Blossom

"What kind of talk is this?"

Fifth Madam was startled when she heard Wei Tingyu speak with a hint of delight: "Of course! How could our Wei Family covet our daughter-in-law's dowry? It's just that we dislike how you flaunt your wealth and refuse to listen to advice, running back to your maternal home at every turn. If you stop seeing Seventh Madam and devote yourself wholeheartedly to being a proper Wei Family wife, why would we need to entrust your dowry to the Dou family for management?" He continued, "You’ve been married into our family for nearly half a year now. Ask yourself—how did my mother treat you when you first arrived? And how does she treat you now? My mother has always been gentle and kind, the most loving person. Why does she suddenly seem like a different person? Have you ever considered the reason for this? Instead, you only know how to blame my mother. And look at yourself—what kind of person have you become? There’s not a trace left of the woman I first met!"

Dou Ming remained silent.

Fifth Madam grew increasingly anxious watching her.

How could Dou Ming be so foolish?

What couple doesn’t start off sweet as honey, only to gradually develop cracks and even grow to resent each other?

In the end, it’s all caused by these seemingly insignificant frictions piling up over time.

Yet she took Wei Tingyu’s words to heart, believing that if she just obeyed him, their relationship would return to how it was when they first married.

But human desires are bottomless.

Today, he coaxes you into forsaking your own mother for the sake of marital harmony. Tomorrow, he’ll coax you into taking concubines for the sake of a virtuous reputation. The day after, he’ll coax you into selling off your dowry for the family’s prosperity…

These are the very things a mother should warn her daughter about before marriage.

But judging by Dou Ming’s behavior, Wang Yingxue said nothing at all.

Wang Yingxue is utterly useless—worse than useless!

She failed to say what needed to be said, yet didn’t hesitate to fill Dou Ming’s head with nonsense, molding her into this—someone who could shamelessly steal her own sister’s betrothed and still walk the streets with her head held high.

Absolutely shameless!

Fifth Madam inwardly cursed Wang Yingxue to the heavens.

But in front of the Wei Family, she couldn’t explain the gravity of the situation to Dou Ming. She would have to speak to her afterward.

Fifth Madam’s tone grew urgent. "Mingjier, your health is weak. Be careful not to stand too long and faint. Let Zhou Momo help you rest for a while. Your Aunt and I will handle things here—no need for you to worry!"

Dou Ming shook her head faintly.

To marry Wei Tingyu, she had not only angered Father and Dou Zhao but also earned the disdain of both the Dou and Wang families.

There was no place for her in either the Dou or Wang households anymore.

If she left the Wei Family and tried to return to either, wouldn’t she just become a laughingstock?

In truth, from the moment she took Dou Zhao’s place and married into the Wei Family, there had been no turning back.

She could only succeed—she couldn’t afford to fail.

The Wei Family had become her only refuge. How could she afford to burn bridges with them? Where else could she go?

Bitter sorrow filled Dou Ming’s heart as she replied softly, "Thank you for your concern, Fifth Aunt. But as the saying goes, ‘At home, obey your father; married, obey your husband.’ Now that I am a Wei Family wife, I must honor my husband as my heaven." She curtsied to Fifth Madam and whispered, "As for Mother… forgive this unfilial daughter. I must ask you to look after her in my stead."

"Mingjier!" Ji Shi’s expression darkened as she abruptly stood up. "Do you even realize what you’re saying?""Sixth Aunt," Dou Ming said calmly with a composed expression, "I'm now caught between loyalty and filial piety, forced to choose one. Please don't blame me for being heartless."

Ji Shi gazed solemnly at Dou Ming, her lips trembling slightly.

After a long pause, she slumped into her seat with a heavy sigh.

Wei Tingzhen watched the scene, her face radiant with unconcealed triumph.

No matter how powerful the Dou family was, if Dou Ming still wanted to marry into the Wei family, the Dous would have to bow their heads!

But being somewhat clever, she knew this wasn't the time to further provoke the Dou and Wang families. If pushed too far, they might act recklessly, and ultimately it would be Dou Ming and Wei Tingyu who suffered—Dou Ming was merely Fifth Madam's cousin's daughter, but Wei Tingyu was her own blood brother. The Dou family might not care about Dou Ming, but she couldn't not care about Wei Tingyu.

Lifting the warm curtain, she called loudly to the maids, "Tell the kitchen Old Women to prepare their best dishes! Madam's relatives will be staying for lunch today!"

The women of the Dou and Wang families had no face left to stay for lunch at the Wei residence. They had nearly crushed the Wei family and were on the verge of victory, but Dou Ming had unexpectedly sabotaged herself, reversing the situation. Not only had they lost their advantage, but Dou Ming would likely never regain control over the Wei family. Fortunately, the Dou and Wang families hadn't shown the Weis any courtesy either, so the Weis would think twice before bullying Dou Ming, given their influence. It was a stalemate at best.

Fifth Madam's face darkened as she said, "Unlike the eldest paternal aunt, we can't idle around at our maiden home—I have a mountain of affairs waiting for me. We'll skip lunch today and visit Mingjier another time." Without even glancing at Dou Ming, she turned and strode out with Ji Shi.

Gao Shi gave Dou Ming a deep look before following Fifth Madam and Ji Shi out of the Resting Chamber.

Wei Tingyu giggled as she saw them off.

Fifth Madam felt a suffocating lump of frustration in her chest.

Once in the carriage, she couldn't help muttering, "We were like a dog trying to catch mice—meddling in others' business."

Cai Shi was equally furious.

She had seen foolish people, but none as foolish as Dou Ming. With everything in her favor, she had surrendered on her own, handing victory to that contemptuous Wei Tingzhen.

She desperately wanted to ask about the rumors of illegitimacy, but seeing her mother-in-law and Sixth Aunt's grim expressions, she swallowed her questions. Instead, she poured tea for Fifth Madam and Ji Shi, offering hollow comfort: "Fifth Granddaughter is still young and bound to make mistakes. Mother and Sixth Aunt shouldn't take it to heart. She'll improve as she grows older."“She was still young at the time,” Ji Shi, sitting opposite Fifth Madam, said coldly. “But the younger one is, the more their true nature shows. Even a dog doesn’t despise a poor home, yet she, someone who has read the Classic of Filial Piety and Admonitions for Women , could actually say, ‘If I don’t see my mother, will this matter just be swept under the rug?’ It shows how cold and heartless she is!” She continued, “Now look at Shou Gu. Even at a young age, she knew right from wrong. That Tuo Niang—she merely followed Zhao Shi’s orders to take care of her for two years, and Shou Gu not only gave her dowry gifts but also elevated her husband, ensuring they lived comfortably. But then look at our Fourth Paternal Aunt—how many of her maids and old women have stayed with her long-term? Let alone anyone who would owe her favors or sacrifice their lives for her! It’s clear it wasn’t my bias all along—it’s just that she’s truly unlikable!”

And yet she claims she isn’t biased!

Didn’t Mingjier still have Zhou Momo by her side?

Cai Shi listened silently, amused, thinking Ji Shi was still exceptionally partial to Dou Zhao.

Fifth Madam, however, was taken aback. The more she thought about Ji Shi’s words, the more sense they made, and she began to feel a hint of wariness toward Dou Ming.

She realized Dou Ming’s heart was truly hardened—if she could treat her own birth mother this way, she would have even less affection for others. No matter how well Fifth Madam treated her, it would likely never warm that icy heart.

She returned to Huai Shu Alley in silence.

Dou Shishu had gone to the yamen but, fearing the Dou family’s women might face humiliation at the Wei Family’s place, had sent a page to wait at home for news.

Fifth Madam felt disheartened just thinking about the day’s events. Lacking the energy for anything else, she had the page relay a message to Dou Shishu: “The matter has been resolved smoothly.” Then she lay down in frustration.

Cai Shi attended to her mother until she rested, then immediately sent a trusted old woman back to her maternal home.

The old woman whispered to Madam Cai, “Our Tenth Young Madam says something major has happened in the Dou family. She asks you to visit her when you have time.”

The Dou family had a Grand Secretary in court, and they were in-laws. If something major happened to the Dou family, it might implicate the Cai family as well.

Madam Cai couldn’t sit still. She immediately had some pastries prepared and, as soon as the old woman left, hurried to the Dou family.

Under the pretense of visiting her grandchild, Madam Cai exchanged a few polite words with Fifth Madam and Dou’s wife, both in low spirits due to the Dou Ming incident. Then she was taken by a personal old woman to Cai Shi’s residence.

Cai Shi closed the door and spoke with Madam Cai for the entire afternoon.

Over at the Wang family, Gao Shi sighed to Gao Mingzhu, “As parents, sometimes we really must reflect on ourselves. Otherwise, if we end up burdening even our own children, what’s the point of living?”

Gao Mingzhu was graceful and radiant, with bright eyes and white teeth—truly living up to her name, “Bright Pearl.”

She was personally attending to Gao Shi’s grooming when she heard this. Her hand, holding the comb, paused hesitantly. “Though Aunt is unreasonable, for a daughter to reject her like this… it’s still not quite right…”

Gao Mingzhu wanted to say that from now on, they shouldn’t interfere in Dou Ming’s affairs. After all, Dou Ming was a Dou by name—if anything happened, the Dou family would handle it. What business did the Wang family have getting caught in the middle?

But she knew the entire Wang family treated this cousin unusually well—they had even nearly married Dou Ming to Wang Nan. Others could say such things, but she couldn’t.Gao Shi was well acquainted with her niece-in-law and naturally understood the implication behind her words. Moreover, since they were of the same mind, she turned and smiled at her, saying, "If such things happen again in the future, just avoid them. As for me, I’ll speak to your grandmother myself."

Gao Mingzhu breathed a sigh of relief.

Gao Shi was racking her brains over how to report back to her mother-in-law.

Pang Yulou, however, had no such reservations.

With an exaggerated gesture of pulling someone aside, she exclaimed loudly, "...Even when we tried to stop her, Mingjier just blurted it out. Not just me—even Fifth Madam Huo of the Dou family turned pale. Tell me, how could she say such heartless things to her own mother, her paternal aunt? Has she truly forgotten her mother now that she has a man?"

"Nonsense!" Madam Xu Wang slapped the edge of the couch, afraid Pang Yulou might spout more vulgar country sayings that would embarrass everyone. "If you’re going to talk about the matter, then talk properly. What’s all this rubbish you’re spewing?"

Pang Yulou sneered inwardly.

Aren’t you the one who treats your daughter—the one who was kicked out by her husband’s family—like a treasure? She eats my food, drinks my tea, and still dares to boss me around. Well, I’ll make sure to disgust you all!

She immediately put on a cowering expression and muttered, "The Dou family is so stingy. All we asked for was a couple of century-old ginseng roots to nourish Mingjier’s health, and they acted as if we were asking for their lives..."

"Shut your mouth!" Madam Xu Wang’s face darkened with rage. Finally turning away from Pang Yulou, she demanded sharply of Gao Shi, "You tell me, what exactly happened?"

Since Madam Pang had already said everything that needed to be said, what more could Gao Shi add? It was simply that she couldn’t believe Dou Ming would disown even her own mother.

Muttering to herself, Gao Shi respectfully recounted the events to Madam Xu Wang.

Madam Xu Wang fainted on the spot.