Blossom

Dou Ming and Wang Yingxue returned and saw the gifts piled in the hall. Casually, they asked, "Who sent these?"

Gaosheng replied respectfully, "It was..." Then, realizing his answer lacked proper respect for Wei Tingyu, he added, "It was the elder son-in-law who delivered them personally."

Wang Yingxue was momentarily taken aback.

Today, her visit to Willow Leaf Lane was not only to congratulate her elder brother on inheriting the hereditary title but also primarily because her mother had sent word. Her father had entrusted Gao Shi’s father, Gao Yuanzheng, a scholar of the Imperial Academy, to arrange a marriage for Dou Ming, and she was to discuss it.

The prospective groom was surnamed Liu, given name Bi, courtesy name Qingzhuo, twenty-two years old, a Recommended Man. Not only was he eight years older than Dou Ming, but he had also lost his father in childhood and came from a poor family, relying entirely on his uncle’s support to continue his studies.

Though Old Master Gao repeatedly praised this Liu Qingzhuo as exceptionally talented, upright in character, and destined for a bright future, who could say for sure? Her own father had passed the imperial examinations at a young age, yet what came of it? Her mother had endured a turbulent life with him, nearly losing their children. Just when her father had managed to rise again, becoming a high-ranking regional official, they were separated by distance, barely seeing each other for years... The thought alone pained her for her mother’s sake. How could she bear to let Mingjier suffer such a fate? Moreover, how many men like her father, who remembered their wives’ hardships and remained loyal after gaining wealth and status, even existed? Once those Recommended Men who endured years of hardship finally had their names on the Golden List, weren’t they all eager to take concubines? Should Mingjier spend her youth supporting this Liu fellow’s studies, only to watch him enjoy life once he succeeded, while she aged and lost her beauty?

Wang Yingxue found nothing satisfactory about this match. Yet, seeing her mother’s delight, she couldn’t bring herself to oppose it outright. She could only vaguely say, "Mingjier’s marriage must be discussed with her father first," to temporarily put it off.

Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but resent her sister-in-law, Gao Shi.

Wasn’t it just her father who had proposed this match for Mingjier? Yet Gao Shi acted as if she were the one marrying, praising Liu Qingzhuo to the skies and delighting their mother. If not for Wang Yingxue’s intervention, their mother would have eagerly written Mingjier’s birth characters on the spot. Why was she so enthusiastic?

Now, seeing the gifts sent by Wei Tingyu and hearing he had delivered them personally, Wang Yingxue felt a surge of anger. After a long pause, she remarked, "Our elder son-in-law certainly has his heart in the right place!"

Dou Ming, however, snorted coldly, turned, and walked through the central hall to her own courtyard.

Wang Yingxue, puzzled, hurried after her.

"What’s the matter?" she asked, watching her daughter sit stiffly before the dressing table, removing her makeup. "Did your elder sister bully you again? Tell me what happened. I’ll speak to your father about it."

"What’s the use of talking to Father?" Dou Ming sneered, tossing the comb onto the table. "All you ever do is argue with him. When have you ever made things clear or handled matters properly?"

Wang Yingxue’s face flushed red and then paled.Dou Ming couldn't bear it any longer and softened her tone, saying, "What did Grandmother say to you? I saw you come out of her room looking upset. Did she scold you again? She's getting old—just listen to whatever she says and don't take it to heart. Since you're rarely back, let me have Zhou Momo massage your legs. Are the maids at the farmstead any good at serving? Should I give you a couple to take back with you?"

Each word warmed Wang Yingxue's heart.

She shook her head repeatedly. "No need, no need. Though your father is cold and heartless, he's never been stingy with money. I'm quite comfortable at the farmstead." She paused slightly before continuing, "Speaking of which, you're not a child anymore. I'll be returning to the farmstead in a few days, and I won't be able to help with your affairs. Your second aunt's son, Tan, treats you better than himself. You saw it yourself when we went for drinks at Willow Leaf Lane—anything you glanced at twice, he immediately fetched for you..."

"Mother, stop!" Dou Ming's voice suddenly turned sharp. "I won't marry Wang Tan!"

"You silly child!" Wang Yingxue frowned. "Though Wang Tan is a year younger, he's been nothing but good to you. Besides, you'd be marrying into your grandmother's family—do you think they'd mistreat you...?"

"Ah!" Dou Ming let out an abrupt scream, covering her ears. "I won't marry Wang Tan! I refuse to marry Wang Tan!"

Wang Yingxue was startled and quickly embraced her daughter. "Lower your voice! Be careful someone might hear!"

Dou Ming paid no heed, shouting, "I won't marry into Second Aunt's family! Second Uncle acts like a mouse seeing a cat around her. Wang Tan does nothing but play all day—he doesn't study seriously or practice martial arts. Someone once tricked him with a bronze artifact, claiming it was an antique from the Shang and Zhou dynasties, and he foolishly paid up, acting like a gullible fool while boasting about his 'bargain'..." Her voice gradually softened, her expression turning despondent. "If I marry, it'll be into a good family—a strict father-in-law, a kind mother-in-law, loving grandparents, a gentle and honest husband, lively younger brothers-in-law, and sweet younger sisters-in-law. A warm, harmonious household with no concubines, no illegitimate children, no meddling relatives eyeing my purse. When I go out, people would say, 'That's so-and-so's daughter-in-law,' looking at me with warmth and greeting me kindly—not whispering behind my back about whose daughter I am..."

Wang Yingxue covered her face and wept.

Was this why her daughter had always preferred playing with Wang Nan since childhood? Even saying she wished to be Gao Shi's daughter.

Back then, she thought her daughter was simply close to her maternal aunt after growing up in her grandmother's household. Only now did she realize her daughter had envied that kind of upbringing...

※※※※※

Wang Yingxue soon learned about the Grand Chancellor's affairs. Shocked, she asked Zhou Momo, "So the Fourth Young Lady has been refusing to eat over this? How is she now? Has Fifth Madam not stepped in to handle it?"Zhou Momo wasn’t entirely sure about the specifics and found it difficult to comment. She said, "A few days ago, the master was still enthusiastically preparing the dowry for the eldest young lady, but these past few days, there’s been no movement. I’ve only heard some rumors. The fifth young lady lives in Huai Tree Alley and sometimes comes over, but she seems no different than usual. I don’t know whether it’s true or not."

If the woman’s family initiated the breaking of the engagement, they would have to return the engagement gifts with double the amount.

Wang Yingxue pondered and asked, "Are the gifts sent by the Wei family still here?"

Zhou Momo understood her implication and replied softly, "They’re still here! No one has mentioned returning them."

So, they felt humiliated by Dou Ming and were making a fuss to save face!

Wang Yingxue scoffed, "Just wait and see. In a few days, the master will be enthusiastically preparing to marry off his daughter again." Then, recalling how Dou Ming could have spoken with Wei Tingyu, her brows furrowed tightly. "Mingjier, too—why meddle in Dou Zhao’s affairs? Isn’t she just stirring up trouble? Why didn’t you stop her?"

Zhou Momo gave a bitter smile.

There had been no warning beforehand. By the time she found out, things had already escalated. How could she have prevented it?

※※※※※

When Dou Shiying returned in the evening and saw the seasonal gifts sent by the Wei family, he ordered Gaosheng to return them with double the amount.

Upon learning this, Wei Tingzhen smugly said to Tian Shi, "I told you—the Dou family wouldn’t dare break off the engagement with our family. They just wanted to scare us."

Tian Shi sighed in relief.

Breaking off an engagement was no small matter. When arranging another marriage, the other party would surely inquire carefully about the reason. If anything went wrong, the match could fall through. There might even be rumors about hidden illnesses or defects, making future marriage negotiations difficult.

Wei Tingyu remained silent beside them.

Wei Tingzhen instructed the people of the Marquis of Jining’s Mansion, "Ignore them."

As a result, the Wei family’s attitude toward the Dou family became somewhat dismissive.

Wang Yingxue’s heart stirred upon hearing this.

She asked Zhou Momo, "Was the eldest son-in-law at the Great Xiangguo Temple that day?"

"He should have been, right?" Zhou Momo wasn’t entirely sure.

At the time, all of Dou Ming’s attendants had been summoned for questioning and nearly sold off by slave traders.

If he hadn’t been there, why would Fifth Madam have been so furious?

Wang Yingxue said to Zhou Momo, "Send a maid to deliver a message to the eldest son-in-law. Tell him the fifth young lady has something to discuss with him."

Zhou Momo was horrified.

Wang Yingxue laughed. "What are you thinking? I’m the one who wants to see him, but I don’t want him to know."

Zhou Momo vaguely felt this was inappropriate, but Wang Yingxue had already shown displeasure, so she relayed the message to Wei Tingyu as instructed.

Within half an hour, Wei Tingyu arrived.

The Marquis of Jining’s Mansion was only half an hour’s journey away.

Wang Yingxue nodded to herself and told Zhou Momo, "I’ve seen him now. Find an excuse to send him away."

Zhou Momo felt a weight lift off her shoulders.

Wei Tingyu, baffled, returned to the Marquis of Jining’s Mansion.

Wang Yingxue went to see Dou Ming.

Dou Ming was reclining on the kang reading a book. When her mother barged in, she lifted her eyelids and said, "What are you doing here? Didn’t you say Grandmother needed you these days?" Then she lowered her head to continue reading.Wang Yingxue snatched the book from Dou Ming's hands and said, "Do you know why your father hasn't been restricting my movements these days?" She then told Dou Ming about how Wang Xingyi had sought Gao Zhengyuan to arrange a marriage for her. "...The Liu family is indeed respectable, but you must think carefully. This concerns your lifelong happiness. One misstep, and your sister will be the lofty marquise while you'll be toiling as a peasant woman in the countryside!"

Dou Ming, still young, flushed crimson upon hearing this, nervously rolling the book into a tube over and over.

Wang Yingxue remained silent, quietly observing her.

After a long pause, Dou Ming finally spoke in a heavy tone, "I won't marry Liu Qingzhuo, but I don't want to marry Wang Tan either."

Wang Yingxue laughed and said, "Silly child, who said you should marry Tan? Look at your sister—she cares for nothing and looks down on everything. When she found herself in an awkward position after the incident at Great Xiangguo Temple, she resorted to tears, tantrums, and even threats of suicide, yet in the end, she still wanted to marry into the Marquis of Jining's family. I've been under house arrest by your father all these years and don't know much about what's happening above, but I do know this: if your sister thinks it's good, and if your Fifth Aunt and Sixth Aunt also think it's good, then it must indeed be good."

Dou Ming asked in confusion, "Mother, what exactly are you trying to say?"

Wang Yingxue smiled faintly, her expression carrying an indescribable nuance, and then told Dou Ming about Wei Tingyu's recent visit. "Your sister thinks you've humiliated her and is crying and refusing to marry into the Marquis of Jining's Mansion, isn't she? Well then, why don't you marry into it instead!"