Blossom

Ji Yong fell into deep thought.

The sixth son of the Han family was dying, yet his family still agreed to the Han family's request to marry Cousin Lingze over. When he found out, he had merely snorted in disdain.

Because he believed everyone should bear the consequences of their own choices.

Since Cousin Lingze clearly knew marrying into that family meant becoming a widow yet still went through with it, that was her decision. Others shouldn't interfere.

Dou Zhao had been betrothed to Wei Tingyu since childhood. If she wanted to marry him, that was perfectly natural. What right did he have to criticize? Why should he think her choice was wrong?

Because Wei Tingyu visited courtesan houses with others?

Hadn't he done the same?

Because Wei Tingyu looked at Zhao Zishu with lecherous eyes?

Hadn't he himself spent a night in Qianfo Temple Lane?

Because Wei Tingyu actually fell for Dou Ming's schemes?

Hmm... this point was important. If it were him, he would never have done such a thing. This crossed Dou Zhao's bottom line—she would never forgive him for this.

Hadn't Dou Zhao refused to marry Wei Tingyu no matter what this time?

Thinking this, Ji Yong felt a small sense of satisfaction.

But the next moment, he felt deflated.

Wasn't this also because Wei Tingyu didn't know about the Dou family's affairs?

What exactly was his dissatisfaction with Wei Tingyu?

Even if Wei Tingyu was terrible, what did it have to do with him?

His grandfather had taught him since childhood: when looking at things, don't just see the surface—always ask why. Only by understanding the reasons would you know what you're truly thinking, grasp a person's mind, and make them willingly serve you.

What exactly did he want?

Ji Yong cast aside distracting thoughts and seriously asked himself for the first time.

He wanted Dou Zhao to dislike Wei Tingyu. He wanted Dou Zhao to break off the engagement with Wei Tingyu. He wanted to always be with Dou Zhao as they were now—bickering, teasing, laughing. As long as he was with Dou Zhao, even her sarcastic remarks, her inexplicable actions, her contemptuous indifference—he found it all amusing, relishing it like a delicacy.

Ji Yong let out a loud cry, then looked up to find his great-grandfather gone.

He immediately ran toward his great-grandfather's study.

Old Master Ji was lounging on a Drunken Old Man Chair reading, legs crossed. Seeing Ji Yong enter, he hurriedly stuffed the book into a nearby vase.

Great-grandfather had been reading those privately printed books from the streets again.

Old Master Ji cleared his throat and composed himself. "Well? Have you figured it out? Do you know what you truly want now?"

Ji Yong nodded. "I want Dou Zhao to break off the engagement!"

Old Master Ji barely restrained himself from rolling his eyes. "So all those things you did before weren't meant to make Dou Zhao break off the engagement?"

Ji Yong said solemnly, "I originally just wanted Dou Zhao to dislike Wei Tingyu. Now I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have cared what that damned Wei Tingyu did. I should have befriended Wei Tingyu and lured him into breaking it off himself." His mind raced. "All hustle and bustle is for profit and fame. I've been to the Wei family home—it's shabby. Maritime trade brings the highest profits but also the greatest risks. I should get him to invest in a ship. Make him lose everything, then seize the chance to arrange a marriage for him—find him a father-in-law with a generous dowry who's willing to help him recover his fortunes. He'd definitely break off the engagement then..."

Old Master Ji impatiently picked at his ear.

Ji Yong was stunned. "Wouldn't that work?"

His great-grandson finally showed some traces of youthful thinking."Alright, alright, alright," Old Master Ji said with a smile. "And then what?"

"What?"

"I mean, after the Dou family and the Wei family call off the engagement, what then?"

Ji Yong scratched his head.

Indeed, gold cannot be pure, and no one is perfect!

Old Master Ji sighed. "Dou Zhao is still young. She can’t just stay at home unmarried for the rest of her life because her engagement was broken, can she? Even if she does, what about you? Once you get married someday, you can’t keep running to the Dou family every day like you do now, seeing Dou Zhao whenever you please, can you?"

Ji Yong’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Then I’ll just marry her!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, his mind roared like thunder.

Was this... his true heart’s desire?

He stared at Old Master Ji, his eyes widening even further.

Old Master Ji burst into laughter. "Finally, you’ve come to your senses. Otherwise, all that effort earlier would’ve been wasted. Now you know what to do, don’t you?"

"What else is there to do?" Ji Yong was still reeling from his own realization and hadn’t fully processed the situation.

"Fool!" Old Master Ji grabbed a book and smacked his great-grandson’s head with it. "Just because you want to marry her, does that mean she has to marry you? Besides, the Dou and Wei families still have a marriage contract—it’s not something that can be canceled so easily. Weren’t you always boasting about how brilliant you are, unmatched by anyone? How come you’re acting like a blockhead now?"

Ji Yong’s mind finally cleared, and he hurriedly said, "Dou Zhao doesn’t want to marry Wei Tingyu anymore. Given her temper, she definitely won’t go through with it. The Dou family is only pushing her to marry now because they’re afraid Dou Ming’s scandal will come to light and tarnish the family’s reputation. If Wei Tingyu voluntarily withdraws from the engagement, and the Dou family can give outsiders a plausible explanation, the marriage will naturally fall through. I’ll go find Wei Tingyu right away and figure out a way to delay the wedding date. The Capital is full of gossip—in a few days, there’ll be new scandals for people to talk about. By then, calling off the engagement won’t be a big deal..."

Old Master Ji was so exasperated he wished he could split Ji Yong’s head open with an axe. "What kind of man is Wei Tingyu? If you can manipulate him, can’t others do the same? Whether he agrees to break the engagement or not is irrelevant! Haven’t I taught you since childhood—to capture the leader first if you want to crush the rebels? Stop fussing over trivial details and focus on the people and events that can sway the bigger picture. Reflect on what you’ve done this time—first, you acted without understanding your own true feelings. Then, after taking action, you failed to identify who could actually influence the outcome. And now, your brain is still a mess! You’re the one who schemed to get Wei Tingyu and Dou Ming entangled, and now Dou Zhao refuses to marry him. The Dou family is only reluctantly upholding the engagement to cover up Dou Ming’s scandal, while the Wei family, afraid the Dous will hold Wei Tingyu’s misconduct against them, hastily arranged a wedding date through a matchmaker. Everything is set—all that’s missing is the final push. Instead of seizing the opportunity, you’re running around looking for leverage... truly, a hopeless case!"

With that, Old Master Ji abruptly stood up, glaring fiercely at Ji Yong. "Come on, let me show you how to settle this properly!" Then he grumbled, "Pay attention and learn something!"

Ji Yong was left speechless.Old Master Ji didn't mind at all: "A true man acts decisively in matters of vengeance and justice. Someone like you, who wants to steal another's wife but dares not act, will end up with nothing. Remember this lesson well. The same applies in court politics. What exactly do you want? To bring fortune to the world? Or just seek your own gain? To achieve great things, one must have thick skin and a ruthless heart! Being overly noble makes you an Imperial Academy scholar; being overly obsequious makes you a petty official in the Six Ministries. To guide the nation's affairs, one must look beyond the gains and losses of a single city or prefecture..."

Ji Yong nodded eagerly like a chick pecking at rice.

Old Master Ji felt triumphant.

For the first time, he felt the dignity of an elder.

It seemed some things really shouldn't be overthought.

Though Dou Zhao had been engaged to the Wei Family, she could keep Ji Yong in check. That made her a perfect match!

As this thought flashed through his mind, Old Master Ji's beard practically bristled with excitement.

With Dou Zhao watching over Ji Yong, wouldn't he eventually settle down like a normal person—have children, pursue an official career?

Old Master Ji took Ji Yong to meet Dou Shishu.

※※※※※

Dou Zhao soon noticed that things had changed.

First was Fifth Aunt, who had been forcing smiles. Her smiles became genuinely cheerful. Not only did she stop asking about Dou Ming, but she also resumed managing the Household Affairs in Huai Shu Alley and even occasionally joked with the maids and servants around her.

Then there was Second Madam. Her illness quickly improved. Whenever Dou Zhao went to pay respects, Second Madam's gaze was full of affection and indulgence. She often took Dou Zhao's hand, looked her up and down, and said to Nanny Liu and others, "Shou Gu dresses too plainly. She needs some proper jewelry." Then she would have Nanny Liu bring her jewelry box and reward Dou Zhao with a gold hairpin or a string of jade bracelets, showing unusual fondness for her.

And then there was Sixth Madam. Just a couple of days ago, she had asked Dou Zhao in confusion, "Do you know what's going on? Dou Ming was sent back to Jing'an Temple Alley under supervision. When the Wei Family came to discuss the betrothal gifts, your Fifth Aunt actually said you were still too young and that the wedding could wait. When I asked her what was happening, she hemmed and hawed and wouldn't tell me anything, just said I should relax and wait for the wedding banquet." But now, Sixth Madam seemed like a different person—distracted, almost afraid to face Dou Zhao. She no longer greeted her warmly or chatted as before, instead avoiding her and even refusing to meet her eyes...

The entire Huai Shu Alley seemed to have been tidied up after a storm. Everyone had returned to their usual calm and leisurely routines.

Under what circumstances would Sixth Aunt feel too ashamed to face her?

At the moment, it could only be about her marriage!

She had clamored to break off the engagement with the Wei Family, and Sixth Aunt had supported her. Though Fifth Uncle and Father both wanted her to marry into the Wei Family, no final decision had been made, and Sixth Aunt wasn't in a position to decide anyway. She wouldn't feel guilty over this.

Then what was it?

For some reason, Ji Yong's image suddenly flashed through her mind.

After orchestrating the secret affair between Dou Ming and Wei Tingyu, he had vanished from her sight.

That didn't make sense!

Could it be...?

Dou Zhao's heart pounded wildly.

No, impossible!The Ji family had high hopes for Ji Yong and would never allow him to marry a woman like her, who had "flaws."

Without the support of his family, Ji Yong would never be able to win over the Dou family.

Sixth Aunt had always believed that someone like Wu Shan—sincere, devoted, and possessing both virtue and talent—would be the right match for her. Ji Yong, though brilliant, was erratic and lacked stability. Any woman who married him would have a hard time; he was hardly husband material...

Dou Zhao called out loudly for Su Xin, "Go and investigate carefully—who has Fifth Uncle met with these past few days? What was discussed?"

If her guess was correct, this matter must have gained the approval of the entire Dou family. Otherwise, Fifth Aunt wouldn’t have seemed so relieved, and Second Madam wouldn’t have been looking at her with such admiration every time.

Dou Zhao frowned deeply.