Blossom

Jiang Yan was so anxious she kept pacing in circles, thinking she must find a way to earn some money. But now she lived deep within the inner courtyards, surrounded by maids and old women attending to her every need, with coachmen and guards accompanying her whenever she went out. Rarely did she have a moment alone. Even if she wanted to make decorative knots or embroider handkerchiefs to consign at a bridal shop as she had done before, there was no way to send them out.

Gradually, she grew somewhat dispirited.

When Yinghong saw this, she broke out in a cold sweat, not daring to hide it in the slightest. She hurriedly reported it to Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao immediately set aside her tasks to visit Jiang Yan.

Jiang Yan hadn’t expected to trouble Dou Zhao and murmured, “I’m fine,” while shooting Yinghong a reproachful glance.

Dou Zhao smiled. “Don’t blame her. She’s just being loyal, afraid you might be suffering in silence.” She then embraced her gently and asked, “What’s the matter? Is there anything you can’t tell your sister-in-law?”

“Really, it’s nothing!” Jiang Yan said bashfully. “It’s just that as the weather turns colder, I feel a bit drowsy.”

Dou Zhao touched her forehead—her temperature was normal—and questioned her personal maids, but found nothing unusual. She had no choice but to set aside her worries for the time being, instructing Yinghong to take good care of Jiang Yan.

Jiang Yan smiled meekly as she saw Dou Zhao out.

Seeing her gentle demeanor, Dou Zhao sighed inwardly, feeling as though she had another daughter to raise. Upon returning to her quarters, she sent word to Jiang Lizhu, asking her to visit Jiang Yan when she had time to keep her company and chat, lest Jiang Yan grow lonely and brood.

Jiang Lizhu had not only a mother-in-law but also a grandmother-in-law above her. The grandmother-in-law had long since retired from household affairs, while the mother-in-law managed the household. Both were kind-hearted women who pitied the Jiang family for the undeserved misfortune they had suffered. They treated Jiang Lizhu, their new daughter-in-law, like their own daughter—lenient and caring. Jiang Lizhu, having been raised with strict discipline, conducted herself with grace and candor. Grateful that the Wu family had not looked down on the Jiangs in their decline, she was filial and deeply respectful toward her grandmother-in-law and mother-in-law. Moreover, she and her husband, Wu Zijie, were deeply devoted to each other, and the entire household lived in harmony. Thus, the Wu family encouraged her to accept the invitation from the Duke of England's Mansion, believing it would be good for her to visit relatives and chat with sisters her age for companionship.

Upon receiving the letter, she came to visit Jiang Yan.

But just as she stepped into the Song residence, news arrived at the Duke of England's Mansion that Song Mo had been promoted to Metropolitan Commander of the Golden Guard.

Jiang Lizhu was both surprised and delighted, laughing as she said to Dou Zhao, “What perfect timing for my visit!”

Dou Zhao, however, wore a bitter smile and asked the page who had brought the news, “Is the Young Lord still at the palace?”

“No,” the page replied, unable to hide his joy. “He was swept away by the Golden Guard to the Drunken Immortal Tower—they said they’re treating him to drinks!”

Dou Zhao dismissed the page.

Jiang Lizhu asked curiously, “Sister-in-law, you don’t seem too happy?”

“Suddenly seeing the willows by the roadside turn green,” Dou Zhao said evasively, “I’m just worried your cousin is still too young and might be dazzled by the outside world.”

Jiang Lizhu was astonished, covering her mouth to laugh. “Sister-in-law, you’ve always been so confident. I never thought you’d worry like this.”

“I’m just an ordinary person. Of course I worry.” Dou Zhao teased her lightly, but soon the mansion’s stewards and matrons arrived to offer congratulations.

Seeing this, Jiang Lizhu excused herself and went to the Green Water Residence.

Jiang Yan had just heard the news and was overjoyed. When she saw Jiang Lizhu, she eagerly asked if she knew about her brother’s promotion. “What do you think I should give him as a congratulatory gift?” she asked, already brainstorming ideas.Jiang Lizhu smiled and said, "What could your cousin possibly lack? Anything you give will be fine, as long as it comes from the heart."

Jiang Yan thought for a moment and replied with a smile, "Then I’ll embroider a 'Rising Step by Step' scented sachet for Brother. Embroidery is my forte."

Jiang Lizhu agreed. Leaning over the kang table to sketch the design with Jiang Yan, she seized the opportunity to ask, "What’s been bothering you these past few days? Sister-in-law mentioned you seemed distracted."

"Don’t even ask," Jiang Yan sighed, finally finding someone to confide in. "You know about that incident the other day. I borrowed a hundred taels from Lord Chen..." She recounted everything that had happened since then.

Jiang Lizhu couldn’t help but laugh. "You’re worrying over such a trivial matter? It’s just a few dozen taels. If you’d like, I can lend you the money to repay him, and you can return it to me later when you have the means."

Jiang Yan knew the Jiang Family had been stripped of their assets. Even if Jiang Lizhu had any silver, it was likely her emergency dowry savings. How could she possibly take that?

"No need," Jiang Yan said sheepishly. "Borrowing from you to repay Chen Jia would just be robbing Peter to pay Paul. I don’t want to drag you into this." Not wishing to burden Jiang Lizhu further, she changed the subject with a smile. "Now that Brother has been promoted, he’ll surely host a banquet for relatives and colleagues. Do you think it might coincide with Yuan Ge’er’s hundred-day celebration?"

"Probably not!" Jiang Lizhu guessed. "But they could be held consecutively—two days of festivities in a row."

Jiang Yan nodded.

However, Song Mo decided to combine the events: "Since we’re celebrating my promotion to Metropolitan Commander of the Golden Guard and Yuan Ge’er’s hundred-day milestone, we might as well do it all at once. It’s efficient, and it avoids giving people the impression we’re being overly extravagant."

Dou Zhao asked, "What about Liao Wang?"

"When we reach the mountain, the path will appear. Should we stop living just because Liao Wang hasn’t returned?" He reassured her, "Don’t worry. No matter what, I’ll never let you or our child suffer."

It was precisely because she knew Song Mo would endure any hardship to protect her and their child that her heart ached even more.

Dou Zhao gently brushed her fingers along Song Mo’s temple.

But Song Mo arched a playful brow and whispered in her ear, "Have you missed me?"

Dou Zhao’s face burned, and she pinched him.

Song Mo laughed heartily and was about to tease her further when the wet nurse entered, carrying Yuan Ge’er.

Seeing the couple sitting shoulder-to-shoulder, hand-in-hand on the kang, the wet nurse blushed and quickly averted her gaze. "It’s late, and I was afraid Yuan Ge’er might start crying..."

Yuan Ge’er always sought out Dou Zhao at night.

Dou Zhao immediately took her son into her arms.

Song Mo patted Yuan Ge’er’s head and chuckled. "Your timing is impeccable, little one."

Yuan Ge’er grinned foolishly at his father.

Song Mo couldn’t help but laugh, calling him his "silly boy."

※※※※※

Before Jiang Yan could resolve her debt, suitors began flocking to the Duke of Yingguo’s mansion, overwhelming her with yet another worry.

When Song Yichun learned of this, he sneered. "A good horse doesn’t wear two saddles; a chaste woman doesn’t marry twice. How shameless of them to parade potential husbands for Jiang Yan so openly. Aren’t they afraid of being scorned by society?"

Song Mo remained silent.Miao Ansu tried to persuade him: "Since your elder brother has been promoted, it's only proper that we go congratulate him and sister-in-law with cheerful hearts. While filial piety is important, you'll still need to rely on your elder brother for your livelihood in the future. It's best not to be so stubborn about certain matters."

In her view, people seldom hit someone who smiles at them. If Song Han could humble himself to curry favor with Song Mo, Song Mo might soften and stop holding grudges against him. Even if Song Han was adopted from outside, he still carried the Song family bloodline. With the Song family having so few descendants, why must Song Mo insist on making an enemy of Song Han?

Song Han trembled with rage upon hearing this, gritting his teeth as he said, "So you think I'm inferior to Song Mo and will have to depend on him for survival?"

How dare Miao Ansu provoke Song Han?

She quickly replied, "That's not what I meant. I was saying that a true man knows when to yield and when to stand firm. For now, it's better to lay low under the Young Lord's shadow. Once you've achieved merit and distinction, then you can stand as his equal."

Song Han gave her a cold glance before storming off in a huff.

Ji Hong bit her lip and asked, "Second Madam, what should we do now?"

"What should we do? Let it be!" Miao Ansu said coldly. "If he won't go, we will! I was just flattering him—did I really expect him to accomplish great deeds? Even if he does achieve something, with the Young Lord overshadowing him, it would likely take twenty or thirty years. We're newlyweds, yet he treats me like this. How can I expect him to earn me a phoenix crown and rosy cape twenty or thirty years from now when I'm old and faded? Who knows who'll be sharing his bed by then? But I'm supposed to endure his failures now? I'm not that foolish!"

Ji Hong didn't dare say more and meekly assented, accompanying Miao Ansu to the Hall of Cultivating Will.

Dou Zhao was sharing personal thoughts with Sixth Madam, who had come to congratulate Song Mo: "...I truly don't know what kind of man this girl wants to marry. So many matchmakers have come, yet she hasn't taken a liking to any. I fear her past experiences have left her traumatized, making her unwilling to live with a man. If that's truly the case, what can be done? She's so sweet and obedient—I wouldn't mind her staying with us forever. But I worry the Young Lord won't be able to accept it. Seeing her idle away her days alone would only deepen his resentment toward the Duke and Song Han. If he ever loses control, who knows what extremes he might go to?"

Sixth Madam agreed that Dou Zhao's concerns were reasonable and offered advice: "Then don't rush to find her a husband. Take her out more often. Meeting more people and broadening her horizons might change her perspective. Marriage might then come naturally! If the Young Lord asks, just say none of the candidates were suitable—no one's perfect, and if you look for flaws, you'll always find them."

Dou Zhao laughed and gave a thumbs-up: "Indeed, the older, the wiser!"

Sixth Madam chuckled and pinched her cheek: "How dare you tease me!"

Dou Zhao dodged with a hearty laugh.

Sixth Madam's expression then turned serious, her smile fading as she glanced at Gan Lu, who was attending nearby.

Dou Zhao promptly dismissed the maids and old women in the room, whispering, "Sixth Aunt, what is it?"

Sixth Madam said gravely, "Has your father discussed this with you? He's formally proposed to your Fifth Uncle about adopting your Twelfth Brother as his heir!"Dou Zhao was taken aback for a moment, but upon reflection, she felt that if her father had made up his mind, she as his daughter shouldn't oppose it. Moreover, Dou Dechang was upright yet humorous, which suited Father's temperament well. Having him as company in Father's later years might not be such a bad thing after all.

She asked, "Does Sixth Aunt not agree?"

Sixth Madam hesitated.

Dou Zhao took Sixth Madam's hand and said sincerely, "Twelfth Brother is already grown up, and Sixth Uncle and Father have always been close. Even if it's called adoption, would Father really prevent Twelfth Brother from visiting Sixth Uncle? Both Dou Ming and I are married now, and household matters are naturally Father's decision. What are you still worried about?"