Blossom

The Wang family's affairs remained unknown to Dou Shiying and the others.

Dou Shiying simply felt as if a great weight had been lifted off his shoulders, breathing a sigh of relief.

Happily, he threw an arm around Song Mo’s shoulders and said to Dou Dechang, "When we get back, call your father over. We’ll have a good drink together."

After the adoption, the titles would have to change.

Dou Dechang would now have to address Dou Shiheng as "Sixth Uncle."

He remembered this, but Dou Shiying hadn’t yet grown accustomed to it.

Dou Dechang gave an awkward laugh.

Song Mo quickly stepped in to smooth things over, saying, "Father-in-law has misspoken. He must be punished with three large cups later."

Only then did Dou Shiying realize his mistake and hurriedly agreed, "Yes, yes, yes. I’ll punish myself with three large cups." He glanced at Dou Dechang with a hint of apology in his eyes.

Originally, Dou Dechang had harbored some resentment over being separated from his parents. But seeing Dou Shiying like this, he suddenly burst into laughter, and the gloom in his chest vanished without a trace. He no longer felt as though his parents had given him away but rather that his adoptive father was so pitiable that he had been sent to comfort this elder.

"Just don’t slip up when it’s your turn to host, Father," he said cheerfully. "Otherwise, Fifth Uncle won’t let you off the hook."

Dou Shiying chuckled.

Seeing the two of them like this, Song Mo felt deeply relieved.

As for Dou Dechang, he couldn’t help but admire Song Mo a little.

Though he was older than Song Mo, his actions lacked the same attentiveness and thoughtfulness.

He began to regard Song Mo with greater respect.

Thus, Dou Dechang’s adoption was formally settled.

Dou Shiying sent out invitations to the Dou family’s relatives in the capital, inviting them to Jing'an Temple Alley for a celebratory drink.

It was only then that Dou Ming learned Dou Dechang had been adopted into Dou Shiying’s lineage.

She was instantly furious, her blood boiling as she flipped over the kang table and jumped to her feet, shouting, "I don’t agree! Why should Dou Dechang be adopted?"

Zhou Momo hesitated, thinking to herself: Back then, the Seventh Master had wanted to keep you at home and find you a husband to marry in. But you stole Fourth Miss’s betrothed, and now she’s married into the Duke of England's Mansion. If the Western Dou line doesn’t adopt an heir, will they just let the lineage die out? Besides, while the Dou family has many descendants, Dou Dechang is truly the only suitable candidate.

But how could she say such things to Dou Ming’s face?

Over the past several months, Dou Ming’s temper had grown increasingly volatile. Even the Marquis had to endure her sharp remarks from time to time. The maids and old women serving in her quarters walked on eggshells, hardly daring to breathe. Most of the time, the main courtyard was eerily silent, like an ice cave, sending chills down the spine of anyone who entered.

Yet the more Dou Ming thought about it, the more convinced she became of her own righteousness. She ordered Zhou Momo to prepare a carriage and headed straight for Jing'an Temple Alley.

Dou Shiying hardened his heart and refused to see her, sending Gaosheng to relay a message: "A married woman follows her husband; a widow follows her son. Since you are now another family’s daughter-in-law, you should devote yourself to serving your mother-in-law and husband. In the future, if you have any matters, send a maid or old woman to deliver the message."

But Dou Ming believed her father still resented her for choosing Wei Tingyu back then. She kicked Happy and shouted, "They bullied me like that, and not only did you fail to stand up for me, but now you’re settling scores after the fact. Is Dou Zhao your only daughter? Am I not your daughter too?"

Dou Shiying could only think how unreasonable Dou Ming was being. Recalling Ji Shi’s indirect reproaches, he had to admit—he had spoiled this daughter rotten.

But perhaps it wasn’t too late to guide her back onto the right path?

Dou Shiying continued to avoid her.

After making a scene for half the day with no one paying her any heed, Dou Ming stormed back to the Marquis of Jining's Mansion in a rage.The maids and old women looked frightened but stepped forward to greet her.

Dou Ming watched, feeling even more irritated. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a page swiftly dart behind the screen wall and disappear.

She recognized that page.

His name was Ruyi. He served in Wei Tingyu’s study.

He was a home-born servant of the Wei family, eight years old, small and thin but very clever.

Why did he run at the sight of her?

Was she some kind of man-eating monster?

They say servants take after their masters—had Wei Tingyu been saying things about her in front of him?

A thorn seemed to take root in Dou Ming’s heart. She dismissed the maids and old women from the outer courtyard and, accompanied by Zhou Momo and others, turned and headed straight for Wei Tingyu’s study.

Wei Tingyu was not in his study.

Ruyi came forward and reported, “The Young Lord has gone horseback riding!”

The moment she returned, he went riding—what did that mean?

Fury burned in Dou Ming’s chest as her critical gaze swept around the study.

The study was impeccably tidy. The silk covering the qin had been replaced with a sapphire-blue one, adorned with golden tassels at the corners, exuding an air of luxury. A large red camellia bloomed in the blue-and-white porcelain vase on the desk, brightening the entire room.

Who knew the maids and pages here were so attentive!

Dou Ming sneered and turned back to her inner chambers.

She sent a message to her mother in Willow Leaf Lane, informing her about the adoption matter.

Willow Leaf Lane replied briefly with “Noted,” and nothing more.

Finding it strange, she had Zhou Momo take some gifts to Willow Leaf Lane, ostensibly for Madam Xu Wang, but also to discreetly inquire about the situation there.

Zhou Momo returned and told her, “The old madam is well, but Seventh Madam was not seen. It’s said she had a big argument with Second Madam Xu and was feeling unwell, so she’s resting.”

Dou Ming knew Wang Yingxue often quarreled with Pang Yulou, so she didn’t suspect anything. She asked Zhou Momo, “Does Dou Zhao know about the adoption?”

Zhou Momo replied, “I heard the Young Lord of Duke of Yingguo accompanied the master to pay respects to Seventh Madam.”

Dou Ming was so angry she threw her comb to the ground.

After much deliberation, she found no way to stop Dou Dechang’s adoption. She could only instruct Zhou Momo, “Keep quiet about the adoption. Since they didn’t inform me beforehand, don’t expect me to return and add glory to the occasion.”

The implication was clear—there was no need to tell the Wei family either.

Zhou Momo inwardly shook her head.

Even if neither the Young Lord nor his wife attended, what difference would it make to the Dou family’s reputation?

People would only say Dou Ming was afraid her successor brother would take what she believed was rightfully hers, branding her as greedy.

Had this happened last year, she would have risked angering Dou Ming to advise her. But now… Dou Ming wouldn’t listen to anyone. If she spoke too much, even the bond they once shared might vanish.

How had the fifth young lady ended up like this?

Zhou Momo lamented silently.

Meanwhile, Dou Zhao sat smiling by the window on the heated brick bed in the resting chamber, listening to the matchmaker Chen Jia had hired extol his virtues: “...Though he was once married, he has no children. Not only is he steady and reliable, but he’s also highly capable. At such a young age, he’s already a fourth-rank military officer. At this rate, he’ll rise to third rank within ten years at most. Your cousin will become an official’s wife the moment she marries him—what better match could there be?”

She said nothing, smiling as she accepted Chen Jia’s marriage matching card. Then she had the matchmaker given ten taels of silver.The matchmaker was taken aback, then beamed with delight, her eyes narrowing into slits.

Chen Jia had invited an official matchmaker to propose marriage at the Duke of England's Mansion. Several matchmakers had waved their hands in refusal upon hearing this. Only she, tempted by Chen Jia's generous gift of five taels of silver and two bolts of silk, had mustered the courage to enter the Duke's residence alley. Even so, before meeting Dou Zhao, she had privately scoffed at Chen Jia's overreach. To her astonishment, the Madam of the Duke's household actually accepted Chen Jia's marriage matching card... This was truly the sun rising from the west!

She hurried gleefully to Yuqiao Alley to deliver the news to Chen Jia.

Chen Jia felt dizzy for a moment before regaining his composure. He promptly called for the Wife of Tao the Second to reward the matchmaker.

The matchmaker left in high spirits.

Chen Jia, however, was so overwhelmed that he sat slumped in the Grand Preceptor's Chair, unable to rise for a long while.

The Song family had truly accepted his marriage matching card!

This meant his engagement to Jiang Yan was no jest—it could actually become reality.

Chen Jia's heart swelled like a billowing sail, brimming with indescribable joy and relief. Only when the Tao couple came to congratulate him did he snap out of his daze. He suddenly realized the house had last been whitewashed when the previous owner moved out, and now many spots were stained. Though there was a small garden in the backyard, his early departures and late returns, coupled with the lack of a mistress in the inner courtyard, had allowed the kitchen old women to turn it into a vegetable patch. There was an old wintersweet by the wall—if he cleared the patch and planted peonies, chrysanthemums, or the like, it might just pass muster... As for the furnishings, he had sold everything when he disposed of the property, leaving only a few broken-legged stools and faded miscellaneous wood chests from the former owner. Freshly promoted, he had superiors to appease, subordinates to reward, and old usurious loans to repay—he hadn’t had the means to furnish the place properly. The Duke of England's Mansion boasted nothing but rosewood—he couldn’t match that, but at least a set of black-lacquered pine furniture was a must! And the painted corridors, the screen wall at the entrance—all needed proper refurbishing... So much to do!

He could no longer sit still. In a flurry, he summoned Huzi and began issuing orders: "Go find skilled masons and painters in the city. Also, I recall the furniture at Old Chen’s son’s wedding was decent—ask who crafted it and hire them for a set..."

Chen Jia rattled off instructions like rapid gunfire, leaving Huzi’s head spinning. After barely repeating them back, Huzi dashed off to Tao the Second. "Quick, give me some paper—I need to write down what the master said!"

Tao the Second chuckled, grinding ink for him while musing that if this marriage came to pass, they’d be like "a man attaining the Dao, his pets ascending to heaven" as the saying went. Even a mere house guard from the Duke’s mansion could become a county constable—surely his son could at least land a tax office clerk’s position? He’d laugh in his dreams at such fortune.

The Chen household whirred into action like a windmill.

Dou Zhao was no less busy.

Jewelry to commission, clothes to tailor, dowry to procure—she barely had a moment to rest.

Thankfully, Jiang Lizhu pitched in, and with women’s innate love for shopping, the bustle turned to joy, filling the Hall of Cultivating Will with constant laughter.

Jiang Yan, however, hid in the Green Water Residence, her heart a mix of timid delight and overwhelming fear.She really wanted to meet Chen Jia in person and ask him why he had decided to marry her. If one day he were to grow tired of her as a remarried woman, she hoped he wouldn’t deceive her but instead tell her honestly. She wouldn’t breathe a word to anyone—she would simply slip away quietly to a temple.

But seeing the delighted expressions on her sister-in-law’s and Jiang Lizhu’s faces, she couldn’t bring herself to mention meeting Chen Jia.

Dou Zhao noticed Jiang Yan seemed preoccupied and wanted to comfort her. However, Song Han was preparing to move, and Song Maochun and others had come to help. Since Song Mo couldn’t simply ignore the matter, Dou Zhao had to be present to exchange pleasantries. After Song Han’s move came the housewarming celebration. Though Dou Zhao didn’t attend in person, she made sure to fulfill all the customary courtesies. With all the busyness over those two days, by the time she sought out Jiang Yan again, the girl had already calmed down. Dou Zhao smiled and didn’t press further.