Ji Yong listened, his anger flaring. “Why should I give her a chance? She fell into my trap; it’s her foolishness. If she wants to scheme against me, she should have the ability to do so! What nonsense about bringing trouble upon herself and planting poison in the horse feed? I’ve been playing with such tricks since I was five! And spying on our movements, calling in the elders… If I were her, I would simply imitate your handwriting, write a letter to me, and let Liu Mama discover it. Why make such a fuss and gather so many people? She’s incompetent, and you dare blame me! What have I done wrong? You’re defending her! In the end, it’s just because she’s your sister…”

He truly believed he had done nothing wrong.

Dou Ming’s downfall was due to his incompetence. Ji Yong was furious that he had spoken up for Dou Ming.

Dou Zhao suddenly understood why the old master of the Ji family wanted Ji Yong to experience the world. In Ji Yong’s mind, there was no right or wrong, only you and me. Thus, he sought revenge for every slight. He knew full well the consequences Dou Ming would face if he were kidnapped, yet he remained indifferent. He was too clever, too arrogant, dismissing all worldly matters, etiquette, and morals.

While others might fear divine retribution for their wrongdoings, Ji Yong feared nothing. He was truly reckless! Such a person, the more he read, the more he learned; the more he learned, the greater his destructive potential. The old master of the Ji family merely hoped Ji Yong would develop a bit of compassion through experiencing the joys and sorrows of the world.

But, in his previous life, the old master had failed! Ji Yong challenged societal norms as an outsider, donning the robes of a third-rank official; he encouraged the emperor to renounce the throne, merely to save those who could not be saved, achieving what no one before him had accomplished, all to prove his capabilities.

“No,” Dou Zhao interrupted Ji Yong, looking at him with concern. “It’s not just because she’s my sister; it’s because I don’t want to see you become someone like Dou Ming!” Her voice was calm and rational, tinged with a hint of sorrow, which left Ji Yong momentarily speechless.

“You’re so intelligent and capable,” Dou Zhao continued earnestly, “You learn faster than anyone else and excel at everything you do. While others struggle with problems, you solve them effortlessly. You should be better than everyone else! But look at you now, engaging in a battle of wits with an outsider and arguing with Dou Ming… Look at Bo Yan; he spent a year traveling through Zhen Ding, hoping to improve the lives of the common people! He may not be as clever as you, but what he does is far more meaningful! Cousin Ji,” her expression was sincere, “You should aim higher and see further, not confine yourself to this inner courtyard. With your intelligence, you can become someone who benefits the common people and earns the admiration of future generations!”

Ji Yong’s expression gradually turned serious. The atmosphere felt heavy and oppressive. Ji Yong was someone who responded better to gentleness than harshness; was Dou Zhao’s reprimand too severe?

Dou Zhao pondered for a moment, then flashed a playful smile. “Then I can tell my descendants that Ji Jianming, Ji Yong, is my cousin! When he took the imperial examination, he even stayed at our house to study!”

Ji Yong’s face remained stern, devoid of any smile, and he turned to leave.

“Alas!” Dou Zhao shook her head.

Su Lan hurried over. “Miss, the Fifth Miss is making a fuss to find Young Master Ji.”

Dou Zhao’s heart ignited with anger. “What does she want now?” she said, striding quickly toward Qixia Courtyard, with Su Lan and others following closely behind.

Qixia Courtyard was brightly lit. Granny Zhou tightly held Dou Ming, who was jumping up and down and earnestly advised her, “Fifth Miss, please stop making a scene. If this escalates, we won’t be able to keep the events of that day under wraps. How will you live with yourself afterward? Fourth Miss has been running around for your sake these past few days, and she’s lost weight. Can’t you consider her feelings…?”

“Why should I care about her feelings?” Dou Ming shouted, growing more agitated. “She knows Ji Yong harmed me, yet she protects him! Does she even treat me like a sister? If the truth comes out, so be it; I’d rather die!”

“Granny Zhou, let her go!” Dou Zhao had entered the inner room without anyone noticing. She stood at the door, coldly gazing at Dou Ming. “She’s just relying on being back home. If this goes too far, the Dou family won’t stand by idly. Ji Jianming wouldn’t dare do anything to her. If she wants to find Ji Jianming, let her go! But I’ll say this upfront: if you don’t give me face, I won’t give you any either. Even if Ji Jianming wants to drown you in the lake, I’ll stand by and watch.” Her gaze swept over the servants in the inner room. “As for you all, anyone who helps her in her reckless behavior will meet the same fate as those who used to serve in Qixia Courtyard.”

The maids and wives immediately turned pale, shrinking against the wall.

Dou Ming stared at Dou Zhao as if she wanted to swallow her whole. “Dou Zhao, don’t think I’m afraid!”

“You are!” Dou Zhao replied calmly, as if Dou Ming were merely complaining about not eating vegetables. “I know you are, which is why I let Granny Zhou release you. After all, you don’t care about anyone. If your maid Ji Hong helps you and gets sold off, you can just find another maid. Granny Zhou protects you because she wants to; if she dies, it’s her fault…”

“You’re talking nonsense! You’re talking nonsense!” For the first time, Dou Ming, who usually acted tough in front of Dou Zhao, showed a look of panic.

“Am I?” Dou Zhao retorted. “Where is Ji Hong? Ask Granny Zhou; if it weren’t for me, would she still be standing here? A coward who can’t even protect those around her has no right to act recklessly at home. If you have the ability, don’t drag others down with you; go find Ji Jianming and settle the score yourself!” She instructed Su Lan, “Pass my message down: close the main gate. Let the Fifth Miss do whatever she wants, but if anyone helps her, even if it’s just handing her a needle, drag them out and beat them to death!”

Granny Zhou held Dou Ming tighter. “Fifth Miss, please, I beg you…”

Fueled by her anger, Dou Ming forcefully pushed Granny Zhou away and rushed out.

Granny Zhou immediately chased after her.

Dou Zhao blocked Granny Zhou. “Do you want to harm her again?”

Granny Zhou broke down in tears.

Fueled by her anger, Dou Ming charged toward Heshou Hall. But when she reached the entrance, she hesitated.

Along the way, everyone she encountered truly ignored her.

The image of Aunt Mo’s cold, frosty eyes flashed in her mind.

She shivered involuntarily, wrapping her arms around herself.

A couple of young servants emerged from Heshou Hall. “What’s wrong with the young master? Lying in the drunken chair without eating or drinking; if something happens, how will we explain it to the old master?”

“It’s nothing. I heard the young master wanted to make an elixir for immortality and didn’t step out of his room for a whole year, yet he’s fine now!”

Dou Ming quickly hid behind a nearby tree.

The two young servants chatted and laughed as they walked past her.

She squatted beneath the tree, watching the sunset, as darkness gradually enveloped the surroundings.

The night wind seemed to chill her to the bone.

Dou Ming trembled from the cold.

No one came to find her.

The moonlight was bright, with a few scattered stars in the sky.

“Dou Zhao, Ji Yong, I will make you pay. I will make you pay…” Dou Ming clenched her fists, gritting her teeth as she muttered to herself.

A shadow suddenly leaped out from the flowerbed beside her, landing at her feet.

She screamed sharply and fled toward Qixia Courtyard.

The shadow was startled, crouching down and meowing.

Heshou Hall and Qixia Courtyard fell silent.

Su Lan let out a long breath. “Finally, we can quietly do something else!”

With winter approaching, preparations for the Winter Solstice Festival were about to begin.

The maids needed to pound rice cakes and make dumplings, while Dou Zhao had to personally make shoes and socks for the elders.

Everyone busied themselves.

Duan Gongyi and Su Xin hurried back, looking worn out.

Dou Zhao and Su Xin spoke in the inner room.

“Seventh Master was furious; before I could leave, he smashed the teacup in his hand. Granny Liu was even more formidable, throwing out veiled insults, saying the Wang family lacked upbringing and couldn’t even raise their daughters or maids properly. Wang Old Lady nearly fainted from anger, and then the second wife of the Wang family jumped out to argue with Granny Liu. The maid from the Ma family didn’t back down either, cursing right back at the second wife of the Wang family,” Su Xin recounted, astonished. “I usually find the Ma family quite amiable, but I didn’t expect them to be so sharp-tongued. No wonder Granny Liu brought her along! Without her, we wouldn’t have had anyone to counter the second wife of the Wang family. In the end, it was the eldest wife of the Wang family who intervened, advising Wang Old Lady not to stoop to Granny Liu’s level while reprimanding Granny Liu for not knowing her place. She spoke beautifully, but unfortunately, Granny Liu was sent by the second madam to cause trouble, and she didn’t hold back, quickly silencing the eldest wife of the Wang family. Yet, Wang Old Lady still found the eldest wife’s words too soft and wouldn’t let her intervene, leaving the eldest wife anxious on the sidelines. The private residence of a governor is even worse than the streets of Zhen Ding County, making a ruckus that could be heard for miles. I wonder if the neighbors can hear it?”

This was something Dou Zhao had anticipated.

After all, Dou Ming was a young lady of the Dou family; causing a scene wouldn’t benefit them. However, letting the second madam of the Wang family off the hook wouldn’t sit well with her, so she sent a few formidable maids to provoke the Wang family, adding to their troubles and relieving her frustration.

However, Dou Zhao was somewhat surprised that the second madam of the Wang family chose to argue back with Granny Liu.

In her previous life, Dou Zhao had dealt with the second madam of the Wang family many times.

In her impression, the second madam was someone who cared about her image, indicating that she was truly furious this time.

But none of this concerned her; she was only interested in her father, Dou Shiying’s reaction.

Dou Zhao asked Su Xin, “Did you convey my message to my father? What did he say?”

“Seventh Master seemed quite troubled,” Su Xin replied. “He said he wasn’t at ease handing the Fifth Miss over to someone else. I told him what the second madam said to you that day, and he didn’t respond at the time. Just before I returned, he called me in and said that after the Winter Solstice Festival, the Fifth Miss would be sent to the capital. However, I heard from Chief Steward Gao that the Seventh Master seems to have hired a tutor from the palace to teach the Fifth Miss proper etiquette.”

That’s good!

Dou Zhao nodded.

Su Lan entered with a bright smile. “Duan Guard is here.”

Before Duan Gongyi left, she had quietly instructed him to find an opportunity to meet Chen Qu Shui.

Dou Zhao immediately stood up and went to the hall.

Duan Gongyi’s hair was still damp, clearly having washed up before coming to see her.

The hall was empty, so Dou Zhao directly asked, “How is Mr. Chen now?”

“Mr. Chen is doing well,” Duan Gongyi replied solemnly. “At first, he was blocked from going anywhere, but since the matter with the Jiang family has settled, as long as it’s not the critical areas like Young Master Mei’s study, inner chamber, banquet room, or accounting room, Mr. Chen can come and go freely.” He paused, then added, “However, Duke Ying’s wife passed away on October 26.”