Blossom

In her previous life, Wang Xu had controlled the Imperial Bodyguard for a period before being ousted by Song Mo, after which he soon retired and disappeared from public view.

This showed that Wang Xu was also a key figure.

Dou Zhao couldn't help but clap her hands in approval. "This is excellent. This way, we can seize the initiative."

Yet Song Mo hesitated. "I wonder who he has approached in the Imperial Academy and the Grand Secretariat?"

Dou Zhao smiled. "Have you forgotten about the Risheng Silver House?"

Back then, Zhang Zhiqi had invited Dou Shiying to invest, with Dou Shiying and Zhang Zhiqi each holding a third, while Guo Yan, Zhao Peijie, and Chen Songming collectively held the remaining third.

Guo Yan was the son-in-law of the former Grand Secretary of the Inner Cabinet, Zeng Yifen. He had previously served as a Lecturer of Scholarly Works in the Imperial Academy. Before Zeng Yifen’s death, Guo Yan was assigned as the Shaanxi Investigating Censor.

Chen Songming was the Director of the Court of State Ceremonial, a close confidant of the emperor.

Zhao Peijie was a Scholar of the Imperial Academy and the Junior Supervisor of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, an official of the Eastern Palace.

In her past life, when Liao Wang ascended the throne, Guo Yan was promoted from Shaanxi Governor to Minister of War and Grand Scholar of Yingwu Hall, entering the Grand Secretariat. Chen Songming was elevated to Chancellor of the Imperial College. Zhao Peijie committed suicide by hanging at home after the palace coup. Dou Shiying, however, was left out of it.

But in this life, Dou Shishu had entered the Grand Secretariat earlier, drawing attention to Dou Shiying as well. Thanks to Dou Zhao’s early discovery, she forced Dou Shiying to withdraw his shares from Risheng Silver House, pushing Dou Shishu out of the picture. Thus, events returned to their original course, and Liao Wang still managed to ally with Dai Jian.

Song Mo, of course, had no knowledge of Dou Zhao’s "foresight," but he could discern the essence of the matter through this incident.

He frowned deeply.

At present, Guo Yan was merely a Counselor. If Song Mo could promote Jiang Yi to Commander of the Five City Garrison or Assistant Administrator, then Liao Wang could also elevate Guo Yan to a high-ranking regional official like an Administration Commissioner or Provincial Inspector.

Song Mo murmured, "Guo Yan and Zhao Peijie are manageable. The former won’t influence politics unless promoted to the third rank, and the latter is an official of the Eastern Palace. Cui Pianyi’s disciples are familiar with me—it won’t be hard to find someone to keep an eye on him. But with Chen Songming, there’s no suitable candidate..."

He came from a noble military family. The Five Armies Commandery was easy to handle, but the Imperial Academy was beyond his reach... Could the Dou family lend Song Mo a hand?

Dou Zhao nearly blurted out Dou Qijun’s name.

In this year’s Spring Examination, he would be named on the Golden List, then pass as a Bachelor of the Imperial Academy and observe government affairs at the Court of State Ceremonial.

Clear-headed, composed, and strategically adept, he was the perfect candidate.

Dou Zhao smiled wryly. "How about this—leave it to me? Father and Sixth Uncle both serve in the Imperial Academy and know many people. I’ll discuss it with them."

"Your father studies the philosophies of Laozi and Zhuangzi. Best not disturb his tranquility," Song Mo said tactfully, considering his father-in-law’s temperament. "I’ll think of a way myself."

He had another concern.

If Dou Zhao couldn’t find a suitable candidate, would she turn to Ji Yong for help?

He couldn’t say how Ji Yong felt about Dou Zhao, but she treated him like family. Moreover, Ji Yong was notoriously unruly. While others might tremble at the mention of treason and a palace coup, he would be invigorated, eager to stir chaos.

Song Mo wasn’t seeking merit for supporting the ascension—he only hoped to avoid the turmoil and emerge unscathed. Why make the matter so public that everyone knew?"Leave this matter to me, I'll think of a way," Song Mo once again reminded Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao nodded with a smile but silently calculated how many days remained until the exam results were announced.

Just then, a trusted maidservant from Guo Shi's household came to relay a message to Dou Zhao. The Wei Family was pressuring Dou Ming to hand over her dowry to the Dou family for management. The Wang Family was furious, and Gao Shi personally demanded an explanation from the Dou family. Fifth Aunt, feeling wronged and unable to defend herself, swore to the heavens that the Dou family had never intended to manage Dou Ming's dowry. She arranged with the Wang Family to visit the Wei Family on a chosen day to clarify the matter and stand up for Dou Ming. According to Fifth Aunt's plan, besides herself and Dou Shi, she also intended to invite Sixth Aunt Ji Shi and Dou Zhao to join them.

Dou Zhao listened with a cold smile, rewarded the messenger with a red envelope, inquired about Jing Jie'er, and then signaled the end of the visit by serving tea.

When Fifth Aunt sent someone to invite her, Dou Zhao refused without hesitation: "Dou Ming and I have never gotten along. Rather than go and endure her disdain, it's better for us to stay out of each other's way. She already has the uncles, aunts, and elders of the Dou family to support her."

The old woman had no choice but to relay the message verbatim to Fifth Aunt.

Fifth Aunt sighed.

Cai Shi then said, "Since Fourth Aunt isn't involved in this matter, perhaps we—"

Fifth Aunt shot her daughter-in-law a sharp glare. "This concerns the reputation of the Dou family. How can we not intervene?" She couldn't help feeling regretful.

Her eldest daughter-in-law was gentle and kind-hearted, but unfortunately, she hadn't borne a son and thus lacked the confidence to assert herself at home, unable to keep the second daughter-in-law in check. The second daughter-in-law was eloquent and socially adept, having given birth to the eldest grandson, but she was overly opportunistic and short-sighted—hardly the right person to manage household affairs.

It seemed the fifth branch would have to pin their hopes on the grandsons.

With this thought in mind, after consulting Dou Shishu, she took Cai Shi's two sons under her own care to raise, which later caused a rift between them. But that was another story.

On the agreed-upon day with the Wang Family, Fifth Aunt and Sixth Aunt dressed formally according to their rank, while Cai Shi and Guo Shi adorned themselves elegantly and appropriately. Together with Gao Shi, Pang Yulou, and Gao Shi's daughter-in-law Gao Mingzhu, they went to the Marquis of Jining's Mansion.

Wei Tingzhen stood arrogantly at the second gate to greet them, wearing a jade peony hairpin and a cloud rosy overcoat with a pheasant pattern.

Fifth Aunt felt a surge of anger at the sight.

If not for this elder sister-in-law, would the Wei Family have so much trouble?

Abandoning her usual humility, she stepped forward and jabbed at Wei Tingzhen with a smile: "I didn’t expect the elder sister to return to her maiden home so early. With such a grand display, I almost mistook you for Mingjier!"

Her implication was clear—mocking a married woman for meddling in her natal family's affairs.

Wei Tingzhen narrowed her eyes and retorted without backing down: "I had just stepped inside the hanging flower gate when I saw the rosy capes of third and fourth-rank ladies from afar. For a moment, I thought it was a grand court assembly, so I lingered here a while longer. It seems my presence has confused you, dear in-law." She covered her mouth as she laughed, but her eyes swept over the women of the Dou and Wang families with undisguised disdain.Madam Cai, seeing her mother-in-law's firm stance, naturally wouldn't contradict Wei Tingzhen. She smiled and said, "Both the Dou and Wang families have many officials. Besides Madams, there are also Shurens and Rurens—nothing unusual. Unlike your maternal and marital families, where apart from the highest-ranking Madams, there are no other titles, making it easy to distinguish who's a Madam and who's a wife at a glance. No wonder the eldest paternal aunt mistook them. Fortunately, your younger brother married a Dou family girl, so there'll be many interactions in the future. With time, you'll grow accustomed to rooms full of titled ladies."

The Dou and Wang families weren't unfamiliar with each other, and Pang Yulou, the second wife of the Wang family, wasn’t just a pretty face. As she spoke, her gaze fell on Pang Yulou. "Second Madam Wang, don’t you think I’m right?"

Pang Yulou had long been displeased with Wang Yingxue living off the family’s resources, enjoying the finest food and clothing. Had it not been for Madam Xu Wang’s orders, she wouldn’t have come at all. But now that the Dou family had passed the baton to her, if she didn’t step up, wouldn’t she become a laughingstock?

With a smile, she stepped forward and stood beside Madam Cai, speaking gently, "I, too, mistook the eldest paternal aunt for our fifth granddaughter earlier. After all, in this household, apart from her, who else is entitled to wear the highest-ranking outer court attire? Please don’t take it to heart, eldest paternal aunt."

Though Madam Tian was also a first-rank titled lady, as a widow, she only wore half the usual gold, silver, and jade ornaments in formal attire to signify her status.

Wei Tingzhen’s face turned icy.

Sixth Madam Ji of the Dou family had no intention of quarreling with Wei’s eldest paternal aunt in front of the Wei family’s servants.

She stepped forward to mediate with a smile, "Since we’re here, shouldn’t we pay our respects to the Dowager?"

Madam Gao shared the same thought and chimed in, "Shall we visit the Dowager first before continuing our conversation in the Reception Hall?"

The women of the Dou and Wang families readily agreed in unison. Their united front made it clear that even if Wei Tingzhen objected, they would proceed to see Madam Tian.

Wei Tingzhen watched the two families’ overwhelming presence and, realizing she stood alone, turned livid. As she and Fifth Madam headed toward Madam Tian’s courtyard, she silently reflected on the importance of having more children. She and Wei Tingyu were only siblings, relying solely on each other. In contrast, the Zhang family had three brothers and five sisters from the same mother, which was why her mother-in-law’s birthday celebrations were so lively. Her father had married her into the Zhang family partly because of their numerous siblings.

Madam Tian had already discussed matters with her daughter—today, they must teach Dou Ming a lesson. Knowing she wasn’t eloquent, she resolved to feign illness. When Fifth Madam and the others came to visit, she tied a forehead cloth and lamented, "What kind of daughter-in-law neglects her sick mother-in-law? My fate is truly bitter!"

Fifth Madam smiled without a word.Cai Shi chimed in from the side, "I heard our Fifth Granddaughter has been taking medicine daily since her miscarriage. Isn't she overexerting herself? I notice your household has few maidservants. Should we send a few knowledgeable matrons from the Dou family who understand health preservation to attend to our Fifth Granddaughter and help her recover properly? Otherwise, difficulties in bearing heirs could become troublesome."

Tian Shi couldn't help but shrink back in fear.

Wei Tingzhen, however, was furious.

Are you implying that if Dou Ming fails to bear a son in the future, the Dou family will blame it on this miscarriage?

Just as she was about to counter, Pang Yulou, who had been following Cai Shi closely, continued, "Is that so? Why haven't we heard about this? Our Fifth Granddaughter's temperament is too gentle. The matter of heirs is of utmost importance." As she spoke, she glared reproachfully at Wei Tingzhen. "Our Fifth Granddaughter is young and inexperienced, having just married into the family. But you, Granddaughter, have borne several children yourself. Why didn't you remind our Fifth Granddaughter? Legitimate heirs are legitimate, and illegitimate ones are illegitimate. You mustn't let your brother-in-law disrupt the family order."