Blossom

Dou Zhao noticed Song Mo bustling in and out, looking a bit thinner, and couldn't help feeling distressed. She urged him, "Take a break! Isn't Twelfth Brother capable of handling his own wedding arrangements? At the very least, Eleventh Brother could come and help!"

Since both the Dou and Ji families had decided to keep the wedding simple, and the Dou household had plenty of stewards, what was there for him to be so busy about?

But this was exactly the response Song Mo had been hoping for.

With a faint smile, he sat down with Dou Zhao by the window on the heated brick bed and said, "It's just a shame you won’t be able to visit the mountain retreat for a while now."

With the wedding of his Successor Brother being such an important event, their trip to the Fragrant Mountain Estate would have to be postponed.

"What kind of talk is that?" Dou Zhao playfully scolded as she stood up to massage his shoulders. "If it weren’t for you managing everything for me in the Dou household, how could I be sitting here so leisurely, enjoying the cool and escaping the summer heat?"

"Do you think I enjoy running around in this sweltering weather?" Song Mo sighed. "I’m just worried the Ji family might stir up trouble again."

Perhaps because the Ji family was Sixth Aunt’s maternal family, and Dou Zhao regarded Sixth Aunt like a mother, she couldn’t help feeling more averse to the Han family despite knowing the Ji family had its flaws. Still, it was good to settle Dou Dechang’s marriage sooner. Ji Lingze was capable, and with her managing the household affairs in Western Dou, things certainly wouldn’t be as chaotic as they were now.

With a radiant smile, she teased, "Thank you, Young Lord! When you finally have some free time, this humble wife will treat you to wine!"

Song Mo chuckled. "When do I ever have free time? If you truly want to thank me—" He tilted his head and pointed to his cheek.

Dou Zhao’s face instantly burned.

Ruo Tong immediately led the other attendants out of the room.

Only then did Dou Zhao, blushing, press a kiss to his cheek.

But Song Mo wasn’t satisfied. "That doesn’t count. It has to be a proper kiss."

What did he mean by a proper kiss?

Dou Zhao was exasperated. Yet, under Song Mo’s expectant gaze, she couldn’t resist leaning in—only for Song Mo to suddenly turn his face, their lips meeting instead. Dou Zhao’s eyes widened in surprise, but Song Mo had already pulled her into an embrace.

By the time Song Mo left, Dou Zhao’s face was still flushed as if on fire.

Though pregnant and knowing Song Mo wouldn’t overstep, the playful intimacy left her feeling even more flustered, her body covered in sweat. She quickly called for her maids to prepare a bath.

Just then, Ruo Tong came in to announce, "The wife of the heir to the Marquis of Yan'an has sent over a visiting card."

Dou Zhao had it brought in at once.

An Shi wished to visit her the next day.

After sending the old woman from the Yan'an household away with a reply, Dou Zhao puzzled over the card for a long time, unable to think of any reason An Shi would need to see her in person. She had the maids put the card away and spent the afternoon telling stories to Yuan Ge’er.

The next day, An Shi arrived early. Though visibly uneasy, she drank tea with Dou Zhao for a long while without broaching the purpose of her visit.

Dou Zhao, in no hurry, continued to engage in small talk. As lunchtime approached, An Shi finally couldn’t hold back any longer and said awkwardly, "I know this is inappropriate to bring up, but the Marquis of Jining pleaded with our lord, and our fourth master has been sitting in our lord’s study refusing to leave. If I didn’t come, it would seem too heartless..."

So it was about Wei Tingyu!

Surprised, Dou Zhao asked, "What trouble has his family gotten into now?""You didn't know?" An Shi's eyes widened even more than Dou Zhao's. "The Marquis of Jining's mistress got pregnant. Not only did your sister force her to take abortifacient medicine, but also sold her to a brothel. This news has spread throughout the Capital." She looked at Dou Zhao somewhat uncomfortably.

Dou Zhao was both angry and amused. "What does Wei Tingyu mean by this? Does he expect me to persuade Dou Ming?"

At her words, An Shi's face turned as red as morning clouds, and she murmured, "I know it's inappropriate. But you don't understand—the Marquis is several years older than your sister and an only son. With your sister childless and forbidding the bedroom servants from getting pregnant, the Marquis had no choice. They say only you in the Dou family can control your sister."

Dou Zhao interrupted An Shi displeasedly. "But it's unheard of for an elder sister to interfere in her brother-in-law's private affairs. Go back and tell Wei Tingyu that he must clean up his own mess—don't always expect others to fix things for him." She added, "If you're here for their sake, don't bring this up to me again. But if you're visiting as a guest, I'll welcome you with open arms."

An Shi sat as if on pins and needles.

Yet Dou Zhao didn't blame her.

She knew of Wang Qinghai's friendship with Wei Tingyu—in her past life, the two had done many absurd things for each other.

Still, Dou Ming's ferocity took Dou Zhao by surprise.

She couldn't be bothered with such matters and instead opened the family storerooms to pick out some jewelry for Ji Lingze's dowry.

The Ji family was tight-lipped about Ji Lingze's remarriage, and Dou Dechang, fearing they might back out, begged Dou Zhao to lend Jin Gui and Yin Gui to serve Ji Lingze. Dou Zhao thought the Ji family wouldn't properly prepare a dowry for Ji Lingze, but she couldn't let her future sister-in-law enter the family in disgrace—especially since Dou Dechang's generation already had twelve sisters-in-law, including the eleventh sister-in-law, who was once Ji Lingze's sister-in-law.

Ji Lingze accepted the jewelry without a word, but Su Xin, who delivered it, reported that the Ji family had confined Ji Lingze to a remote courtyard—no red decorations, no dowry, not even the belongings left by her maternal grandmother, which the Ji family had withheld. "Miss Ji is quite tough," Su Xin said. "Jin Gui mentioned she didn't shed a single tear or argue with the family over those things."

Dou Zhao sighed.

In her past life, she had been desperate to marry into the Wei family and, like Ji Lingze, wanted nothing but her mother's belongings, eager to leave the Dou family behind.

She discussed with Song Mo and arranged two small farmsteads for Ji Lingze.

Dou Dechang stubbornly refused at first.

Dou Zhao said, "Would you rather see your wife enter empty-handed and be looked down upon by her sisters-in-law?"

Only then did Dou Dechang gratefully accept the deeds and send them to Ji Lingze.

On the second day of the sixth month, the Dou family quietly fetched Ji Lingze in a bridal sedan. Firecrackers only began crackling after they left Yuqiao Alley.

Ji Shi wept silently, but at least Ji Yong, who escorted the bride, salvaged some dignity for Ji Lingze.

After Ji Lingze returned from her three-day visit to her maiden home, the grandmother hosted a banquet for her at Housi Alley.

Grateful for everything the Dou family had done, Ji Lingze treated the grandmother with deep respect. And for the first time, Dou Dechang felt he truly belonged in this family.Dou Zhao couldn't help but privately sigh to Song Mo, "This can be considered gaining something while losing something!"

Song Mo smiled and nodded, taking Dou Zhao's hand as he said, "Shall I send you and Yuan Ge'er to the Fragrant Mountain Estate tomorrow? Do you think we should invite the old madam to go with you?"

Dou Zhao nodded repeatedly, feeling that her grandmother should enjoy her twilight years and travel while she still could.

However, her grandmother hesitated.

Having lived her life unwilling to be an improper burden on her descendants, she wasn't particularly fond of traveling.

Song Mo persuaded her, "If Shou Gu goes alone with the child without your support, I won't feel at ease!"

Hearing this, Grandmother chuckled and finally agreed happily.

Ji Lingze personally helped Grandmother pack her belongings.

Grandmother was extremely pleased and patted Ji Lingze's hand, rewarding her with a pair of flawless mutton-fat jade bracelets.

Seeing how lustrous and flawless the bracelets were, Ji Lingze knew they were valuable antiques and firmly declined. But Grandmother insisted, "Just take them. I still have some old trinkets here—things I collected myself, originally meant for your mother-in-law but never given. Mingjier probably wouldn't appreciate them, so you and Shou Gu can divide them between you."

She spoke from the heart, treating Ji Lingze as her own granddaughter.

Ji Lingze's eyes reddened. When Dou Zhao's carriage arrived, she helped Grandmother out through the decorative gate.

Dou Zhao greeted Ji Lingze warmly, exchanged a few pleasantries, then boarded the carriage with Grandmother and left the city.

Out of consideration for Dou Zhao's health, the carriage moved slowly, arriving at Fragrant Mountain only by evening.

As soon as they stepped out, a cool breeze greeted them.

Grandmother took a deep breath and smiled. "This place is wonderful!" Yuan Ge'er, meanwhile, wriggled out of the wet nurse's arms and ran off to pluck foxtail grass.

Dou Zhao quickly had Ruo Zhu bring Yuan Ge'er back, warning, "Be careful—there might be bugs in the grass that could bite you."

Yuan Ge'er tilted his little head and retorted, "This is a path. Everyone walks here. There are no bugs—they won't bite me."

"You've got an answer for everything!" Dou Zhao's heart warmed at her son's bright voice, and she gently patted his little bottom.

Yuan Ge'er giggled.

The welcoming stewards and maids also laughed, with one steward praising to Song Mo, "The young master is truly clever!"

"He just started speaking a bit early, that's all," Song Mo waved it off, though his expression betrayed pride and joy.

The steward and steward mammy exchanged a glance before respectfully guiding Song Mo and Dou Zhao into the estate.

In the courtyard stood a massive grapevine, lush with foliage and clusters of unripe grapes, its shade seeming to dispel the summer heat.

Grandmother was delighted. "It would be even better if there were a table here."

The steward promptly replied, "The old madam is right! I'll fetch an Eight Immortals table at once."

Knowing Grandmother still cherished her farmstead habits, Song Mo suggested, "Would you like to have dinner under the grapevine?"

"Wonderful!" Grandmother's enthusiasm was evident.

Dou Zhao, smiling, went inside to freshen up before joining Grandmother for the meal beneath the grapevine.

The evening breeze carried the fragrance of Yu Zan flowers throughout the courtyard.

The chicken and duck served were raised on the estate, and the vegetables had just been picked from the garden—fresh and delicious.Yuan Ge'er was eating outside for the first time and was so excited that he insisted on holding the chopsticks himself. However, his small hands lacked strength, and after a few attempts, they slipped onto the table, splashing soup and water everywhere—even staining Song Mo's clothes with grease spots.

Dou Zhao quickly called for the wet nurse, intending to have her set up a separate table for Yuan Ge'er.

But Song Mo stopped her, laughing. "The whole point is to enjoy the liveliness. Just let him be—boys shouldn’t be too restrained. A little mischief is good for them."

Grandmother smiled affectionately and added, "Boys should be managed by their fathers. Shou Gu, don’t interfere."

The two of them teamed up to overrule Dou Zhao.

Emboldened, Yuan Ge'er began scooping rice grains everywhere with his spoon.

By the time dinner was finally over, the quick-witted steward had already prepared cooling beds and watermelons chilled in well water. They sat on the beds, eating watermelon and chatting idly.

Dou Zhao exhaled contentedly, hoping that all their future days would be as joyful, warm, and fulfilling as this one.