Blossom

In both her past and present life, Dou Zhao's greatest desire was to have a home of her own. For this reason, in her previous life, she had even eagerly married Wei Tingyu. Putting herself in others' shoes, she naturally didn’t want Su Xin to devote all her energy to taking care of her daily needs.

“No need,” she said, unconsciously placing a hand on her abdomen. “Once Su Xin and Su Lan’s marriages are settled, let them move out and live on their own. They can visit me when they have time.” Then she discussed adding new servants with Song Mo. “I’ve already asked the wife of the Manor Head at the Daxing farmstead to pick a few people while Su Xin isn’t too busy these days.”

If she was truly pregnant, the first three months would be critical, and she would need to rest carefully.

These were minor matters, and Song Mo naturally deferred to Dou Zhao in all of them.

Dou Zhao sent word to the Daxing farmstead, setting the date for selecting new servants on the twenty-first of November.

Coincidentally, that same day, Zhao Liangbi’s parents arrived in the Capital from Zhen Ding after receiving news and came to discuss Zhao Liangbi’s marriage with Chen Qushui. Su Xin, blushing furiously, had ordered a carriage early in the morning to go to the Daxing farmstead. To give Su Xin face, Dou Zhao had Song Mo’s coachman take his carriage to escort her there, while she herself met with Zhao Liangbi’s mother.

Zhao Liangbi owed all his success to Dou Zhao’s support, and now she was even betrothing her most trusted maid to him. Overwhelmed with gratitude, Zhao’s mother knelt and kowtowed to Dou Zhao the moment she entered.

Dou Zhao hurried forward to help her up. “We’re all from Cui Family Village, Madam Zhao. Please don’t stand on ceremony—consider us family.”

Madam Zhao was a simple woman. Faced with Dou Zhao’s dignified yet warm demeanor, she stammered nervously, unable to lift her head. Dou Zhao took the initiative to chat with her, asking about this year’s harvest, whether the children in the family were betrothed, and how many pigs and chickens they kept. Seeing Dou Zhao speak so kindly and thoughtfully, Madam Zhao’s anxious heart finally settled, and she began answering Dou Zhao’s questions.

Meanwhile, Chen Qushui’s discussion went even better.

According to Zhao Liangbi’s father, Zhao had not only prospered under the Dou family’s patronage but had also gained experience. Thus, they would leave the marriage arrangements entirely to him—the dowry, where the new home would be, and where the wedding would take place. The elderly couple had no objections.

It was only then that Zhao Liangbi learned Dou Zhao intended to betroth Su Xin to him.

Years of longing had suddenly become reality. Overcome with emotion, his vision blurred with tears, and he longed to see Su Xin immediately—to witness her reaction to the news.

Would she be happy or disappointed?

Had she also hoped for this match, or had she agreed out of obligation?

Restless with anxiety, Zhao Liangbi stood on the veranda outside Chen Qushui’s chamber.

Chen Qushui and the deeply wrinkled Zhao father—

When he saw Zhao Liangbi, the old man chuckled and couldn’t resist saying, “No wonder you refused every match your mother and I suggested! None of those girls could compare!”

Zhao’s father had met Su Xin before.

Even then, he had thought her not only beautiful but virtuous, intelligent, and capable—wondering which family would be fortunate enough to marry her.

Never had he imagined she would become their daughter-in-law.

Even now, it felt like a dream.

Blushing, Zhao Liangbi stepped forward to support his father.Father Zhao politely waved to Chen Qushui, saying, "Please go inside and rest. We’ll discuss our child’s marriage carefully with his mother, and we certainly won’t wrong Miss Su."

Chen Qushui smiled and nodded, escorting the Zhao father and son out.

Mother Zhao, accompanied by Gan Lu, was waiting for them at the entrance of Chen Qushui’s courtyard.

When the family reunited, Zhao Liangbi hung his head in embarrassment, while the Zhao couple exchanged a few more pleasantries with Chen Qushui and Gan Lu before returning to Zhao Liangbi’s side room in the Hall of Cultivating Will.

Chen Qushui went to see Dou Zhao and recounted the events: "...The old couple were overjoyed when they heard it was about arranging a marriage for Liangbi. They brought out all their savings—over eighty taels of silver—and plan to hire an official matchmaker this afternoon to propose the match."

In her past life, Zhao Liangbi’s parents had been kind and gentle elders to their daughter-in-law.

Dou Zhao listened with a bright smile and summoned Gaoxing (Happy) to also arrange for an official matchmaker.

The news of Su Xin’s impending marriage to Zhao Liangbi couldn’t be kept secret and soon spread.

Although Song Yichun’s health had improved significantly, his mood remained sour, and he still lay weakly in bed.

No one in the Cassia Fragrance Courtyard dared to mention Su Xin’s marriage negotiations to Song Yichun. However, Song Mo returned early from the Five Cities Garrison to ask how the marriage talks were progressing.

"Very smoothly," Dou Zhao couldn’t help but smile sweetly. "Madam Zhao is very understanding and has agreed to let Su Xin live in the Capital with Liangbi after their marriage. I plan to buy a small, one-courtyard house with three rooms as part of Su Xin’s dowry." Thinking of Su Lan, she added, "I’ll do the same for Su Lan, Gan Lu, and Su Juan as well."

In her past life, Gan Lu and Su Juan had suffered too much alongside her. In this life, she wanted them to live as they pleased.

Song Mo chuckled. "You’re quite generous. But if you let all your senior maids marry off, who will manage your household affairs in the future?"

Learning the ropes wasn’t something that could be done overnight, and it was even harder to find someone who could read Dou Zhao’s expressions and moods.

"We’ll take it slow," Dou Zhao sighed. "After all, Gan Lu and Su Juan’s marriages aren’t even on the horizon yet."

She leaned wearily against the large bolster.

Song Mo touched her forehead gently, his voice soft with concern. "Has something happened? You don’t look well."

Dou Zhao instinctively touched her face. "Perhaps I didn’t sleep well last night." As she said this, she suddenly felt truly exhausted.

No wonder people say the mind influences the body. The moment she suspected she might be pregnant, all sorts of discomforts arose. Why hadn’t it been like this in her past life?

Muttering to herself, she asked Song Mo, "Shall I have the servants serve lunch?"

"That’s fine," Song Mo replied, his eyes never leaving her face, his voice tinged with worry. "After lunch, rest properly. The Empress has summoned me to the palace this afternoon, but I’ll try to return early to be with you."

Dou Zhao tensed and sat up straight. "What does the Empress want with you?"

She couldn’t shake the thought of Empress Wan sending Song Mo to deliver something to Liao Wang.

"I don’t know yet," Song Mo said cautiously, never one to speak without certainty.

Dou Zhao warned him, "If she asks you to deliver something to Liao Wang, don’t go." Unthinkingly, she tugged at his sleeve. "I’m not feeling well. Please don’t go..."Song Mo was taken aback.

Dou Zhao, who had spoken, also froze.

She had actually just coquettishly acted spoiled toward Song Mo...

For a moment, Dou Zhao's face burned with embarrassment.

Yet Song Mo's eyes sparkled with amusement as he gently kissed her cheek and whispered, "Alright, I won't go. I'll stay home with you."

Having lived two lifetimes, she had never acted spoiled like this before.

She felt her entire body radiating heat, desperately wanting to explain that she wasn't trying to keep him home just for company—she simply didn't want him getting too close to Empress Wan and Liao Wang. She hadn't forgotten for a single moment how Liao Wang had manipulated Song Mo in her past life. But as the words reached her lips, a vague sense that this would ruin the mood made her swallow them back.

Seeing her ears turn red, Song Mo thought that no matter how composed Dou Zhao usually was, she was still a woman at heart. If he responded improperly and upset her, causing her to treat him with nothing but formality in the future, their marital relationship would lose much of its joy. Not daring to tease her further, he pretended not to notice and loudly called for the maids to serve lunch.

Dou Zhao exhaled in relief.

The maids brought in the kang table.

Gan Lu rushed in breathlessly, blurting out "Madam!" before spotting Song Mo and hastily curtsying, addressing him as "Young Lord."

Dou Zhao quickly asked, "What's happened?"

Gan Lu urgently replied, "Sister Su Xin was robbed on her way to the farmstead in Daxing! Fortunately, with the help of the Zhou guards and encountering Imperial Bodyguard Chen Jia, they narrowly escaped disaster..."

Before she could finish, both Song Mo and Dou Zhao's expressions darkened.

Su Xin had been riding in Song Mo's carriage, escorted by Dou Zhao's guards.

Song Mo's face turned stormy. "Where is Su Xin now?"

"She's directing the old women to help the injured Ruo Dan and Ruo Zhu to the rear rooms."

Ruo Dan and Ruo Zhu were two second-tier maids from Dou Zhao's household. Su Xin had found them both reliable and had been mentoring them closely, taking them to the Daxing farmstead this time to broaden their horizons.

With grave expressions, Dou Zhao and Song Mo headed to the rear quarters where the maids rested.

Ruo Dan had a head wound, and Ruo Zhu's left arm was broken—both had been bandaged and lay pale in their beds, their faces still etched with lingering fear.

Seeing Dou Zhao enter, they struggled to sit up.

"Stay lying down," Dou Zhao stopped them, then turned to the solemn Su Xin. "What exactly happened?"

A sharp glint flashed in Su Xin's eyes as she replied gravely, "I'm not entirely sure. We passed through the city gates without issue, but less than fifty li from the farmstead, the horses suddenly panicked, and the carriage overturned by the roadside. The Zhou guards rushed to check when a group of black-clad, masked men burst from the woods, slashing at us with blades.

"Those men were highly skilled, struck ruthlessly, and caught us completely off guard. The Zhou and Huang guards were all injured.

"We were being overpowered when Imperial Bodyguard Chen Jia from the Embroidered Uniform Guard Garrison Command happened by and rescued us, even capturing two of the assailants. Not daring to proceed, I asked Chen Jia to escort us back. He was extraordinarily kind—not only accompanying us the entire way but also summoning physicians to tend to the guards' wounds once we reached the city."

As she spoke, Su Xin cast a complicated glance at Dou Zhao.Years of cultivated understanding allowed Dou Zhao to immediately grasp Su Xin's meaning.

There was more to this matter.

Chen Jia's appearance was far too coincidental.

Without showing any change in expression, Dou Zhao comforted Ruo Dan and Ruo Zhu before leaving the rear annex.

Su Xin followed her out.

Dou Zhao exchanged a meaningful glance with Song Mo, who had been waiting outside.

The three of them went to the study together.