Blossom

The words blurted out in anger seemed abrupt, making Song Mo's heart race under Dou Zhao's gaze.

As the heat of passion gradually cooled, his thoughts settled, and calmness and reason returned to his body. He couldn't help but reflect on his earlier impulsiveness... yet the more he thought about it, the more he found the idea of marrying Dou Zhao to be brilliant!

At the very least, his background was more distinguished than Wei Tingyu's, his talents more outstanding, and in the eyes of the noblewomen in the Capital, he was a more desirable Ideal Son-in-Law than Wei Tingyu.

What better retaliation could there be than marrying a man who surpassed her former fiancé in every way!

This marriage would be enough to silence all the malicious sneers and gossip directed at Dou Zhao!

Song Mo grew excited.

His grip on Dou Zhao's arm tightened. "Dou Zhao, marry me! I'll treat you well and make those who dared to look down on you regret their disrespect!"

He would be the one to bring Dou Zhao honor.

The faint pain in her arm quickly snapped Dou Zhao back to reality. She instinctively glanced at Su Xin.

Su Xin's eyes were wide with shock.

Only then did Dou Zhao confirm that what she had heard wasn't a hallucination.

It seemed Song Mo already knew about the substitute bride.

She asked, "How did you find out the bride wasn't me?"

Dou Zhao had sent Su Lan to gather information. If Wei Tingyu had discovered the switch during the wedding ceremony, she would have known immediately, and the Dou family wouldn't have remained so calm.

Song Mo recounted what had happened.

Dou Zhao's heart was a tumult of emotions, too complex to name.

Song Mo had only met her a few times, while Wei Tingyu had been her fiancé... She and Dou Ming were of different heights, and their appearances bore no resemblance. Yet Song Mo had discerned the bride wasn't her just from a few gestures, while Wei Tingyu—by now, he should have already entered the bridal chamber...

She fell silent.

Song Mo pressed her, "What do you think?"

Dou Zhao couldn't help but feel both amused and exasperated.

"Do you think this is some childish game?" she chided softly with a laugh. "Just because Wei Tingyu married my sister, I have to find someone more distinguished, more powerful, more handsome, and more capable than him to marry? I have my own life to live. Why should I waste energy competing with them?"

Song Mo opened his mouth but remained silent for a long moment.

Was this truly how Dou Zhao felt?

That he was more distinguished, more powerful, more handsome, and more capable than Wei Tingyu...

How shallow!

Yet beneath the disdain, there was a faint joy that left him pleasantly intoxicated.

Song Mo quickly suppressed the feeling, somewhat defensively adding, "Then what do you plan to do?" Remembering the words he had overheard earlier, he refrained from criticizing Dou Shiying in front of Dou Zhao and instead reminded her, "You can't seriously be planning to stay at home and take in a husband, can you?"

Dou Zhao hesitated briefly.

Since Song Mo had dared to kill his father and brother in his past life and now dared to openly defy his father, it was clear he wasn't one to follow conventions.

"I do plan to stay at home," she admitted frankly. "But I never intended to take in a husband." She chuckled self-deprecatingly. "I plan to remain in the Dou family forever, as the unwelcome paternal aunt."“How can that be?!” Song Mo objected without hesitation. “If you stay with the Dou family, it might be manageable while your father is alive. But what will you do after he’s gone? Even with a brother from the same parents, there’s still the sister-in-law to consider, let alone when you only have a sister—and an unreliable one at that, along with her husband…” Then, recalling the events surrounding Dou Zhao’s marriage and how only Wang Shi had benefited from them, he began to suspect that Wang Shi might be the mastermind behind it all. Knowing of the discord between Dou Zhao and Wang Shi, he became even more opposed to Dou Zhao remaining with the Dou family.

He told Dou Zhao about Wang Xingyi gaining the Emperor’s favor: “...Don’t underestimate the Emperor’s passing remarks. Among tens of thousands of officials in the court, only a handful leave an impression on the Emperor. If I were Wang Xingyi, I’d certainly seize this opportunity to advance further. Since Wang Shi could arrange for Dou Ming to marry into the Wei family in your place, she might just as easily force you into a haphazard marriage. In matters of your marriage, she holds the moral high ground. To resist her, you’d need perfect timing and circumstances—but those are the most unpredictable and elusive things. You mustn’t be careless and fall into her trap!” He added, “Rather than passively reacting, I think you should take the initiative and strike first. That way, you can catch her off guard and make her think twice before crossing you!”

His tone was earnest, and a trace of concern flickered between his brows, stirring a quiet gratitude in Dou Zhao’s heart. She felt even more deeply moved by all that her uncle and aunt had done for her.

After a moment’s thought, she said, “Shall we continue this inside?”

Song Mo readily agreed.

Su Xin broke out in a cold sweat.

What if someone suddenly barged in? How would they explain this?

Especially now, when the fifth young lady had just married into the Wei family in place of the fourth young lady—how would they resolve this mess?

But standing in the courtyard would only make them more conspicuous.

Between two evils, choose the lesser.

Steeling herself, Su Xin lifted the curtain for Dou Zhao and Song Mo, then brought in a pot of premium Tieguanyin tea.

Dou Zhao tactfully recounted her mother’s death to Song Mo: “...If not for that, how could I have had the means to open shops? You needn’t worry—she can’t touch me. In fact, after this incident, she’ll likely find it impossible to remain in the Dou family. Though the family won’t outright divorce her for propriety’s sake, she’ll never meddle in household affairs again.”

As for how much wealth the Western Dou branch truly possessed, she modestly refrained from mentioning it.

Nor did she speak of the Dou family’s plans.

After all, it was merely a verbal agreement of mutual benefit. Without anything in writing, things could still change. She couldn’t go around announcing unsettled matters—what if circumstances shifted? Wouldn’t that make her a rumor-monger?

Song Mo had always vaguely sensed that Dou Zhao must have access to a considerable sum of money. He had assumed it was her birth mother’s dowry, never imagining the truth behind it!

No wonder she had to rely solely on herself for everything!

Occasionally, he would reflect on his own misfortunes, thinking no one in the world could be more tragic than him—yet Dou Zhao’s circumstances were even worse!

Wasn’t Wang Shi’s relentless scheming to marry her own daughter to Wei Tingyu due to their illicit affair?Song Mo fell into a despondent silence for a long moment before speaking softly, "If you don't marry, that sum of silver will have to be managed by the Dong Dou faction, which will surely attract the covetous eyes of other members of the Dou family. Even if you stay at home, I fear your days will rarely know peace. Moreover, what your father thinks... the old gentleman may not wish to see you grow old alone. What if he insists on you taking a husband into the family? What will you do then? Even if you find a simple, honest man to live with, your father is still in his prime—what if he fathers another child? What then? And if your father and uncle both pass away, and your younger brother joins forces with Dong Dou to demand a redistribution of assets, even going so far as to take you to court—what will you do then?"

A live-in son-in-law couldn't take the imperial examinations, meaning Dou Zhao would have no support from the court when the time came.

Just thinking about it made Song Mo feel that Dou Zhao's path ahead was strewn with thorns.

Dou Zhao was all too aware of these issues!

But surely one couldn't just sit and wait for death because the future looked difficult?

Yet compared to these potential hardships, the known suffering of marriage was something she wanted to avoid even more.

Perhaps this was life.

There was never a perfect solution.

You could only choose the suffering you thought you could bear!

Each lost in their own thoughts, the room fell into silence.

It wasn't until the sounds of early-rising maids and old women moving about outside reached them that they realized dawn had broken.

Song Mo couldn't help but say, "You might want to carefully consider what I've said."

His expression was grave and earnest, clearly showing he'd given the matter serious thought, which made Dou Zhao feel she had to treat it with equal gravity.

Never mind that she already had plans to deal with the Dou and Ji families. Even if she didn't, using one lie to cover up another would only make things worse, potentially spiraling out of control!

She replied tactfully, "This is something I should resolve myself."

"But..." Song Mo still tried to persuade her, but Dou Zhao felt that arguing about things that hadn't happened yet would never determine right or wrong or reach any conclusion. It was better to stop here and let him give up.

Gritting her teeth internally, she said succinctly, "Young Master, it's impossible for me to marry you."

"How is it impossible..." Before Song Mo could finish, his expression changed dramatically.

Of course.

His own marriage wasn't his to decide.

What right did he have to make grand pronouncements before Dou Zhao?

His face turned deathly pale in an instant, his eyes showing traces of shame.

"I—I'm sorry!" It was the first time Song Mo had ever apologized to someone for being unable to keep a promise, especially before Dou Zhao, whom he'd always held in high regard. He felt utterly ashamed. "I oversimplified things."

Dou Zhao immediately regretted being so direct.

"It's fine, it's fine," she said hurriedly. "I just feel..." Feel what? She needed to find words that wouldn't hurt Song Mo so much. What could she say that wouldn't hurt him? The truth, of course... After a brief hesitation, she made her decision. "I'm truly grateful that you want to marry me. But after what's happened, I've decided never to marry again!"

Was it that she didn't want to marry him? Or that she didn't want to marry anyone?

The young Song Mo was acutely sensitive at this moment.He pondered repeatedly in his heart. For the first time in his life, he dared not ask for the truth outright. He could only nod slightly and respond with a light smile, saying, "I understand," yet unable to conceal the defeat written across his face.

Dou Zhao felt a pang of heartache and couldn’t help but explain, "After marriage, one must not only serve a husband and manage concubines but also raise children. Yet such efforts may not always be rewarded—I truly have no confidence in doing it well. So I chose to escape, selfishly shirking the responsibility. When Seventh Madam arranged for Mingjier to marry into the Wei Family, I was already aware. I simply went along with it, seizing the chance to legitimately avoid marriage. It’s not that I didn’t want to marry you!"

Really?

Song Mo was skeptical.

If he ever needed to dismiss someone, he would always soothe them with gentle words first.

"I understand!" Suddenly, he felt disheartened, an uncontrollable sorrow welling up from within. "Well, if you ever need anything, just let me know. I know the Capital better than you do, and it’s easier for me to act..." Gazing at the window gradually brightening with dawn light, he rose indifferently to take his leave.

Dou Zhao seemed to see once more the aloof Metropolitan Commander of the Imperial Bodyguard who kept others at arm’s length.

Yet, watching Song Mo’s upright yet fragile retreating figure, she steeled herself and said nothing.

As Song Mo stepped down from the threshold, he couldn’t resist turning back for one last glance.