Blossom

At this moment, all the relatives of the Dou family had arrived. While the outside was bustling with noise and activity, the bride's room was surprisingly quiet.

Dou Zhao leisurely finished her breakfast when Ji Yong came in.

He asked her, "Are you really going to marry Song Mo?"

This time, Dou Zhao nodded earnestly and said, "I think he's quite a good person!"

Ji Yong was instantly furious. Glaring, he muttered, "I can't be bothered with you anymore," and stormed off, sleeves flaring.

Dou Zhao smiled faintly.

At least Ji Yong hadn’t tried to cause trouble for Song Mo without reason.

Of course, she didn’t think Song Mo would suffer, but she was still glad that Ji Yong respected her decision.

Zhao Zhangru rushed in, looking melancholic. "Shou Gu, can I visit you in the future?" she asked.

Dou Zhao recalled their childhood days when they used to crouch under trees watching ants together.

"Of course!" She wrapped an arm around her cousin’s shoulders, her eyes moist. "Didn’t you say you wanted to explore the Duke of Yingguo's Mansion properly? I’ve heard the back garden is modeled after Jiangnan-style landscapes, with a lake fed by water from the Taiye Pool. You can go boating in summer, ice-skating in winter, and fishing in spring and autumn. Wouldn’t it be a shame if you didn’t see it for yourself?"

Zhao Zhangru laughed through her tears. "You’re lying again! In spring, the fish are as tiny as mung beans—how could you even catch them?" Yet her tears kept falling uncontrollably.

Dou Zhao’s heart ached, and she too began to cry.

For a while, the room was filled with the sound of the two cousins weeping, finally lending some wedding-day atmosphere.

When they finally managed to stop, Dou Zhao gave Zhao Zhangru two sets of unused gold head ornaments.

Zhao Zhangru refused. "You’re the one getting married—I should be giving you dowry gifts. How can I take things from you?"

"But you hand-embroidered a horse-face skirt for me, didn’t you?" Dou Zhao insisted. "I want to give you something to remember me by."

From now on, Dou Zhao would be someone else’s daughter-in-law, eating from their bowl and living under their rules. She wouldn’t have the freedom to do as she pleased like she did at home.

Thinking of this, Zhao Zhangru hugged the red-and-gold lacquered box containing the ornaments and started crying again.

"My dear girl," said Aunt, who had come in to bid Dou Zhao farewell. She couldn’t help but laugh at the scene. "The bride isn’t crying, yet here you are weeping endlessly! Those who know you would understand you’re reluctant to part with your cousin, but others might think you’re the one getting married! Stop now. Let Su Juan help you wash your face, then go cheerfully assist your cousin in entertaining the guests!"

After lunch, the hairdressers, makeup artists, and the woman of complete blessings arrived, leaving Zhao Zhangru no further chance to speak privately with Dou Zhao.

Zhao Zhangru wiped her tears and chuckled softly, murmuring, "If only I could get married too."

Aunt didn’t catch her words and scolded lightly, "What are you muttering about now?"

"Nothing, nothing," Zhao Zhangru replied, her cheeks flushing.

But Dou Zhao had heard every word clearly.

A thought struck her.

She hadn’t realized her cousin was so eager to marry. Could she perhaps play matchmaker for her?

Forget about past lives—she had already changed so much since her rebirth. One more alteration wouldn’t hurt.Zhao Zhangru allowed Su Juan to help her redo her hair and wash her face while listening to her mother instruct Dou Zhao on what to pay attention to after entering the household. The last time Dou Zhao was preparing to marry into the Wei family, her aunt had explained the matters of the wedding night but hadn’t had time to teach her these socializing tricks. Regretting her oversight, she never expected Dou Zhao to remarry, which now gave her the chance to make up for it.

The Duke of Yingguo’s mansion was a place of unpredictable schemes. Song Yichun was no ordinary father-in-law, and Song Mo was no ordinary husband. Dou Zhao likely wouldn’t need any of the advice her aunt was giving, yet she listened with a smile, nodding obediently from time to time.

Her aunt was thoroughly satisfied and spoke for a full hour, refilling her tea four or five times before reluctantly stopping.

Su Xin had already entered and exited the room three or four times.

Without drawing attention, Dou Zhao stood up to brew more tea for her aunt.

Su Xin quickly followed her.

“What’s happened?” Dou Zhao whispered.

Su Xin replied urgently, “The master and madam are quarreling!”

Dou Zhao froze.

Yesterday afternoon, Wang Yingxue had suddenly coughed up blood and fainted for some unknown reason. Hu Momo hurried to report it to Dou Shiying, but he happened to be in a closed-door lecture from Dou Shishu. Gaosheng couldn’t let anyone interrupt, and fearing it might disrupt Dou Zhao’s wedding, he took matters into his own hands and quietly arranged for a doctor to enter through the back gate.

The doctor diagnosed it as rage-induced illness, prescribing a few doses of medicine while shaking his head, saying that emotional ailments required emotional remedies. If Wang Yingxue didn’t ease her mind, not only would her condition be hard to cure, but it might also become chronic, leaving her bedridden.

Gaosheng grew anxious.

How could he handle such a major matter alone?

He went to seek Dou Shiying’s instructions, but Dou Shiying was in high spirits, playing chess with Dou Zhao. Gaosheng didn’t want to ruin his mood, so he held back until the game ended, they had supper together, and took a long walk in the garden to aid digestion. Only after Dou Zhao returned to her room did Gaosheng finally report the matter to Dou Shiying.

Dou Shiying rushed to check on Wang Yingxue.

Perhaps some maid or old woman had angered Wang Yingxue, or perhaps she was upset that Dou Shiying hadn’t appeared while she was ill. She was venting her frustration by scolding those around her, and even Hu Momo wasn’t spared.

Dou Shiying valued loyalty deeply. Maids and pages who served him for long periods were generously rewarded when they married or left for other duties. His gentle temperament earned him genuine affection from the servants, who would go out of their way to assist him. Since these people were carefully selected by Gaosheng, Dou Shiying regarded the household maids and old women as reliable and considerate.

Seeing Wang Yingxue scolding them unreasonably, he was already displeased. But remembering that Dou Zhao’s wedding was the next day, he suppressed his irritation and asked a few questions about her condition.

After Dou Shiying consoled her for a while, Wang Yingxue gradually calmed down, and he returned to his room to rest.

When Dou Zhao heard about it this morning, she vaguely recalled the two boxes of silver notes.

If Wang Yingxue learned that the two boxes of silver notes originally meant for Dou Ming had ended up in her hands, it was no wonder she had coughed up blood!

Dou Zhao couldn’t help but ask, “Why are they quarreling now?”Su Xin whispered, "I heard from the servants attending Madam that early this morning, the master went to visit her. Madam complained in front of him, saying that Fifth Miss had been married to the Marquis of Jining's Mansion for less than a month, and the paternal aunt there had already persuaded the Dowager to have Fifth Miss manage the household. Yet, there was no money in the accounts. She said Fifth Miss was now in dire straits and urged the master to think of a solution, so Fifth Miss wouldn’t have to use her dowry to subsidize the Wei Family. The master didn’t say anything at the time and left to attend to guests. Just now, Seventh Madam started complaining of heart pains, demanding a doctor and insisting on seeing the master to deliver her last words. Hu Momo didn’t dare delay and fetched the master. Madam brought up the matter again, and the master grew angry. He said today was your joyous occasion and couldn’t she just keep quiet? He also said, ‘A married daughter is like spilled water—how could she encourage her daughter to be unfilial to her mother-in-law?’ Hearing this, Madam made an even bigger scene. Fifth Madam and others, hearing the commotion, rushed over."

Dou Zhao sneered.

Her father had grown up studying the classics. The Dou family had married daughters and daughters-in-law—how they treated others’ daughters was how they should treat their own married daughters. How could he tolerate a married daughter acting against filial piety?

Whether in her past life or this one, Wang Yingxue seemed restless. She had schemed to marry Father but never truly understood his temperament, living unhappily as a result.

But this had nothing to do with her.

Wang Yingxue’s affairs were for her own daughter, Dou Ming, to worry about.

She instructed Su Xin, "Tell everyone on our side not to poke around the rear courtyard. Be careful Father notices and drags me into this mess." Her tone held a hint of mockery in the last sentence.

Yet Su Xin felt this wasn’t impossible.

She quickly assented and withdrew.

However, after such a lengthy whispered conversation, how could Aunt not notice?

Once Su Xin left, Aunt asked what had happened.

Dou Zhao didn’t hide it and relayed the news she’d heard.

Aunt couldn’t help but remark sarcastically, "If she can’t even keep herself in order, how can she raise a daughter properly?" She then dismissed the matter and asked about Sixth Aunt, "Has she gone over to mediate? Why hasn’t she arrived yet?"

Dou Zhao, recalling last night’s conversation, wondered if Sixth Uncle’s family had decided to avoid her wedding to steer clear of suspicion.

The thought had just crossed her mind when Su Lan rushed in, exclaiming, "Fourth Miss, Fourth Miss! Sixth Madam is here, but Twelfth Master has sprained his ankle and can’t carry you to the bridal sedan!" She looked utterly dismayed.

Aunt and Zhao Zhangru were shocked, exclaiming in unison, "Sprained his ankle? How bad is it? Is it serious?"

"I don’t know," Su Lan admitted sheepishly. She had panicked upon hearing Dou Dechang couldn’t carry Dou Zhao and had rushed over without getting the full details. "Twelfth Master is using crutches!"

Dou Zhao quickly stood. "I’ll go see!"

Aunt and Zhao Zhangru agreed, saying, "Let’s all go together!"

The group headed to the Reception Hall.

Relatives and friends of the Dou family had gathered around Sixth Madam and Dou Dechang, inquiring about his injury.

When Dou Zhao arrived, Sixth Madam’s eyes dimmed slightly as she pulled her aside with an apologetic sigh.

Dou Dechang, meanwhile, turned his face away awkwardly.Dou Zhao was relieved to see that Dou Dechang hadn't been subjected to a paddle beating or similar punishment.

Aunt inquired about Dou Dechang's injuries.

Sixth Madam vaguely claimed he had accidentally fallen while bathing.

Without a word, Dou Zhao suddenly kicked Dou Dechang's supposedly injured foot.

"What are you doing?" Dou Dechang jumped up and retreated several steps with surprising agility.

Dou Zhao looked at him with a knowing half-smile, then glanced pointedly at his "injured" foot.

Only then did Dou Dechang realize he had instinctively retreated without using his crutches.

His face flushed crimson.

"You naughty child!" Sixth Madam sighed at Dou Zhao with mixed emotions, at a loss for words.

Dou Zhao linked arms with Sixth Madam and said cheerfully, "I don't care about all that messy business. You're like a mother to me, and Eleventh Brother and Twelfth Brother have always treated me as their own sister, always giving me the best of everything. Now that I'm getting married, I won't insist on Eleventh Brother helping since he has to care for his wife, but Twelfth Brother must personally carry me out the door!" Her words brought tears to Sixth Madam and Aunt's eyes.

Dou Dechang even threw aside his crutches and declared boldly, "I told you I didn't need this useless thing - just gave Fourth Sister a chance to laugh at me!" Then he patted his shoulder and assured Dou Zhao, "Don't worry, your brother will make sure to carry you steadily to the bridal sedan!"

His words made Dou Zhao's eyes sting with emotion.