The town of Zhending was bustling with noise. As soon as the carriage passed through the city gate, Dou Zhao heard someone shouting, “Hurry to the East Dou residence for reward money!”

Grandmother was startled and repeatedly asked Hong Gu, “What reward money?”

Dou Zhao was also surprised at first, but after a moment’s thought, she understood. Seeing Grandmother’s inquiry, she smiled and said, “I think Boyan must have passed the provincial examination.”

“Oh, that’s right!” Grandmother brightened up and urged Hong Gu, “Quick, go ask!”

The carriage stopped, and Hong Gu randomly asked a passerby.

“The Dou family’s fifth young master passed the provincial exam. The Old Madam has sent people to give out rewards at the gate. If you’re late, you’ll miss out!” The person hurriedly explained and ran off.

“Oh my, that’s wonderful!” Grandmother’s face lit up with joy. “The Dou family will produce another high official!” She showed no resentment towards the family that had often neglected her.

Dou Zhao couldn’t help but tightly grasp Grandmother’s calloused hand.

If not for Grandmother, in her previous life, she might have become a bitter, resentful person who only knew how to blame heaven and earth. How could she have possibly let go of the Dou family’s various faults and lived a good life?

Upon returning home, Dou Zhao prepared some writing materials as congratulatory gifts and went to the East Residence with Dou Ming.

Dou Qijun’s mother, Third Madam, wore a brand new sapphire blue Hangzhou silk jacket with auspicious cloud patterns. Her face beamed with joy as she bustled about, entertaining the female guests who came to offer congratulations.

Dou Ming coldly snorted in disdain.

Dou Zhao told her, “If you didn’t want to come, you could have found an excuse. Since you’re here, be happy for me.”

Dou Ming giggled coyly and leaned close to Dou Zhao’s ear, whispering maliciously, “That night, I saw Ji Yong go to find you!” Her tone was full of undisguised schadenfreude.

Dou Zhao stepped back two paces and carefully examined the girl before her.

“Dou Ming, you don’t like me, and I don’t like you. We don’t need to pretend otherwise, and I think that’s fine,” she said in a low voice. “If you wish, you can scrutinize my daily life, oppose everything I agree with, and agree with everything I oppose. You can even debase yourself just to make me unhappy. But I won’t change anything because of you. Remember that! If you think Ji Yong’s visit to me damages my reputation as an unmarried woman, you can shout it at the gate of West Dou’s residence. I promise I won’t stop you.”

Dou Zhao leaned against the veranda railing, her pea-green skirt embroidered with yellow persimmon patterns spread on the ground. Her casual posture exuded an air of indifference and contempt, like a sharp sword piercing Dou Ming’s heart.

“Don’t be so smug!” She couldn’t help but threaten Dou Zhao. “One day, I’ll make you cry and beg me!”

Threats are built on strength.

If Song Mo had said this, she might have trembled in fear, right?

The thought flashed through her mind, and Dou Zhao laughed silently.

If it were Song Mo, he probably wouldn’t say such childish things, would he?

He would simply do it, make you cry, and beg him.

Her expression suddenly became a bit dazed.

Even with fast horses, the journey from the capital to Liaodong took over a month. That’s why the Liaodong Commander-in-Chief only returned to the capital once every three years to report. Since the Emperor had scolded Song Mo, it was clear he still held him in high favor. If the Emperor suddenly thought of him and issued a summons while he wasn’t in the capital… that would indeed be a troublesome matter.

Standing opposite Dou Zhao, Dou Ming trembled with anger.

Dou Zhao looked down on her to such an extent!

Was she so laughable that Dou Zhao couldn’t even be bothered to exchange pleasantries with her?

One day, one day, she would make Dou Zhao regret this!

Dou Ming’s hands clenched into fists, her nails digging painfully into her palms.

In the back garden of East Dou residence, the lotus flowers had withered, the osmanthus fragrance lingered, and the begonia buds were emerging. One scene followed another.

The women gathered in the flower hall, giggling and congratulating Qi Shi, who already had a son and was now pregnant again, on her good fortune.

Qi Shi blushed and kept expressing her thanks. Her younger sister, Little Qi Shi, who had married Fifth Madam’s nephew, sat beside Fifth Madam. Her eyes were filled with joy, clearly happy for her sister.

Kui’er, the eldest son of seventh cousin Dou Fanchang, was peeking into the flower hall.

Dou Zhao quietly beckoned to him.

In her previous life, she had been close to Third Uncle, and consequently familiar with the families of her two cousins, Dou Fanchang and Dou Huachang. She had watched Kui’er grow up, so naturally felt affectionate toward him.

Kui’er excitedly ran to Dou Zhao’s side, hugging the lattice of the flower hall.

“Fourth Aunt,” he said in his childish voice, “Brother Anyuan asked me to find him some incense…”

Dou Zhao immediately understood what was happening.

Firecrackers were being set off outside, and mischievous children often picked up the unexploded ones to light with incense. Because the fuses of these firecrackers were shorter than usual, children often hurt their hands or other body parts, making them particularly dangerous. Adults usually didn’t allow children to play with these. The name Anyuan sounded familiar, but he wasn’t a Dou family child, most likely a child from a family related by marriage. They must have seen that Kui’er was young and a Dou family child, so they encouraged him to ask adults for incense.

“What’s so fun about those discarded firecrackers on the ground?” She couldn’t let Kui’er play with this group, so she coaxed him, “Another day, Fourth Aunt will buy you a whole bunch of firecrackers. Today we have fresh autumn pears. Fourth Aunt will peel one for you to eat, and later Su Lan can take you to the woods to watch birds, okay?”

Kui’er’s mouth immediately began to water.

He obediently sat on a small stool at Dou Zhao’s feet, eating the pear.

Little Qi Shi saw this and quietly asked Fifth Madam, “Has Fourth Aunt been betrothed yet?”

To show familiarity, she followed her sister in addressing the Dou family members.

Her young uncle was of marriageable age.

Fifth Madam knew this and couldn’t help but laugh heartily, saying, “You’re a step too late. Our Fourth Sister is going to be a Marquise!”

With a daughter in the family, suitors come from all directions. Moreover, since Dou Zhao was already engaged, she didn’t mind people showing interest in her. Instead, she saw it as Dou Zhao’s glory—once a girl is married, she becomes like a pearl turned into a fish eye, only shining for these few years. So her voice was particularly loud, ensuring everyone in the flower hall could hear.

Little Qi Shi’s question was tactful, so it wasn’t awkward. Being clever, she quickly offered her congratulations.

Dou Zhao had never been one to be coy. She smiled without speaking, gracefully allowing them to discuss. This made others even more uninhibited.

“Our Fourth Sister is indeed fortunate. If she hadn’t been engaged to the Marquis of Jining from the capital since childhood, she might have married into a Cabinet Minister’s family,” Second Madam had been troubled since her failed matchmaking attempt for the Wu family. Now, with the opportunity to vindicate Dou Zhao in front of the relatives, she naturally spared no effort. Her voice was no quieter than Fifth Madam’s. “When the He family heard that Fourth Sister was already engaged, they were disappointed for quite some time.”

Third Madam’s sister-in-law carefully examined Dou Zhao and nodded, saying, “Fourth Miss’s earlobes are large and full, a sign of good fortune.”

“Of course!” Third Madam had a special relationship with Dou Zhao and naturally wanted to elevate her. She smiled and said, “You don’t know, when the old Marquis of Jining passed away, their family’s aunt sent someone, saying they wanted to marry within a hundred days. It angered our Old Madam so much that she shouted about breaking off the engagement. But before her words could settle, the Marquis of Jining sent his wet nurse to apologize and explain that it was because there was no one to manage the household, not because they wanted to slight Fourth Sister. Then they sent lotus lanterns for the Ghost Festival, zongzi for the Mid-Autumn Festival, and chrysanthemums for the Double Ninth Festival. They didn’t miss a single festival. I think they sincerely want to marry Fourth Sister quickly to set their minds at ease.”

Everyone covered their mouths and laughed, their expressions showing varying degrees of envy.

Dou Zhao, however, sighed inwardly.

In both her past and present lives, what Wei Tingyu liked was always her appearance.

Thinking of this, she felt somewhat confused.

What else could a man like about a woman if not her appearance?

Did she expect him to be her soulmate?

Although she understood this rationally, she couldn’t help but think that being a proper married couple only to have love fade as beauty wanes seemed meaningless.

She had indeed underestimated herself.

Suddenly feeling disinterested, she looked up and saw Ji Yong sitting alone by the lotus pond.

He wore a light purple robe and sat motionless on a blue stone bench. The autumn sunlight filtered through the nearly withered osmanthus tree branches, casting an ever-changing dappled light on him, making him appear cold and dejected, seemingly unreachable.

Ji Yong had never been so quiet before!

What could have happened?

Dou Zhao couldn’t help but speculate silently.

Meanwhile, Dou Ming, sitting beside her, felt like her heart was on fire.

She bit her lip hard, afraid she might say something she shouldn’t.

Just because she was going to marry a marquis, did everyone need to curry favor with her like this?

That marquis only held an idle position. Could he help the Dou family’s sons obtain official positions? Or could he speak for Fifth Uncle in the Cabinet?

These women, who only knew about needlework all day, had no insight!

Besides, she hadn’t married into that family yet.

Who knows, maybe something unexpected would happen, and the marriage would fall through.

A hint of mockery flashed in Dou Ming’s eyes. Just then, she saw Nanny Liu inviting everyone to move to Second Old Madam’s place, saying that Second Old Madam had prepared a feast in her courtyard to entertain everyone—the cost of this feast came from Second Old Madam’s savings.

The guests couldn’t help but congratulate Third Madam and Qi Shi once again.

Third Madam and Qi Shi beamed with joy, unable to contain their happiness.

It wasn’t about the money, but rather that Second Old Madam had used her savings to celebrate her great-nephew, showing her joy and affection.

The group chatted and laughed as they headed towards Second Old Madam’s place.

Dou Ming, who had been constantly watching Dou Zhao, noticed that Dou Zhao gradually fell behind the group. When they turned past the wisteria trellis, Dou Zhao suddenly disappeared.

Dou Ming inwardly sneered, stopped to pick a few wisteria flowers, and seeing that everyone had gone far ahead, she hurried towards the flower hall.

On the way, she saw Ji Yong and Dou Zhao standing by the lotus pond.

“Why are you sitting here?” Dou Zhao teased Ji Yong. “Is it because our family now has a young provincial examination graduate, and Cousin Ji can no longer be unrivaled as before, so you’re feeling a bit lost?”

Usually, if Ji Yong heard such words, he would immediately jump up and retort with his sharp tongue until she was left speechless. But today, Ji Yong only looked up at her once and said in a dejected tone, “I’m calculating accounts.”