Blossom

The entrance of the Dou family mansion was still bustling with people, but the side alley with its open side gate was quiet, where two black-lacquered, flat-roofed carriages with even tops stood, their curtains made of mottled bamboo.

The trunks were amber-colored, neither new nor old, yet the wood grain flowed smoothly and clearly, with bronze cloud-patterned corners, exuding an ancient and serene aura, carrying a sense of solemnity.

"Such extravagance—they’re all made of rosewood," Dou Zhao heard Dou Dechang mutter beside her. She couldn’t help but smile faintly and take a closer look.

The strong servants carrying the trunks were no older than twenty-seven or twenty-eight, the youngest around eighteen or nineteen. Their expressions were solemn, their movements swift and agile. Despite lifting such large trunks, they showed no sign of exertion—clearly trained in martial arts.

For wealthy families, it wasn’t uncommon to have martial-trained attendants when traveling. But it was rare to see a group so uniform in height, build, and attire.

Truly extravagant!

Wasn’t he afraid of being robbed?

Dou Zhao chuckled and, along with Dou Dechang and Wu Shan, bypassed the reception hall to visit Sixth Aunt.

The black-lacquered Ruyi gate was wide open, the bluestone path exceptionally clean, as if washed with water. The mynah bird hanging under the eaves flapped its wings noisily, while the nearby pomegranate tree bloomed brilliantly like fire.

Maids and old women stood silently along the veranda with hands clasped, not daring to move. When they saw the group enter, they blinked at them.

"See that?" Dou Dechang whispered in Dou Zhao’s ear. "What we’ve got here isn’t a cousin—it’s the emperor!"

Dou Zhao stifled a laugh. Barely managing to hold it in, she followed Dou Dechang and Wu Shan into the hall one after the other.

Dou Zhengchang stood respectfully beside Ji Shi, who was seated on a daybed inlaid with mica stones, chatting cheerfully with a youth dressed in a moon-white fine cloth Taoist robe, holding his hand with visible delight.

Hearing the commotion, both looked up.

Ji Shi’s smile was unusually radiant, as if overflowing from the heart, brimming with unconcealed joy—a stark contrast to her usual reserved and low-key demeanor, which surprised Dou Zhao. The youth beside her appeared no older than fifteen or sixteen. Though tall and handsome, he seemed ordinary at first glance. Yet as he sat there smiling, his expression serene, his eyes shimmered brilliantly like starlight, giving off an impression of gentle temperament—but one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. This contradictory aura made him unforgettable, even stirring curiosity to uncover more.

Dou Zhao was inwardly startled.

This must be that Ji Yong.

She suddenly recalled the beautiful youth she had seen at the Source of Dharma Temple.

One, two… there were even more than she had encountered in her past life.

She couldn’t help but glance at Dou Dechang.

Both Dou Dechang and Wu Shan were staring wide-eyed at Ji Yong.

Meanwhile, Ji Shi warmly greeted them, "Wu Shan, you’re here too! Zhigeer, Shou Gu, come meet your sixteenth cousin."

Ji Yong stood gracefully and bowed to them with refined manners. "I am Ji Jianming, Ji Yong, from Yixing."

Ji Yong already had a courtesy name… He was around the same age as Dou Dechang… Only exceptionally talented youths in scholarly pursuits would receive a courtesy name early from elders or mentors. Could this Ji Yong be outstanding in his studies?Dou Zhao returned the greeting with a curtsy when Ji Shi pointed cheerfully at Wu Shan and said, "This is the son of Academician Wu, this year's Top Scholar in the Northern Zhili Prefectural Examination." Then she gestured to Ji Yong, "My nephew from my maiden family, the Provincial Examination's top scorer in Southern Zhili during the Yimao year. He was only thirteen at the time."

A thirteen-year-old top scorer!

Why hadn't she heard of him in her past life?

Had something changed in this lifetime?

Though she had married into a noble family, she had still heard of famous scholars and ministers. Perhaps this man had grown up to be mediocre?

Dou Zhao pondered this while noticing Dou Zhengchang and Dou Dechang's faces turning pale, and even Wu Shan's smile seemed forced.

Ji Jianming appeared oblivious—or perhaps he was simply accustomed to such reactions. With a faint smile, he said, "Aunt flatters me. It was merely luck." He quickly changed the subject, clasping his hands toward Dou Zhengchang and Dou Dechang. "I've long heard that my Dou cousins are well-traveled and knowledgeable. Since I've come to Zhen Ding, I may have to trouble you both."

Dou Zhengchang and Dou Dechang hurriedly returned the courtesy, but before they could speak, Ji Shi interjected with a laugh, "We're all family—no need to flatter them. These two just love to play around. If there's anywhere you'd like to visit, feel free to ask them."

Dou Zhao saw Dou Zhengchang and Dou Dechang flush with embarrassment.

A thought struck her—this reminded her of how she had scolded her son in her past life, praising others while belittling him. In the end, her son not only refused to emulate those praised figures but would even avoid them at the mention of their names.

Dou Zhao began to understand.

Neither Dou Zhengchang nor Dou Dechang were narrow-minded, but judging by Sixth Aunt's manner, she must have often praised Ji Yong while disparaging them in front of her sons, fostering resentment before they even met him.

She must remember this as a lesson!

Dou Zhao warned herself.

After Ji Yong and Wu Shan exchanged a few pleasantries, Ji Shi pulled Dou Zhao to her side and said, "This is your cousin from the Dou family, the fourth in line. She grew up by my side, as dear to me as Huige'er and Zhige'er. You should meet her too."

Ji Yong glanced at Dou Zhao openly and greeted her with a smile. "Cousin Fourth."

Dou Zhao was grateful to Ji Shi.

She must have thought that since Dou Zhao lacked close brothers, befriending relatives like Ji Yong would give her someone to rely on in the future.

With sincerity, Dou Zhao replied, "Cousin Ji."

They all sat down for tea.

Ji Shi continued chatting with Ji Yong.

From their conversation, Dou Zhao learned that the Ji family was divided into five inner and eight outer branches, with nearly a hundred direct descendants—far more complex than the Dou family.

No wonder Ji Shi had handled the Dou household with such ease after marriage.

Dou Zhao was astonished.

Soon, a maid arrived and announced, "The Dowager Madam has prepared a banquet at the Green Pavilion to welcome our young master. Several cousins from other branches are invited to join."

The Green Pavilion stood beside the Dou family's main hall, reserved only for distinguished guests.

Beaming, Ji Shi led them toward the Green Pavilion.

Along the way, Dou Dechang muttered to Wu Shan, "If he's so impressive, why didn't he take the Metropolitan Examination and achieve the Triple Crown? What's the point of showing off here?"

Dou Zhao pressed her lips tightly together, afraid she might laugh aloud.In the Green Pavilion, not only were all the members of the De generation present, but even those of the Qi generation who attended the Family School had come. Separated by a twelve-panel black lacquer mother-of-pearl standing screen, the women gathered in the small hall to the west, while Ji Yong, accompanied by Dou Yuchang, joined the others in the grand hall to the east. As the hot dishes were served, praises for Ji Yong continuously drifted into the western hall. In comparison, Wu Shan's title of Top Scholar seemed insignificant and hardly worth mentioning.

Wu Tai Tai and her daughter were also present. Maintaining her composure, she quietly inquired about Ji Yong from Yu Er Nai Nai. Upon learning that Ji Yong had achieved the rank of Juren at just thirteen, she couldn’t help but regard him with newfound respect. When Ji Yong came over to toast, amidst the women’s praises for his exceptional talent and appearance, she glanced at her daughter with a smile and curiously asked Ji Shi at the same table, "With such brilliance and looks, I imagine matchmakers must have worn out his doorstep, haven’t they?"

Ji Shi, beaming with pride as she watched Ji Yong being held back by Second Madam, chuckled and replied, "Our family patriarch doesn’t wish Ming Jian to marry too early," tactfully acknowledging the numerous marriage proposals Ji Yong had received.

The others nodded in agreement.

Xiu San Nai Nai added, "With such a remarkable young man, even someone as dull as me would take great care in selecting the perfect match for him."

Laughter ensued, and the conversation shifted to the newlywed Qi Shi.

She was Dou Qijun’s wife. Her father, Qi Baocheng, was a prominent landowner in neighboring Quyang County and a close friend of Dou Xiuchang. Their family had produced several Successful Candidates in the Imperial Examination, earning them a reputation as a scholarly household.

Qi Shi was elegant in appearance and gentle in temperament. Since her arrival, she had assisted Xiu San Nai Nai in managing the younger siblings, displaying the demeanor of an elder sister-in-law and earning unanimous praise from the family elders. She had a younger sister, five years her junior, who had visited the family earlier and caught the eye of Guang Wu Nai Nai, who wished to arrange a match with her nephew. This naturally led to a flurry of questions.

Wu Tai Tai sat quietly sipping tea, her gaze dimming slightly as she watched Ji Yong’s retreating figure leave the western hall, letting out a soft sigh.

Dou Zhao noticed but remained silent.

In the following days, Dou Zhengchang and Dou Dechang took Ji Yong around Zhen Ding County.

Meanwhile, Dou Zhao stayed home, anxiously tending to her grandmother’s medicine—somehow, the elderly woman had caught a severe cold, coughing relentlessly with no improvement despite several doses of medicine.

When the Dong Dou family heard of this, they came to visit.

Ji Shi also brought Ji Yong along.

"He has some knowledge of medicine," she explained. "Let him check on Consort Cui’s pulse so we can feel more at ease."

Dou Zhao nodded repeatedly and ushered Ji Shi and her nephew into her grandmother’s chamber.

After examining the elderly woman’s pulse and reviewing the prescriptions from several physicians, Ji Yong smiled and said, "It’s nothing serious—just a common cold. A few doses to induce sweating should suffice. You’ve been too anxious, switching physicians after just two doses when there was no immediate improvement, which only delayed her recovery. The current prescription is excellent; follow it for a few more doses, and she should recover fully."

Confined to her bed by Dou Zhao’s insistence, the grandmother had grown stiff from days of inactivity. Hearing Ji Yong’s words, she joked with Ji Shi, "I told Shou Gu I was fine, but she wouldn’t believe me. I think wealthy old ladies often waste away like this from too much fussing."

Everyone laughed heartily.

Dou Zhao flushed with embarrassment.

She had been deeply worried about her grandmother’s lifespan.

But this was something she could never share with anyone.

Her eyelids lowered slightly.Ji Yong then said, "Cousin Zhao, brewing medicine requires skill. Let me prepare a dose for Consort Cui. Assign a maid to observe, and she can follow my instructions to brew the medicine for her in the future."

The Dou family was no upstart—how could they not know how to brew medicine?

Yet since Ji Yong had already spoken, she couldn’t outright contradict him. Moreover, he was a guest who had come out of courtesy to examine Consort Cui’s pulse—he couldn’t be treated as an ordinary physician. Though he suggested sending a maid to observe, how could she simply assign one? Dou Zhao had no choice but to personally accompany him to the small side room where the medicine was prepared.

Upon entering the room, however, Ji Yong paused.

He asked her gently, "I noticed you seemed hesitant earlier. Was there something you couldn’t say in front of my aunt and Consort Cui?"