Blossom

The next day after breakfast, Wang Zhibing bid farewell to Dou Duo: "...My father only instructed me to bring my sister back. There are some matters he is unaware of, so I should inform him first."

During those years in the northwest, Wang Zhibing not only attended to his father's daily needs, fulfilling his filial duties, but also assisted his father—who, due to the torment suffered in prison, could no longer write for long periods—by organizing books, copying court gazettes, and corresponding with old friends. He took on the responsibilities of an adviser, growing accustomed to completing any task his father assigned him, no matter the difficulties, without complaint or seeking credit.

The matter of Wang Yingxue was no different.

He had believed that despite some twists and turns, he would ultimately be able to bring his sister home.

But now, the situation had veered off course, and he was no longer in a position to make decisions.

Dou Duo smiled and said, "That is only right."

He personally escorted Wang Zhibing to the gate.

As he turned back, he overheard Wang Zhibing's page whispering to him about someone's arrival.

Wang Zhibing's expression changed, and he hurried off.

Dou Duo's curiosity was piqued, and he quietly instructed Du An, "Go and see!"

Du An obeyed and left.

After roughly the time it takes to burn two sticks of incense, he returned and reported, "It was one of Lord Wang's attendants. From the accent, it seems Lord Wang has been assigned to some post in Gansu and has ordered Master Wang to depart immediately for Xi'an..."

Dou Duo abruptly stood up from his chair.

"Could it be that the Emperor intends to open the horse market?" he muttered, frowning as he glanced toward Qi Xia Courtyard.

At the same time, Second Madam also received the news.

She rubbed the letter in her hands, lost in thought for a long while before summoning her trusted Liu Mama. "Staying cooped up at home is dull. Let's pay Sixth Madam a visit."

Liu Mama quickly agreed with a smile. After helping Second Madam freshen up and arranging for the maids and old women to attend to her, she assisted Second Madam onto a small bamboo sedan chair and personally held up a green silk tung oil umbrella as they made their way to Ji Shi's quarters.

Ji Shi was sharing a private conversation with Wang Momo: "...Opening the horse market has its pros and cons. Grand Secretary Zeng has only recently risen to prominence. Even if such plans are underway, they should be approached gradually. Otherwise, a single misstep could lead to complete failure—it seems rather hasty." She added, "Yet this move is clever. Everyone knows Lord Wang is adamant about opening the horse market. Even if those below oppose it, they will likely reconsider upon remembering his determination, making it easier to swiftly establish the market."

When they heard Second Madam had arrived, both were surprised. Exchanging a glance, Ji Shi and Wang Momo warmly welcomed her with smiles.

Second Madam glanced around and asked with a smile, "Where is Shou Gu?"Ji Shi's eyelids twitched slightly as she smiled and said, "Huige'er has already started learning the Analects , and Zhige'er has been studying with me for just two days. Though he only started school recently, he’s nearly finished the Three Character Classic , much faster than other children his age in the Family School. Naturally, he’s gotten a bit cocky. I think it’s fine for now, but if this continues, he’ll only grow more arrogant. We need to find a way to quietly temper their pride." As she spoke, she linked arms with Second Madam. "As for Shou Gu, I can’t give her as much attention, but since I’ve been entrusted with her care, I must be responsible. I noticed she used to practice calligraphy daily with Seventh Uncle, so I found a copybook and kept her at home practicing. This way, we follow the rules of the Western Household, and it also prevents her from running around and getting hurt—I wouldn’t know how to explain that to Seventh Uncle."

Second Madam nodded repeatedly, setting Dou Zhao aside to inquire in detail about her grandsons’ studies.

Ji Shi helped Second Madam sit in the hall while recounting her sons’ progress in school, delighting Second Madam so much that her eyes crinkled into slits. She patted Ji Shi’s hand repeatedly, saying, "It’s all because of your teaching, all because of your teaching!" Then she sighed. "Among all the daughters-in-law and granddaughters-in-law of our Dou family, some may be more eloquent than you, some may serve their husbands and children better, but when it comes to disciplining children, if you modestly claim second place, no one would dare call themselves first!" Ji Shi broke into a cold sweat. She had hoped to extricate herself from this mess, but in just a few words, Second Madam had drawn her back in. Those who understood knew Second Madam was setting the stage for her to take charge of the Western Household’s children’s upbringing. Those who didn’t might assume she, as a descendant of a prestigious southern family, was arrogant and looked down on the other daughters-in-law of the Dou family.

If her sons later achieved scholarly honors earlier than others, all would be well. But if any other family’s son earned the Presented Scholar title before Huige'er and Zhige'er, the scorn and ridicule would be endless.

For a moment, she couldn’t tell whether her mother-in-law was elevating her or setting her up for trouble.

Fortunately, Second Madam didn’t linger on the topic, saying she wanted to see Dou Zhao and was soon escorted by a crowd to the study.

Dou Zhao sat at the painting desk practicing calligraphy. Though Tuo Niang and Cailan fanned her, her little face was flushed, and her nose glistened with sweat.

Sensing someone enter, she finished the last stroke before looking up.

Recognizing Second Madam, she smiled and handed the brush to the maid Haitang beside her. Then, carried down from the Grand Preceptor's Chair by Tuo Niang, she curtsied to Second Madam.

Second Madam chuckled and said to those around her, "Look at this little one—after just a few days with Sixth Madam, she’s already as proper as a little adult."

The others laughed along.

A flicker of helplessness passed through Ji Shi’s eyes.

Dou Zhao, meanwhile, gazed at Second Madam with a faint, knowing smile.In her previous life, Father had naively married Wang Yingxue, forging a marital alliance between the two families. To gain Wang Xingyi's support, Fifth Uncle became Wang Yingxue's greatest backer within the Dou family. She became an eyesore, a grain of sand that made everyone uncomfortable. Hoping to grow up safely and avoid provoking Wang Yingxue, she was sent to live with her grandmother in the mountain villa. In this life, Wang Yingxue became Father's concubine. To force Wang Xingyi into submission, Fifth Uncle sought to use her against Wang Yingxue, turning her into the Dou family's prized possession. To keep her under control, Second Madam decided to raise her in the East Mansion, keeping her close at hand.

Life and death, a single thought—yet fate had turned everything upside down!

It was truly laughable... By mid-July, Father and Sixth Uncle had safely arrived in the Capital, each sending back a letter to report their safe arrival.

Meanwhile, far away in Ganquan County of Yan'an Prefecture, Zhao Si received a note from his niece, Dou Zhao.

Furious, he crumpled the note and threw it violently to the ground. "The Dou family is going too far! Let’s see how they plan to form this marriage alliance without my written consent!"

Madam Zhao quietly entered the study, picked up the crumpled note from the floor, smoothed it out, and placed it on her husband’s desk.

"I just spoke to the messenger," she said softly, pouring Zhao Si a cup of tea. "Dou Shiying has gone to the Capital for the Provincial Examination and entrusted Shou Gu to Sixth Madam’s care. The messenger was a clerk from Ji Shi’s shop."

"What are you implying?" Zhao Si’s gaze fell on the wrinkled note.

"Shou Gu is only five years old—she can barely hold a brush properly," Madam Zhao said. "How would she know what to say and what not to say?"

Zhao Si’s eyes suddenly sharpened. "Are you saying this letter was written by Sixth Madam using Shou Gu’s hand?"

"Whether it is or not remains unclear," Madam Zhao replied cautiously. "But I sense deeper meaning in these words."

Zhao Si calmed down and sat at his desk. Holding the note with its few short lines up to the light... Wang Xingyi was of average height, but the tortures of prison and a decade of exile had turned his hair prematurely white, leaving him gaunt and aged.

Now dressed in coarse linen, he stood before a flowerbed. Were it not for the sharp glint in his eyes, he might have been mistaken for a frail, elderly farmer.

"Dou Duo," he muttered, "he’s forcing my hand... to have Yingxue executed!"

Wang Zhibing was horrified, breaking into a cold sweat.

"Father!" he cried out. "You wouldn’t—"

Wang Xingyi glared fiercely at his son. "I, Wang Xingyi, may have failed to discipline my daughter, but does the Dou family bear no responsibility at all? They accuse Yingxue of causing Zhao Shi’s death—did Yingxue defy her? Did she poison her food? If they didn’t want Yingxue in their household, they should have refused outright. Could Yingxue have forced her way in? Once they agreed to her entry, Zhao Shi should have upheld the proper conduct between wife and concubine—disciplining, punishing, and rewarding as needed. Instead, she put on such a show. Would she have died every time Dou Wanyuan took a concubine? Whether Zhao Shi was killed by Dou Wanyuan or my daughter—that’s still up for debate. Don’t jump to conclusions! She’s your sister, the one who fed you, clothed you, and cared for your wife and children!"

Wang Zhibing fell silent, not daring to utter another word.Wang Xingyi, however, remained furious. "If Yingxue has done wrong, she should face the consequences. As her father, I will never shirk responsibility, and I can assure you Yingxue won’t either. But if Dou Duo dares to pin Zhao Shi’s death on her, I will never allow it!"

Wang Zhibing couldn’t help but smile bitterly. "Father, that’s not what I meant. I just feel that Yingxue’s behavior is somewhat... inappropriate..."

"Wenwei, it’s my fault!" Wang Xingyi suddenly called out his eldest son’s courtesy name, his expression crumbling. "You were bright and clever since childhood, yet to this day, you haven’t even earned the title of a Successful Candidate in the Imperial Examination. Your younger brother grew up under the scornful gazes of others, timid and weak-willed. And your sister—so young, yet forced to expose herself to the world just to make a living. How could she compare to those pampered young ladies raised in the palms of their parents’ hands, pure and sheltered? I know all this. I know it all." He turned his face away, afraid his son would see the moisture in his eyes. "One general’s triumph is built upon ten thousand bones. For my own sake, I’ve ruined all of you!" Suddenly, he whipped his head back, his gaze sharp as an eagle’s as he stared at Wang Zhibing. "If any of you have done wrong, I will compensate others a thousandfold. But if anyone expects me to sacrifice you for the sake of my own empty reputation, they’ll have to take my life first!"

His resolute voice echoed through the garden.

Wang Zhibing fell to his knees with a thud before his father, tears instantly blurring his vision. "Father, it’s not your fault. It’s us—we’ve failed you, shamed you..."