Blossom

Dou Zhao felt she had done something foolish and was in low spirits.

But Tao Qizhong's mood was even more despondent than hers.

He had left the Capital on the twenty-fifth of August, traveling posthaste and arriving in Zhen Ding in just four days.

Upon entering the city, he stopped at a teahouse and inquired about the Dou family of Zhen Ding: "...the hometown of the current Minister of Justice and Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Hall, Dou Yuanji, the Grand Secretary!"

The tea server glanced at Tao Qizhong, who was dressed as a scholar, and while deftly preparing tea, he smiled and said, "You're not from around here, are you, sir? Who in Zhen Ding doesn't know the Dou family of North Tower! Our teahouse owner married the daughter of one of the Dou family's stewards, and my ancestors once sold cotton to the Dous. You've asked the right person!"

Only then did Tao Qizhong truly grasp how deeply rooted the Dou family was in Zhen Ding.

He chuckled, "I'm from the south, having served as a private tutor in the Capital for many years. Now that I'm advanced in years, I've resigned and am returning home. A few days ago, I saw the Dou family marrying off their daughter with such grandeur—ten miles of red decorations, even more lavish than our southern weddings—which piqued my curiosity!"

The tea server laughed and said, "You must mean Fourth Miss Dou, right? She was betrothed to the Marquis of Jining in the Capital since childhood. But after the old marquis passed away, she observed three years of mourning. Last year, the Second Madam personally escorted her to the Capital for the wedding. By now, Fourth Miss Dou should already be married."

So the news of the Dou sisters switching marriages hadn't reached Zhen Ding yet. Or perhaps the Dou family already knew but remained silent, unsure how to explain it to their neighbors.

Just as Tao Qizhong was about to ask about Dou Zhao, someone nearby remarked, "What a pity the Second Madam isn't home. Otherwise, when Miss Dou the Fourth married, the Capital would surely have sent news of the joyous occasion. The Dou family would have hosted a grand feast, set up stages for operas, and handed out Red Envelopes. We could've joined in the festivities!"

Accompanying Tao Qizhong was his trusted attendant, who naturally knew the purpose of their visit. Unable to hide his surprise, Tao Qizhong pondered briefly before smiling and saying, "The Dou family is truly wealthy—no wonder they could be so extravagant. Even the dowry included a chest of Silver Notes."

His words were like water splashed into hot oil, causing an uproar.

"A chest of Silver Notes? Why would they include that in the dowry?" someone asked curiously. "Sir, what exactly happened?"

Everyone in the teahouse—locals and travelers alike—turned their eyes to Tao Qizhong.

He then recounted the details of the dowry.

Some were envious, some sighed in admiration, while others remarked sourly, "The Dou family has money to spare—what's a chest of Silver Notes to them? Back in the day, when Duke Yaocheng of the Dou family hosted the Salt Transport Commissioner passing through Zhen Ding to Huai'an, he not only hired opera troupes from the Capital but also lit over a thousand glazed lotus lanterns in the Waterside Pavilion. Under the starry sky, it was hard to tell whether you were in heaven or on earth. Now that was true extravagance!"Someone scoffed and said, "That was ages ago! If we're talking about grand occasions, I think the coming-of-age ceremony of Fourth Miss Dou two years ago was truly spectacular! Not only did the Dou family's female relatives from the distant Capital attend, along with Madam Zhao who accompanied her husband to his post in the northwest, but even in-laws like the Ji family from Yixing in Jiangnan, wives of local gentry like Lord Lu, the managers of all Dou family shops, the Manor Heads from their farmsteads, and even neighbors came to celebrate Fourth Miss Dou's coming-of-age. The entire Northern Zhili region was stirred—this wasn't something money alone could achieve!"

This speech set off lively discussions, yet no one dared to refute it.

Tao Qizhong drew a sharp breath. "Why did everyone return to celebrate Fourth Miss Dou's coming-of-age ceremony?"

A busybody loudly laughed and explained, "The Dou family's female relatives from the Capital returned because Seventh Master Dou was serving in the Capital, and Fourth Miss Dou stayed home to fulfill filial duties on her father's behalf, caring for Seventh Master's birth mother, Concubine Cui. The Dou elders wanted to show their appreciation to Fourth Miss Dou! As for Lord Zhao, she's his only niece, cherished like a pearl in his palm. Though the Zhao family followed Lord Zhao to the northwest, Madam Zhao returns every few years to check on Fourth Miss Dou, fearing that without her birth mother, she might be slighted. Of course Madam Zhao would return for her coming-of-age. As for noblewomen like Madam Lu, seeing how Second Madam values Fourth Miss Dou, they merely added flowers to the brocade. As for the shop managers and Manor Heads... Fourth Miss Dou not only oversees the Household Affairs of Western Dou but also manages the family's business affairs with the support of Third Master Dou. How dare they not attend her coming-of-age ceremony?"

No sooner had he finished than the earlier scoffing man retorted, "Your words are biased. Everyone in Zhen Ding knows Fourth Miss Dou's pure and kind nature. Years ago, if not for her intervention in the lawsuit involving the Bie family's martial arts school in East Lane, would Master Bie have been exonerated? The Bie sisters still live under her protection today! During the great flood in Zhen Ding, if not for Fourth Miss Dou waiving rents on some Dou farmsteads, countless families would have been forced to sell their children. How can you claim the managers and Manor Heads only came to flatter her?"

His words immediately won the approval of most in the teahouse, who buzzed with criticism toward the loud speaker.

The man looked embarrassed and lowered his head to sip his tea.

This scene thundered through Tao Qizhong's mind like a roaring storm. His heart grew heavier, as if weighed down by a boulder, and he could no longer maintain a polite smile.

Was this the same Fourth Miss Dou he knew—the one who grew up in the countryside, dull-witted, stubborn, disliked, and without support?

Were they talking about the same person?

Unable to hold back, Tao Qizhong asked, "Wasn't it said that Fourth Miss Dou was neglected by her stepmother, so she remained in Zhen Ding to be raised by Seventh Master Dou's concubine-born birth mother? How did it become 'fulfilling filial duties on her father's behalf'?"Someone in the teahouse chuckled and said, "Old sir, you must have come from Lingbi County? Don’t listen to Pang Jia’s nonsense. That Wang Shi was just a concubine elevated to wife status. Though she’s Wang Yousheng’s daughter, back then Wang Yousheng was down on his luck—how could he care for his children? This Wang Shi lacked proper upbringing, and even after being elevated, she remained unfit for proper society. The household affairs had to be managed by Fourth Miss Dou. How old was she then? How could a petty woman like Wang Shi tolerate that? But Fourth Miss Dou, raised with strict family discipline, wouldn’t stoop to her level. Instead, she requested to study under Sixth Madam Dou, rarely returning to Western Dou. That’s why, when Fourth Miss Dou came of age, the Ji Family sent someone to congratulate her—Sixth Madam treated her like her own daughter, and so the Ji Family regarded her as their cousin. Wang Shi schemed endlessly, never imagining that by driving Fourth Miss Dou away, she’d actually gained her a powerful marital alliance. Speaking of the Yixing Ji Family, they’re no ordinary household. They’ve produced two Imperial Tutors, and to this day, seven or eight Presented Scholars serve in the Capital. How could the Wang Family, with no official titles, compare? Truly, man proposes, but heaven disposes—and serves Wang Shi right for failing to bear a son."

The last remark was vicious, startling Tao Qizhong, who scrutinized the speaker while pondering the Yixing Ji Family.

In his memory, the Ji Family had only six officials.

Though the man’s words were slightly exaggerated, they weren’t entirely baseless.

This suggested his claims weren’t entirely fabricated.

Had he been mistaken?

A thought that had lingered in his mind for days suddenly surfaced, sending a tremor through Tao Qizhong’s heart. The image of Song Mo flashed before his eyes...

Could it be...?

No, no, no!

Impossible!

If this involved the Young Lord, how would he even know Fourth Miss Dou?

But if it had nothing to do with the Young Lord, why would the Dou Family stage this sister-swapping marriage for no reason?

Tao Qizhong’s mind was in turmoil.

Nearby, whispers circulated: "The one cursing Wang Shi—isn’t he the Lang Family’s steward?"

"He’s the dowry servant of Lang Family’s Fifteenth Madam."

"So that’s it!"

"Have you heard? Pang Jia’s pawnshop recently acquired a gilded Maitreya Buddha—turned out to be fake! They lost over eight hundred taels and ran to the county magistrate, claiming they’d been swindled by Lang Family’s Fifteenth Madam."

The crowd snickered, exchanging knowing looks.

"Whose fault is it if their appraisers misjudged?" someone remarked. "What did the magistrate say?"

"What could he say?" another laughed. "Goods and payment must be verified on the spot. If they didn’t notice then, crying foul now is pointless. Even if the Zhu Family’s young master becomes a Recommended Man, no respectable household—let alone a humble one—would drag people into court over this. Pang Jia just clings to the Wang Family’s coattails—do they really think Zhen Ding’s magistrate’s office belongs to them?"

Someone questioned, "Could it be a mistake? Going to the magistrate over eight hundred taels?""Why would I lie to you? The Pang family isn't what it used to be. Ever since Pang Kunbai was mistaken for a bandit by Fourth Miss Dou's guards and beaten half to death, the Pangs seem to have fallen under a curse. Every business venture fails, and each year is worse than the last. If Old Master Pang were still alive, why would his three sons be clamoring to divide the family estate?"

"Have you heard this?" someone else whispered. "They say Madam Pang, the paternal aunt, is fed up with the family always causing her trouble. She's made it clear—the Pangs are the Pangs, and she is herself. From now on, they should keep their affairs from involving her..."

The murmurs continued.

Tao Qizhong's expression turned blank.

The Pang and Dou families were related by marriage, yet Pang Kunbai was mistaken for a bandit by Fourth Miss Dou's guards and beaten half to death... Could such a misunderstanding really happen?

He shuddered involuntarily, then snapped back to reality and hurriedly signaled his attendant to settle the bill before slipping out of the teahouse.

A cold wind blew, swirling withered leaves around his feet. He instinctively tucked his hands into his sleeves.

Zhen Ding County wasn't the Dou family's territory. He refused to believe he couldn't find out what kind of person Fourth Miss Dou was.

Unwilling to give up, Tao Qizhong wandered aimlessly through the streets with his attendant. Spotting a general store that also served tea, he saw a sharp-faced old woman in her fifties idly cracking melon seeds behind the counter.

After a moment's thought, he entered, tossed down two taels of silver, and ordered two cups of scented tea.

The old woman's eyes gleamed at the generous customer. She eagerly brought out two pastries and a small dish of melon seeds.

Tao Qizhong asked her, "Do you know where the residence of Grand Secretary Dou, the current Minister of Justice and Grand Academician of the Wenhua Hall, is located?"

The old woman chuckled, eyeing Tao Qizhong like a piece of choice meat. "Are you here to deliver gifts to the Dou family, sir? Unfortunately, Second Madam isn't home—Third Master Dou is currently managing affairs. Let me tell you, there's nothing about Zhen Ding County that I don't know..."

Tao Qizhong slipped her several pieces of broken silver totaling about three or four taels.