Blossom

Can one's birth date and horoscope be casually disclosed to others?

Is fortune-telling something just anyone can do?

What if someone uses it to cast malicious spells?

After exchanging a few vague words with Hong Gu, she hastily left the stationery shop.

As they walked out from under the drum tower, they spotted a fortune-teller's stall...

Lu Momo's heart stirred.

What if Fourth Miss Dou and the Marquis of Jining had incompatible horoscopes?

She eagerly went to see Wei Tingzhen.

Wei Tingzhen listened, both shocked and delighted.

If their horoscopes clashed, there were ways to remedy it.

But if Dou Zhao's fate was too harsh... then the Wei Family would have no choice.

And if these words came from someone in the Dou family, that would be even better!

She praised Lu Momo lavishly, but after the latter left in high spirits, Wei Tingzhen began to worry again.

Though the idea was good, Wang Yingxue was a stepmother with no real connections in the Capital. Anything she said would lack credibility!

If Madam Fan, the wife of Dou Shishu, could step forward, that would be ideal.

Wei Tingzhen immediately sent Granny Jin to relay this message to Jing'an Temple Alley.

Upon hearing this, Wang Yingxue nearly fainted. Suppressing her fury, she hissed in a low voice, "Who does she think she is? Trying to order Fifth Madam around? Has she lost her mind? Does she think the Dou family are all fools?"

Hu Momo tried to soothe her, "Wei Tingzhen just wants someone whose words will carry weight."

"Someone whose words carry weight..." If that happened, Dou Zhao would be rejected by the Wei Family. Wang Yingxue could already picture Dou Shiying's regret and resentment. She burst into laughter, so unnerving that Hu Momo shuddered. Only then did Wang Yingxue compose herself and say, "If we ask my mother to intervene, people would believe it, wouldn’t they?"

Madam Xu Wang, the wife of Wang Xingyi. That title still held some weight in the Capital. But when it came to Dou Zhao, the Wang Family was Wang Yingxue's maternal family. Even Sixth Madam Dou's criticisms of Dou Zhao would carry more impact than Madam Xu Wang's words.

"But what about Eldest Aunt..." Hu Momo fretted. "She might scold you again."

"When has she ever not scolded me?" Ever since Gao Shi had refused Wang Yingxue's request, the rift between them had deepened. Wang Yingxue spat bitterly, "Last time, she ruined Mingjier's chance! If she dares interfere again, I’ll fight to the death to drive her out of the Wang Family!"

Hu Momo trembled with fear, not daring to say another word.

Madam Xu Wang was skeptical of Wei Tingzhen's words: "Can she really make this marriage happen?"

Wang Yingxue bit her lip. "We have to try. Even if it fails, having such a prestigious family propose would still benefit Mingjier. I don’t want her to marry back in Zhen Ding!"

In Zhen Ding, many would scorn Dou Ming for her origins, making her life unbearable.

Madam Xu Wang understood.

Dou Ming had grown up in her arms, and her affection for her granddaughter was special. Though Wang Yingxue's antics exasperated her, the thought of her clever and lovely granddaughter softened her heart. She nodded in agreement.

Wei Tingzhen arranged for Wang Yingxue and her daughter to meet the next day at the Great Xiangguo Temple.

Taking advantage of the crowd gathered to hear the abbot’s sermon, if they made their claims in front of the noblewomen of the Capital, the Wei Family would have ample justification to break off the engagement.

Yet, for some reason, despite everything being perfectly arranged, Wei Tingzhen couldn’t shake a lingering unease.

She dismissed Granny Jin and whispered privately with Lu Momo."Do you think Wang Shi is reliable? By doing this, she’ll become the target of everyone’s criticism. Will the Dou family let her off the hook?"

Lu Momo chuckled. "Madam, Wang Shi only has Fifth Miss Dou as her daughter. In the future, she’ll have to rely on her son-in-law for support."

Wei Tingzhen suddenly understood.

Wang Shi was already too old to bear a son. If she could secure a good son-in-law for her daughter, whether through concubines bearing children or adopting an heir, she would have a solid foundation to stand on. The Dou family’s blame would then be nothing more than a trivial matter to her.

Wei Tingzhen brightened and instructed Lu Momo, "Don’t wear that moon-white sleeveless jacket—it’s too plain. Wear the pea-green one with the treasure-vase floral pattern instead. It’ll look more lively."

Lu Momo smiled and personally fetched the garment, draping it over the clothes rack. She then carefully checked the jewelry, shoes, and socks needed for the next day. When a maid reported that Zhang Yuanming would be resting in the study in the outer courtyard that night, she attended to Wei Tingzhen until she retired before withdrawing.

Meanwhile, in Zhao Zishu’s residence at Thousand Buddha Temple Lane, half a city away from the Jingguo Duke’s estate, the air was filled with the sounds of music and laughter.

Zhao Zishu, whose beauty was so striking it blurred gender lines, set down his wine cup, cheeks flushed, and cast a sidelong glance at Ji Yong. His eyes shimmered like spring water, exuding a soft allure.

"Lord Ji," his voice was low and slightly hoarse, harmonizing strangely with the clear notes of the sheng and xiao, like the rustling of bamboo in the wind—soothing and serene, "I’ve finished my drink!" He turned the cup upside down.

Not a drop fell.

When they first took their seats, Zhao Zishu had toasted He Yu three times. Ji Yong egged him on, and Zhao Zishu ended up toasting each person three cups—four rounds in total. This was the fifth.

Unlike the earlier lighthearted yet slightly condescending atmosphere at the Drunken Immortal Tower, they now lounged lazily around the marble-carved water channel in the waterside pavilion, emulating the ancient "floating wine cups" tradition. Tall, red melon-shaped palace lanterns stood among the greenery, casting a soft glow on the young musicians playing the qin or flute nearby, their delicate features adding a touch of decadence to the late-night revelry.

Wang Qinghuai and He Yu, flushed from the wine, had stripped down to their undergarments. One reclined against a graceful girl’s lap as she massaged his temples, while the other held a young, strikingly beautiful musician in his arms, both exuding an air of unrestrained abandon.

Gu Yu, however, remained fully dressed, though he had removed his shoes and dipped his bare feet into the winding channel. Sipping wine, he kicked at the water, splashing droplets onto the lotus flowers drifting by, causing them to sink momentarily. He giggled and raised his hand, whereupon an attentive and pretty musician promptly refilled his cup.

The wine warmed his belly, and despite wearing a light and cool silk robe, Wei Tingyu was drenched in sweat from the midsummer heat.

He glanced at Wang Qinghuai and He Yu on the opposite bank, then at Gu Yu beside him, unsure whether to follow their lead and remove his robe or imitate Gu Yu by soaking his feet in the clear channel water.

As he hesitated, Ji Yong’s voice reached his ears: "Marquis, will you drink these three cups for me?"Ji Yong's robe was half-open as he leaned on a black lacquered side table inlaid with mother-of-pearl and ivory depicting the Three Friends of Winter, his elbow propped up, appearing thoroughly drunk.

Wei Tingyu's mind buzzed, his tongue thick with intoxication. "I... I can't drink anymore..."

Ji Yong's expression darkened.

Wei Tingyu once again cast a pleading glance toward Wang Qinghuai.

Wang Qinghuai had also drunk quite a bit and was resting with his eyes closed, enjoying the gentle massage from a maidservant, paying him no heed.

He Yu sighed inwardly.

What harm would drinking do?

At worst, he'd pass out drunk.

It might even help him avoid Ji Yong's relentless pressure.

How could Miss Dou the Fourth be betrothed to such a man?

"Jianming," He Yu signaled to the entertainer beside him to pour wine, "if you can't drink anymore, I'll take these three cups for you!" His tone was bold, intending to help Wei Tingyu out of the predicament.

Wei Tingyu, who had just been silently criticizing He Yu as someone who excelled in debauchery, now felt a surge of gratitude toward him, his gaze brimming with appreciation.

Zhao Zishu, however, wouldn't have it. "Then I'll also have someone drink for me," he said, his eyes flickering as they landed on Gu Yu.

Gu Yu's face was flushed like peach blossoms, exuding a lazy charm, yet his gaze remained clear as a spring.

Recalling the rumors of Gu Yu being the Little Tyrant of the Capital, Zhao Zishu felt a chill and quickly shifted his gaze to the amiable and approachable Wang Huaiqing. "Young Lord, later you'll drink a cup for me too!"

Wang Huaiqing chuckled, his eyes half-closed.

After much banter and laughter, Wang Huaiqing, He Yu, and Wei Tingyu each ended up drinking three more cups.

Gu Yu watched coldly from the sidelines, finding it all rather dull.

Barefoot, he stood up and said, "You all carry on. I'm heading back first!"

Zhao Zishu grew somewhat uneasy.

But Wang Huaiqing, familiar with Gu Yu's temperament, laughed it off. "Don't mind him." Then he called for his personal page, "Escort Young Master Gu back."

Gu Yu waved his hand dismissively. "No need. I know the way." And with that, he strode off.

In the summer breeze, faint laughter trailed behind him—Wang Huaiqing's teasing voice: "...He's still just a child."

Gu Yu was incensed. He considered turning back to settle the score but then remembered Song Mo's advice: "Before acting, ask yourself if it's truly what you want. If it is, then bear all consequences without regret or complaint. If not, you're just a clown begging for ridicule." Deciding it wasn't worth it, he instructed the coachman, "To the Duke of Yingguo's Mansion."

The carriage raced through the night toward the lane where the Duke of Yingguo's Mansion stood.

Patrolling officers stepped aside to let them pass.

In the dead of night, Gu Yu knocked on the eastern side gate of the mansion without hindrance.

Song Mo had already retired for the night but, upon hearing of Gu Yu's arrival, threw on a robe and received him in his inner chamber.

"What's happened?" Song Mo asked with concern. "Weren't you supposed to be entertaining the Ministry of Works officials with Wang Huaiqing?"Gu Yu waved his hand, poured himself a cup of tea, and said, "Nothing much! Ran into He Wendao's youngest son and the nephew of the Ministry of Works Vice Minister Ji Song—that newly appointed Tanhua Ji Jianming. Then everyone went to Zhao Zishu's place to keep drinking. The Ji Family and the Wei Family are related by marriage, and Ji Jianming claimed to be the Marquis of Jining's brother-in-law. He practically forced the marquis to drink like there was no tomorrow." At this point, he couldn't help but complain, "That Wei Tingyu is just as bad—acting like some country bumpkin who's never seen the world. He didn't even dare to refuse when Ji Jianming kept pouring him drinks, letting himself be made a fool of like a circus monkey. Honestly, it's embarrassing just being around him. Tianci-ge, you have to tell me this time—why on earth are you favoring Wei Tingyu? I really can't see anything remarkable about him..."

Song Mo, however, suddenly looked uneasy. "What did you say? You took Wei Tingyu to Zhao Zishu's place?"

Zhao Zishu and the Guanglian Troupe's leader Zeng Chusheng were fellow disciples. While Zeng Chusheng made a living as an opera performer, Zhao Zishu occasionally acted as a procurer for high-ranking officials with certain proclivities, earning himself a rather unsavory reputation.

Unable to contain himself, Song Mo exclaimed, "Who suggested going to Zhao Zishu's?"