Blossom

The debate in Crane Longevity Hall was still raging when Dou Zhao arrived.

As she approached, she heard her third uncle say, "...This matter was triggered by Seventh Brother taking a concubine. How can it be called 'jealous'? With this explanation, the Zhao Family won't have much to say. It preserves the dignity of both families."

She trembled with rage at his words.

The deceased should be respected above all!

Even so, how could they shirk responsibility and let Mother bear such a vile reputation after her death?

Don't they understand what "jealous" means for a woman?

Mother was such a proud person. If she knew this would be her legacy, would she still have chosen suicide by hanging so resolutely?

No wonder in her past life, the servants spoke of Mother with such disdain!

This proved that no matter what happened, one must find a way to survive.

Only by living could there be hope, a future.

Dou Zhao lifted the curtain and entered.

But the hall was vast and spacious, the adults were all solemn, and guards stood outside. No one expected someone to slip in unnoticed.

Little Dou Zhao's arrival was like a leaf falling by the riverside—it stirred not a single ripple.

She clenched her fists, about to speak, when her father, who had been sitting alone in the distance, suddenly sprang to his feet.

"No! No!" he shouted agitatedly. "Gu Qiu wasn't like that! You can't speak of her this way! You can't let her bear such a reputation after death..." His voice faltered, his expression crumbling. "She... she died because of me..."

Dou Zhao exhaled deeply, watching as Second Madam, seated at the head of the room, darkened. "Nonsense!" she snapped, her sharp brows tightening with displeasure. "What kind of time is this for such talk? How old are you? Can't you think before you speak? Do you want to see the Zhao and Dou families tear each other apart? You killed Gu Qiu? Tell me, did you beat her? Berate her? Humiliate her in public? Was her death not at all related to you taking a concubine?"

Father was speechless.

"I... I..." He stammered but couldn't form a coherent response.

Dou Zhao suddenly understood.

If Father hadn't taken a concubine, he and Mother wouldn't have fallen into such strife. In the end, the Dou family still believed this was all because of Wang Yingxue.

If Father denied it, it would be unconvincing. But if he admitted it, he would only confirm Third Uncle's accusation of "jealousy"!

Was this why her uncle had no grounds to argue and could only swallow this bitter pill in silence?

Dou Zhao's expression grew distant.

Second Madam, however, gradually softened.

With a sigh, she said, "I watched Gu Qiu grow up. She left us so young—do you think I don't ache for her?" Her eyes reddened. "But grief is one thing, and sentimentality another. We can't let emotions cloud our judgment..."

"But... but we can't speak of Gu Qiu like this!" Father, though cowed by Second Madam's usual severity, still protested weakly. "If word spreads, how will others remember her?"“This matter will not spread beyond these walls!” Second Madam’s sharp gaze swept over everyone present as she spoke with unwavering determination. “What is said here stays here. As long as we don’t speak of it, would the Zhao Family really go around shouting about it? Zhao Ruifu has three daughters, after all.”

“Exactly!” Third Uncle chimed in, trying to persuade Father. “If this gets out, it won’t reflect well on us either. You know Ruifu’s temperament—he’s the most sincere and earnest man. If he were to make a scene, your plans to take a concubine would become public knowledge, and Seventh Sister-in-law would still end up branded as ‘jealous.’ It’s better to placate Ruifu first. After Seventh Sister-in-law’s funeral, you brothers-in-law can sit down and talk things over properly. That’s far better than acting impulsively or saying hurtful things in the heat of the moment!” Having said this, he shot Sixth Uncle a meaningful glance, urging him to persuade Father as well.

But to everyone’s surprise, Sixth Uncle said, “Third Brother, don’t look at me—I don’t agree with this!”

The room fell into stunned silence.

Including Dou Zhao.

Sixth Uncle stood up decisively. “I never had much regard for Seventh Sister-in-law before, thinking her too affected. Whenever Seventh Brother neglected her in any way, she’d sulk, and he’d go running to apologize. That’s hardly the behavior of a virtuous wife. But now that she’s passed, what you’re doing is simply unkind. A gentleman should be open and forthright. Our families have been close for generations—just explain the whole situation to Ruifu and let him decide how to proceed. I believe Seventh Brother isn’t a coward either,” he added, nodding at Father with a look of support. “As long as we act with a clear conscience…” His words filled Father with gratitude.

Dou Zhao couldn’t help but sigh.

No wonder Father and Sixth Uncle were so close. Sixth Uncle was upright and forthright, embodying the noble spirit of the Wei-Jin scholars. And since Father was considered his equal… perhaps Father wasn’t as bad as she had imagined.

Her gaze lingered on Father as she reassessed the man she had never truly looked at in her past life.

“Zhongzhi!” Third Uncle called Sixth Uncle by his courtesy name, flustered as he defended himself. “This is just a temporary measure…”

“People may be divided into ranks, but actions have their own dignity,” Sixth Uncle retorted dismissively. “Even as a temporary measure, we shouldn’t tarnish someone’s reputation like this…”

The two brothers began to argue.

“Enough!” Grandfather, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. “Stop this bickering. Ruifu must be told the truth, but the fact remains that she was ‘jealous.’ The matter is settled.”

In the end, they still intended to use Mother’s “jealousy” to silence Uncle.

Dou Zhao raised an eyebrow.

Since they were from different branches of the family, Sixth Uncle couldn’t press further. Third Uncle, aware of the unkindness of their plan, showed no trace of satisfaction.

“Father…” Dad called out anxiously.

Grandfather responded with a cold snort.

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside. Gaosheng announced from behind the curtain, “The Zhao Family’s uncle has arrived!”

Grandfather and Second Madam exchanged a glance before Second Madam instructed Third Uncle, “You and Zhongzhi accompany Wanyuan to greet our guest.”

Third Uncle sighed softly, then left the hall with Sixth Uncle and Father.

Dou Zhao hesitated, then decided to follow—but Second Madam noticed."Shou Gu! What are you doing here?" She urgently instructed the maid who had been sent to the courtyard earlier, "Bring Fourth Miss over to me!"

Dou Zhao was grabbed around the waist.

"Let me go! Let me go!" She easily broke free from the maid who dared not use force against her and darted away in a flash.

The main gate of the Dou family stood wide open. Dou Zhao saw her Aunt, who had been resting in the side room earlier, enter with her three cousins, surrounding a man dressed in mourning attire.

Of medium height, with features more delicate than a woman's.

Though over a decade had passed, Dou Zhao recognized her uncle Zhao Si at first glance.

Her eyes immediately welled up with tears.

If she hadn't been so stubborn back then, if she had listened carefully to her eldest cousin's words and thought things through properly, she and her uncle's family wouldn't have remained estranged all this time.

Dou Zhao quickly ran over.

She saw her uncle stride forward in three quick steps and land a punch squarely on her father's face.

Her father was momentarily stunned by the blow, staggering and falling to the ground, unable to regain his composure for quite some time. His jade-like cheek immediately swelled up.

"You bastard!" Her uncle grabbed her father by the collar and punched him again. "You took a concubine after just three years of marriage! Did you ever have Gu Qiu in your eyes? Did you ever have Shou Gu in your eyes? You bastard!"

Another punch landed on her father's face.

Dou Zhao gasped in shock.

Third Uncle, Sixth Uncle, Aunt, and the three cousins all rushed over at once. Some called out "Ruifu," others shouted "Father," some pulled at her father, others at her uncle. Third Uncle simply positioned himself between the two men, loudly proclaiming, "A gentleman uses his words, not his fists."

Her uncle sneered, pointing at her father. "What kind of gentleman is he? If I use words with him, would he even understand?" With that, he moved forward to strike her father again.

Her father pushed aside Third Uncle, who was blocking his way, and knelt down with a thud before her uncle. "Elder Brother, it's all my fault. I wronged Gu Qiu... Hit me! Hit me... I'd rather you beat me up..."

Sixth Uncle's face darkened. "Dou Shiying, get up! Get up this instant! A true man only kneels to heaven, earth, the sovereign, parents, and teachers. What is the meaning of this?" He then barked at the servants nearby, "Shut the gate at once!"

The servants swarmed forward to close the gate, not daring to cast even a glance in their direction.

Her uncle, however, said disdainfully, "Do you think getting beaten absolves you of your wrongdoing? Dou Shiying, let me tell you, that's not happening..." And he kicked her father.

Her father remained kneeling, enduring the kick without flinching.

"Ruifu, Ruifu, don't do this!" Third Uncle quickly restrained her uncle. "Seventh Sister-in-law's body is still warm, and here you are, brothers-in-law, fighting like this. Isn't this just inviting ridicule? Whatever needs to be said can be discussed properly. There's nothing that can't be resolved..."

Ignoring Third Uncle, her uncle turned to Aunt and asked, "Where's Shou Gu? Who's watching Shou Gu?"

Aunt hurriedly replied, "Shou Gu is in the mourning hall. Her maids are with her."

Her uncle immediately headed toward the mourning hall.

Dou Zhao couldn't hold back her tears any longer; they streamed down her face.

She stepped forward and called out loudly, "Uncle!"

Zhao Si turned toward her, his eyes instantly reddening.

"Shou Gu!" He hugged her tightly. "Let's go see your mother!"

"Okay!" Dou Zhao nodded, wrapping her arms around her uncle's neck, feeling an unprecedented sense of security for the first time.

They lit incense, performed the rites, and expressed their gratitude.

Uncle and niece solemnly completed the mourning rituals together.Zhao Si handed Dou Zhao over to Aunt: "You watch her. At times like this, everyone's busy and accidents happen most easily. I need to go meet the in-laws."

Father, his face bruised black and blue, stared blankly at Mother's coffin, while Third Uncle and Sixth Uncle both appeared somewhat uncomfortable.

"I understand," Aunt replied, taking Dou Zhao into her arms with a knowing nod. "Go attend to your business. I'll keep a good eye on Shou Gu."

Uncle affectionately patted Dou Zhao's head before turning to leave the mourning hall.

Aunt coaxed Dou Zhao: "Come, let's go eat some osmanthus cakes!"

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Dear sisters, due to actual circumstances, the update time has been changed to around 20:00, which is approximately 8 PM. Please help spread the word.

O(∩_∩)O~

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