At this time, Chen Quanshui in Yizhitang was anxiously pacing back and forth in the house.

  Songluo Zhi Zhou sat beside him, feeling that his eyes were about to be turned into flowers by Mr. Chen.

  "Mr. Chen, would you like to sit down and have a cup of tea?"

  Chen Qu Shui stopped in his tracks upon hearing this, but replied evasively: "Has Wu Yi not returned yet? Go take another look!"

  Yizhitang suddenly changed its guards, and they were all detained in Yizhitang. They weren't allowed to go anywhere, and even their meals were delivered by the maid to the door, then handed over by the guards at the door. It was said that something valuable had been lost at home and was being searched for. But when the young master returned after only half an hour, the guards at the door disappeared, and they could come and go freely again.

  Mr. Chen was anxious and hurriedly sent Wu Yi to find the young master, saying that he must tell the young master about the strange things in the mansion.

  Ke Wu Yi has been gone for almost an hour and still hasn't come back.

  Song Luo also became worried when asked by Chen Qu Shui like this.

  He went to the gate at once.

  The surroundings were quiet, and the entire Yizhitang seemed to be deserted. However, the intermittent noise from the ancestral hall in front was a stark contrast, making the courtyard seem even more peaceful.

  Song Luo really wanted to go find Wu Yi, but as soon as he thought of the instructions given by Mr. Yan before he was sent to serve Mr. Chen, he quickly suppressed this idea.

  It seems that Mr. Chen and he thought alike, feeling that something fishy was going on in the mansion, and they should inform the young master as soon as possible.

  "How come Wu Yi hasn't returned yet?" He muttered to himself as he walked back, "The young master has returned, he must have gone to see the Duke first, and then to the mourning hall to pay his respects. He should be easy to find! Could it be that Wu Yi encountered something?"

  Chen Quanshui, who was thought to be in the same mind as Song Luo, pushed open the window of the study at this time, looking at the leaves that were exceptionally green after being washed by the rain, and fell into deep thought.

  Within half an hour, the British Consulate was restored to its original state, that is to say, the result has come out.

  Did Song Mo win or lose?

  Logically speaking, with deliberate calculation and unintentionalness, being close relatives by blood, Song Mo will definitely lose; but this person is too ruthless, it's not certain that even if he escapes from death, he won't be able to.

  The top priority is to know who wins and who loses.

  If Song Mo fails, he will definitely be settled, although he is usually very cautious and burns the letters and other correspondence with Fourth Miss after reading them. Never keep, the people of the British Consulate also took him as a mixed-up scholar who didn't put him in his eyes, but Yan Zhaoqing's character, eight or nine out of ten had instructed Song Luo and Wu Yi some words, if Song Luo and Wu Yi reveal something to the people of the British Consulate, let him be noticed by the people of the British Consulate that would be troublesome.

  If Song Mo had the upper hand, it would be better for him to stay here quietly and not move - they had inadvertently broken his trail, he wanted to wipe out all twenty or so people in the fields, if he knew that he had escaped during his crisis, he might even hate Fourth Miss together with them, which would be more troublesome!

  Whether to stay here or take advantage of the chaos in the British Consulate to slip out and see if Wu Yi can meet Song Mo.

  Thinking of these things, he couldn't help but feel a little regretful.

  It would have been better if he had escaped when the Jiang family's affairs were settled.

  As he was lost in thought, he saw Song Luo return alone.

  He couldn't hide his disappointment.

  Song Luo comforted Chen Qu Shui: "Wu Yi said he might go to inquire about the news, and should be back soon."

  Chen Qu shook his head.

  The two of them chatted casually for a couple of sentences.

  Chen Qu's eyes lit up.

  Song Luo stood up happily: "Wu Yi, have you seen Young Master?"

  "No!" Wu Yi's voice was a bit short of breath as he spoke. "The young master returned and was immediately summoned by the Duke to discuss something, but he hasn't come out yet. Deputy General Ma Youming from the Divine Pivot Camp came to offer incense to the lady, and Big Brother went to invite the young master to come out and thank him. But he was blocked at the door by Lu Zheng, who said that the young master had rushed back for five days and six nights without sleep to mourn his mother's death, so the Duke was worried that the young master wouldn't be able to handle it and left him in the upper house to get a good rest. He asked Big Brother to help the young master deal with things. And he also said that if anyone asks, just say that the Duke and the young master have important matters to discuss, and no one is allowed to disturb them. Otherwise, people with ulterior motives might spread rumors that the young master is unfilial."

  The old man was Song Mo's elder cousin, Song Qin.

  "Really!" Song Luo's tense expression relaxed, revealing a delighted smile.

  Chen Qu Shui decided to run away.

  Someone rode a horse for six days and five nights, wouldn't he still fall asleep as soon as he lay down? Not to mention the master of the Song family going in to take a look, even if someone set off firecrackers beside him, they might not be able to wake him up. Is it necessary to block people outside?

  He sent away Song and Wu, thoroughly inspecting every nook and cranny of the house that he thought might be left unguarded. He tucked the one thousand two silver notes that Duan Zhao had entrusted to Duangong Yi into his bosom, thinking to himself how thorough Fourth Miss was in her arrangements. He took a few taels of loose silver and put them in his pouch, waiting for the sky to darken slightly before taking a stroll in the garden. By then, it should be time for dinner in the front courtyard, and the Song family would likely host a banquet for those who came to pay their respects. That would be the most chaotic moment, the perfect opportunity to slip away unnoticed. He opened the door of his inner chamber, smiling as he spoke to Wu and Song standing under the corridor: "Now that Young Master is fine, I can finally put my mind at ease. This weather after the rain is lovely, just right for a walk!"

  The weather is cold and chilly after the winter rain, where's good?

  Wuyi and Songluo exchanged a bewildered glance, watching Chen Qu Shui walk towards the small garden of Yizhitang.

  ※※※※※

  Song Mo could feel himself getting weaker and weaker.

  Maybe I won't have to bother Father to open the ancestral hall, and I'll just die myself?

  His eyes were a bit dizzy.

  The white face of Mufang turned into a white shadow in front of him, reminding Song Mo of his mother's fair and jade-like face.

  Mother would never have dreamed that her own son would die in her house, right?

  At this thought, Song Mo's heart inexplicably skipped a beat.

  Mother also died in this room.

  Is this fate?

  Is it just a coincidence?

  He bit his tongue hard.

  White hibiscus quietly blooms in blue flowers, with a kind of peaceful beauty.

  Outside came the sound of footsteps, and my father's voice, tinged with a hint of apology, was mixed in: "For the sake of this unfilial son, I've disturbed all of you, it's truly shameful, shameful..."

  It really came quickly!

  It must be Father who sent the carriage to pick us up.

  A hint of mockery flashed in Song Mo's eyes.

  "Great Uncle Song Mao Chun's voice came in with a puzzled tone: 'Tian Ci, what exactly happened?'"

  "A few days ago, didn't a maid die from hitting the pillar?" Father said in a low voice, "She was the wife's personal servant girl. I originally thought she was loyal and serving her master faithfully, planning to let the wife adopt her as a daughter. Then bury her together with the Song family's ancestors... who knew that servant girl was already four months pregnant..."

  "What?" Fourth Uncle Song Tongchun's voice was alarmed, "One corpse, two lives, this is a great calamity, we absolutely cannot let her be buried in the ancestral tomb of our Song family..."

  "Fourth brother, listen to what second brother has to say!" Third uncle had been intimidating those merchants who came into the city for many years, his voice carrying a hint of official authority. "Since second brother has discovered it, he definitely won't let her be buried in our Song family's ancestral tomb again. Don't always interrupt people before they finish speaking."

  Fourth uncle muttered in a low voice, too far away, Song Mo couldn't hear what he was saying, but could imagine his expression, definitely both wronged and helpless.

  He couldn't help but smile again.

  The uncle and two uncles depend on their father for a living. If the father wants to open an ancestral hall, will they still oppose it?

  Song Mo didn't want to listen.

  But outside voices had their own claims, and came intermittently to his ears.

  "Isn't she just a maid? It's her good fortune that Tian Cai can look down on her! She's dead, so be it, no need to build an ancestral hall for her!"

  "Isn't the Emperor's verdict on the Jiang family already set in stone? And during the Autumn Siege, the Emperor even specially summoned Tianci to give him a dressing-down. You don't know how much our people in the Taxation and Revenue Department envy me!"

  "Really, is there anyone left in the Tianyi family who has a connection to the Duke of Dingguo? This is great! We can take advantage of this opportunity! After all, the Duke of Dingguo's estate is gone. Rather than letting others benefit from it, we might as well benefit ourselves. Tianyi is, after all, the Duke of Dingguo's nephew."

  "Can't the imperial censor impeach without evidence? That maid didn't die from hitting a pillar, did she? Let that maid named Xing or whatever also die from hitting a pillar! It's just right, can let Second Aunt adopt her as a goddaughter and have her continue serving Second Aunt in the underworld!"

  ……

  Three people, yet it seemed like seven or eight mouths. They quarreled until Song Mo's ears buzzed and his head was about to split.

  He smiled faintly.

  The scene in front of me became increasingly blurred, and my eyelids fell uncontrollably.

  No way!

  He can't die yet!

  Song Mo bit her tongue hard.

  The view cleared up a bit.

  But this clarity was very short-lived. His vision in front of him became blurred again.

  Six days and five nights of rapid galloping, one stick of killing... his body had reached its limit.

  What's the difference even if it is?

  Song Mo let out a cold hum and opened his eyes again.

  The white hibiscus was in full bloom facing him.

  He found that the stamens were light yellow, and at first glance, they seemed to be all white.

  Why plant white hibiscus?

  This is also the flowering period of Camellia.

  The big red tea plum is as beautiful as fire but also elegant and refined.

  A face suddenly appeared in his mind.

  A face as white as jade, with long eyebrows that reach the temples, bright apricot-like eyes, and a faint smile at the corners of the mouth, wise and refreshing.

  Like tea plum blossom.

  Although it is so elegant, it makes people feel gorgeous.

  Should be proud, but calm and straightforward.

  I don't know if the flowers she planted have bloomed yet?

  Song Mo softly recited a sentence "Dou Zhao", and said in her heart: I also know that your milk name is Shou Gu...

  He smiled.

  Her facial features are like the rising sun at dawn, warm and gentle.

  But before his eyes was a sea of ink.

  ※※※※※

  Song Yichun's face turned iron-green as he stared at his three cousins, speechless.

  Song Mao-chun hastily pulled Song Feng-chun who was sitting below him.

  Song Fengchun stopped talking.

  Song Tongchun also fell silent.

  Three people stared at Song Yichun with their eyes fixed on him, their faces full of reverence.

  Song Yichun's face finally relaxed slightly.

  He coughed dryly and said in a stern voice: "I plan to open the ancestral hall and expel Song Mo from the Song family, what do you think?"

  "Second Brother, as the head of the clan, it's naturally up to you." Song Maochun hastily said.

  Song Fengchun also couldn't wait to say: "Tian Cai is indeed too disappointing!"

  "Whatever Second Brother decides, I agree!" Song Tongchun said.

  Song Yi Chun couldn't help but reveal a hint of a smile: "Since that's the case, then tomorrow at dawn we'll open the ancestral hall. Big brother and third and fourth brothers mustn't be late."

  "I will definitely arrive on time and won't be late."

  Three people rushed to express their views.

  Song Yichun stood up: "Then let's meet again tomorrow."

  "Alright, alright, alright!"

  The three of them walked out of the hall in a line and stopped under the corridor at the same time.

  The light from the white lanterns shone on their faces, and they involuntarily sized each other up before avoiding eye contact. One of them said, "There's still something I need to do, you all go ahead," while the other said, "I want to head back with my son." They parted ways and left the British embassy separately.

  Song Yichun walked into the inner room with a gloomy face.

  The light from the white lantern under the eaves shines in through the glass window, and there is a dark brown mark on the ground, but Song Mo's figure is nowhere to be seen.

  Song Yichun's eyes widened.

  The white wooden hibiscus bloomed silently on the tea table, the green curtains fell quietly, and the rest in the house was sweet and long.

  The house is quiet and still.

  Song Mo is gone.

  "Someone come!" Song Yichun stumbled out of the inner chamber and roared at the guards outside, "Quickly, someone come!"

  Next to the British Embassy, in the second alley, two burly men were carrying a sedan chair with a cyan-colored coarse cloth curtain. The sedan chair had embroidered bands with golden and silver dragon patterns that only officials of the second rank could use, and it was heading towards Andingmen Avenue.

  ※

  The torturous plot has finally come to an end.

  ~~~~(_

  It's heartbreaking just thinking about it!

  PS: Supplement update on March 31st.

  Tonight's update, let's see it again tomorrow.

  I want to take a break and adjust my mood before writing again.

  ※