Blossom

Dou Zhao's words,

She couldn't help but cough lightly, intending to advise Ji Yong further. Yet before she could speak, she heard his cold snort filled with disdain and contempt: "Some people have no capability themselves but always blame others for being impolite. I despise such people the most!" Though his tone lacked the usual aggressive sarcasm, his words remained just as caustic.

Fine, she must have said the wrong thing to the wrong person!

Dou Zhao decided she would never again cast pearls before swine.

She asked Ji Yong coldly, "What did you want to see me about?"

Ji Yong, unperturbed, rubbed his nose and said leisurely, "You really don't want to marry He Yu, do you?"

Dou Zhao's heart skipped a beat, but she kept her composure. "What makes you say that?"

"Otherwise, why would you scheme against me?" he drawled.

Waves of shock surged within Dou Zhao. She barely managed not to jump up, though her expression darkened uncontrollably.

Ji Yong nodded with a smile, looking thoroughly pleased. "Still, considering we're relatives, I'll help you out this time," he said nonchalantly.

Dou Zhao was stunned.

Ji Yong had already risen and left the Reception Hall.

Dou Zhao massaged her temples.

What exactly did Ji Yong mean by this?

He was the elite of the Ji family, adored by elders and admired by juniors. Not only did he have access to the Ji family's resources and prosperity, but even Sixth Aunt would prioritize her son's survival and the Dou family—who would offer her sacrifices after death—over her birth family, the Ji clan. How could he possibly abandon the Ji family to help her?

It would be like betraying his own interests!

Yet from what she knew of him, though his words and actions often infuriated people to the point of spitting blood, he had never gone back on his word once spoken...

Or was he just here to mock her?

Dou Zhao carefully recalled the earlier clues.

Apart from his sarcastic remarks when Dou Qiguang was mentioned, he had seemed perfectly normal otherwise!

Could he have come to intimidate her?

But then why would he offer to help... That didn't fit either!

Dou Zhao sat there shaking her head.

Suddenly, Ji Yong returned.

"Oh," he grinned, his smile dazzlingly bright, "I forgot to mention something. Your accountant is quite good, but compared to me, he's far inferior. Next time you have such matters, you might as well consult me. I'm much more useful than him."

Dou Zhao's face darkened uncontrollably.

Ji Yong, however, laughed heartily as if witnessing a long-awaited spectacle, then strode away contentedly.

Dou Zhao quickly called out, "Su Xin! Please summon Mr. Chen. I have urgent matters to discuss with him."

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The Wu family's residence in the Capital was located in Fangjia Hutong, Chongjing Lane, near Anding Gate in the northern part of the city.

To its north stood the Imperial College and the Temple of Confucius. To the south was Kaiyuan Temple, and to the west, Anding Gate Avenue. Nestled amidst the bustle yet retaining tranquility, it was an ideal place for scholarly pursuits. Scholars coming to the Capital often favored renting residences nearby, keeping property prices in Chongjing Lane consistently high.The Wu family's residence was purchased by their ancestors many years ago. This modest two-courtyard home was planted with Chinese Flowering Crabapple and pomegranate trees, with grapevines trellised in the central courtyard. Several goldfish swam lazily among the aquatic plants in the blue-and-white fish basin, their tails swaying gently—every corner exuded an atmosphere of comfortable domesticity.

Wu Tai Tai and her daughter sat on the leaning rail beneath the veranda, engaged in needlework while listening to the clear recitation of study texts coming from the western wing. Her brows unconsciously furrowed into deep creases.

Wu Ya looked up and saw her mother's troubled expression again. Puzzled, she asked, "Mother, what's been bothering you these days? Why do you always look so worried?" Then she teased, "Am I being so obedient that my brother has done something wrong again? Tell me, and I promise not to tell Father—I'll help you teach him a lesson!"

"Silly child," Wu Tai Tai couldn't help but stroke Wu Shan's glossy black hair.

After the New Year, her daughter would be fourteen—the age when marriage arrangements should begin.

Ever since that incident, her son had become taciturn. Once so lively and talkative with her, their conversations now followed the same dull script: "Are you hungry?" "No." "Is there anything you'd like to eat?" "No." "Did you sleep well?" "Yes." When she mentioned her son's unusual behavior to her husband, he dismissed it as a positive change: "Shan'er is growing up, becoming more mature and steady."

She had no choice but to tell her husband about what happened at the Dou family, though she dared not mention her son's involvement—only that she had taken a liking to Dou Zhao.

"Preposterous! Absolutely preposterous!" Her husband flew into a rage upon hearing this. "How could you not discuss such an important matter with me earlier? Their fourth young lady isn't like other boudoir maidens. When the Wang family's daughter was elevated to principal wife, the Dous and Zhaos made it clear that the Wangs would have no say in the fourth young lady's marriage, to prevent her from suffering any injustice from either family. Did you think Yuanji could easily intervene? Who knows what negotiations he had to go through to agree to your request, only for you to call it off with a simple 'unsuitable'? What were you thinking? How could you put Yuanji in such an awkward position? And only telling me now... I must go apologize to Yuanji!" He glared at her and added sternly, "You must also write a letter of apology to Second Madam. For your single remark, she probably wore out her legs running around."

Thinking of this, Wu Tai Tai felt as if a hammer were pounding against her temples, the pain throbbing relentlessly.

If only she had stood firm and refused her son's request, none of this would have happened.

Though Dou Yuanji appeared completely unbothered, she couldn't believe they truly harbored no resentment. The family no longer visited the Dous as frequently as before.

Lost in thought, she was interrupted by a young maid announcing that Wu Daren had returned from his official duties.

Wu Tai Tai straightened her collar and went to greet him with her daughter.

Wu Songnian, in his fifties, was tall and imposing with stern features. Yet his eyes softened with warmth at the sight of his young daughter.

"Where's Shan'er?" The recitation had ceased, leaving the courtyard quiet.

"He was just studying!" No sooner had Wu Tai Tai spoken than the door to the western wing creaked open, and Wu Shan emerged at the sound of movement.

"Father!" He bowed respectfully to Wu Songnian, his demeanor now lacking the brashness of youth, replaced instead by a composed restraint.

Wu Songnian nodded approvingly and began inquiring about his studies.

Wu Shan answered each question methodically.The two of them stood in the courtyard discussing scholarly matters.

Wu Ya tugged at her mother's sleeve.

Madam Wu seized the opportunity to interrupt the father and son, smiling as she said, "...There will be plenty of time after dinner."

Wu Songnian, satisfied with his son's studies, smiled and entered the main room.

Though Wu Shan's lips curved upward, there wasn't a trace of joy in his eyes. He followed his father inside.

Madam Wu couldn't help but sigh.

After helping her husband freshen up, she asked, "Didn't you say Lord Cai invited you for drinks today? Why are you back so early?"

Wu Songnian shook his head with a wry smile. "Don't mention it—Old Cai went to act as a matchmaker!"

"A matchmaker?" Madam Wu was astonished. "How could he possibly agree to be a matchmaker? Who has such influence to enlist his help?"

Cai Bi was first-rate in scholarship, but equally notorious for his snobbery. If not for the marital ties between Cai Bi and Dou Shishu, their family would never have associated with him—even then, Wu Songnian wouldn't visit the Cai residence without good reason.

"It's Lord He," Wu Songnian explained. "He wants to arrange a marriage between his youngest son and a daughter of the Dou family, so he asked Cai Bi to be the matchmaker." He added, "From what Cai Bi implied, Lord He fears the Dou family might refuse, so he sought Cai Bi's intervention to ensure the match succeeds."

Madam Wu's eyelids twitched. "A daughter of the Dou family? Which one?"

"How would I know?" Wu Songnian replied. "Yuanji has seven brothers, so there must be several nieces in the family."

"Nieces?" Madam Wu was taken aback. "Wouldn't that make them of different generations?"

"Exactly!" Wu Songnian frowned. "That's why Cai Bi was brought in. First, he's related to the Dou family by marriage, so his words carry weight. Second, few besides Cai Bi could devise such schemes, twisting classical allusions to justify this." He sighed. "It seems the He family is determined to secure this match. It's also Yuanji's good fortune—if Grand Secretary Zeng retires, with Grand Secretary He's support, Yuanji's entry into the Grand Secretariat is assured."

Madam Wu's heart churned like boiling water.

While her husband didn't know how many daughters the Dou family had, she was well aware.

Among the Dou nieces of marriageable age, there was only one—Dou Zhao.

As this thought crossed her mind, she heard her son exclaim in shock, "Could it be Shou Gu?"

The couple turned to Wu Shan.

Their son stood there, pale and motionless.

Exchanging a glance, they heard their daughter Wu Ya loudly refute, "How could it be Shou Gu? She grew up in the countryside of Zhen Ding. How would the He family know of her? It must be Dou Ming. After all, Dou Ming is Lord Wang's granddaughter..."

"Right, right!" Wu Shan seemed to snap out of his daze. Though sweat beaded his forehead, his face suddenly brightened with relief. "Shou Gu is betrothed to the Wei family of the Marquis of Jining's Mansion. It can't be her, it can't be her..."

But Wu Songnian's expression darkened. He said sternly, "Do not look at what is contrary to propriety; do not listen to what is contrary to propriety. We should not gossip about others' affairs. Both of you, leave now. I have matters to discuss with your mother."

Wu Shan and Wu Ya withdrew.

Wu Songnian's face grew graver as he asked Madam Wu, "The fourth young lady you mentioned—is that Shou Gu?"Wu Tai Tai nodded.

"The one the He family wants to marry is likely this Shou Gu," Wu Songnian said solemnly. "Today, Lord Cai went to the Marquis of Jining's Mansion."

"What did you say?" Wu Tai Tai exclaimed in shock. "That's impossible! That Dou Zhao is already betrothed to another family. How could the He family still want to marry her? Is there no other bride for the He family without Dou Zhao?" Her heart was filled with mixed emotions, unsure of what to feel.

"The He family is of noble status. They wouldn't marry his niece just to curry favor with Yuanji," Wu Songnian said, finding the idea absurd himself. He paced around the room with his hands behind his back. "He Yu is the youngest son, and in marriage, virtue is sought... It seems that fourth young lady... is no ordinary person!" As he thought of this, his tone couldn't help but carry a hint of reproach. "You should have discussed the matter with me back then. A good wife brings half the blessings. Our family lacks descendants, while the Dou family has many. If we could have married a Dou family daughter, our Shan would have had support..."

Wu Tai Tai's face turned pale and then red, but she couldn't utter a word for a long time.

Wu Shan, who had been eavesdropping outside his parents' window, felt as if all his strength had left him. He slid down the wall carved with western lotus patterns and sat on the ground.

Wu Ya, who had followed her brother, bit her lip as she looked at him, her eyes clouded with gloom.

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