Blossom

Dou Shiying came to discuss with Dou Zhao: "What do you think we should do?"

Although his eldest daughter was young, the confident tone in her voice often gave him immense reassurance.

Dou Zhao wasn’t sure what would be best for Dou Ming either.

If she stayed with Second Madam to learn etiquette, she would inevitably face those cutting remarks; if she went to live with the Wang Family in the Capital, in her past life, Dou Ming had been corrupted by Madam Xu, ultimately dragging Wang Nan down with her.

She said with a headache, "Why don’t you ask Madam? She is Dou Ming’s birth mother."

With Wang Yingxue around, no one else could interfere. Even if it was for Dou Ming’s own good, maternal instincts might prevail, and Dou Ming might end up resenting them.

Dou Shiying hesitated.

A young maid rushed in, panting, but upon seeing Dou Shiying, she tried to tiptoe back out.

Dou Shiying barked, "What is it?"

The maid looked pleadingly at Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao couldn’t think of anything she needed to hide from her father, so she nodded at the maid.

The maid murmured, "Seventh Madam is packing her trunks, saying she’s taking Fifth Miss to the Capital."

Dou Shiying flew into a rage and stormed off.

Dou Zhao called Haitang in: "Bring the needlework I made the other day, and help me change into another dress. We’re going to visit Ninth Cousin-in-Law."

This past February, Dou Huanchang had married the daughter of the Huang family from Huai’an.

This marriage had been arranged by Eldest Uncle while he was still alive. Huang Shi’s grandfather and Eldest Uncle had been classmates, and Huang Shi had a cousin who currently served as a judge in the Court of Judicial Review.

Huang Shi was the same age as Dou Huanchang. Gentle in appearance and kind in temperament, she excelled at needlework and was dearly loved by Eldest Aunt, who had praised her daughter-in-law repeatedly in front of the Dou family.

As another bride from the south, she was inevitably compared to Ji Shi.

Ji Shi was serene, while Huang Shi was gentle—both carried the refined elegance of the southern regions.

Second Cousin-in-Law joked self-deprecatingly, "Compared to Sixth Aunt and Ninth Sister-in-law, the rest of us look like old kitchen women."

Ji Shi and Huang Shi naturally responded with modesty, but the two grew close because of this, and Huang Shi also treated Dou Zhao with more warmth than others.

Recently, news had spread that Huang Shi was pregnant.

Dou Zhao thought of seeking refuge there—Eldest Aunt was a widow, and Huang Shi hadn’t yet completed the first three months of her pregnancy, so the main household would be undisturbed and the quietest place.

With pleasant company and the ever-considerate Dou Zhao, Huang Shi naturally welcomed her with open arms.

Dou Zhao stayed with the main household until the afternoon, had dinner there, and only returned to Western Dou in the evening.

As soon as she entered, she saw the stable boy squatting and hammering at a carriage wheel.

Dou Zhao sighed inwardly.

From her past life’s experience, Madam Xu Wang would insist on keeping Dou Ming with the Wang Family once she saw her.

She returned to the main house, where her father sat unhappily, staring blankly at a book.

"I heard you went to Jixin’s place," Dou Shiying greeted his daughter. "How was it? Learn anything useful?"

Jixin was the courtesy name of her ninth cousin, Dou Huanchang.

"Ninth Cousin-in-Law taught me how to embroider a bird’s eyes," Dou Zhao said with a smile as she changed her clothes, freshened up, and sat with her father by the window. "I think it’s quite similar to painting techniques. No wonder Sixth Aunt’s aunt could even embroider long scrolls."

Her words lifted Dou Shiying’s spirits. He then brought up Dou Ming: "...Even adults are drawn to the Capital’s splendor, let alone a child. Would you like to go to the Capital with Dou Ming for a while?"Then have her pay respects to the Wang family as a junior?

Better not!

Dou Zhao smiled and said, "She can't bear to part with her maternal grandmother, just as I can't bear to part with my Consort Cui."

Dou Shiying chuckled, pondered for a while, and tentatively asked her, "Will you and Consort Cui be afraid staying at home alone?"

Dou Zhao immediately brightened up.

It seemed Father was planning to go to the Capital with Wang Yingxue and Dou Ming.

Perhaps because she no longer harbored resentment. Her current state of mind was peaceful, unlike in her previous life when the sight of Father with Wang Yingxue, Dou Ming, and Dou Xiao would send her into a rage, nearly choking with anger.

Now, her heart was solely with her grandmother.

"So, you agree to let me bring Consort Cui back to stay for a while?" Dou Zhao asked her father with a smile.

"When have I ever disagreed?" Dou Shiying laughed. Then his expression turned somewhat dejected. "I just thought that even without Consort Cui, the Pang family wouldn’t dare to come knocking."

So he was throwing a tantrum by refusing to go to the Capital for his official post?

Dou Zhao found it both amusing and exasperating.

Fortunately, the matter was already resolved. Not wanting to argue with her father on this topic, she asked when he planned to depart.

"The day after tomorrow!" Dou Shiying replied cheerfully. "Tomorrow, we’ll go fetch your Consort Cui."

Dou Zhao nodded repeatedly, discussing with her father, "The East Wing Courtyard has just been renovated, hasn’t it? Why not let Consort Cui stay in the Refreshing Veranda there? It’s lush with trees and the coolest spot."

"Let’s go," Father said enthusiastically, standing up. "We’ll take a look."

They skipped dinner and thoroughly inspected the Refreshing Veranda, deciding where the bedroom, the Resting Chamber, the storage for trunks, and the maids’ quarters would be—everything was meticulously arranged. Only then did they return to the main house. Early the next morning, they hitched the carriage and set off for the farmstead.

Meanwhile, Hu Momo, who was helping Wang Yingxue pack, expressed concern, "It’s easier to invite a deity than to send one away. What do you think about this…?"

Wang Yingxue’s mood instantly grew restless.

She knew Zhao Guqiu’s death was a knot in Dou Shiying’s heart, but the dead were gone, and the living had to move on. She had thought that with time and her own careful efforts to please, the knot would naturally loosen.

But things had turned out contrary to her wishes.

After all these years, not only had Dou Shiying not forgotten Zhao Guqiu, but he had also grown increasingly distant from her, never regaining their former closeness.

Opportunities always favor the prepared.

Just like Dou Ming’s sorrow.

In Zhen Ding, in the Dou family, Dou Ming’s status as legitimate or illegitimate was unclear. She, Wang Yingxue, would forever be a concubine elevated to a stepmother.

Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but grit her teeth.

She and Dou Shiying had to start anew.

The Capital was a place where outsiders were as numerous as carp in a river, and no one knew anyone else’s background. Once they moved there, with Dou Shiying serving as an official and having relatives like Dou Shishu and the Wang family, they could settle in the Capital permanently. They wouldn’t need to return to Zhen Ding, and Dou Ming could grow up happily in the Capital, marrying with a clean slate.

"Now isn’t the time to dwell on these things," Wang Yingxue whispered to Hu Momo. "The Seventh Master is in his prime. Even if we return to Zhen Ding, it won’t be for at least another decade or two. Do you think Consort Cui will still be alive by then?"

Wang Yingxue wasn’t entirely confident about staying in the Capital permanently, so she didn’t want to make absolute promises.

Hu Momo thought it over and smiled. "This old servant has worried too much.""Not at all," Wang Yingxue grasped Hu Momo's hand and said sincerely. "If it weren't for you by my side all these years, I wouldn't have been able to hold on."

"You flatter this old servant too much, Madam," Hu Momo repeatedly declined the praise.

As mistress and servant spoke, both became somewhat emotional. Hu Momo gently supported Wang Yingxue into the inner chamber, where they saw Dou Ming sitting blankly on the heated brick bed by the window, clutching a large bolster. Maids and old women bustled about packing things, but she seemed oblivious to them.

Wang Yingxue's heart skipped a beat as she hurried forward to embrace her daughter. "Mingjier, Mingjier!"

Dou Ming turned her head, and gradually, light returned to her eyes.

Wang Yingxue exhaled in relief and tried to engage her in conversation: "Would you like to check if there's anything else you want to take to the Capital..."

"I don't want anything!" Dou Ming's voice was unusually shrill and piercing. "Grandmother will buy everything for me! I don't want anything!"

Wang Yingxue's eyes moistened as she held her daughter, unable to speak for a long moment.

※※※※※

Grandmother invited Dou Shiying to sit in the main hall. She personally poured him tea and asked in confusion, "You want me to come stay in the city for a while?"

Dou Shiying looked somewhat embarrassed as he tactfully explained the matters concerning Pang Jixiu and Wu Shan to his grandmother.

Grandmother chuckled and said, "When a girl comes of age, suitors will gather. Our Shou Gu is beautiful and has a good temperament. You'll have many headaches ahead." Then she readily instructed Hong Gu to pack her belongings. The smoothness of the proceedings left both Dou Shiying and Dou Zhao momentarily stunned. Dou Zhao privately marveled—Grandmother could laugh off Pang Jixiu's intentions. Was it childlike innocence or worldly wisdom?

They returned to Zhen Ding by dusk.

Wang Yingxue greeted Grandmother, Dou Shiying, and Dou Zhao at the second gate.

Dou Shiying asked, "Where's Mingjier?"

Wang Yingxue quickly replied, "She's feeling unwell—it seems like heatstroke. I gave her some Huoxiang Zhengqi Tincture, and she just lay down to rest. I thought to call a physician to examine her later."

Hearing this, Grandmother wanted to see Dou Ming immediately.

Wang Yingxue hastily said, "The weather is hot, and you must be tired from the journey. Please rest first to avoid falling ill from the heat."

After a moment's thought, Grandmother smiled wryly and didn't insist, following Dou Zhao to the Refreshing Veranda instead.

The Refreshing Veranda had vines climbing its walls, thick moss growing by the steps, and unnamed wildflowers blooming beside the rocks—full of rustic charm.

Grandmother loved it at once.

That evening, Dou Zhao moved in to stay with Grandmother.

Haitang quietly informed her, "Seventh Master is reprimanding Madam and Fifth Miss."

Let them stir up whatever trouble they wanted, as long as it didn't disrupt her life.

"Don't tell Grandmother," Dou Zhao instructed Haitang.

Haitang nodded.

Dou Zhao then called loudly for Gan Lu to cut the watermelon that had been cooling in the well.

※※※※※

The next day, Father bid farewell to Grandmother and Second Madam, worshipped at the ancestral hall in the North Tower, and left for the Capital with Wang Yingxue and Dou Ming.

That evening, Second Madam invited Grandmother for dinner.

Grandmother asked Dou Zhao's opinion: "Should I go or not?"

In her past life, Grandmother had always shielded her like a mountain. Now it was her turn to shelter Grandmother from the storms. Dou Zhao found this reversal both refreshing and daunting, carrying with it a sense of responsibility and pride."I'll accompany you," Dou Zhao said with a smile. "We should greet the relatives. If we like them, we can visit more often; if not, we can keep our distance. After all, we live separately."

Grandmother found this reasonable and went with Dou Zhao for dinner.

Only Eldest Aunt joined them at the table. After the meal, they ate some fruit and reminisced about old times before parting ways.

Grandmother was very pleased and settled comfortably into Refreshing Veranda. Every morning, she would walk seven or eight laps around the rockery until she was drenched in sweat before resting.

Dou Zhao watched with concern and accompanied her grandmother on these walks every day.

At first, she could only manage one lap for every two her grandmother walked. Gradually, she matched her grandmother stride for stride. Though she initially ached all over and struggled with every movement, she soon felt lighter and more agile.

Grandmother nodded approvingly. "Look at that rosy little face—so full of energy!"

Dou Zhao smiled faintly.

By autumn, she noticed that the Horse-face skirt she had made in spring now rode up, revealing her pale yellow silk shoes.

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Fortunately, it wasn’t too late... o(n_n)o~

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