Gu Yu muttered upon hearing the news, “Why is everyone getting married all of a sudden?”

Wang Qinghuai chuckled and teased, “You’re not getting any younger. Would you like me to play matchmaker for you?”

“No need, no need!” Gu Yu’s face reddened as he fled in embarrassment.

After leaving Fugui Fang, he gazed at the bustling street and suddenly felt a sense of loneliness. While others had elders to care for their marriages, what about him? Despite bearing the title of the Empress’s nephew, he had neither a mother’s love nor a father’s care.

Gu Yu recalled the troublesome matters at home. With Song Mo entered the palace, he stood amidst the crowded street, unsure of where to go.

His two personal guards exchanged glances, and one of them approached with a fawning smile, softly calling out, “Young Master,” and asked, “Where shall we go, sir?”

Gu Yu snapped back to reality, regaining his slightly arrogant demeanor, but hesitated, “Let’s… go to the palace?” As soon as he spoke, he seemed to have made up his mind and said firmly, “We’ll go to the palace. I want to see the Empress.”

Every time the Emperor fell ill, it was always his aunt who stayed by his side to care for him. At first, the concubines would try to curry favor at the Emperor’s sickbed, but later, realizing that the Emperor remembered nothing upon waking and that one careless word might incur his wrath and endanger their lives, they began to feign ignorance. His aunt worried that the princes and princesses might be terrified by the sight of the Emperor’s illness, as they had been during the Dragon Boat Festival a few years ago, and had no choice but to bear the burden alone.

At a time like this, wouldn’t his aunt need someone by her side to comfort her?

Unfortunately, the Prince of Liao was in Liaodong, and Princess Jingyi was insensitive. Neither of her children could be relied upon.

In such a situation, the fact that his aunt had summoned Brother Tianci into the palace showed how much she valued him. Although it was a difficult task for Brother Tianci, it was also a rare opportunity. With Brother Tianci’s intelligence, he would surely seize this chance.

Gu Yu wondered if the Crown Prince had noticed the Emperor’s illness. The image of the Crown Prince’s frail appearance floated in his mind, leaving him feeling bewildered.

The Crown Prince seemed like a passerby, always lacking presence. Unlike the Prince of Liao, who was handsome, upright, generous, quick-witted, and decisive, instantly inspiring goodwill in others. Skilled in falconry, horsemanship, and archery, he was a match for Brother Tianci. It was a pity he had requested to be sent to his fief so early; otherwise, the capital wouldn’t feel so lonely.

Sighing, he stumbled through the East Straight Gate.

When Dou Zhao heard that the family had invited the matchmaker and hairdresser for a meal, she was shocked and asked, “What day is it today?”

Su Lan, known for her straightforwardness, replied, “What day? It’s already the 18th!”

Dou Zhao was startled, “How did time pass so quickly?”

Gan Lu, who was carrying a red-glazed vase, laughed as she entered, “Indeed. I haven’t even finished packing my things yet, and the young lady’s wedding day is just around the corner.” She added, “We shouldn’t have taken those dowry items out of the trunks in the first place. Now that they’ve just been stored, we have to pack them into trunks again.”

As they were speaking, the aunt and sixth aunt arrived together, with Zhao Zhangru trailing behind them.

Hearing Gan Lu’s words, the aunt asked, “How many things are left to pack? I can ask Nanny Peng to help you!”

Gan Lu wouldn’t dare use the aunt’s maid and quickly said, “It’s almost done.” Fearing the aunt might not believe her, she smiled and added, “I just wanted to claim some credit in front of the young lady.”

Everyone burst into laughter.

Dou Zhao stepped forward to greet her aunt, sixth aunt, and Zhao Zhangru. They all sat down in the reception room to drink tea. Dou Zhao asked, “Sixth Aunt, why did you come over?”

Han Shi had been married for almost three years, and a few days ago, she was diagnosed with a pregnancy. Ji shi was very nervous and had been taking care of Han shi at home these past few days.

“Isn’t today the day to invite the matchmaker and hairdresser?” Ji Shi smiled, “Your father sent me a message, asking me to come and keep Mrs. Zhao company.”

Perhaps because the matter of his sister’s marriage had touched Dou Shiyingâs bottom line, Dou Zhao noticed that from the matchmaker to the hairdresser, all were invited by his good friends and their wives. Not only did he not let the people from Huaishu Hutong get involved, but he also seemed to be guarding against them, choosing people who were not very familiar with that side.

Dou Zhao had been feeling restless these past few days and hadn’t paid attention to the wedding preparations. Hearing that Mrs. Zhao was the matchmaker, she felt unfamiliar and asked with a smile, “Which Mrs. Zhao is it?”

The aunt smiled and said, “It’s the wife of Mr. Zhao Peijie, the Junior Minister of the Secretariat.” As if afraid Dou Zhao might feel shy or scared, she quickly explained, “I’ve met her before. She’s very kind and efficient, a capable person.”

Dou Zhao frowned slightly.

What a coincidence!

She wanted to ask more, but a maid came in to report, “Sixth Madam, Aunt, Mrs. Zhao has arrived.”

Everyone stopped talking. The sixth aunt and aunt went to the flower hall, while Zhao Zhangru stayed behind to have lunch with Dou Zhao.

Taking advantage of the moment when the maids were setting the chopsticks, she whispered to Dou Zhao, “Do you want to go see what Mrs. Zhao looks like?”

Despite being in her early twenties, she still acted like a child.

Faced with her innocent cousin, Dou Zhao didn’t know whether to envy or worry about her!

She teased Zhao Zhangru, “Be careful not to get caught by Aunt.”

Zhao Zhangru immediately deflated and asked, “Does this mean we can’t go to Xiangshan to see the red leaves?”

Seeing Zhao Zhangru’s disappointed face, Dou Zhao felt sympathetic and said, “We’ll go! Of course, we’ll go! Let’s tell Aunt later, and we’ll go to Xiangshan to see the red leaves tomorrow.”

Zhao Zhangru’s eyes lit up.

Dou Zhao smiled, pressing her lips together.

It would be good to go to Xiangshan to see the red leaves, put aside all these worries, and avoid overthinking by staying at home all day.

After a trip to Xiangshan with Zhao Zhangru, her mood indeed brightened. She went to bed as soon as she returned in the evening, and when she opened her eyes again, the sun was already high in the sky.

Su Xin came in to help her dress and reported, “Chief Steward Gao has already sent someone twice to ask if you’re awake.”

Dou Zhao hurriedly said, “Please invite him in quickly.”

Su Xin responded and left.

Dou Zhao hastily drank a cup of hot tea and went to the hall.

Gao Sheng smiled bitterly and said, “That shopkeeper Zhang came to see me personally yesterday. He even wanted to invite me to drink at the Zuixian Pavilion and promised to give me three thousand taels of silver after the matter is settled – he still thinks I’m intentionally making things difficult for him!”

Dou Zhao couldn’t help but laugh, “So what did you say?”

“Of course, I said what you instructed me to say.” Gao Sheng had always prided himself on his loyalty, but now, making things difficult for Zhang Zhiqi made him feel somewhat uneasy. “Shopkeeper Zhang then asked if he could withdraw eight or ten thousand taels of silver before the New Year. I had to insist that we wouldn’t know until we closed the books at the end of the year. Shopkeeper Zhang left very disappointed.”

Dou Zhao nodded.

Now it was time to see what moves Zhang Zhiqi would make next.

Gao Sheng hesitated for a moment, then said with a red face, “The master said to tell you not to lend money at high interest anymore. If you need silver, just come to me to withdraw from the accounts.”

It seemed that after Dou Zhao had privately instructed him, he immediately reported this to Dou Shiying, and now he felt somewhat embarrassed.

Dou Zhao smiled and said, “How much private money does Father have? If he gives it all to me, what will he use?”

Gao Sheng, remembering that Dou Zhao had asked for thirty thousand taels of silver without hesitation, which was no less than Dou Shiying, dared not comment further.

Dou Zhao respected Gao Sheng’s loyalty to her father and smiled as she stood up to see him off.

Afterward, Zhang Zhiqi came to see Gao Sheng two more times. Seeing Gao Sheng’s sincere words and after inquiring about his character, Zhang realized that Gao wasn’t intentionally making things difficult for him. He calmly agreed to meet again after the Spring Festival, much to Gao Sheng’s relief.

Dou Zhao then instructed Chen Qushui to keep an eye on Zhang Zhiqi’s movements.

As she had expected, Zhang Zhiqi began to widely contact those officials who, though not high in rank, were close to the Emperor or the Crown Prince.

Dou Zhao’s mood suddenly became heavy.

She had a long talk with her father, hoping he would withdraw his shares from Risheng Silver Shop.

Her father disagreed: “A man cannot stand without credibility. Since I’ve agreed, I can’t break my promise.” Seeing Dou Zhao’s expression, unprecedentedly solemn, he felt uneasy and said somewhat guiltily, “How about this, after you’re married, I’ll send Gao Xing to retrieve the shares.”

Wouldn’t that mean openly breaking ties with Zhang Zhiqi?

Dou Zhao said displeased, “What if Zhang Zhiqi says he doesn’t have the silver?”

Dou Shiying dismissed her concern, “If we lose, we lose! Isn’t loss part of doing business?”

Dou Zhao was exasperated.

This wasn’t just about profit or loss; it was about whether they would be seen as allies of the Prince of Liao.

In her previous life, it was because Song Mo unhesitatingly shot and killed the Crown Prince that the Prince of Liao was able to smoothly force the Emperor to abdicate.

In this life, she had managed to save Song Mo from being used as the Prince of Liao’s executioner. When the Prince of Liao rose, who else could be like Song Mo, willing to bear the crime of killing his master and be vilified for generations by shooting the Crown Prince?

If the Crown Prince didn’t die, how could the Emperor meekly comply?

Yet in her previous life, the Prince of Liao did indeed ascend the throne.

It would be better for them to stay away from the Prince of Liao and live a peaceful, modest life. Why bother wading into these troubled waters?

After the Prince of Liao ascended the throne, those officials who hadn’t participated in the rebellion, as long as they didn’t die like Liang Jifang who crashed into a pillar, were still used by the Prince of Liao to stabilize the situation.

“If Father isn’t prepared to retrieve that fifty thousand taels of silver, why did you give me the contract?” Dou Zhao pressed Dou Shiying to take a stand, “Could it be that Father wants me to bear this empty name? I won’t allow it. You promised me the shares in Risheng Silver Shop, so those shares are mine now. I want to withdraw from the partnership! Risheng Silver Shop can’t take a single tael from me!”

Dou Zhao had lost her mother at a young age and grew up in the countryside of Zhending. She was sensible and considerate, and Dou Shiying had always felt that he owed this daughter a great deal. Now, with Dou Zhao’s almond eyes wide open and her face as cold as frost, Dou Shiying immediately broke into a sweat and said, “How about I give you another fifty thousand taels of silver?”

“Do I lack that fifty thousand taels?” Dou Zhao stared at her father, “I just don’t like how you’re so indifferent about everything, letting anyone take advantage of you. The Guo Yan family are big landowners from Shanxi with tens of thousands of mu of good fields. Why should you alone put up fifty thousand taels of silver while he just pools resources with Mr. Zhao and Mr. Chen…”

“No, no!” Touched by his daughter’s wholehearted protection, Dou Shiying hurriedly said, “I wanted to give you more silver, so I voluntarily offered to put up fifty thousand taels…”

Dou Zhao’s heart stirred, but she said, “Is fifty thousand taels a small amount? Even if you voluntarily offered it, if Guo Yan truly cared for you, he shouldn’t have let you shoulder such a big responsibility alone. Who can guarantee that Risheng Silver Shop will make a profit? This time, no matter what you say, I’m determined to withdraw from the partnership! If you won’t tell Shopkeeper Zhang, I’ll have Gao Sheng do it!”

Dou Shiying was at his wit’s end.

Sisters and brothers, I’ve posted a draft first. I’ll proofread it later.