Blossom

Dou Zhao's emotions were complicated.

If this woman who had suddenly appeared was to be her stepmother, her mother's attempt to make an issue of her identity would likely end in great disappointment.

Her stepmother's surname was Wang, her given name Yingxue, and she was the daughter of Wang Xingyi.

Wang Xingyi, courtesy name You Sheng, hailed from Nanwa Village in Lingshou County, North Zhili. He obtained the Presented Scholar degree in the thirty-sixth year of Zhide reign (Jichou year). Initially appointed as a secretary in the Ministry of Personnel, he was later promoted to vice director in the Department of Transport under the Ministry of War. During this period, the Mongol leader Altan Khan repeatedly led troops to invade the northern borders. Shi Duanlan, Marquis Changxing and regional commander stationed at Datong, proposed opening horse markets to establish peace. Wang Xingyi submitted a memorial titled "Request to Abolish Horse Markets," vehemently criticizing Shi Duanlan's "ten impossibilities and five fallacies." Chen Dong, the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs' writing brush eunuch, shielded Shi Duanlan, leading Wang Xingyi to impeach Chen Dong for "five treacheries and fifteen crimes." In the fourth year of Yongming reign, Wang Xingyi received one hundred court beatings and was thrown into the death row prison. His refusal to write a statement of repentance despite severe torture made him famous among scholars. After Chen Dong's death from illness and through the efforts of his mentor Zeng Yifen, Grand Academician of the Grand Secretariat and Minister of Personnel, among others, Wang Xingyi's sentence was commuted to exile in Xining Guard in the sixth year of Yongming reign.

In the following years, Mongol raids continued, and the horse markets were destroyed.

In the fourth year of Chengping reign, the third year after the stepmother married into the family, Wang Xingyi was reinstated upon Zeng Yifen's recommendation.

He was first transferred as magistrate of Xintai County in Shandong, then successively appointed as secretary in the Ministry of Justice, vice director in the Ministry of Rites, and in the Department of Military Appointments under the Ministry of War—four promotions within half a year.

By then, a decade had passed since his exile, spanning two imperial reigns.

Thereafter, Wang Xingyi's career soared. By the time Dou Zhao fell ill, he had risen to Grand Academician of the Eastern Pavilion and Minister of Rites, reaching the pinnacle of officialdom.

The Wang family was originally a minor clan in Nanwa, generations of farmers and scholars. After Wang Xingyi's downfall, his wife Xu Shi sold all their property to rescue her husband. Following his commuted exile sentence, their eldest son Wang Zhibing accompanied his frail father to Xining Guard, while Xu Shi lived with her newly married daughter-in-law Gao Shi (married less than a month), second son Wang Zhibiao, and daughter Yingxue. With no permanent assets, Gao Shi voluntarily sold her dowry, obtaining three hundred taels of silver—thirty taels used to purchase four mu of fertile land for subsistence, the rest supporting Wang Xingyi and Wang Zhibing's expenses in distant Xining Guard, living in extreme hardship.

While some like the Gao family acted with great righteousness, others like Wang Yingxue's betrothed family, the Lei clan, pursued only profit.

In the eighth year of Yongming reign, seeing Zeng Yifen forced to retire and Wang Xingyi unlikely to be reinstated, the Lei family broke the engagement with fourteen-year-old Wang Yingxue.

Biting her lip, Wang Yingxue sold the betrothal gifts from the Lei family. Through one of Gao Shi's dowry servants acting as front, she started a cotton purchasing business, thus sustaining the bottomless needs of Xining Guard and enabling Wang Xingyi's survival until reinstatement.

So when Third Aunt informed Mother that Father had already sent someone to bring that woman to Zhen Ding, and after discussing with Eldest Aunt, they decided to meet her at Eldest Aunt's dowry estate, Dou Zhao threw a tantrum, clutching Mother's skirts desperately.

Mother suppressed her anger to coax her.

But Third Aunt had a sudden inspiration and smiled, "This works well. If anyone asks, we'll simply say we took Shou Gu to Eldest Sister-in-law's estate for an outing."

Only then did Mother relent, absentmindedly following Third Aunt to Eldest Aunt's estate.

Eldest Aunt was already waiting at the second gate.

Taking Mother's hands, she looked her over and nodded approvingly, "I worried you might not handle it well, but it seems I was overly concerned."Mother was dressed in a grand crimson wide-sleeved jacket adorned with pomegranate and persimmon calyx patterns, symbolizing her status as the principal wife. Her jet-black hair was styled in a falling horse bun, adorned only with a peony hairpin crafted from pearls the size of lotus seeds. A jade-green bangle shimmered like a spring stream between her snow-white wrist and the crimson sleeve, exuding both elegance and opulence.

Third Aunt also praised, "Seventh Sister-in-law has always had a flair for dressing up, but today you look especially beautiful."

A faint, bitter smile flickered across Mother's lips before vanishing swiftly.

She curtsied to Eldest Aunt and Third Aunt. "I beg for your assistance in today's matter, dear sisters-in-law."

"Of course," both Eldest Aunt and Third Aunt replied in unison, their gazes as tender as a mother's. "We won’t let Seventh Uncle act recklessly."

Mother’s expression steadied slightly.

Eldest Aunt smiled and picked up Dou Zhao. "Shou Gu, the camellias behind my quarters have all bloomed. Would you gather some with your maids later for my vase?" Her eyes, however, fixed directly on Tuo Niang and Xiang Cao, who stood behind her.

Dou Zhao clung tightly to Eldest Aunt’s neck. "I want Mother, Eldest Aunt, Third Aunt…" Her wails were so loud they startled Eldest Aunt.

Mother quickly took Dou Zhao back, her face flushed with embarrassment and frustration. "I don’t know what’s gotten into this child lately. She refuses to leave my side, and if I step away even for a moment, she cries inconsolably…"

Eldest Aunt sighed, stroking Dou Zhao’s hair. "The elders often say that a mother and daughter share one heart. This child is clever—she senses your sorrow and is afraid for you."

Her words brought tears to Mother’s eyes, and she held Dou Zhao even tighter.

"Let her stay with you," Third Aunt said sympathetically. "She’s still young, after all."

Mother nodded softly.

The group turned past the main hall and headed toward the Reception Hall in the rear courtyard.

Snowflakes swirled in the air, and the plum blossoms on the branches were in full bloom.

A graceful woman stood by the window in a rose-red jacket, her posture straight and poised, her silhouette harmonizing with the wintry plum blossoms outside.

Dou Zhao’s heart clenched.

It was her stepmother!

This figure—she would never forget it.

When her grandfather and grandmother had passed away one after another, and Third Uncle had sent her to the Capital to reunite with Father, this woman had stood by the window, scrutinizing her with sharp eyes. On the night the Marquis of Jining’s Mansion formally sent betrothal gifts to the Dou family, she had stood by the window, her face cold and unreadable as she stared at her. After Dou Zhao had allowed the maid sent by her stepmother to serve Wei Tingyu and later had Wei Tingyu dismiss her, during the New Year’s visit to her maternal home, this woman had stood by the window, fists clenched, silently glaring at her. And when her request for her younger brother Dou Xiao to marry Zeng Yifen’s granddaughter was rejected, she had summoned Dou Zhao back home and stood by the window, her face twisted with fury…

Dou Zhao stared unblinkingly at that figure.

From trembling fear to unrestrained laughter, she had walked barefoot through hell.

Who had ever pitied her pain and cries?

Mother’s footsteps slowed.

The snow fell like willow catkins in spring.

The figure turned around.

A smooth forehead, a high nose bridge, and clear eyes—radiant like the finest landscapes.

Mother recoiled as if scalded. "Why is it you? Wang Yingxue, why is it you?"

She swayed unsteadily, her arms loosening around Dou Zhao, who clung to her waist to avoid falling.Eldest Aunt and Third Aunt exchanged glances, with Third Aunt swiftly catching Dou Zhao in her arms.

Wang Yingxue walked out with graceful composure.

She stood beneath the veranda, curtsying to Mother and softly calling her "elder sister."

"Our Zhao Family has only one daughter—me. I don’t recall when I gained another sister?" Mother sneered, though she tried to maintain her earlier calm and elegance, the distress between her brows was unmistakable. "Perhaps you’ve mistaken me for someone else!"

Wang Yingxue lowered her eyelids and knelt on the cold stone tiles of the veranda, her expression humble and submissive, just as she had always appeared deferential before the elders of the Dou family. "Elder sister, our families were neighbors. I had no sisters, and you only had one elder brother—we grew up like siblings. You know my temperament better than anyone. Though my family has fallen into hardship, I am not shameless. The Gao Family knew of our plight yet still married their daughter into our home. Within less than a month of my sister-in-law’s marriage to my brother, she suggested he accompany Father to Xining Garrison. Now my nephew Nan Ge’er is gravely ill, and even selling our family’s four acres of fertile land wouldn’t cover his medical expenses. I thought that as long as someone was willing, I would accept even servitude. Never did I imagine the one I encountered would be your husband." With that, she kowtowed three times heavily to Mother. "The grave mistake has been made—I have no excuses. I can only beg the young master: if you permit me to enter your household, I will forsake all past ties and serve you wholeheartedly. Elder sister..." Tears shimmered in her eyes. "Blame only fate’s cruelty." She kowtowed once more. "I will serve you faithfully from now on!"

"Ha!" Mother scoffed, her sharp gaze fixed on Wang Yingxue as she raised an eyebrow. "And if I refuse?"

Wang Yingxue paused briefly, then smiled self-deprecatingly. "Then I beg you, elder sister, to grant me a length of white silk."

Without a word, Mother untied the bright red handkerchief from her waist and tossed it to the ground, asking mockingly, "Is this long enough?"

Wang Yingxue met Mother’s gaze steadily, slowly rising to her feet. With a faint smile, she approached Mother, curtsied to pick up the red handkerchief, and said softly, "Thank you, elder sister." Then she turned and walked toward the reception hall.

Snowflakes landed on her jet-black hair, vanishing almost instantly.

This was Eldest Aunt’s dowry estate. If a life were lost here, her reputation would be ruined.

Eldest Aunt grew fearful and hastily asked, "Sister-in-law, who is this woman? How do you know her?"

Mother stared blankly at the reception hall, its doors now shut with a loud thud, and murmured in a daze, "She is Wang Yousheng’s daughter, from Nanwa... She was once my father’s classmate, and our families often visited each other... She is two years younger than me... When I married, she gifted me two handkerchiefs she embroidered herself with twin lotus flowers... I never imagined... I never dreamed... No wonder Wanyuan refused to say who it was... They set a trap to deceive me..."

Eldest Aunt and Third Aunt were shocked. "Wang Yousheng—the one exiled for offending Chen Dong, Wang Yixing?"

Mother nodded faintly, two silent tears rolling down her cheeks.

"How could Seventh Uncle be so reckless? Her father was a Presented Scholar in the year Jichou, the same cohort as your Fifth Uncle," Eldest Aunt fretted, pacing anxiously. "No, I must inform Younger Uncle..." She then instructed Third Aunt, "Hurry and stop Miss Wang. I’ll call for help!"Since taking a concubine at a young age was not a matter of pride, the maidservants serving in and around the Reception Hall had already been dismissed by Eldest Aunt.

Third Aunt also realized the severity of the situation.

The Dou family was not afraid of offending the powerful, but they feared being accused of driving the daughter of a fallen colleague to her death.

She gasped in agreement, then lifted her skirts and ran toward the Reception Hall.

Mother stood quietly on the stone bridge, letting the snowflakes drift and pile upon her until she became a snowman.

Accompanying her was only little Dou Zhao.