When Dou Zhao heard these words, she didn’t know how to feel.
In her previous life, Song Mo had killed Song Yichun!
In this life, she had to ensure Song Mo’s safety no matter what.
Dou Dechang couldn’t guess Dou Zhao’s thoughts. He assumed she was just adjusting to her new authority over household affairs, so he teased her, “After all the effort Boyan and I put in, you could at least thank us. Sitting there stunned with your teacup, are you displeased with our meddling?”
Dou Zhao smiled slightly and joked back, “Wasn’t it amusing to see the Duke apologize to you and Boyan?”
Recalling the scene, Dou Dechang took up the Sichuan fan Dou Junqi had used for show and waved it, chuckling foolishly.
Dou Junqi, however, spoke seriously, “Fourth Aunt, tell me honestly, is the Song family very complicated?”
Though the Dou and Song families had grown distant, with their keen perception, Dou Dechang and Dou Junqi couldn’t be fooled now that they were closer.
She nodded slightly, saying tactfully, “Which family isn’t complicated?”
Dou Junqi didn’t press further, but smiled and said, “That Old Uncle Lu is truly an upright and proper person. Otherwise, today’s matter might not have been resolved so smoothly.”
As a daughter-in-law, even if Song Yichun treated her harshly, Dou Zhao could only endure it. Complaining to outsiders would earn her a reputation for being unfilial. According to her original plan, she had merely wanted to invite the Lu family as witnesses, using the opportunity to let them know it wasn’t that she was unfilial to Song Yichun, but that Song Yichun acted without principles, forcing his son to divorce his wife over a single displeasing comment. If any future conflicts between her and Song Yichun were to arise, people would naturally blame Song Yichun, paving the way for her to gain control over Duke Ying’s household affairs. She never imagined that the two old madams would be far more perceptive than she expected, not only scolding Song Yichun but also making him immediately hand over household management authority to her.
She fingered the bamboo tally stick, smooth as the jade from being handled by generations, lost in thought.
Dou Dechang, however, worriedly said, “We used the Second Madam and Fifth Uncle as excuses. Won’t we be exposed?”
The story about the Second Madam’s anger and Dou Shixu still kneeling was just a ruse they used to fool Song Yichun.
Dou Junqi laughed, “Don’t worry. Song Yichun will probably avoid the Dou family from now on. How would he confront Fifth Uncle? Even if he did, would Fifth Uncle side with Duke Ying’s household?”
Dou Dechang finally relaxed.
Dou Junqi stood to leave: “I’ve been out all day, I should head back. I’ll visit Fourth Aunt again after the New Year.”
Dou Zhao invited them to stay for dinner: “The wind is howling outside. You’ll be uncomfortable walking out without some hot soup in your stomach. I’ve already asked the kitchen to prepare a hot pot. Have dinner before you go.”
Dou Dechang wanted to stay for dinner: “I told mother I went to Yuqiao Hutong. How can I have dinner again when I return? It’s New Year’s, all the restaurants on the street are closed. Where am I supposed to find food?”
As Dou Junqi hesitated, a servant came to report: “The young master has returned!”
Dou Zhao took the opportunity to keep him: “You haven’t met your Fourth Uncle yet, have you? Since you’ve run into each other, you should at least greet him before leaving.”
Dou Zhao had married directly from Jing’an Temple Hutong, so the Dou family in Zhending, including her grandmother, hadn’t met Song Mo.
Just as she finished speaking, Song Mo entered, lifting the curtain.
On the way, Wuyi had already told him about the day’s events. He was familiar with Dou Dechang; the unfamiliar young man must be Dou Junqi.
He smiled and greeted Dou Dechang, then turned to Dou Junqi: “Your Fourth Aunt often praises you as the best of your generation. She says you took good care of her when she was young. Seeing you today, you truly are imposing and handsome.” He was very polite.
Dou Junqi was a scholar, versed in the style of the Wei and Jin dynasties. Even without his years of travel broadening his horizons, Dou Junqi wouldn’t have been at a loss meeting Song Mo ten years ago. Seeing Song Mo’s courtesy, he naturally didn’t stand on ceremony and began chatting with Song Mo.
Soon, Ruozhu came to ask where to set up the hot pot.
“How about the small flower hall?” Dou Zhao asked Song Mo’s opinion. “The floor heating is on there, and several pots of winter plum are in full bloom.”
The three men went to the small flower hall.
After several rounds of drinks, Song Mo, Dou Dechang, and Dou Junqi all relaxed, speaking more casually and finding more common ground.
Dou Junqi pointed at Dou Dechang, who was forcing drinks on him, and said to Song Mo: “Look at my foolish uncle, he should be making you drink, but he’s forcing me instead.”
Song Mo chuckled, pleased that Dou Dechang treated him without reserve, and drank even more freely.
Dou Junqi was still right, but Dou Dechang’s tongue began to loosen, and he started to lose control. He began telling Dou Junqi about Kuang Zhuoran’s situation: “How reliable is that paternal relationship he mentioned? I’ve been looking for the person you mentioned for ages but couldn’t find them. We weren’t fooled, were we?”
Song Mo, disregarding propriety, asked Dou Junqi: “Who are you looking for? Do you need my help?”
Dou Junqi was indeed troubled by this matter.
He had used Dou Dechang but to no avail. Yet he couldn’t bother their Fifth Grand Uncle for such a small matter.
Remembering that Song Mo was the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard and also managed the Five Cities’ Military and Cavalry Command, Dou Junqi exclaimed “Ah!” with a glimmer of hope.
He explained the situation to Song Mo: “…The person who instructed the Panyu County Magistrate is called Fan Shichou. He’s said to run a tea shop on Qianmen Street, but I’ve been there several times and couldn’t find anyone by that name.”
“Leave this to me,” Song Mo refilled Dou Junqi’s cup. “I’ll have news for you in a couple of days.”
“That would be great!” Dou Junqi didn’t stand on ceremony. They clinked glasses, the atmosphere growing ever more convivial. They drank until the first-night watch drum sounded. If Dou Zhao hadn’t worried about the Sixth Aunt being concerned at home, they might not have been willing to part.
Song Mo arranged for people to escort Dou Dechang and Dou Junqi home, while he clung to Dou Zhao in a drunken frenzy.
“Shou Gu, you’re something! If you were a man, you’d surely be a great general, winning battles without bloodshed, just getting that household management tally in your hands.”
“We should find time to go kowtow to the two old madams at the Lu family, shouldn’t we? If not for them, this matter might still be unresolved.”
“During the Spring Festival, let’s host guests at home too. We’ll invite all the uncles and nephews, and have a grand time.”
“I grew up at my uncle’s house. When our children are born, we should often take them to Jing’an Temple Hutong and let their Father-in-law start their education.”
He rambled on for half the night, every sentence revealing his longing for their future life.
Dou Zhao sat by the bed, watching Song Mo fall into a deep sleep after drinking the sobering soup. She couldn’t help but smile, gently kissing his cheek before blowing out the light and retiring to bed.
The next morning when he woke up, Song Mo had completely forgotten what he had said, only vaguely remembering that he had promised something to Dou Junqi.
He slapped his forehead, exclaiming “Oh no!” and rushed out without breakfast.
Dou Zhao smiled.
She felt that this Song Mo was like a youth not yet twenty, full of vigor, energizing to look at.
She sat at her dressing table while Ruotong helped her with her hair.
Ganlu came to report: “The household stewardesses are waiting outside Yizhi Hall, shivering in the cold wind.”
These stewardesses must have received the news by now.
Dou Zhao instructed Ganlu: “Tell them that whatever rules were in place when Mother-in-law was here will remain the same. Let them go about their usual duties.”
When the message was relayed, the stewardesses looked at each other in confusion.
Some who had worked under Madam Jiang had an idea and headed to the upper courtyard.
A kind-hearted one told the others: “When Mother-in-law was here, she would give instructions in the side hall of the upper courtyard’s east wing at chen hour every morning.”
Everyone suddenly understood and hurried to the upper courtyard, but they couldn’t help but reflect: Just as a new emperor brings new courtiers, wasn’t it the same for the managers of these large households? How many of them would be able to keep their positions? How many would be dismissed from the manor? Or even find some excuse to be punished severely?
For a moment, everyone felt uneasy.
Dou Zhao took her time getting ready and having breakfast, following her usual routine.
Ganlu couldn’t help but feel anxious for her: “So many stewardesses are waiting in the side hall. Shouldn’t you go there quickly?”
“Mother-in-law always started handling household matters at Chen hour. They’ve come early, should I accommodate them?”
That made sense!
Ganlu smiled sheepishly.
After finishing her tea, Dou Zhao finally headed to the upper courtyard’s side hall.
It was merely a repetition of old rules; she could recite them with her eyes closed. In just an hour, the people in the side hall dispersed.
Dou Zhao returned to her room and settled on the kang by the window to make baby clothes with Sujuan, all the while pondering Song Han’s situation.
After the New Year, one second-class maid and two third-class maids in Song Han’s quarters would be of marrying age. She needed to send two reliable people to serve there. As for the young maids selected from the estates, she had asked Du Wei to investigate their family backgrounds. News should arrive after the New Year, and she might be able to learn about her mother-in-law’s situation from these young maids.
She planned to marry Ganlu and Sujuan to household managers, so it was best they knew less about these matters.
Among the newly arrived maids, Ruozhu and Ruotong were both clever and capable of important tasks.
She also needed to carefully examine Duke Ying’s account books. Gifts for weddings and funerals could reveal the closeness of relationships between households.
…
As Dou Zhao was thinking, she noticed an unfamiliar young maid peeking at the door.
She smiled and asked the maid: “Which room are you from? Do you have something to tell me?”
The young maid was quite bold. She stepped out with a smile and spoke clearly and coherently: “My name is Fuliu. I’m from the Tianjin estate. Guard Duan sent me to see if you’re busy.”
After the batch of young maids from the estates entered the household, Dou Zhao added the prefix “Fu” to all their names.
“Go tell Guard Duan that I’m free. Ask him to come in.”
Fuliu smiled and ran off.
Soon, Duan Gongyi arrived, smiling: “Madam, that official Chen Jia wants to see you.”
Dou Zhao was a bit surprised and smiled: “How did you end up associating with Chen Jia?”
Duan Gongyi explained: “When Suxin got married, he sent a gift. We couldn’t just let him leave, so we invited him to stay for the wedding feast. We got to know each other after a few encounters.”
Dou Zhao had to give Duan Gongyi a face.
“Let him in,” she smiled and instructed a young maid, “Take Official Chen to the small flower hall in the outer courtyard and serve him tea.”