Dou Zhao watched as Sixth Aunt departed, her mind dwelling on Fifth Uncle’s request for leave.
As the Vice Minister of Personnel, to whom would Fifth Uncle submit his leave request? Undoubtedly, it would be to his direct superior, Zeng Yifen, the Minister of Personnel, and their teacher.
Ha!
Dou Zhao couldn’t help but laugh.
She wondered if Wang Xingyi, upon hearing this news, would rush back to the capital to explain to Zeng Yifen, who was also his teacher, why Fifth Uncle needed to take leave.
Tuo Niang, noticing Dou Zhao’s inexplicable laughter, called out in surprise, “Young Miss?”
“It’s nothing, it’s nothing,” Dou Zhao replied, her laughter growing more cheerful. She tugged at Cai Shu’s arm, “Cai Shu, I want to go home. I want to see Father!”
“But Sixth Madam instructed us to wait for her return before escorting you back,” Cai Shu said, conflicted.
Dou Zhao ignored this, insisting on returning home.
She was still a child, after all. Such fussing and willfulness were normal.
Cai Shu had no choice but to send a young maid to seek instructions from Lady Ji.
Lady Ji was in the flower hall.
She glanced at Second Madam sitting in the main seat, then at Young Master Lan, First Sister-in-law, and Second Sister-in-law sitting across from her. Her feelings were somewhat complex.
Meanwhile, the Second Madam looked at Dou Shizu, Dou Shiyang, the Third Madam, Dou Shiheng, and Lady Ji sitting opposite her, her heart filled with anger.
What discussion? The three brothers – Third, Fifth, and Sixth – born of the same mother, had already agreed. Their three households were being forced into this situation, having no prior knowledge of why the Second Madam had summoned them. How could they discuss anything?
She understood the principle that when the nest is overturned, no eggs remain intact. However, being forced to clean up the mess for the Western Mansion left her seething with anger. If she objected, knowing Fifth Brother’s nature, he would likely have a barrage of arguments ready. Could she out-argue Fifth Brother? One misstep, and she might leave everyone with the impression that she was self-serving and unwilling to take responsibility. As the matriarch of the Dou family, what authority would she have left in the future?
Second Madam glanced at First Madam.
First Madam’s face was pale, her eyes puffy, but her expression remained calm.
This woman, who had been the matriarch for over a decade and was now a widow with young children, had her plans.
Among the cousins, Fifth Brother Dou Shizu had the most promising career. Young Master Lan would need his Fifth Uncle’s support in the future. They absolutely could not afford to fall out with Dou Shizu.
When the eldest brother was alive and serving as an official in Jiangnan for many years, they had accumulated considerable savings. Even if they gave half of the Eastern Mansion’s property to Shou Gu and divided the remaining half among the six households, if they were frugal, it would be enough to sustain them for two or three generations. Why create an unsightly scene over money?
As long as they had people, they need not worry about money!
However, the Second Branch had the most sons. If she suggested that all six households share the burden equally, the Second Branch might not agree.
Fortunately, she had relinquished her responsibilities as matriarch, so she no longer needed to take the lead in these matters.
First Madam pressed her lips tightly together.
Second Madam was filled with resentment.
If she had known it would come to this, she should never have listened to Second Madam’s advice to accompany her husband to his post.
To ensure her sons could study well and to avoid being labeled “unfilial,” she had left all four of her sons in Zhending. Now, except for her eldest son Dou Wenmao, who was studying and gaining experience in the capital with Fifth Brother, her second son Dou Yuchang, third son Dou Xiuchang, and fourth son Dou Guangchang (who ranked fifth among the cousins) were all studying at the family school back home. Wenchang had passed thirty but was still only a xiucai scholar. Yuchang, though good at his studies, couldn’t compare to his two uncles, Dou Shiheng and Dou Shiying. As for Xiuchang, he had married early and had several children, but his studies lagged behind even her son Zhigerl. Guangchang was only slightly better than Xiuchang…
Thinking of all this, she steeled herself and asked with a smile, “What does Fourth Brother say?”
The Dou family’s Fourth Master, Dou Shizhu, had stalled in his pursuit of the juren degree. A few years ago, he finally gave up on the idea of being listed on the golden roster. On Dou Shizu’s recommendation, he became a senior official in the household of the Crown Prince, Prince Xinyang, who was enfeoffed in Xinyang. It was said that he was much favored by Prince Xinyang, and the whole family had moved to Xinyang two years ago.
Dou Shizu hesitated for a moment, then pulled out a letter from his sleeve and gestured for a maid to pass it to Second Madam. “This is Fourth Brother’s reply to me. I initially felt it was somewhat inappropriate, so I didn’t bring it out…”
Second Madam cursed Dou Shizu a hundred times in her heart.
Xinyang was a thousand li away from the capital, yet as soon as she opened her mouth, he could produce a letter from Fourth Brother… If this wasn’t premeditated, she would bash her head against the wall of this great hall!
In her heart, she understood that the tide had already turned.
Fourth Brother had long since colluded with Fifth Brother…
She didn’t need to read the letter to know what it contained.
But she couldn’t help opening it anyway.
Sure enough, Dou Shizhu not only agreed with Dou Shizu’s proposal for the distribution of the Eastern Mansion’s property but also suggested that Shou Gu’s dowry be shared equally among the six households.
Second Madam simply passed the letter to First Madam.
A faint smile appeared at the corners of First Madam’s mouth as she read.
Second Madam sighed inwardly, then heard First Madam say with a smile, “Fourth Uncle seems to have had the same idea as me. I think we should proceed as Fourth Uncle suggests. This isn’t just a matter for one household; it concerns Fifth Uncle’s career and the rise or fall of the Dou family.”
“I didn’t bring out Fourth Brother’s letter earlier because I was afraid my sisters-in-law would misunderstand,” Dou Shizu quickly explained with a smile. “To be honest, this situation is entirely due to my mishandling. I appreciate the goodwill of both of my sisters-in-law. Since I made this decision, I should bear the responsibility. We can’t drag everyone down with us.”
Second Madam was about to say something when Second Madam Dowager interjected with a smile, “He discussed this matter with me first, and I agreed. There’s no need for further debate. Let’s settle it this way.” She then instructed Aunt Liu, “Go tell Steward Dou to invite the Old Master from the Western Mansion over. Say I have an urgent matter to discuss with him.” She then turned to Dou Shibang, “You’ve been managing the affairs of both households. Take some time in the next few days to organize the accounts. When the Zhao family sends someone, we can discuss which properties to transfer to Shou Gu’s name.”
Dou Shibang stood up and respectfully answered, “Yes.”
The young maid sent to seek Lady Ji’s instructions, seeing this imposing scene, didn’t dare approach. She ran back to report that she couldn’t reach Sixth Madam. Cai Shu had no choice but to continue coaxing Dou Zhao.
Just then, Aunt Liu came out to relay the message. Seeing the situation, she smiled and asked, “What’s going on here?”
Cai Shu quickly explained the situation to Aunt Liu.
Aunt Liu was Second Madam Dowager’s servant, and even Dou Shizu had to show her some respect. Usually, she would have just asked a few concerned questions and left it at that, never taking matters into her own hands. But thinking of what had just transpired in the flower hall, and knowing Fifth Master Dou as she did, she realized that whatever Fifth Master wanted to do, he would accomplish. The Fourth Miss from the Western Mansion suddenly rose significantly in her estimation, to a level that couldn’t be ignored.
She couldn’t help but smile and say, “I’ve been instructed by Madam Dowager to ask Steward Dou to go to the Western Mansion. Why don’t you let Steward Dou escort you over? You can leave a message for Sixth Madam. Blood is thicker than water; it’s only natural for Fourth Miss to miss her family. No wonder she’s insisting on going back.”
Emboldened by Aunt Liu’s words, Cai Shu instructed the young maid beside her and accompanied Dou Zhao back to the Western Mansion along with Tuo Niang.
Gao Sheng was directing servants to move Dou Shiying’s trunks.
Seeing Dou Zhao return, he quickly came forward to pay his respects.
Dou Zhao asked him, “Where’s my father?”
Gao Xing replied with a smile, “Seventh Master went to Qixia Courtyard.”
Dou Zhao turned to leave but paused to think. She asked Haitang to accompany Cai Shu while she took Tuo Niang to Qixia Courtyard.
From a distance, she saw Madam Pang standing arrogantly in the courtyard, ordering maids and servants to serve tea and water.
Dou Zhao took a detour towards Dou Shiying’s study.
The side door of Qixia Courtyard’s back garden was diagonally opposite Dou Shiying’s study.
The side door was ajar, unguarded.
She entered the back garden of Qixia Courtyard unimpeded.
The back garden of Qixia Courtyard was planted with several magnolia trees. When in bloom, they were as resplendent as rosy clouds, hence the name Qixia (Rosy Cloud) Courtyard.
Dou Zhao listened to her father and Wang Yingxue talking in the warm room behind the inner chamber.
“…I’m just an ordinary man who selfishly wants to live happily and forget the past,” her father was saying. “But whenever I see you, I’m reminded of how Gu Qiu died, and my heart aches as if stabbed by a knife… Yingxue, let’s both start anew!”
Wang Yingxue was stunned. “What… what do you mean?”
“Yingxue, don’t you understand yet?” Dou Shiying looked at Wang Yingxue with a complex expression, murmuring, “If we were together, apart from a title, I couldn’t give you anything else…”
In the warm room, Dou Zhao was grinding her teeth in anger.
What did he mean by starting anew?
What did he mean by saying he couldn’t give her anything but a title?
For a woman, if you’re willing to give her a title, what could be more important than that?
She couldn’t bear to listen anymore. Fuming, she left the warm room and headed straight for the front courtyard of Qixia Courtyard.
Madam Pang, like a gecko, was clinging to the window lattice, eavesdropping. Her maid stood nearby, keeping watch.
The Dou family’s servant women stood at a distance under the eaves, their expressions tinged with disdain.
Dou Zhao stood there quietly, looking at Madam Pang with a half-smile.
Madam Pang’s maid suddenly noticed Dou Zhao.
Her face flushed red as she kept tugging at Madam Pang’s sleeve. “Second Mistress, Second Mistress…”
“Don’t interrupt!” Madam Pang said impatiently. “I can’t hear when you talk!”
“But it’s not that,” the maid, nearly in tears under Dou Zhao’s gaze, said urgently. “It’s Fourth Miss, the Dou family’s Fourth Miss is here…”
“Who?” Madam Pang turned around and immediately saw Dou Zhao not far away.
“Oh, it’s Fourth Miss!” She casually patted her clothes and adjusted her hair, smiling as if nothing had happened. “Fourth Miss, why are you here? Who accompanied you?”
In both her past and present lives, Dou Zhao admired her ability to carry on as if nothing had happened.
The people inside, hearing the commotion, rushed out.
“Shou Gu?” Dou Shiying stared at his daughter, dumbfounded. “Why are you here? Weren’t you at your Sixth Aunt’s? Who brought you here?” As he spoke, he looked around, and seeing Tuo Niang, his face darkened. Just as he was about to scold her, Dou Zhao said, “Cai Shu accompanied me here.” She turned to leave, adding, “I’ll be going back with Steward Dou’s carriage later!”
She didn’t want to stay in this place for even a moment longer.
“Slow down!” Dou Shiying called after his daughter. “I’ll go with you to pay respects to Grandfather…”
Wang Yingxue, who had followed them out, stood on the steps watching as the figures of the Dou father and daughter gradually faded from her sight.