Blossom

Dou Zhao had gone to class, and her grandmother welcomed Ji Shi into the house with a smile.

Ji Shi asked Hong Gu to find a few potted plants suitable for the main hall and guest rooms: "They don’t have to be rare or expensive varieties, just pretty ones will do!"

Hong Gu smiled and agreed.

Ji Shi then led the grandmother to sit at the stone table under the grapevine trellis in the backyard.

"I came to see you," she said, telling the grandmother about Wu Tai Tai’s visit. "...The Wu family is small and has modest assets. Both Wu Shan’s parents are honest people. What’s most remarkable is Wu Shan’s unwavering devotion to Shou Gu over all these years. Wu Tai Tai even came in person to inquire, showing great sincerity. I think this match is quite good. If you also agree, I thought we might invite Shou Gu’s aunt to come back and meet him, so we can finalize the engagement."

The grandmother had already been grinning from ear to ear upon learning Ji Shi’s purpose for visiting. Now, hearing the question, she nodded repeatedly. "Of course, we must invite Shou Gu’s aunt to meet the boy. She has a good eye for people and won’t make a mistake." She added, "We’ve watched Wu Shan grow up. If Shou Gu marries him, she won’t suffer."

"That’s exactly what I think," Ji Shi said with a smile. "But please don’t mention this to Shou Gu yet. We don’t know whether her uncle will agree or not."

"I know, I know," the grandmother replied cheerfully. Just then, she noticed Hong Gu directing a few old women to carry in some potted plants and quickly added, "If anyone asks, I’ll say you came to pick up some flowers."

Ji Shi laughed. "You and I think alike."

Dou Zhao trusted her grandmother the most and naturally wouldn’t plant any spies around her. When she heard Ji Shi had taken a few potted plants, she naively asked, "Is it enough? If not, they can come back for more."

Meanwhile, Wu Shan was keeping a close eye on his mother. When he learned that Second Madam had visited the grandmother, he was overjoyed. As soon as his mother returned to the guest room, he rushed to serve her—pouring tea, fetching water, massaging her legs, and fanning her—earning a teasing remark from Wu Ya: "Flattery without reason is always suspicious. What are you trying to get from Mother this time? Mother, you can’t favor him like this. Whatever he gets, I want too!"

Her words made Wu Shan chuckle.

Wu Tai Tai was both amused and exasperated. She tapped her daughter’s forehead lightly. "What nonsense are you spouting? ‘Whatever he gets, I want too’? You’re not a child anymore—why do you still act so immature? What will your future sister-in-law think if you talk like this in front of her?"

"Once I have a sister-in-law, of course I won’t talk to Brother like this!" Wu Ya pouted. "But I don’t have one yet, do I?" Suddenly, her eyes widened. "Mother, is Brother getting married?" Then she exclaimed, "No, no! If Brother marries, it has to be someone I like. Otherwise, what if she won’t let me visit home?"

"You’re getting more and more outrageous!" Wu Tai Tai pretended to scold her, giving her a light slap.

Wu Ya shrank back in mock fear, and everyone in the room burst into laughter.

But Second Madam, who was still with the grandmother, wore a strained smile."...What happened back then, you all know best." Second Madam sighed, holding her hand. "As for Shou Gu's marriage, I'm afraid even our Dou family may not have the final say. If it were anyone else proposing, I'd suspect they were after Shou Gu's dowry. But since it's the Wu family making the offer—not to mention Wu Shan's character—given our families' longstanding friendship, this would be an excellent match, and I'd be happy to see it happen. However, now... the Zhao Family guards against us as if we were thieves. If we interfere in Shou Gu's marriage, I fear..." At this point, Second Madam shook her head helplessly.

How could Second Madam Yu not understand?

But that was half of Western Dou's wealth.

If Wu Tai Tai hadn't brought it up, that would be one thing. But now that she had clearly set her sights on Dou Zhao, shouldn't they at least try to compete?

Unwilling to give up, she said, "Then what do you suggest I do?" She tossed the question back to Second Madam, putting on a troubled expression. "I didn't realize the gravity of the situation earlier and already promised Auntie... I must find a way to smooth things over."

Second Madam looked at Second Madam Yu's seemingly innocent expression, her anger simmering.

Didn't know what to do?

She had probably already made up her mind!

At first, the Wu family seemed quite decent, but who knew they were just hypocrites pretending to be virtuous!

If they want to marry Dou Zhao, they'd better weigh their own worth first!

Now that one has made a move, the others will likely follow suit.

They must find a way to prepare early and nip this in the bud.

But if they openly clash with Second Madam Yu now, it might alert the others and offend several families at once. If they all turn against them, it might be hard to suppress.

Taking a deep breath, Second Madam forced a gentler smile. "Don't rush. Marriage proposals are all about negotiation—it takes several rounds to settle. Besides, Wanyuan is in the Capital, and the Zhao Family's uncle is in the northwest, so there's no need to hurry." She paused, then added, "Fortunately, Mr. Wu is no stranger—your Seventh Great-Uncle knows him. I'll write to him first. Once he agrees, we can discuss it with the Zhao Family's uncle. Since you're both a daughter-in-law of the Dou family and a paternal aunt of the Wu family, you should explain things properly to Wu Tai Tai. Don't let this strain our relations."

This was exactly what Second Madam Yu had come for.

She thanked her cheerfully and went to relay the message to Wu Tai Tai.

Second Madam's expression darkened as she summoned Dou Shibang.

"Write to Fifth Uncle," she told him about the Wu family's proposal for Dou Zhao. "If he thinks this match is suitable, we can discuss it with Seventh Uncle later."

Hearing his mother's tone, Dou Shibang sensed her disapproval of the Wu family. He couldn't help saying, "Wu Shan is still young but exceptionally learned, reserved yet sharp and adaptable—he's someone destined for great things..."

"What good does that do?" Second Madam said bitterly. "By the time he's capable of helping Yuanji, Yuanji and Wang Xingyi will have already settled their feud."

Dou Shibang fell silent.

Second Madam instructed him, "Send someone trustworthy to deliver the letter. If anyone asks, say it's for Seventh Uncle in the Capital. Put the letter in another envelope addressed to Wanyuan."

Dou Shibang agreed.

As Second Madam had anticipated, Second Madam Yu sent someone to watch the letter bound for the Capital. Only after seeing the envelope clearly marked "To Dou Wanyuan" did she finally relax.Over there, Ji Shi entrusted a clerk from the Ji family's shop to deliver a letter to Zhao Si.

Meanwhile, the parties involved, Dou Zhao and Wu Shan, remained completely unaware of the storm brewing around them. Dou Zhao had been learning to play the zither under Song Weimin these days—the five notes of the pentatonic scale making her head spin. Wu Shan, on the other hand, was in high spirits, beaming at everyone he met. Seizing the last few days of leisure before obligations called, he went to Baoding Prefecture with Dou Zhengde and a few others, bringing back a large red tassel tied with an auspicious knot for Dou Zhao.

Song Yan, who was also learning the zither with Dou Zhao under Song Weimin, twitched his lips and turned his face away.

Admittedly, it was a bit flashy, but Wu Shan didn’t mind.

Tucked inside his robe was a red embroidered scented sachet, within which lay a small golden hairpin shaped like a love knot—burning like a flame against his chest.

That was what he truly wanted to give to Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao held the red tassel, glancing at Wu Shan, who stood before her with a somewhat foolish grin, then at Dou Dechang, who had accompanied Wu Shan but now stood stiffly outside the Waterside Pavilion like a wooden post. She felt utterly bewildered, as if something had happened that everyone knew about except her.

She handed the red tassel to her attendant, Bie Suxin, and thanked Wu Shan with a smile.

A page came running from a distance.

"Twelfth Young Master, Fourth Miss," he panted, sweating profusely. "Sixth Madam asks you to return quickly. The Ji family’s cousin has arrived."

Everyone in the Waterside Pavilion froze.

"The Ji family’s cousin? Who?" Dou Dechang asked blankly. "There are over twenty in my generation from the Ji family!"

The page wiped his sweat. "It’s the sixteenth young master of the Ji family."

Dou Dechang jumped in shock. "What? Ji Yong is here? When did he arrive? Who came with him?" His expression was as if he had just encountered a debt collector.

Now it was Dou Zhao and Wu Shan’s turn to be curious.

"What’s the matter?" Wu Shan asked. "Do you have a grudge against this Ji Yong?"

"No!" Dou Dechang grimaced as if suffering from a toothache. "I’ve just long heard of his reputation, that’s all."

Dou Zhao then asked, "Do I need to go too? Did Sixth Aunt ask for me as well?"

The page nodded repeatedly. "That’s what Sixth Madam instructed."

Dou Zhao looked at Dou Dechang.

Dou Dechang dragged his feet, clearly reluctant to return.

Sensing something amiss, Dou Zhao grew serious. "What’s really going on?"

"Nothing, nothing," Dou Dechang said, straightening up despite himself. "Let’s hurry over so we don’t keep the guest waiting." His expression was as solemn as Jing Ke setting off to assassinate the King of Qin—filled with the resolve of one who would not return.

Wu Shan exchanged a glance with Dou Zhao. "I’ll go with you."

Dou Zhao nodded, but Dou Dechang hastily waved his hands. "No need! You haven’t paid your respects to your aunt since returning. Go see her first, and we’ll meet up later."

Wu Shan glanced at Dou Zhao, then pulled Dou Dechang aside and whispered, "Tell me honestly—did you borrow money from that Ji Yong? I have four hundred taels in my room. If you need it, take it first. If it’s not enough, I’ll figure something out."

"No, really not!" Dou Dechang was torn between laughter and frustration. "After I won that bastard surnamed He in the cockfight last time, I gave away my prized rooster. You know that. I wouldn’t go back on my word—you should trust me."Wu Shan was half-convinced: "I believe you about the cockfighting. But why are you afraid of Ji Yong?"

Dou Dechang's expression changed slightly: "I'm not afraid of Ji Yong, I just don't like seeing that person."

As Wu Shan was about to say more, Dou Zhao, who had been openly eavesdropping nearby, gave a light cough.

Even between close friends, everyone has secrets they'd rather not share.

She smiled and said: "Twelfth Brother, wait for me a moment. I'll change clothes and return to the estate with you."Dou Dechang nodded, but his brows remained tightly furrowed into a deep '川' shape."

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While writing this chapter, I kept feeling something was off. After repeatedly reviewing Chapter 83 and revising some dialogues, it flowed much better. Only then did I start writing Chapter 84, so it's a bit late—my apologies!

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