Mother was a proud woman. Having already agreed to let Wang Yingxue enter the family, she wouldn’t make things difficult over minor details like the timing of her arrival.
Once Dou Zhao’s “illness” had improved somewhat, Mother invited First Aunt and Third Aunt to discuss Wang Yingxue’s entry into the family. Dou Zhao was sent to play jump rope with the young maids in the courtyard.
The four young maids were named Xuancao, Moli, Qiukui, and Haitang. Mother liked Tuo Niang’s honest nature and gave her the name Suxin, which paired well with Yuzhen, who had previously served Mother and was now assigned to Dou Zhao’s room. They were the senior maids in Dou Zhao’s quarters.
Tuo Niang liked her new name, but “Tuo Niang” held a special meaning for Dou Zhao. She preferred to call her “Tuo Niang,” which led to some confusion among the maids who would sometimes call her Suxin and other times Tuo Niang. Fortunately, Tuo Niang didn’t mind and responded cheerfully to either name.
Dou Zhao wasn’t truly a two-year-old child, so naturally, she had little interest in games like jump rope.
She thought about going to Grandfather’s study to find some books on supernatural phenomena—there were countless mysteries in the world, and her sudden return to childhood as if reborn, surely meant there were others like her. She was eager to find even the slightest clue in those miscellaneous historical records.
Dou Zhao asked Tuo Niang to carry her to Grandfather’s study.
Tuo Niang immediately dropped the jump rope and carried her towards Heshou Hall.
As they passed the lotus pond, she saw Granny Yu standing by the Taihu rock garden, talking to a middle-aged man wearing an official green Luzhou robe.
The two were behaving suspiciously, speaking in hushed tones.
Dou Zhao pondered for a moment, then pointed at the lotus pond and said to Tuo Niang, “Let’s go over there!”
Tuo Niang, not suspecting anything, crossed the winding stone bridge to the Taihu rock garden.
Granny Yu and the man had vanished.
Dou Zhao left the lotus pond with lingering doubts, only to run into First Aunt and Third Aunt.
She got down and respectfully greeted First Aunt and Third Aunt.
First Aunt picked up Dou Zhao: “Shou Gu is becoming more and more lovable!”
“Indeed,” Third Aunt smiled, patting Dou Zhao’s head. “She looks just like Seventh Sister-in-law when she was young.”
As they spoke, the smiles on their faces gradually faded.
“Alas!” First Aunt sighed regretfully, “Wang Yingxue’s background is what it is. If she bears a son this time, no matter how virtuous Seventh Sister-in-law is, I’m afraid she’ll have to step aside.”
So they all knew about Wang Yingxue’s pregnancy.
Dou Zhao’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
“Such is fate!” Third Aunt’s expression also turned wistful.
Perhaps feeling it was inappropriate to sigh so heavily in front of a child, First Aunt forced a smile and said, “We’re just getting emotional over old stories, worrying about people from the past. Seventh Sister-in-law hasn’t faced many challenges before, but when she does, she’ll naturally become more sensible. Look at how well she’s handling things now.”
Third Aunt nodded, kindly asked Tuo Niang a few questions, and upon learning that Dou Zhao was going to see Grandfather, cautioned Tuo Niang to be careful not to slip and fall. Then she left with First Aunt through the second gate.
Dou Zhao suddenly lost interest in going to Heshou Hall. She instructed Tuo Niang, “Let’s go back to the main room.”
Tuo Niang silently followed her instructions, and they quickly returned to the main courtyard.
Dou Zhao ran into the inner room.
Mother was sitting on the warm kang by the window, talking to Granny Yu: “…Concubine Cui is Seventh Master’s birth mother and two hundred taels of silver for the betrothal gift isn’t too shabby. Whether the Wang family accepts it or not is their business, but sending it is our family’s affair. Rich or poor, taking a wife is better than celebrating the New Year alone. Although she’s a concubine, she’s still a new bride. Entering the family on the twenty-second day of the twelfth lunar month is perfect for the Minor New Year, and by Spring Festival, she can visit the various branches of the family to get acquainted with the relatives.” Mother took a sip of tea from her cup and continued, “As for the new room, let’s set it up in Qixia Courtyard…”
“Seventh Madam!” Granny Yu exclaimed in surprise, interrupting Mother, “How can that be? Qixia Courtyard is right behind Seventh Master’s study…”
Mother made a gesture to stop her and said, “They managed to get entangled even when separated by Zhili Province. Do you think keeping them under my nose will make them behave more properly?”
Granny Yu was at a loss for words.
“Besides, I’m tired of seeing their lovey-dovey act,” Mother murmured. “I’m letting go of Wang Yingxue, and I’m letting go of myself.”
Dou Zhao almost wanted to applaud her mother.
This was exactly right.
No matter how vast the world is, nothing is more important than oneself.
If you don’t care for yourself, why should others care for you?
Since she didn’t like Wang Yingxue, why pretend to be virtuous and make herself miserable?
It took her until she was over thirty to understand this principle.
Dou Zhao whispered to Tuo Niang, “Follow Granny Yu later and see where she goes and who she meets.”
Tuo Niang nodded.
Dou Zhao happily threw herself into her mother’s arms: “Mother, the winter plum blossoms in the back garden have bloomed. Let’s go appreciate them.”
Mother chuckled, kissing Dou Zhao’s little face: “Mother has some matters to attend to. Let Tuo Niang accompany you to play!”
Dou Zhao just wanted to stay by her mother’s side.
Mother didn’t mind her presence and continued to manage household affairs while playing with her.
Father suddenly came over, and despite the room full of servants, he proudly pulled out a golden hairpin inlaid with jade from his bosom.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” he asked Mother eagerly, “I had it specially made in Zhending Prefecture.”
The pin’s body gleamed golden, while the jade head was a lush green, shaped like a teardrop—like a tear on a beauty’s cheek.
“It’s beautiful!” Mother smiled, admiring the jade hairpin for a long while before instructing Granny Yu to put it away. “We’ll save it for Shou Gu’s dowry in the future.”
Father looked embarrassed: “This was meant for you… I can buy something else for Shou Gu later.”
Mother smiled, pressing her lips together: “What you buy for her later will be your gesture, but this is my gesture.”
“What’s mine isn’t yours?” Father muttered softly, seeming to have more to say but holding back.
Mother smiled and said, “You’re here to ask about Wang Yingxue’s entry into the family, right? I’ve already given instructions…” She then repeated to Father what she had told Granny Yu.
Father responded with an “Oh,” not seeming particularly interested, yet appearing to have many things he wanted to say but didn’t know how.
A moment of silence fell between them.
After a while, Father stood up uneasily and mumbled, “Since you’re busy, I’ll take my leave.”
Mother smiled and stood up: “Then I won’t see you out.” She called for Hanxiao, “See Seventh Master out!” Then she sat down and lowered her head to work on the abacus.
Father stood for a moment, seeing that Mother never looked up. His eyes dimmed slightly as he left with his head down.
Granny Yu called out, “Seventh Madam.”
Mother didn’t even move her eyes and said, “With the New Year approaching, it might be difficult to find people. You’ll need to put more effort into overseeing the arrangements for the new room and urge the managers in the outer courtyard to help.”
“Yes!” Granny Yu responded helplessly and withdrew.
Mother tossed aside the abacus and smiled, hugging Dou Zhao: “Come, let’s go appreciate the plum blossoms.”
Dou Zhao smiled gracefully.
Time is the best medicine. No matter how painful the wound, given enough time, it will slowly scab over and heal.
Mother, I will always be by your side.
To ease your loneliness and soothe your wounds.
Dou Zhao gazed at her mother’s jade-like face and made a silent vow in her heart. Smiling cheerfully, she held her mother’s hand and skipped to the back garden.
That evening, Tuo Niang told Dou Zhao, “Granny Yu didn’t go anywhere. She only met with the household managers and their wives.”
Who was that man, then?
Dou Zhao pondered, chewing on her finger.
The next morning, her maternal aunt arrived with her eldest cousin, Zhao Biru, to deliver New Year’s gifts to the Dou family.
“It’s freezing outside,” Mother hurriedly ushered her aunt and eldest cousin into the inner room, personally helping her aunt onto the kang. She took the hot tea from a maid’s hands and respectfully offered it to her aunt. “You could have just sent a steward. Why did you come in person?”
The aunt, in her early thirties, wore a sapphire blue wide-sleeved jacket embroidered with gold and a pair of golden hairpins inlaid with jade gourds. She was of average height, slightly plump, with fair skin. When she smiled, her eyes curved into crescents, appearing very kind.
She clapped her hands towards Dou Zhao in Tuo Niang’s arms: “Come, sit with your aunt.”
Mother placed Dou Zhao on the kang.
Zhao Biru curtsied to Mother.
Mother embraced Zhao Biru: “Our eldest girl has grown taller again, almost catching up to me.”
The aunt chided playfully, “She only grows in height, not in wisdom. What use is that?”
Zhao Biru smiled shyly.
At this time, Zhao Biru was only eleven years old, with long limbs and skin as white as snow, already showing hints of the graceful beauty she would become as an adult.
Mother led her onto the kang, and everyone gathered around the kang table, eating snacks and chatting.
“…Your eldest brother has failed the spring imperial examinations twice in a row. This time he’s determined to make the honor roll, so much so that he won’t even speak to me,” the aunt smiled. “I was bored at home, so I brought Biru to visit you.” Then she asked, “How have you been these days?”
Mother put on a brave face: “The same as always. Busy every day, though I’m not sure what I’m busy with.”
The aunt smiled without speaking, took a sip of tea, and said to Zhao Biru, “Since we’re here, why don’t you go play with your cousin in the other room?”
Zhao Biru responded with a soft “Yes” and obediently got off the kang.
Mother was slightly taken aback.
The aunt said, “I have something to discuss with you.” Her face showed a hint of gravity.
Mother responded with a “Yes,” her eyes already glistening with tears.
Dou Zhao thought of Granny Yu and the man in the official green Luzhou robe by the lotus pond.
As she left the inner room, she shook off Zhao Biru’s hand and ran like the wind towards the main gate.
Outside the main gate, the man wearing the official green Luzhou robe was talking to one of the Dou family’s stewards. Behind him was a flatbed cart loaded with goods, and servants were busily carrying items from the cart into the house.
So that man was the Zhao family’s steward.
Dou Zhao pattered back to the second gate, where she encountered Zhao Biru, who was out of breath from chasing her.
“What, what were you trying to do?” she panted, clutching her stomach. “How can you run faster than a rabbit?”
Dou Zhao thought of their first meeting.
She elegantly held a teacup, smiling warmly yet with dignity: “After your aunt passed away, Father and Mother originally wanted to bring you to our home to keep us sisters company. But you refused, even biting Mother in front of the Dou family members and shouting ‘I won’t go to your house!’ Mother had no choice but to return home dejected…”
At the time, she felt Zhao Biru’s words were like an autumn fan, inexplicably irritating and out of place.
But now… she wasn’t so sure anymore.