The situation came too suddenly. Yu Daqing barely managed to balance the accounts by pawning some of his wife’s jewelry.
Dou Xiuchang arranged for the Dou family’s accounting department to audit the books. Finding them accurate, he had Yu Daqing sign off. Madam Zhao provided a 200-tael silver severance package, along with porcelain, folding screens, and other rewards. They chose an auspicious date and held a farewell banquet for Nanny Yu’s family.
Rumors spread in Zhending County that the Dou family’s Seventh Master was taking a new wife, and the previous Seventh Mistress’s maid was retiring with generous compensation from the Dou family.
As Nanny Yu’s carriage left the city gates, someone secretly measured the depth of its wheel tracks.
Later, some in the Dou family heard that Nanny Yu’s family had encountered bandits on their way home. Not only were all their belongings stolen, but Nanny Yu was also frightened and passed away a few days later. Yu Daqing was injured and, though he survived, was left disabled and unable to care for himself…
Seeing that matters were mostly settled, Madam Zhao bid farewell to the Dou family’s women: “Miss Shou’s uncle is waiting for me to return for the New Year. I’ll leave Miss Shou in your care.”
Both the Second Madam and the other madams happily agreed.
After seeing off Madam Zhao, the Dou family began preparing for the New Year.
After Zhao Guqiu’s death, the West Mansion’s New Year affairs were handled by Dou Shibang and his wife. This year, due to Dou Zhao’s situation, when they invited Dou Duo for dumplings on the winter solstice, he declined, citing cold weather and poor health. Uncertain, Dou Shibang specifically asked the Second Madam for guidance.
The Second Madam went to the West Mansion: “Although we have the agreement, without a formal ceremony, Wang Shi’s position is still unofficial. I think this year, she should help the Third Madam to learn how to manage the household. Next year, our two families can celebrate separately!”
Dou Duo agreed indifferently.
Wang Yingxue was called to assist the Third Madam.
Naturally overjoyed, she thought about her first time handling such matters. Not wanting to appear too shabby or too extravagant, she neatly arranged her hair in a round bun, wore a half-new, half-old scarlet “Jade Hall Spring” embroidered jacket, and only adorned her ears with small gold studs. She presented herself clean, tidy, and appropriately humble as she went to the East Mansion.
The Third Madam was checking accounts with the housekeeper when Wang Yingxue entered. She merely looked up and said “You’re here,” then had a maid bring an embroidered stool for her: “First, watch from the side. If you don’t understand something, ask me.” As she spoke, housekeepers and senior maids came and went, the small side room bustling with activity.
Wang Yingxue, having lived in the capital for a while as a child and accompanied her mother to visit grand households, was familiar with such New Year preparations. She wasn’t bothered and softly said, “Third Madam, please continue with your work, don’t mind me.” She sat on the stool, observing keenly as the Third Madam gave instructions.
When a housekeeper disputed some accounts with the Third Madam, mentioning, “When Madam Zhao from the West Mansion came, we held consecutive banquets, and tea and wine expenses were higher than usual…”
Wang Yingxue’s ears perked up at the mention of “West Mansion.”
“It’s normal to be higher than usual,” the Third Madam said, “but isn’t a 30% increase too much?” She flipped through the accounts, “Look, these were the expenses when the Sixth Master passed the provincial exams, and these are from when Madam Zhao visited…”
“The Sixth Master’s celebration was in mid-autumn, but Madam Zhao left after the winter solstice. After the solstice, prices for chicken, duck, fish, and meat all increased…”
“Didn’t the various estates send supplies before the winter solstice?” The Third Madam remained unmoved. “Why did you still need to buy from outside?”
“Madam Zhao stayed from mid-autumn until the Minor Snow solar term.” The housekeeper, growing anxious, noticed Wang Yingxue’s half-new, half-old clothes and an unfamiliar face. Assuming she was a housekeeper’s wife, she pointed at Wang Yingxue while still addressing the Third Madam: “Go, fetch me a cup of tea!”
“Me?” Wang Yingxue was stunned and looked towards the Third Madam.
The Third Madam and the housekeeper were glaring at each other like fighting roosters.
Seeing that none of the Third Madam’s maids or servants were responding, Wang Yingxue slowly stood up to pour tea for the housekeeper.
Feeling indignant, she quietly asked a young maid: “What does this housekeeper do?”
“You mean Madam Dou?” The young maid looked in the direction Wang Yingxue indicated and smiled, “She’s our Manager Dou’s wife, the most straightforward person. She used to be the Old Madam’s maid. Even our masters show her respect.” Then she curiously asked, “Which household are you from? I’ve never seen you before. Are you a newly promoted housekeeper’s wife?”
Regretting her plain attire, Wang Yingxue wore a more elaborate hairstyle the next day, adorned with large jade flowers, and a bright green embroidered jacket, looking radiant.
Those coming to report matters smiled and nodded at her, asking the Third Madam who she was.
“She’s Concubine Wang from the East Mansion.”
They then looked at her with curiosity, scrutiny, and even a hint of disdain. During meals, the maids and servants glanced at her in groups of two or three, and when she turned, they burst into ambiguous giggles.
Wang Yingxue felt both embarrassed and annoyed, regretting her eye-catching outfit. The entire day passed as if she were sitting on pins and needles.
Upon returning to Qixia Courtyard, Nanny Hu informed her: “The Second Madam sent Nanny Liu to take Miss Ming over. She said that with the New Year approaching and you learning household management from the Third Madam, there would be no one to look after Miss Ming, so it would be good for her to keep the Fourth Miss company.”
Dou Ming had never been away from Wang Yingxue since birth. Feeling as if a part of her had been cut away, Wang Yingxue couldn’t go back to the East Mansion to bring her back at this point. She blamed Nanny Hu: “Why didn’t you send someone to tell me? I could have brought Ming’er back when I returned.”
Nanny Hu thought to herself, “Who knew the East Mansion wouldn’t inform you?” But she dared not say this aloud and could only apologize anxiously.
Wang Yingxue worried that Dou Ming would be uncomfortable away from her and cry all night; she worried that the people in the Second Madam’s household would be arrogant and not take good care of Dou Ming; she also worried that Dou Zhao would bully Dou Ming. Tossing and turning, she couldn’t sleep all night. The next morning, she got up early, washed, and went to see Dou Duo.
“I’m going to the East Mansion,” she respectfully informed Dou Duo of her whereabouts, then casually smiled and said, “The Second Madam has taken Ming’er over, saying she’ll keep Miss Shou company. What do you think, when should we bring Miss Shou and Ming’er back?”
The Second Madam had informed Dou Duo about this matter. Dou Duo knew that the so-called “busy” was just an excuse; the Second Madam looked down on Wang Shi and feared she would badly influence the child. As for him, he didn’t want to see these two girls—one who had taken half of his property, and the other who was an illegitimate child. Neither was any good! It irritated him to see them.
He thought that if Wang Shi hadn’t caused such a scene and had properly married into the family, giving him another grandson, with someone like Wang Xingyi as a maternal grandfather, they would have been well-respected anywhere, and he would have been satisfied. But things hadn’t gone as planned… He was even annoyed seeing Wang Yingxue and spoke harshly: “First, do your job well, don’t meddle in unnecessary affairs. With the family in such chaos, where do you expect the two children to stand?”
Wang Yingxue, having failed to get what she wanted and instead being scolded, felt very wrong. She bit her lip and went to the East Mansion.
At noon, the Third Madam invited her to stay for lunch and asked her: “Is there anything you don’t understand?”
She had originally wanted to go see Dou Ming at the Second Madam’s, but with the Third Madam’s invitation, she couldn’t refuse. As a junior, she stood by to serve the Third Madam during lunch. When the Third Madam asked her, she smiled and said: “I see that the household affairs follow old customs. Perhaps looking at some previous account books would be twice as efficient.” Then she humbly added, “I don’t know if what I’m saying is correct, please advise me, Third Madam.”
“Indeed, you come from an official family,” the Third Madam smiled. “You understand at a glance and grasp things quickly. Unlike when I started, not understanding anything and was unable to remember even after looking for a long time. It was only after my husband explained that I began to understand…” She was quite friendly towards Wang Yingxue.
Wang Yingxue then accompanied the Third Madam in conversation, and in the afternoon, she went with her to the storehouse to inventory the New Year’s supplies.
By the time they finished, it was already 9-11 PM.
Her maid Qiongfang came to report: “The Second Madam’s household locked up at 7-9 PM.”
Wang Yingxue tiredly returned to the West Mansion, and the next day she again followed the Third Madam to visit several temples to deliver next year’s incense money.
After being busy with various tasks for several days, she suddenly realized that she hadn’t seen Dou Ming for seven or eight days, and no one had told her how Dou Ming was doing. She became anxious, vaguely feeling that the people in the East Mansion were doing this intentionally. Leaving the half-inventoried storehouse, she went to the Second Madam’s quarters.
The maids and servants didn’t stop her, smilingly welcoming her in.
Lady Ji and Dou Zhao were both there.
Seeing her enter, Lady Ji smiled and nodded slightly, while Dou Zhao warmly called out “Concubine Wang.”
Wang Yingxue stepped forward and curtsied to the Second Madam.
The Second Madam, wearing a gray squirrel fur cap, was reclining on a large pillow by the warm window kang, holding a cloisonné box with a lotus pattern. She smiled and asked, “What, has the Third Madam finished her work?”
Even if the Third Madam was resting at home with nothing to do, Wang Yingxue wouldn’t dare say so in front of the Second Madam!
“The Third Madam is extremely busy,” she quickly explained, distancing herself. “I just thought it had been several days since I’d seen Miss Shou and Ming’er, so I came specially to check on them.”
The Second Madam listened and nodded with satisfaction, saying, “The Wu family came to deliver New Year’s gifts. The Wu family’s Fifth Young Master and Seventh Miss also came, so I had them take Ming’er out to visit.”
The Wu family referred to the Second Madam Yu’s maiden family.
Wang Yingxue felt slightly relieved upon hearing this.
The Second Madam Yu also came from an official family. Her grandfather had once been a county magistrate, and her uncle Wu Songnian was currently a Hanlin Academy Compiler. The Wu family’s Fifth Young Master and Seventh Miss referred to Wu Songnian’s eldest son Wu Shan and eldest daughter Wu Ya.
As this thought flashed through her mind, Wang Yingxue became suspicious again.
Wu Shan was seven years old this year, and Wu Ya was four, about the same age as Dou Zhao. Why had Ming’er gone but not Dou Zhao?