Blossom

Wei Tingzhen received the news that Chen Qushui and Hong Gu had visited Jing'an Temple Alley, Cat Alley, and Locust Tree Alley all in a single day, and her heart sank.

"So you're saying Chen Qushui and that Hong Gu are still staying at the shop?" she asked Granny Jin. "And when they visited Jing'an Temple Alley, Grand Secretary Dou didn’t even invite them to stay for lunch?"

"Mm!" Granny Jin nodded. "Not only that, they didn’t even get to see Seventh Madam."

"How could this be?" Wei Tingzhen’s brows knitted tightly together.

Granny Jin, who had once been harshly scolded by Dou Zhao, secretly felt a bit of schadenfreude and naturally wished for Dou Zhao’s misfortune to worsen. Her eyes flickered as she lowered her voice and said to Wei Tingzhen, "However, when they left Grand Secretary Dou’s residence, they did carry a few boxes of pastries—like they were being dismissed like beggars."

Wei Tingzhen’s expression darkened further.

After some thought, she went to the Marquis of Jining’s Mansion.

Tian Shi was stunned upon hearing the news, clearly not expecting Dou Zhao’s situation in the Dou family to be so dire. After a long pause, she stammered, "What can we do? It’s just an extra mouth to feed—consider it as if I’ve raised another daughter."

Wei Tingzhen was indignant. "Mother, have you considered this? Wang Shi is a stepmother—it’s only natural for her to dislike the daughter from the first wife, and that’s understandable. But look, for her dowry, that accountant begged one family after another, and every one of them treated it as a mere formality. This isn’t just a simple case of a stepmother disliking her. It’s possible there’s something wrong with Dou Zhao’s character. Our Tingyu is handsome, upright, and virtuous. Father and you hired tutors to educate him from childhood, teaching him the principles of life. When he grew older, fearing he might mix with those spoiled noble youths, you even hired instructors to teach him archery. How much effort has been poured into him? Among all the noble families in the Capital, how many are like our Tingyu? What distinguished young lady wouldn’t be a suitable match for him? Why should he suffer such humiliation? He was raised in the palm of our hands!"

Tian Shi began to cry as she listened. "Then what do you suggest? Can we just call off the engagement? If you must blame someone, blame me! If I hadn’t meddled by visiting Zhao Shi, this marriage wouldn’t have happened... I thought that since the Western Dou family had few descendants and Dou Zhao was the eldest daughter, no matter what, Dou Wanyuan wouldn’t neglect her. Who knew it would turn out like this?"

Wei Tingzhen’s heart skipped a beat.

She sat beside her mother, handed her a handkerchief, and whispered, "Mother, what if... we called off this engagement?"

Tian Shi was thunderstruck. She waved her hands frantically. "No, no! Tingyu was in mourning, and Dou Zhao waited for him for three years. Besides, this engagement was taken from the He family back then—if we cancel it now... how could we justify it? And Dou Zhao hasn’t done anything wrong...""Mother, listen to me," Wei Tingzhen said firmly, grasping her mother's hand, which helped Tian Shi calm down and focus on her daughter's words. "In this world, everything is subject to people's words—look at Young Lord Song Mo of the Duke of England's Mansion. He killed so many people. Everyone knows what happened in their family, yet when father and son go out, they still act affectionately. If anyone asks about Song Mo's killings, the Song family insists those guards were bandits. Even when the Emperor inquired, they didn't reveal a single hint. They managed to sweep the whole matter under the rug. Tingyu will complete his mourning period in two or three months. Isn't he doing business with Gu Yu and Song Mo? When the time comes, we can just say he's busy with that and delay the wedding in front of the Dou family. Dou Zhao is so unwelcome at home—someone must dislike seeing her marry well. Others might not speak up, but that Wang Shi..." She raised an eyebrow. "If we can just find a way to connect with Wang Shi, and I promise to treat her as a friend, how could she resist? A concubine elevated to wife would surely be tempted. Then, it would be easy for Wang Shi to find fault with Dou Zhao. Mother, with a little effort, this can be done!"

"But wouldn't this harm Dou Zhao?" Tian Shi protested. "She's already unwelcome at home. If the engagement is broken, how will she survive..."

"Mother, you're mistaken," Wei Tingzhen said gently. "Dou Zhao's fifth uncle is a Grand Secretary. Countless scholarly families would love to marry into the Dou family. If noble families won't take her, surely humble households would? Perhaps after breaking off with us, she'll find a better-matched husband and live a happier life!"

Tian Shi still hesitated.

Wei Tingzhen grew angry. "Mother, why did I marry into the Zhang family in the first place? If you let my brother marry that Dou Zhao, what does that make me?" As she spoke, the grievances she had endured in the Zhang family over the years overwhelmed her, and she began to sob. "Our family had no standing before, but now, with my brother gaining Song Mo's support, he's about to make a fortune. What noble daughter couldn't he marry? I've already suffered—if my brother doesn't have a good marriage, what's the point of my life? What hope is left?" She covered her face and wept bitterly.

Tian Shi, struck by her daughter's sorrow, embraced her and cried as well.

For a moment, Tian Shi's inner chamber became a scene of shared grief.

※※※※※

When Wang Yingxue received Wei Tingzhen's visiting card, she was astonished. She said to Hu Momo, "Doesn't she know the Dou family's household affairs are managed by Gaosheng's wife?" As she spoke, a mocking expression flickered across her face.

Hu Momo handed her a washed plum and smiled. "The Fourth Miss is about to marry. In front of her in-laws, they can't very well admit you're not in charge now, can they?"

Wang Yingxue sneered and tossed the card onto the kang. "Now they want me to save face for them? What were they doing earlier?" She turned to the maid who had delivered the message and snapped, "I won't see her."

But Hu Momo gave the maid a meaningful glance and then persuaded Wang Yingxue, "The Fourth Miss will surely marry from Jing'an Temple Alley. When the time comes, Fifth Madam and Sixth Madam will both come to help. This is your opportunity—why take your anger out on the Fourth Miss? The Fifth Miss is already thirteen, the age to discuss marriages..."If the Dou family had the intention to suppress her and leaked these household matters, which respectable and upright family would be willing to marry Dou Ming?

Wang Yingxue's eyes reddened, and tears streamed down her face: "Dou Shiying's heart is too cruel! Dou Zhao is his daughter, but isn't Mingjier also his flesh and blood? If I hadn't been deceived by him back then, how could I have ended up like this?" She then began to resent her sister-in-law Gao Shi from her maternal family, "When Father was in trouble, I treated her so well. Nan Ge'er was on the brink of death, and if it weren't for me, he would have died long ago. Now that her life has improved, with her brother becoming a high-ranking regional official, she turns her back on me. All I wanted was for her to help find a good match for Mingjier among the Gao family's younger generation, but she kept making excuses, as if afraid I would cling to Nan Ge'er, and hastily arranged for him to marry her niece Gao Mingzhu..."

Hu Momo remained silent.

Ever since Wang Yingxue was stripped of her authority as the mistress, the Wang family had gradually distanced themselves from her. She repeated these grievances every few days.

Either she complained about Gao Shi, criticized Madam Pang, or lamented how she had been deceived by Dou Shiying into becoming a concubine...

There was not a trace left of the decisive and efficient woman she had been when running the cotton business... Now she resembled a typical resentful noblewoman...

At this thought, Hu Momo herself was startled.

She couldn't help but scrutinize Wang Yingxue closely.

Her sallow complexion, listless expression, and endless complaints... Whether anyone was listening or not, Wang Yingxue rambled on.

Hu Momo's tears nearly fell as she couldn't help interrupting Wang Yingxue: "Seventh Madam, you are a clever woman. You managed to turn things around even in the most difficult times before. You will surely overcome this hurdle as well."

Wang Yingxue paused, her dull gaze gradually brightening. Her lips trembled as if she was about to say something when a young maid burst in: "Seventh Madam, the Seventh Master is here."

"Ah!" She exchanged a glance with Hu Momo.

Dou Shiying strode in.

"I heard the paternal aunt from the Marquis of Jining's Mansion is coming to visit you," he said, dressed in his court robes and looking hurried, clearly having rushed back from his office upon receiving the news. "She is Shou Gu's sister-in-law. I've already instructed Gaosheng to receive her properly. You must also be at your best to ensure she feels welcome!"

Wang Yingxue gazed at Dou Shiying, who still treated her with the same gentle and refined demeanor as always, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

Once, she had mistaken this for his tender affection toward her. Now, she realized it was simply his way of dealing with everyone.

It was like a soft knife stabbing into her. She thought it wouldn't hurt, yet it tormented her to the point of wishing for a swift end.

Wang Yingxue longed to pick up the teacup beside her and splash its contents onto Dou Shiying's face. But then she thought of Dou Ming, of Dou Ming's marriage prospects. Her hands clenched tightly into fists, only to slowly relax again.

"I understand," she heard herself reply in a meek tone. "I certainly won't disgrace Fourth Miss's reputation."

Dou Shiying nodded in satisfaction and left shortly after, sending Gaosheng's wife with a small box.

Wang Yingxue opened the box.

The room shimmered with the dazzling brilliance of jewels."The Seventh Master said that the mistress wanted to receive guests, so he had my husband rush to Jade Treasure Pavilion to buy these pieces of jewelry." Gaosheng's wife, with a face as round as the full moon, smiled with a touch of cheerfulness. Both she and her husband were clever people. Though they managed all affairs in Jing'an Temple Alley, they treated Wang Yingxue with the same respect as before, giving her no room to find fault.

She smiled, curtsied, and withdrew.

Wang Yingxue snapped the jewelry box shut with a sharp "snap."

"What is this supposed to be? A reward for helping Dou Zhao save face?"

Her face turned ashen with anger.

Hu Momo sighed inwardly.

In the study of the Hall of Cultivating Will at the Duke of England's Mansion, Song Mo, who had been speaking with Yan Chaoqing and Liao Bifeng, took the note handed to him by Chen He and paused in surprise. "When did Chen Qushui arrive in the Capital? What is he here for?"

Chen He lowered his eyes deferentially and replied respectfully, "I heard it was regarding the Fourth Miss's marriage arrangements—her stationery shop needs auditing, discussions with the Seventh Master about where she will marry from, and notifying the Fifth and Sixth Masters... It seems quite busy."

With Liao Bifeng present, he instinctively omitted Dou Zhao's surname.