In the days that followed, Dou Zhao focused her attention on Dou Ming.

One doctor after another examined her, and prescription after the prescription was tried, yet Dou Ming remained in a dazed, unresponsive state, neither speaking nor acknowledging others.

Zhou Mama wept anxiously, “What are we to do? What are we to do?”

Dou Zhao, too, was at a loss for solutions.

Duan Gongyi, who had arrived in the capital, sent word that Wang Tan had not damaged Wang Nan’s letter of recommendation. Yu Er, however, had indeed committed a transgression—he had lost money gambling and persuaded Shang’er to steal Wang Tan’s antique brush washer to sell. When the Wang family discovered this, they expelled both Yu Er and Shang’er from the Wang residence.

Once again, the trail went cold.

Dou Zhao heaved a long sigh.

The Second Madam, Third Madam, and several sisters-in-law and nieces-in-law who were at home came to visit the patient.

Dou Ming’s abduction had severely tarnished the Dou family’s reputation. The Second Madam, Second Lady, and Dou Zhao had already agreed on a story: whenever anyone inquired, they would say that Dou Ming had insisted on going to the capital to find her mother. When Dou Zhao refused, Dou Ming sulked and hid in the garden at midnight to scare Dou Zhao, but ended up frightening herself instead.

Seeing her in this state, everyone felt compelled to offer advice, recommending famous doctors or Taoist priests. However, the women of the East Dou family—either believing the Second Madam’s explanation and considering it a trivial matter, or feigning ignorance while knowing better—merely advised Dou Ming to rest and recuperate. Not one of them offered any substantial help. Their ambiguous attitudes suggested they were merely going through the motions out of familial obligation. Instead, it was Dou Zhao who was repeatedly pulled aside for private conversations, addressed as either “silly child” or “foolish little sister,” and told: “You can’t handle this. You should quickly inform your father and let Ming’er’s mother take care of her properly!”

Dou Zhao could only explain repeatedly that Guard Duan had already escorted Nanny Liu and Su Xin to the capital.

Those who spoke to her expressed relief but consistently advised: “This time, no matter what your father says, you mustn’t take Ming’er back under your care. That child is far too troublesome.”

Dou Zhao nodded continuously, thanking those who offered their advice.

After finally dealing with the relatives from the East Mansion, the day of Li Dong (Start of Winter) arrived.

Dou Zhao distributed the chrysanthemums and honeysuckle she had prepared to everyone in the household. They brewed the flowers into a bath to cleanse and prevent skin diseases.

The entire mansion was filled with the fragrance of chrysanthemums and honeysuckle.

Zhou Mama had bathed Dou Ming early in the morning. Noticing the fine weather and considering that Dou Ming had been cooped up indoors for days, she reported to Dou Zhao. Along with Fang Sheng’s wife, who had been newly assigned to care for Dou Ming and several maids of various ages, they brought cushions, tea, snacks, and a wooden stool, and helped Dou Ming to the back garden.

As they walked, Zhou Mama kept talking to Dou Ming: “This is winter jasmine, this is yulan magnolia, this is a pomegranate tree… The yulan magnolia blooms in spring, while the pomegranate tree flowers in summer, and after flowering, it bears fruit…” She chattered on, treating Dou Ming like a naive child. Dou Ming, however, remained wooden, as if none of this concerned her.

Fang Sheng’s wife’s face was full of pity as she and the young maids helped Dou Ming settle in the lakeside pavilion.

Zhou Mama then instructed the young maids, “You may go and play now!”

Fang Sheng’s wife hesitated, “Is that appropriate?”

They were all new to the household and had heard that the previous staff had been dismissed by Dou Zhao for failing to care for Dou Ming properly. Upon entering service, they had spent nearly half a month learning the rules from the household manager before being assigned to Qixia Court. Everyone was cautious, following the manager’s instructions to the letter, not daring to overstep.

“Fifth Miss used to love lively atmospheres,” Zhou Mama said wistfully. “If you all enjoy yourselves happily, Fifth Miss might recall her past and show some improvement in her condition.” She added, “Fourth Miss isn’t as rigid as you might think. It was because the previous staff at Qixia Court made mistakes that the Fourth Miss replaced them. If you don’t believe me, just look at the people around Fourth Miss—aren’t they all cheerful and smiling?”

Fang Sheng’s wife considered this and smiled as she passed on the instructions.

The young maids, only seven or eight years old, had been chosen by Dou Zhao to serve Dou Ming in hopes of livening up the atmosphere in Qixia Court. None of them were particularly thoughtful children. At first, they were a bit restrained, but as they looked at the colorful brick paths in the garden, the blooming camellias, and the lush old trees, they gradually relaxed. They began to play games with grass, and admire flowers, and their laughter and chatter created a lively scene. This commotion caught the attention of Ji Yong and Dou Qijun, who had been sitting near a Taihu rock formation not far away, with Dou Qijun using the excuse of going for a walk to pester Ji Yong.

Dou Qijun led Ji Yong up to the pavilion on the artificial mountain, where they could see the young maids laughing and playing. He couldn’t help but recite, “Lingering butterflies dance time and again, carefree orioles sing just right!”

This made Ji Yong roll his eyes as he retorted, “Do you see any of them as delicate and beautiful as spring orioles? They’re all dirty and disheveled…” Before he could finish his sentence, he suddenly exclaimed “Oh!” and started walking down the mountain.

“Where are you going?” Dou Qijun hurriedly followed, only to see several maids surrounding Dou Zhao as they walked towards the waterside pavilion.

“Fourth Aunt!” Dou Qijun called out to Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao turned around, and seeing Dou Qijun and Ji Yong, she smiled, “Cousin Ji and Boyan are also out for a walk in the garden?”

Dou Qijun smiled, “We’ve been studying until midnight these past few days. It’s rare to have such good weather, so we came out for a stroll.” Then, noticing Dou Ming sitting in the pavilion, he asked, “Has Fifth Aunt’s condition improved?”

“There hasn’t been much progress yet,” Dou Zhao replied, her mood visibly dampened.

Ji Yong, however, spoke dismissively, “What’s it to you? You’re not her mother! Even if you were, you can’t keep her tied to your waist all day, can you?”

Dou Zhao smiled bitterly, “Father entrusted her to me, so I bear some responsibility.”

Dou Qijun added, “The law doesn’t extend beyond human emotions. It might make sense legally, but not from a Confucian perspective.”

“That’s why Confucianism disrupts the law and undermines the imperial court,” Ji Yong retorted.

“That’s too absolute a statement. If everyone only followed the law without considering human emotions, wouldn’t all those righteous heroes who helped the common people be condemned?” Dou Qijun argued.

“It’s precisely because of these emotional considerations that loopholes exist. Helping the people is the government’s job, what does it have to do with those martial arts practitioners?” Ji Yong countered.

Dou Zhao couldn’t help but tease Ji Yong, “Cousin Ji, you sound like a Confucian scholar yourself!”

Ji Yong pursed his lips, “Wine and meat pass through the gut, but Buddha remains in the heart.”

Dou Qijun and Dou Zhao burst into laughter.

The three of them entered the waterside pavilion together.

Zhou Mama and the others hurried forward to pay their respects.

Dou Zhao asked them, “How is Fifth Miss today?”

“She’s doing alright,” Zhou Mama replied tactfully. “This morning she ate half a steamed bun and a small bowl of rice porridge. At noon, she had a few slices of bamboo shoots, some meatballs, and about half a bowl of noodles.”

Dou Zhao nodded.

Dou Qijun then smiled and greeted Dou Ming, “Fifth Aunt, do you still recognize me?”

Dou Ming sat woodenly on the chaise lounge by the pavilion, staring blankly out the window, seemingly unaware of her surroundings.

Dou Zhao spoke softly, “She doesn’t respond to people now.”

Dou Qijun nodded understandingly.

Ji Yong, however, spoke caustically, “She looks fine to me! She can eat and drink, and she’s not causing trouble. She’s much more pleasant to look at than before.”

“Master Ji!” Zhou Mama, barely containing her anger, said in a deep voice, “Please mind your words.”

Ji Yong sneered, “Am I wrong? For someone as ignorant as her, being able to stay at home quietly without causing trouble is a blessing. There’s always someone better, always a higher power. Not everything can be solved just because the Dou and Wang families intervene!”

Dou Zhao and Dou Qijun remained silent.

Zhou Mama’s eyes reddened as she choked out, “Even so, Master Ji shouldn’t speak of our Fifth Miss like that! She’s still so young…”

“You can tell a person’s character by age three,” Ji Yong interrupted Zhou Mama ruthlessly. “You know what kind of person she is. Can you wash your hands of her current state? Don’t blame others when things go wrong, think about your role…”

“Cousin Ji!” Dou Zhao called out disapprovingly.

“Forget it!” Ji Yong waved his hand as if he couldn’t be bothered to argue with Zhou Mama anymore. “You wouldn’t understand even if I explained it to you. I’m not going to waste my breath!”

Zhou Mama’s face flushed red.

Suddenly, Dou Ming covered her ears and started screaming—she had turned to face them at some point.

Dou Zhao, Dou Qijun, Zhou Mama, and Fang Sheng’s wife rushed over, anxiously asking, “What’s wrong? What’s wrong?” Zhou Mama even embraced Dou Ming, choking back tears as she said, “Ming’er, Ming’er, what’s the matter?”

Dou Ming, who had been in a dazed state since being rescued by Duan Gongyi, suddenly pointed at Ji Yong and shrieked, “It was him! It was him who harmed me! He instructed Yu Er…”

Everyone looked shocked, except for Dou Zhao and Dou Qijun—the former lowered her gaze, while the latter’s face turned stern.

“Fifth Aunt, you can’t make such reckless accusations!” he said sternly. “You say Master Ji harmed you, do you have any evidence?”

“I knew it, I knew it!” Dou Ming wailed. “Yu Er said it, when immortals fight, lesser beings suffer… I only offended him, only he would harm me…”

Hearing these completely irrational words, Dou Qijun ignored Dou Ming’s cries and instead apologized to Ji Yong with a face full of remorse: “Fifth Aunt might be confused from the shock. Please forgive her, Master Ji!”

Ji Yong cast a scornful glance at Dou Ming and strode away.

Dou Qijun hurriedly said to Dou Zhao, “Master Ji is proud by nature. I will explain this incident to him properly. You need not concern yourself,” before running after Ji Yong.

“It’s him! It’s him!” Dou Ming screamed at Ji Yong’s retreating figure, scratching and kicking at Zhou Mama as she tried to break free and chase after Ji Yong. “I’ll die with him!”

“Fifth Miss, Fifth Miss!” Zhou Mama was sweating profusely in her distress, and Fang Sheng’s wife also came forward to help.

Dou Zhao, however, walked to the side of the pavilion and stood by the chaise lounge, gazing into the distance.

Ji Yong and Dou Qijun disappeared around a bend in the path, deep in conversation.

That evening, she went to see Ji Yong: “What would have happened if Duan Gongyi hadn’t caught up with Dou Ming in time?”

Ji Yong smiled, “It would have just been a lesson for her. In reality, you don’t need to worry about her at all.”

He didn’t explicitly answer what arrangements he had made.

The night wind blew, carrying a biting chill.

Dou Zhao couldn’t help but tighten her cloak.

Ji Yong said, “Hey, you’re not angry, are you? If there’s anyone to blame, it’s her for having such bad luck to run into me. But if she hadn’t met me, it would have been your bad luck…”

“I know,” Dou Zhao said softly. “If the lantern had fallen from midair, it could have burned half your face, and you might never have had the chance to enter official service; if the horse that ate the croton seeds had suddenly gone weak in the legs, you could have fallen off and been paralyzed… That time in the garden, if she had succeeded, we might have been ruined.” At this point, she looked up, staring intently into Ji Yong’s eyes. “That’s why I haven’t reproached you. But I also hope that when you act, you can leave people a glimmer of hope.”