Ji Yong's words were spoken in front of all the maids who came to change his sheets, and naturally they quickly reached Du Ming's ears.

  She coldly smiled, shut the door and didn't come out, instructing Zhou Mama and Ji Hong: "From now on, anything sent to me must be carefully examined to ensure there's nothing improper before it's handed over to me. I don't believe it, I won't go out, I won't eat or drink randomly, can he still take my life?"

  Zhou and Ji Hong were originally worried that Du Ming would have a hard time with Ji Yong, but now they see Du Ming being cautious in his response, they can't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Everything from food to clothing had to go through their hands before it was presented to Du Ming. However, within half a month, they found a needle in the autumn clothes sent to Du Ming, a laxative in his meals, and a snake and two mice in his room.

  Dong Ming sneered with disdain: "Nothing more than this!"

  Su Lan was extremely disappointed: "You talk as if you're very powerful, but in the end, you can only do these minor tricks!"

  "Mind your manners! I think Mr. Ji is quite considerate! This way, we can just make a big fuss without causing any real trouble, and let the Fifth Miss suffer a bit. If anything really happens, as her elder sister, Fourth Miss will also be to blame."

  "So, it's better to send the fifth lady back to Kyoto." In her own room, with only the two sisters present, Sulan spoke without reserve, "I just don't like how the fifth lady always treats the fourth lady as an enemy."

  "It's hard for a clean official to meddle in family affairs." Suzhi sighed and said, "We'll just follow Fourth Miss's instructions then."

  Su Lan nodded: "What else can be done? Ji Gongzi is also hopeless!"

  Ji Yong is indeed somewhat hopeless.

  Dou Qijun decided to continue his efforts after becoming a Juren and participate in next year's spring imperial examination.

  The Dou family had several jinshi who were serving as officials outside, and the only one who stayed at home said that his knowledge was shallow and he couldn't delay his career, so he didn't want to point out his mistakes in crafting essays. He thought that Jiangnan was always more flourishing than the north in terms of literature, and Ji Yong was a higher-ranking scholar from Nan Zhili, so he took his own compositions to ask for Ji's guidance.

  Ji Yong was incredibly intelligent. He had a gift for understanding things that others couldn't, and with just a few words, he could make Du Qijun feel like he had suddenly gained enlightenment. Moreover, unlike some of the older scholars who were stuffy and pedantic, Ji Yong would answer any question Du Qijun asked without hesitation or reserve, allowing Du Qijun to benefit greatly from their conversations. At first, Du Qijun would only visit every now and then, but later he came every day. Eventually, he even moved in next door to Ji Yong...

  He didn't even have time to tease Dong Ming!

  This is also an ending that everyone would be happy to see.

  The western cave slowly regained its former tranquility, and Duan Ming also started practicing the pipa with Wan Niang every day.

  As the Lichun (Beginning of Winter) is approaching, everyone in the house is busy preparing for the ritual. However, Ji Hong quietly told Dou Ming: "Shang Er, who is by Second Master's side, secretly came over and said that there is an urgent matter to see you. I'm afraid of being seen by Fourth Miss, so I temporarily hid him in the woodshed."

  Dong Ming was startled.

  For these two years, Kyoto has had Wang Dan inform her of everything, but this time he sent his own servant over...

  She didn't practice pipa anymore and urged Ji Hong to bring Shang Er in.

  He was only eleven or twelve years old, wearing a coarse linen garment the color of lilacs, dressed like a country boy. Before Du Ming could speak, he had already knelt down crying: "Miss, please save our Second Master!"

  The dragon has nine sons, each with different characteristics.

  Wang Tan resembles Pang Yu Lou, lively and mischievous as a child. Being lively isn't necessarily a bad thing. But the problem is that there's also a mature-beyond-his-years Wang Nan above him, which makes his liveliness turn into naughtiness. As a result, he hasn't been scolded by his mother or rebuked by his grandmother for nothing.

  "What kind of trouble has he gotten into this time?"

  Shang Er wiped away tears and said: "Master asked Uncle to write a letter of recommendation for Young Master to study at the Imperial Academy. Second Young Master didn't know how important that document was, and he accidentally got it dirty... Miss Biao," he cried again, "Second Young Master really didn't mean to... But Old Madam made Second Young Master kneel in the ancestral hall and wouldn't listen to anyone's pleas... She wants to send Second Young Master to Master's place... Who tries to persuade her won't work... Miss Biao, please save our family's Second Young Master... I heard that Yunnan is full of barbarians who eat people..."

  "Serves him right!" Dou Ming cursed, "Who told him he didn't have eyes?!"

  "Miss Biao!" Shang Er stared foolishly at Dou Ming, and didn't even dare to cry.

  Dong Mingdao was not really angry with his younger brother. Seeing the situation, he said: "I just wanted to plead for him, but it's not possible - I'm in Zhending and he's in Kyoto!"

  Shang Er blinked her eyes and said, "It was Yu Er who sent me here."

  Yu Erben is a rough-skinned person from Lingbi County, who attached himself to Pang Xilou and fawned on Pang Yulou, and was brought by Pang Yulou to the capital.

  It's obvious that this is Second Aunt's idea since it was Second Uncle who brought Shang'er over!

  However, going to Kyoto...

  An idea flashed through her mind, and Duan Ming was slightly stunned.

  Go to Kyoto!

  She dreams of going to Kyoto!

  There was her loving grandfather, sometimes turning with her, and also her beautiful mother...

  Dong Ming couldn't help but feel excited.

  It's about time to get scolded by dad, maybe I can even stay in Kyoto!

  "What do you plan to do?" Dou Ming shouted loudly.

  Shang Er said: "Daci Temple is a nunnery, when the time comes, Miss Biao will go to the nunnery to burn incense, our carriage will wait for you on the small path behind the temple."

  Dong Ming felt more and more that this was Pang's idea.

  She thought for a moment and said: "Alright then, it's settled. I'll go to the Great Mercy Temple to burn incense the day after tomorrow."

  Xiang Er happily skipped away.

  Dong Ming told Ji Hong about this matter.

  Ji Hong was worried: "If Fourth Miss finds out..."

  "What does it matter?" Dou Ming said provocatively, "Father handed me over to her anyway."

  Ji Hong was silent.

  Dong Ming whispered to her, "Don't tell Nurse Zhou about this... Dong Zhao will definitely send a few guards to follow us. When the time comes, you help me cover up, and I'll come back to Kyoto to pick you up later."

  Ji Hong was taken aback: "Don't you want me to attend to you personally?"

  "It's only a three or four days' journey to Kyoto, and with Shang'er serving us, and Er following closely behind, what is there to worry about?" Dou Ming disagreed, "If many people go, Dou Zhao will definitely notice quickly."

  And she also needs Ji Hong to cover for her.

  Ji Hong thought about it and also made sense.

  The next day, Du Ming and Du Zhao quarreled over going to Daci Temple to burn incense.

  Dòu Zhāo still thought that Dòu Míng was venting his anger from a few days ago when he was scolded by Jì Yǒng, and didn't take it to heart. He let Duàn Gōngyì send a few guards to escort Dòu Míng to the Great Mercy Temple.

  Duanming went to rest in the side house after burning incense at Daci Temple, using fatigue as an excuse. The guards didn't follow him and sat chatting in the outer courtyard. Duanming then sent Zhou Hua away, changed into a common coarse linen garment, and slipped out of the window at the back of the house. He stealthily made his way up the small path in the backyard of Daci Temple.

  Shang Er and Yu Er were indeed waiting for her by the side of the small path in their carriage.

  They hastily boarded the vehicle and left Daci Temple.

  Daiyu didn't notice Douming was gone until an hour later.

  She was so scared that her face turned white, and when she found out what had happened, she slapped Ji Hongyi: "That Yu Er is a big man, even if it's to avoid suspicion, you can't let Miss go with them alone." She hastily called the guards to chase after Dong Ming, but was caught by Ji Hongyi, who begged: "Miss, it's just that Miss wants to return to Kyoto."

  Zhou Ayi hesitated for a moment.

  After some thought, I still felt that this matter was not right. Gnashing my teeth, I called the guard, but it was already afternoon.

  Several guards were shocked and pale, one side chased along the small path of Daci Temple, while the other sent someone back to report to Dou Zhao.

  Dong Zhaoqi's temples throbbed with a headache, and he found a passage from Gong Yiliang: "...Hurry up and whip the horse, no matter what, we must find Miss Wu before nightfall."

  Duan Gongyi knows it's terrible.

  An unmarried young lady from a wealthy family, without any personal attendants, accompanied by only a small servant boy and following a man on a journey of several hundred miles at night, if the news gets out, it's not going to sound good.

  He bowed his fist towards Du Zhao and turned around to leave.

  Dòu Zhāo however felt more and more that something was off.

  Even if Wang Xushi wants to send Wang Tan to Yunnan, this is also a proper thing for the prosperity of future generations. Gao's persuasion was ineffective, and Pang's persuasion was ineffective. Can Duan Ming go there and persuade him?

  Dong Ming sometimes just takes himself too seriously!

  Dong Zhao involuntarily let out a soft cry of "Not good".

  What if Shang Er's words were all lies?

  She was suddenly covered in cold sweat.

  But if what Er Ye said was a lie, who would go to such great lengths to plot against Dou Ming?

  To make Yu Er and Shang Er betray the Wang family, one would have to pay a sufficient price, especially for someone like Yu Er, a street-smart rogue who is used to changing his allegiance with the wind...

  She couldn't help but look in the direction of Chuihaku Judo Hall.

  It shouldn't be, right?

  Dong Zhao thought he was being too paranoid.

  Cheating Du Ming into going to Kyoto was just what he wanted, what kind of scare tactic is this?

  She let out a breath.

  But what if it's just intimidation?

  Dou Zhao was startled by his own sudden idea, feeling dizzy and lightheaded, with legs going soft, and only managed to avoid falling by grabbing onto the tea table beside him.

  "Hurry, hurry!" she shouted at Su Xin with a sweat-drenched face, "Get Du Huwei over here!"

  Su Xin saw that her complexion was not right and hastily found Duan Gongyi to come over.

  Dong Zhao didn't know how to respond and thought for a moment before saying, "If Yu Er wants to elope with the Fifth Miss, where would they go?"

  Duan Gongyi thought Du Zhao had discovered something and listened with a face that suddenly looked even more unsightly than Du Zhao's.

  He took a few steps forward and said in a low voice, "Yu Er used to do some deceitful things before, but I don't know who he would sell people to - if it's Wang Laoqi, they would be sold to the brothels in Yangzhou; if it's Tang San, they would be sold to the capital..."

  Dong Zhao's heart suddenly felt a chill and his voice trembled as he said: "Go check quickly!"

  Duan Gongyi left at the sound of his voice.

  Su Xin hurriedly poured a cup of hot tea for Du Zhao and comforted her, saying: "Uncle Duan is a local snake, familiar with every place. The fifth young lady has only been gone for four or five hours, she shouldn't have left the city yet, and will definitely be found soon." He also knew what Du Zhao was worried about and said: "Although Mr. Ji likes to tease people, he never harms anyone's life, and as a scholar, he certainly wouldn't do such a thing! You can rest assured!" After thinking for a moment, he added: "If you're still not at ease, why don't you ask Mr. Ji? He has always been proud and arrogant, if it was really him who did it, he won't deny it."

  "What I'm afraid of is that it's not him who did it!" The warmth emanating from the ceramic tea cup soothed Du Zhao's hands, and her tightly strung heartstrings also relaxed a bit. "He has always been known for his unconventional behavior, and everyone has already taken notice of him. We can't just blame him whenever something happens, can we?"

  But in her heart, she always felt that there was a thorn stuck there.

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  Brothers and sisters, catch up on the March 27th update!

  PS: Thank you everyone for the treatment methods provided, I will try to contact them one by one.

  Thank you again!

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