Dou Zhao had already guessed Song Mo’s intentions and prepared medicine for him, which could temporarily restore 70% of his strength but would likely leave lasting health issues. Song Mo still took the medicine without hesitation and mentioned something he had said to the masked girl at the opera. Dou Zhao dared not look into Song Mo’s eyes and simply told him that the truth or falsehood didn’t matter. Song Mo intentionally leaned closer to Dou Zhao and looked at her neck, only to find no pink flower birthmark, disappointed that she was not the girl. Dou Zhao got up to leave and prepared something for Song Mo.
Song Yichun heard that the severely injured person had escaped and immediately ordered all trained assassins to return. When Dou Zhao saw Song Mo off, Song Mo confessed his feelings, saying he knew he would be criticized for his actions but would seek justice, even if only one person believed him. Dou Zhao candidly told him she would wait for him to return and support his decision no matter what. Song Mo, comforted by these words, felt reassured.
As Song Mo left, he suddenly noticed some white powder on his hand and immediately realized that Dou Zhao was the masked girl and had concealed the flower mark to avoid influencing his decision. Once Song Mo figured it out, he loudly told Dou Zhao inside the house that if he survived, he would come back to her.
Song Yichun sat alone in his house, waiting for Song Mo to return, knowing that Song Mo was someone who would always repay his debts. Dressed in mourning clothes, Song Mo led his men into Song Yichun’s residence and fought with the assassins, demanding to know their whereabouts.
Meanwhile, in the ancestral hall, two elders of the Song family waited inside. Hearing the commotion outside, they rushed out and found Yan Chaoqing and his men standing at the entrance. Yan Chaoqing warned that staying inside the ancestral hall meant survival, but stepping out meant death. Someone didn’t believe him, stepped out, and was immediately beheaded, scaring the rest into staying inside.
Lu Zheng awaited Song Mo’s arrival and informed him that they wanted the brothers to press their fingerprints, but everyone refused, biting their fingers to avoid it. They also handed their identification badges to Lu Ming, asking him to take care of Song Mo in their stead. Song Mo, heartbroken, collapsed to the ground.
Amid thunder and lightning outside, Song Yichun nervously came out and found many corpses at the entrance. Instead of fear, he laughed, believing Song Mo wouldn’t dare take further actions due to the emperor’s intolerance for internal strife. Song Mo asked his younger brother who had been treating their mother, and his brother said the empress had visited and introduced a doctor, but their mother’s condition only worsened afterward.
Song Mo confronted Song Yichun, cutting off their father-son relationship. He reminded Song Yichun of the punishment he endured and declared their ties severed. He said he would move to his grandfather’s house and have nothing more to do with Song Yichun.
The Lizhen tribe repeatedly attacked the borders. Wu Gelao suggested sending Wang Xingyi to lead troops, but Dou Shishu opposed it, worrying that a war lasting over three months would affect spring planting due to food supply issues. Wu Gelao and his supporters knelt in protest, but the emperor’s health worsened, and he coughed more severely, longing for Jiang Meisun, who could have easily solved these problems.
Song Mo personally buried his mother, Jiang Meisun, and the soldiers who had died for the Dingguo Army. However, rumors spread among the people, criticizing him for not attending his mother’s funeral and saying it was too modest. Yunyang Bo Gu Yu led his men to punish those spreading gossip and pledged eternal support for Song Mo, leaving Song Mo deeply moved.
After burying his mother, everyone remained loyal to Song Mo. Song Mo suddenly fell ill and fainted. Dou Zhao heard the news that Song Mo had secured his position as heir and felt relieved. At the same time, Dou Shishu summoned Dou Zhao. Wang Yingxue had found a bloodstained garment in Dou Zhao’s room, accusing her of secretly meeting a man. Dou Zhao was punished under family law. Dou Shishu deliberately spread the news to Wu Shan, hoping that Wu Shan being with Dou Zhao would be more useful than Wei Tingyu.
Upon learning of Dou Zhao’s punishment, Wu Shan stormed into the Dou residence, claiming the bloodstained garment as his own and demanding punishment. Dou Shishu handed Wu Shan over to the authorities, accusing him of slandering the emperor and consorting with an official’s daughter. Dou Zhao couldn’t bear to see Wu Shan implicated and begged Dou Shishu to release his family, knowing he intended to destroy the Wu family. Dou Shishu coldly shut the door on her.
Dou Zhao, upon hearing that Song Mo had awakened, rushed to rescue Wu Shan, fearing Song Mo would get into trouble. She encountered Song Mo on the street, and they rushed toward each other. Song Mo worried about Dou Zhao’s injuries, and Dou Zhao feared Song Mo would face more accusations. They examined each other’s injuries and immediately calmed themselves, realizing their shared concern had clouded their judgment.
The two discussed the current situation, knowing the war with Lizhen was at the heart of the conflict. Wu Gelao advocated war, but the emperor preferred peace. Dou Shishu, having guessed the emperor’s intentions, had drawn Wu Shan into the conflict. The crux of the matter lay between Wu Gelao and the emperor.
