Blossom

Gan Lu smiled and instructed the little maids to set the meal.

Dou Zhao and Jiang Yan had lunch together before heading to the upper courtyard.

The women's banquet was held in the Reception Hall of the upper courtyard. By the time they arrived, the feast had just ended, and First Madam Song and others were accompanying several plainly dressed, unfamiliar ladies admiring chrysanthemums on the steps of the Reception Hall.

At the sight of Dou Zhao, everyone was momentarily taken aback.

First Madam Song quickly introduced them: "This is our mansion's Lady of the Heir, and this is our Cousin." She then pointed to the other ladies: "This is the wife of the Duke's former classmate, Successful Candidate Li; this is the wife of the headmaster of Xiujin Academy, another of the Duke's former classmates; this is the wife of Record Keeper Qin from the Five Armies Commandery..."

All were relatively unknown figures.

They exchanged greetings.

Dou Zhao apologized, "With the child still young, I couldn't leave him for long and have been remiss in my hospitality!" She then turned to First Madam Song, "Fortunately, Eldest Aunt has been helping out, ensuring everything runs smoothly without mishap."

First Madam Song modestly demurred.

One of the ladies remarked with a smile, "I've long heard that your household has a Cousin who looks exactly like the late Madam Jiang. Seeing her today, the description wasn't exaggerated in the least." She took Jiang Yan's hand, "You truly resemble Madam Jiang so much!"

Jiang Yan appeared somewhat uncomfortable.

Noticing this, Dou Zhao smoothly changed the subject: "It's getting late. Shall we move to the Waterside Pavilion? A stage has been set up there, and performers have been invited for a Private Performance."

Everyone chorused their agreement and accompanied Dou Zhao and Jiang Yan to the Waterside Pavilion.

Among them was a round-faced woman in her thirties who introduced herself as Huang Shi, wife of Hu Chong, Left Army Record Keeper of the Five Armies Commandery, and daughter of the Metropolitan Commander of Dengzhou Guard. She said cheerfully to Dou Zhao, "...When the late Duke was alive, my father once accompanied my grandfather to pay respects to him. My father never forgot the splendor of The Duke of England's Mansion and spoke of it often. I grew up hearing about it and always wanted to see it for myself. Today, I've finally had that chance. Just those two ginkgo trees at the entrance—they must be at least a hundred years old, no?"

Her demeanor was neither obsequious nor arrogant, her tone lively and pleasant, which endeared her to Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao smiled, "I hadn't realized our families shared such a connection! Those ginkgo trees are said to have been planted when the mansion was first built. Because our ancestors favored them, they've been preserved to this day. They're likely much older than a hundred years."

Madam Hu chuckled, then turned her gaze to Jiang Yan: "Cousin is truly beautiful. How old are you this year?"

Dou Zhao's brow furrowed slightly.

Jiang Yan, however, was honest and answered every question. Softly, she replied, "I'm fifteen this year."

"Oh dear!" Madam Li exclaimed with evident regret, "Just reached the age of coming-of-age ceremony!"

It seemed everyone had already heard that Jiang Yan was a "widow."

Jiang Yan remained silent.

Dou Zhao calmly asked the welcoming matron, "Which troupe was invited today? What are their signature performances?"

The matron promptly replied, "Today, we've invited Zeng Chusheng of the Guanglian Society. However, Zeng Chusheng hasn't performed in Private Performances for some time and has sent his two top disciples, Zeng Liansheng and Zeng Junsheng, to take the stage while he oversees from the side. Zeng Liansheng specializes in female roles, while Zeng Junsheng excels in young male roles. They perform 'The Embroidered Jacket' and 'The Jade Hairpin' exceptionally well."

Dou Zhao turned back to the ladies with a smile, "What would everyone like to hear later?"Someone suggested, "Let's listen to 'The Embroidered Jacket.'"

Another chimed in, "How about 'The Jade Hairpin' instead? It's more interesting than 'The Embroidered Jacket.'"

The group enthusiastically debated which play to choose.

Madam Hu’s eyes darted around as she joined the discussion, steering the conversation away from the previous topic.

Jiang Yan quietly sighed in relief and gently guided Dou Zhao to sit on the veranda of the Waterside Pavilion.

The welcoming matron brought over a booklet for the guests to select the opera.

Ruo Zhu hurried in and whispered to Dou Zhao, "Madam, the steward from the front courtyard just relayed that Ningde Princess and Old Madam Lu are both advanced in years and cannot tolerate the noise, so they’ve only sent Eldest Madam Lu to attend the wedding banquet."

Dou Zhao was surprised.

She hadn’t expected Ningde Princess and Old Madam Lu to make their stance so clear.

She gave a slight nod.

Just then, the welcoming matron led Eldest Madam Lu over.

Dou Zhao stepped forward to greet her.

Eldest Madam Lu smiled wryly and said, "Don’t take it to heart. It’s just that the Duke’s actions this time are too absurd—everyone feels attending would demean themselves."

Dou Zhao laughed. "If Ningde Princess and Old Madam Lu don’t come to Yuan Ge’er’s hundred-day celebration, I’ll be truly upset."

Eldest Madam Lu chuckled. "Who would dare miss Yuan Ge’er’s celebration? Don’t worry—if the elders complain about the noise, I’ll drag them here myself!"

Of course, this was said in jest.

Eldest Madam Lu was certain that if Song Han were merely a concubine’s son, Ningde Princess and Old Madam Lu wouldn’t have snubbed Song Yichun so blatantly.

Dou Zhao escorted Eldest Madam Lu to sit in the Waterside Pavilion.

Noble families like the Marquis of Yan’an and Marquis Changxing, who usually interacted with the Duke of Yingguo’s household, gradually arrived—but none sent their principal wives. Instead, they dispatched secondary wives or daughters-in-law. Not a single First Madam or the like appeared.

Dou Zhao couldn’t help but feel humiliated.

By dinnertime, the situation grew even more awkward—the Reception Hall held only seven or eight tables of guests. Even the birthday banquets of a marquis’s concubines were livelier than this.

Dou Zhao could only sigh.

The wives of the successful candidates and the record keepers also sensed something amiss. They kept their heads down and ate in silence, not daring to speak.

Since the Miao family resided in Daxing, the Song household had dispatched the bridal sedan at dawn. As the women of complete blessings for Song Han’s wedding, Madam Song and Madam Li had set out early with the procession.

After dinner, everyone headed to the bridal chamber.

The chamber was a small, two-courtyard residence with three rooms, elegantly furnished. Some of the bride’s dowry was stored in the back storeroom, while the rest was displayed under the watch of two maids and two matrons from the Miao family.

The guests inspected the dowry items—the brocade quilt covers, though finely woven, featured outdated colors and patterns from a decade ago. The teacups, though stylish, were not from an imperial kiln and looked cheap. The feather dusters shed at a touch, the tin basins felt flimsy, and the jade ornaments lacked luster, resembling mere stone...

Disdain flickered across their faces.

One tactless guest blurted, "Wasn’t this an imperial marriage? Why is the dowry so shabby?"

Someone immediately tugged at her sleeve.

The speaker hastily fell silent.

The Miao family’s maids and matrons flushed crimson with embarrassment.

The Eldest Madam of the Song family burned with shame and quickly ushered everyone to the eastern chamber for tea.

The guests followed in silence.First Madam Song warmly invited everyone to enjoy some fruits, then asked the wife of the principal of Jinxiu Academy: "Where is your academy located? Do you accept young children for elementary education?"

The principal's wife sipped her tea elegantly and replied leisurely: "The academy is in Sun Family Alley near the Medicine King Temple outside the city walls. We only accept children around seven or eight years old for elementary studies..."

As the conversation continued, Madam Hu approached Dou Zhao and said softly with a smile: "Madam, please don't take offense at my bluntness. It's just that seeing your cousin fills me with compassion. I have a widowed cousin who just turned twenty - a handsome young man with some land to his name. He passed the imperial examination at sixteen, and his late wife left no children. He lives only with his widowed mother. I thought to propose a match with your cousin, hence my presumptuous inquiry."

As she spoke, she carefully observed Dou Zhao's expression.

Dou Zhao was quite surprised, finding Madam Hu's forwardness rather inappropriate. Yet seeing her sincere expression and considering the decent family background mentioned, she hesitated before replying: "This matter requires discussion with our household's heir. If that family is truly interested, you might write down the young man's name and family circumstances for me to present to the heir later."

Madam Hu hadn't expected such a smooth response.

Given her social standing, she would never have set foot in the Duke of England's Mansion were it not for Song Han's wedding. This was her desperate gamble.

Overjoyed, she nodded and followed a maid to the opposite western chamber.

If her cousin could marry the rumored switched-at-birth eldest daughter of the Duke's household, it would be more than just her cousin leaping through the dragon's gate - their entire family would benefit.

After carefully considering her words, she began writing.

Dou Zhao had Ruo Tong collect the note, saying: "We'll be in touch later."

Madam Hu glanced at Jiang Yan, who was completely absorbed in the opera performance, and nodded repeatedly.

At a quarter to five in the afternoon, the wedding sedan entered the mansion.

The bride crossed the fire basin, performed the ceremonial bows, entered the bridal chamber, and had her veil lifted.

The bride's beauty drew admiring exclamations from all present.

Miao Ansu quickly glanced at Song Han, noting the groom's handsome appearance and his look of surprise, which greatly flattered her vanity. She lowered her eyes demurely.

Song Han hadn't expected such a beautiful bride.

His resolve wavered momentarily, and his movements became gentler when the woman of complete blessings presented the wedding wine.

Sensing Song Han's change, Miao Ansu grew bolder with satisfaction. Once Song Han left the chamber, her gaze swept across the female guests.

Apart from one young woman in a silver-red sleeveless jacket who carried herself with dignified grace like a noble lady, the others were all matrons past thirty.

Miao Ansu couldn't help curling her lip.

Wasn't Dou Shi supposed to possess peerless beauty? To her eyes, she looked quite ordinary.

Clearly Dou Shi's reputation was inflated by others.

She signaled her personal maid Ji Hong with a meaningful glance to tip the maid serving tea, but Ji Hong stood frozen, face alternating between red and white.

Miao Ansu felt displeased, yet the maid respectfully withdrew as before.Third Madam Song thought of the greedy faces of the Miao family demanding red envelopes during the bridal procession earlier. Knowing that after today, it would no longer be her concern, she couldn’t wait to be done with her duties and had no mood to speak with Miao Ansu.

Madam Li, on the other hand, wanted to introduce the people in the room to Miao Ansu, but since she herself hadn’t even recognized everyone, how could she make proper introductions?

So, everyone took turns teasing Miao Ansu.

Miao Ansu firmly remembered her mother’s words—no matter what others said, she should pretend not to hear and simply smile.

Madam Hu then praised Miao Ansu for her composure.

A young maidservant entered and said with a smile, "Madam says it’s getting late, and the ladies and madams should return to their residences. She will see them off first."