In just a few days, Kyoto welcomed its first snow of winter. Elegant words and sentimental feelings are released for the first time.

  Even in Zhengding, 400 miles away, it was also bitterly cold with howling winds and heavy snowfall.

  A few days ago, the steward from Tianzhuang came to deliver the New Year's goods and presented two sable skins. Although they were a bit smaller than expected, it was a pity that the edges of the cloak were not trimmed. After some thought, Duan Zhaoshi decided to make a wind collar for her grandmother and a top-to-bottom autumn-colored Zhaojun suit, which would be perfect for wearing during the New Year's celebrations.

  The weather was cold and there was nothing to do, so Ganluo accompanied Dongzhao to sit on the heated kang by the window in the inner room to do needlework.

  She walked in with a light heart and light footsteps.

  "Miss," she said with a wink at Dou Zhao, "the accounts sent over by Tian Zhuang the other day were not quite right."

  The sweet dew was heard for several moments, and then it retreated immediately.

  Miss, this was sent back by Mr. Chen.

  Dong Zhao nervously accepted the letter.

  It's been eight or nine days since the incident, but there has been no news from Kyoto. She seems to be at ease, but in reality, she is always thinking about it and often can't sleep at night, tossing and turning.

  At a glance, Du Zhao finished reading the letter and couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief.

  The person beside her, who had been anxiously watching her, also couldn't help but relax his expression and immediately revealed a delighted smile: "Miss, are Captain Du and the others all safe?"

  Dong Zhao nodded, indicating that Su Xin would light the sheep's horn lantern next to him. As he burned the letter, he whispered: "The situation with Master Mei is already settled, and on the seventh day of the third month, he presided over the sacrifice for Madam Jiang. Mr. Chen and Captain Duan will be back in a few days!"

  Su Xin, a normally calm and composed person, couldn't help but feel overjoyed when she heard that Chen Qu Shui and the others would be returning soon: "This is great, this is great!"

  Dong Zhao looked at her happy appearance and couldn't help but laugh, saying: "You go tell Lu Ming, so they don't worry."

  She went with a happy heart and joyful spirit.

  Dong Zhao stared blankly at the letter that had been burned to ashes for half a day.

  Song Mo was indeed not the kind of person who would compromise easily.

  His father wants to frame him, he will also rise up to resist.

  Zi Pai Duan Gong Yi and Chen Xiao Feng rushed overnight to rescue Song Mo. This decision was quite risky.

  But she can't just sit back and watch the tragedy repeat itself when she thinks about Song Mo's fate in her past life.

  However, why did the British king frame his own eldest son, whether in the past or present life, Dou Zhao had no answer.

  In his past life, the Jiang family was slaughtered and Jiang's illness lingered on his deathbed. Not long after, he passed away. Song Mo had just lost his uncle. He also encountered his mother's funeral, and it is likely that he was exhausted and had some resentment in his heart. He couldn't and didn't have the energy to pay attention to things around him, which gave the British public an opportunity to make arrangements at leisure, using the way of being impeached by the imperial envoy to open the curtain of slandering Song Mo.

  In this life, although Jiang Meiying and others were harmed, Madame Mei and other women and children survived. Song Mo, in order to protect the Jiang family members, not only did not become depressed because of Jiang Meiying's death but instead actively integrated into the noble circle of Kyoto. He even intentionally lost the autumn archery competition to test the emperor's intentions, reconfirming his position in the emperor's mind.

  The notorious Song Mo, to the British Duke, was like a hot potato that he couldn't wait to get rid of. In the end, he could only choose to make his move at the moment when Song Mo returned from mourning... His own warning and the Duke's helplessness gave Song Mo a thread of hope.

  Sometimes, identity can also be a kind of bondage.

  This time he was able to escape smoothly, and after hoping to keep the position of Crown Prince, he would not go crazy like in his previous life.

  Dong Zhaoyu sighed softly.

  At dusk, Lu Ming came to bid her farewell.

  He didn't say a word, first knelt down and gave Du Zhao three head knocks: "Fourth Miss, your great kindness will not be forgotten by anyone, including the young master!" Then he said, "The young master is injured and needs someone to take care of him, but there are not enough people around. Mr. Yan and I discussed it, and we plan to rush back to Kyoto tonight. Xu Qing's injury is too severe, and I'm afraid we'll have to trouble Fourth Miss to let him stay at the Tian Zhuang for a few more days."

  Lu Ming has been coming to Du's house for half a year, and he has always respected Du Zhao very much. However, it is not like now, with respect mixed with a few points of humility, showing great sincerity.

  Maybe it's because I saved Song Mo!

  "Speak up!" Dou Zhaosaid, "There's no one else in the village, so you can rest assured that Xu Qing will recover from his injuries there." Then he had Su Xin send him 50 taels of silver as a gift, "You have to be careful on your way back. My people haven't returned yet, and I won't be able to escort you back to the capital."

  Lu Ming didn't stand on ceremony, and put the silver ticket in his bosom: "Here is only five or six days away from Kyoto, since the overall situation has been decided, Guo Gongye must be busy at this time, we should be able to arrive safely."

  Dong Zhao also thought so, reminded him a few words, and she sent tea to see off Lu Ming.

  "Miss, welcome back!"

  A month ago, Gao Sheng came to pick up Dou Ming in Kyoto on behalf of Dou Shiying.

  Dou Zhao was delighted and followed him.

  She met him in the hall with joy.

  "Miss, the journey was very smooth." The excited body still had water stains left after the snowflakes melted, and it was clear that he hadn't even gone home before coming to see Du Zhao. "Seventh Master also called me over to ask about many things regarding Miss." He grinned, showing his teeth, Du Shiying cared so much about Du Zhao, obviously valuing his eldest daughter highly, he was very happy for Du Zhao. "He asked me to bring back many specialties from Kyoto, saying they were for Miss's New Year celebration."

  Dong Zhao said a word of "hard work" to him, let Su Xin go to check the things, and asked about his father's body.

  "Seventh Master is great." He said with a smile, "Every time I have a holiday, I go to the temple to discuss Buddhism with the masters. Everyone praises Seventh Master's profound Buddhist knowledge, and even we benefit from it." As he spoke, he took out a peace talisman from his waist bag, "This was given to me by Monk Fude when I visited Daxiangguo Temple. He knew I was Seventh Master of Beilou Dong's family, so he specially gave me a peace talisman blessed by the abbot!"

  Dong Zhao was shocked, then burst out laughing.

  At that time, the abbot of Daishin-ji Temple, Fukutoku Hōin, and the master of Dairin-ji Temple, Entsu Fushi, were the two most renowned Zen masters in Kyoto. One could bring the dead back to life with his words, while the other could kill the living with his words. One was dignified in appearance, while the other was outstanding in demeanor. Every year on the Bon Festival, the area in front of Daishin-ji Temple and Dairin-ji Temple would be packed with women who came to listen to Buddhist sermons. It is said that when the monks from both temples carried out the merit boxes to collect incense money, copper coins would fall like raindrops.

  Now, the future abbot of Da Xiangguo Temple is still a guest monk, but he has already become familiar with the servants of the old family of Dongyue Tower. If Ji Yong is the future abbot of Dalong Temple, Master Yuantong... He temporarily resides in the He Shou Hall of the Duan family and is preparing to participate in next year's Spring Examinations.

  Isn't it often the case that people who are destined to be together have already had an intersection in life without realizing it?

  Dòu Zhāo Yuè thought more and felt that Jì Yòng Shí was actually that Round-Truth Monk.

  But what has Ji Yong been doing these days?

  Since he stormed off that day, she hasn't bothered with him and he hasn't appeared before her again.

  Dong Zhaoyu hesitated about whether to go and take a look at Ji Yong, when suddenly outside came the sound of Ganluo's voice: "Young Master Ji..." The words had just fallen when they turned into panic, "What are you going to do..."

  The warm curtain swayed, and Ji Yong burst in with a big stride.

  He was only wearing a cyan brocade robe, with snowflakes on his head and shoulders, if not for his abnormally serious expression, she would have frowned and scolded him loudly.

  "Miss!" Ganluo followed closely behind Ji Yong's back and looked at Doudou with a wronged expression.

  Dong Zhao made a gesture, indicating that she should go and serve tea, then lightly pointed to the armchair beside him and said: "Ji Biao-ge, please sit down!"

  Ji Yong seemed to be completely unaware of anything being amiss, he nodded and didn't sit down. Instead, he stood there with a straight posture, calmly saying: "I've made up my mind. Tomorrow I'll set off for Kyoto. In the Shuntian Prefecture school, I'll rent a house, close the door and read books, and participate in next year's spring examination."

  He came with a fierce momentum, and Du Zhao didn't expect him to come and tell himself that he had accepted his advice, so he was stunned for a moment before coming back to his senses.

  "That's great!" she said with a normal expression, "I'd like to congratulate Ji Diao first for achieving his goal and passing the imperial examination!" But in her heart, she really wanted to laugh.

  This is a lesson. Even if you admit your mistake, you must use a humble and respectful tone.

  Ji Yong saw this and nodded his head in great satisfaction.

  Dong Zhao turned his face away. He lightly coughed and barely suppressed the laughter that was about to escape his lips.

  The sweet dew ran in.

  "Miss, miss, Mr. Chen is back!"

  "Ah!" Dou Zhao's face lit up with joy, and he hastily said to Ji Yong, "You sit for a while," before hurrying out to greet the visitor.

  Through the snowy wind, Chen Qu Shui and others in green robes approached gradually along the corridor.

  Dou Zhao's eyes sparkled with tears.

  "Miss!" A group of people stopped under the corridor, Chen Qu Shui looked at Dou Zhao with excitement, bowed deeply and paid a courtesy to Dou Zhao.

  "Mr. Chen," said Du Zhao with a smile, "you're finally back!" He then carefully looked up and down at Duan Gongyi and Chen Xiaofeng who were standing behind Chen Qu Shui and bowing to her, seeing that the two of them had red faces, he couldn't help but nod his head with a smile, "As long as you're safe, that's all that matters!" Then he invited them in, "Everyone come inside and talk!"

  The joy of reunion brought smiles to everyone's faces.

  A few people were surrounding Du Zhao Zheng as he was about to enter the house when the warm curtain was lifted and Ji Yong walked out.

  Mr. Chen and others were somewhat surprised.

  Ji Yong's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze sharp as a knife, falling on Chen Qu Shui's body.

  "Mr. Chen?" He raised an eyebrow, "I heard you went to Kyoto to visit a friend, I wonder where your noble friend lives? How could you go to Kyoto and not even pay a visit to Master Tuo Qi? It's really like the dragon's head is seen but its tail is not!" His tone was tinged with sarcasm.

  Chen Qu Shui did not know that Ji Yong was investigating him.

  If it were before, he would definitely be somewhat displeased. But after going through those things at the British Consulate, he suddenly felt that compared to Song Mo's experience, these were all trivial matters.

  "My friend lives in Daxing," he said calmly with a smile, "I habitually call it Kyoto. It's just that Ji Gongzi misunderstood. I also went to visit Qiye, but I didn't meet Ji Gongzi." His words were concise and to the point, without any extra words.

  Ji Yong felt that Chen Qu Shui was suspicious, but looking at Dou Zhao's excited expression, he still swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

  "Well, I'll take my leave first!"

  He swung his sleeves and walked out of the upper house of Xidu.

  A voice came from outside, panting: "Young master, young master, you'd better put on a rain cloak!"

  Dong Zhao couldn't help but smile wryly and followed Mr. Chen into the house.

  Ganlu and others went up for tea and quietly retreated afterwards.

  Mr. Chen talked about his experiences in Kyoto these days.

  ※

  Sisters and brothers, I still owe an update for a chapter. I've been thinking about it all the time, but these past few days have been too busy and I didn't have time to make up for it. These two days, I'll try my best to think of a solution, see if I can take a leave or something...

  ※