Blossom

Dou Zhao stepped down from the heated brick bed and said to Su Xin, "Come, let's go to the Small Flower Hall! The people from the Gaoxing farmstead have sent over several young girls. We'll pick out a few clever ones to keep."

Due to the attack during their journey, Su Xin had to return halfway, naturally delaying the selection of maidservants.

The Gaoxing farmstead was unaware of what had happened. However, the sudden change in plans left the Manor Head's wife feeling uneasy and anxious. A few days later, when a message arrived from the Hall of Cultivating Will instructing her to bring the girls directly there, she grew even more nervous.

She feared Dou Zhao would be dissatisfied with her choices and send them all back; she worried the girls, having never seen the world, might say or do something wrong and invite ridicule... She repeatedly admonished the girls to stand straight, not let their eyes wander, and speak neither too loudly nor too softly. The girls, who had grown up on the farmstead hearing tales of the Duke of England's Mansion's grandeur from their elders, were utterly terrified, unsure how to even position their hands and feet.

When Dou Zhao and Su Xin entered, the girls stood stiffly in the middle of the hall, their faces pale as wood.

Dou Zhao couldn't help but smile faintly, recalling her first encounter with Gan Lu and Su Juan in her past life.

"Which farmsteads are these girls from?" she asked gently, addressing the Manor Head's wife. The girls' expressions softened slightly.

"These two are from our farmstead," the Manor Head's wife pointed out each girl to Dou Zhao. "This one is from the Wanping farmstead, and these two are from the Langfang farmstead..."

There were twelve girls in total, all between eight and nine years old, from farmsteads near the Capital. Their families had been tenants of the Song family for generations, and some of their elders had even served in the Duke of England's Mansion.

Dou Zhao was very pleased and decided to keep all the girls. She said, "Although there's a set number of maidservants and pages, when I came from Zhen Ding to the Capital, only Su Xin and a few others accompanied me. These girls can serve as my dowry maidservants."

Since they were dowry maidservants, their monthly allowances and seasonal clothing would be covered by Dou Zhao's dowry.

The Manor Head's wife was overjoyed and quickly curtsied in gratitude.

Originally, only six girls were to be selected, but now all were kept. Others wouldn't think the girls had won Madam's favor but would instead see it as a testament to the Manor Head's wife's standing before Madam.

The Manor Head's wife couldn't help but reflect inwardly. A woman with a substantial dowry was indeed different—she could keep whomever she pleased.

Dou Zhao entrusted the girls to Su Xin for training and called in Gaoxing's wife to lead the Manor Head's wife in processing the girls' indentures.

Just as this was settled, Song Mo returned from the Five Cities Garrison office.

Dou Zhao asked him, "Will you be stationed at the Five Cities Garrison office from now on?"

Song Mo let Dou Zhao help him change his clothes and replied with a smile, "I'll still be primarily with the Golden Guard." Then he inquired about the maidservants: "I heard the Gaoxing farmstead sent the girls over. Were there any suitable candidates?"

"I thought they were all quite good," Dou Zhao said, smiling as Song Mo led her to sit on the heated brick bed by the window. "I kept all of them." As for where the expenses would come from, Dou Zhao considered it a minor matter and didn't elaborate.Since Song Mo had entrusted the Yizhi Inner Courtyard to Dou Zhao, these matters were naturally her decisions to make, and he wouldn’t interfere. What concerned him most now was Dou Zhao’s health: “After I left, did you vomit again?”

This morning, she had been so sick she felt the world was spinning, and in the end, she even vomited water, leaving Song Mo stunned. It took him a while to react before he held Dou Zhao, continuously stroking her back to comfort her.

“No,” Dou Zhao smiled. “After you left, I’ve been fine. I asked Gaoxing’s wife, and she said this is normal—nothing to worry about. It might get worse in the coming days, but after three months, it’ll pass.”

Song Mo pondered and said, “I think we should invite Aunt over. With her here, I’d feel more at ease.”

Dou Zhao, having experience, didn’t think it was a big deal, but since Song Mo insisted, she agreed.

Early the next morning, Song Mo went to Jing'an Temple Alley.

Fortunately, Dou Shiying had already left for the government office. Song Mo simply mentioned that Dou Zhao wasn’t feeling well and that they lacked an elder at home, so he wanted to invite Aunt to stay for a few days. Upon hearing this, Aunt quickly calculated the timing and was overjoyed. Before Song Mo could finish speaking, she stood up: “I understand. I’ll bring her cousin to stay with you for a while. You’re busy with official duties—leave everything to me.”

Song Mo had initially worried that Aunt might hesitate to stay at the Duke of England's Mansion, but seeing her agree without hesitation, he felt deeply grateful, recalling how Dou Zhao had spoken of the Zhao family’s kindness to her. His respect for Aunt grew even more.

When Dou Shiying returned home and heard that Aunt was going to stay at the Duke of England's Mansion, he was shocked and repeatedly asked what had happened.

Aunt, beaming with joy, hinted at the news to Dou Shiying.

Dou Shiying froze, taking a long time to process it. But once he did, he couldn’t stop grinning. When Song Mo came to pick up Aunt, Dou Shiying pulled him aside, scrutinizing him up and down before finally saying, “I’ve saved some treasures specifically for my grandchild. You’d better live up to expectations.”

Song Mo broke out in a cold sweat.

Was this something he could control by just “living up to expectations”?

But since his father-in-law had spoken, he had no choice but to nod obediently and say, “Yes.”

Only then did Dou Shiying cheerfully let go of Song Mo, escorting him, Aunt, and Zhao Zhangru to the gate.

Meanwhile, Dou Zhao had already prepared the guest room for Aunt. When they met, they chatted and laughed until late at night before retiring.

The next morning, Aunt instructed the kitchen to prepare radish porridge, drizzling a bit of vinegar into it.

Dou Zhao ate two bowls before setting it down.

Song Mo’s smile lasted all the way to the Five Cities Garrison.

An opportunist saw this as a chance and brought up Wei Tingyu: “...Who would’ve thought he’s actually the Young Lord’s brother-in-law!”

Song Mo replied mildly, “At the Duke of England's Mansion, I am the Young Lord. But at the Five Cities Garrison, I am an official of the court. You may address me as ‘Sir’ or ‘Vice Commissioner Song.’”

The flattery had missed its mark.

The man’s expression turned awkward.

Someone nearby warned him, “Since Vice Commissioner Song arrived, have you ever seen Sir Wei visit him?”

The man’s face paled, and he cupped his hands in salute. “Please, brother, enlighten me!”The man glanced around, ensuring no one was nearby, then lowered his voice and said, "I heard that Lord Song married the legitimate daughter of the Dou family, but Madam Wei was only recognized as a legitimate daughter after her birth mother was elevated to the main wife. Lady Song had little interaction with Madam Wei even before marriage, and Lord Song looks down on Madam Wei’s background even more. After all, Lord Song is the legitimate eldest son of the Duke of England's Mansion."

The newcomer was hearing this for the first time and couldn’t help but press urgently, "What else do you know? Tell me quickly!"

The man chuckled but remained silent.

Realizing his oversight, the newcomer quickly added, "Ah, my mistake—let’s go for a drink after duty."

The man smiled and nodded. "Then I’ll trouble you today, sir."

The two exchanged knowing smiles before parting ways.

※※※※※

Dou Zhao sat on the kang with her aunt and Zhao Zhangru, working on needlework.

Her aunt earnestly instructed her, "Children’s clothes should be made from old garments—the rough edges have already been softened and won’t irritate their delicate skin... Childbirth for a woman is like passing through the gates of hell... After three months, you must walk around the courtyard often. The heavier the pregnancy, the more you must move. Why do noblewomen in the palace often struggle with difficult births while peasant women deliver one after another without issue? Midwives and wet nurses must be arranged in advance so you’re not scrambling when the child arrives..."

Zhao Zhangru, meanwhile, kept stealing glances at Dou Zhao’s abdomen, her wide eyes flickering back and forth until Dou Zhao couldn’t help but laugh. Seizing the moment when her aunt and Su Xin were rummaging through chests for old clothes, she whispered, "Just say what’s on your mind. Your staring is making me uncomfortable!"

Zhang Ru leaned in close to Dou Zhao’s shoulder. "Are you really pregnant?"

"Most likely," Dou Zhao replied with a smile. "The physician will confirm next month."

"You’re amazing!" Zhang Ru gazed at her with admiration. "My elder sister didn’t conceive until half a year after marriage. You’ve been married for less than two months..."

Dou Zhao could only shake her head in amusement.

A young maid cautiously entered and announced, "Madam, a man named Chen Zan Zhi requests an audience."

Chen Zan Zhi—Chen Jia.

What did he want?

Dou Zhao replied bluntly, "I won’t see him."

The maid timidly acknowledged and withdrew.

Zhang Ru asked curiously, "Who is Chen Zan Zhi? Are you allowed to meet with unrelated men? Doesn’t the Young Lord object? Does he just let you do as you please?"

"What do you mean, ‘do as I please’?" Dou Zhao pinched Zhang Ru’s cheek. "Meeting guests openly and properly is hardly reckless behavior!"

"Ah!" Zhang Ru dodged her hand and said, "The Young Lord treats you so well. My second brother-in-law won’t even let my sister meet outsiders, and when she visits home, he grumbles and complains until my mother sighs in frustration!"

Dou Zhao was genuinely surprised and about to inquire further when the maid returned. "Madam, that Master Chen insists on seeing you. He says it concerns the Young Lord..."

What was Chen Jia up to?

If this involved Song Mo, he should have gone to him directly—or at least to Master Yan or Chen Hai. Why come to her?

Dou Zhao frowned. But considering his position as Vice Commissioner of the Pacification Office, she couldn’t risk Song Mo’s safety. After a brief hesitation, she agreed to meet Chen Jia in the Small Flower Hall.Chen Jia was dressed in a very ordinary spun silk jacket, his demeanor meek and unassuming. Paired with his plain appearance, he seemed like someone who would disappear into a crowd, showing none of the usual flamboyance associated with the Imperial Bodyguard. Yet, something about him made Dou Zhao pause, and she took a second glance at him.

"Madam!" Chen Jia bowed respectfully to Dou Zhao and said in a low voice, "The Emperor will be visiting the West Garden in a few days. However, the Young Lord must stay by the Duke of Yingguo's bedside to attend to his illness and cannot accompany him. It is likely that the Golden Guard will be led by Dong Qi, the heir of Guang'en Bo, to escort the Emperor during his stay at the West Garden. Are you aware of this?"

Dou Zhao was inwardly startled, her mind racing before she grasped the implications of Chen Jia's words.

This was a world she was unfamiliar with.

After a moment of contemplation, she asked, "What past grievances exist between Dong Qi and the Young Lord?"

"Dong Qi and the Young Lord have no personal enmity," Chen Jia replied quietly. "Eighteen years ago, when both Guang'en Bo and the Duke of Yingguo were still heirs, they were very close. Later, for reasons unknown, they fell out and severed all ties. After that, Dong Qi defeated the Young Lord during the Autumn Hunt and even took the position of Deputy Commander of the Golden Guard from him..."

He went on to explain some of the history between Song Mo and Dong Qi within the Golden Guard.

Dou Zhao listened quietly until he finished, then smiled and said, "You've worked hard, Commander Chen," before offering him tea as a gesture of dismissal.