Blossom

Several boys who had come to swim last time came in groups to thank Dou Zhao, including Pang Jixiu. However, none of the Dou family elders appeared. Dou Zhao knew they were afraid of being scolded by their elders.

Dou Zhao thought this was just as well.

Since the incident had occurred at her grandmother's farmstead, and the Dou family harbored biases against her grandmother, they might shift the blame onto her.

She instructed Hong Gu, "If anyone else comes to swim, do as I said—find a few people from the village to keep watch by the river. Better safe than sorry!"

Hong Gu repeatedly agreed.

After visiting Tuo Niang, Dou Zhao asked her grandmother to help her find a few maids to take back: "...I don’t have a single capable person over there."

Her grandmother thought for a moment and called four or five young girls of suitable age.

Dou Zhao recognized Gan Lu and Su Juan.

At this time, one was called Er Ya, and the other Zhao Di.

Dou Zhao kept the two of them, renamed them, and personally taught them the rules.

Just as in her past life, Gan Lu was quick-witted and learned everything rapidly. Su Juan was steady and thorough in everything she did. In her past life, Su Juan had managed her trunks, while Gan Lu had served as her personal attendant.

Dou Zhao nodded inwardly.

By the eighth month, the Western Residence sent someone to fetch Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao urged her grandmother, "Won’t you come back with me? The Mid-Autumn Festival is in a few days."

"I’m not used to living there," her grandmother said—Dou Zhao had lost count of how many times she had refused—"Don’t make me uncomfortable."

Dou Zhao had no choice but to instruct Hong Gu again not to leave her grandmother alone, not to let her get up too early to water the vegetable garden, not to let her inspect the fields at noon... She rambled on for a long time before finally setting off.

Hong Gu said to her grandmother, "The Fourth Young Miss genuinely wants to honor you. Acting like this will only hurt her feelings."

"What do you know?" Cui Shi said unhappily. "Shou Gu is still living in the main house. Where would I stay if I went?"

Hong Gu fell silent.

Upon returning home, Dou Zhao freshened up and went to pay her respects to her father.

Dou Shiying resided in the study, while Dou Ming lived with Wang Yingxue in Qi Xia Courtyard.

When she arrived, Dou Shiying was bent over tending to the chrysanthemums in the courtyard. Wang Yingxue stood nearby holding a tray with scissors and other tools, while Dou Ming lounged on the veranda in her father’s Drunken Old Man Chair, eating osmanthus cakes.

Seeing Dou Zhao, she turned her face away, pretending not to notice.

Dou Shiying beamed and waved at her. "You’re back! How is Consort Cui? Have you eaten yet?"

Dou Zhao nodded at Wang Yingxue and greeted her as "Madam," then glanced at the chrysanthemums her father had carefully nurtured and smiled. "I didn’t expect these chrysanthemums to already have buds. They should bloom by Mid-Autumn Festival, right?" She bent down to touch one of them. "Is this the Black Chrysanthemum—the kind that blooms black flowers?"

"How did you recognize it?" her father asked in surprise.

Dou Zhao couldn’t help laughing and pointed at the pot. "You’re using a Xianyang Porcelain Pot painted with magnolia flowers to grow it."

Her father chuckled too, taking a handkerchief from the tray Wang Yingxue held to wipe his hands. As they walked toward the house together, he asked, "Are you really only planting a few ginkgo trees in the East Wing Courtyard?"When Dou Zhao's great-grandfather built this mansion, Dou Huancheng and Dou Yaocheng had just started their own families. Hoping for prosperity and flourishing descendants, he constructed over a dozen courtyards of varying sizes. By the time the estate passed to Dou Duo, only the central halls and main residences remained occupied, along with the Crane Longevity Hall in the west, the study, Qi Xia Courtyard, and a few others. The entire East Wing Courtyard stood empty. Despite decades of maintenance, it exuded an air of decay. With little to do at home during his mourning period, Dou Shiying considered demolishing and rebuilding the East Wing Courtyard afterward. However, Dou Zhao anticipated that by then, her father would likely be in the Capital awaiting an official post. The task would either fall to Wang Yingxue if she stayed behind or to herself if Wang Yingxue accompanied him. She had no interest in handling it herself, and given Wang Yingxue's questionable taste, the result would likely be unsatisfactory. Thus, she suggested her father simply renovate the East Wing Courtyard and replant some flowers and trees instead.

Impressed by Dou Zhao's apparent talent for design, Dou Shiying frequently consulted her on the renovation plans. They spent nearly a year sketching and discussing, yet no actual work began—further confirming to Dou Zhao that stopping her father from rebuilding had been the right decision.

Pausing at the veranda, Dou Shiying called out to the feigning-sleep Dou Ming, "Your sister is back!"

Dou Ming had no choice but to open her eyes. To avoid detection, she rubbed them exaggeratedly and mumbled sleepily, "Sister."

Dou Zhao pretended not to notice the act and smiled. "I brought you some fresh dates. Haitang will deliver them to your room later."

With visible reluctance, Dou Ming rose and curtsied in thanks.

Dou Shiying gave a satisfied hum and entered the study with Dou Zhao.

The moment they left, Dou Ming sprang up and tugged at Wang Yingxue's sleeve. "Mother, did you see how Dou Zhao acted? She didn't even greet or pay respects to you..."

Wang Yingxue turned away, voice choked. "What can I expect, being the second wife?" She dabbed her eyes with the back of her hand before facing Dou Ming again, her face dry but eyes red. "Mingjier, your father adores your sister's obedience and good sense. You should learn from her..."

"Over my dead body!" Dou Ming hissed through clenched teeth—whether vowing never to emulate Dou Zhao or declaring Dou Zhao would never win their father's favor remained unclear.

Wang Yingxue sighed inwardly.

Despite years of efforts to please Dou Shiying, he remained indifferent, merely humoring her while doting on both daughters. Left with no alternatives, she had pushed Dou Ming forward, hoping Dou Shiying might treat her better for the girl's sake.

Though Dou Ming spoke fiercely, she found herself powerless when actually confronting Dou Zhao.

From servants' gossip, she'd learned her mother had wanted Dou Zhao to oversee the kitchen during their grandfather's funeral. Yet with a single word, Dou Zhao had dismissed everyone from the head cook down to the vegetable cleaners. Now the entire kitchen staff obeyed her every whim—if Dou Zhao took extra helpings of a dish, the whole household would be eating it the next day.Dou Zhao even went to her third cousin to ask for silver, complaining that her mother’s seasonal rewards were too meager. She wanted to use her own money to tip the maids and old women around her, making such a fuss that Second Madam summoned Father to question him. As a result, whenever Mother received the funds allocated from the outer courtyard, her first task was to settle the monthly allowances for the maids and old women in Dou Zhao’s quarters. This led to the servants in Dou Zhao’s rooms becoming so arrogant that they looked down on all the other maids and old women in the household. At Dou Zhao’s slightest word, the household servants would scramble faster than anything, practically wagging their tails to please her.

The thought of this infuriated her, and she snapped at the maid beside her, “I’m going to play with Yi Jie’er!”

Naturally, no one in the household dared to stop her.

A carriage was promptly prepared to take her to the Eastern Manor.

Yi Jie’er was in her room changing clothes, surrounded by bustling maids, while Shu Jie’er sat on the kang piled with clothes, holding a wooden doll as she waited for Yi Jie’er.

When Dou Ming entered, Yi Jie’er grabbed her hand and asked, “What do you think of this outfit?”

She wore a moon-white Silver Strip Gauze Summer Shirt and a scallion-green Horse-face skirt with a skirt border embroidered with bamboo. A tiny Red Gold Lilac dangled from her ears.

Dou Ming couldn’t help widening her eyes. “Dou Zhao has clothes and jewelry like this too.”

Yi Jie’er’s face instantly flushed red as she retorted, “When did she ever have such clothes? I’ve never seen them!”

Shu Jie’er chimed in, “Fifth Aunt must be mistaken. Fourth Aunt gave her Red Gold Lilac to me. Fourth Aunt’s Horse-face skirt is water-blue, embroidered with magnolias.”

What difference did that make? It was just a change of color and pattern.

But Yi Jie’er insisted, “Exactly, exactly! Why would I wear the same clothes as Fourth Aunt?”

Dou Ming was dumbfounded.

Shu Jie’er, growing impatient, said, “Second Sister, how much longer? I’ve been waiting for almost half an hour.”

“Almost done, almost done,” Yi Jie’er replied, giving herself a final glance in the mirror before turning to Dou Ming. “A Qi is here. We’re going to Sixth Aunt’s place. Are you coming?”

Since they were all going, she had no choice but to join.

Dou Ming grumbled, “A Qi’s here? What are you all going to Sixth Aunt’s for?”

“A Qi will be leaving for the Capital with Wu Tai Tai after the Mid-Autumn Festival,” Yi Jie’er explained, detailing the whole situation to Dou Ming.

Hearing this, Dou Ming perked up. “The Capital is so much fun! It’s crowded everywhere…”

The three girls chattered excitedly as they headed to Ji Shi’s quarters.

Not only was Bi Shi there, but Wu Shan and Wu Ya were also present.

They respectfully greeted Bi Shi and exchanged pleasantries with the Wu siblings.

This was Bi Shi’s first time meeting Dou Ming, and she asked with a smile, “And who is this?”

“She’s Seventh Uncle’s second daughter,” Ji Shi replied. “Her childhood name is Mingjier.”

“Ah, Mingjier.” Bi Shi nodded warmly and instructed her maid to gift Dou Ming a jade pendant.

Yi Jie’er and Shu Jie’er had received similar pendants during their first meeting with Bi Shi, so they paid it no mind.

But Dou Ming felt Bi Shi must like her very much—otherwise, why would she give her a gift? Smiling, she turned to Sixth Aunt and said, “My sister is back too!”

Sixth Aunt replied gently, “I know. She just sent someone over with fresh eggs and vegetables.”

Dou Ming deflated.

It seemed Dou Zhao never made a single misstep!

Yi Jie’er took Wu Ya’s hand and said, “Grandmother Wu, I’d like to invite A Qi to play in the courtyard.”Bi Shi looked at Dou Ming and hesitated for a moment.

Ji Shi quickly said, "Mingjier was originally raised in Second Madam's quarters. It was only after Seventh Uncle returned for mourning that she was taken back."

Hearing this, Bi Shi smiled and said, "Don't run too far, and don't go poking around everywhere. Be careful not to bump or hurt yourselves."

Yi Jie'er and the others quickly agreed and ran out.

Dou Ming followed from a distance, thinking about Wu Ya's mother.

She could sense that Bi Shi was reluctant to let Wu Ya play with them because of her.

But why?

Her mother had said that being raised in Second Madam's quarters meant living under someone else's roof and was pitiable. So why did Wu Ya's mother agree to let her play with them after hearing she had been raised there?