Setting aside how Song Mo pretended to be generous in front of Dou Zhao, let’s focus on Ma Youming. He woke up to find himself in an unfamiliar side room, startled. Despite his pounding headache, he leaped up and called for his servant.
His servant entered promptly, carrying a basin of water. He smiled and said, “You’re awake, sir! Yesterday, you got drunk with Duke Ying’s heir and his brothers-in-law. Brother Chen He arranged for you to rest in this guest room. I watched over you all night, and you missed the wedding ceremony and the newlyweds entering the bridal chamber. Now, the Zhao family’s new son-in-law is meeting relatives in the hall—the young master and his wife are there too. Would you like to wash up and go immediately, or have lunch first before greeting Lord Zhao and then returning with the young master?”
He added admiringly, “The young master’s brothers-in-law are so young, yet they could match you in drinking. Impressive!”
Everyone in the Imperial Guard knew that Commander Ma Youming of the Divine Machine Division was a heavy drinker.
Ma Youming’s face paled. “I got drunk yesterday?”
The servant nodded, bringing over a hot towel.
Ma Youming took it, hastily wiping his face. His expression uncertain, he asked, “Did I say anything foolish while drunk?”
The servant thought carefully and replied, “Brother Chen He helped you here. You were shouting something like ‘Young Master, don’t go, I’m telling the truth, I’m staking my life on you.’ Realizing it was serious, I didn’t let anyone else attend to you and stood guard outside. You fell asleep soon after and didn’t say anything else until dawn.”
It’s over, Ma Youming thought. When one has worries, drinking is dangerous. Not only was his tolerance lower than usual, but he had also spoken carelessly.
He felt a chill in his heart. He realized he had kept his concerns too deeply hidden, with no one to confide in. When drunk, he had lost control and blurted things out.
“Alcohol can ruin things—the ancients didn’t lie!” Ma Youming thought bitterly.
Worse still, he couldn’t remember what he had told Song Yantang.
He paced the room a few times, then instructed his servant, “We’ll rest here for now. If anyone asks, say I’m still sleeping off the alcohol. If the Duke Ying’s heir asks, say I’m waiting for him in the side room.”
If he had truly confided in Song Yantang, surely the latter would come to find him.
The servant acknowledged and helped Ma Youming freshen up.
Meanwhile, Song Mo was cheerfully greeting his new brother-in-law.
Song Yan, red-faced and embarrassed, called him “Young Master.”
Song Mo smiled and said, “I dare not accept such a title from my cousin-in-law. Please, call me ‘Yantang’ or ‘brother-in-law.'”
Zhao Zhang, standing beside Song Yan, blushed and glanced at Song Mo.
A hint of a smile appeared in Zhao Si’s eyes.
Song Yan, still too shy to call him “brother-in-law,” softly said “Yantang” instead. After exchanging greetings with Song Mo, he was led to the west side of the hall to meet Madam Zhao and the other women of the family.
Everyone’s gaze followed Song Yan to the west.
Song Mo, however, lowered his eyes, pondering Ma Youming’s words.
Among the Imperial Guard’s three divisions and twenty-two brigades, the Divine Machine Division ranked first. Ma Youming had become a commander in his early twenties, not just due to his background, but also his exceptional abilities. Who could give him trouble?
And for what reason would they want to make an enemy of him?
He thought of Jiang Yi.
It was Ma Youming who had introduced Jiang Yi to him and asked him to transfer Jiang Yi to the Five Cities Military Police. The two were on good terms. In the Divine Machine Division, they were likely seen as allies. Now, both Jiang Yi and Ma Youming were unhappy in the Divine Machine Division, suggesting factional disputes. If he helped Ma Youming further, he might get dragged into these internal conflicts.
But Ma Youming was his friend, and he had to help.
However, as a member of the Jinwu Guard, interfering in another division was a major taboo in the military.
Song Mo knew he was in the spotlight these days, with many enviously waiting for a chance to bring him down or see him fail. But since he needed absolute power to suppress his father, he had to build a force capable of withstanding and destroying all opposition. He had to be high-profile, to the point where people would fear offending him, to secure an unassailable position.
If he openly intervened in the Divine Machine Division’s affairs now, it would only antagonize its leaders. While he didn’t fear for himself, he had to be cautious when it came to his friend.
Last night, he had been too focused on talking with Dou Zhao and hadn’t carefully considered this matter.
Song Mo quietly instructed Chen He, “Tell Du Wei to investigate how many factions currently exist in the Divine Machine Division.”
It was always better to be prepared with more information.
Chen He discreetly left the hall.
Song Mo smiled and joined the others in looking towards the west side of the hall.
Ma Youming waited until he and Song Mo had left Yuqiao Hutong, but Song Mo never mentioned the previous night’s events.
His face paled.
How could he have forgotten this possibility?
He had been drunk, and besides not fully confiding in Song Yantang, there was another possibility—Song Yantang might have dismissed his words as drunken ramblings, pretending not to know and letting the matter pass without a trace.
Ma Youming believed he hadn’t misjudged Song Yantang.
He felt that for other matters, Song Yantang might not act this way, but when it came to… Song Yantang wasn’t just the Deputy Commander of the Jinwu Guard, but also the heir to Duke Ying’s estate. Even if not for himself, he had to consider his clan…
Thinking of this, Ma Youming wilted like a frost-bitten eggplant.
Dou Zhao, however, was in high spirits.
Having resolved her uncle’s concerns and reminded him, she believed that compared to her previous life, her uncle would have an easier time.
She discussed with Song Mo, “Uncle said they’ll depart on the twelfth of February. I’m thinking of giving them two thousand taels of silver as a parting gift and treating them to a meal. What do you think?”
Song Mo considered and said, “Why don’t we host the banquet at home? It’ll let Uncle see how we’re living.”
Dou Zhao nodded, smiling, “Perfect. After seeing Uncle off, we can arrange Su Lan’s wedding.”
Song Mo gently reminded her, “You’re getting further along in your pregnancy. Be careful not to overexert yourself.”
Dou Zhao nodded cheerfully. Upon returning home, she eagerly began preparing for her uncle’s farewell banquet.