In Qixia Courtyard, a red wedding candle crackled, sending sparks flying. Wang Yingxue wrung her hands tightly.
“This is outrageous, absolutely outrageous!” she exclaimed, standing in the middle of the room with a face full of anger. “Why does the East Mansion always have to lord it over the West Mansion? I’m now Wanyuan’s legitimate wife. What right does she have to keep Ming’er in her room?”
“Madam, please lower your voice!” Nurse Hu hurriedly reminded her, glancing around to ensure no one else was present. She then whispered, “Now is not the time to lose your temper. Master Seven still needs Master Five’s support, and you’ve just been officially recognized as his wife without a son to back you up. It’s better to endure a moment’s anger than suffer a hundred days of worry.”
“I know!” Wang Yingxue’s expression softened slightly. “If I hadn’t thought of that, I wouldn’t have swallowed my pride today.”
Nurse Hu sighed in relief and changed the subject with a smile. “Today is your special day, Madam. It’s getting late, and Master Seven should be here soon. Why don’t I help you remove your makeup and prepare a cup of lily and lotus seed soup for you?”
Wang Yingxue blushed.
Qiongfang entered the room with a smile, carrying a box. “Seventh Madam, these are the welcome gifts received today. Where would you like me to put them?”
The mention of gifts reignited Wang Yingxue’s anger.
The Dou family was known for their wealth and luxury. Even their ordinary servants wore silk and satin, adorned with gold rings and silver hairpins. Yet, the welcome gifts from the Second Madam and others were merely common jade hairpins set in gold, as if they didn’t consider her worthy of better.
“They’re nothing special. Why bother hiding them away?” Her voice was sharp.
Qiongfang’s attempt at flattery backfired, earning her a scolding instead of praise.
Nurse Hu quickly signaled to Qiongfang with her eyes and tried to console Wang Yingxue. “The Dou family isn’t newly rich. They tend to be low-key and reserved, especially in formal situations. Don’t underestimate these items, Madam. They might be valuable antiques with special significance. We’re too busy today, but when you have time, you can examine them more closely.”
Since Zhao Guqiu’s death, the West Dou Mansion had lacked someone to manage the household. Over the years, it had fallen into disarray, with everyone harboring their agendas. Moreover, after Dou Zhao recently took half of the family’s assets, even those who had once eagerly curried favor with Wang Yingxue were now adopting a wait-and-see attitude. At this moment, all eyes in the mansion were likely fixed on Qixia Courtyard. Any misstep on her part could be greatly exaggerated. It was better to gracefully back down using this explanation.
Considering this, Wang Yingxue gave a soft “Mm” of agreement. She was about to reprimand Qiongfang further when a young maid announced, “Gaosheng is here!”
Everyone in the room was startled.
Wang Yingxue asked suspiciously, “Invite him in.”
Gaosheng stood outside the plum blossom-patterned lattice door of the inner chamber. His voice was gentle and respectful as he said, “Seventh Madam, Master Seven says it’s too late tonight, so he’ll rest in the main room. He asks you to retire early as well. Tomorrow at the fifth watch, you should pay respects to the Old Master. At the sixth watch, Third Madam will come to hand over the West Mansion’s seal to you. Please don’t be late.” Having delivered the message, he bowed and retreated.
Wang Yingxue’s mouth gaped open, unable to close for a long moment. Her face then flushed red, with tears welling up in her eyes. “What does he mean by this? If he wanted an excuse, why say it’s too late? It’s only the first watch of the night… And he’s staying in the main room… Isn’t he just making me a laughingstock?”
Nurse Hu also sensed something unusual about Dou Shiyingxing’s behavior. She hesitated before asking, “Madam, should I go check on him?”
“No need!” Wang Yingxue gritted her teeth and said, “I’ll go invite him myself.”
On her first night as his wife, Dou Shiyingxing was sleeping elsewhere. How could she ever hold her head high in the Dou family after this?
Nurse Hu accompanied Wang Yingxue as they hurried to the main room.
Dou Shiyingxing had already changed into casual clothes and was writing at his desk.
Seeing Wang Yingxue, he showed no surprise and merely said with a faint smile, “You’re here.”
Looking at Dou Shiyingxing’s handsome face in the lamplight, all the reproaches Wang Yingxue had prepared on the way suddenly vanished. She nervously adjusted her sleeves, her voice softening, “Are you very tired today? Why are you writing alone in the main room?” As she spoke, she walked closer, catching the scent of alcohol emanating from him. She smiled and said, “How much did you drink, Seventh Master? You smell of alcohol. Shall I have someone bring you some sobering soup?” As she spoke, she rolled up her sleeves, intending to help him grind ink.
Dou Shiyingxing stopped her. “Gaosheng is here to serve me. You should go rest. You’ll be busy tomorrow.” His voice was as gentle as the evening breeze coming through the window, but he lowered his head, continuing to write without distraction.
The rejection was so obvious that Wang Yingxue’s face flushed with embarrassment. However, she had never been one to wait passively. After a moment’s thought, she suddenly stepped forward and embraced Dou Shiyingxing’s waist from the side.
“Wanyuan…” Her gaze was soft enough to melt.
Dou Shiyingxing’s body stiffened. He slowly put down his brush and gently but firmly pried her arms from around his waist. “Yingxue, I’ve told you before. Apart from the title, I can’t give you anything else… You know this… Isn’t it better for us to respect each other like guests?”
He turned to face her, his ink-black eyes gazing at her steadily, his expression utterly serious.
Wang Yingxue was stunned.
Of course, she knew… but she had thought that time would heal all wounds… that a warm body beside him would be better than distant longing…
Dou Shiyingxing strode out of the room.
The tuberose in the Dou mansion was in full bloom, its rich fragrance wafting through the air.
He suddenly remembered his wedding day with Guqiu.
The weather had been just like this.
The tuberose flowers were in full bloom, gleaming like jade in the moonlight.
His wife had called out “Wanyuan” in her clear voice, asking, “Am I beautiful?”
He couldn’t remember how he had answered, only that his wife had joyfully thrown herself into his arms, burning like a flame in his heart… Her bell-like laughter rang in his ears: “They all say I’m shameless, but I just like you, I just want to marry you!” Her sweet, naive voice was filled with undeniable joy and contentment…
The flower’s fragrance was so intense, like the decay of blossoms at their peak, making his heart race with fear.
He ran out…
A clap of thunder rumbled, and rain began to pour.
Dou Zhao was awakened by the commotion. In her drowsy state, she heard her grandmother instructing Hong Gu: “…Check if the foals in the stable are frightened. Are the kitchen windows closed? The straw in the firewood shed needs to be gathered up to prevent it from getting wet in the rain.”
Hong Gu responded with a yawn and went out, putting on her clothes.
Grandmother turned back and saw Dou Zhao squirming under the covers. She smiled and patted her gently, “Don’t be afraid, Shou Gu. Aunt Cui is here.”
This woke Dou Zhao up completely.
She stared at the ceiling, momentarily confused.
Outside, there came a loud knocking on the door, echoing through the courtyard.
Grandmother was startled. Liu Sihai, the farmhand living in the west wing, had already grabbed a wooden bar used to secure the main gate and walked to the door.
“Who is it?” he asked cautiously.
“It’s Master Seven,” came a loud voice from outside. “Open the door quickly.”
Liu Sihai hurriedly dropped the wooden bar and opened the gate with a creak.
Dou Shiyingxing and Gaosheng entered, drenched by the rain.
“What happened?” Grandmother, standing at the door of the main room in her nightclothes, hurried towards them, heedless of the heavy rain.
“Nothing, nothing,” Dou Shiyingxing said. His clothes were soaked through, and despite the summer heat, the night rain had chilled him, leaving his lips slightly pale. “I came to see Shou Gu.”
Grandmother’s eyes showed deep suspicion, but she didn’t ask anything. She instructed the maid to boil water and sent Hong Gu to borrow some clean clothes from the neighboring Lang family.
By the time Father had cleaned up, the rain was pouring even harder. The sky was dark and heavy, as if it might collapse at any moment under its own weight.
Dou Zhao sat on the kang bed, drowsy, her head nodding like a fishing float.
She was indifferent to her father’s appearance.
In the middle of the night, in such heavy rain, one could easily catch a cold or even fall seriously ill. Moreover, he had inconvenienced the household he visited, making them scramble to find clean clothes and prepare hot water and refreshments… It was childish and selfish, so inconsiderate. How unlike a father.
More importantly, she felt that regardless of whatever conflict existed between her father and Wang Yingxue, running away like this showed weakness and incompetence.
Her father, however, seemed unaware of this. He smiled and ruffled Dou Zhao’s hair, asking softly, “Are you comfortable staying at the farm?”
“Yes!” Dou Zhao turned her head away, brushing off her father’s hand. “Everyone treats me very well.”
Dou Shiyingxing looked around at the rough, simple furnishings of the room, thinking his eldest daughter seemed a bit insensitive.
He stood silently by the kang for a long while.
Dou Zhao was very sleepy, but since her father remained quiet, she had to say, “Father, aren’t you going to sleep?”
Dou Shiyingxing didn’t respond immediately. After a while, he slowly sat down beside Dou Zhao and asked in a low voice, “Do you… still, remember your mother?”
Dou Zhao was surprised, her expression becoming serious.
“I still remember your mother,” he murmured, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. “On the day she married me, she wore an emerald ring on her hand, set in gold, shaped like a begonia flower…”
Dou Zhao turned her face away, sadness slowly welling up from the depths of her heart.
Father left before dawn. Dou Zhao gazed at the sky, clear as water after the rain, momentarily lost in thought.
After grief, one finds more courage to face life’s disappointments.
She returned to her room to practice calligraphy.
Zhao Liangbi eagerly helped her tidy up the study.
She said to Zhao Liangbi, “Let me give you a name.”
Zhao Qibi was both excited and worried.
He was happy that he wouldn’t have to be called Gou Sheng (Dog Leftover) anymore, but worried that Dou Zhao might give him a similar name on a whim… one that he couldn’t change later!
“How about ‘Liangbi’?” Dou Zhao wrote his name on paper. “It means ‘fine jade’. I hope you’ll be as beautiful and modest as fine jade in your conduct.”
Zhao Liangbi was overjoyed and showed off the paper with his new name written by Dou Zhao to everyone.
In just one day, everyone on the farm knew that Gou Sheng was now called Zhao Liangbi.
Grandmother also praised the name, saying it was well-chosen. She mentioned taking Dou Zhao to the temple in a few days, but unfortunately, Father’s leave was over, and he came to take Dou Zhao back. He told Grandmother, “If you need anything, you can send a message to Sixth Brother. When I’m in the capital, he’ll take care of you and Shou Gu.”
Grandmother nodded but didn’t take his words to heart.
She had lived alone on the farm for over twenty years without any issues and believed she wouldn’t need to seek help from the Dou family in the future.
However, Dou Zhao requested her father: “Can I bring Zhao Liangbi back with us?”
Father asked who Zhao Liangbi was.
Grandmother explained Zhao Liangbi’s background to him.
Upon hearing that Dou Zhao had helped choose the name Zhao Liangbi, Father nodded and said, “Then bring him along.”
And so, Zhao Liangbi arrived at the Dou household earlier than expected.