After the second day of the second month, the wind no longer carried a chill.
The flowering trees sprouted tender buds, and the grass pushed through the earth. The forsythia bloomed exuberantly, its blossoms covering the branches and slopes, brightening the entire sky.
Dou Zhao wore a light blue silk jacket and a green eight-panel skirt, quietly sitting in the octagonal pavilion of the back garden, serene as a clear spring flowing gently through a mountain stream.
The old master of the Ji family personally intervened, reaching an understanding with her fifth uncle by supporting his trusted aide, the Director of the Ministry of Personnel, Fang Zhou, to take the position of Governor of Zhejiang. They were merely waiting to break off the engagement with the Wei family to arrange her marriage to Ji Yong.
Why had the Ji family suddenly taken an interest in her?
Especially while she was still married to Luo Fu.
If this news got out, how could the Ji family maintain their standing in Jiangnan?
No wonder those who knew about it kept it a secret!
Dou Zhao never belittled herself, nor did she blindly boast.
In terms of character, compared to those renowned filial daughters and virtuous women, her reputation was not prominent; regarding her background, her mother had passed away early; in terms of appearance, she was far from being a beauty; and in terms of family status, although the Dou family had become one of the notable families in North Zhili due to her fifth uncle’s entry into the cabinet, his foundation was still shallow. The Jiangnan families had stood for centuries, and the Ji family was one of them. The old master of the Ji family would not seek another marriage alliance with the Dou family for the sake of family interests, especially since the Ji and Dou families were already related by marriage. Her sixth uncle, who married a Ji family girl, was a full brother to her fifth uncle, making him much closer than her cousin, who was nearly out of the five-degree mourning period. The Ji family did not need to take such a step.
After much thought, only one possibility remained.
The Ji family hoped to use her to restrain Ji Yong.
As Dou Zhao pondered, her gaze fell on the nearby flowering crabapple tree.
The bright red flowers bloomed profusely, dazzling like clouds at dawn, fiery like flames.
Did Ji Yong know the old master of the Ji family’s true intentions?
What was he thinking?
Dou Zhao felt she should meet Ji Yong.
However, before she could instruct Su Xin, Chen Qu Shui came to see her with the account books.
“The heir wants to see you,” he said, fiddling with the abacus. “From his tone, it seems he knows you are unwilling to marry Duke of Jining.”
Dou Zhao couldn’t help but feel a headache.
The Wei family’s matter was still unresolved, and now Ji Yong had gotten involved, and another figure, Song Mo, had emerged…
She said, “Tell the heir that my marriage will be decided by my elders, and he should not interfere.”
Chen Qu Shui hesitated.
Dou Zhao informed him of the old master of the Ji family’s visit.
Chen Qu Shui was taken aback. “How could this happen?”
Compared to the Wei family, the Ji family’s proposal was indeed a match in terms of status.
“If I want to break off the engagement, yet tacitly allow Song Mo to intervene, what does that mean?” Dou Zhao said. “Moreover, you know Song Mo’s character; if he intervenes, he will surely succeed. But then what? I fear that as soon as I break off the engagement with the Wei family, the Ji family will propose to me—unlike the Wei family, the Ji family can support my fifth uncle in court. If this marriage is settled, it won’t be easy to back out. If I stubbornly refuse to marry, not only will the second madam and my fifth uncle oppose me, but even my father, Aunt Cui, and my sixth aunt will likely not allow me to act willfully. If this continues, people might think I’ve gone mad. Once it reaches that point, it becomes a deadlock. Am I supposed to marry my cousin Ji? I might as well marry Duke of Jining. At least Duke of Jining is easier to deal with; if I marry my cousin Ji, I might have to sleep with one eye open. I just want to live a comfortable life and pass away peacefully; I have no intention of assisting my husband in entering the cabinet or leaving a mark in history—I lack that ability.”
Chen Qu Shui couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m old enough not to care about life and death, yet you, a young girl, speak as if you were an old soul. However, your words are not without reason. Although Ji Jianming is exceptionally talented, he is also proud and difficult to get along with. Moreover, the Ji family has six legitimate branches and thirteen collateral branches, along with their in-laws, totaling over a hundred households. Marrying Ji Jianming is indeed less favorable than marrying into Duke of Jining’s household.”
Perhaps due to his life experiences, only Chen Qu Shui understood her desire to remain independent.
With his affirmation, Dou Zhao felt much better.
She said, “I think we should start with the Wei family—if the Wei family does not agree to break off the engagement, the Dou family cannot negotiate with the Ji family. At that time, the Ji family will surely entice the Wei family to withdraw; as long as we hold the leverage over both families, we will have the moral high ground, and my fifth uncle will not be able to marry me off to the Ji family.”
Chen Qu Shui pondered, “You mean to accuse the Ji family of disrupting your engagement… In that case, even if the fifth master wants to ally with the Ji family, he cannot bear the reputation of colluding to harm his niece!”
“Exactly,” Dou Zhao smiled. “The Wei family is untrustworthy, and the Ji family bullies the weak. I can use this as an excuse to remain uninvolved in marriage matters from now on. Considering I have half of the West Dou family’s assets under my name, I believe the second madam will persuade my fifth uncle to keep me at home.”
Chen Qu Shui, however, expressed concern, “What if the Ji family and the Wei family drag this out? Duke of Jining is not young anymore, and there is no one to manage the household. The Wei family cannot continue to delay; at most, by this autumn, this marriage must conclude.”
Dou Zhao laughed, “Do you think the Ji family will drag this out with the Wei family?”
Chen Qu Shui was puzzled. “Dragging it out can only benefit the Ji family, after all, they are the ones in the wrong.”
“If the Ji family thought that way, they wouldn’t have done something so shameless as to take another’s wife,” Dou Zhao sneered. “Ji Jianming has grown up like this; do you think the Ji family bears no responsibility?”
Chen Qu Shui could only smile wryly.
Dou Zhao said, “Please help me invite Duke of Jining to our home for a meeting!”
“Here or at Jing’an Temple Alley?”
“Of course, at Jing’an Temple Alley,” Dou Zhao replied. “After all, this is where my fifth aunt manages the household, and it is inconvenient to act here.” She added, “Also, please give Song Mo a hint that we already have a plan in place. We don’t want him to meddle and complicate matters further.”
A sixteen-year-old girl suddenly declaring she would never marry would either be seen as a joke or thought to be immature, with others trying to persuade her to marry in their way.
If Song Mo had similar intentions, he might even personally introduce a match for her.
Chen Qu Shui nodded.
The two discussed some details, and Dou Zhao escorted him to the flower gate. Upon turning back, she unexpectedly ran into Ji Yong, who was about to leave.
“Cousin Ji!” Dou Zhao greeted him.
His face turned crimson as he stammered a response, avoiding her gaze and striding past her.
Dou Zhao felt both amused and exasperated, asking the servant who had accompanied Ji Yong, “What did Cousin Ji come for?”
The servant chuckled, “This year, the fifth master rarely takes a break, so Ji Bianxiu specially came to pay his respects and discuss some academic matters.”
Dou Zhao replied with an “Mm” and returned to the main courtyard.
The Ji family was conversing with the fifth madam, their expressions somewhat displeased. Upon seeing her enter, they abruptly stopped their conversation and smiled at her in unison, “You’re back!”
Dou Zhao smiled brightly as she approached her two aunts, greeting them and linking arms with her sixth aunt.
Her sixth aunt stiffened slightly.
But the fifth madam laughed, “Look at you two standing there; you look like a pair of mother and daughter.”
The sixth aunt remained silent.
Dou Zhao giggled, seizing the opportunity when the steward entered to ask the fifth madam for instructions, she pulled her sixth aunt into the west wing, serving her the peach crisps she had made.
The sixth aunt’s expression appeared somewhat complicated as she held the peach crisps, gently patting Dou Zhao’s hand, whispering, “Shou Gu, if I have done anything wrong, you must forgive me.”
Dou Zhao understood.
On one side was her, and on the other were her maternal elders; she felt caught in the middle.
If Ji Yong were unbearable, it would be easier to discuss, as at least her sixth aunt would have a reason to oppose. Yet Ji Yong had achieved success at a young age, being a promising candidate in the eyes of the world, and her sixth aunt’s concerns were hardly justifiable.
She smiled and leaned against her sixth aunt’s shoulder, teasing, “A child doesn’t mind a mother’s flaws. Don’t worry; even if you give the gold necklace you promised me to Sister Eleven, I won’t hold it against you.”
“You child!” The Ji family matriarch stroked Dou Zhao’s hair, feeling even more sorrowful, secretly resolving that if Ji Yong dared to slight Dou Zhao in any way, she would confront her sister-in-law, ensuring Dou Zhao would not be wronged.
She murmured, “Don’t worry; you will have a good life.”
Dou Zhao felt a lump in her throat, nearly shedding tears.
Wei Tingyu, knowing Dou Zhao wanted to see him, hurriedly made a trendy blue bamboo silk robe with cloud patterns and went to Jing’an Temple Alley.
This was the first time Dou Zhao looked at Wei Tingyu with a clear gaze since her rebirth.
His youthful face, with fine fuzz around his lips, sat upright, appearing quite reserved, making her feel both familiar and strange.
“Have some tea!” Dou Zhao pointed to the Bi Luo Chun on the tea table.
“Thank you!” Wei Tingyu murmured, blushing as he picked up the teacup and took a sip.
Perhaps due to his nervousness, he drank too quickly and choked on the tea, coughing.
Dou Zhao quickly had Su Xin hand him a handkerchief.
Wei Tingyu awkwardly thanked her, his expression slightly more relaxed than before.
Dou Zhao then asked, “Do you want to break off the engagement?”
“No, no!” Wei Tingyu shook his hands in panic, his expression flustered. “I never thought that way…”
Dou Zhao said, “I also believe there’s nothing between you and my sister…”
“Fourth Miss!” Before she could finish, Wei Tingyu’s face was filled with shock.
Since he was discovered meeting Dou Ming at the Great Xiangguo Temple, his sister had not said a word, slapping him hard and his mother crying incessantly. Even his brother-in-law, who had always treated him like a brother, looked disappointed, and Wang Qinghai went so far as to ask, “Who is prettier, your sister or your younger sister?”
Only Dou Zhao believed there was no impropriety between him and Dou Ming.
“There’s nothing between me and your sister!” he insisted, “It was your sister who sent someone to tell me she urgently needed to see me about our marriage, asking me to quietly go to the Great Xiangguo Temple, where her maid was waiting for me…”
Dou Zhao genuinely believed him.
Dou Ming was no fool.
“You don’t need to explain,” Dou Zhao said. “I believe you.”
“Thank you, Fourth Miss!” Wei Tingyu’s face was filled with gratitude.
“However, given everything that has happened, I am exhausted, and our elders are worried,” Dou Zhao said. “Shall we postpone our marriage for a while? This way, everyone can catch their breath and take the opportunity to think about the future.”
Wei Tingyu was taken aback.
What did Dou Zhao mean?
She said she believed him, yet wanted to delay the wedding…
The windows of the flower hall opened wide, the vibrant colors of early spring flooding in, but Wei Tingyu was filled with confusion.