Blossom

Dou Zhao was both amused and exasperated. She said to Su Lan, "Tell me, what kind of situation is this?"

Su Lan suppressed a smile and replied, "Madam should be happy. The old master and the Young Lord get along so well."

"Yes!" Dou Zhao sighed. "I haven't been a good daughter. Fortunately, there's still the Young Lord."

Her mood lifted again, and she personally went to the kitchen to instruct the old women to prepare a feast, which was then sent to the outer courtyard.

After a long chat with Song Mo, Dou Shiying was in high spirits. He stayed at the Hall of Cultivating Will until the lanterns were lit before heading home. By the time Zhao Si's family left the capital, he no longer dwelled on Zhao Si's coldness toward him.

If it had been his own sister in such a situation, he probably wouldn’t have been able to let it go either.

No one in this world can please everyone, so why not live with integrity? As long as I can face my own conscience, that’s enough!

Yantang was absolutely right.

As long as one’s conscience is clear, what others think or say is their own business.

He felt refreshed, as if the gloom of many years had been swept away. He prepared travel expenses and farewell gifts for Zhao Si and personally delivered them to Yuqiao Alley. Calm and composed under his aunt’s slightly apologetic gaze, he drank a cup of tea, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then took his leave.

The aunt went to the study.

Seeing her husband restlessly practicing calligraphy, she sighed softly and turned to Zhao Zhangru’s room to ask if her luggage was packed properly. "…Don’t forget anything."

Zhao Zhangru, however, was nonchalant. "This is Shou Gu’s house. Even if we leave something behind, she’ll keep it for us. She has a farmstead in Huguang—she can just send it there later."

The aunt glared at her.

Just then, Song Yan entered and, upon learning the situation, smiled. "Mother, don’t worry. I’ll keep an eye on things. Nothing will be left behind."

Zhao Zhangru blushed and smiled at her husband.

The aunt couldn’t help but shake her head with a smile.

Thank goodness for Song Yan.

Having grown up relying on the kindness of many, he was meticulous and cautious—qualities that balanced out her daughter’s carelessness. At the same time, her daughter’s cheerful and open nature complemented Song Yan’s sensitivity. This marriage was truly a good match.

Neither foolish nor deaf, nor pretending to be blind.

She smiled and went to the main hall.

※※※※※

After seeing off her uncle’s family, Dou Zhao began preparing for Su Lan’s wedding.

She gave Su Lan the same dowry as Su Xin.

Chen He was uneasy and urged Su Lan to decline the gift. "Your brother-in-law accepted because his family was poor, and he worked for Madam. But I’m the Young Lord’s foster brother—he takes care of me."

Su Lan shook her head. "A gift from elders cannot be refused, and the same goes for gifts from our employers. We should accept it joyfully. As long as we remember how our employers treated us when dealing with others, we’ll know how to act and what choices to make. That’s the best way to repay them."

Chen He hadn’t expected the usually carefree Su Lan to speak such simple yet profound wisdom. He looked at her with newfound respect and no longer treated her like a naive girl to be humored. From then on, he regarded her with genuine esteem.

Chen’s mother, seeing her son truly fond of his wife-to-be, thought of her late daughter Chen Tao and reflected on life’s unpredictable fortunes. She became more tolerant toward Su Xin. After Su Lan married into the family, she lived happily—much to Dou Zhao’s surprise. This was something Dou Zhao hadn’t anticipated.But she didn’t know yet.

Just two days before Su Lan’s wedding, Lü Zheng’s wife brought two young maids to the east wing of the upper courtyard to collect summer clothes for Song Han’s residence. Hearing that Dou Zhao was in the backyard supervising the servants tending to the plants, she thought for a moment and went to the backyard to pay her respects.

Dou Zhao was already showing a slight baby bump. After standing for a while, she felt tired and sat down on a reclining chair padded with fur. She casually picked two Fujian tribute tangerines from the blue-and-white porcelain high-footed dish on the side table and handed them to Lü Zheng’s wife. “Take these back for the children to eat.”

Lü Zheng’s wife thanked her profusely and then lowered her voice. “I heard from the people at Cassia Fragrance Courtyard that the Duke intends to assign Chuan’er from there to serve the Second Master. But Chuan’er once attended the Duke personally—how could she be sent to the Second Master’s quarters? I beg Madam to help decide on this matter.”

Attended Song Yichun personally?

In what way?

To be honest, she hadn’t managed to find out.

Dou Zhao pondered and said, “I’ve already said that matters concerning the Second Master’s quarters should be decided by him. If this is his wish, of course, I will intervene.”

Her implication was clear—if this was merely Lü Zheng’s wife’s concern, even if Chuan’er had indeed attended Song Yichun closely, Dou Zhao would turn a blind eye.

Lü Zheng’s wife flushed red and, after a long pause, said, “Madam may not know, but that Chuan’er looks like a seductress—any man who sees her would be spellbound. The Second Master is still young. If he knew the Duke had assigned Chuan’er to his quarters, how could he refuse? Moreover, Chuan’er had offended Bai Zhi, one of the Duke’s maids, who then poisoned the Duke’s mind against her. In a fit of anger, the Duke decided to send Chuan’er to the Second Master’s quarters. If such a person enters the Second Master’s quarters, won’t she stir up chaos?”

With that, she knelt before Dou Zhao. “I beg Madam to consider my sincere devotion.”

Bai Zhi?

Wasn’t she one of Song Yichun’s second-rank maids?

The last time Dou Zhao went to Cassia Fragrance Courtyard to tend to Song Yichun’s illness, she had only seen Luo Yan and Chen Yu, two senior maids, along with a few young maids still in pigtails. She had wondered why Song Yichun had so few attendants, but later, upon checking the Duke of England’s Mansion’s servant registry, she discovered that Song Yichun had four senior maids, eight second-rank maids, twelve third-rank maids, and numerous lower-ranking maids and matrons—forty-four in total.

She hadn’t had the chance to meet them all yet, but now, because of a second-rank maid named Chuan’er, she was getting acquainted with the maids of Cassia Fragrance Courtyard ahead of time.

Dou Zhao said, “I will consider this matter carefully.”

Lü Zheng’s wife left disappointed.

Dou Zhao called out loudly, “Su Xin!”

Gan Lu came in with a smile. “Madam, how could you forget again—Sister Su Xin took Sister Su Juan to deliver fruits to the young master.”

Dou Zhao chuckled.

Today was the third day of the Provincial Examination. As with the previous two sessions, she had prepared fresh fruits for Su Xin to deliver to the examination hall.

She had gotten so used to calling for Su Xin for everything.

By the time Zhao Liangbi returned to the capital this summer, Su Xin would also be going home. It seemed she would soon be without a maid to confide in.

She would have to gradually get used to her trusted maids leaving one by one.

Dou Zhao thought of Chen Qushui and had him summoned.

No wonder men preferred having advisers.Apart from being well-traveled and knowledgeable, another important reason for their long-standing relationship was that they had grown accustomed to each other's habits and ways of thinking, becoming increasingly harmonious over time.

After pacing around the room for a long while, she finally made up her mind and sent Gan Lu to fetch Chen Qushui.

Chen Qushui sat down across from Dou Zhao and got straight to the point with a smile. "With Su Xin now married, Madam must feel quite unaccustomed, lacking someone to discuss inner household matters with. That's why you've called for me, isn't it?"

Dou Zhao's face flushed slightly.

Chen Qushui continued with a chuckle, "Actually, even if Madam hadn't sought me out, I would have come to you." His expression gradually turned serious. "I still remember the first time I saw you. The head of the Bie residence was gravely ill, and you walked in calmly, wearing a plain, unadorned jacket. Your radiant presence instantly brightened the entire room. The head begged me to ask you to take in the Bie sisters. Though your heart was moved with compassion, you still coolly weighed the pros and cons. That confident composure made you shine like a gem amidst rubble, dazzling brilliantly with just a sliver of sunlight. At that moment, I thought to myself, this young lady must have been showered with boundless affection to possess such grace and resilience."

"When I later learned of your circumstances, all I felt was admiration."

"So when you invited me to be your private tutor, I was moved."

"I knew I would never again serve as an adviser to any high-ranking official, but I could assist this young lady in becoming the master of her own family."

"And Madam, you did not disappoint me."

"You assessed the situation wisely, rationally abandoning your plans to remain single and instead becoming a loving couple with the Young Lord."

"But now, after rightfully gaining the authority to manage the household affairs of the Duke of Yingguo's Mansion, you've begun to hesitate, waver, and delay. You treat Master Duan and the others as mere guards, sheltering me as if I were a frail old man on the verge of death—completely contrary to the decisions you made when you first entered the mansion."

"Yet I understand you."

"Once you resolved to unravel the mystery of the Young Lord's strained relationship with his father, I knew you would see it through."

"What I don't understand is what new complication has arisen."

"But whatever it may be, I simply wish to tell Madam this: We who came from Zhen Ding share your fortunes and misfortunes. If anything were to happen to you, even if I wished to play the role of Cheng Ying, given how closely associated I am with you, it would likely be impossible."

Dou Zhao was visibly shaken.

Impossible?

Meanwhile, Chen Qushui's heart was in turmoil.

Indeed, Madam had encountered a life-or-death matter.

He continued, "Even if Madam were to send all of us back to Zhen Ding now, do you think any of us rootless drifters would find protection?"

His words struck her like a wake-up call.

The moment she had Chen Qushui bring Duan Gongyi and the others to the capital, their fates had become irrevocably tied to hers.

It wasn't something she could simply walk away from.

She had indeed made a grave mistake.

Dou Zhao's gaze hardened like a mountain.

Chen Qushui smiled.

Dou Zhao stood up. "Sir, let us speak in the pavilion in the rear courtyard."

The open view there ensured that while everyone could see them, anyone approaching would also be clearly visible.

Chen Qushui nodded and followed her to the pavilion.The spring breeze was chilly, yet Dou Zhao and Chen Qushui had been sitting in the pavilion for nearly an hour before they returned to the Small Flower Hall to continue their conversation.

"So you suspect Liao Wang?" Chen Qushui's face was ashen, his gaze toward Dou Zhao somewhat obscure.

Dou Zhao gave a slight nod.

Chen Qushui lowered his head and remained silent for a long while.

The early spring wind brushed past, causing the newly sprouted green leaves outside the glass window to tremble faintly, already bearing the softness of spring.