Blossom

Mother was a proud woman. Since she had already agreed to let Wang Yingxue enter the household, she wouldn’t make things difficult for her over trivial matters like the timing of her arrival.

When Dou Zhao’s "illness" improved somewhat, Mother invited Eldest Aunt and Third Aunt over to discuss Wang Yingxue’s entry into the household. Dou Zhao was sent to the courtyard to play jump rope with the little maids.

The four young maids were named Xuancao, Moli, Qiukui, and Haitang. Mother appreciated Tuo Niang’s honesty and loyalty, so she gave her the name Suxin, which paired nicely with Yu Zan—who had previously served Mother but was now assigned to Dou Zhao’s quarters—as the two senior maids in Dou Zhao’s room.

Tuo Niang liked her new name very much, but the name "Tuo Niang" held special significance for Dou Zhao, who still preferred to call her by that name. As a result, the maids in Dou Zhao’s quarters sometimes called her Suxin and other times Tuo Niang, leading to quite a few amusing mix-ups. Fortunately, Tuo Niang didn’t mind and cheerfully responded to either name.

Dou Zhao wasn’t truly a two-year-old child, so naturally, she had little interest in games like jump rope.

She wanted to visit her grandfather’s study to find a few books about supernatural phenomena—the world was full of wonders, and since she had suddenly returned to her childhood as if reborn, there must be others like her. She was eager to find even the slightest clue from those unofficial histories and miscellaneous records.

Dou Zhao asked Tuo Niang to carry her to her grandfather’s study.

Tuo Niang immediately dropped the jump rope and carried her toward Crane Longevity Hall.

As they passed the lotus pond, Dou Zhao saw Yu Momo standing by the Lake Tai Rockery, speaking with a middle-aged man dressed in an official green Lu silk robe.

The two were acting furtively, their behavior suspicious.

After a moment of thought, Dou Zhao pointed to the lotus pond and said to Tuo Niang, "Let’s go over there!"

Suspecting nothing, Tuo Niang crossed the winding stone bridge and arrived at the Lake Tai Rockery.

Yu Momo and the man were nowhere to be seen.

Hiding her puzzlement, Dou Zhao left the pond, only to run into Eldest Aunt and Third Aunt.

She got down and respectfully greeted them.

Eldest Aunt scooped Dou Zhao into her arms. "Shou Gu is becoming more and more adorable!"

"Who could disagree?" Third Aunt smiled and patted Dou Zhao’s head. "She looks just like Seventh Sister-in-law did when she was little."

As they spoke, their smiles gradually faded.

"Ah!" Eldest Aunt sighed regretfully. "Given Wang Yingxue’s background, if she gives birth to a son this time, even Seventh Sister-in-law’s virtue might not be enough to hold her ground."

So they already knew about Wang Yingxue’s pregnancy.

Dou Zhao’s brow twitched slightly.

"Such is fate," Third Aunt murmured, her expression tinged with melancholy.

Perhaps realizing it was inappropriate to sigh like this in front of a child, Eldest Aunt forced a smile. "We’re just worrying needlessly, like crying over a story about ancient times. Seventh Sister-in-law has never faced such trials before, but when she does, she’ll naturally learn to handle them. Look at how well she’s managing now, isn’t she?"

Third Aunt nodded and kindly asked Tuo Niang a few questions. Learning that Dou Zhao was on her way to see her grandfather, she reminded Tuo Niang to watch her step and avoid slipping before leaving the second gate with Eldest Aunt.

Suddenly, Dou Zhao lost all interest in visiting Crane Longevity Hall. She instructed Tuo Niang, "Let’s go back to the main house."

Without a word, Tuo Niang obeyed, and the two quickly returned to the main courtyard.

Dou Zhao dashed into the inner chamber.Mother was sitting on the warm kang by the window, speaking with Yu Momo: "...Concubine Cui is Seventh Master's birth mother. A bride price of two hundred taels of silver is hardly an insult to her. As for whether the Wang Family wants it or not, that's their business. Whether we send it or not is ours. Rich or poor, it's good to marry a wife before the New Year. Though she's just a concubine, she's still a new bride. Entering on the twenty-second of the twelfth month is perfect—just in time for Minor New Year, and by Spring Festival, she can visit all the households to meet the relatives." With that, Mother took a sip of tea and continued, "The bridal chamber will be set up in Qi Xia Courtyard..."

"Seventh Madam!" Yu Momo gasped, interrupting before Mother could finish. "This won't do! Qi Xia Courtyard is right behind Seventh Master's study..."

Mother raised a hand to stop her. "If they could get entangled across the whole of North Zhili, do you think keeping them under my nose will make them behave properly?"

Yu Momo fell silent.

"Besides, I can't stand watching their lovey-dovey act," Mother murmured. "I'm letting Wang Yingxue go, and I'm letting myself go too."

Dou Zhao nearly applauded.

Exactly right.

No matter how vast the world is, nothing matters more than oneself.

If you don't cherish yourself, why should anyone else?

Since she couldn't stand Wang Yingxue, why force herself to pretend to be virtuous?

It had taken her until her thirties to understand this.

Dou Zhao whispered to Tuo Niang, "Follow Yu Momo later and see where she goes and whom she meets."

Tuo Niang nodded.

Dou Zhao happily threw herself into Mother's arms. "Mama, the wintersweet in the backyard has bloomed. Let's go admire it!"

Mother chuckled, kissing Dou Zhao's little face. "Mama has things to do. Let Tuo Niang take you to play."

Dou Zhao only wanted to stay by Mother's side.

Mother didn't mind her company, handling household chores while amusing her.

Father suddenly arrived and, ignoring the maids present, proudly pulled out a gold hairpin inlaid with jadeite from his sleeve.

"Isn't it pretty?" he asked ingratiatingly, gazing at Mother. "I had it specially made in Zhen Ding Prefecture."

The pin gleamed gold, its teardrop-shaped jadeite head like a beauty's tear.

"Lovely!" Mother smiled, admiring the pin before instructing Yu Momo to put it away. "We'll save it for Shou Gu's dowry."

Father looked awkward. "This is for you... I'll buy Shou Gu another one later."

Mother smiled faintly. "What you give her later is your thought. This is mine."

"What's mine is yours," Father muttered under his breath, hesitating as if he had more to say.

Mother laughed. "You came to ask about Wang Yingxue's entry, didn't you? I've already given the orders..." She repeated to Father what she had told Yu Momo.

Father gave an indifferent "Oh," seeming both disinterested and as if he had much to say but didn't know how.

Silence fell.

After a long pause, Father stood uneasily. "Since you're busy, I'll take my leave."

Mother rose with a smile. "Then I won't see you out." She called for Han Xiao. "Escort Seventh Master!" Then she sat back down, lowering her head to work the abacus.

Father lingered a moment, but when Mother didn't look up, his expression dimmed, and he left dejectedly.

Yu Momo called out, "Seventh Madam."Mother didn’t even bat an eyelid as she said, “With the New Year approaching, it might be difficult to hire people. You’ll need to put in more effort to oversee the furnishings for the new house and urge the managers from the outer courtyard.”

“Yes!” Yu Momo replied helplessly before withdrawing.

Mother set aside the abacus, smiling as she picked up Dou Zhao. “Come, let’s go admire the plum blossoms.”

Dou Zhao beamed.

Time was the best medicine—no matter how deep the wound, it would eventually scab over and heal.

Mother, I will always stay by your side.

To ease your loneliness and soothe your pain.

Gazing at her mother’s jade-like face, Dou Zhao silently vowed in her heart. She cheerfully took her mother’s hand and skipped along to the backyard.

※※※※※

That evening, Tuo Niang told Dou Zhao, “Yu Momo didn’t go anywhere—she only met with the Dou family’s managers and their wives.”

Who was that man?

Dou Zhao nibbled her finger, lost in thought.

The next morning, however, her aunt arrived with her eldest cousin, Zhao Biru, to deliver New Year’s gifts to the Dou family.

“The weather is freezing,” Mother said anxiously as she welcomed her aunt and cousin into the inner chamber. She personally helped her aunt onto the heated kang and respectfully handed her a cup of hot tea from a maid. “You could have just sent a manager—why trouble yourself to come in person!”

Her aunt, in her early thirties, wore a gold-brocade sapphire-blue wide-sleeved jacket and a pair of gold-inlaid jade hairpins shaped like gourds. Of medium height, she had a slightly plump figure, fair skin, and a kind, smiling face with crescent-shaped eyes.

She clapped her hands at Dou Zhao, who was in Tuo Niang’s arms. “Come, sit with your aunt.”

Mother placed Dou Zhao on the kang.

Zhao Biru then curtsied gracefully to Mother.

Mother embraced her. “Eldest Cousin has grown taller again—soon you’ll catch up to me.”

Her aunt chided, “What’s the use of growing taller if she doesn’t grow wiser?”

Zhao Biru smiled shyly.

At just eleven years old, Zhao Biru was already tall and slender, with snow-white skin, hinting at the graceful beauty she would possess as an adult.

Mother led her onto the kang, and everyone gathered around the low table, chatting over snacks.

“…Your elder brother has failed the Spring Examination twice in a row. This time, he’s determined to pass and won’t even speak to me,” her aunt said with a laugh. “I was bored at home, so I brought Biru to visit you.” Then she asked, “How have you been these days?”

Mother put on a brave face. “Same as always. Busy every day, though I don’t even know what I’m busy with.”

Her aunt smiled knowingly, sipped her tea, and said to Zhao Biru, “Since we’re here, why don’t you go play with your cousin?”

Zhao Biru softly replied, “Yes,” and obediently climbed down from the kang.

Mother was momentarily taken aback.

Her aunt said, “I have something to discuss with you,” her expression turning serious.

Mother murmured an acknowledgment, her eyes already glistening with unshed tears.

Dou Zhao thought of Yu Momo by the lotus pond and the man in the official-green Lu silk robe.

Once outside the inner chamber, she shook off Zhao Biru’s hand and dashed toward the main gate.

Outside, the man in the official-green Lu silk robe was speaking with one of the Dou family’s managers. Behind him stood a flatbed carriage loaded with goods, as pages busily carried the items into the house.

So that man was a manager from the Zhao family.

Dou Zhao scampered back to the second gate, where she ran into Zhao Biru, who had chased after her in a fluster."What... what are you doing?" She clutched her stomach, panting heavily. "How can you run faster than a rabbit?"

Dou Zhao recalled their first meeting.

Zhao Biru had elegantly held a teacup, smiling at her with gentle yet dignified grace: "After your aunt passed away, Father and Mother originally wanted to bring you home to keep us sisters company. But you refused—not only did you bite Mother in front of the Dou family, you even shouted 'I won't go to your house!' In the end, Mother had to return in frustration..."

At the time, Dou Zhao had felt Zhao Biru's words were like an autumn fan—inexplicably irritating and ill-timed.

But now... she wasn't so sure anymore.