Blossom

Dou Shiying hired a private tutor named Jiang Li, courtesy name Yougong, for his daughter. He was an elderly Recommended Man in his sixties who had served as a private tutor for fifteen years in the household of He Wendao, a Grand Academician of the Grand Secretariat and Dou Shiying’s former mentor. Due to his declining health and energy, Jiang had requested to retire to his hometown but was persuaded by Dou Shiying.

"...Scholar Dou said it was for a young girl, and there’s no strict curriculum—just teaching her some general principles would suffice," Jiang Yougong spoke politely, yet his tone carried an air of arrogance. "With Vice Minister Dou’s recommendation, I couldn’t refuse out of courtesy. Though I know my abilities are limited, I had no choice but to come."

With three members of the Dou family holding official positions in the Capital, he had to address them by their titles.

Dou Shibang repeatedly expressed his gratitude, inviting Teacher Du to accompany Jiang and personally arranging for him to stay in the Western Dou’s outer study. He assigned two pages, two maids, and two old women to serve him and had Dou Zhao pay respects to Jiang to formalize their student-teacher relationship. After setting the start date for lessons, Dou Shibang returned to the Eastern Dou.

Second Madam asked her son, "What do you think of this man?"

Dou Shibang smiled wryly. "His knowledge is first-rate, but his temperament... I’m not sure if he’ll stay long."

Second Madam frowned.

Dou Zhao, meanwhile, was so furious she wanted to curse.

Why couldn’t Father just stay out of things? This Jiang fellow wasn’t here to tutor her—he was just going through the motions!

Despite being at an age where he should be wise and composed, he insisted on rigidly observing propriety between men and women, placing a screen between himself and Dou Zhao during lessons. He frequently boasted about his time in Grand Secretary He’s household. During lectures, he paid no attention to whether Dou Zhao understood, simply droning on before leaving as if she were a block of wood—incapable of grasping his brilliance or noticing his shortcomings. His teaching was half-hearted at best. Yet Dou Shiying had promised him an annual salary of one hundred taels of silver, plus two sets of seasonal clothing each year.

He was taking advantage of her simply because she was a girl.

Coincidentally, Dou Qijun was home that day when Jiang Yougong lectured on Mencius: Duke Wen of Teng II . Dou Zhao summoned Cui Shisan and asked Dou Qijun to compose an Eight-legged Essay on the topic, "The Duke of Zhou united the barbarians, drove away fierce beasts, and brought peace to the people." The next morning, she placed the essay on Jiang’s desk. At first, Jiang glanced at it dismissively, but then he let out a surprised "Hmm?" and picked it up to read carefully. After a long pause, he asked Dou Zhao, "Who wrote this?"

Without batting an eye, Dou Zhao replied, "It was a playful attempt by this student."

Jiang scoffed and tossed the essay aside. Then, under the guise of discussing Duke Wen of Teng , he launched into a lecture on the virtues of a submissive woman.

Dou Zhao remained silent, attending and leaving her lessons punctually every day without delay.

When Chen Qushui heard that the seventh master of the Dou family had hired a tutor from the Capital for his daughter, he burst into laughter. He wrote a letter to Dou Zhao, saying that since she thought so highly of him, he had decided to travel to Zhen Ding County immediately to serve as her private tutor.

Dou Zhao arranged for Chen Qushui to stay at the farmstead.

As the carriage bypassed Zhen Ding County and headed toward the farmstead in the outskirts, Chen Qushui couldn’t hide his surprise. He asked Zhao Liangbi, who had come to fetch him, "Where are we going?"

Zhao Liangbi smiled. "Naturally, to Consort Cui’s farmstead!" He explained, "Consort Cui has long declared that this farmstead is to be left to the fourth young lady. The seventh master has agreed—this farmstead will belong to Miss Dou the Fourth from now on."

Chen Qushui fell silent.

No wonder Miss Dou the Fourth had said she was hiring him as her tutor.Could it be that Miss Dou the Fourth had long known Seventh Master Dou would invite a private tutor from the Capital for her?

He had originally intended only to mildly challenge Dou Zhao, to show her that the Dou family wasn’t necessarily hers to command. Promises, after all, required strength to back them!

Now it seemed his petty teasing was utterly insignificant in the eyes of Fourth Miss Dou.

Why would Fourth Miss Dou seek a private tutor to teach classics and history?

For the first time, Chen Qushui seriously pondered Dou Zhao’s purpose in approaching him.

Dou Zhao had taken a day off to welcome Chen Qushui at the entrance of the farmstead’s residence.

Chen Qushui was surprised not to see any adults present.

Dou Zhao pretended not to notice his reaction and smilingly invited him into the study that had been prepared in advance.

The three-room brick-tiled house followed a traditional layout—one central hall flanked by two side rooms. The eastern chamber served as the inner quarters, with a heated room at the back; the western chamber was the study, connected to a suite behind. A crabapple tree and an apricot tree stood before the door, while bamboo groves grew behind the house. The floors were paved with blue bricks, the windows covered with Korean paper. Black lacquered furniture held Blue and White Porcelain teacups, while a pair of bright red hibiscus branches—one tall, one short—stood in a Song Dynasty white porcelain vase, creating an atmosphere of refined elegance.

Chen Qushui’s eyes immediately brightened. When he lifted the teacup and saw the golden-hued liquor exuding a delicate fragrance, then tasted its mellow richness with a lasting sweet aftertaste—it turned out to be this autumn’s freshly harvested Tieguanyin tea—his delight showed plainly on his face as he exclaimed, “Excellent tea!”

Dou Zhao smiled faintly.

As the saying goes: Never befriend a man without passions, for he lacks depth of feeling; never befriend a flawless man, for he lacks genuine character.

That Chen Qushui, after half a lifetime of hardships, could still be moved by a simple scene and a cup of tea revealed his authentic nature.

She sipped her tea, letting the sweet freshness of Tieguanyin roll through her heart before speaking: “May I ask what plans you have for the future, Mr. Chen?”

Chen Qushui raised an eyebrow slightly, as if questioning her intent.

Dou Zhao made no attempt to conceal her purpose and stated frankly: “Stay long enough in an orchid room and you’ll stop noticing its fragrance; stay long enough in a fish market and you’ll stop noticing its stench. With Master Bie gone from East Lane, I fear it’s no suitable long-term residence for you. I’d like to invite you to stay at this farmstead, where I may seek your scholarly guidance at any time. What do you think?”

Chen Qushui’s gaze sharpened.

Miss Dou the Fourth’s words carried deeper meaning.

When he first arrived at East Lane, he’d encountered local ruffians demanding protection money. Had Bie Gangyi not intervened, he wouldn’t have escaped unscathed!

Chen Qushui thought of Bie Gangyi, whose days were numbered, and the Bie sisters who would soon seek refuge with Dou Zhao. He felt a stirring of interest.

He had long resigned himself to fate and now sought nothing more than to live out his remaining years in peace and stability.

Moreover, he still worried about the Bie sisters and wished to repay Bie Gangyi for years of kindness.

After prolonged contemplation, Chen Qushui asked Dou Zhao solemnly: “They say virtue replaces talent in women. May I ask why you insist on hiring a resident tutor to teach classics and history at home?”

Since she intended to entrust certain matters to Chen Qushui, it was better to be completely open.

This was Dou Zhao’s principle when employing people."I presume Mr. Chen has already investigated my circumstances thoroughly," she mused. "I used to be absolutely certain that since Wang Shi had become a concubine, the Dou family would never elevate her to principal wife for the sake of their reputation. But I was wrong. With Zeng Yifen's return to office, Wang Xingyi's rise to power, and Fifth Uncle's ambitions, not only was Wang Shi made the principal wife, but I also became a pawn in the struggle between the Wang and Dou families." At this point, she slowly sipped from her teacup, her voice tinged with melancholy. "I often think, when I was young, I was powerless to resist. Now that I've grown up, must I continue to live like 'a fish on the chopping block'? And in at most ten years, the Wang and Dou families will settle their conflict—where will that leave me?"

In her previous life, Wang Xingyi and Dou Shishu had settled their struggle in just nine years.

In this life, though circumstances had changed, who could guarantee that Dou Shishu would alter history and emerge victorious?

In her past life, she had been an insignificant nobody, yet Wang Yingxue had still resented her. Now, in this life, she held half of Western Dou's wealth under her name...

Dou Zhao set down the teacup. The delicate clink of porcelain echoed sharply in the silent study.

"Before, I only knew the Dou family treated me poorly and that Wang Shi was my sworn enemy, but I never truly considered how things had come to this," she said clearly. "Now I see clearly—though the imperial court seems distant, even the smallest ripple can turn into a tidal wave, drowning me in an instant. Before, I only focused on the people and events around me, unaware of how the winds and waves related to me, let alone how to avoid them..."

In her past life, it wasn't until she became a marquise that she gradually understood the connection between the court and the inner household. This time, the feud between the Wang and Dou families gave her deeper insight. Restricted by her status as a woman confined to the inner quarters, she could only learn of the outside world through others. This made her consider finding someone to act as her eyes—and Chen Qushui was undoubtedly the best candidate she could find now.

Chen Qushui suddenly understood. "As bronze mirrors reflect one's attire, people reflect one's virtues, and history reflects the rise and fall of nations—"

"No, no, no," Dou Zhao laughed. "I don't have such grand ambitions. I only wish to protect what I have now—to avoid being spied on, coveted, exploited, betrayed, or manipulated... that's all."

Chen Qushui was puzzled and said tactfully, "But hasn't everything the Fourth Miss possesses today been given by the Dou family?"

"Mr. Chen may not know this yet," Dou Zhao smiled at him. "Before Wang Shi was elevated, my uncle intervened on my behalf, and Western Dou allocated half its property to my name as dowry, currently managed by Third Cousin from Eastern Dou's second branch." She then explained the agreement between the Zhao and Dou families to Chen Qushui.

Beads of sweat dripped from Chen Qushui's forehead.

He lived in Dongxiang Tower, a gathering place for idlers and troublemakers, yet he had never heard even a whisper of this.

What did that mean?

His eyes widened in shock.

Someone didn’t want this matter to spread.

Who stood to benefit if no one knew of this?"Miss Dou the Fourth," Chen Qushui prided himself on being a composed man, yet he couldn't help wiping his forehead at this moment. "Your situation... is truly... concerning..."

"It all depends on how you look at it and what you think," Dou Zhao replied nonchalantly with a light laugh. "Fortune and misfortune are intertwined. Good things can sometimes turn bad, and bad things can sometimes turn good. By holding onto that wealth and nurturing a group of capable people, we can watch the chaos unfold from the Yellow Crane Tower. Whether the Wang Family or the Dou family wins, neither would be able to do much to me, right?" She smiled brightly at Chen Qushui. "Rather than inviting you to be my private tutor, I'd prefer to ask you to be my teacher, guiding me on how to avoid misfortune and seek blessings, living a comfortable and carefree life."

If Dou Zhao were a boy, Chen Qushui would have agreed without hesitation. But she was a girl...

He hesitated and asked, "Has Miss Dou the Fourth been betrothed yet?"

Dou Zhao laughed. "I don’t plan to marry!"

Chen Qushui was stunned.

Dou Zhao continued, "The Dou family is flourishing. I already have eleven nephews, and there will be more in the future. Why should I marry?"

If she married, she would bear children, becoming someone’s wife and mother, relying only on her husband and sons. But if she remained unmarried, she would always be a daughter of the Dou family, able to rely on all its members—her options would be far greater!

"But..." Chen Qushui couldn’t agree. "You can’t spend your life alone, can you?"

She had already been married before, had children—it was nothing extraordinary. But these were things she couldn’t explain to others. All she could say was, "For now, this is the best solution, isn’t it? Nothing in this world stays the same forever. Let’s wait until we’ve firmly established ourselves. Living with dignity is far more important than marriage."