Blossom

"Of course she must stay with the Dou family!" Wang Zhibing and Dou Duo declared in unison.

"No, no!" Wang Yingxue shook her head, her expression frantic. "She's still so young, I can't leave her with the Dou family..."

What then? Take her back to the Wang family?

Even if the Wang family agreed, the Dou family would never consent!

Wang Zhibing looked at his sister, who was acting like a protective mother bear, and felt a headache coming on.

After the scandal their family had been through, the neighbors had long been gossiping behind their backs. Now that their father had been reinstated to office, even more people would know about their family. Soon, it wouldn't just be their small Nanwa Village—the entire Zhen Ding Prefecture would be pointing fingers at them. Not only would their father lose face, but the children might never be able to hold their heads high in Nanwa again. That's why, before coming, he and their father had agreed to quietly bring his sister back home. Once their father was settled in his new post, the whole family would move there with him and never return to Nanwa.

He had even been thinking that after a few years, when things had calmed down, he could arrange a good marriage for his sister.

But what would it mean to bring this child along?

Would his sister ever be able to remarry then?

Even if, by some remote chance, the Dou family agreed to let his sister take the child, and their father consented to raise her, how would they explain the child's origins to relatives and friends?

They were leaving Nanwa precisely to escape the gossip. If they claimed the child was his sister's, her past would inevitably come to light, and their move would have been for nothing.

The only way to avoid suspicion would be to say the child was his or his younger brother Wang Zhibiao's.

But the timing was all wrong.

If they said she was his, he hadn't been home in years. If they said she was his brother's, his sister-in-law had just given birth to a healthy boy who was barely a month old... Could they claim she was found abandoned?

These thoughts flashed through his mind, but since this was a private family matter, he couldn't discuss it openly in front of Dou Duo.

Wang Zhibing had no choice but to lower his voice and say to Wang Yingxue, "We'll discuss some things when we get home."

Wang Yingxue didn't dare go back with her brother.

In her situation, a woman who had "Returned to her parents' home" would either be sent to a nunnery or married off far away—either way, she might never see her daughter again.

Dou Zhao at least had her uncles and the steward mammies her mother had left behind to look after her, but her own daughter had no one. She couldn't entrust her daughter's future to the hands of that Fifth Miss Zhu, whom she had never met or dealt with before.

What about Dou Shiying?

Wang Yingxue looked around.

Why wasn't he here?

He had always been soft-hearted—he would never stand by and let mother and daughter be separated.

"No!" She took two steps back, putting distance between herself and her brother, her gaze wary. "I won't go home with you unless we settle Mingjier's situation first!" She shot a meaningful glance at Qiongfang, who was standing by the hall entrance, then turned tearful eyes to Dou Duo. "Grandfather, Mingjier was born weak—she didn't even have the strength to nurse. The doctors and experienced old mammies all said she might not survive. It was me who raised her with painstaking care, through sickness and health. How can I just hand her over to someone else? For Mingjier's sake, I beg you—let me take her with me!""I was the one who named Mingjier!" Dou Duo said with a gentle smile. "Children are a mother's own flesh and blood. We understand your concern for Mingjier, but she is a child of the Dou family. She can't just follow you to the Wang family without any explanation. You haven't been with us long, but you already know our family's circumstances. When you first arrived, we assigned you an experienced matron, two maids, and several old women to serve in your quarters. After Mingjier was born, besides her wet nurse and the attendants in her room, we added two more maids for you... You needn't worry. The fifth young lady of the Zhu family was raised with strict discipline, gentle in temperament, virtuous and kind—she will take good care of Mingjier..."

"No matter how good others are, how can they compare to one's own birth mother?" Wang Yingxue watched as Qiongfang hurriedly left Crane Longevity Hall, feeling slightly relieved, but she continued pleading with Dou Duo, "I beg you, Elder Master, to grant us mother and daughter this mercy."

Dou Duo chuckled. "Wanyuan was also raised by his legal mother, so you needn't worry about Mingjier!"

The two went back and forth, neither willing to yield.

Dou Zhao soon received word of this.

After some thought, she said to Tuo Niang, "Come, let's go see Father."

Dou Zhao wanted to know what her father thought and what his plans were regarding the matter.

Tuo Niang assented, setting aside her needlework, and accompanied Dou Zhao to Dou Shiying's study.

Dou Shiying wasn't in his study.

Dou Zhao thought for a moment and headed to the reception hall behind the main hall.

Her grandfather and Wang Zhibing were drinking tea in the reception hall, while her father and Wang Yingxue were speaking beside a bamboo grove behind it.

Dou Zhao signaled for Tuo Niang to stay put, then took advantage of her small stature to skirt around the reception hall and hide behind the bamboo to eavesdrop.

"...No matter what, I wronged you," her father's voice carried a faint sorrow. "I'm older than you and have been married before. Even if you were drawn to me, I should have firmly refused you instead of taking advantage and doing something so disgraceful. And afterward, I blamed Gu Qiu for not helping me cover it up, even berating her harshly over it, leaving her humiliated to the point of suicide by hanging."

"No, no!" Wang Yingxue quickly interjected. "How could this be your fault, Seventh Master? It was Sister Gu Qiu—she was too harsh on others and herself..."

"I used to think the same way," her father interrupted with a faint smile. "But remembering what Gu Qiu said to me before she died..." He paused briefly. "I realize now she was right. It was my own filthy thoughts and mistakes, yet I only knew how to blame others, expecting them to clean up my mess..."

"Seventh Master!" Wang Yingxue seemed pained to hear him blame himself. "Don't say such things. It only makes me feel worse...""Alright, alright, let's not talk about it anymore!" Father smiled and said, "No matter how much we discuss it, Gu Qiu won't be coming back." As he spoke, he pulled out a sapphire-blue scented sachet embroidered with magnolia flowers from his sleeve. "There are three thousand taels in silver notes inside. Take it and go home with your elder brother. If you ever need my help in the future, just send me a message. I won’t refuse as long as it’s within my power. I’ll take good care of Mingjier—I won’t favor Shou Gu over her. You can rest assured and go back. Don’t follow the example of those bitter women who retreat to temples. If you meet a good family, you should remarry. If you ever miss Mingjier, quietly send someone to let me know. I’ll have Shou Gu take her to the temple to offer incense or visit Fifth Brother’s family, and you can see her from afar. That way, you can still cherish your mother-daughter bond. If, when Mingjier grows up, you still wish to acknowledge her, I’ll tell her the truth about her origins..."

So Father was persuading Wang Yingxue to return to her parents' home!

Dou Zhao watched the two with a smile, then saw Wang Yingxue burst into tears and throw herself into Father’s arms, clinging tightly to his waist. "I won’t go anywhere. I just want to stay by your side, even if it means being your servant..."

"Don’t be like this," Father said gently, prying her arms away. "What will Lord Wang think if you act this way?" He took a few steps back, his gaze sincere. "Your father and brother have treated you well. You should cherish that and not cause them more grief..."

Wang Yingxue stared at the distance between them, her eyes filled with bitterness. "Is it because of the Fifth Miss of the Zhu family?" she asked.

Father was taken aback. "What?"

"Is it because of the Fifth Miss of the Zhu family?" Wang Yingxue repeated, tears streaming down her face. "Have you fallen for her? I’ve heard she’s exceptionally beautiful..."

"Where did you get such an idea?" Father laughed. "I’ve never even met the Fifth Miss of the Zhu family."

"Then why did you send Gaosheng to deliver a letter to the Zhu family?" Wang Yingxue’s gaze was piercing.

It seemed Dou Zhao wasn’t the only one concerned about the marriage between the Dou and Zhu families!

Dou Zhao pricked up her ears.

"You know I sent Gaosheng to the Zhu family?" Father was surprised.

Realizing she had slipped up, Wang Yingxue said guiltily, "That night, Mingjier was fussing nonstop, and I stayed up comforting her until dawn. Just as I was about to sleep, I overheard the maids saying Gaosheng had been sent by you to deliver a letter to the Zhu family..."

What nonsense!

Dou Zhao curled her lips.

Gaosheng was Father’s trusted aide. If he couldn’t keep his mouth shut, Father would have replaced him long ago.

Clearly, she had found out through other means!

Father didn’t dwell on the matter and admitted frankly, "I sent a letter to Recommended Man Zhu, explaining some family matters and asking him to delay the marriage discussion until I’ve settled things at home..."

"Why?" Wang Yingxue stared at Father intently. "Why would you do that?"

Did she think Father was doing this for her?

Dou Zhao sneered.

Father remained silent for a long time before speaking softly, "Yingxue, I have my responsibilities! The Western Dou needs an heir, and Father is waiting for a legitimate grandson. I don’t want to drag the Fifth Miss of the Zhu family into this. She has no obligation to bear the consequences of my mistakes or face these conflicts the moment she steps into our household...""Am I just a mistake to you?" Wang Yingxue turned as pale as snow, her voice sharp with accusation.

"Don't misunderstand," Father replied gently. "I only wish to avoid causing harm to others because of me!"

"What about me? What am I to you?" Wang Yingxue demanded. "You don’t want to hurt the Fifth Miss of the Zhu family, but you’re willing to let Mingjier and I be separated forever? Willing to let her grow up without a mother?"

"Yingxue, it’s not that my heart is cruel," Father sighed deeply. "Mingjier’s status in the Wang family is unclear, but in the Dou family, she is at least the Fifth Miss. She’s still young and won’t remember much. Whoever raises her, she’ll grow close to them, and she won’t suffer so much sorrow..."

"She is my daughter, my daughter!" Wang Yingxue cried in a low voice, flinging the scented sachet at Father in anger. "I don’t want your silver notes—I want my daughter!" With that, she straightened her back and strode into the reception hall.

Father gave a bitter smile, shaking his head as he followed her inside.

Dou Zhao stared at the sachet on the ground, wondering whether pocketing those three thousand taels of silver notes would implicate the maids and pages on duty in the reception hall.