan Gongyi: "Is there any movement on Mei Gongzi's side?"

  When Song Mo lodged there, he called himself Mei.

  This is his maternal grandmother's surname.

  Duan Gongyi hesitated, "The strange thing is that Mei Gongzi brought a total of one accountant, one manager, two coachmen, four bodyguards, a wet nurse and a child. Now, Mei Gongzi, the accountant, the manager, and the coachmen are all here, but the four bodyguards have vanished without a trace. I wonder if Mei Gongzi has also discovered something and sent them out..."

  Dong Shao and Chen Qu's faces changed greatly.

  If Song Mo really found a strong enemy, he should think of a way to divert the water to the east. Let them help him block for a while, and he took the child and the guard to take advantage of the opportunity to slip away, how could he actively confront the enemy? Two hands are hard to resist four fists. The guards by his side were skilled, but after all, they were limited in number, and he couldn't possibly fight those people... unless the ones spying on them were Song Mo's four guards?

  Why did he want to do so?

  Dong Zhao's heart was racing wildly, and the words "kill and silence" appeared in his mind.

  Chen Qushui suddenly lost his voice and said: "We just happened to be there. They won't be so cruel, will they?"

  He's just that ruthless!

  Dou Zhao secretly disapproved in his heart.

  He can even kill his own father and brother, what are you and I in his eyes?

  Duan Gongyi was confused but could sense the tension between Du Shuang and Chen Quanshui.

  He hesitated for a moment before asking something he shouldn't have asked: "Is something wrong?"

  If the people monitoring this mansion are really Song Mo's men, they will be in a very dangerous situation.

  It's inevitable to take action.

  It's better to tell them the truth than to let Duan Gongyi and his men be confused and unaware of what happened. Three cobblers can surpass one Zhuge Liang, everyone together may come up with a good plan to escape!

  Dou Zhao told Duan Gongyan about Song Mo and others' origins, as well as the grudges between Chen Quanshui.

  Duan Gongyi was stunned, his eyes wide with shock, and it took him a long time to come back to himself.

  "Fourth Miss, are you sure you're not mistaken?" he muttered, "Ding Guo Gong, that's the great hero who resisted the Japanese pirates. Who in the world doesn't know him? If it weren't for him guarding Fujian, those Japanese would have landed long ago. Every household in Fujian has set up a longevity tablet for him, burning incense morning and night to pray for his safety and longevity. How could the imperial court possibly arrest him? Isn't this framing an innocent person?! What about the Japanese pirates along the coast of Fujian?" He said as he paced back and forth in the hall, repeatedly saying "no way", then seriously turned to Duan Zhao: "Fourth Miss, if that child is really Ding Guo Gong's descendant, we can't afford to offend Mei Gongzi. This will be a scandal among the Jianghu people! Alternatively, shall we escort this child out of Zhen Ding? That way, Mei Gongzi will suspect us. What do you think?"

  Dong Zhao stared at him with his mouth agape, never expecting Duan Gongyi to react this way.

  If all her guards thought this way, how could she still confront Song Mo?

  At the same time, she couldn't help but secretly feel lucky that she had told him about this in advance. If not, when the two armies confronted each other and he suddenly counterattacked, it would have been a disaster.

  Dong Zhaqiang endured the faint throbbing pain in his temples, reminding him: "If Mei Gongzi was really so easy to talk to, he only needed to quietly find Mr. Chen, why bother monitoring the entire mansion?"

  Duan Gongyi faces Chen Qu's waters in the morning.

  Chen Quanshui, who had always been decisive, hesitated: "Fourth Miss, why don't I go talk to Master Mei? Although Ding Guogong killed my master, he is not wrong when it comes to the greater good of the nation. Although I am mediocre, I can still distinguish right from wrong..."

  This idea is too naive.

  Maybe it's useful for others, but for Song Mo, it's absolutely useless.

  Dong Zhao interrupted him and said: "What can we use to gain Mei Gongzi's trust?"

  Chen Qu's water is silent.

  Mei Gongzi is a dignified British noble son, but he is just a down-and-out literati wandering in the streets, why should others believe what he says?

  What weight does his guarantee carry for the British prince?

  Dong Zhao asked again: "What if Lord Mei only believes that dead people can keep secrets?"

  Duan Gongyi and Chen Quanshui both lowered their heads.

  The house was in complete silence.

  "Alright, let's do it this way," Dou Zhaoyu said slowly. After a while, he continued, "We'll use courtesy first and then resort to force! Mr. Chen will go and talk to Master Mei. If the talks go well, that would be the best outcome for everyone. As for Guard Duan, please keep Master Mei's identity secret for now. You are a loyal and righteous person, but others may not be. If the news leaks out because of this, wouldn't it harm Duke Dingguo? If Mr. Chen can't come to an agreement with them, we can't just wait to be slaughtered or manipulated by anyone, right? Remind everyone to be on high alert and prepare for Master Mei's group to make the first move."

  If it were someone else, she would have found a way out of trouble.

  But this person is Song Mo.

  She only thought of his cruelty in the past life, and her heart was like a cool breeze blowing over, cold and not daring to turn against him. What she feared most was that if she won him temporarily, he would make things difficult for her afterwards - she thought she didn't have the neck of an English lord.

  Dong Zhao let out a long sigh.

  He couldn't reveal his identity and the goal of this trip, but also had to protect himself, so he could only slowly win over Song Mo's trust.

  Duan Gongyi nodded without hesitation, feeling that this way they would also be justified in front of Dingguo Gong, and said: "Don't worry, Miss, I'll go arrange it now."

  "Whatever you do, don't reveal their identities." Du Zhao cautioned him again.

  "I will definitely keep this in mind." Duan Gongyi guaranteed again and again before retreating.

  The river Chen Qu has no movement.

  Dou Zhao's words were like a basin of cold water poured over his head, and he calmed down, thinking about it repeatedly. He felt that Dou Zhao's words made sense. After Duan Gongyi left, he said in a low voice: "Miss, I'm afraid Mei Gongzi won't believe us..."

  He definitely won't believe them.

  But this is a friendly gesture.

  Dong Zhaodao said: "We did what we should have done. Whether Mei Gongzi appreciates it or not, that's his business."

  Chen Qushui suddenly understood and his mood lightened up, saying: "I'll go see Master Mei right away."

  Dong Zhao nodded and saw Chen Qu off at the door, but instead of immediately entering the house, he stood under the eaves and took a deep breath.

  The damp air rolled into her chest, bringing a hint of coolness that made her mind clearer.

  If he's going to make a move, it should be before the rain stops, right? Otherwise, once the rain stops, all the villagers will come out and his tracks will be exposed...

  He shouldn't be slaughtering villages...

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  Song Mo Ruo watched with interest as the wet nurse fed water to the child.

  After the child finished drinking water, he stretched out his hand: "Come on, give me a hug."

  The wet nurse carefully placed the child in Song Mo's arms and told him how to support the child's head.

  Yan Chaoqing walked in: "Young Master, Chen Qu Shui wants to see you."

  "Then you go talk to him!" Song Mo didn't lift his head, held the child in the posture that the wet nurse had told him, and smiled as he rubbed against the child's small face, gently patting the child.

  Yan Chaoqing immediately understood.

  The young master has made up his mind and won't change it again.

  It's no longer necessary to talk about it, nor is there anything left to say.

  He respectfully answered "yes" and backed out.

  Song Mo's gentle eyes looked at the child, softly saying: "Don't worry, you will grow up safely and steadily, get married, have children, multiply and live a peaceful life..."

  His voice was as gentle and warm as a spring breeze, and the child seemed to feel something, let out a burp, and fell fast asleep.

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  Sisters and brothers, I'll post it first, and correct the typos later. Today's update will be finished as soon as possible, but please understand that important plot points require more care, so it might be a bit slow...

  o(n_n)o~

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