Blossom

Chapter 58: The Funeral

Grandfather passed away in the early hours of August 12th.

Prior to this, he had remained unconscious, leaving behind no final words.

Father wept uncontrollably, while members of the Dong Dou family came to assist with the initial funeral preparations.

Dou Zhao stood quietly on the veranda, listening to her father's sobs as she thought of her grandmother.

In three years, Grandmother would also depart.

Was there anything she could do to extend Grandmother's life by a few more years?

Grandmother had collapsed suddenly while watering melon seedlings in the backyard garden... Her health had always been robust, and no one had anticipated...

Wang Yingxue approached and addressed Dou Zhao in a commanding tone: "Shou Gu, many people will come to pay their respects in the coming days. Your younger sister is still immature, so I must rely on you. Please oversee matters in the kitchen."

During Grandfather's funeral, relatives, friends, and neighbors would all come to mourn. Seeing how composed Dou Zhao had been recently, Wang Yingxue was clearly worried she might distinguish herself during the rites and earn praise from the elders, making her even harder to control in the future.

Dou Zhao raised an eyebrow.

"Mother?" She scrutinized Wang Yingxue with a critical gaze. "Have you become so overwhelmed that you've forgotten your own surname? Grandfather has just passed—we haven't even set the date for announcing the funeral, yet you claim mourners are already arriving. Have you never presided over a funeral before? If you truly don't understand these matters, perhaps we should ask Third Madam for assistance. Grandfather was a Presented Scholar, and the Dou family holds considerable standing in Beizhili. Many of his old acquaintances may come to see him off—we cannot afford any mishaps that would bring shame upon the family! As for the kitchen affairs, if the current stewardess cannot handle them, we should replace her immediately." With that, she called for Haitang. "Fetch Gaosheng for me."

Since Wang Yingxue had been elevated to principal wife, Grandfather had withdrawn from household affairs, and Dou Zhao had long resided in the Eastern Manor. Those managing the inner household were either Wang Yingxue's people or those too afraid to oppose her. Gaosheng, however, was loyal to Father alone—a fact Dou Zhao remembered from her past life. Unless Father explicitly stated otherwise, Gaosheng would treat his daughter with the same respect he showed Father, just as he did Dou Ming.

Wang Yingxue's face darkened. "Shou Gu, I don't know what the ladies of the Eastern Manor have been telling you, but you ultimately belong to the Western—"

Dou Zhao cut her off. "Madam, I think it's you who needs to reconsider your position. Grandfather has just died—don't assume there's no one left to oversee you, allowing you to act as you please."

At that moment, Gaosheng arrived.

Dou Zhao paused her remarks, having only just begun to relay Wang Yingxue's words when the latter hastily interjected: "I've been so busy these past days that I spoke rashly. Shou Gu, please don't take it to heart..."

One could only blame Wang Yingxue's poor luck.Dou Zhao was already troubled by matters concerning her grandmother, and now Wang Yingxue had the audacity to provoke her, even daring to refer to herself as "mother" in her presence. Determined to put Wang Yingxue in her place, Dou Zhao ignored whatever the latter was saying and finished her own words decisively: "...If any scandal erupts at this time, the Western Manor will likely be the subject of ridicule for generations. Since you're familiar with the household affairs, if there’s no one capable of handling major responsibilities, outsource the banquet preparations for these days to external restaurants or caterers. If no suitable ones can be found in Zhen Ding County, look in Zhen Ding Prefecture. Outsiders won’t assume our family lacks capable people—they’ll only say we’re filial, sending Grandfather off with a grand and lively ceremony." She added, "At a time like this, internal discord is the last thing we need. You’ll have to bear more responsibility and suppress any issues for now. We’ll deal with them after Grandfather’s affairs are settled."

She wasn’t sure if Zhen Ding had specialized funeral service providers, but during her time as a marquise in the Capital, there had been many such establishments, some even operating on a particularly large scale.

Gaosheng guessed that Wang Yingxue had intended to assert dominance over Dou Zhao, but Dou Zhao’s proposal was too tempting to resist.

Not just in Zhen Ding, but even in the entire Northern Zhili region, no family had ever arranged such a lavish funeral for an elder. The so-called posthumous honors depended entirely on the descendants’ filial piety and capability. If this event was executed well, it would only benefit Seventh Master’s reputation and future prospects.

He immediately responded, "I’ll handle this right away." Without even glancing at Wang Yingxue, he turned and left decisively.

Pleased with his response, Dou Zhao called out, "Steward Gao, wait a moment," then asked Wang Yingxue, "Is there anything else you’re uncertain about? Speak now, and Steward Gao and I will help you resolve it. If any mishaps occur mid-funeral when we’re busy receiving mourners, we might not have the energy to address them."

Gaosheng promptly halted and bowed, waiting for Wang Yingxue to speak.

Wang Yingxue was so furious her chest ached, her face alternating between red and pale.

Dou Zhao simply smirked at her coldly.

Gritting her teeth, Wang Yingxue forced out, "There’s nothing else."

Dou Zhao smiled. "Good! Let’s hope Madam doesn’t suddenly recall unfinished matters in a couple of days." With composed dignity, she turned and left.

Naturally, Gaosheng had no reason to stay either. After bowing to Wang Yingxue, he went off to find suitable banquet caterers.

Wang Yingxue clutched Hu Momo’s arm, exclaiming repeatedly, "This is infuriating! Absolutely infuriating!"

Hu Momo, however, was more concerned about the Dou family’s servants.

Since Seventh Master had yet to order the main residence cleared out, some belongings of the former Seventh Madam and Fourth Miss remained there. Without the old master’s explicit instruction, Madam couldn’t move in rashly. Moreover, the Eastern Manor had always overshadowed the Western Manor, leading the servants to show less respect to Wang Yingxue. They had barely managed to suppress those servants—would Fourth Miss’s actions now stir them up again?

If only Seventh Master would say something!

Sighing inwardly, she advised Wang Yingxue aloud, "Madam, the greater good must come first."

"I know," Wang Yingxue nodded, then asked, "Who from my family is coming to mourn?"

When Dou Duo had stopped eating, she had sent word to her mother, Madam Xu Wang, hoping her family would send influential representatives to the funeral—this would help solidify her standing in the Dou family.

Hu Momo whispered, "The old madam said Eldest Master and First Madam will come."Wang Yingxue frowned and asked, "Is Second Sister-in-law not coming?"

In such situations, only her second sister-in-law, Pang Yulou, could truly understand her feelings.

Hu Momo suggested, "Shall I send a message to Second Madam?"

"Go quickly," Wang Yingxue urged, just as an unfamiliar page glanced around furtively before slipping swiftly into the side chamber where Dou Zhao was resting.

A thought struck her. Pointing at the page, she whispered to Hu Momo, "Send someone sharp to keep an eye on that boy."

Hu Momo hurried off to comply.

Zhao Liangbi entered the side chamber and reported softly, "Consort Cui has already learned of the passing of Elder Master Dou. She will be arriving shortly."

Dou Zhao was surprised. "Did someone inform her?"

"No," Zhao Liangbi replied. "Consort Cui said that while she hadn’t known before, now that she does, she must come to offer incense..."

"Naturally," Dou Zhao said. "But how and when she comes matters greatly. She may not care, but others will take note. Tell Cui Shisan to stop her. Consort Cui should only come when the Dou family sends for her, escorted by him. If the Dou family doesn’t send for her, she shouldn’t come at all."

"Cui Shisan said the same," Zhao Liangbi said, troubled. "He mentioned that some formalities must be upheld to avoid being looked down upon—lest people think Consort Cui is rushing back now that Third Elder Master has passed... But Consort Cui insists on coming, saying she doesn’t care what others say."

"Find a way to stop her," Dou Zhao said with a smile. "Cui Shisan will surely manage it."

Zhao Liangbi had no choice but to relay the message to Cui Shisan.

The entire household knew that Wang Yingxue had tried to corner Dou Zhao, only to be outmaneuvered herself. Rumors spread that Dou Zhao might replace all the kitchen staff in one sweep.

Panic spread through the Western Dou residence. Maids and old women alike trembled in Dou Zhao’s presence, treating her with even more deference than they did Wang Yingxue.

Ignoring the commotion, Dou Zhao went to the side chamber of Crane Longevity Hall at noon to assist Second Madam in serving lunch to the elders.

Early the next morning, Dou Shibang personally went to fetch his grandmother.

Ding Yinyinai clung to the grandmother’s hand, weeping bitterly.

Dou Zhao’s expression turned peculiar.

In her past life, when her grandfather had passed, Dou Xiao had already been five years old. Third Uncle had brought them back from the farmstead. Back then, though Ding Yinyinai’s eyes were swollen from crying, she had only exchanged a brief greeting with the grandmother before helping Wang Yingxue entertain guests.

By preventing her mother’s first suicide attempt, Dou Zhao had inadvertently altered many things.

Dou Xiao’s whereabouts were unknown.

Her grandfather never lived to see the birth of the long-awaited legitimate heir.

Her grandmother remained Consort Cui.

In her past life, Ding Yinyinai had aligned herself with Wang Yingxue, the stepmother. But now, Wang Yingxue—raised from concubine to wife—was too preoccupied with her own troubles. Having played such a role in Dou Zhao’s affairs, Ding Yinyinai could expect no kindness with Father now in charge. She had no choice but to seek the grandmother’s sympathy and pity.

From this perspective, Dou Zhao found the change rather satisfying.

But could she find a way to extend her grandmother’s life?

Even if only for a few months or years—just to spend more time with her?

After paying respects to her grandfather and politely declining Ding Yinyinai’s company, Dou Zhao settled her grandmother in the guest quarters of Western Dou.Grandmother took her hand and said somewhat guiltily, "I originally thought that by coming early, I could help you a bit. But now it seems that not being a burden to you would already be good enough."

Without grandfather as the father-in-law, but with grandmother as the stepmother-in-law, Wang Yingxue would have to respect grandmother with the etiquette due to a stepmother, making it impossible for her to act as she pleased. She could completely persuade grandmother to stay at Western Dou, even use grandmother to suppress Wang Yingxue.

But Dou Zhao didn't want to drag grandmother into this.

Grandmother had never wanted to be involved with the Dou family her whole life. Now in her later years, she hoped grandmother could live according to her own wishes.

"Why do you say that?" She wrung out a towel to wipe grandmother's face.

Grandmother said somewhat sheepishly, "Just like how you wanted me to wait for the Dou family to come get me. I only thought that since your grandfather and I had your father together, now that he's passed, I should come pay my respects... I didn't consider anything else."

Dou Zhao smiled, "Then you definitely wouldn't want to live with the Dou family either?"

"This isn't my home," grandmother laughed. "I wouldn't be comfortable here."

"After grandfather's funeral is over, I'll send you back to the farmstead!" Dou Zhao smiled. "But you don't have to stay there all the time. If you miss me or father, just have Cui Shisan bring you over to stay for a few days."

"That sounds good," grandmother smiled. "But it would be better if you came to stay with me for a few days instead."

Dou Zhao gazed at grandmother with a slight smile.

Father still had three years of mourning to observe—would grandmother forever remain just "Consort Cui" because of this?

She felt a vague unease in her heart.

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Sisters, it's a bit late today—I went to visit my uncle's house... To be continued. If you like this work, please vote to recommend it or cast a monthly vote. Your support is my greatest motivation.) RQ