Blossom

Not long after Aunt left, news arrived from the south of the Yangtze River,

and the household immediately fell into chaos.

Eldest Aunt took to her bed, unable to bear the blow, while Third Aunt took charge of the Dong Dou household affairs. Third Uncle led Second Cousin Dou Yuchang to Yangzhou to handle Eldest Uncle’s funeral arrangements, and Fourth Cousin Dou Rongchang assisted Sixth Uncle in managing the family’s miscellaneous affairs. Grandfather seemed to have aged ten years overnight, spending his days lying dazed in the Drunken Old Man Chair in his study.

The atmosphere in both the Dong and Xi Dou branches was heavy and somber.

None of this, however, affected Dou Zhao. She still dragged anything she fancied into her room every day. Dou Shiying teased her, “Not going to see your little sister anymore?”

“Wang Yiniang doesn’t like me visiting her,” Dou Zhao pouted, feigning indifference, though a hint of sadness flickered in her eyes.

Dou Shiying’s heart skipped a beat, but he said nothing, merely reaching out to gently stroke her jet-black hair before murmuring, “Very well. Father will teach you calligraphy instead.”

Dou Zhao asked him, “When is Grandmother coming?”

The Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching, and she hoped to speak with her grandmother during the celebration.

Dou Shiying frowned slightly. “Who told you to call Consort Cui ‘Grandmother’?”

Dou Zhao inwardly cursed.

Her grandmother had only been addressed as “Grandmother” after Dou Xiao’s birth. Since childhood, she had lived with her grandmother and had always referred to her as such in her memories, completely forgetting this detail.

She could only mumble vaguely, “What else should I call her?”

“You must call her Consort Cui!” Dou Shiying patiently instructed his daughter. “With your Eldest Uncle’s passing, everyone is grieving. This year’s Mid-Autumn Festival will likely be a quiet affair, and Consort Cui may choose to stay at the farmstead for the occasion.” He then asked, “Why do you wish to see Consort Cui?”

Dou Zhao replied, “They say Consort Cui knows how to farm!”

Dou Shiying burst into laughter. “Indeed, your Consort Cui is quite skilled at tending crops. Her farmstead has always been the most profitable among our family’s estates.” As he spoke, his gaze grew distant.

Perhaps this was the sorrow of a concubine’s child.

Dou Zhao didn’t press the matter further and instead pulled her father to the study to practice calligraphy.

That year, on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, the family merely shared mooncakes. Compared to previous years, when they had admired the moon and lanterns, the occasion felt desolate.

The maids whispered among themselves, “Who knows how long this mourning period will last?”

By the end of the ninth month, Eldest Uncle’s coffin was transported back to Zhen Ding County.

The Dou family donned mourning attire, and half of Zhen Ding County was draped in white.

The county magistrate, along with Sixth Uncle and Father, personally received the coffin at the city gates. Grandfather and Second Madam, as elders, did not attend the funeral.

Dou Zhao met her ninth cousin, Dou Huanchang, whose childhood name was Lan Ge’er.

At sixteen, he was frail and pale, trembling as he thanked mourners before his father’s spirit tablet. But the moment he turned away, he collapsed into Grandfather’s arms, sobbing, “Father coughed up so much blood…”

Grandfather’s eyes welled with tears as he embraced the boy, comforting him softly, “Good child, from now on, you shall study under your uncle-grandfather.”

Dou Huanchang nodded, his gaze filled with reverence as he looked at Grandfather.

Dou Zhao sneered inwardly.

Grandfather had already led Father astray—now he was ruining Eldest Uncle’s son too.

No wonder Dou Huanchang spent nearly twenty years trying and failing to become a Presented Scholar!

She gritted her teeth and persisted in practicing three hundred large characters daily.

Yet Dou Huanchang was exceptionally kind to her—after all, they were the only two in the family wearing the heaviest mourning clothes.He often shared the delicious treats made by Eldest Aunt with Dou Zhao, and her attitude toward him gradually softened.

Soon, it was the twelfth lunar month, and Dou Zhao’s mother was to have her minor memorial ceremony.

Father would soon complete his mourning period, but Dou Zhao still had to wear mourning clothes for another fifteen months.

Third Aunt came to discuss with Grandfather the matter of arranging a new marriage for Father.

Since the passing of Eldest Uncle, Eldest Aunt was no longer the Lineage Wife of the Dou family. By rights, Second Aunt should have taken over managing the household, but she was accompanying Second Uncle at his official post and had to settle matters there before returning to the hometown with their children. For the time being, household affairs were being handled by Third Aunt.

Grandfather asked Third Aunt, “Do you have any suitable candidates in mind?”

Third Aunt considered carefully before replying, “Eldest Aunt has a younger cousin who often visited our family as a child. She has good character and looks, and Eldest Aunt is in favor of the match. Then there’s the fifth young lady of the Zhu family in the east of the city—their patriarch is a Recommended Man—and the granddaughter of Official Chen from Nanlou Township. Miss Zhu is gentle and obedient, has studied with her brothers for several years, and has some knowledge of poetry, music, and painting. I imagine she would get along well with Seventh Uncle. Official Chen once served as the prefect of Songjiang. The young lady in question is his third granddaughter. I haven’t met her, but she has a reputation for virtue. The other families either have slightly inferior status or their daughters are of lesser birth—being born of concubines—so I don’t think they’re worth considering.”

Grandfather nodded, greatly appreciating Third Aunt’s thoroughness. “You’ve thought this through well. Wanyuan is born of a concubine—he absolutely must not marry another concubine-born daughter. I think we’ll settle on the young lady from the Zhu family. As for Eldest Aunt’s cousin, the connection is too close—sometimes that isn’t necessarily a good thing. Official Chen always considers himself a scholar, but his ways are rather pedantic. A young lady raised in such a household would likely be too rigid.”

Third Aunt rose with a smile. “Then I’ll inform the Zhu family. Who do you think should go to meet the young lady on your behalf?”

Since her disgrace in the main hall, Ding Yinyinai had claimed illness and stayed in seclusion. Grandfather was now attended by Qiufen, formerly Ding Yinyinai’s senior maid.

Grandfather hesitated, pondering for a long while before saying, “You may decide on this matter.”

Third Aunt left cheerfully.

Dou Zhao heard the news while practicing calligraphy at her rosewood desk.

The household would soon welcome a new mistress, and she would have to move out of the main residence.

From then on, traces of her mother’s presence would grow fainter in her life.

The thought left her feeling lost.

She just didn’t know where Father would arrange for her to live.

She would have Tuo Niang and the others start packing later.

With Western Dou lacking a mistress to manage the household, once the marriage was settled, Miss Zhu would likely be wedded quickly.

Dou Zhao set down her brush and gently flexed her sore wrist.

Meanwhile, Father went to see Grandfather with a frown.

“I don’t wish to remarry,” he said, staring straight at Grandfather, his expression resolute. “I want to observe mourning for Gu Qiu for three years.”

“Preposterous!” Grandfather was furious. “How old are you? How can you still be so unreasonable! You’re the family’s only son—instead of thinking about continuing the Dou lineage as soon as possible, you’re imitating those frivolous wastrels who mourn their wives… Do you even understand what responsibility means? What duty is?” His beard quivered with rage. “This is not up for discussion! I’ll have your third sister-in-law and the Zhu family set a date soon. All you need to do is prepare for the wedding!”

Dou Zhao, who had been eavesdropping at the door, nearly stumbled in shock.Next May, Wang Xingyi will be reinstated to his official position.

The Wang Family still has to maintain their standing in official circles, and they would never allow their daughter to be a concubine.

If Father remarries before next May, the Wang Family will either leave Dou Ming with the Dou family and have Wang Yingxue return to her parents' home, or they will send Wang Yingxue three feet of white silk to force her to hang herself, or they will send her to a nunnery to live out her days in solitude.

If Father does not remarry before next May...

In her past life, Wang Xingyi always felt he owed his wife and children greatly. After achieving wealth and status, he remained devoted to his aging wife, never indulging in other women, and showed great love and care for his children, fulfilling their every request to the best of his ability. Especially Wang Yingxue—not only was she rejected by her fiancé, but she also had to step out in public to help support the family, delaying her own marriage. Thus, he doted on Dou Ming and Dou Xiao even more than his own grandchildren.

If her guess was correct, Wang Xingyi would surely find a way to have the Dou family elevate Wang Yingxue to the status of the legitimate wife.

Then wouldn’t Wang Yingxue become her stepmother again!

No, no!

This must not happen!

Father must remarry before next May.

Make Wang Yingxue leave!

But Father’s attitude was unshakably firm: "Father, if you’re not afraid of severing ties with the Zhu family, then go ahead and set the wedding date. In any case, I won’t be present at the ceremony that day, and even if Miss Zhu marries into our family, I will ignore her."

"You dare defy me!" Grandfather’s face turned purple with rage, and he slammed his teacup onto the ground with a loud crash. "Go ahead and refuse to appear—let’s see if Miss Zhu can still enter our household!"

"Father!" Father suddenly knelt before Grandfather, his voice choked with emotion. "I’ll obey you in everything from now on—just grant me this one request! I know I’m the only son in the family, and you were over forty when you had me. You’ve longed to dandle grandchildren on your knees and see the family line continue. Just let me be willful this one last time! From now on, I’ll follow the rules diligently, study hard, pass the examinations, bring honor to the Dou family, and ensure our lineage thrives. Father, please grant me this one wish!"

Father kowtowed to Grandfather repeatedly, his forehead thudding against the floor.

The sound struck Dou Zhao’s heart like a hammer, making her chest tighten with a pang of sorrow.

Why now?

Why didn’t he insist on mourning Mother earlier or later? Why did it have to be just as Wang Xingyi was about to be reinstated?

In her past life, hadn’t he eagerly married Wang Yingxue before Mother’s hundred-day mourning period was even over? Why play the good man now?

If he had known this would happen, why did he act the way he did before?

Now that she had everything arranged, Father suddenly decided to stand in the way!

What kind of mess was this?

Dou Zhao was both frantic and furious.

Then she heard Grandfather’s hesitant voice: "You’ve already mourned her for a year... That’s already more than enough..."

"Father, Father," Father kowtowed again, his voice even louder. "I’m only asking for this one thing, just this one thing!"

Dou Duo looked at his son’s bruised forehead and let out a long sigh. "If you insist on mourning, then mourn. But you must pass next year’s Provincial Examination..."

"Thank you, Father! Thank you!" Father’s face was alight with joy.

Dou Zhao’s face felt icy cold. When she touched it, her fingers came away wet.

※※※※※

A few days later, the Zhu family sent a message to Third Aunt, saying that the fifth daughter of the Zhu family admired Father for his deep sense of loyalty and righteousness and was willing to wait for him for three years.Grandfather was overjoyed and personally selected several stacks of Yuban paper, two Duan inkstones, and a box of Huzhou brushes from the treasury to have the steward deliver to the Recommended Man, praising Third Aunt for her sharp judgment.

Third Aunt smiled faintly and asked Father, "Was the horoscope matching accurate or not?"

Father remained silent, but the tension in his expression eased noticeably.

Third Aunt took the horoscope card bearing Father's birth details to the Zhu family.

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O(∩_∩)O~

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