Blossom

In the following days, one physician after another was consulted, and prescriptions were changed repeatedly, yet Dou Ming remained in that dazed and vacant state—neither speaking nor responding to anyone.

Zhou Momo was so anxious she wept openly: "What are we to do? What are we to do!"

Dou Zhao had no better solution either.

Duan Gongyi, who had already arrived in the Capital, sent word that Wang Tan had not damaged Wang Nan's recommendation letter at all. Instead, Yu Er was indeed at fault—he had lost money gambling and persuaded Shang Er to steal an antique brush washer from Wang Tan to sell. When the Wang Family discovered this, both Yu Er and Shang Er were expelled from the Wang residence.

Once again, the trail went cold.

Dou Zhao let out a long sigh.

Second Madam, Third Madam, and several sisters-in-law and nieces who were at home came to visit the patient.

The incident of Dou Ming being abducted had severely tarnished the Dou family's reputation. Second Madam, Second Madam, and Dou Zhao had long since agreed on a unified explanation: no matter who asked, they would only say that Dou Ming had insisted on going to the Capital to find her mother. When Dou Zhao refused, Dou Ming sulked and hid in the garden late at night to frighten Dou Zhao, only to end up frightening herself instead.

In her current state, anyone who saw her would naturally offer advice—whether recommending a renowned physician or a skilled Taoist priest. However, the women of Dong Dou either believed Second Madam's story, considering it an insignificant matter not worth attention, or pretended ignorance. They all merely comforted Dou Ming to rest well, with none offering any practical help. Their ambiguous attitudes suggested they were only fulfilling social obligations as relatives. In contrast, Dou Zhao was repeatedly pulled aside by one or another for private words—sometimes called a "silly child" or a "foolish sister"—and told, "This is too much for you to handle. You must inform your Father and send Mingjier to her mother as soon as possible!"

Dou Zhao had no choice but to explain over and over that Guardian Duan had already escorted Nanny Liu and Su Xin to the Capital.

Upon hearing this, the well-wishers sighed in relief but repeatedly admonished her: "No matter what your Father says this time, you must not take Mingjier back into your care. This child is far too troublesome."

Dou Zhao nodded repeatedly and thanked them for their concern.

After finally managing to deal with the relatives from the Eastern household, the day of Winter Solstice arrived.

Dou Zhao distributed the chrysanthemums and honeysuckle she had prepared in advance to everyone in the household. They brewed the flowers into soup for bathing and cleansing.

The entire estate was filled with the fragrance of chrysanthemums and honeysuckle.

Zhou Momo had also bathed Dou Ming early in the morning. Seeing the fine weather and considering that Dou Ming had been cooped up indoors for days, she sought Dou Zhao's permission. Together with Fang Sheng's wife—who had recently been assigned to care for Dou Ming—and several maids, they brought cushions, tea, snacks, and brocaded stools, supporting Dou Ming as they went to the rear garden.

As they walked, Zhou Momo chattered to Dou Ming: "This is witch hazel, this is a magnolia, this is a pomegranate tree... The magnolia blooms in spring, while the pomegranate flowers in summer and bears fruit afterward..." She prattled on as if Dou Ming were a clueless child. Dou Ming, however, remained wooden, as if none of this concerned her.

Fang Sheng's wife wore an expression of deep pity as she and the young maids attended to Dou Ming, settling her in the Waterside Pavilion by the lake.

Zhou Momo then instructed the young maids: "Go and play for a while!"

Fang Sheng's wife hesitated. "Is this... appropriate?"They were all newly assigned to the household. Having heard that the previous servants were dismissed by Dou Zhao for failing to serve Dou Ming properly, they had undergone nearly half a month of training under the stewardesses before being sent to Qi Xia Courtyard. Everyone followed the rules taught by the stewardesses meticulously, not daring to overstep even slightly.

"Fifth Miss used to love lively scenes," Zhou Momo said wistfully. "If you all are cheerful and happy, Fifth Miss might recall the past when she sees it, and perhaps her condition will improve a little." She added, "Fourth Miss isn’t as rigid as you might think. It was only because the previous servants in Qi Xia Courtyard made mistakes that Fourth Miss replaced them. If you don’t believe me, just look at the people around Fourth Miss—aren’t they all joyful and smiling?"

Fang Sheng’s wife thought it made sense and gave the order with a smile.

The young maids, only seven or eight years old, had been chosen by Dou Zhao to serve Dou Ming in hopes of bringing a livelier atmosphere to Qi Xia Courtyard. None of them were particularly serious-minded. At first, they were a bit restrained, but as they took in the colorful brick paths in the garden, the clusters of blooming camellias, and the lush old trees, they gradually loosened up. Some played with grass, others admired the flowers, their laughter and chatter creating a lively scene that caught the attention of Ji Yong and Dou Qijun, who had been pestered by Dou Qijun for days and had excused himself for a walk, sitting near the Lake Tai Rockery.

Dou Qijun pulled Ji Yong up to the pavilion on the rockery, where they could see the little maids laughing and playing together. He couldn’t help but recite, "Lingering butterflies dance in play, carefree orioles sing in delight!"

Ji Yong rolled his eyes. "Do you see any of them as charming as spring orioles? They’re all dusty and disheveled—" Before he could finish, he suddenly exclaimed and headed down the hill.

"What are you doing?" Dou Qijun hurried after him and saw several maids escorting Dou Zhao toward the Waterside Pavilion.

"Fourth Aunt!" Dou Qijun called out to Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao turned and, seeing Dou Qijun and Ji Yong, smiled. "Cousin Ji and Bo Yan, you’re out for a stroll in the garden too?"

Dou Qijun replied, "I’ve been studying late into the night these past few days. With such fine weather, I thought I’d take a walk." Then, noticing Dou Ming sitting in the pavilion, he asked, "Has Fifth Aunt’s condition improved?"

"Not yet," Dou Zhao said, her mood somber.

Ji Yong, however, dismissed it. "What does it have to do with you? You’re not her mother! Even if you were, you couldn’t keep her tied to your waist all day."

Dou Zhao smiled bitterly. "Father entrusted her to me, so I bear some responsibility."

Dou Qijun added, "Justice should not override human compassion. Legally, it may hold, but morally, it doesn’t."

"That’s why Confucianism disrupts the law and corrupts court governance."

"That’s too sweeping a statement. If everyone only followed the law without compassion, wouldn’t righteous people who rid the world of evil be condemned?"

"Precisely because of such compassion that loopholes exist. Eliminating evil is the government’s duty—what does it have to do with those martial world people?"

Dou Zhao teased Ji Yong, "Cousin Ji, aren’t you a Confucian scholar yourself?"

Ji Yong curled his lip. "Wine and meat pass through the gut, but the Buddha remains in the heart."

Dou Qijun and Dou Zhao couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

The three of them entered the Waterside Pavilion together, where Zhou Momo and the others hurried forward to greet them.Dou Zhao asked them, "How is Fifth Miss today?"

"She's doing alright," Zhou Momo replied tactfully. "This morning she ate half a bun and a small bowl of japonica rice porridge. At noon, she had a few slices of spring bamboo shoots, several meatballs, and half a bowl of noodles."

Dou Zhao nodded.

Dou Qijun then greeted Dou Ming with a smile, "Fifth Aunt. Do you still recognize me?"

Dou Ming sat blankly on the leaning rail by the Waterside Pavilion, staring vacantly out the window, seemingly at nothing in particular.

Dou Zhao said softly, "She doesn't respond much to people now."

Dou Qijun nodded understandingly.

But Ji Yong remarked sarcastically, "She looks fine to me! Eating and drinking well without causing any trouble—much more agreeable than before."

"Young Master Ji!" Zhou Momo suppressed her anger and said sternly, "Please mind your words."

Ji Yong sneered, "Am I wrong? Someone as arrogant as her, who doesn't know her place, is lucky to be sitting safely at home without stirring up trouble. There are always people beyond people, skies beyond skies—not everything can be resolved just because the Dou and Wang families step in!"

Dou Zhao and Dou Qijun remained silent.

Zhou Momo's eyes reddened as she said hoarsely, "Even so, Young Master Ji shouldn't speak of our Fifth Miss like this! She's still so young..."

"One can tell a person's character from childhood," Ji Yong interrupted bluntly. "What kind of person she is—don't you know? Can you really absolve yourself of her current state? Don't blame others when things go wrong without reflecting on yourself—"

"Cousin Ji!" Dou Zhao called out disapprovingly.

"Fine!" Ji Yong waved his hand dismissively, as if unwilling to argue with Zhou Momo. "No point talking to you—you wouldn't understand anyway!"

Zhou Momo's face flushed crimson.

Suddenly, Dou Ming covered her ears and let out a piercing scream—she had turned her head at some point.

Dou Ming, Dou Qijun, Zhou Momo, and Fang Sheng's wife hurried over, anxiously asking, "What's wrong? What's wrong?" Zhou Momo even hugged Dou Ming tightly, choking back sobs, "Mingjier, Mingjier, what's the matter?"

Dou Ming, who had been in a daze ever since being rescued by Duan Gongyi, suddenly pointed at Ji Yong and shrieked hysterically, "It's him! He's the one who harmed me! He ordered Yu Er to—"

Everyone looked horrified—except for Dou Zhao, who lowered her eyes, and Dou Qijun, whose expression turned stern.

"Fifth Aunt, you mustn't make baseless accusations!" he said gravely. "You claim Young Master Ji harmed you—do you have any proof?"

"I know it! I know it!" Dou Ming wailed frantically. "Yu Er said, 'When immortals fight, little ghosts suffer'... I only ever offended him! He's the only one who would hurt me..."

Hearing this irrational outburst, Dou Qijun ignored Dou Ming's cries and instead apologized to Ji Yong with deep remorse, "Fifth Aunt may still be shaken from fright. Please forgive her, Young Master Ji."

Ji Yong cast a scornful glance at Dou Ming and strode away.

Dou Qijun hastily said to Dou Zhao, "Young Master Ji is proud by nature. I'll explain things to him properly—no need for you to intervene," before rushing after Ji Yong.

"It's him! It's him!" Dou Ming screamed, her eyes wide with fury as she struggled against Zhou Momo's hold, scratching and kicking to break free and chase after Ji Yong. "I'll die with him!""Fifth Miss, Fifth Miss!" Zhou Momo was frantic with worry, her forehead beaded with sweat, while Fang Sheng's wife also stepped forward to help.

Yet Dou Zhao walked over to the Waterside Pavilion and stood by the leaning rail, gazing into the distance.

Ji Yong and Dou Qijun were deep in conversation as they disappeared along the winding path.

That evening, she went to find Ji Yong: "What if Duan Gongyi fails to catch up with Dou Ming in time?"

Ji Yong chuckled, "Just teaching her a lesson. Honestly, you don’t need to bother with her at all."

He didn’t give her a clear answer about his plans.

The night wind blew, carrying a biting chill.

Dou Zhao instinctively tightened her cloak.

Ji Yong, however, said, "Hey, you’re not really angry, are you? If anyone’s to blame, it’s her bad luck for running into me. But if she hadn’t met me, it would’ve been your luck that turned sour..."

"I know," Dou Zhao murmured softly. "If that lantern had fallen from mid-air, it could’ve burned half your face, and you’d never have had the chance to enter officialdom. If a horse fed with croton seeds suddenly went weak in the legs, you might’ve fallen and ended up paralyzed... And that time in the garden—if she’d succeeded, we might’ve been utterly disgraced." At this point, she raised her head and fixed her gaze on Ji Yong’s eyes. "That’s why I’m not blaming you. But I also hope that when you act, you’ll leave others a way out."