Blossom

After the incident with Pang Jixiu, Father suddenly shifted his focus to the inner household. Unfortunately, with Dou Zhao overseeing things and Wang Yingxue managing affairs, no matter how much he inquired, he couldn’t find anything that required his intervention. Frustrated, he poured all his energy into renovating the East Wing Courtyard. Originally scheduled for completion in early summer, the construction dragged on into midsummer, which inadvertently drew Dou Qijun to the Western Dou residence frequently. He and Father would squat under the shade of trees, enthusiastically discussing the painted beams and stone carvings for the courtyard, thoroughly enjoying themselves each time.

Wang Yingxue couldn’t help but murmur, "Father mentioned there are vacancies in the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Justice in the Capital, and he’s already written to his friends serving there... Time waits for no one. Shouldn’t you respond to him?"

Dou Shiying dismissed her concerns, sipping chilled mung bean soup while studying blueprints. Absentmindedly, he replied, "Whether it’s the Ministry of Works or Justice, appointments must go through the Ministry of Personnel. Don’t worry about this—I have my own plans."

Relying on one’s father-in-law would make others see him as a freeloader; relying on a clansman, however, was perfectly acceptable.

Wang Yingxue didn’t press further. Even Dou Zhao assumed Father had already discussed matters with Fifth Uncle and didn’t pay it much mind. Instead, she listened with keen interest as Father and Dou Qijun debated how to incorporate borrowed scenery and construct rockeries, seemingly intent on transforming the East Wing into a Jiangnan-style garden.

Gaosheng came to see Dou Zhao. "In just five months, sixty thousand taels have been spent."

Dou Zhao asked, "Is the household strained because of this?"

"Not exactly," Gaosheng whispered. "But it’s being spent too quickly—last year’s entire income is already gone."

"Come back and tell me when he’s exhausted the Western Dou’s savings," Dou Zhao said calmly. "He needs something to keep him busy, doesn’t he?"

Gaosheng smiled wryly.

Dou Zhao watched Dou Qijun and Father with their arms around each other in the courtyard, and suddenly her eyes stung.

Nine years had passed since Mother’s death, and Father had been alone all this time.

"A father’s failure to educate his son is his own fault; a mother’s failure to educate her daughter is hers." If Father had a son, would he act more responsibly?

The thought flashed through her mind, but the image of Dou Xiao’s listless face surfaced, filling her with distaste. She decided to let the matter drop.

Unexpectedly, at the end of June, Fifth Uncle sent a letter asking why Father hadn’t gone to the Capital to await an appointment. He added that since Grandfather had passed away, Father ought to uphold the family’s reputation. In this world, many add flowers to brocade, but few offer fuel in snowy weather. The Dou family should stand united, and Father shouldn’t abandon the hardships of his decade of diligent study. He then subtly inquired about Father’s heirs, suggesting that if Wang Yingxue was infertile, he could ask Fifth Aunt to find Father a respectable concubine. That way, when the son eventually entered officialdom, Father could retire peacefully to his hometown as an elder.

Father broke into a cold sweat and immediately wrote back, declining the offer of a concubine but saying nothing about the appointment.

Only then did Dou Zhao realize Father’s decision to avoid the Capital was entirely his own.

She deliberately provoked him: "You could take them all to the Capital. I’d be happy to bring Consort Cui here and let her enjoy some peace in her old age."

To her surprise, Father seriously considered it. "You’re right. Why don’t we all go to the Capital and leave household matters to Consort Cui?"Living under the same roof and sharing the same well water with Wang Yingxue for three years had already been Dou Zhao's limit. To continue mingling with Wang Yingxue? Out of the question!

"If I go to the Capital, wouldn’t the Pang family have even more excuses to visit our home?"

Dou Shiying was left speechless.

Seizing the opportunity, Dou Zhao brought up the matter of a concubine: "...You should have someone by your side to take care of your daily needs."

As a father, Dou Shiying found it awkward to discuss such matters with his daughter.

Blushing, he scolded her, "What nonsense are you talking about? Who told you these things?"

"Didn’t Fifth Uncle mention it in his letter?" Dou Zhao replied calmly and openly. "Western Dou can’t afford to be without a son, can it?"

Her father had remained alone for nine years out of respect for her mother. No matter how much resentment Dou Zhao had harbored, it had all melted away by now.

Dou Shiying flushed with embarrassment. "You’ve seen for yourself—how do I have time to oversee the household affairs every day? Bringing another person into the household would only ruin their life. Besides, even if a son were born, who would raise him properly? Look at Mingjier—what has she become?"

Dou Zhao fell silent.

At the end of April, the Imperial Academy bachelors completed their studies. Sixth Uncle Dou Shiheng was assigned to the Court of State Ceremonial, becoming a close official to the emperor. Second Madam was overjoyed. During the Dragon Boat Festival, she sponsored the county government’s Lantern Festival and invited all the notable figures of Zhen Ding County to their home for an opera performance. As a Successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations from the Dou family, Dou Shiying naturally couldn’t be absent.

He took the whole family to Dong Dou.

Somehow, Dou Ming ended up fighting with the eight-year-old eighth young miss of the Lang family, even pulling out a lock of the girl’s hair... Afterward, no matter how Dou Shiying questioned Dou Ming, she kept her lips tightly sealed like a stubborn clam, refusing to say a word. The Lang family’s eighth young miss only knew how to cry. Left with no choice, Dou Shiying had to personally visit the Lang family to apologize. To this day, he still hadn’t figured out why Dou Ming had fought with the girl.

But Dou Zhao suspected Wang Yingxue knew the reason.

Not only Wang Yingxue—most of the women in Dong Dou probably knew as well.

The fifth young miss of the Zhu family eventually married the fifteenth young master of the Lang family.

Dou Ming and the Lang family’s eighth young miss had quarreled over some disagreement. The latter had jumped up and called Dou Zhao a "bastard child"...

Dou Shiying couldn’t help but regret it as he spoke. "If I’d known you’d be so sensible, I should have entrusted your sister to you. But now it’s too late—you’re already twelve, and in a couple of years, you’ll be married off..."

Dou Zhao broke into a cold sweat at his words. Thinking about how inconvenient it was for the family to lack a male heir, she smiled and said, "If you give me a younger brother now, I’ll help raise him. But don’t count on me for a sister."

Dou Shiying chuckled awkwardly.

Dou Qijun came to see Father.

Dou Zhao asked curiously, "Huh? Where are Eleventh Brother and Twelfth Brother?"

Dou Qijun grinned. "They’re preparing for next year’s exams—studying day and night at home!"

Dou Zhao giggled.

Dou Qijun and Father went to the East Wing Courtyard.

Wang Yingxue had received a letter from her mother, Xu Shi, saying she missed Dou Ming dearly after not seeing her for years and wanted to bring her to the Capital for a visit.

She went to discuss it with Dou Shiying.

Meanwhile, Dou Qijun slipped into the study to chat with Dou Zhao.

"We’re going to the Pang family in a few days," he said, winking at her.

Dou Zhao was stunned. "What for?" she asked quickly.

Dou Qijun laughed. "Guess?"

At times like these, when she was burning with impatience, Dou Zhao hated guessing games. Without hesitation, she replied, "I can’t guess."Dou Qijun looked somewhat disappointed and said, "Pang Jixiu is getting married."

Dou Zhao was taken aback.

Dou Qijun smirked slyly. "Isn't Pang Jixiu always looking for a wife? A few of us thought it was too much for him to handle alone, so we rallied our siblings to help find him one. And just like that, someone took a liking to him at first sight. The betrothal process was completed in less than three months..."

Dou Zhao immediately sensed there was more to the story and urged with a laugh, "Tell me quickly, or there'll be no more iced mung bean soup for you next time!"

Seeing no one around, Dou Qijun lowered his voice mischievously. "The Chen family in Lingbi County has been in the constable business for generations. They have five sons and one daughter, all burly and trained in martial arts since childhood—ordinary folks can't even get close. Their daughter, Madam Chen, was still unmarried past twenty. Who would’ve thought that when Pang Jixiu went to their family’s roasted goods shop, he’d try to sneakily touch her hand? When Madam Chen found out he was single, she took a liking to him right away—not only letting him touch her hand but even sending a matchmaker to the Pang family to propose. She said she’d rather marry Pang Jixiu than spend her life with some spineless man... The Pangs are scoundrels, but the Chens are outright ruffians, with connections in both the underworld and the law. The Chens made it clear: if Pang Jixiu refuses to marry, he can just chop off his hands as an apology, and the matter will be settled..."

Dou Zhao couldn’t help bursting into laughter and asked Dou Qijun, "Who actually touched Madam Chen?"

"Of course it was Ke’er," Dou Qijun declared righteously. "Would we really tarnish Madam Chen’s reputation?"

Ke’er was the eldest son of their seventh cousin, Dou Fanchang, and only five years old.

Dou Zhao laughed until her sides hurt, realizing Madam Chen had seized the opportunity to pin Pang Jixiu down.

She asked Dou Qijun, "Who exactly are 'you all'?"

Dou Qijun glanced around evasively but wouldn’t say.

Dou Zhao didn’t press further. Thinking of the Pang family’s shamelessness, she felt this marriage was quite fitting.

During dinner, she shared the story with Dou Shiying.

Both Dou Shiying and Wang Yingxue were surprised.

"We should send a gift when the time comes," Dou Shiying said.

Dou Zhao nodded cheerfully.

Dou Ming, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly blurted out loudly, "When are we going to the Capital?"

Dou Shiying frowned slightly and said gently, "Don’t speak during meals."

Dou Ming instantly flared up, slamming her chopsticks onto the floor with a loud clatter. "I want to go to my grandmother’s house in the Capital! I don’t want to stay here! I don’t want to be in Zhen Ding..." Tears streamed down her face as she spoke.

Beside her, Wang Yingxue turned away, her eyes brimming with tears.

Dou Shiying trembled with anger and, for the first time, gave Dou Ming a stern look. "Don’t forget, your surname is Dou, not Wang! This is your home. If you don’t stay here, where else do you think you belong?"

Wang Yingxue seemed about to speak but held back.

Dou Ming pushed her bowl away and stormed off in a huff.

Dou Shiying glared coldly at Wang Yingxue. "Starting tomorrow, she will learn manners from Second Madam. Getting into fights—our Dou family has never had such a young lady! Until she mends these rough habits, she’s not going anywhere!"Wang Yingxue's face instantly paled. "Seventh Master is too unreasonable," she said. "My mother merely misses Mingjier and wants to have her stay for a few days. For you to say such things makes it seem as though our Wang Family is trying to compete with the Dou family for the child... Father has arranged everything for you, yet you respond with indifference. How has our Wang Family wronged you that you must treat Mingjier and me with such disdain?" With a resentful glare at Dou Shiying, she turned and stormed out of the hall.

Only Dou Shiying and Dou Zhao remained in the hall.

Dou Shiying slumped into the Grand Preceptor's Chair, exhausted.

Dou Zhao, however, sat upright with perfect posture, continuing to eat her meal with graceful composure, as if nothing had happened at all.