To Dou Zhao’s surprise, her mother and Wang Yingxue were old acquaintances!
Dou Zhao had always struggled to understand why some women would willingly abandon their families and reputations to be with a man. Was the passion between a man and woman truly that important? Once love faded and the man returned to his family as a prodigal son, what became of the woman? How could she continue to stand in society?
Dou Zhao sat with her mother in the small hall behind the main room, listening to her grandfather scolding her father. Experience had taught Dou Zhao never to overestimate or underestimate an opponent. Objectively speaking, Wang Yingxue was not only capable and intelligent but also adept at reading situations. She always prioritized her interests and, once decided, acted swiftly and decisively.
Given this, why would such a person insist on following Dou Zhao’s father when her grandfather had promised to adopt Wang Yingxue as his goddaughter, arrange a good marriage for her, and provide a lavish dowry from the Dou family? The Dous were not a shallow, newly wealthy family. Given Wang Yingxue’s status, they would never agree to make her a concubine. Dou Zhao’s mother was the Zhao family’s properly married primary wife. Even if she had made mistakes, the Dou family wouldn’t casually divorce her for the sake of their reputation.
Hadn’t Wang Yingxue considered this when she came to Zhending? It didn’t align with her character!
As these thoughts raced through her mind, Dou Zhao had a sudden realization. Her sister! Her sister Dou Ming was born on the third day of the seventh month in the Dingwei year. There was a saying: “Live through seven, not through eight.” This meant that if Dou Ming was premature, Wang Yingxue must have entered the household by the first month at the latest.
According to custom, when a wife dies, the husband must observe a year of mourning. There were exceptions. If a husband was away on a military campaign when his wife died, leaving no one to care for his parents or children, he could remarry within a hundred days. Although Dou Zhao’s father wasn’t a soldier, her paternal great-grandmother had passed away early. If her mother had… and there was no one to manage the household, this exception might barely apply.
This suggested that her mother had died before the new year. But what if Dou Ming wasn’t premature?
Dou Zhao couldn’t help but smile. Wang Yingxue still needed to establish herself in the Dou family. She would never admit to having an affair with Dou Zhao’s father, even if it killed her. And her father, still hoping for Wang Yingxue to enter the household, wouldn’t reveal her pregnancy to anyone.
It was like playing a game of chance and suddenly realizing your opponent was standing in front of a full-length mirror, allowing you to see all their cards.
Dou Zhao’s blood boiled with excitement. As long as her mother was alive, the longer they could delay, the more favorable the situation would become for them. But the prerequisite was that her mother must stay alive!
In high spirits, she took a golden tangerine from the fruit bowl on the table and offered it to her mother. “Mother, have a tangerine!”
Her mother managed a weak smile, accepting the fruit but holding it absently.
Dou Zhao, intent on cheering her mother, peeled the tangerine and fed pieces to her mother, her eldest aunt, and her third aunt, who were sitting with them in the small hall.
Her eldest and third aunts, trying to lighten the mood, teased Dou Zhao, who responded with giggles and laughter.
Gradually, a smile appeared on her mother’s face.
That night, Dou Zhao fell asleep clutching her mother’s clothes.
The next day, her third uncle, sixth uncle, eldest aunt (as the senior woman of the clan), and third aunt (who assisted the eldest aunt in managing the household) escorted the Second Madam from the East Mansion—her grandfather’s second cousin-in-law—to their home.
Her grandfather’s eldest cousin and his wife, as well as their second son, had already passed away.
“I’ve heard about the situation from your nephews and their wives,” said the Second Madam. Despite her small stature, her remarkably bright eyes lent her an air of authority. “Where is Miss Wang? Have you sent someone to South Lowland with a message?”
“I’ve asked Madam Ding to accompany her,” Grandfather replied bitterly. “We’ve already sent someone to South Lowland with the news overnight.” He added shamefully, “Second Sister-in-law, this is all due to my failure in raising my son properly…”
“We’ll discuss that later,” the Second Madam interrupted, waving her hand. “The urgent matter now is to determine exactly how far things have progressed between them!”
The Second Madam had cut straight to the heart of the matter. Dou Zhao admired her insight.
Grandfather was taken aback. He opened his mouth, perhaps thinking of his son’s foolishness in this affair, but remained silent.
The Second Madam instructed the third uncle, “You and Wanyuan are as close as father and son. Go and question him.” Then she turned to the eldest aunt, “You go and question Miss Wang.”
Both acknowledged her instructions and set off on their tasks.
The Second Madam then beckoned to Dou Zhao’s mother, gesturing for her to sit beside her. “Without the Zhao family, there would be no Dou family. Your parents passed away early, and your uncle is young and shy, not suited to handle such matters. But the Dou family elders are still here! Rest assured, we won’t let you suffer any injustice.”
Dou Zhao had only one maternal uncle, eight years older than her mother. Her mother was posthumously born, and her maternal grandmother passed away when her mother was ten. After that, her mother grew up with her brother and sister-in-law. When her maternal grandmother was alive, she often brought the two children to visit the Dou family. The two families were already related by marriage, and the Dous were known for their generosity. As a result, the families grew even closer. Her uncle, Zhao Sicong, had studied at the Dou family’s clan school from a young age and was very close to Dou Shiying, Dou Wenchang, Dou Yuchang, and Dou Huachang. Her parents’ marriage had been arranged without any complications.
Hearing the Second Madam mention her deceased parents, Dou Zhao’s mother burst into tears, burying her face in the Second Madam’s embrace.
The sixth uncle, four years older than Dou Zhao’s father, had studied with him since childhood. They had both become scholars and failed the provincial examinations together. Now he was at home, focusing on his studies. Seeing Dou Zhao’s mother cry so heartbrokenly, he felt awkward and suggested quietly, “Perhaps we should move to my younger brother’s study? Some of these matters aren’t appropriate for us uncles to hear.”
The Second Madam glared at him and asked pointedly, “You went to the capital with Wanyuan. Did you know about this affair?”
The sixth uncle shrank back in fear, hurriedly saying, “It has nothing to do with me! If you hadn’t asked me to return early, how could Wanyuan have gotten into such trouble?” He muttered, his tone somewhat dismissive.
The Second Madam was so angry she couldn’t speak for a moment.
The sixth uncle, Dou Shiheng, was the Second Madam’s late-born son. When he was born, his brothers had already achieved some success in their careers. As a result, the Second Madam wasn’t as strict with him as she had been with her other sons. Coincidentally, Dou Zhao’s father was an only child, and while her grandfather appeared stern, he spoiled him. Among the cousins, these two were the closest. Dou Zhao remembered that after her father moved to the capital, he had even set aside a small courtyard specifically for the sixth uncle. The sixth uncle would stay there whenever he visited the capital. Later, they both worked at the Hanlin Academy. Her father excelled in lecturing on the “Book of Changes,” while the sixth uncle was skilled in explaining the “Zuo Zhuan.” People at the Hanlin Academy jokingly called them the “Dou Family’s Twin Talents.”
Dou Zhao’s mother was startled.
Realizing that the Second Madam was trying to help clear the sixth uncle of any suspicion, she politely said, “When it rains, it pours, and when a woman decides to marry, she will. If Wanyuan had made up his mind, what difference would it have made even if the sixth uncle had never left his side?”
The Second Madam’s expression softened slightly. She scolded the sixth uncle, “Hurry and thank your sister-in-law!”
The sixth uncle bowed to Dou Zhao’s mother, who hastily returned the gesture.
Dou Zhao’s eyes flickered. Since the sixth uncle had neither apologized nor offered any words of comfort, it was clear he was on her father’s side.
The Second Madam seemed to realize this too. She stood up and addressed everyone, “Let’s move to the small hall in the back!” This would leave the main hall for the men of the family.
Naturally, no one objected.
Dou Zhao’s mother and third uncle helped the Second Madam to her feet. Just then, a servant boy ran in, announcing, “Old Master, the steward from the Jining Marquis’s household has presented a visiting card. He says their Madam is related by marriage to our Seventh Madam, and they’ve come to pay their respects while visiting their hometown.”
Everyone was surprised.
Dou Zhao was even more astonished. Wasn’t the Jining Marquis’s wife her mother-in-law? Why was she getting involved in this situation?
“It’s Elder Sister Tian from Xiliu Village,” Dou Zhao’s mother explained happily to everyone. “Their family and ours were old acquaintances from Bianjing, and our ancestors had once intermarried. But since Mr. Tian’s official career flourished and Elder Sister Tian married into the Jining Marquis’s family in the capital, we’ve had less contact. I never expected her to come and visit me!” She then looked expectantly at her grandfather.
With a guest from afar arriving, the matter of his son would have to be put aside for now.
Grandfather thought for a moment, then instructed the servant boy to invite the Jining Marquis’s steward in.
The steward presented the visiting card, exchanged pleasantries, and informed them that the Jining Marquis’s wife had a tight schedule and would visit at the beginning of the third watch tomorrow morning.
Dou Zhao’s mother, no longer concerned with the matters in the main hall, began instructing Nanny Yu to clean and prepare rooms and to plan the menu.
Dou Zhao sat alone on the kang bed, counting on her fingers.
She wondered if Wei Tingyu would come along. Her mother-in-law had mentioned that they had met as children—could this be that occasion?
Lost in thought, she saw her third aunt hurrying in.
She called to her nanny, “Tuo Niang, carry me to Mother!”
Tuo Niang exclaimed joyfully, “Fourth Young Miss, you can speak!”
Dou Zhao was startled, taking a moment to realize her mistake. She quickly instructed, “Hurry, let’s enter before Third Aunt.”
“Of course!” Tuo Niang happily complied, carrying her to her mother. “Seventh Madam, great news! The Fourth Young Miss can speak!”
“Oh!” Her mother smiled, teasing Dou Zhao, “Let me hear you say something.”
Dou Zhao said confidently, “I want to go to Uncle’s house to play!”
Her mother chuckled.
Dou Zhao smiled too.
Despite not being blood relatives, the Second Madam, while helping Dou Zhao’s mother, was more eager to clear her son of involvement.
Dou Zhao knew she needed to test her uncle’s character for herself.
As the third aunt entered, Tuo Niang stepped out, leaving Dou Zhao sitting on the kang. The third aunt held Dou Zhao’s small hand and whispered to her mother, “I’ve found out. They all say it was ‘born of emotion, but stopped by reason.'”
Her mother scoffed.
The third aunt chided with a smile, “Whether it’s true or not doesn’t matter! If that’s what they say, that’s what we’ll believe. Since everything is supposedly above board, when Wang’s family arrives, we’ll simply hand her over to them.”
Her mother nodded, “I understand.”
From outside came Han Xiao’s flustered voice, “Seventh Master, the Seventh Madam is talking with the Third Madam…” Before she could finish, the curtain was abruptly pulled aside, and Dou Zhao’s father stormed in, his face ashen.
“Seventh Uncle is back!” The third aunt smiled, pulling Dou Zhao’s mother behind her. “Where are your elder brothers?”
“Third Sister-in-law,” Dou Zhao’s father gave a curt bow, his forehead veins pulsing. “Aunt Ding has prepared a family dinner in the small flower hall. Guchiu is helping me change, and I’ll be there shortly.”
The third aunt hesitated.
Dou Zhao’s mother placed her hand on the third aunt’s shoulder.
“Third Sister-in-law, you should go first,” her mother said softly. “Third Brother and the others must be getting impatient. Wanyuan and I will be there soon.”
The third aunt exchanged a glance with Nanny Yu before smiling and leaving the inner chamber.