Blossom

Wei Tingyu gave a bitter smile and addressed Song Mo as "brother-in-law."

Calling him "brother" was something he truly couldn't bring himself to do!

Song Mo smiled faintly, appearing very humble.

Dou Shiying was quite satisfied.

Both sons-in-law came from illustrious backgrounds, yet they adhered to the etiquette of meeting as members of the wife's family. This was not only a sign of respect for his daughters but also for the Dou family.

Since the Dou family ancestral hall was not in the Capital, he led Song Mo and Dou Zhao to the main hall, where they kowtowed and offered incense to the portraits of the Dou ancestors, thereby completing the ancestral worship and announcing the joyous occasion. Afterward, he brought them back to the Reception Hall to kowtow to Dou Shishu and others, formally recognizing their familial ties.

Perhaps considering that the Duke of England's Mansion was a household of wealth and refinement, where gold and silver had value but books were priceless, Dou Shishu's gift was a Ming Dynasty printed edition of The Spring and Autumn Annals , while Dou Shiheng presented a set of Commentaries on the Four Books . As elder brothers, Dou Wenchang, Dou Bochang, and others gave gifts such as fine ink sticks, high-quality paper, jade brush washers, or enamel ink-warming stoves—all items related to scholarly pursuits.

Dou Zhao suppressed a smile.

Noticing this, Song Mo took advantage of a moment when no one was paying attention and whispered to her, "What are you laughing at?"

Dou Zhao glanced at Chen He, who was tasked with holding the gifts, and replied softly, "You could go sit for the imperial examinations!"

Song Mo looked at the scholarly treasures and couldn't help but smile.

After greeting those older than them, it was time to meet the younger relatives or juniors.

Wei Tingyu touched the Red Envelope in his sleeve, unsure whether to present it or not. By etiquette, although Song Mo was the brother-in-law, Wei Tingyu had married first. Giving a gift now would be proper, but not doing so was also acceptable—though it might seem timid and petty. However, since the Dou family had all given gifts that couldn't be measured in monetary terms, his Red Envelope containing two hundred taels of silver notes might appear vulgar in comparison.

While hesitating, Song Mo had already clasped his hands in greeting and handed Wei Tingyu a Red Envelope.

Wei Tingyu, seeing the row of children behind him, flushed crimson. Just as he was about to refuse, Song Mo unceremoniously pressed the envelope into his hand, saying with a laugh, "We’re not strangers—take it!" This reminded Wei Tingyu of the time Song Mo had advised him to follow Gu Yu into the river engineering business and shared the profits.

He was momentarily stunned.

Meanwhile, Song Mo bent down with a smile and patted the head of Dou Jichang's eldest son, Dou Qiren, handing him a Red Envelope.

Dou Qiren loudly exclaimed, "Thank you, Fourth Uncle!" His excitement was palpable, deepening Song Mo's smile.

Dou Jichang's second son, Dou Qifu, didn’t wait for Song Mo to take out another envelope before shouting, "Fourth Uncle, me too, me too!" His chubby little hand nearly reached Song Mo's face.

"I remember, Fu Ge'er too!" Song Mo chuckled.

Dou Qifu cheered, took the envelope, and toddled on his plump legs toward Dou Jingyuan in the west hall: "Sister, sister, I got a Red Envelope!"

Dou Jingyuan was Dou Bochang's daughter.

Hearing this, she came running over, tugging at Song Mo's robe. "Fourth Uncle, you didn’t give me a Red Envelope," she said in a sweet, soft voice, her large eyes blinking.

Song Mo’s heart melted completely.

"Alright, alright," he said with a laugh, picking her up and giving her two Red Envelopes.

Dou Jingyuan giggled triumphantly, waving her envelopes at Dou Qiren and Dou Qifu.Dou Qiren and Dou Qifu clung to Song Mo's legs, one on each side, shouting loudly, "Uncle Four! I want two too! I want two too!"

The Dou family members looked embarrassed, and the three children's wet nurses were even more mortified, stepping forward to coax the children.

But Song Mo smiled and stopped the wet nurses. "It's all in good fun. No need to be so formal." He then took out two more red envelopes and gave them to Dou Qiren and Dou Qifu.

The two boys cheered with delight.

Dou Jingyuan pouted, unwilling to be left out. "I want one too!"

To everyone's surprise, Song Mo gave her one as well.

Dou Jingyuan beamed with joy, while Dou Qiren and Dou Qifu stared in disbelief.

Fifth Madam flushed with embarrassment and glared at her two daughters-in-law.

Guo Shi, startled, quickly stepped forward to pick up Dou Jingyuan and urged her with a smile, "Hurry and thank Uncle Four!"

"Thank you, Uncle Four!" Dou Jingyuan chirped in her childish voice, then added ingratiatingly, "Uncle Four, when the New Year comes, you should visit our house! I'll ask Grandfather to write spring couplets for you!"

Having grown up seeing many people come to their home seeking Dou Shishu's spring couplets but leaving empty-handed, she had come to believe they were the best things in the world. Her words made Dou Shishu so uncomfortable that he stood up and clasped his hands at Song Mo. "Please excuse her childishness!"

But Song Mo laughed. "Jing Jie'er's kindness is sincere. You mustn't refuse when the time comes, Fifth Uncle."

Dou Shishu was taken aback by Song Mo's affability but soon smiled in return. "As long as the Young Lord doesn't find them unworthy."

Song Mo replied, "I've long heard of Fifth Uncle's elegant and refined calligraphy but never had the chance to see it. Now, thanks to Jing Jie'er's good fortune, I can finally ask for a pair of spring couplets from you. How could I ever think them 'unworthy'?"

Dou Shishu was about to demur again when Dou Shiheng cut in impatiently, "Why so formal among family? If you want some calligraphy or paintings from Fifth Brother, just drop by and ask. Though, half of his skill comes from his diligence in youth, and the other half from his current position as a Grand Academician of the Grand Secretariat. Don't set your hopes too high!"

His words drew suppressed laughter from everyone, and Dou Shishu shook his head with a wry smile. "Since when does family undermine family?" He then turned to Song Mo and asked, "I've heard from several elders at the Imperial Academy that your calligraphy is quite impressive. The Emperor even had you copy Buddhist scriptures for him. Who was your teacher? And what texts have you studied?"

"I studied under Lord Zhongyi," Song Mo answered earnestly. "I read the Spring and Autumn Annals with him."

Among the vast ocean of classical texts, even scholars preparing for the imperial examinations could not master them all, typically focusing on one as their primary study. Lord Zhongyi had been a renowned Confucian scholar and tutor to several imperial princes. He had passed away three years earlier and was posthumously honored with the title "Zhongyi" (Loyal and Steadfast).

"It seems I chose the right book to gift you," Dou Shishu remarked, stroking his beard with a smile. His gaze at Song Mo shifted subtly, as if discovering a kindred spirit.

Dou Shiheng's expression also changed slightly. "The Spring and Autumn Annals is lengthy and difficult to memorize. Nowadays, few scholars preparing for the exams have the patience to study it. I didn't expect you to read it."

He himself had studied the Spring and Autumn Annals .

Song Mo smiled. "Since I'm not sitting for the exams, I can take my time with it."Dou Shiheng nodded in agreement. "This is already quite remarkable." He even went so far as to put an arm around Song Mo's shoulders, intending to sit down and chat with him.

Ji Shi couldn't help but feel both amused and exasperated. She quickly interjected with a smile, "Husband, whatever you wish to discuss can wait for another day when you invite the heir to our home. Today, let him first meet Fifth Madam and the other nieces-in-law."

Dou Shiheng laughed heartily, slapping his forehead. "Look at my memory!" he exclaimed, then proceeded to overstep his role by pulling Song Mo along to introduce him to Fifth Madam.

Thanks to the children's playful antics, the atmosphere became lively and joyous, a stark contrast to the solemnity when they first arrived.

After Dou Zhao and Song Mo kowtowed to Fifth Madam, she personally helped Dou Zhao up and handed her a red lacquer box adorned with gold designs. "A pair of jade hairpins," she said warmly. "May you respect each other and grow old together."

Compared to their earlier meeting with Dou Shishu and others, this was far more cordial and friendly.

Song Mo and Dou Zhao promptly thanked Fifth Madam before kowtowing to Sixth Madam.

Ji Shi's gift to them was a small chiming clock.

"How beautiful!" Dou Zhao exclaimed with genuine delight, thanking her repeatedly.

Ji Shi simply smiled without a word, adjusting Dou Zhao's collar before stepping aside.

Dou Ming's eyes reddened with envy.

She recalled her own return to her maiden home three days after her wedding—how Dou Shishu had appeared affectionate yet carried an air of indifference and arrogance beneath the surface. She remembered the Red Envelopes from Dou Shishu and the other elders, each containing a hundred taels in silver notes for Wei Tingyu and herself...

Why was she treated differently from Dou Zhao, despite both being married daughters?

She glanced at Wei Tingyu, who stood awkwardly in a corner, wearing an embarrassed smile.

Dou Ming bit her lip tightly.

Addressing Song Mo as "brother-in-law," she cooed, "What gifts have you and sister prepared for me?"

Song Mo handed her a Red Envelope with a smile, then teased Jing Jie'er playfully, "Jing Jie'er received my Red Envelope but hasn't bowed to me yet!"

Jing Jie'er covered her mouth, giggling, before respectfully bowing to Song Mo and Dou Zhao.

Gaosheng hurried over to invite everyone to the east hall for the banquet. "The food and wine are ready!"

The group cheerfully moved to the west hall.

No one paid any attention to Dou Ming.

With a cold smirk, Dou Ming squeezed herself next to Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao pretended not to notice, calmly answering Fifth Madam's questions. "...The Hall of Cultivating Will has beautiful scenery, and the heir has always lived there. Moving would be a complicated affair—it might take two or three months to settle. It’s better to just stay at the Hall of Cultivating Will."

Fifth Madam nodded. "That’s reasonable. Your father-in-law is still in his prime and might remarry someday. Living at the Hall of Cultivating Will, far from him, will give you peace."

Noticing Dou Ming eavesdropping, Ji Shi poured Fifth Madam a cup of wine and said, "No matter how large the inner courtyard of the Duke of England's Mansion is, can it compare to Western Dou? Since Shou Gu managed the Household Affairs of Western Dou, surely she can handle those of the Duke of England's Mansion. And if she ever faces uncertainty, isn’t there you to advise her? Don’t worry—she’ll live comfortably!" She deftly steered the conversation away, instructing a maid to check on the remaining dishes and discussing dried fruits from Chunfangzhai with Fifth Madam.

Fifth Madam then praised the tangerines served at the banquet. "Their tangerines are delicious. I wonder how they’re prepared?"

Ji Shi chuckled. "I think they’re not as good as Fujian’s candied tangerines."

And so, the topic was diverted.Dou Ming knew Ji Shi was guarding against her. She lightly kicked Han Shi and whispered, "Your mother-in-law is quite hard to please, isn't she?"

Han Shi subtly shifted her position, creating a barely noticeable distance from Dou Ming, and replied softly with a smile, "My mother-in-law is actually quite good! It's just that the Ji family insists on having only the finest and most delicate dishes."

She used to pity Dou Ming for lacking affection, but after the incident of the sisters switching marriages, she realized how naive she had been, having oversimplified many things.