Blossom

Ding Yinyinai had not shown any signs of pregnancy for over a year after entering the household, which greatly worried Dou Zhao's legitimate grandmother. By chance, she heard about a Cui family living on the Dou family's farmstead who had successfully raised eight sons and two daughters. Due to financial strain from having too many children, they had given two sons away as live-in sons-in-law to other families and were now planning to arrange a marriage exchange for their fourteen-year-old eldest daughter to secure a wife for their third son.

Dou Zhao's legitimate grandmother saw this as divine providence. After meeting the Cui family's eldest daughter, who was tall, robust, and still quite fair-featured despite her sturdy build, she spent two hundred taels of silver to bring the girl into the household without consulting Dou Zhao's grandfather.

Ten months later, Dou Zhao's father was born.

Shortly after the child's hundred-day celebration, Dou Zhao's grandfather summoned her legitimate grandmother and, pointing to the swaddled infant Dou Shiying, said, "You are to raise this child personally. Do not let that illiterate Cui woman ruin him."

Thus, Cui Shi was sent to the small Dou family farmstead in Dongji Village, which had just over a hundred mu of land, where she remained until her death.

In essence, Cui Shi remained a countrywoman all her life.

During the years Dou Zhao lived with her, Cui Shi not only taught her how to water, deworm, and weed the vegetable garden behind their house but also instructed her in crop management, chicken raising, and pig feeding... As Cui Shi put it: "Learn to tend the land, and you'll never starve no matter where you go!"

Growing up in this environment, Dou Zhao learned when to sow in spring, harvest in autumn, plant vegetables, and hatch chicks. She could even predict the next year's weather based on winter conditions—more like a country squire's daughter than a young lady from a generations-old official family.

She first met Tuo Niang shortly after her tenth birthday. The adults were busy with spring plowing, her grandmother and the steward had gone to the fields, and she stood with a few maids under the elm tree in front of the house, watching village children pick elm buds.

When a caterpillar dropped onto Dou Zhao's shoulder, startling her, she caught it to scare the maids. Amidst shrieks and chaotic pushing, Tuo Niang suddenly appeared, rushing over like mad to chase and beat the maids, shouting: "She's the young mistress, the Dou family's young mistress! How dare you disrespect her? I'll beat you to death, I'll beat you to death..."

Remembering this, Dou Zhao felt a surge of emotion.

After her stepmother entered the household, those who had served her mother were either sold for being too junior, granted freedom for their past service, or sent back to her maternal uncle's family. No one would tell her about her mother. Even her doting grandmother repeatedly told her: "One must look forward. What's the use of dwelling on the past? You should focus on your future—how to please your mother-in-law after marrying into the Marquis of Jining's Mansion."

No one knew the fear in her heart.

How did her mother die?

Why did everyone avoid speaking of it?

Stepmother Wang Shi's personal matron, Hu Shi, said her mother died from bearing a daughter...

Did that mean she had killed her mother?

Was this why she had been sent to her grandmother in the countryside?

Had her mother resented her while alive? Had she regretted giving birth to her?

As she grew older, she became increasingly afraid to ask.

Her mother's death became an unhealable wound in Dou Zhao's heart.It was Tuo Niang who told her the truth and even retorted when questioned by her grandmother, "I don't understand those grand principles. All I know is that Wang Shi caused Seventh Madam's death. Wang Shi is Fourth Miss's enemy. Fourth Miss cannot acknowledge a thief as her mother! By doing this, you're not helping Fourth Miss—you're harming her, pushing her into filial impiety!"

Dou Zhao still remembered the look of shock on her grandmother's face.

After that, her grandmother said nothing more and left Tuo Niang at the farmstead.

Back then, her mother had so many attendants, yet it took eight years for only Tuo Niang to find her, and only Tuo Niang to speak up for her righteously!

Her character was evident from this.

Dou Zhao was now in a dire situation, urgently needing someone who would obey her without question.

No one was more suitable than Tuo Niang!

Upon hearing this, Xiang Cao, disregarding Shuang Zhi's objections, took the initiative to bring Tuo Niang to her.

Tuo Niang looked at Dou Zhao blankly, her nervousness tinged with restraint, softly calling out, "Fourth Miss."

This Tuo Niang was young, rosy-cheeked, with gentle and shy eyes—a far cry from the haggard, disheveled woman in Dou Zhao's memory.

Dou Zhao felt a pang in her heart.

She asked Tuo Niang, "Do you... know... me?"

"I do," she whispered. "Xiang Cao told me on the way here. You are Seventh Madam's daughter, the Dou family's Fourth Miss."

It was enough that she knew she was Seventh Madam's daughter!

Dou Zhao smiled and nodded, then reached out for Tuo Niang to carry her, saying, "We... go... to Crane Longevity Hall. Shuang Zhi, lead the way."

Tuo Niang picked up Dou Zhao without hesitation, but Shuang Zhi hesitated, saying, "What if—"

"I... want to go!" Dou Zhao glared at Shuang Zhi.

Shuang Zhi gave an awkward smile.

Xiang Cao, standing nearby, quickly asked, "What about me? Fourth Miss, what about me?"

One couldn't have only one type of person around—sometimes strengths could become weaknesses, and weaknesses could become strengths.

"Come along," Dou Zhao said with a smile.

Xiang Cao happily replied, "Yes," and led the way.

Now Shuang Zhi had no choice but to follow.

The group arrived at Crane Longevity Hall.

A page stopped them at the entrance: "The Old Master has ordered—no one is to enter!"

Tuo Niang looked at Dou Zhao uneasily.

Shuang Zhi was at a loss, nearly saying, "I told you so."

Xiang Cao, however, stepped forward with a playful smile, calling out, "Brother," and said, "We're here on Seventh Madam's orders to bring Fourth Miss inside..." Then she winked toward Crane Longevity Hall. "Isn't it all chaos in there? That's why we're bringing Fourth Miss over. If you don't believe us, why not go in and announce us first?"

The page relented and let them through the gate.

Shuang Zhi whispered, "You're far too bold! What if he really goes to ask Seventh Madam for confirmation—"

"He won't!" Xiang Cao said confidently. "If we don't dare approach Crane Longevity Hall, neither do they!"

Dou Zhao nodded inwardly.

From inside Crane Longevity Hall came her mother's hoarse, shrill voice: "...It's too late for anything you say now! If you wanted to take a concubine, why didn't you just tell me directly? Why involve Third Uncle to persuade Father? It's because you knew deep down it was wrong, unbecoming of a gentleman, yet your mind was clouded by lust, wanting to ensure success by using the elders to pressure me! Since that's the case, let's invite elders from both families to settle this properly...""Seventh Sister-in-law, Seventh Sister-in-law," Third Uncle pleaded for mercy, "Taking a concubine is just a trivial matter. Since you disagree, let's forget about it. Why must we disturb the elders of both families and create a scandal for others to laugh at? Wanyuan, quickly apologize to your sister-in-law! Let's consider this matter settled. All the fault is mine. Please, sister-in-law, for my sake, be magnanimous, be magnanimous!"

Wanyuan was Father's courtesy name.

Mother quieted down, but Father muttered something under his breath, too indistinct to hear.

Dou Zhao hurriedly said, "Let's go in!"

At this moment, Xiang Cao and Shuang Zhi grew somewhat fearful, while Tuo Niang, with a resolute expression, carried Dou Zhao into the hall.

No one in Crane Longevity Hall dared to stop Dou Zhao.

"Who is it?" Upon entering the hall, Madam Ding, standing at the doorway, shouted sternly, her expression severe—one Dou Zhao had never seen before.

Tuo Niang shrank back slightly but quickly straightened her posture, her voice trembling yet respectful: "It's the Fourth Young Miss... she asked me to carry her in..."

Hearing the commotion, Mother, sitting frostily in the Grand Preceptor's Chair, and Third Uncle, pacing anxiously, turned in surprise. Father, who had been kneeling facing the central hall, sprang to his feet, flushed with anger, and barked at them, "What's going on here?"

Grandfather was not in the hall.

Before Dou Zhao could speak, Mother stood up with a cold laugh.

"You've done wrong—why take it out on the child?" she said, walking over to take Dou Zhao into her arms, then asked gently, "What happened?" Her sharp gaze fixed on Tuo Niang.

Dou Zhao spoke before Tuo Niang could: "Mother, Mother, I want Tuo Niang! I want Tuo Niang!"

Mother frowned, thinking of the maids locked in the side rooms.

She didn't recognize Tuo Niang.

Arranging for Tuo Niang to work as a lowly maid in the household had been a trivial matter for her, hardly worth remembering.

A young maid entered timidly and reported, "Third Madam has arrived!"

Third Uncle perked up at this, eager to dismiss Dou Zhao and the others quickly to discuss serious matters: "She's just a maid. If Shou Gu wants her, let her have her." He then shot Father a meaningful glance.

Father immediately said, "This... Tuo Niang, let her serve Shou Gu."

Third Aunt was cheerful, humorous, and warm-hearted. Though not the Lineage Wife, she was well-liked by everyone in the Dou family, who often sought her help as a mediator. Mother guessed the reason for Third Aunt's sudden arrival.

She also wanted Father to abandon his concubine plans sooner.

After all, Tuo Niang was just a maid from their household—it wasn't as if she could run away. With all of Shou Gu's maids and attendants locked up, letting Tuo Niang temporarily care for her would suffice. Once things settled, Mother could investigate Tuo Niang's background properly.

Mother called for Yu Momo: "Assign this Tuo Niang to Shou Gu's quarters."

Yu Momo looked puzzled, glanced at Tuo Niang twice, and respectfully complied.

With so many people around, including Yu Momo, even if Mother wanted to die, someone would stop her.

Dou Zhao wasn't worried. She tugged at Tuo Niang's sleeve, signaling her to leave.

Tuo Niang, still dazed by her sudden promotion from a Laundry Room maid to a young miss's personal attendant, didn't even thank anyone. Carrying Dou Zhao, she stumbled out of Crane Longevity Hall.

Xiang Cao and Shuang Zhi had already received the news.Shuangzhi congratulated Tuo Niang and exchanged pleasantries with her, saying, "...From now on, we'll be serving together."

Xiang Cao hung her head in dismay, her expression filled with both regret and frustration.

Dou Zhao smiled faintly and pointed at Xiang Cao, saying to Yu Momo, "I want Xiang Cao."

Xiang Cao was both shocked and delighted.

At this moment, Yu Momo shared the same thought as Seventh Madam. Besides, Xiang Cao had originally been serving in Seventh Madam’s quarters, so her background was well-known, and there was no fear of her causing trouble. Yu Momo instructed Xiang Cao, "Since Fourth Miss favors you, you shall serve her from now on! Remember to perform your duties well and not anger Fourth Miss..."

Xiang Cao was so overjoyed she couldn’t even close her mouth.

The maidservants in Fourth Miss’s quarters had committed offenses and been locked up. Given Seventh Madam’s temperament, they would surely never be used again. Now that she had caught Fourth Miss’s eye, she might even rise to become a first-class maid in the future!

The more she thought about it, the brighter her future seemed. As soon as Yu Momo turned away, she eagerly thanked Dou Zhao, "Fourth Miss, I will serve you diligently..."

Dou Zhao waved her hand to stop Xiang Cao’s endless chatter, then pointed toward Crane Longevity Hall and said, "Listen carefully, then tell me."