In his previous life, Wang Xu managed the Jinyiwei for a time before being ousted by Song Mo. Not long after, he retired from official life and disappeared from public view. Wang Xu was also a key figure.
Dou Zhao clapped his hands approvingly. “This is excellent. Now we can gain the upper hand.”
Song Mo pondered, “I wonder who he’s approached in the Hanlin Academy and the Cabinet?”
Dou Zhao smiled, “Have you forgotten about the Risheng Silver House affair?”
Back then, Zhang Zhiqi had invited Dou Shiying to invest. Dou Shiying and Zhang Zhiqi each held one-third of the shares, while Guo Yan, Zhao Peijie, and Chen Songming jointly held the remaining third.
Guo Yan was the son-in-law of the former Grand Secretary Zeng Yifen. He had previously served as a Lecturer at the Hanlin Academy. Before Zeng Yifen’s death, Guo Yan was sent to Shaanxi as a Provincial Surveillance Commissioner.
Chen Songming was the Director of the Court of State Ceremonial and a close advisor to the Emperor.
Zhao Peijie was a Hanlin Academician and Junior Supervisor of the Heir Apparent’s Household, serving the Eastern Palace.
In his previous life, when Prince Liao ascended the throne, Guo Yan was promoted from Shaanxi Provincial Governor to Minister of War and Grand Secretary of Wuying Hall, entering the Cabinet. Chen Songming was promoted to Chancellor of the Imperial Academy. Zhao Peijie hanged himself at home after the palace coup. Dou Shiying wasn’t involved. But in this life, Dou Shizhu entered the Cabinet early, bringing Dou Shiying into their orbit. Because Dou Zhao discovered this early, he forced Dou Shiying to withdraw his investment in Risheng Silver House, removing Dou Shizhu from the equation. Things returned to their original course, and Prince Liao ultimately allied with Dai Jian.
Song Mo didn’t know about Dou Zhao’s “foresight,” but he could see the essence of the matter through this incident.
He furrowed his brow.
Now Guo Yan was merely a Councilor. While Song Mo could promote Jiang Yi to Commander or Deputy Commander of the Five Cities Command, Prince Liao could also elevate Guo Yan to a provincial-level position like Provincial Administration Commissioner or Provincial Surveillance Commissioner.
Song Mo muttered, “Guo Yan and Zhao Peijie are manageable. The former can’t influence politics unless he’s promoted to Senior Third Rank. The latter is an Eastern Palace official; several of Cui Bianyi’s disciples are familiar with me, so it won’t be difficult to keep an eye on him. It’s Chen Songming’s situation that lacks a suitable candidate…”
Coming from a noble military background, Song Mo had connections in the Five Chief Military Commissions but likely couldn’t intervene in the Hanlin Academy. Could the Dou family possibly lend Song Mo a hand?
Dou Zhao almost blurted out Dou Qijun’s name.
In this year’s spring examinations, he would be listed on the golden roster, then pass the palace examination to become a Hanlin Bachelor and observe government affairs in the Court of State Ceremonial.
With his clear mind, calm demeanor, and strategic approach to matters, he would be the best candidate.
The problem was that the spring examination results hadn’t been released yet.
Dou Zhao smiled wryly, “Why don’t you let me handle this? My father and sixth uncle both serve in the Hanlin Academy and know many people. I’ll discuss it with them.”
“Your father-in-law studies Laozi and Zhuangzi; it’s best not to disturb his tranquility,” Song Mo politely declined, considering his father-in-law’s personality. “I’ll figure something out.”
He had some reservations.
If Dou Zhao couldn’t find a suitable candidate, would he ask Ji Yong for help?
Song Mo couldn’t say how Ji Yong felt about Dou Zhao, but Dou Zhao treated Ji Yong like family. Moreover, Ji Yong was known for his rebellious nature. While others might tremble at the thought of such treasonous plots, he would likely be excited, hoping for chaos.
Song Mo wasn’t seeking the glory of assisting in a successful uprising; he only hoped to avoid the storm and emerge unscathed. Why create a commotion and let everyone know?
“Don’t worry about this. I’ll handle it,” Song Mo instructed Dou Zhao again.
Dou Zhao nodded with a smile but inwardly calculated how many days remained until the examination results were posted.
Just then, a trusted maid of Madam Guo came to relay a message to Dou Zhao. The Wei family was forcing Dou Ming to hand over her dowry for the Dou family to manage. The Wang family was furious, and Madam Gao personally came to question the Dou family. The Fifth Aunt was so wrongly accused she could barely speak, swearing to heaven that the Dou family had no intention of taking over Dou Ming’s dowry. She arranged to meet with the Wang family to go to the Wei family together on a chosen day to clarify the situation and speak up for Dou Ming. According to the Fifth Aunt, besides herself and Lady Dou, she also planned to invite the Sixth Aunt, Lady Ji, and Dou Zhao to intervene.
Dou Zhao listened and smiled coldly. She rewarded the maid with a red envelope, inquired about Miss Jing, and then served tea to see the guest off.
When the Fifth Aunt sent someone to invite her, she unhesitatingly refused: “Dou Ming and I have never gotten along. Rather than go and face her scorn, we should keep our distance. She has the uncles and aunts of the Dou family to help her; that should be enough.”
The old woman had no choice but to relay the message back to the Fifth Aunt.
The Fifth Aunt sighed.
Cai Shi said, “Since the Fourth Young Madam won’t get involved, do you think we should…”
The Fifth Aunt glared at her daughter-in-law: “This concerns the reputation of the Dou family. How can we not intervene?” She couldn’t help but feel regret.
Her eldest daughter-in-law was gentle and kind, but unfortunately hadn’t borne a son and lacked authority in the family, unable to keep the second daughter-in-law in check. The second daughter-in-law was eloquent and socially adept, having given birth to the eldest grandson, but she was too opportunistic and short-sighted to manage family affairs.
It seemed the fifth branch could only pin its hopes on the grandson.
With this thought, after discussing it with Dou Shizhu, she took the two sons born to Cai Shi into her rooms to raise, causing a rift with Cai Shi. But that’s a story for another time.
On the agreed day to meet with the Wang family, the Fifth and Sixth Aunts dressed in their official robes. Cai Shi and Guo Shi also dressed elegantly and appropriately. Together with Madam Gao, Pang Yulou, and Gao’s daughter-in-law Gao Mingzhu, they went to the Jining Marquis’s mansion.
Wei Tingzhen, wearing a jade hairpin shaped like a peony leaf and dressed in a cloud-patterned robe, stood arrogantly at the second gate to receive guests.
The Fifth Aunt felt angry just looking at her.
If it weren’t for this eldest sister-in-law, would the Wei family have so many problems?
She changed her usual modest demeanor and smiled as she approached, jabbing at Wei Tingzhen: “I didn’t expect the Eldest Madam to return to her maiden home so early. Looking at this setup, I thought it was Miss Ming for a moment!”
The implication was clear: she was criticizing Wei Tingzhen, a married woman, for interfering in her natal family’s affairs.
Wei Tingzhen narrowed her eyes and responded without backing down: “I had just stepped through the outer gate when I saw official robes of the third and fourth rank in the distance. I thought it was a grand court assembly and lingered at the gate for a moment. I didn’t mean to confuse my in-law’s eyes. How careless of me.” She covered her mouth and laughed, but her eyes swept disdainfully over the women of the Dou and Wang families.
Seeing her mother-in-law’s strong attitude, Cai Shi naturally wouldn’t let Wei Tingzhen have the last word. She smiled and said, “Many in our Dou and Wang families hold official positions. Besides Ladies, we have Gracious Ladies and Worthy Ladies. It’s not uncommon, unlike Madam’s natal and marital families, where apart from the highest-ranking Ladies, there are no other ranks. From a distance, it’s easy to tell who’s a Lady and who’s a Madam.
No wonder the Eldest Madam was confused. Fortunately, the Eldest Madam’s brother married a Dou woman, so you’ll have many opportunities to interact with us in the future. Over time, you’ll surely become accustomed to rooms full of titled ladies.” The Dou and Wang families were no strangers to each other, and Wang’s Second Madam Pang Yulou was known for her sharp tongue. Cai Shi’s gaze fell on Pang Yulou as she spoke, “Second Madam Wang, wouldn’t you agree?”
Pang Yulou was already unhappy about Wang Yingxue living at home, eating from the family’s stores, and being picky about using only the best things. If it weren’t for Madam Wang Liu’s orders, she wouldn’t have wanted to come at all. But now that the Dou family had passed the baton to her, how could she not speak up without being laughed at by the Dou family?
Hearing this, she stepped forward with a smile, standing beside Cai shi, and said sweetly, “I also mistook the Eldest Madam for our Fifth Madam earlier. After all, in this mansion, only our Fifth Madam has the right to wear the attire of a first-rank external命妇. Please don’t take offense, Eldest Madam.”
Although Lady Tian was also a first-rank命妇, as a widow, she only wore half the usual gold, silver, and jade ornaments when dressing in her official attire, to show the distinction.
Wei Tingzhen’s face turned frosty.
The Dou family’s Sixth Madam, Lady Ji, didn’t want to stand there arguing with the Wei family’s Eldest Madam, letting the Wei family servants enjoy the spectacle.
She stepped forward with a smile to smooth things over: “Since we’re here, shouldn’t we go see the Old Madam?”
Madam Gao and Lady Ji were thinking along the same lines. She picked up on Ji’s words and smiled, “Why don’t we go see the Old Madam first and then talk in the flower hall?”
The women of the Dou and Wang families all smiled and agreed, their demeanor suggesting they would go to see Lady Tian even if Wei Tingzhen didn’t agree.
Looking at the imposing group of the two families, Wei Tingzhen thought of her solitary position and couldn’t help but turn pale. She accompanied the Fifth Madam and others to Lady Tian’s courtyard, secretly thinking that it was better to have more children. She and Wei Tingyu were just a pair of siblings, so they could only rely on each other in times of need. The Zhang family, besides three brothers from the same mother, had five sisters, which was why her mother-in-law’s birthday celebrations were so lively. Her father’s decision to marry her into the Zhang family was also related to the Zhang brothers’ large number.
Lady Tian had already discussed the matter with her daughter. Today, no matter what, they were determined to teach Dou Ming a lesson. Knowing she wasn’t good with words, Lady Tian decided not to appear. When the Fifth Madam and others came to visit, she tied a headband around her forehead, pretending to be ill. Taking the Fifth Madam’s hand, she complained, “How can a daughter-in-law behave like this? Her mother-in-law is sick, and she doesn’t even come to attend to me. My life is truly miserable!”
The Fifth Madam smiled without saying a word.
Cai Shi, standing nearby, said, “I heard that our Fifth Young Madam has been taking medicine every day since her miscarriage. Is she overworking herself? I see that your household doesn’t have many maids. Should we send over some experienced nannies from the Dou family who understand healthcare to look after our Fifth Young Madam and help her recover? If she struggles with bearing children, it could become troublesome!”
Lady Tian couldn’t help but flinch.
Wei Tingzhen, however, was furious.
Did the Dou family intend to blame Dou Ming’s future inability to bear sons on this miscarriage?
Just as she was about to retort, Pang Yulou, following Cai Shi’s lead, continued, “Is that so? We hadn’t heard about this. Our Fifth Young Madam is too gentle. Bearing children is of utmost importance.” She turned to Wei Tingzhen with a reproachful look, “Our Fifth Young Madam is young and newly married, she doesn’t know better. Eldest Madam, you’ve given birth to several children. Why didn’t you give our Fifth Young Madam some advice? The distinction between the main wife and the concubine must be clear. Eldest Madam, you mustn’t let the young master confuse the family order.”