Blossom

Dou Zhao linked arms with Sixth Aunt and returned to the side chamber with Aunt and Zhao Zhangru, ignoring Wang Yingxue's commotion—today was Dou Zhao's wedding day, and the bride took precedence. After a quiet lunch, Madam Zhao, the woman of complete blessings, arrived.

After exchanging greetings, Madam Zhao began directing the servants to assist Dou Zhao with washing, dressing, and preparing for the wedding.

Having participated in the weddings of Zhao Zhangru's two elder sisters, Gan Lu was quite experienced in checking the personal items Dou Zhao would bring with her. Meanwhile, Aunt and Sixth Aunt sat in the main hall drinking tea.

"Fifth Madam still hasn't arrived—it seems the situation over there is quite serious!" Aunt whispered to Sixth Aunt.

Sixth Aunt got along well with Aunt and was happy to gossip with her about family matters.

"Over the years, Seventh Master has never shortchanged her financially, but he's never shown her warmth either," she said quietly. "Now that she's older, unlike in her youth when she thought she had plenty of time to wait for Seventh Master to change his mind, and with no son to rely on, she can't help but feel restless and lose her composure when thinking about the future. Otherwise, she wouldn't have come up with such a foolish idea as switching brides!" She added, "My mother-in-law originally planned to return to Zhen Ding on the sixth day of the ninth month, but after the incident with Mingjier substituting as the bride and Shou Gu quickly setting a wedding date with the Song family, the trip was postponed until the tenth day of the tenth month. Now that she's about to leave with my mother-in-law for Zhen Ding, and today being Shou Gu's big day, even if Seventh Master is unhappy, he should endure it for now. If she doesn't make a scene now, when will she?"

Aunt nodded slightly. "I wonder if the Wang Family will send anyone?"

By custom, the Wang Family was also Dou Zhao's maternal relatives. In such relationships, those who valued closeness would arrive a few days early to celebrate, staying for meals and festivities. The Wang Family had sent congratulatory gifts early but excused themselves by claiming Madam Xu Wang was unwell, so no one came for the pre-wedding feasts. Even during yesterday's dowry procession, they were absent.

Ji Shi had long believed that Wang Yingxue's increasingly outrageous behavior was largely due to the Wang Family's indulgence. Moreover, because Pang Kunbai had once set his sights on Dou Zhao, she harbored deep disdain for the Wang Family. With a cold laugh, she said, "It's better if they don't come. On such a joyous day, we wouldn't want Shou Gu to feel uncomfortable."

As they spoke, Dou Shiying walked in.

His hair was disheveled, his clothes wrinkled, and his expression grim, making him look quite disheveled. He asked Aunt and Ji Shi, "Where is Shou Gu?"

Aunt and Ji Shi exchanged a glance before smiling and replying, "What brings you here to see Shou Gu, brother-in-law? She's in the inner chamber getting ready."

Dou Shiying seemed to relax at this. "Please stay here with Shou Gu for now. I've already instructed Gaosheng to keep all unnecessary people out of the main courtyard."

They agreed with smiles, and only then did Dou Shiying leave with relief.

Su Lan, who had been sent by Aunt to gather information, immediately reappeared.

"Aunt, Sixth Madam," she said hurriedly, "Seventh Master arrived so suddenly that I didn't have time to return and report—"

No one was in the mood to dwell on that now.

"Don't blame yourself!" Aunt interrupted urgently. "What exactly happened over there? How did your master manage to leave so quickly? And why hasn't Fifth Madam come?""Seventh Madam kept crying and making a scene. Fifth Madam went to persuade her but couldn't calm her down, so the master lost his temper. He ordered the eldest young master to summon the Wang family's eldest young master, insisting that the Wang family take Seventh Madam back and refusing to listen to any pleas. He even pressured the eldest young master: 'If you think your Seventh Uncle can't command you, just say so, and I'll find someone else to deliver the message to the Wang family.' Seeing that Fifth Madam didn't even bat an eye, the eldest young master had no choice but to go to the Wang family," Su Lan recounted clearly and eloquently. "When Seventh Madam heard this, she wanted to kill herself. Fifth Madam stepped forward to stop her, and Seventh Madam nearly scratched Fifth Madam's face. Fifth Madam was furious and said, 'The congratulatory guests should be arriving soon. The master should go receive them to avoid suspicion and ruining the festive atmosphere. As for Seventh Madam, confine her to her room for now, and we'll deal with her after Fourth Miss leaves.' Just then, a maid came to report that Fifth Miss and the Marquis of Jining had arrived. Fifth Madam instructed her personal maidservant to fetch Fifth Miss and told the master, 'A mother and daughter share a bond. Since Seventh Madam is in poor spirits, perhaps Fifth Miss can console her.' The master then left, while Fifth Madam stayed in the back room to wait for Fifth Miss."

Aunt and Ji Shi suddenly understood. They then whispered among themselves, "I wonder how the Wang family will handle this?"

"Whatever happens, she's utterly humiliated this time and won't be able to hold her head up in front of the younger generation!"

"Who would have thought that our usually mild-mannered son-in-law could be so thunderously decisive?"

"The gentler they usually are, the harder it is to persuade them once they dig in their heels!"

From the inner chamber came Zhao Zhangru's delighted voice: "Shou Gu, you look so majestic in this phoenix crown and rosy cape! I can already imagine how you'll look in ceremonial robes as the heir's wife."

It seemed Dou Zhao had changed into her wedding attire.

Aunt and Ji Shi simultaneously stopped their conversation and cheerfully entered the inner chamber.

The tall Dou Zhao sat on the heated brick bed by the window in her bright red wedding dress, radiant and dazzling.

Aunt and Ji Shi couldn't hold back their tears.

Fifth Madam, looking exhausted, entered with Cai Shi.

"Shou Gu, you look absolutely beautiful today!" She forced a smile, holding Dou Zhao's hands and asking her all sorts of questions, while Cai Shi chimed in with jokes to lighten the mood.

Dou Zhao listened with a gentle smile.

Aunt and Ji Shi remained silent, letting Fifth Madam carry on her one-woman show without mentioning Wang Yingxue.

Soon, the auspicious hour arrived. Madam Zhao symbolically combed Dou Zhao's hair three times, and after drinking lotus seed and lily soup, the sky gradually darkened.

Relatives from the Dou family began gathering in Dou Zhao's room.

Everyone praised the bride for her grace and elegance, saying she was born to be a Madam.

In the distance, the faint crackling of firecrackers could be heard.

Someone suddenly shouted at the top of their lungs, "The bridal sedan has arrived, the bridal sedan has arrived!"

Many of the women in Dou Zhao's room rushed out to see the excitement.

Aunt and Ji Shi stayed behind, hurriedly helping Dou Zhao with final preparations.

Dou Zhao's heart was remarkably calm, as composed as when she had moved from Zhen Ding to the small residence in Jing'an Temple Alley. This prompted Aunt to laugh and say, "Truly, the emperor isn't anxious, but the eunuchs are dying of worry."

Ji Shi couldn't help but chuckle, her sorrow suddenly melting away.

Dou Zhao also couldn't suppress a laugh.A little maid ran in excitedly and said, "The fourth son-in-law is so generous! He’s giving out silver ingots worth eight fen each, scattering two full baskets of them like stars in the sky."

Aunt and the others couldn’t help but smile faintly.

Su Xin rewarded her with a red envelope.

Outside, the celebratory sound of drums and music could be heard.

Another little maid rushed in cheerfully: "The fourth son-in-law’s bridal sedan has entered the gate!"

Aunt and Ji Shi nervously urged Dou Zhao, "Sit properly now!"

Yet another maid came running in to report: "The wedding matron from the fourth son-in-law’s family has arrived."

Madam Zhao hurried out to greet her. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Eldest Madam Lu of the Lu family, they entered the inner chamber. Following a few polite words with Aunt and the others, Madam Zhao and Eldest Madam Lu escorted Dou Zhao to the reception hall.

The groom’s party from the Song family and the bride’s party from the Dou family, along with musicians from both sides, crowded inside and outside the reception hall, filling it with noise and clamor.

Dou Zhao immediately spotted Song Mo, dressed in bright red wedding robes.

The dazzling color set off his flawless, snow-white complexion, as if reflecting in his eyes, making them shine as brightly as the sun.

Dou Zhao was momentarily stunned.

This version of Song Mo was both familiar and strange to her.

Familiar was his usual reserved smile, but unfamiliar was his striking elegance.

He stood out like a crane among chickens, making everyone around him pale in comparison.

Since when... had Song Mo become so handsome?

As she pondered, Madam Zhao’s low whisper came from beside her: "It’s time to bid farewell to your parents!"

She quickly gathered her thoughts and knelt respectfully to kowtow three times to her father, who had freshened up and now appeared neatly dressed and composed.

Dou Shiying gazed at his daughter with mixed emotions. Breaking protocol slightly, he personally helped her up and softly recited, "Go to your new home, and be obedient and virtuous." His voice suddenly choked, unable to continue, and his eyes glistened with unshed tears—his reluctance painfully evident.

No one had expected this.

When daughters married, it was usually the mother who couldn’t bear to part. None had ever encountered a father like Dou Shiying.

For a moment, the reception hall fell into silence.

Dou Zhao couldn’t hold back her tears, which fell like rain.

She thought of her mother’s death, of her father’s doting smile when she used to raid his treasures as a child, of his prematurely graying hair...

"Daddy!" She knelt before him, weeping silently.

"Get up, get up!" Dou Shiying clumsily wiped her tears. "Today is your happy day—don’t ruin your makeup... The Duke of Yingguo’s mansion is so close; you can come back for holidays..."

But she would no longer be a daughter of the Dou family!

All the good and bad, the things she had gained and lost in life—she had thought she would cast them aside without hesitation, but now they became indelible memories etched in her heart.

"Daddy!" Dou Zhao sobbed uncontrollably.

The easily moved Zhao Zhangru and Guo Shi also began to weep quietly.

Song Mo watched the scene in astonishment, though a trace of envy flickered in his eyes.

The ceremony had turned into a sorrowful parting, filled with grief.

Eldest Madam Lu and Madam Zhao, mindful of not delaying the auspicious hour, were the first to regain composure. Madam Zhao quickly took out a handkerchief to dry Dou Zhao’s tears, while Eldest Madam Lu promptly produced the bridal veil, announcing cheerfully, "The bride must board the sedan now, the bride must board the sedan!"

The crowd snapped back to attention.Ji Shi called out to Dou Dechang, "Hurry and carry your fourth sister to the sedan chair!"

Eldest Madam Lu quickly placed the bridal veil over Dou Zhao's head and guided her onto Dou Dechang's back.

Amid the crackling bursts of firecrackers, Dou Zhao entered the sedan chair.

From beginning to end, Dou Ming never appeared.

From beginning to end, Dou Zhao never noticed Wei Tingyu standing far beneath the corridor of the Reception Hall.