That evening, Dou Zhao, who had been allowed only one cup of wine, slept with her aunt and cousin Zhao Zhangru.
They shared their feelings since their separation. Although they had exchanged letters frequently, the joy of squeezing onto one bed and looking at the faces they had missed day and night was something letters couldn’t provide.
Soon, the sound of the third watch drum echoed.
Zhao Zhangru had already fallen asleep with her head tilted.
Dou Zhao, still engrossed in conversation, felt no hint of sleepiness. “…So the new Provincial Administration Commissioner and Uncle were in the same imperial examination year?”
“That’s why you don’t need to worry about us anymore.” Her aunt, understanding Dou Zhao’s concern as all her topics revolved around her uncle, said, “Not only that, when Lord Li participated in the spring imperial examinations, he stayed at the same inn as your uncle. They got along well and have been corresponding since. When Lord Li took office this time, he summoned your uncle first. He often consults with your uncle on administrative matters. Your uncle’s smooth promotion to Prefect of Qingyang is largely due to Lord Li’s recommendation.”
With Wang Yixing’s prolonged stay as the Provincial Governor of Shaanxi, the entire political landscape had changed, not to mention Shaanxi itself. Her uncle’s career had undergone a dramatic transformation.
Dou Zhao’s joy was evident. She smiled and said, “Then Aunt should socialize more with Lady Li.”
Her aunt chuckled and said, “Our Shou Gu has truly grown into a young lady, even knowing about such things.”
Dou Zhao smiled, pressing her lips together, and asked about her three female cousins.
“They’re all doing well,” her aunt said briefly, then asked about Dou Zhao’s coming-of-age ceremony. “Who will perform the hairpin ceremony for you? Who are the officiants?”
“The Second Madam was planning to perform the hairpin ceremony. Shu’er was originally going to be the officiant, with another relative chosen as the assistant,” Dou Zhao smiled. “We didn’t expect you and Sixth Aunt to return. Sixth Aunt even brought Cousin Ji, worried that I might not have officiants. Now that you’re here, why don’t you perform the hairpin ceremony for me?”
Compared to the Second Madam, Dou Zhao preferred her aunt as the main guest. Moreover, with her aunt coming from afar, the Dou family, out of respect for Dou Zhao’s maternal relatives, would likely suggest letting her aunt perform the ceremony if Dou Zhao hinted at it.
Her aunt was surprised that the Second Madam herself would perform the hairpin ceremony for Dou Zhao, but more than that, she felt gratified.
Having the respected Second Madam of Zhending perform the ceremony would elevate Dou Zhao’s status, which could only benefit her.
She had brought Zhao Zhangru back, fearing that Dou Zhao’s ceremony might lack suitable officiants. Now that everything was arranged, she felt relieved and didn’t mention Zhao Zhangru’s role.
“Let the Second Madam perform the hairpin ceremony for you,” her aunt smiled. “It’s rare for her to show such care. As for your Sixth Aunt, you should be especially filial to her. She treats you like her own daughter.”
Dou Zhao nodded repeatedly.
With no more worries, her aunt smiled and urged Dou Zhao, “We’re planning to stay in Zhending for two months. There will be plenty of opportunities to talk. Now, go to sleep quickly. You have your coming-of-age ceremony tomorrow! It would be terrible if you’re not in good spirits on such an important day.” She then tucked Dou Zhao in.
Dou Zhao giggled like a child, unable to sleep, but knowing her aunt must be tired from the long journey, she remained quiet.
Soon, she heard her aunt’s steady breathing.
In the quiet night, this usually cold room suddenly felt warm and cozy.
Dou Zhao closed her eyes with a smile on her lips and soon fell into a deep sleep. The next day, it took Suxin’s prodding to wake her up.
She sat up hurriedly.
Her aunt’s steady voice, tinged with amusement, came from beside her: “No rush, no rush! It’s still early! I said to let you sleep a bit more, but Suxin said you told her to wake you at the fifth watch. I couldn’t interfere.”
“Is it only the fifth watch now?” Dou Zhao sighed in relief, then noticed that Zhao Zhangru was still sleeping like a little pig, undisturbed by all the commotion.
“It’s three-quarters past the fifth watch,” Suxin hurriedly said. “In half an hour, the Second Madam and others will arrive.”
Dou Zhao calculated mentally that there was still time and relaxed even more.
She let the invited matrons help her dress while her aunt went to wake Zhao Zhangru.
Zhao Zhangru wailed loudly, slipped on her shoes only to find she hadn’t put on socks, then after putting on socks, couldn’t find her handkerchief. She called out in panic, “Shou Gu, lend me one of your handkerchiefs!” Her antics made all the servants in the room cover their mouths and laugh.
Her aunt was both amused and exasperated, scolding, “Look at you! You’re two years older than Shou Gu, yet you don’t have half her composure. How can I feel at ease marrying you off like this?!”
Zhao Zhangru’s face turned crimson.
Hearing the hidden meaning in these words, Dou Zhao took the opportunity when her aunt went to the restroom to quietly ask her third cousin, “Am I going to drink wedding wine again?”
Zhao Zhangru pushed Dou Zhao gently and said in a low, embarrassed voice, “Father wants to keep me at home…”
Memories from her previous life gradually became clearer in Dou Zhao’s mind.
Her uncle had never taken a concubine and only had three daughters. The eldest and second cousins had married into scholarly families where her uncle had held office, with the eldest cousin’s husband even passing the imperial examinations. The third cousin was to marry and stay at home. However, except for the eldest cousin, she had never met the other two in her previous life, let alone had any relationship with them. She wasn’t sure whom the third cousin had eventually married.
Looking at Zhao Zhangru’s pouting face, she smiled and said, “What? You don’t want to stay at home?”
“What does it matter if I want to or not!” Zhao Zhangru grumbled. “We can’t leave Father and Mother without support in their old age, can we?”
No ambitious young man would willingly become a live-in son-in-law.
Dou Zhao could understand Zhao Zhangru’s feelings, but as she said, they couldn’t leave her uncle and aunt without support in their old age.
The atmosphere suddenly became somber.
Zhao Zhangru quickly smiled and said, “Forget about my situation. Today is your special day.”
However, no bad news had come from her uncle’s family, so their life must be going well… Besides, there was still a long future ahead, and Zhao Zhangru wasn’t engaged yet.
Dou Zhao smiled and linked arms with Zhao Zhangru as they went to the main hall.
Soon, the women from the East Mansion and some ladies who came to observe the ceremony arrived.
The Second Madam was dressed formally in the attire of a third-rank lady, with light makeup and emerald hairpins, looking very spirited.
As soon as she entered, she took her aunt’s hand and said with a smile, “Today, I’ll perform the hairpin ceremony for Shou Gu. Let your daughter hold the tray for Dou Zhao, and Miss Ji from the Ji family will be the assistant.” Without waiting for her aunt to decline, she continued, “I’ve decided on this, and no one should say otherwise. You’ve come from so far to celebrate Shou Gu’s coming of age. Not only will Shou Gu remember this kindness, but I will too.”
Everything changes.
In the past, the Second Madam would have suppressed her aunt for the sake of the Dou family. Now, to suppress Wang Yingxue, she had to elevate her aunt.
Dou Zhao understood this in her heart and was pleased to see such a scene. She tugged at her aunt’s sleeve, urging her to agree.
The wife of Pang Jinlou, who had been treated as an ordinary guest without even an assigned seat, looked very displeased upon hearing this.
Thinking of how Dou Zhao had grown up alone in the Dou family, her aunt couldn’t bear to disappoint her and quickly agreed.
The hall was filled with a harmonious atmosphere.
When the auspicious time came, under the watchful eyes of many women, Zhao Zhangru stood at the west of the hall, holding a gold and ruby hairpin specially sent by Dou Shiyingfor Dou Zhao’s coming-of-age ceremony. Ji Lingze assisted the Second Madam in inserting the hairpin into Dou Zhao’s hair.
The golden phoenix on the hairpin looked lifelike, with dazzling rubies complementing Dou Zhao’s bright red robe embroidered with golden threads and sapphire-colored passion flower borders. She looked dignified and radiant, presenting a different kind of grace from her usual spirited demeanor. The guests couldn’t help but turn to look, whispering among themselves.
“The Dou family’s Fourth Miss has grown up!”
“She’s so beautiful, truly worthy of becoming a Marchioness!”
Ji Lingze, watching Dou Zhao gracefully yet enthusiastically pour wine for the elders at the banquet, seemed to want to say something several times but held back.
Zhao Zhangru, however, whispered to her, “Shou Gu looks so beautiful today, don’t you think?”
Ji Lingze nodded and hesitantly asked, “Is she engaged to the Marquis of Jining?”
“Of course,” Zhao Zhangru smiled brightly. “My mother came this time not only to congratulate Shou Gu on her coming of age but also to see how her dowry is being prepared. Didn’t the Jining Marquis’s household send someone to say they wanted Shou Gu to marry within a hundred days? My mother thinks the Jining household is looking down on us, so Shou Gu’s dowry can’t be neglected…”
Ji Lingze responded with a soft “Mm,” listening absent-mindedly.
Two days later, after all the congratulatory guests had left, her aunt took Zhao Zhangru back to her maiden home. Madam Ji, rarely back, wanted to show filial piety to the Second Madam. Only then did Dou Zhao have time to go through the gift lists.
“Oh, Mr. Yan, Xu Qing, and Lu Ming all sent congratulatory gifts!”
“Yes,” Suxin, who had already gone through the gift list once, roughly knew who had sent what. “Not only did those three send gifts, but Tan Family Village also sent a ‘Longevity Buddha’ statue as a gift.”
“Ah!” Dou Zhao was very surprised and laughed, “It’s not like I’m celebrating a birthday.” But she was curious and instructed Suxin, “Let’s go take a look.”
Suxin and Dou Zhao went to the storehouse where the gifts were kept.
There were so many gifts that they were still being cataloged.
Suxin and Ganlu, along with a few young maids, searched for half a day before finding it.
The Buddha statue was only three feet tall, but it was carved from a single piece of mutton-fat jade, flawless and exquisitely crafted, clearly very valuable.
Dou Zhao smiled, “Now we’ll have to send expensive gifts for any happy occasion in the Tan family.”
“What’s rare is this show of respect,” Suxin smiled. “Tan Family Village in Lingbi County is one of the most prominent families there.”
Dou Zhao nodded but wondered why she hadn’t seen a gift from Ji Yong.
Given his personality, he shouldn’t have missed such a lively occasion.
She went back and looked through the list again.
Indeed, there was no gift from Ji Yong.
Nor from Song Mo.
But she saw a painting of “Immortal Mountain Pavilion” by Zhao Boju, sent by Wu Shan.
It was tucked in with the Ru kiln lotus-shaped brush washer sent by Dou Dechang.
Dou Zhao couldn’t help but sigh.
She instructed Suxin to carefully store the “Immortal Mountain Pavilion” painting at the bottom of a chest.
A few days later, Sixth Aunt came with Ji Lingze to say goodbye: “…The betrothal gifts will be sent in September, and there’s a pile of things waiting for me at home.” She also tries to persuade Dou Zhao through Grandmother to go to the capital with her: “…She’s going to marry into a family in the capital, so she should go early and familiarize herself with the situation.” She then said to Dou Zhao, “You can stay with me in Cat Alley. If anyone asks, just say I invited you to help out. At most, you’ll need to greet the people in Willow Leaf Alley. They can’t force you to stay, can they?”
Even for greetings, she didn’t want to interact with the Wang family!
Dou Zhao smiled and shook her head.
She would go to the capital, but not now.