Blossom

Dou Zhao gazed at the two towering magnolia trees in front of the main house, feeling as though a lifetime had passed.

She smiled at Su Xin and said, "Come, let's go see Consort Cui."

Su Xin's tightly wound heart finally relaxed. She chuckled and tugged at Dou Zhao's sleeve. "Good miss, you should freshen up first before going! Look at the state you're in—Consort Cui would surely worry if she saw you like this."

Dou Zhao glanced down and noticed several mud stains on her lilac embroidered shoes.

She couldn't help but laugh, allowing Gan Lu to assist her in taking a hot bath and drying her hair before changing into fresh clothes and heading to her grandmother's quarters.

Hong Gu, having already received word, was waiting at the door with an umbrella.

Upon seeing Dou Zhao, she curtsied gracefully with a warm smile and inquired about the farmstead. "Well? Is there any hope for the crops?"

"We can only pin our hopes on the autumn corn now," Dou Zhao replied as she stepped inside with Hong Gu.

Her grandmother sat by the window on the heated brick bed, already understanding the situation from the conversation. She asked about the extent of the damage to each household, how it had been handled, and what the villagers had said.

Dou Zhao answered each question in turn, naturally omitting any mention of Song Mo.

Her grandmother praised her, saying, "...I never expected you to have such a talent for farming! You handled this matter very well. Once the rain stops, remember to inform Mr. Chen—each household should receive ten pecks of cornmeal to tide them over these months."

"Mr. Chen had urgent business and left for the Capital," Dou Zhao explained, sticking to the prearranged story with Chen Qushui. "He received a great kindness from a friend in his youth, and now that friend is in trouble. Mr. Chen rushed to assist and likely won't return to Zhen Ding until autumn."

Her grandmother didn't suspect anything, though she was concerned about Chen Qushui's sudden departure. "This must be a serious matter. Shou Gu, you should write to your father. Even if he can't help directly, having a familiar face nearby would offer some reassurance." She then asked, "Did you provide Mr. Chen with travel expenses? Who is attending to him? He's no longer young—you must take good care of him."

Her grandmother's sincerity and kindness were unwavering.

Dou Zhao sighed inwardly and smiled. "Don't worry, everything has been arranged. Mr. Chen won’t be inconvenienced."

In truth, the departure had been rushed, and since Chen Qushui was traveling with Song Mo, he had set off alone with only ten taels of scattered silver and twenty taels in silver notes, hastily pooled together by Dou Zhao and the others. Fortunately, he had left some spare clothes at the farmstead—otherwise, even a change of garments would have been a problem.

Song Mo ought to cover Chen Qushui's expenses.

The thought irritated Dou Zhao, and she still worried that Chen Qushui might suffer hardships. When Duan Gongyi went to the accountant to withdraw funds, she instructed him, "Find a way to send Mr. Chen a thousand taels in silver notes."

Having lived in the Capital for over a decade, she knew how expensive it was to reside there.

Duan Gongyi acknowledged the order and, following Dou Zhao's instructions, purchased some medicinal herbs suited to Tan Laotaiye's preferences, along with a few scrolls of calligraphy, paintings, and antique books, which he delivered to the Tan family estate.

Tan Laotaiye, now in his seventies, stroked his snow-white beard and chuckled heartily upon hearing that Miss Dou the Fourth had sent someone to visit him. He remarked to his grandson, Tan Juren, "This Miss Dou the Fourth is quite interesting."

Tan Juren merely smiled politely in response.

Tan Laotaiye then inquired about the child."The child was taken to Baoding overnight. I had Young Master Mei escort the wet nurse back. When the time comes, we'll simply say the eighteenth branch of the family had twins," said Tan Juren. "If the Jiang Family survives this calamity and demands the child back, we'll claim the infant died. If they don't survive, I'll have the eighteenth branch return in a couple of years when the child is two or three—a few days' difference won't be noticeable then. Should anyone suspect anything, we'll explain it as one twin being born naturally and the other with difficulty—not all twins look identical."

Old Master Tan nodded approvingly, stroking his beard with a sigh. "You always blame our ancestors' rules for hindering your prospects. But look at the Jiang Family—wealth and honor, flourishing like oil on fire, yet what became of them? Wiped out completely! They couldn't even protect their own flesh and blood..."

Tan Juren flushed, lowering his voice. "Grandfather, should we really not intervene in the Jiang Family's affairs?"

"All things under heaven follow their destined course," Old Master Tan lamented. "Even if we wanted to help, could we? If one man's death could save an entire family, it wouldn't be an unjust end."

Tan Juren thought of that bold figure who drank from bowls, sang while fencing, and looked down upon the world—his vision suddenly blurred.

※※※※※

Dou Zhao was also thinking about a child, though her thoughts were of whether this child had lived or died in her previous life.

If only she'd paid more attention to Song Mo's affairs back then!

Then she could decide how deeply to engage with the Tan family.

With such a fierce tiger lying next door, how many could sleep peacefully?

Ignorance breeds fearlessness—had it not been for Song Mo, she'd never have known about the Tan family.

What a headache!

Dou Zhao took a vicious bite from the plum in her hand, the crisp snap removing half the fruit.

Su Lan came bouncing in.

"Fourth Miss, one good news and one bad news," she asked, small eyes blinking. "Which would you like first?"

Dou Zhao handed her a plum. "Bad news first, then the good."

Giggling, Su Lan said, "The bad news is—Lord Wang has been impeached for forced transactions, moral failings, allowing his children to bully others..."

Dou Zhao had hoped it was Duke Ding being impeached!

Disappointed, she asked, "Did they specify what exactly he did?"

"No," Su Lan laughed. "But I heard the criticism was severe—even the Emperor issued an edict demanding answers."

Dou Zhao curled her lip. "So your so-called good news is that my fifth uncle has become a Grand Academician in the Grand Secretariat?"

"How did you know?" Su Lan's eyes widened.

"Simple enough," Dou Zhao said listlessly. "If others had impeached Wang Xingyi, they'd have listed his crimes one by one instead of vague accusations—they must be afraid of implicating the Dou family. With the Emperor demanding answers, regardless of the truth, the Grand Secretariat will keep him out to avoid suspicion. Since you mentioned good news, what else could it be but my fifth uncle's promotion?"

"Miss, you're amazing!" Su Lan's face shone with admiration.

"Amazing or not," Dou Zhao said dismissively, "if you'd lived my life, you'd be just the same.""Not everyone can be like you, miss!" Su Lan gazed enviously at Dou Zhao. "No matter how much you're in the sun, you never tan. Even if I hide indoors, I can't get fairer."

Dou Zhao was taken aback, then burst into laughter.

Su Xin lifted the curtain and entered with a plate of washed peaches, scolding her sister, "What nonsense have you been spouting again?"

"Nothing, nothing," Dou Zhao waved her hand and offered Su Lan a peach. "Who told you these two pieces of news?"

Su Lan replied, "It was Sixth Master who sent someone back with the good news. The East Mansion has already started handing out rewards. The little maids who sweep and wipe tables, and the pages each got ten copper coins from the Chenping era. Third-rank maids, old women, and married women got a hundred each, second-rank got two hundred, and first-rank got three hundred. The prominent stewards and steward mammies received one tael of silver each. I saw Third Master's attendants carrying the silver back with my own eyes!"

In official circles, whether one passes the imperial examination a day earlier or later, or enters the cabinet sooner or later, all serve as crucial factors in determining seniority.

This was indeed something worth celebrating.

She instructed Su Xin, "When the people from the East Mansion bring us the good news, we'll reward them the same way the East Mansion did."

Su Xin went off with a smile to prepare the copper coins and silver.

The messenger from the East Mansion arrived with the good news.

"Go and inform Fifth Miss," Dou Zhao called Gan Lu and Su Juan in to help her dress up. "We must go to the East Mansion to congratulate Second Madam."

Su Lan eagerly ran off to notify Dou Ming.

Upon returning, she whispered to Dou Zhao, "As soon as I told Fifth Miss, she started crying. I said, 'On such a joyous occasion, if you appear with red eyes, Second Madam might not be pleased.' Fifth Miss got so angry she threw a teacup at me. I dodged, and the cup shattered on the ground. So I told Zhou Momo, 'This teacup is from the new imperial kiln's doucai set. A full set costs twelve taels of silver. With one broken, the set is ruined. The storeroom steward mammy won't be able to account for it. You'd better buy a new set to replace it...'"

Gan Lu and Su Juan covered their mouths and giggled.

Dou Zhao shook her head helplessly.

At that age, she too had loved to provoke others. Especially someone as lively as Su Lan, who seemed to thrive on stirring up trouble.

"You're all older than her. Why stoop to her level?" Dou Zhao admonished them. "No more of such talk in the future."

Gan Lu and Su Juan nodded obediently, but Su Lan stuck out her tongue and scampered off.

About half an hour later, Dou Ming, now properly dressed and made up, arrived accompanied by Zhou Momo.

Noticing her flawless, rosy complexion that showed no trace of earlier distress, Dou Zhao nodded inwardly, and they set off together for the East Mansion.

Everyone's faces were alight with irrepressible joy. They kept congratulating Dou Zhao and Dou Ming, their flattery flowing like a river, making the atmosphere even livelier than during New Year celebrations.

When they entered Second Madam's hall, Dou Zhao realized the entire Dou family had gathered.

Second Madam was discussing celebration plans with Second Wife.

Spotting Dou Zhao, she quickly beckoned her over to sit beside her and asked, "Should we have the opera performed for ten days or fifteen?"

Last time, when three family members became Successful Candidates in the Imperial Examination, they had ten days of opera performances.

Dou Zhao smiled. "I think a family banquet would suffice. An opera seems a bit too boisterous."It seemed rather ostentatious to celebrate so lavishly just after entering the cabinet, like those nouveau riche families.

Everyone was taken aback.

After a moment of contemplation, Second Madam clapped her hands and said, "Our Shou Gu is truly perceptive. Let’s settle it this way—just a small family celebration will suffice."

Second Madam soon came to her senses as well, and when she looked at Dou Zhao again, there was a new gravity in her gaze. "With your Sixth Aunt gone to the Capital, we’re short of helping hands at home. Since you don’t have much to do these days, Shou Gu, why not come and assist me in preparing a few banquet tables?"

For other young ladies of the inner chambers, this would have been a rare opportunity to gain experience. But for someone like her, who could instruct others on how to manage the household, it was merely lending a hand.

She had no intention of doing such thankless work!

"I know nothing about these matters. Better let my sisters-in-law help you instead!" Dou Zhao declined with a smile. "The rain has just stopped, and now the sun is blazing. My greenhouse is in a sorry state—I’ll have to keep an eye on the maids and old women to get it back in order. Otherwise, that bicolor peony that survived this year might not make it."

Second Madam knew nothing about gardening, but she understood the significance of cultivating a bicolor peony. Without hesitation, she allowed Dou Zhao to return to her residence.

By the time the Dou family had finished their celebratory feast, news arrived from the Capital—Wang Xingyi had been transferred to serve as the Governor of Yunnan.