Ji Yongneng’s ability to leave his study room was due to his participation in compiling the “Wenhua Daxun” – after all, he couldn’t neglect his official duties. However, his heart felt empty, and he struggled to muster enthusiasm for anything.

How had he and Dou Zhao ended up in this situation? Where exactly had things gone wrong? Was he too stubborn? Or was Dou Zhao too obsessive?

Sitting in the spacious and bright beamless hall of the Imperial Historical Archives, Ji Yongneng absentmindedly flipped through Emperor Taizong’s daily records. Memories of his time with Dou Zhao flashed through his mind like a series of paintings.

He recalled her teasing, “Be careful not to return as a fellow Jinshi graduate.” He remembered her disappointment when she said, “I don’t want you to be like Dou Ming.” And he couldn’t forget her anger when she furiously declared, “We’ll never associate again.” Yet, whenever he thought of these moments, they felt warm and joyful, full of vitality and endless pleasure. Unlike in his great-grandfather’s study, where every emotion was calculated and every calculation had a predictable outcome, where life seemed fixed in shape, repeating the same things every day.

At this moment, Ji Yongneng felt an unprecedented desire to see Dou Zhao. He wondered if she would be furiously angry or if she would coldly examine Dou Shiying with her star-like eyes…

Ji Yongneng closed the daily records and smiled at the eunuch standing nearby. “I suddenly feel dizzy. Could you find me a place to lie down and bring me a cup of malt sugar water?”

How could a mere seventh-rank compiler order around an imperial eunuch? The eunuch rolled his eyes and said sarcastically, “If the Compiler is feeling unwell, perhaps you should come back another day to borrow Emperor Taizong’s daily records?”

Ji Yongneng signed the borrowing register and left the Imperial Historical Archives, heading straight for Jing’an Temple Alley.

Dou Zhao sat on the large kang by the window, holding an embroidered headband she was making for her grandmother. She hadn’t moved a needle for a long time.

Suxin, who entered carrying autumn pears and sweet melons, saw this and sighed deeply in her heart.

She had been standing by the fallen pillar under the corridor when Dou Zhao was talking to Song Mo. The young miss didn’t want to marry, but the young master’s sincerity towards her was evident, and the young miss surely understood this in her heart. The young miss must be afraid that after marrying, the young master might change his mind like the old master did with the late Madam Zhao. That’s why she was so hesitant and indecisive.

Although the young master was younger than the young miss, he had always been steady in his actions. The few times he visited the young miss in Zhending, he had done so discreetly, without anyone noticing. If the young miss married him, she would at least have the backing of the Duke Ying’s household, and she would surely be able to reclaim her dowry. Even if things didn’t work out with the young master in the future, she could live quietly on a peaceful estate. It would be better than her current life of constantly having to deal with one thing after another. Then, the young master would be her husband, and she would only need to manage her relationship with him.

Suxin sighed inwardly again, then smiled as she took Dou Zhao’s needlework. “You’ve been sewing for several days now. Be careful of your eyes. Why don’t you rest for a while and have some fruit? There’s still plenty of time before the New Year!”

Dou Zhao responded with an “Oh,” coming back to her senses, feeling somewhat embarrassed. She had said she would make a headband for her grandmother for the New Year, but she had only sewn a few stitches in the past few days, spending most of her time lost in thought.

However, as she looked at the fruit before her, she began to drift off again.

That night, Song Mo’s words, “At least Chen Qushui and Duan Gongyi can openly stay by your side,” struck a chord with her.

In her previous life, even those women who were given to him as gifts could choose to follow him or marry someone else. With her relationship with him, why should she worry about not being able to live as she pleased?

Marrying Song Mo would at least mean she wouldn’t have to be submissive in front of her husband like she would with others.

Just thinking about it made her heart flutter!

But if she married Song Mo, Song Yichun’s inexplicable plot against him, the secrets of Duke Ying’s household, and the palace coup four years later all stood before her like insurmountable barriers.

Could she overcome them?

Did she have the ability to help Song Mo overcome them?

Even if she could ultimately overcome these challenges, what price would she have to pay?

If she didn’t marry Song Mo and the marriage with the Ji family fell through, the Dou family would lose face and would have to pay a hefty price to compensate the Ji family. The East Dou branch wouldn’t let the matter rest and would surely suppress and scheme against her.

Although she wasn’t afraid, the thought of living like this for a long time to come made her feel weary.

Now, Song Mo had given her a chance to escape all of this. Should she take this step?

Dou Zhao was torn.

Thinking back to her previous life, when she was caught between a rock and a hard place and married Wei Tingyu with her eyes closed, she hadn’t hesitated this much.

In this life, with choices available, she found herself unable to decide.

Was it that the more choices one had, the easier it was to become confused?

Or was it that her abilities were not yet sufficient to assess the situation comprehensively?

Dou Zhao asked Suxin, “Hasn’t Master Chen come to see me?”

“No!” Suxin brought Dou Zhao a cup of fragrant cloud mist tea.

She hoped Dou Zhao could discuss matters with Uncle Chen, to avoid her young miss pondering alone without resolution.

But for some reason, Master Chen hadn’t come to see the young miss.

Dou Zhao said, “Go and invite Master Chen to come over.”

Suxin nodded happily.

A young maid came in to report, “Fourth Young Miss, Official Ji requests an audience!”

Dou Zhao was quite surprised and asked, “Which Official Ji is requesting an audience?”

After her marriage was arranged, her father’s health quickly recovered. He went to work at the government office every day with high spirits. After work, he would happily visit his close friends or superiors personally to deliver invitations, returning home very late.

The young maid smiled and said, “Of course, it’s the young master!” She then added cleverly, “Yuqiao Alley must have received the master’s invitation. The young master must have learned that you’re getting married and has come specially to congratulate you.”

Dou Zhao nodded silently.

Ji Yongneng knew she was getting married, and instead of thinking about how to embarrass Song Mo and wash away his previous shame, he came to see her. Whatever the reason, it was certainly more rational than before.

She instructed the young maid, “Please invite Cousin Ji to the flower hall and serve him tea.”

The young maid responded and left.

Suxin worriedly asked, “Young Miss, should we inform the Sixth Madam?”

She was afraid that if Ji Yongneng made a scene and revealed that the Ji family had once sought to marry Dou Zhao, someone might discover that Dou Zhao hadn’t broken off the engagement at that time. Connecting this to the Dou sisters’ easy marriages, they might think the young miss was the instigator, which could be troublesome!

“No need.” Sixth Aunt already felt that she was marrying worse each time, which was heartbreaking enough. Dou Zhao didn’t want to bother Sixth Aunt with such matters. She said calmly, “This is Jing’an Temple Alley. If they think the food in Huaishu Alley is better than in Jing’an Temple Alley, then they can go serve in Huaishu Alley.”

Suxin knew Dou Zhao was truly angry.

She couldn’t help but compose herself and respectfully responded, “Yes.” She then helped Dou Zhao change her clothes and accompanied her to the flower hall.

As soon as Ji Yongneng saw her, he complained, “Why are you dawdling? I have things to do!”

It was as if all those arguments and hurtful words had never happened.

Dou Zhao suddenly felt as if she had returned to her time in Zhending.

Ji Yongneng was studying at West Dou, teasing the monks; she was confident about breaking off the engagement with the Wei family, and in her leisure time, she bantered and joked with Ji Yongneng. They both felt life was wonderful and were full of hope for the future…

Dou Zhao’s eyes suddenly became moist.

She asked Ji Yongneng, “What did you want to see me about?”

Ji Yongneng said, “Are you planning to marry Song Mo?”

Dou Zhao thought for a moment and said, “If I tell you the truth, can you promise not to act solely based on your preferences?”

Ji Yongneng replied, “Should I just watch you make a mistake without doing anything?”

“You’re not a fish, how can you know a fish’s joy?” Dou Zhao said, “I didn’t ask for your help, so you shouldn’t interfere arbitrarily.”

Ji Yongneng lowered his head and thought for a long time, then looked up at Dou Zhao with wide eyes. “Is this why you’re angry?”

“Yes!” Dou Zhao didn’t avoid his gaze, meeting it frankly. “I may not be as capable as you, but you should respect my choices. Not just mine, but also those of your friends, classmates, colleagues, and even family members. Everyone has their preferences, which are inseparable from their experiences. You can ignore those whose interests differ from yours, but you shouldn’t mock others.”

“We’re talking about you, why are you bringing up a bunch of irrelevant people?” Ji Yongneng had no intention of listening to Dou Zhao’s lecture. “Fine, I won’t interfere in your affairs.” He couldn’t help but mock, “I’ll wait to see if you ask for my help when you fall into a pit and can’t climb out!”

This childishness made Dou Zhao laugh.

Ji Yongneng scowled.

Dou Zhao quickly sat up straight and said seriously, “I haven’t decided whether to marry Song Mo or not. But I am indeed somewhat tempted.”

Ji Yongneng was exasperated. “That boy has nothing going for him except his background. You don’t know…” He told Dou Zhao about Song Mo’s indiscriminate killing. “…Moreover, he not only associates with eunuchs but also colludes with Gu Yu from the Yunyang Baron’s family, engaging in profiteering. He spends all day dealing with clerks from the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Personnel, without any proper conduct. You need to think carefully about whether you want to marry such a person!” Finally, he couldn’t help but add, “If you don’t want to marry him, I have a way to make the Song family break off the engagement without damaging your reputation!”

“Thank you!” Dou Zhao sincerely thanked him and said, “If I want to break off the engagement with the Song family, I’ll consult you.”

It was as if she had said nothing at all.

Ji Yongneng left in a huff.

After leaving the Dou residence, he realized that he hadn’t asked what he should have asked, nor said what he should have said. Instead, he had rambled on about a bunch of nonsense.

But his mood had improved.

Was it because Dou Zhao had acknowledged his approach?

Ji Yongneng stood in front of Jing’an Temple, looking at the two stone lions over ten feet tall at the temple gate, and muttered to himself.

Since when did he need others’ approval to feel that his actions were correct?

This was something he needed to think about carefully!

Dou Zhao’s words weren’t necessarily all correct.

Ji Yongneng fell into deep thought.