Blossom

Jiang Lizhu accompanied Dou Zhao to the Green Water Residence where Jiang Yan was staying, while Song Mo went to the study—later, when Xia Lian and his men "rescued" Song Shize and brought him back, Song Shize would likely have much to say to him.

Jiang Yan was sitting on the edge of the heated brick bed by the window in the inner chamber, staring blankly at a jade bonsai of grape squirrels. Hearing movement, she immediately stood up and stepped forward to greet Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao took her hand and, before she could speak, briefly recounted what had happened at the Cassia Fragrance Courtyard—though, of course, omitting some of Song Yichun’s words.

Jiang Yan was stunned for a long moment before murmuring somewhat uncomfortably, "Does the Duke... dislike Madam Jiang?"

Though she believed Song Mo’s words in her heart, with one of the two people who could confirm her identity already deceased and the other outright denying it, she cautiously referred to Jiang Shi as "Madam Jiang."

"I’m not entirely sure either," Dou Zhao said honestly. "By the time I married into the family, my mother-in-law had already passed away years ago." Then, struck by inspiration, she asked Jiang Yan, "Would you be willing to help me investigate my mother-in-law’s past?"

Jiang Yan nodded excitedly, her dark jade-like eyes finally showing a glimmer of light.

Only then did Jiang Lizhu’s anxious heart settle.

She deeply admired Dou Zhao’s way of handling matters and, when writing back to the Jiang Family, couldn’t help but praise her effusively. This moved the Eldest Madam of the Jiang Family, who remarked to the other women of the household, "The heir truly is blessed. I had thought that after the eldest paternal aunt passed, there would be no elder to guide him. Yet, by chance, he married Dou Shi—truly, some marriages are destined by heaven."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiexu fell silent for a long while. The next day, she agreed to the marriage arrangement the Jiang Family had made for her.

Of course, these were all matters for later.

At this moment, seeing that her presence was no longer needed, Jiang Lizhu smiled and took her leave, giving Dou Zhao and Jiang Yan time to speak privately.

Dou Zhao then led Jiang Yan to the waterside pavilion beside the Green Water Residence and said, "Now that everything is settled, you can live peacefully in the Duke of England's Mansion from now on. If you need anything, just let me know."

Jiang Yan nodded softly. She wanted to ask about Li Liang but knew her newfound brother and sister-in-law might be displeased, so she swallowed the words.

Dou Zhao then asked about the clothes and jewelry being made for her: "Your brother and I have discussed it. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to the Lu Family to pay respects to Old Madam Lu and Ningde Princess."

During her stay outside, a matron sent by Dou Zhao had already explained in detail the relationships between the Song Family and other noble houses. Jiang Yan knew that the Lu Family was the maternal family of the Old Duke of England’s wife, and that her visit was to formally acknowledge kinship. Her heart grew uneasy.

She worried about making mistakes and embarrassing herself, and feared that if it turned out she wasn’t truly the Song Family’s daughter after all, the joy she felt now would only make the disappointment and humiliation worse later.

But thinking of Dou Zhao, heavily pregnant yet still running around for her sake, she was filled with guilt. The words "I won’t go" simply couldn’t leave her lips, so she softly agreed. The next day, after dressing carefully, she followed Dou Zhao to the Lu Family.Old Madam Lu and Ningde Princess were puzzled: "The Jiang Family has many daughters, but none that Jiang Shi loved so dearly as to adopt as a goddaughter. What is Yantang up to? Could he have been deceived by the servants below? Since Jiang Shi passed so suddenly, someone might have forged her will!"

Ningde Princess had cultivated remarkable composure over the years. Smiling, she reassured her sister-in-law: "They'll be here soon enough. We'll know when we see them."

As they spoke, Dou Zhao and Jiang Yan arrived.

Eldest Madam Lu personally greeted them at the Hanging Flower Gate. Upon seeing Jiang Yan, she was visibly stunned, repeatedly glancing at her even as they entered Old Madam Lu's inner courtyard.

Jiang Yan felt extremely uncomfortable.

Old Madam Lu and Ningde Princess were astonished. Particularly Ningde Princess, who had witnessed many palace intrigues and immediately considered darker possibilities.

After Jiang Yan kowtowed to them, Ningde Princess quickly found an excuse to have Eldest Madam Lu take Jiang Yan to the rear garden, dismissing all attendants except Dou Zhao for a private conversation.

Dou Zhao had come for two reasons: first, the Lu Family had always shown goodwill toward her and Song Mo, and Jiang Yan needed their recognition and support; second, to see if revealing Jiang Yan's identity might jog the Lu Family's memory about past events and uncover any clues. When questioned by Ningde Princess, she recounted the entire story straightforwardly.

Old Madam Lu was too furious to speak, while Ningde Princess sighed repeatedly: "I always suspected something was amiss. How could a full-term baby be so frail? But your mother-in-law was blinded at the time—what could we, as relatives, say? Song Han has consumed priceless medicines since childhood, money poured out like water, yet his constitution never matched Yantang's. Clearly, that child was either premature or drug-induced." She added, "Prematurity would be one thing, but forced birth would be another. The Duke of Yingguo was determined to bring that son into the household—any traces from back then were likely erased long ago. Don't waste effort investigating. If certain, acknowledge her as a Jiang cousin; if uncertain, it matters little. An extra place setting, an additional dowry—better that than missing the truth."

"Our Young Lord shares your view," Dou Zhao smiled. "Even if unrelated by blood, her resemblance to my mother-in-law makes it fate. We'll treat her as another sister to care for." Privately, she was already convinced Jiang Yan was Song Mo's blood sister.

Old Madam Lu and Ningde Princess nodded approvingly, then inquired about the Wei and He Families: "What are Yantang's plans?"

Dou Zhao replied, "The Young Lord mentioned unrest in Henan since spring—bandits infiltrating Qingyuan County, colluding with local gentry to rob households. He insists the government offices investigate thoroughly to maintain regional peace. Results should emerge within days."

The two elder women nodded repeatedly. "Excellent approach!" they said. "No need to stoop to their level."Back then, Jin Gui and Yin Gui's families had merely given their former martial brothers ten taels of silver, yet it led to their families being torn apart and lives ruined. Now that Wei Quan and He Qingyuan were colluding with bandits, what good could possibly come of it?

Old Madam Lu and Ningde Princess summoned Jiang Yan over, presenting her with two pieces of jewelry as gifts while carefully questioning her.

Though Jiang Yan answered flawlessly, she couldn’t hide her nervousness.

Old Madam Lu and Ningde Princess shook their heads regretfully, thinking it a pity that such a beautiful girl had grown up in the alleys with the Li family, timid and shrinking, unable to shake off her humble origins.

Dou Zhao also knew that if time allowed, it would be best to nurture Jiang Yan a little longer before introducing her to society. However, she was due to give birth soon, and by the time she could personally accompany Jiang Yan in public appearances, too much time would have passed. There was a risk that Jiang Yan might be rumored to have been sent by the Jiang family to serve Song Mo, which would tarnish her reputation.

She continuously encouraged Jiang Yan and took her back to the Dou family for a visit.

Song Mo was deeply distressed and urged her not to go out again: "I have plenty of ways to deal with Father. You mustn’t neglect your own well-being by running around everywhere." If anything were to happen to Dou Zhao, he felt everything he was doing now would lose its meaning.

Dou Zhao smiled and said, "The midwife actually advised me to move around more. Since I have nothing else to do, taking Yanmei out for some fresh air is just fine."

But Song Mo’s expression remained grim.

Dou Zhao had no choice but to relent: "If I feel unwell, I’ll stay home immediately."

Only then did Song Mo’s expression soften slightly.

Jiang Yan also breathed a sigh of relief.

She knew Dou Zhao and Song Mo were doing this for her sake. But she truly disliked social interactions, especially when everyone’s eyes were fixed on her as if trying to see through her. She worried they might discover that, apart from her late husband, she had been involved with someone else—making her feel as though she had inherited her foster mother Li Tiaoniang’s disgrace. She feared others would gossip about her just as they had about Tiao Niang, thinking her own shameful secrets were unknown when, in reality, the entire neighborhood had whispered behind her back. Even she herself had faced much criticism...

Being able to take refuge in the Duke of Yingguo's Mansion, especially in the secluded Green Water Residence, where she lacked nothing and could pass her days with needlework, suited her perfectly.

Soon, word spread in the Capital that Song Mo had a cousin staying at the Duke of Yingguo's Mansion, and that Dou Zhao, pitying this young widow, was considering finding her a good match for remarriage.

Naturally, some began eyeing Jiang Yan, hoping to curry favor with the Duke’s household.

Terrified, Jiang Yan turned pale and begged Dou Zhao: "I don’t want to remarry. Please send me to a convent!" She also thought of how she should have died long ago, yet each attempt had failed, leaving her increasingly timid. Now, under the protection of Song Mo and Dou Zhao, she dared not even consider death. Tears welled up as she wept quietly.

Dou Zhao understood the deep wounds Jiang Yan carried and that recovery would take time. She quickly reassured her: "This is just to prevent gossip about you. We’re not rushing to marry you off."

Perhaps because Dou Zhao had always appeared so composed and considerate since they first met, Jiang Yan trusted her completely. Wiping her tears in embarrassment, she said, "Then may I stay at home and do needlework? With Sister-in-law expecting a child soon, I’d like to contribute something for the little one. I only hope Sister-in-law won’t think me an unlucky person.""You're truly blessed to have been found by your brother!" Dou Zhao could empathize with Jiang Yan's unease, much like her own past struggles in Jing'an Temple Alley where she'd never found her footing. So not only did she comfort her gently, but also assigned her plenty of needlework to keep her occupied.

To her surprise, Jiang Yan settled down quickly. Every day, she happily worked on her embroidery with Yinghong, the newly assigned personal maid, and her spirits lifted noticeably. By the sixth day of the sixth lunar month, when she saw Dou Zhao directing the household maids and old women to air out the books, she couldn't help but admire, "So Sister-in-law can read too!"

Dou Zhao paused, then laughed. "You don’t know how to read?"

Jiang Yan flushed. "When I was little, I studied the Three Character Classic for a few days with Uncle. But he said it was useless for girls to learn such things, and later, when he got busy with his studies, I stopped. Now I’ve forgotten most of it."

Dou Zhao thought for a moment, then smiled. "Would you like to learn? If you do, I can speak to your brother and have him hire an Old Academician to teach you reading and writing."

Jiang Yan’s eyes lit up. "Would that really be possible?"

"Why not?" Dou Zhao chuckled. "It's not like you're preparing for the imperial exams—just learning a few words to understand things better. Does it matter when you start?" Then she added seriously, "But in front of your brother, you mustn’t call Li Liang 'Uncle' anymore. He resents the Li family deeply for taking you away and not treating you well."