Blossom

The newly purchased wife by Chen Jia was married to a man named Yao the Second. Both husband and wife were from the south, originally servants of a prominent family. Later, when that family fell into disgrace, these servants were implicated and sold off. Coincidentally, Chen Jia had asked his colleagues from the Imperial Bodyguard to help find a few reliable maidservants. To curry favor with him, those Imperial Bodyguards bought this family as a gift for him. Seeing that the woman was methodical and steady in her work, Chen Jia put her in charge of his inner household affairs. Tao the Second was assigned to guard the main gate, while their two sons—one assisted his father, and the other swept the courtyards in the outer compound. The youngest daughter, however, followed her mother into the inner courtyard as a little gardener.

This was the first time the Wife of Tao the Second had visited The Duke of England's Mansion. Before the visit, Chen Jia had repeatedly instructed her, emphasizing the importance of the Duke's household to him. Throughout the journey, her heart was uneasy. When she saw the row of black-lacquered flat-roofed carriages delivering festival gifts in front of the mansion, her nervousness only grew. She never expected Chen Jia to hold such prestige there—not only did the Young Lord's Madam personally receive her, but she also rewarded her with a high-quality Red Envelope. At last, her heart settled.

When she returned and recounted the experience to Chen Jia, she couldn’t help but show a hint of joy.

Chen Jia was also surprised.

The Duke of England's Mansion wasn’t the kind of place that would let just anyone in for delivering gifts. Without at least a third-rank official status, the gatekeepers wouldn’t even glance at you. Currently, he was only a fourth-rank official. If not for his connection with the Young Lord's Madam, where would he even stand? How could a mere maidservant he sent possibly have been granted an audience with Madam Dou!

He thought it would be best to strengthen these ties further.

The next day, he brought two jars of fine realgar wine to visit Duan Gongyi.

Duan Gongyi saw right through it.

But if it wasn’t Chen Jia, it would be someone else. Besides, Chen Jia suited his temperament—why should he mind?

He immediately prepared a few dishes to accompany the wine and invited Chen Jia to stay for a drink.

Chen Jia had come precisely for this purpose and gladly accepted, suggesting they also invite Mr. Chen over for a few cups.

Duan Gongyi waved his hand. "Mr. Chen is occupied these days and can’t spare the time. Next time you visit, we’ll invite him for a drink."

Chen Jia quickly asked what the matter was.

Duan Gongyi gave him a knowing smile.

Blushing, Chen Jia said, "I owe everything I have today to Madam Dou. I’ve always wanted to repay her, but she lacks nothing. Even if I wanted to send her a gift, I wouldn’t know what to choose. So, I thought perhaps I could be of some service to her—that’s why I asked."

Chen Jia spoke with intention, and Duan Gongyi listened with purpose. After seeing Chen Jia off, he immediately went to see Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao was entertaining two young madams from the Lu Family who had come to deliver festival gifts. Duan Gongyi waited half an hour before he could speak with her.

"Madam," he said, "regarding the matter you asked me to investigate earlier—I haven’t made much progress. What if we ask Chen Jia, Lord Chen, to help look into it? His men specialize in such things—we can’t compare!"

Dou Zhao had always been curious about who had been inquiring about the Li Family in the first two years after they moved away. The suggestion piqued her interest, but she hesitated. "After all, it’s an old matter from the household. It wouldn’t be good if others found out."

Duan Gongyi chuckled. "Chen Jia strikes me as very perceptive. We can just give him any excuse. Even if he figures out the real reason, he’ll play dumb."

Dou Zhao pondered. "I’ll discuss this with the Young Lord first."After all, it concerned Song Yichun's reputation. If the past incidents were exposed, Song Mo, as his son, would also lose face.

But who would have thought that Song Mo didn’t care at all about how Song Yichun might affect him? He chuckled and said, “That Chen Jia would be more than happy to do a couple of things for you. Just hand whatever tasks you have over to him!”

Dou Zhao asked, “What if he learns too much?”

Song Mo laughed. “He rose to his position by relying on me. Even if he knows nothing, he’s already branded as my man. If he tries to switch sides, he might as well forget about staying in the officialdom.”

Dou Zhao thought about it and realized he was right.

Song Mo shook his head with a smile. “You women always love to dwell on these trivial domestic matters. It’s been so long, yet you still want to know what happened to the Li family?”

Dou Zhao giggled. “Well, I’ve got nothing better to do.”

Song Mo recalled how spirited she became when she had something to occupy herself with, and how listless she seemed when idle. He couldn’t help but smile faintly.

If she found these things interesting, then so be it!

Song Mo then shared his plans for the coming days: “...We’ll need someone to keep an eye on the Imperial Hospital. But most of the Imperial Physicians there have served for generations, so getting any information out of them won’t be easy. A while ago, didn’t the Emperor keep complaining about headaches? I’ve instructed Yan Chaoqing to find a way to connect with the advisers of some high-ranking regional officials who’ve come to the capital to present seasonal gifts. Eventually, they’ll surely recommend renowned physicians skilled in treating headaches to serve in the Imperial Hospital. That’ll make things much easier.”

The Imperial Hospital was directly responsible for the Emperor’s well-being, so its oversight was the strictest.

Dou Zhao cautioned him, “Be careful not to get yourself implicated.”

“Mm!” Song Mo smiled and squeezed her hand before calling in a maid to help him change.

Meanwhile, Duan Gongyi went to Chen Jia’s residence in Yuqiao Alley.

The two drank together on the heated kang in the inner chamber of the main room.

Duan Gongyi half-jokingly complained, “...I’ve been to Er Tiao Alley several times but couldn’t dig up anything useful. Worse, after going so often, I was recognized. Turns out, not everyone is cut out for espionage.”

Chen Jia perked up at this and said with a grin, “If there’s no particular taboo about the matter, I can send a few men to help you investigate.”

“That’d be great,” Duan Gongyi replied with a laugh. “You’re the Young Lord’s man—even if there are taboos, they don’t apply to you.”

Chen Jia then asked for a detailed account of the situation.

Before Duan Gongyi even finished speaking, Chen Jia already had a rough idea.

Most likely, it was some romantic entanglement left behind by the Duke of Yingguo. Now that the Young Lord and the Duke were at odds, old matters were being dredged up again.

All he had to do was locate the Li family, and the case would be as good as solved.

Wasn’t this exactly what he excelled at?

Still, this was ultimately an old affair of the Duke of England's Mansion. If Duan Gongyi was entrusting it to him, it must mean either the Young Lord had given his approval, or Madam Dou had—and for either of them to agree, Duan Gongyi must have put in a good word for him.

Chen Jia cheerfully poured Duan Gongyi another drink. After they finished, he slipped a scented sachet into Duan Gongyi’s hand and personally escorted him to the gate.

With the investigation of the Li family now handed over to Chen Jia, Dou Zhao relaxed and waited at home for news.

Then, a letter arrived from Huguang—Zhao Zhangru had been diagnosed with a pregnancy pulse.Dou Zhao was naturally overjoyed. She prepared an entire cartload of food, medicinal herbs, gold and silver ornaments, damasks and brocades, and sent them to Huguang. Meanwhile, she and Song Mo began preparing for the Dragon Boat Festival when they would enter the palace to offer congratulations to the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and other nobles.

At the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility, Dou Zhao encountered Dou Ming.

She had grown much thinner since her marriage, her chin now pointed and her eyes large, making her appear even more delicate and charming.

Dou Ming also saw Dou Zhao.

Her gaze instantly turned sharp as knives.

Dou Zhao was dressed in a grand crimson court robe. She entered from outside, chatting and laughing softly with Madam Changxing, Madam Xingguo, Madam Dongping, and other leading matriarchs from the foremost meritorious families of the court.

Her youthful face stood out strikingly among the crowd of women in their thirties and forties.

The moment they stepped through the palace gates of the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility, Aunt Miao, the most dignified attendant by the Empress Dowager's side, came forward with a group of palace maids. She greeted Dou Zhao and the others with a warm smile, leading them respectfully toward the Empress Dowager's chambers. Unlike these ladies from second- and third-tier meritorious families, who had long lost their influence and were gradually declining—forced to wait by the screen wall until summoned by the Empress Dowager before they could have an audience...

Dou Ming watched as Dou Zhao walked past without even glancing her way, following those noblewomen around the screen wall.

Her hands clenched tightly into fists.

Someone nearby complained in her ear, "Truly, fate treats people differently. Thirty years ago, when I accompanied my mother-in-law into the palace, a mere announcement was enough to see the noble ladies inside. Not like now, where we have to wait outside..."

Dou Ming felt her face burn with humiliation.

Another whispered, "That young one, isn't she the wife of the heir to the Duke of Yingguo? I heard her due date is around the same time as the Crown Princess's? What fortune. If she gives birth to a child sharing the same birthday as the imperial grandson, whether boy or girl, the Crown Princess would surely remember. Now that would be true blessing!"

Yet another added, "Do you think the Duke of Yingguo's household is as short-sighted as you? The heir was granted a hereditary fourth-rank Vice Commissioner position just days after birth and began attending the Autumn Hunt before he could even walk. Which other family in the entire court enjoys such prestige? Their eldest grandson, even if born on the Ghost Festival, would still have a bright future. Why trouble yourself over it?"

Dou Zhao's due date was mid-June.

The one who had been rebutted retorted displeased, with a hint of schadenfreude, "Who knows? Perhaps the Duke of Yingguo's eldest grandson really will be born on the Ghost Festival!"

"Nonsense!" someone scolded. "We're in the palace—mind your words lest the walls have ears."

Just as the lady was about to respond, two palace maids emerged from behind the screen wall.

All voices ceased abruptly.

One of the maids smiled and asked, "May I ask which of you is the wife of the Marquis of Jining?"

Dou Ming froze.

Someone nudged her.

She quickly stepped forward to respond.

The maid smiled. "Her Majesty heard you are the younger sister of the wife of the Duke of Yingguo's heir and wishes to see you."

As soon as the maid spoke, Dou Ming seemed to hear a chorus of envious sighs around her.

Her fists clenched even tighter.

But before the palace's nobility, she dared not show even a hint of her feelings.

Dou Ming smiled graciously and thanked the two maids, following them toward the Empress Dowager's chambers. After rounding the screen wall, she discreetly slipped two red envelopes to the maids.The two palace maids accepted the gifts with gracious smiles, remarking, "Everyone says Minister Dou gave all his family wealth as dowries to his two daughters. Madam Dou is equally generous when entering the palace—the rumors must be true. We won't stand on ceremony."

Dou Ming gritted her teeth in anger.

Dou Zhao had gained the advantage and was now gloating—when had she ever received half of Father's property?

At this thought, her heart felt as if smothered by oil, making it hard to breathe.

After kowtowing and paying respects to the Empress Dowager, she nearly fainted—the Empress Dowager summoned her for a close inspection, then looked up and said to the Empress and the assembled noblewomen, both inside and outside the court, "Yantang's wife is still the more beautiful one. The Marquis of Jining's wife is far too frail!"