Blossom

Ji Shi sat by the window on the heated kang, gazing at the sleeping Dou Zhao and sighing almost imperceptibly, "This child is truly beautiful!" As she spoke,

After leaving the home of Third Master Dou Shibang, she had taken Dou Zhao to pay respects to several nieces-in-law. By the time they returned, it was already late at night. After washing up, Dou Zhao had fallen asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow.

Wang Momo was sitting by the bed fanning Dou Zhao when she heard this and couldn't help but look at the sleeping child.

The room was unlit, but in the moonlight, Dou Zhao's delicate features appeared like carved jade. Her small red lips were slightly pursed, revealing a faint smile as if she were having a sweet dream—a sight that would melt anyone's heart.

"Indeed!" Wang Momo couldn't help but say, "How could Seventh Madam bear to leave Fourth Miss behind like this and go?"

Ji Shi remained silent.

Wang Momo continued, "When all is said and done, it's all that concubine's fault. Being old acquaintances yet still seducing Seventh Master—where does that leave Seventh Madam's dignity? No wonder she chose this path."

"She didn't take her own life because of wounded pride," Ji Shi said wistfully. "It was because she valued Seventh Uncle too much. Even if it weren't Wang Yiniang, if it had been any other woman—even a lowly prostitute—as long as she pleased Seventh Uncle, it would have been earth-shattering for her. She'd rather die than see it happen. But she never considered—what about the child? What about the brothers who raised her? Her actions only brought pain to loved ones and joy to enemies. I truly don't know what to say! If she'd had a mother to advise her or a close confidante to talk to, perhaps things wouldn't have come to this. 'Never marry a woman raised without a mother'—there's wisdom in that saying. Poor Shou Gu will likely face hardships ahead."

Wang Momo disagreed, "Didn't they say Fourth Miss is betrothed to the Young Lord of the Marquis of Jining's Mansion?"

"That was just empty talk," Ji Shi said with emotion. "If the Wei Family truly intended to honor the engagement, they wouldn't have merely sent a steward when Zhao Shi died."

Wang Momo grew concerned for Dou Zhao.

"Let's not gossip about these matters behind closed doors," Ji Shi said. "Has the gathering at Mother-in-law's place ended yet?"

She had previously instructed that she be informed immediately when the gathering at the Dowager's residence concluded.

Wang Momo quickly rose, "I'll go check!"

Ji Shi nodded and took over fanning Dou Zhao.

Wang Momo returned with news, "They say it hasn't ended yet."

Ji Shi frowned, appearing visibly uneasy.

Wang Momo hesitated, "Has... something happened?"

Ji Shi whispered, "Mother-in-law is probably arguing with the Old Master of the Western Residence about Seventh Uncle's marriage!"

The sleeping Dou Zhao turned over.

Ji Shi gently patted Dou Zhao and, seeing no reaction, continued in a low voice, "Grand Secretary Zeng dismissed Chen Jizhou and recommended He Wendao—what does that signify? It means Grand Secretary Zeng has firmly established himself at court." Her voice was calm and rational, colder than the moonlight spilling onto the windowsill. "Grand Secretary Zeng is already past sixty, his health and energy not what they used to be. He can last five or six years at most. Who will succeed him then?" She paused slightly. "If I'm not mistaken, Wang Xingyi has likely been promoted to a ministry-level official already."

Wang Momo pondered this for a long moment before her expression changed abruptly, "You mean... Wang Yiniang might be elevated to principal wife?" Her voice trembled.Ji Shi nodded, her expression stern and cold. "My mother-in-law is someone who seizes opportunities. The old master of the Western Manor is going to have a headache this time."

Wang Momo stood stunned for a long while, her face still unable to conceal her shock.

She muttered to herself, "After Grand Secretary Zeng was forced to retire, all his disciples were sidelined, and only the Fifth Master managed to protect himself. Before Grand Secretary Zeng was reinstated, they all relied on the Fifth Master. Now that Wang Xingyi has been reinstated, if he were just a minor county magistrate, it wouldn’t matter much. But within half a year, he’s risen to a high-ranking official in one of the Six Ministries—that means he’s highly favored by Grand Secretary Zeng... No matter how capable the Fifth Master is, he doesn’t have Lord Wang’s reputation. If this continues, he’ll inevitably suffer losses... If Wang Yiniang is elevated to the main wife, then the Wang Family will owe the Dou family a favor. Lord Wang would surely feel too embarrassed to compete with the Fifth Master for leadership of the faction and might even help him secure it... But Wang Yiniang’s character is too poor. Even if she could bear a son, she probably wouldn’t raise him well... The Western Manor would be completely ruined. The old master would never agree to it, no matter what." She shook her head vigorously. "No, no. Even I can see this clearly—the old madam and the old master must know it too. How could the old madam persuade the old master to agree to elevate Wang Yiniang?" She couldn’t figure it out.

"That’s exactly why I’m worried!" Ji Shi let out a long sigh, her gaze falling on Dou Zhao. "I’m afraid the Sixth Master’s good intentions might lead to disaster!"

Wang Momo was puzzled.

"Right now, things are indeed chaotic in the Western Manor. Shou Gu is just a child, so young and already motherless—it pains me to see it," Ji Shi said slowly. "When the Sixth Master asked me to look after Shou Gu, I agreed without hesitation. It was supposed to be a good thing, but now the situation has changed drastically. If the old madam uses this as a reason to have me help raise the Western Manor’s eldest grandson... Back then, the Dou family’s assets were divided equally, and later they were managed jointly. The Seventh Uncle alone could claim half of the Dou family’s wealth. How many people wouldn’t be tempted by that? Not just the Wang Family, even the Dou family might grow envious. By then, we’d be caught in the middle, and there’d be no peace at home!"

**

"What should we do then?" Wang Momo exclaimed anxiously. "If you really end up raising the Western Manor’s eldest son, Wang Yiniang is his birth mother—we can’t keep her from seeing him all year round, can we? Just the thought of dealing with such a despicable, shameless woman makes me sick. Besides, dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes, and rats’ sons dig holes—what kind of decent child could she raise? What if she ends up corrupting our Huige’er and Zhige’er? That would be terrible! Sixth Madam, if the old madam brings this up with you, you mustn’t agree! Even Fourth Miss—" She glanced at Dou Zhao. "I don’t think she should stay either. Just say the weather is too hot, and you’re feeling unwell—send her to the old madam. Let whoever wants to take care of her do it. It’s not like she’ll lack food or clothing."

Huige’er and Zhige’er were the eldest and second sons of the sixth branch.

"Don’t ever say such things again!" Ji Shi said disapprovingly. "She’s not a kitten or a puppy to be kept when you like her and tossed aside when you don’t. She’s a living child!"

"But..." Wang Momo hesitated."This is merely my speculation," Ji Shi interrupted her, saying, "Even if I'm right, this matter can't be accomplished overnight. The engagement with the Zhu family needs to be addressed, right? We must obtain a consent letter from the Zhao Family uncle, correct? And we need to find a way to make Wang Xingyi feel indebted, don't we?"

"That's true!" Wang Momo gradually calmed down. "Not to mention anything else, the Zhu family is a prominent household in Zhen Ding County. Unless the Dou family provides a compelling reason, the Zhu family would never agree to break off the engagement."

"You're precisely wrong about that," Ji Shi chuckled. "Out of these three matters, the easiest and simplest is dealing with the engagement with the Zhu family. Think about it—earlier, the Zhu family somehow heard rumors that Seventh Uncle had unresolved issues with his concubine. Despite Third Sister-in-law sending so many intermediaries, the Zhu family refused to agree to a wedding in May. This shows they truly cherish their daughter. If they learn how fiercely the Wang family is making trouble, they’d never allow their beloved daughter to suffer like this. The Dou family wouldn’t even need to bring it up—the Zhu family would take the initiative to break off the engagement themselves." She took a sip of tea before continuing, "The hardest part, however, is getting the Zhao Family uncle to agree to elevate Wang Yiniang to the status of a legitimate wife." Her voice lowered. "Right now, the Zhao Family uncle probably despises the Dou family to the core. If not for his concern for Shou Gu, he might even wish to kill Dou Shiying. If the Dou family doesn’t seek that consent letter, it’s one thing. But if they do, they’ll certainly fail. Not only that, the Zhao Family might seize the opportunity to humiliate the Dou family."

"Then why is the old master so troubled?" Wang Momo laughed. "When the time comes, he can simply say the Zhao Family uncle refused to consent to Wang Yiniang’s elevation and marry someone else instead. Could the Dowager really force the Zhao Family uncle to write a consent letter?"

"Perhaps that’s exactly what the Dowager wants!" Ji Shi said, her gaze once again settling on Dou Zhao. "The Dowager can’t force the Zhao Family uncle to write a consent letter, but she can ensure he remains stuck in the northwest forever. The journey is long and arduous—unless the Zhao Family uncle resigns from his post and returns to sue the Dou family, with the Dou family’s backing, Wang Yiniang can openly bear children under the title of a legitimate wife. But if the Zhao Family uncle resigns to sue the Dou family... tell me, could a man stripped of his official status possibly win against the Dou family? Not only would he lose, he’d likely end up bankrupt and destitute. Even if his descendants were brilliant, they’d lack the means to pursue education and official careers."

Wang Momo shuddered. "The Dowager is... is truly ruthless!"

"This might not entirely be the Dowager’s idea," Ji Shi sighed. "Our Fifth Uncle here has a habit of speaking only half his mind."

Wang Momo felt sympathy for Dou Zhao. "The palm and the back of the hand are both flesh. At least Fourth Miss is too young to be caught in the middle of this dilemma."

"Do you think Shou Gu will have an easy life?" Ji Shi affectionately stroked Dou Zhao’s head. "If you were Shou Gu, and one day someone told you that Wang Yiniang was the murderer of Zhao Shi, what would you do?"

"I’d definitely seek justice for my birth mother," Wang Momo answered without hesitation."Exactly," Ji Shi's voice was drawn-out and low, like an old huqin, mournful and desolate. "The Zhao Family uncle refuses to write the consent letter, leaving them in a standoff with the Dou family. If Wang Xingyi remains steadfast in following Fifth Uncle, then so be it. But if he wavers, once Shou Gu grows up, the Dou family need only reveal the truth to her. If Shou Gu marries an Ideal Son-in-Law and persuades her husband to champion her cause, a single lawsuit filed with the authorities would expose Wang Yiniang’s illegitimate position, instantly casting her from the clouds into the mud. Even if Shou Gu marries into an ordinary family, with so many Dou descendants, surely someone would stand by her side? They could still demote Wang Yiniang from wife to concubine... Once Shou Gu submits that lawsuit, Seventh Master won’t escape the charge of 'elevating a concubine to wife.'

If she doesn’t file the lawsuit, Shou Gu will likely remain resentful... If it truly comes to that, the Wang Family will suffer heart-wrenching pain, while the Dou Family will endure only a minor irritation. People will merely say the Dou family considered their colleague’s feelings, but the Wang Family will be condemned for failing to educate their daughter properly. Besides, Seventh Master isn’t even from the Dong Dou branch."

"How could our Old Master have married you into such a household!" Wang Momo’s face turned pale. Despite the sweltering summer heat, she felt a bone-deep chill. "Our Ji Family has never had such scandals."

"Which noble household appears splendid on the outside but is riddled with rot within?" Ji Shi countered. "You simply don’t know the Ji Family’s affairs."

Wang Momo fell silent.

A young maid announced, "Sixth Master has returned!"

Ji Shi shot Wang Momo a meaningful glance. "Not a word in front of Sixth Master. Let him go to the Provincial Examination with a light heart first."

"This old servant understands," Wang Momo replied gravely, following Ji Shi out the door.

The inner chamber was hushed, tranquil and still.

Moonlight bathed Dou Zhao’s face, the teardrop at the corner of her eye like night dew rolling down a moonflower petal—glistening, translucent, dreamlike.