When Dou Zhao stepped into his grandmother's resting chamber, Ji Yong's clear and loud voice was reverberating in the air: "...You see, this is what the Buddhist scriptures say, but how many people in those prosperous temples have actually achieved it? Their minds are all focused on how to accumulate wealth, what's the difference between them and secular merchants? You don't need to donate so much incense money every year, only for it to be embezzled by them with a clear conscience!"

  The grandmother sitting in the armchair and Hong Jie standing behind her stared at Ji Yong with their eyes wide open, their expressions somewhat dull.

  "Brother Ji!" Duan Zhao hastily interrupted Ji Yong's words, "When did you come back? Is Sixth Aunt doing well? Are Eleventh Brother and Twelfth Brother doing well? Have the two families discussed and settled on a wedding date?"

  Ji Yong looked out at the sun and said in surprise: "What did you go to the prefecture for? Why are you back so early?"

  Although it was an irrelevant answer, it made Grandmother and Hong Gu feel relieved. Grandmother even exclaimed loudly as if she had met a savior: "Shou Gu, you're back? Mr. Ji has been lecturing us on Buddhist teachings all day, he must be parched. You've had tea, let's go see the Second Lady together! Liu Mama came looking for you several times today, she must be getting anxious." She seemed to be in a hurry to send them off.

  What's all this about?

  Dong Zhao couldn't help but look at Hong'er in the morning light.

  Hong Gu quietly pointed to Ji Yong and said: "Young Master Ji wants to participate in next year's Spring Examinations, but he thinks the capital is too noisy and Yixing is too far away. He also heard that the Crane Longevity Hall has a rich collection of books, which is one of the best in the entire North Zhili region. So, he asked the Fifth Elder to temporarily stay at the Crane Longevity Hall for a few days. The Seventh Elder said that this matter still needs to be discussed with you. The Second Lady sent Liu Mama over to invite you to discuss this matter, but Liu Mama came several times and couldn't find anyone. Young Master Ji couldn't wait any longer, so he came first and has been waiting for you until now..."

  Why is Ji Yong so good?

  Could it be that Fifth Uncle decided to win over the Ji family after entering the cabinet?

  Ji Yong is full of tricks, if he has made up his mind to move in, the more you stop him, the more interesting he thinks it is. The more she wants to find ways to keep him out, where does she have the time and energy to deal with him? Moreover, all the elders at home agree, but she disagrees, wouldn't that offend everyone? It's better to just let him move in.

  "A fine sword for a hero, rouge for a beauty." Duan Zhao smiled and said, "Since Grandfather passed away, He Shou Tang has been empty all along. It's rare that Ji Biao Ge can make use of it. Father agreed to it, so what's the need to discuss with me? I'll go inform Second Madam right now, and also spare her from worrying about this matter."

  Ji Yong listened, blinked his eyes, and said nothing. After drinking tea, he thanked his grandmother and left the Weihua Gate with Dou Zhao, who had changed into a new set of clothes.

  "I heard Mr. Chen went to Beijing to visit friends?" Before getting on the horse, he suddenly said, "Why didn't you write a letter to Seventh Uncle? Kyoto is a bustling city, and he hasn't been there for a long time, it's always good to have someone take care of him!"

  "Mr. Chen said it was his personal affair and didn't want to disturb Father and Uncle," Dou Zhao smiled, "I couldn't just take matters into my own hands, could I?" As he spoke, he got onto the carriage.

  Ji Yong raised an eyebrow.

  The second lady said to her, "Rather than saying that you are going to consult with Duan Zhao, it would be better to inform her: 'You have grown up with your sixth aunt since childhood, and you are as close as mother and daughter. Ji Gongzi is the nephew of your sixth aunt's family, which means he is your cousin. His career is about to take off, and his family has such a convenient situation. There is no reason why it would not be convenient for your own relatives. If you sisters feel that it is not convenient, you can move to live with Aunt Cui together.'"

  Since all of you elders have said so, I even more cannot have any disagreement.

  Dong Zhao muttered to himself, then smiled and said: "Hegou Hall originally had a direct side door leading outside, it's not inconvenient at all. When do you think Ji Jia's older brother will move over? I'll also tell someone to clean up Hegou Hall."

  The second lady was very satisfied with Du Zhao's attitude, and glanced at Ji Yong, meaning to ask him when he would move in.

  Ji Yong was dignified and courteous in front of the second lady, humble like jade, and said slowly: "Why don't I move over today? It would also save the trouble of cleaning the guest room on this side. Fortunately, I brought a few people with me, so the cleaning can be left to my cousin."

  The second lady smiled and nodded: "That's settled then." She also pulled Ji Yong's hand and instructed him: "If you lack anything or are short of something, just come to me directly."

  Ji Yongmu looked straight ahead, respectfully saying: "Madam, your words are too serious. I heard from my aunt that my cousin has managed the Western Manor in an orderly manner, so it's unlikely to disturb you, elderly one." By the end of her speech, there was a hint of a smile.

  The second lady heard this and was slightly startled, but immediately laughed and said: "That's also what your aunt taught you."

  Ji Yong smiled but did not speak.

  The servants in the house all followed with flattering smiles.

  Dòu Zhāoyě puckered his lips and smiled.

  This guy is usually a bit out of tune and sometimes makes people feel that he's not quite right, but when it comes to major events, he never hesitates.

  She felt grateful to Ji Yong in her heart.

  As she came out of Mrs. Yu's house, she couldn't help but ask him: "Do you have a ticket?"

  "Not yet," Ji Yong said with a nonchalant smile, "I'll tell you first when I've thought of it."

  Is this person really Master Yuantong?

  Dong Zhao was somewhat worried, but there's no use in hurrying such matters, so he put it aside and exchanged pleasantries with him: "How did you suddenly think of participating in next year's Spring Examinations? Didn't they say that the old master intends to let you hone your skills for a few more years?"

  He curled his lip and said, "It's still more convenient to discover after being admitted as a scholar."

  Dong Zhaohaha laughed and said: "What are you up to again?"

  Ji Yong's eyes sparkled slightly.

  He knew she would ask him that! Only he hadn't expected Du Zhao to ask with a smile, in his imagination, she should be expressionless, with a hint of mockery, looking at him disdainfully. But for some reason, thinking of the day he accompanied Du Zhengchang to his uncle's house as a guest, the rustling sound of the pearl curtain and the girl's suppressed giggles, looking at Du Zhao's bright and cheerful smile, his mood suddenly became as relaxed as a cloud: "Do you think it's possible that He Shi Bi became one of the burial objects of the First Emperor?"

  He won't be thinking of going to dig up the First Emperor's tomb, will he?

  Dong Zhao was enraged: "How could you do such a thing? Making offerings to evil people is detrimental to one's merits..."

  "What's with the anger?" Ji Yong was even more exaggerated than her reaction, "I just wanted to study Qin Li carefully, how did it become a bad person making sacrifices and damaging merits?"

  Dong Zhaowu speechless.

  Ji Yong strode past her with a big step, his mouth corners rising higher and higher.

  Dong Zhao let out a weak sigh, and Su Xin came to report to her: "Mei Gongzi has already quietly left the Tian Manor."

  But Lu Ming is still at the Duan's house!

  Dong Zhaomo was silent. He let Su Xin manage the trivial matters of Heshou Hall, and repeatedly warned Su Xin: "Don't let him dismantle Heshou Hall, we still help him move bricks and stones."

  She looked suspicious and dubious, apparently having some doubts about her words.

  Dong Zhao let out a deep sigh.

  Why did she meet one or two people who are inconsistent in words and deeds?

  She ignored him, but he came to her doorstep.

  "Hey, that accountant of yours, where has he gone?" Ji Yong rushed into the flower room and asked Du Zhao, who was watering the flowers, "What did he say to you? Do you know what his friend's name is?"

  Dong Zhao raised an eyebrow and glanced at him, coldly saying "I don't know", then continued to lower his head to water the flowers.

  Ji Yong's eyebrows were tightly furrowed. He snatched the water bottle from her hand: "I actually can't find this person!"

  Dou Zhaowen was shocked by what he heard.

  Ji Yong discovered something?

  Otherwise, why would he suddenly be so interested in Mr. Chen?

  Thinking of Ji Yong's cunning, she felt a little flustered. To cover up her emotions, she pretended to be angry and snatched the water bottle from his hand, asking in a tone of disapproval: "Do you think Beijing is your home? Do you think you can find anyone you want?" But her heart was racing wildly.

  Ji Yong snatched the teapot back from her hand, thought for a moment, and placed it in a position where Du Zhao couldn't reach. Only then did he look at her seriously and say: "Do you know who Chen Bo is? Last time I saw him, his behavior was very mature, so I sent someone to investigate him carefully. He used to be the staff of Zhang Kai, the former governor of Fujian Province. When the Japanese pirates besieged Fuzhou, Zhang Kai actually abandoned the city and fled. This kind of treacherous person, you can't trust him..."

  Dong Zhaosong let out a sigh of relief.

  "I know he used to be Zhang Kai's staff member," she said sincerely. "At that time, Zhang Kai was in a high position and had great power. How could Mr. Chen, a small staff member, have any control over him? This matter of life and death, Mr. Chen has always been ashamed of it, so he settled down in Dongxiang Street, where all kinds of people gather. We can't just beat someone to death because of one mistake, can we?"

  "If he truly repented, I wouldn't have exposed his identity." Ji Yong's eyebrows furrowed even tighter, "The problem is that he told you he was going to Kyoto to visit friends, but in reality, he vanished without a trace..."

  His words made the big stone weighing on Du Zhao's heart fall down.

  It's fortunate that Song Mo is discreet in his actions, otherwise with Ji Yong's personality, if he had discovered Mr. Chen's unusual behavior, he would have definitely curiously investigated further... That would be troublesome!

  She suddenly found that having such a person by her side was also a burden.

  Su Lan rushed in with a letter in her hand, saw Ji Yong, and involuntarily looked down, with an extremely wary expression towards Ji Yong.

  What has this guy done again?

  Dong Zhao rushed to Su Lan and beckoned: "Whose letter?"

  "Sulan hastily said: 'A letter from Mr. Chen, it's come from Kyoto.'"

  Ji Yong was taken aback and reached out to take the letter, but Dou Zhao got there one step ahead of him.

  "This is for me!" she quietly warned Ji Yong.

  Ji Yong didn't think much of it and said with a big smile: "Aren't I just afraid that you'll be cheated?"

  Dong Zhaobu ignored him and went back into the house, letting Su Lan stand guard at the door before unfolding the letter.

  Song Mo had already lifted the ban on Chen Qu Shui and relaxed his vigilance. Whenever he asked his attendants questions, they would answer him without hesitation, unlike before when they were tight-lipped. Chen Qu Shui discovered that the Jiang family's information network in Kyoto was actually controlled by Song Mo. He decided to use the excuse of visiting Du Shiying and Du Shiheng to stay in Kyoto for a few more days and see if he could use the people under Song Mo's control to gather some information about the imperial court before returning.

  Is this not plotting with a tiger for its skin?

  Dong Zhao burned Mr. Chen's letter and watched as Sulan buried the ashes in the flower bed, then returned to the house to write a letter to Chen Qu Shui, telling him to return early and not to take risks rashly.

  She never dared to underestimate Song Mo.

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  Sisters and brothers, catch up on the update of March 23rd.

  o(n_n)o~

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