Blossom

The Wang family arrived, and the Dou family took the opportunity to discuss Wang Yingxue's entry into their household with them.

Feeling that there was nothing left for her to do, Dou Zhao squatted in the Jade Accumulation Pavilion in the back garden, which overlooked the entire Western Dou, giving Tuo Niang earnest instructions: "...I'm going back. Do you remember everything I told you?"

Tuo Niang asked in confusion, "Where is Fourth Miss going?"

"Never mind that," Dou Zhao said wistfully. "My lifelong wish has been fulfilled. Even if it's just a dream, it's enough to comfort me in this life. I still have my responsibilities and duties. Being able to come here is already a stroke of luck. You must remember—never leave my mother’s side, and never let her do anything foolish. Living is always better than dying!"

Tuo Niang nodded solemnly. "Fourth Miss, don’t worry. I’ve remembered. I’ll keep an eye on Seventh Madam, making sure she’s never left alone."

Dou Zhao nodded and reached out to pat Tuo Niang’s hair, only to realize that even when squatting side by side, Tuo Niang was still a head taller than her.

She smiled awkwardly and went back to her room to sleep.

The Golden Crow set, the Jade Rabbit rose, and the stars shifted across the sky. When Dou Zhao opened her eyes again, she was met with the same heavy black lacquered furniture and the eager, smiling face of Xiang Cao.

"How can this be? How can this be?" Beads of sweat formed on her forehead as she grabbed the blanket and pulled it over her head. "I need to sleep, I need to sleep..."

If she could just fall asleep, she could go back!

But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t sleep. When she finally managed to doze off and opened her eyes again, she was still in the same room, lying on the same heated kang.

Tuo Niang asked her, "Fourth Miss, what’s wrong? It’s time for dinner."

"No, no, no!" Dou Zhao panicked. "I have to go back. I haven’t seen Wei Ge’er get married yet, I haven’t arranged Yin Jie’er’s marriage... I have to go back, I have to go back!"

The maids exchanged bewildered glances, and Xiang Cao shrieked before dashing out, "Fourth Miss is possessed! Fourth Miss is possessed!"

Her father and mother were alarmed, and even her grandfather, supported by Ding Yinyinai, appeared at her door with a grave expression.

"Perhaps we should invite Daoist Xu from the Three Purities Temple to take a look?" Ding Yinyinai suggested softly.

Before she could finish, the grandfather shot her a fierce glare. He was about to reprimand her when he noticed his daughter-in-law Zhao Shi’s eyes light up. Swallowing his words, he remained silent.

Dou Shiying knew his father despised superstitious nonsense, but seeing that he didn’t object, he took it as tacit approval. He exchanged a glance with his wife and whispered, "Shall we invite Daoist Xu from the Three Purities Temple to come?"

Zhao Guqiu held her daughter, whose vacant gaze made her seem almost dull-witted, filled with regret.

She had been so caught up in quarreling with Dou Shiying these past days that she had neglected her daughter’s well-being. If anything were to happen to her... She didn’t even dare to think further.

"There’s no time to waste!" her mother said. "We should send someone to fetch Daoist Xu from the Three Purities Temple right now."

The grandfather made no objection.

Her father immediately summoned Gaosheng and gave him instructions.

Her mother stayed behind to keep Dou Zhao company.

Unable to sleep, Dou Zhao repeatedly stroked her mother’s hand.

Warm, soft, smooth, and supple... These weren’t sensations she could simply imagine.

And the sweetness of candy in her mouth, the crumbs of pastry scattered on the kang!

Could it be that she had truly returned to the past?

To her childhood?

Then what did her previous life count for?What was the pain of childbirth compared to this?

Dou Zhao was utterly bewildered and at a loss.

Daoist Xu had captured a fox spirit in the Dou family.

Abbot Tuyin of the Source of Dharma Temple said she was haunted by vengeful ghosts and needed a forty-nine-day ritual performed.

Abbess Falin of the Goddess Temple claimed she was cursed by petty people and required an eighty-one-day eternal lamp to ward off misfortune and calamity.

Her mother and Ding Yiniang even secretly invited a shaman, Peng Xiangu, to perform a shamanic dance at home behind her grandfather and father’s backs. Only then did Dou Zhao’s condition gradually improve.

The entire household breathed a sigh of relief.

Her mother set aside all household chores, staying by her side day and night. Fearing she might feel lonely, she assigned four young maids of similar age to keep her company, summoned goldsmiths to craft jewelry for her, and hired tailors to make new clothes. The comings and goings in Dou Zhao’s room made it livelier than the New Year celebrations.

For the first time, Dou Zhao experienced such indulgent pampering, and tears nearly welled up in her eyes.

Her mother cradled her gently, patting her back. "Be good, Shou Gu. Are you feeling unwell? Do you want Xiang Cao to play with you?"

After a series of incidents in Dou Zhao’s room, everyone had been replaced—except for Tuo Niang, who had stayed by her side day and night, unfazed by her supposed possession. Even Xiang Cao, who had only recently been assigned to her, was new.

Dou Zhao shook her head.

Her mother thought for a moment, then poured a box of pearls onto the heated kang. "Aren’t they beautiful? Shall we make a pearl robe for our Shou Gu?"

The lustrous pearls rolled and shimmered across the kang, radiant and dazzling.

Dou Zhao scooped them up and let them fall like raindrops, clattering softly.

Even after fifteen years as a marquise, she had never indulged in such extravagance.

Her mother smiled warmly.

She then took Dou Zhao to the Source of Dharma Temple to fulfill a vow.

When Abbot Tuyin saw Dou Zhao’s bright, spirited eyes, he persuaded her mother to donate funds for the temple to print a thousand copies of the Lotus Sutra as an offering for her recovery. "This will also bring blessings to the Fourth Miss!"

Without hesitation, her mother agreed. "Then let it be two thousand copies!"

Abbot Tuyin couldn’t hide his delight, pressing his palms together in gratitude before inviting her mother to a side chamber to select a consecrated ritual object.

Her mother carried Dou Zhao along.

Dou Zhao chose a white-veined agate pendant.

Pleased, her mother accompanied Abbot Tuyin to view the newly constructed Goose Pagoda, still under renovation. She remarked, "If I were to fund the entire pagoda, could the Bodhisattva ensure Shou Gu’s lifelong peace, prosperity, and longevity?"

"Of course, of course!" Abbot Tuyin beamed, his smile stretching ear to ear. "Why not? This pagoda was built precisely for virtuous benefactors like the Seventh Madam."

Her mother was then ushered into a side room for tea to discuss the pagoda’s construction.

Dou Zhao stood on the veranda, gazing at the resplendent golden statue of Sakyamuni enshrined in the wide-open Mahavira Hall. A surge of inexplicable emotion welled within her.

She dashed into the hall and knelt softly on a prayer cushion.

"O Bodhisattva, if this is but a fleeting dream, I beg you—let me never wake from it!" She pressed her forehead to the ground in devotion. "If this is a reunion of past and present, I implore you to grant me the chance to care for my mother until her natural end!"

The Bodhisattva gazed down upon all beings with serene, tranquil, loving compassion.

※※※※※

Upon returning home, the maid Yu Zan entered to announce, "The Madam of the Wang Family from Nanwa has come to visit the Fourth Miss!"

Still cradled in her mother’s arms, Dou Zhao froze.

The Madam of the Wang Family from Nanwa—wasn’t that Wang Yingxue’s sister-in-law?Speaking of which, she was quite familiar with Wang Yingxue's two sisters-in-law, Gao Shi and Madam Pang.

Gao Shi's father, Gao Yuanzheng, was skilled in calligraphy and had once been a colleague of Wang Xingyi. Later, he served in the Imperial Academy alongside her father, Dou Shiying, and her sixth uncle, Dou Shiheng. Coming from a scholarly family, Gao Shi not only wrote beautifully but was also well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics. During the ten years her husband, Wang Zhibing, accompanied his father Wang Xingyi in exile to Xining Guard, she managed the household, cared for her mother-in-law, and even taught her eldest son, Wang Nan, to read. Wang Nan passed the imperial examination at fifteen, became a Recommended Man at nineteen, and earned the title of Presented Scholar at twenty-one. Among the women of official families, whenever Wang Family's eldest daughter-in-law was mentioned, everyone would raise their thumbs in praise, calling her "virtuous and exemplary."

Madam Pang, whose maiden name was Yulou, was originally the daughter of a merchant in town. She was strikingly beautiful and excelled in needlework, household management, and accounting. Her father couldn't bear to marry her off carelessly. Seeing that Wang Zhibiao was already over twenty and still unmarried, and admiring both Wang Xingyi's integrity and the Wang Family's scholarly reputation, he prepared a dowry of five hundred taels of silver and proactively arranged the marriage with the Wang Family.

Initially, Pang Yulou looked down on Wang Zhibiao, who, though handsome, was dull and awkward. But after Wang Xingyi was reinstated, she settled down with Wang Zhibiao, wrapping him around her finger—making him obey her every whim, even prioritizing her words over those of his father and elder brother.

In the past, it was thanks to her that Dou Zhao learned of Wang Yingxue's schemes and managed to ruin her younger brother Dou Xiao's marriage.

Counting the days, Madam Pang should have already married Wang Zhibiao by now.

But she wasn’t sure whether it was Gao Shi or Madam Pang who had come this time.

Dou Zhao suddenly found herself missing Madam Pang a little.

If it were her, with her greed, perhaps she could put on quite a show for Wang Yingxue to see?

Dou Zhao suppressed a smile as Yu Zan led the dignified and virtuous Gao Shi into the room.

She immediately felt disappointed.

Gao Shi had already curtsied to Zhao Guqiu: "Seventh Madam, how is Fourth Miss doing now?"

She looked at Dou Zhao with concern.

Dou Zhao lowered her eyes.

Her mother replied indifferently, "Thank you for your concern, First Madam Wang. Shou Gu has recovered." Then she instructed a maid to bring a stool for Gao Shi.

Gao Shi thanked her and sat upright on the stool, speaking softly, "I’ve been away from home for some time now, and with the New Year approaching, my household is full of elders and children. My sister-in-law has just married in, and there’s still much to be done. I’ve been thinking of returning in a couple of days. Regarding Yingxue’s matter, my stance remains the same: since our family isn’t providing a dowry, your family needn’t prepare betrothal gifts either. Once you’ve set a date, Madam, just notify us. Though the journey is long, we, as her elder brother and sister-in-law, will do our utmost to see her off. Please prepare a couple more tables for the banquet then."

Her words were resolute and righteous.

Dou Zhao was stunned.

Gao Shi was known for her virtue—how could she speak so righteously about Wang Yingxue’s situation?

Her mother smiled faintly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, and merely said, "Then I won’t see you off, First Madam Wang," her perfunctory tone unmistakable.

Gao Shi’s expression darkened, her chest rising and falling before she finally calmed herself. Meaningfully, she said, "Seventh Madam, why must women make things difficult for one another? I know my sister-in-law well—she would never be someone who disregards propriety and shame. If you harbor resentment, perhaps you should ask Dou Wanyuan. My sister-in-law... had no choice." With that, she turned away, her face shadowed with sorrow, and left.Seeing that there were no outsiders left in the room, Mother immediately reverted to her true nature. Furious, she exclaimed, "What does she mean by this? Is she implying that Wang Yingxue's current situation is Dou Wanyuan's fault?"

Dou Zhao nearly burst out laughing.

You understand? Understand what?

If you truly understood, why didn’t you agree to let Dou Ming marry your son fifteen years later?

If Dou Ming’s marriage prospects hadn’t suddenly fallen through, would Wang Yingxue have even considered Wei Tingyu as an option?

She wondered what Wang Yingxue had said to Gao Shi to make her so confidently step forward on her behalf.

Dou Zhao thought of her younger brother, Dou Xiao, who was five years her junior and two years younger than Dou Ming.

Clearly, her understanding of this stepmother was still far from complete!

The corner of Dou Zhao’s lips curled slightly.

In the past, even when she knew nothing, she had managed to make Wang Yingxue look foolish. Now that she knew what was coming, with wisdom in her grasp, how could she possibly fear her?

At this thought, Dou Zhao’s heart burned with determination.