Blossom

Caishu smiled as she helped Dou Zhao place the tracing paper over the calligraphy model, then picked up a fan to gently fan her.

"Sister Caishu," Dou Zhao said with a laugh, "it's so hot—you should go rest! Tuo Niang can take care of me here. If you stay, I won’t be able to focus."

Caishu pursed her lips in amusement. "Alright then, I’ll wait just outside the door. Call me if you need anything."

Dou Zhao nodded cheerfully, then whispered to Tuo Niang, "Go keep watch at the door. If anyone comes, cough once."

Tuo Niang nodded and tiptoed to the study entrance, straining her ears for any movement outside.

Dou Zhao pulled out a sheet of paper and wrote a letter to her uncle:

"...Second Madam said that if Wang Yiniang is promoted to a formal wife, her father won’t compete with Fifth Uncle for the faction leadership. If you don’t write a letter of consent, she wants me to sue Wang Yiniang when I grow up."

Though the message was brief, her small hands lacked strength, and it took her nearly two incense sticks’ worth of time to finish. Still, the handwriting was neat.

After blotting the ink with fine sand, she folded the paper into a tiny note and beckoned Tuo Niang over, whispering, "Do you still remember the address Peng Momo made you memorize?"

"I do," Tuo Niang recited softly.

Pleased, Dou Zhao handed her the note. "Later, go ask Sixth Aunt for leave..."

She explained her plan to Tuo Niang, who nodded repeatedly.

"Don’t worry, I’ll definitely make a scene," Tuo Niang assured her. Then, pointing at the note, she added, "Fourth Miss, sending a letter costs ten taels of silver. Whether it’s a small note or ten pages, they charge the same. You might as well write more—it’d be cheaper that way."

Dou Zhao stifled a laugh, then sighed. "If Uncle still doesn’t understand what to do and just keeps clashing with the Dou and Wang families out of spite, no amount of words will help. Better to pull him out of this mess now than let those smug, scheming people gloat."

Tuo Niang didn’t quite follow.

"Just do as I say," Dou Zhao said with a smile. "Don’t worry about the rest."

Tuo Niang carefully tucked the note into her clothes. After serving Dou Zhao lunch, she followed instructions and asked Ji Shi for leave: "The young miss wants me to fetch her usual lavender pillow."

Ji Shi told Caishu to call a carriage and accompany her.

"No need, no need!" Tuo Niang hastily declined. "It’s just a short trip—I’ll walk." She insisted repeatedly.

Ji Shi grew suspicious.

Still, she usually avoided unnecessary trouble and simply nodded with a smile. But when she glanced up, she saw Dou Zhao writing diligently, her small face flushed from the heat, yet she remained upright and focused, showing no sign of slacking.

If it were Zhigeer, he would have long since thrown himself into her arms, whining for comfort.

A motherless child is like a blade of grass—no matter how hard things get, they must endure silently.

Contrary to her usual indifference, Ji Shi immediately called a maid named Caiwei after Tuo Niang left and whispered, "Go see what this girl is up to."

Caiwei hurried off.

Ji Shi then sat beside Dou Zhao, watching her trace characters and occasionally offering guidance.

After finishing two large sheets, Ji Shi had Caishu bring in some mung bean soup. "Shou Gu, take a break. Cool down a bit."

Dou Zhao was indeed tired. She sat sipping the soup with Ji Shi when Sixth Uncle returned.Before Sixth Aunt could even greet him, Sixth Uncle spoke in a deep voice, "All the servants in the room, step out into the courtyard."

There was a rustling sound as the room quickly emptied, leaving only Dou Shiheng, Ji Shi, and Dou Zhao.

At times like these, the advantages of being a child became apparent.

Sixth Uncle absentmindedly patted Dou Zhao’s head and went straight to Sixth Aunt, saying, "The Zhu family has invited Prefectural Instructor Zhou to intervene and wants to return Seventh Brother’s betrothal letter. Mother and Uncle are still locked in a stalemate inside. Third Brother asked me to go assess the situation first, so don’t wait for me for dinner."

So soon!

Dou Zhao was surprised.

Sixth Aunt was also taken aback. "Why did the Zhu family suddenly demand to break off the engagement?"

"Madam Pang from the Wang Family gathered her brothers to cause a scene at the Zhu residence. Recommended Man Zhu couldn’t bear the humiliation and refused to come out. As soon as the Pang family left, he rushed overnight to the prefecture to invite Prefectural Instructor Zhou," Sixth Uncle explained with a sigh. "Prefectural Instructor Zhou and Recommended Man Zhu are close friends. It seems Zhu is determined to cancel the engagement."

"Then you should hurry over!" Sixth Aunt frowned. "If possible, it’s best not to break off the engagement. Otherwise, the Wang Family will only make more trouble."

"That’s what I think too," Sixth Uncle said. "I’ve already sent a steward to find Old Master Pang. If he continues to stir up trouble without knowing his limits, he can forget about doing business in the Northern Metropolitan Region from now on."

Sixth Aunt clearly agreed with Sixth Uncle’s plan. "Just be careful not to leave any openings for others to exploit." After a few more words of caution, she saw Sixth Uncle off.

Dou Zhao slowly sipped her mung bean soup and watched as Sixth Aunt stood dazed in the courtyard for a long while after seeing Sixth Uncle out before finally returning inside.

"Shou Gu, would you like to go visiting with me?" Sixth Aunt asked her, but just then Caiwei hurried back.

"Sixth Madam," she whispered, "Suxin returned to the Western Manor and got into an argument with Yu Zan, another senior maid serving the Fourth Miss. From what I heard, Suxin wanted to inventory all the items in the Fourth Miss’s room, but Yu Zan accused her of meddling. Suxin called Yu Zan a thief, and they ended up fighting... I didn’t dare stay longer and rushed back."

Dou Zhao had only instructed Suxin to stir up trouble and use the chance to expose Yu Zan’s theft to Ji Shi. She hadn’t expected Yu Zan to react so strongly that they actually came to blows.

Still, Suxin was strong, and Yu Zan was no match for her. Besides, Suxin was part of the entourage accompanying her to the Eastern Manor. Even if Yu Momo found out, she wouldn’t dare detain Suxin in the Western Manor, let alone punish her—otherwise, Yu Zan’s theft of Dou Zhao’s belongings to curry favor with Daqing’s wife would be exposed.

If servants dared bully their masters, the madams and ladies of the Eastern Manor, as fellow masters, would make an example of them to warn others. At that point, it wouldn’t just be a matter of a few paddle beatings before expulsion.

Dou Zhao wasn’t worried.

Ji Shi understood the situation immediately.

Her face paled. "Don’t breathe a word of this. The moment Suxin returns, report to me at once."

Caiwei acknowledged and withdrew.

Ji Shi acted as if nothing had happened, pulling out a copy of The Three Character Classic and began teaching Dou Zhao to recite it.

By sunset, Suxin returned, theatrically carrying an orchid grass pillow.

Ji Shi cut straight to the point. "What did Yu Momo say about your fight with Yu Zan?"

Suxin hesitated, seemingly unsure how to respond.Ji Shi didn’t press further but instead pondered and said, “This isn’t something I can directly intervene in. However, you can write to Shou Gu’s aunt and ask her to request any of the madams in our household to step in. I doubt anyone in our family would stand by and let Shou Gu be treated this way. As for Yu Zan, first thing tomorrow, speak to Yu Momo and say the fourth young lady is accustomed to her own maids. Since I’ll be busy helping the sixth master pack his belongings these next few days, have her come assist. I have my own plans.”

Tuo Niang saw that things were unfolding exactly as Dou Zhao had predicted and couldn’t help but grin in delight.

Seeing this, Ji Shi also smiled and said, “You’re honest and dependable—I like that. As long as you continue serving Shou Gu well, good days will surely come your way.”

Tuo Niang already felt her life was quite good, but receiving Sixth Madam’s praise was still a happy occasion. She nodded repeatedly, her smile growing even brighter.

As the sun set, Ji Shi, thinking Dou Zhao had been cooped up indoors all day, took her hand for a stroll in the courtyard, casually pointing out the flowers and plants and telling her their names.

Second Cousin-in-Law, Third Cousin-in-Law, and Fifth Cousin-in-Law came together to visit Dou Zhao.

Ji Shi was just instructing the maids to set out fruits when Dou Zhengchang and Dou Dechang returned from school, followed by the fair-skinned, tall, and slender Dou Huanchang and the radiant Dou Qijun.

“We came to see Fourth Younger Sister (Fourth Aunt),” they said.

Ji Shi praised them warmly.

Third Cousin-in-Law beamed with pride, holding her son’s hand and smiling broadly.

Dou Huanchang greeted Dou Zhao gently, “Fourth Younger Sister, are you settling in well? Is the Eastern Residence fun?”

Dou Zhao had no intention of bonding with them and feigned shyness with a faint smile.

The younger generation of the Eastern Residence stayed for dinner at the sixth branch’s house.

That evening, Sixth Uncle didn’t return, but Grandfather came back instead.

By noon the next day, news arrived that the Zhu family and the Dou family had called off their engagement.

Dou Zhao felt no regret.

A woman who judged a man’s character solely because he was willing to observe mourning for his wife for three years clearly had limited discernment.

She gave a soft hum and quickly put the matter out of her mind, not dwelling on the deeper implications—in her heart, her mother was a woman as pure as water and as fierce as fire. No woman in this world could surpass her mother’s sincerity and purity, nor could anyone replace her.

Dou Zhao asked about Tuo Niang’s whereabouts.

Cai Lan replied cheerfully, “Su Xin and Steward Wang went to Zhen Ding Prefecture. They’ll be back tomorrow afternoon.”

Following Dou Zhao’s reasoning, once Ji Shi learned of the matter, she would discreetly assist her. To avoid drawing the Dou family’s attention, she would likely entrust the task to the Ji family’s shops in Zhen Ding to deliver the letter—and Steward Wang was one of Ji Shi’s dowry servants.

The corners of her lips curved upward.

Yu Zan entered nervously, clutching a bundle, following Cai Wei.

Dou Zhao was practicing calligraphy, with Ji Shi sitting beside her, fanning her gently and softly praising her strokes as if she hadn’t heard the announcement. She left Yu Zan standing there for nearly an hour until Dou Zhao finished. Only then did Ji Shi personally help her wash her hands and feed her a few sips of lotus seed soup brought by the maids before finally saying, “Are you Yu Zan, the one serving the fourth young lady?”—as if noticing her for the first time.Yu Zan's legs trembled from standing so long, her clothes soaked through with sweat, yet she dared not move a muscle. Hearing Ji Shi's question, she hurriedly replied, "Answering Sixth Madam, this servant is indeed Yu Zan," her attitude extremely deferential.

Ji Shi, however, merely dismissed her with a casual "You may leave," before turning with a beaming smile to scoop a spoonful of lotus seed soup and bring it to Dou Zhao's lips, coaxing her gently, "Our Shou Gu is so well-behaved! You've nearly finished the whole bowl!"

Since when had the madams from the Eastern House grown so close to the Seventh Young Master's wife?

Even though the Seventh Young Master's wife was no longer here, they still coddled the Fourth Miss as if she were a treasure.

Yu Zan watched, momentarily dazed.

A maidservant nearby tugged lightly at her sleeve. "Hurry and withdraw."

Snapping out of her thoughts, she hastily retreated from the inner chamber, catching faint whispers of someone's mocking remark: "Wasn't she said to have served the late Seventh Young Master's wife? Why does she seem so dull-witted? Could she have slipped in by sheer luck?"