Blossom

Dou Zhao shook her head privately, thinking, "Who knows how many messes I'll have to clean up for her in the future!"

She helped Dou Zhao change into another outfit, then accompanied both Dou Zhao and Dou Ming to Second Madam's quarters.

Upon seeing Dou Ming, Second Madam merely uttered a faint "You're here."

Perhaps due to being disciplined by Second Madam in her childhood, Dou Ming behaved with exceptional obedience in her presence, respectfully addressing her as "Grand Aunt" and inquiring if her backache had improved. She mentioned bringing a special medicinal plaster from the Capital, reputedly highly effective for back pain, and so on. Her words managed to soften Second Madam's stern expression into a smile.

Dou Zhao watched from the side, secretly curling her lips in disdain.

Dou Ming was just like in her previous life—when she pleased, even cats and dogs adored her, but when her temper flared, not even the heavens could stop her tantrums.

Second Madam then took Dou Ming's hand and asked what books she had read over the years and how her needlework was coming along.

"I've studied 'Admonitions for Women,' 'Biographies of Exemplary Women,' and 'Classic of Filial Piety' under Maternal Aunt's guidance," Dou Ming replied sweetly. "I haven't started needlework yet, but I enjoy playing the pipa. Maternal Aunt hired a tutor for me, and she accompanied me back to Zhen Ding this time."

At least she was smart enough not to mention her maternal grandmother. Had she dared to bring up Madam Xu Wang, Second Madam would likely have lost her temper on the spot.

Truth be told, Second Madam had grown accustomed to being the revered matriarch of the Dou family for so long that her jealousy had intensified. She couldn't tolerate dissenting voices or other people's influence.

As Dou Zhao pondered this, Second Madam turned to her and said, "Shou Gu, your needlework is excellent. Now that Mingjier is back, you must guide her properly in this skill." She then praised the selection of books and launched into a lengthy lecture on the importance of feminine virtues, causing Dou Ming's eyes to darken with growing gloom. Just as a flicker of impatience crossed her face, Ji Yong arrived.

The Dou sisters were surprised to see Ji Yong, and he seemed equally taken aback to encounter them.

Only Second Madam beamed with delight, beckoning Ji Yong eagerly. "Why aren't you resting with Huigeer and Zhigeer in this heat? Come, sit beside me." She even picked up a round fan to cool him herself and urged the maids to quickly bring him a bowl of chilled mung bean soup, treating him as warmly as if he were her own grandson. Dou Ming couldn't help but glance sideways, barely restraining herself from asking who he was.

Ji Yong was actually quite adept at endearing himself to elderly ladies.

Upon returning from Mount Tai, he had brought Second Madam a stone whose natural patterns vaguely resembled an old man leading a spotted deer. Second Madam was overjoyed and specially commissioned a rosewood stand to display the stone in her small prayer room.

Dou Zhao glanced toward the prayer room as Second Madam introduced Dou Ming to Ji Yong: "Jian Ming, you haven't met Mingjier yet, have you? This is the second daughter of our seventh uncle, who has been living in the Capital with him. She just returned today." To Dou Ming, she added, "This is your Sixth Aunt's nephew from her maternal family. You may address him as Cousin Ji, just like Shou Gu does."

Ji Yong greeted Dou Ming with graceful humility, every bit the refined young gentleman.

Dou Ming curtsied in return, visibly startled.

Ji Yong had come to bid farewell: "...My great-grandfather has an old friend in Baoding Prefecture. Before this trip, he instructed me to pay him a visit."Second Madam quickly said, "Why not wait a few more days? These are the hottest days of the year." Her tone was full of concern.

"I plan to go to the Capital after the Mid-Autumn Festival with Huige'er and Zhige'er," he replied with a smile. "It's been years since I've seen my uncle and father, and this will be a good opportunity to visit my uncle-in-law along with Huige'er and Zhige'er."

Dou Zhao had heard from Ji Shi that there were currently six members of the Ji family in official positions. Apart from Ji Yong's uncle serving as Vice Minister in the Ministry of Works and his father as Right Transmission Commissioner in the Office of Transmission, several other uncles and cousins were posted throughout the provinces as prefects, surveillance commissioners, or administration commissioners, all with promising futures. This should have been the Dou family's greatest support, but due to differing political views between the Ji and Dou families, and Ji Yong's uncle's ambitions to become chancellor, the two families had grown somewhat distant. However, having such equally distinguished in-laws inevitably led to mutual respect, and their private interactions remained unaffected.

"It's good to visit the Capital," Second Madam said cheerfully, instructing her personal steward mammy to fetch some Huoxiang pills and Rendan pills for Ji Yong. "The weather is too hot—take these for the journey."

Ji Yong repeatedly expressed his thanks.

Still concerned, Second Madam held his hand and gave him a long list of reminders.

On the way back, Dou Zhao noticed Dou Ming quietly asking one of Second Madam's maids, "Does Cousin Ji seem to be very favored by our great-aunt?"

"Of course!" the maid replied with admiration. "Don't underestimate Young Master Ji just because he's young—he's the top scholar of the Southern Metropolitan Region! How could the Madam not favor him?"

Dou Zhao saw Dou Ming's eyes gleam.

That was the look she always had when she wanted something.

Having lived a second life, was Dou Ming shifting her target from Wang Nan to Ji Yong?

Dou Zhao had always believed that Dou Ming didn't necessarily like Wang Nan all that much—it was just that Wang Nan was a widely praised young talent with a bright future, highly valued by the Wang family, yet he had fallen for the elegant Gao Mingzhu, which left Dou Ming resentful.

Dou Zhao still remembered how Wang Nan had silently wept over Gao Mingzhu's coffin in her previous life...

If Dou Ming redirected her attention because of Ji Yong's appearance, it might not be a bad thing!

Compared to Wang Nan, Ji Yong was far more decisive.

Lost in thought, Dou Zhao parted ways with Dou Ming at the second gate—one heading to the East Wing Courtyard, the other to the West Wing Courtyard. But as soon as she stepped into the courtyard, she saw three or four steward mammies assigned to the West Wing gathered around Hong Gu, whispering. When they noticed Dou Zhao, they exchanged glances and immediately surrounded her.

"Fourth Miss, please let us manage the East Wing instead!"

"Yes, Fourth Miss. We all want to work in the East Wing—even if it's not as stewards, just as attendants would be fine!"

Dou Zhao coldly asked them, "Has Fifth Miss been giving you attitude in front of others? Or punishing you without reason?"

The steward mammies lowered their heads.

"I never want to hear such talk again," Dou Zhao reprimanded. "As long as you follow the rules in everything, no one can make things difficult for you. But if you disregard the rules and pick and choose, it'll be the same no matter where you're assigned."

The women trembled and agreed.

Dou Zhao strode into her grandmother's room with her head held high.

Hong Gu hesitated, as if wanting to say something.Dou Zhao said, "I understand your point. But no matter what, she is still one of the masters of this household. If I want to deal with her, I can do so directly—there's no need to let these sycophants humiliate her." She paused slightly before continuing, "Moreover, this kind of behavior is most likely to corrupt the household's atmosphere."

She recalled how difficult it had been to rectify such tendencies when she was managing the Marquis of Jining's Mansion.

Hong Gu thought it over and realized the logic in her words.

With some embarrassment, she smiled and said, "I was being narrow-minded."

Dou Zhao put an arm around Hong Gu's shoulders. "You weren't being narrow-minded—your heart is just set on protecting me." The words brought tears to Hong Gu's eyes.

The group entered the grandmother's inner chamber in high spirits.

※※※※※

Dou Ming had only brought a dozen or so trunks with her. In her view, once the current fuss died down, her mother would naturally find a way to bring her back. There was no need to bring so many belongings, so the furnishings in Qi Xia Courtyard remained as they were before, requiring little tidying or arrangement. Under Zhou Momo's direction, the courtyard was set in order within half an hour.

After Dou Ming had freshened up, Zhou Momo noticed that only the last rays of the sun lingered in the sky, and a cool breeze drifted through the veranda. She brought out an embroidered stool and helped Dou Ming dry her hair under the covered walkway.

"The scenery of the Dou family is truly beautiful," she gently coaxed Dou Ming. "You have an entire side courtyard to yourself—much more spacious than in the Capital. Isn't that wonderful?"

In the Capital, Dou Ming had lived in the heated room behind Madam Xu Wang's inner chamber.

"Living in the Capital is no easy matter," Dou Ming retorted, unwilling to let anyone speak ill of her maternal family. "Zhen Ding is a rural area, so naturally, the courtyards are larger."

Zhou Momo humored her: "Exactly! Think of this as a summer retreat. When you're free, you can play the pipa with Wan Niang, read books, or simply stroll around. What a leisurely life!"

Wan Niang was Dou Ming's pipa instructor.

To this, Dou Ming offered no rebuttal.

When Zhou Momo went to arrange dinner, Dou Ming quietly instructed her personal maid, Ji Hong: "Find out more about my Cousin Ji for me."

Ji Hong agreed with a smile.

Dou Zhao received the news immediately.

She said to Su Lan, "Just keep an eye on her. Don’t let her do anything ridiculous that might invite gossip."

Su Lan nodded cheerfully.

Dou Zhao then discussed with Song Yumin the idea of setting aside half an hour each morning to teach Dou Ming the Analects of Confucius .

Typically, private tutors in other households taught two or three—sometimes even seven or eight—students, instructing the younger ones before moving on to the older ones. At the Dou family, Song Yumin only had to teach Dou Zhao, with no pressure to prepare her for imperial examinations. He had grown idle from the lack of work, so adding another student would help pass the time.

"Then I'll teach the fourth young lady first, followed by the fifth young lady every morning," Song Yumin readily agreed.

Knowing that he also taught Song Yan for an hour each day, Dou Zhao asked, "Won’t this interfere with Song Yan’s studies?"

Song Yan, orphaned at a young age, had persevered in his studies despite poverty. Song Yumin, moved by the boy’s determination and misfortune, had taken him under his wing.

"It’s fine," Song Yumin replied with a smile. "I can teach him in the afternoon instead." Then, hesitating slightly, he added, "There is one matter I’d like to ask of the fourth young lady..."Dou Zhao quickly replied, "Please don't say 'begging'—you're my teacher. Just tell me what you need."

Despite her words, Song Yumin still thought carefully before speaking: "Song Yan is getting older and has been studying with me all this time. While I've achieved some modest success in poetry, qin, calligraphy, and painting, when it comes to the Eight-legged Essay..." He chuckled awkwardly, "I myself never made it to the Golden List, let alone Song Yan. I was hoping to have Song Yan attend the Dou family school as an affiliate student. Would Fourth Miss be willing to mention this to Third Master?"

The Dou family school had always welcomed talented students from all backgrounds. Moreover, Song Yan was known for his upright character—this alone would be enough to convince Teacher Du.

"Every field has its specialists. Mr. Song prefers poetry, qin, calligraphy, and painting, so he simply didn't focus on the imperial examinations," Dou Zhao complimented Song Yumin before promising to bring the matter to her third uncle first thing the next morning.