Blossom

Song Mo sat imposingly on the kang by the window in the inner chamber, his face cold as he said to Dou Zhao, "Go make Gourd Cakes!"

How childish he was being, like a petulant little boy.

Dou Zhao couldn't help but purse her lips in amusement.

Song Mo glared at her.

Dou Zhao stepped forward and took his hand, coaxing him like a child, "Alright, I admit I was wrong. I know you care about me, and I won't say such things again." Then she took the hot tea from the maid and handed it to Song Mo. "I'll go make you those Gourd Cakes now!"

But Song Mo wrapped his arms around her waist and said, "The kitchen fumes are too strong. Let the old women on the stove make them instead."

Not only had his voice softened, but there was also a hint of laughter in it.

"You!" Dou Zhao was torn between laughter and exasperation, shooting Song Mo a sidelong glance.

Song Mo smiled faintly, pressing his face against Dou Zhao's chest as he murmured, "Shou Gu, don't say things like that again. It hurts me to hear them."

Dou Zhao's heart instantly melted with tenderness.

She held him gently.

"It's my fault," Song Mo apologized, his voice tinged with frustration. "I don't know why—I'm usually very tolerant, but the moment I think you're rejecting my kindness, I just can't control my emotions... If I act like this again, just ignore me. Let me stay alone in the study for a while, and I'll be fine."

Dou Zhao felt her eyes welling up with tears.

When Song Yichun had tried to kill Song Mo, Song Mo had confronted him. But when Song Yichun refused to explain, Song Mo never asked again, treating him like a stranger. That was just his nature—never one to justify himself. Yet now, afraid she might misunderstand, he laid bare his thoughts before her, completely unguarded...

Dou Zhao kissed the top of Song Mo's head and whispered with a soft laugh, "How could I bear to?"

Song Mo looked up, startled.

Dou Zhao knelt down, pressing her cheek against his palm, her voice low but firm as she repeated with a smile, "How could I bear to leave you alone in the study?"

"Shou Gu!" Song Mo was stunned, but his surprise quickly turned to overwhelming joy.

He grabbed Dou Zhao and lifted her up like a child, exclaiming, "Shou Gu! Shou Gu!"

Dou Zhao, afraid he might toss her, quickly wrapped her arms around his neck. "No, no, no! I'm still carrying our child!"

"Oh!" Song Mo beamed, carefully setting her back down on the kang. Gazing at her with deep affection, he murmured, "Shou Gu," before kissing her lips.

Maybe getting along with Song Mo wasn't so difficult after all!

Dou Zhao closed her eyes, responding to his kiss with equal tenderness.

Leaving aside the amorous scene between the Song couple, let's turn to the Jingguo residence. Though only close relatives and in-laws were invited, fifteen banquet tables were set up, and a Private Performance stage was erected by the Waterside Pavilion, filling the air with lively celebration.

Dou Ming stepped forward to toast Madam Jingguo before excusing herself. "My mother-in-law is feeling unwell and is home alone. I can't enjoy the drinks and opera while worrying about her. I'll come another day to play cards with you, Madam."

Madam Jingguo was displeased, but since Dou Ming had used her mother-in-law as an excuse, refusing would make her seem indifferent to her in-law's health.

"Oh!" she quickly feigned concern. "Your mother-in-law is ill? Why didn't you tell me? I should visit her. Go ahead and take care of her—I'll come see her once things settle down here." Then she instructed Wei Tingzhen to escort Dou Ming out."It's just a slight stomach discomfort. A bit of digestion aid will do. I wouldn’t want to trouble our relatives," Dou Ming responded gracefully to the Duke of Jing before following Wei Tingzhen out of the Waterside Pavilion.

Wei Tingzhen pressed anxiously, "How is Mother really? Why wasn’t there any hint of this earlier? Go back and tell her I’ll return first thing tomorrow to attend to her." She then asked Dou Ming, "Is there anything the household lacks? I’ll bring whatever’s needed tomorrow."

"Truly, it’s nothing," Dou Ming replied indifferently. "Just some indigestion."

Wei Tingzhen wasn’t worried about her concealing the illness—she could always ask Wei Tingyu later.

As they passed through the Second Gate, the Wei Family’s carriage stood quietly beneath the locust tree at the entrance.

Not seeing Wei Tingyu, Wei Tingzhen asked in surprise, "Where’s my brother?"

Dou Ming said, "He has other engagements. As for Mother, I’ll take care of her."

Wei Tingzhen nodded in satisfaction, feeling that Dou Ming was finally starting to act like a proper Wei Family daughter-in-law. Her earlier anger dissipated somewhat.

She watched Dou Ming board the carriage before turning back to the Waterside Pavilion.

Dou Ming, however, instructed the coachman, "Take me to Jing'an Temple Alley."

Though her dowry wasn’t as lavish as Dou Zhao’s, it far surpassed that of most officials’ daughters. Clever as she was, within days of her marriage, she had won over the entire Wei household with silver, leaving no one unwilling to curry her favor.

The coachman loudly acknowledged the order, flicked the reins, and the carriage turned a corner toward Jing'an Temple Alley.

Dou Shiying disliked social engagements and returned home straight after his duties. Upon entering, he was startled to see his younger daughter, Dou Ming, sitting stiffly in the Grand Preceptor’s Chair in the main hall, her face cold.

For a moment, he thought it was Wang Yingxue sitting there, as if he had traveled back many years to when he would return home daily to find Wang Yingxue waiting for him in that manner, only to be met with arguments.

Dou Shiying shook his head, exhaled deeply, and stepped inside.

"Why are you sitting there?" He handed his official hat to the attending page. "Why have you come back? Where’s Tingyu? Didn’t he accompany you—"

Before he could finish, Dou Ming sprang up. "Father, am I not your daughter too? Why does your heart hold only Dou Zhao? Do you know what people are saying? That you gave Dou Zhao over two hundred thousand taels in dowry additions! I know she deserves it, but have you ever considered me? What will the Wei Family think? What am I supposed to tell them when they ask? Should I say it’s because I’m the child of a concubine, and the properties under Dou Zhao’s name were the price you paid to legitimize my mother? When the families exchanged betrothal gifts, why didn’t you list those properties openly? Why couldn’t you have quietly returned them to Dou Zhao instead of making such a spectacle, leaving me humiliated?"

She burst into sobs. "You have no idea—today at the Duke of Jing’s banquet, everyone fawned over Dou Zhao, all because they know she’s wealthy..."

Dou Shiying was stunned, then his heart ached for Dou Ming.

"There, there, don’t cry," he comforted awkwardly. "Don’t speak of your sister that way. You know that after the incident with the silver notes, her home was robbed. How could we dare publicize the properties under her name? It must have been when your Third Uncle and Third Cousin were reconciling accounts at the Hall of Cultivating Will—someone must have overheard and spread the word."Dou Ming gradually stopped her tears and said, "Father, could you also give me fifty thousand taels of silver as an addition to my dowry, just like Dou Zhao's?"

This way, she would have an explanation to present before the Wei Family.

Dou Shiying's smile was somewhat forced as he replied, "Right now, the family might not be able to spare so much silver at once."

Upon hearing this, Dou Ming's anger flared up again. "Father, how can you say such a thing? The family earns fifty or sixty thousand taels a year. I'm not trying to compete with Dou Zhao—I just want to give the Wei Family a proper account. If you give me the silver now, I can return it to you later. Would the Wei Family really go through my dowry to check?"

Dou Shiying frowned slightly. "Does the Wei Family really care so much about the size of your dowry? You already have quite a substantial dowry as it is!"

Dou Ming sneered. "Who would ever complain about having too much money? If the Wei Family is like this, it's because you spoiled them—if you hadn't given my sister such a lavish dowry, would they be so greedy?"

These words made Dou Shiying deeply uncomfortable.

It was as if he was seeing another Wang Yingxue before him—always blaming him for her misfortunes.

Unable to hold back, he said, "What matters most in a marriage is mutual understanding. Your sister is the legitimate eldest daughter. If her dowry is larger, what right does the Wei Family have to complain?"

Dou Ming's face turned pale.

So this was what her father truly believed.

Dou Zhao was the rightful, legitimate eldest daughter, while she was the shameful child of a concubine. She was born to make way for her sister.

She swept the teacup off the table, sending it crashing to the floor, and shouted hoarsely, "Then what am I? What are you? Why did you even bring me into this world? Why didn’t you just smother me in the birthing basin? You’re the ones who did wrong, yet now I have to bear the consequences—why? Why?"

Dou Shiying's face turned ashen.

"You—!" He pointed a trembling finger at Dou Ming, but no words came out. Defeated, he slumped into the Grand Preceptor's Chair.

Gaosheng, who had rushed over upon hearing the commotion, was furious.

Seventh Madam had been a bad influence, and now she had twisted Fifth Miss as well.

He knew Dou Shiying had always been soft-hearted, especially toward his two daughters, but today was different. Just last time, when Fourth Miss returned to her maiden home, his wife had overheard Fifth Madam asking Fourth Miss about arranging a concubine for Seventh Master. Fourth Miss had refused, saying such matters should be left to Seventh Master’s discretion, though she would advise him.

Others might not know, but Gaosheng understood perfectly.

All these years, Seventh Master had been so hard on himself because he felt guilty toward the late Seventh Madam.

If Fourth Miss spoke up, Seventh Master might actually take a concubine, and then the seventh branch would have an heir. How could he let Fifth Miss drain the family’s wealth? What about the young master’s education, marriage, or pursuit of becoming a Presented Scholar?

For the first time ever, Gaosheng stepped forward with tea and advised Dou Shiying, "Seventh Master, you felt guilty toward Seventh Madam, and in the end, she exchanged Fourth Miss’s marriage. Now, you feel guilty toward Fifth Miss... If a marriage is sustained only by money, with endless greed, even a mountain of gold and silver will one day be exhausted. You must think carefully about this!"

Before Gaosheng could finish, Dou Ming flung a cup of water straight into his face.Tea leaves clung to his temples and face.

Yet Gaosheng remained unmoved, not even a flicker in his eyes as he stared fixedly at Dou Shiying.

Dou Shiying thought of Wang Yingxue.

She had once drenched him in tea the same way.

Slowly, Dou Shiying rose to his feet and gazed at Dou Ming. "If the Wei Family wants me to add to your dowry," he said, "then have them come and ask me for it!"

Dou Ming looked at her father and suddenly noticed how upright his posture was. There was a solemnity and dignity in his expression that she had never seen before.